Glenn Haggerty Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.
A. I often get some great ideas and insights as I ride my stationary bike.
I love fall colors and also a sunny beach—pretty much mutually exclusive
Hiding out in the seminary library near my wife’s work is also a great place for inspiration. I have six children and seven grandchildren and they are all amazing.
I’ve hit both the California and the Florida beaches. I’m not going to say which is better.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A. I’ve always loved reading and would often find myself daydreaming about a book and then taking it on a tangent. But I never considered writing. I didn’t think I was good enough for that, and between family, my business and ministry I didn’t have the time—writing was out of the question. But Glaucoma changed all of that. Suddenly I had lots of time but had to figure out—really find grace to navigate a new situation. I began telling stories to my children . . .

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?
A. When I embarked on my writing journey, I joined a small Christian writers’ association. The first difficulty was offering my chapter or short story to other writers for critique. Ouch! I had to toughen up and learn to take criticism.

Following a writer’s conference, I decided to start writing short stories which are easier and often less competitive. I received rejection after rejection. But I didn’t quit after receiving one or two or ten or twenty no’s. I had dozens of rejections and most gave no reason why. But a few gave criticism—some harsh. That hurt, And yet, I tried to learn from the criticism, and it began to pay off. Then I had a break-through and my first short story, Way the River Runs, was published in 2007 in a small Christian magazine. Over the next three years, five more short stories were published.

Then I began writing novels and joined the American Christian Fiction Writers Association and a new critique group. God blessed, the other four members of my critique group were experienced – – and it turns out amazing writers. Over the next three years, all four of them became traditionally published, and I helped them. They also helped me. It was a great relationship.

The next step on my road to publication was to enter writing contests which I entered every year beginning in 2011. Sometimes I did well, I won the Phoenix Rattler Contest in 2012 and other times, not so much. That encouraged me to persevere, and I began submitting my work to literary agents.

In October of 2013, I signed with Hartline Literary Agency, and Jim Hart began marketing my novels to traditional publishers (I had completed two by that time).

In January 2015, After prayer and fasting and seeking God’s direction, I signed a contract with Taegais Publishing the very next month to publish my first novel, titled, Run. From there it was a whirlwind, with a lot of hurry up and wait and finally, my first novel, Run was published in October 2015.

Since then, I have published a novella to the series, Escape, Intense Book 1, and most recently Chase, Intense Book 3 which was released on April 1, 2018.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release  Chase, Intense Book 3?
A: In Chase, Tyler, a middle school newbie, watches helplessly as his friend, Jake, descends into drugs. With the help of a couple of classmates and encouraged by the local police, Tyler begins shadowing drug runners to rat out the methamphetamine dealer before his friend turns into a brain dead druggie. But Tyler has underestimated the power and raw evil that is about to be unleashed against him. There are lots of twists and turns and character surprises as Tyler and his friends come face to face with organized evil. Faith and courage are tested to the max, and many lessons are learned regarding life and friendships.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Chase, Intense Book 3?
A: Like most of my books and short stories, Chase was initially just a picture in my mind. A scene appeared where a lowlife drug-dealer meets with one of his runners. The incident then turned into a scene which expanded into a full length novel. I tried to put myself into the mindset of these characters and the story took off from there. Interestingly, I ended up cutting that scene and reworking it into a different setting and another short story. But by then the bull was out of the pen as it were and the story had to be written!

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?
A: Bad company corrupts good morals. Sometimes you have to make tough choices about who to hang out with. There is power in prayer, but God doesn’t always answer the way we might expect, sometimes it is yes, sometimes no, and sometimes wait. If someone has broken your trust, you must forgive them, but then he or she should have to earn your trust back again. Using good judgment, be willing to give someone another chance.

Q: What inspires you to write?
A. Middle grade and teenaged students, it’s tough being a tween or teen today, there’s so much bad stuff in our culture, and secular entertainment often offers only despair. I want to provide serious entertainment the Christian worldview. I write to give kids hope that they too can make it through this difficult period of life.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A. Working title, Hyde. This is a fun adventure set in Boca Raton Florida which is by the way my first non-fictitious setting. I’ve researched the Spanish Gold Fleet of 1715 that was destroyed by a hurricane leaving the wrecks of 14 ships scattered from the Florida Keys to the Sebastian Inlet on Florida’s east coast. Two of the ships are unaccounted for . . . So we have modern day pirates, a couple of nosey oceanographers, and of course some fun loving teens who are yet again in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?
A. In my bio I mention tandem biking which I really enjoy. But I also like walking with my wife and grandchildren. We are members of the Minnesota Zoo, the Minnesota Arboretum, both great places to take a stroll. But we also enjoy wooded walking trails around our neighborhood and town. I like football and reading of course. And I also enjoy certain board games (Ticket to Ride, and Pandemic) and card games (Euchre and Cribbage) with my family.