Lillian Duncan Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.

A.I’m in my late 50s and have been writing since I was 40. My day job was as a speech pathologist in a large urban school district where I worked mostly with deaf and hard-of-hearing students. After I retired from there, I worked a few more years part-time in the rural district I graduated from. Now, I focus on my writing full-time as I struggle with some health issues.

I was diagnosed with bilateral brain tumors in May of 2012. At the moment, the tumors have taken away my hearing and much of my balance on my right side. Now, I’m waiting to see if history is going to repeat itself on my left side, leaving me completely deaf. It’s a tough situation, but I’m determined to face it in a godly way.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

A. Well, I started writing when I was 40, but I believe if you’d pushed me hard enough I would have said I always wanted to be a writer. But never thought I could do it! What an awesome journey I’ve been on to get to the point where I can say, “I’m a writer.”

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?  

A.I self-published my first book and then did another 2 books with a PRINT ON DEMAND company. I had a great time with releasing those books, but decided it was too hard of work without the backing of a traditional publisher. It took a few more years to learn what I needed to get that first traditional contract.

Joining the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) was the final push I needed to grow as a writer to get that first contract. They have so many services and opportunities for all writers to learn and improve their craft. I would recommend them to anybody who wants to be a novelist.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release BETRAYED?

A: BETRAYED is the second in my Sisters By Choice series. DECEPTION was the first in the series and featured Patti who was estranged from her twin sister. As she searched for her missing sister, she had quite the adventure and ended up meeting Maria. BETRAYED is Maria’s story as she struggles to rebuild her life after a horrendous betrayal.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for BETRAYED?

A:  When I originally wrote DECEPTION much of Maria’s story was included, but was edited out to keep the story focused on Patti’s search for her missing twin sister. Maria wasn’t having any part of that and insisted I write her story! So I did.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

A:  Life can throw a lot of curve balls your way, but God promises beauty will come out of the ashes. God keeps His promises, but we need to claim them.

Q: What is your favorite scene/chapter from the book?

A:  Oh, my goodness—it’s too hard to pick just one! I love this book. Maria is the main character but the other strong female character-Zink—stole my heart with her bravery and courage,

Q: What inspires you to write?  

A. My love of stories! Jesus knew that stories can teach and inspire—that’s what the parables are all about. I want my stories to entertain and teach a life lesson at the same time. If it was good enough for Jesus—it’s good enough for me.

Q: How has being a published novelist differed from your expectations of the profession?  

A:  It’s a lot more than creating the story. That’s just the beginning. I wish I could just write the stories—but it’s about so much more including marketing, networking, blogging, blogging and more blogging.

But I’m not complaining! I love being a writer!

Q: What advice or tips do you have for writers who are just getting started?

A:  Take your time and learn the craft. Don’t be in such a big hurry to get published. It’s too easy to get published today, but that doesn’t mean you should do it. Wait until you’re ready.

I didn’t even think about getting published until after I’d written my 3^rd or 4^th novel.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?  

A.  It’s a new mystery novella series—DEADLY COMMUNICATIONS. It features Maven Morris whom I like to call a crime-fighting speech pathologist! My day job was a speech pathologist so it’s been great fun marrying my two careers together.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?  

A. My husband and I do some camping—if you call air conditioning and cable camping which I do! We also have 3 parrots and 2 dogs to keep us busy as well as entertained. I do a bit of painting and crafting from time to time as well.

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet? 

A.  My website is www.lillianduncan.net. Tiaras & Tennis Shoes is my personal blog where I share about my life and my books at www.lillian-duncan.com. I also have a devotional blog, Power Up With God’s Word (www.powerupwithGOD.com ).

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us?  

A. I’d like to take a moment to share about my health struggles, not to sound like a martyr but to help others who may be struggling with some serious issues in their own life. I was diagnosed with bilateral brain tumors last year. They call them benign, but believe me they’re not!

Because of them, I am now completely deaf in one ear and partially in the other. But I may end up losing all my hearing in that ear as well. Along with that I have permanent balance issues as well, meaning on a good day I might topple through the day. On a bad day, I might be in a “foggy state of mind.” And I don’t even want to talk about my memory issues.

I’ve learned to depend on God as I struggle along day by day, and that has made all the difference. I don’t know what the future will bring for me, but the truth is none of us really do. But here’s the amazing thing, God has kept me in peace and joy in spite of my difficult circumstances.