Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Pink Party continues: Carrie Fancett Pagels interview

To celebrate Carrie Fancett Pagels' debut novella Return to Shirley Plantation this week, I am reposting an interview I did with her last October. Pay special attention to what she says about being published below, and celebrate with us as we rejoice with her!

Welcome, Dr. Pagels, or as I have been privileged to call you, Carrie :D

Q: coffee, tea, soft drink, water, or home juiced vegetables?
Until recently it was coffee at breakfast, water all day long, and hot tea in the afternoon. But I am off coffee now and drink water, tea, and juice throughout the day.


Q: When did you first know you were a writer?
When I was a little girl and finished reading Anne of Green Gables and I wrote an epilogue in the back of my book!


Q: How do your roles of mother, wife, professional, daughter of Christ, resident of Virginia etc. play into your writing?
“Overcoming Through Time—With God’s Help” (www.carriefancettpagels.com) is my blog address. A little over a year ago I began to invite others to join me there. And I have been so blessed to now share this blog ministry with two wonderful American reviewers and two international reviewers! We are trying to reach people who are dealing with some of life’s difficult blows but with Christ’s help are overcoming—and who enjoy reading Christian fiction as part of that process. We love sharing writers’/authors’ interviews in which they share their own journeys and difficulties. We are in the process of renaming our blog because my tagline for my fiction writing is Overcoming Through Time – With God’s Help and we need to use that for my brand spanking new website, which I am very excited about!
Recently I realized that I was no longer anyone’s daughter (anyone living) but that I am God’s daughter. That was a weird feeling to know I no longer have that role. A sad feeling. As a resident
of Virginia I am blessed to have so much cool historical stuff nearby, including Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, Yorktown Victory Center, Shirley Plantation, and other great sites! I was raised in upper Michigan and am a former Yooper, which has greatly impacted my life. But I was raised by a Kentucky-born mother. And although my father was Yooper born and bred (and you’d be surprised to know that most are NOT the rednecks they are sometimes portrayed as being) my father’s maternal side was from Kentucky, within a short distance of where my mother’s people lived but they didn’t know that until after they wed.
During some genealogical research, which I did because my mother’s side of the family wasn’t well documented, I found out I had ancestors whose nine sons participated in the American Revolution. Between that and living in the colonial triangle of Virginia, that got me started on writing a fictionalized account of these ancestors’ journey to colonial America. That manuscript and three book proposal is out on submission. As the administrator and contributor for the group blog “Colonial Quills” (http://colonialquills.blogspot.com) I love seeing us get out more information about this era and promoting this subgenre in Christian fiction!


Q: You love history, as do I. If you could sit down and interview any figure from any time, real or fictional, who would that be and what is the first question you would ask?

I would want to ask my ancestor, Johan Rousch, who I wrote about. I’d like to hear why he left Germany to come to the colonies and how he felt about it. Can I cheat and also ask to meet Susanne, his wife? I find it horribly unfair that he was recognized by the SAR but I don’t believe anything was done by the DAR for her. And she birthed the nine sons who fought in the American Revolution!


Q: Who have been your mentors, and how did they help you most?

I had AMAZING English teachers growing up in my hometown. The high school teachers, in particular, were so good. I took the CLEPP exam and was allowed to exempt college English (at age 17.) However, I ended up enrolled in a freshman English class. Day one when I arrived at class I was met by the frail and elderly professor and when he heard my name he took me aside. Told me that my essay was the best he had read, ever, at the college. I think I blinked at him. I hope I thanked him! That has never left me. God must have prompted him to say something. Within about six weeks he had passed away. It was rather surreal. When he had asked me my major and I told him psychology he’d seem so disappointed and had encouraged me to write.
I met my agent, Joyce Hart, at the Philadelphia conference Write His Word, four years ago. She gave me some of the best advice about my writing that I ever could have received. She took me on as a client in 2011 and I consider her a mentor.
Laura Frantz is someone I consider a mentor although she might scoff at that. I met her via Rachel Hauck’s directive in an ACFW online class that we track down comparable books to our own MSes. I found Laura’s “The Frontiersman’s Daughter” for pre-order online. At first I was like—oh nooooo—someone has something similar to what I am doing. Is it too similar? Then I got in touch with Laura and we began an email correspondence. I have learned a lot about the everyday life of a published author from her, especially like what it is like to transition over from a non-published writer to author.
Lena Nelson Dooley gave me a paid critique at the ACFW conference in 2010 and I won a critique with her and did that in 2011. She was the first person to offer me endorsement, which I will never forget. She also spent a lot of time with me at conference last year and is such an encouraging person.

As far as my writing, both Vickie McCollum and Lynn Squire as the leaders of the Fellowship of Christian Writers critique group were the first people to say to me “You are ready to be published.” Their mentorship was critical in getting me to the next big steps I needed to make from a writer with a ton of unfinished manuscripts to someone who had clarity and purpose and finally moved forward to begin the process of preparing those for publication.


Q: What do you hope your readers will take away from their time and investment in your books and blogs?
Overcoming With God blog--I hope readers will feel like they had just spent a visit with friends and shared words of encouragement as well as their love of Christian fiction!
In my MSes, which Lord willing will be published, I hope that readers will feel, really feel, what my characters are going through and see how God could deliver the characters and themselves.


Q: Since your blog is about overcoming, can you share with us here what is the biggest thing you have had to overcome and how?
Kathy, what I deal with daily is overcoming, one day at a time, the effects of multiple forms of arthritis. Only with God’s grace do I literally put one foot in front of the other each day. I don’t know why He hasn’t (yet!) removed this difficulty from me, but I trust Him. We also have a child with different issues, but he is doing great—literally overcoming with God’s help, through time! The hardest thing was when our little guy was in the throes of full blown autism and having meltdown and other unsavory issues and life was a daily horrendous battle. And no one seemed to understand. You are isolated and dealing with severe issues that others might have no clue about. I thank God we are past the most severe stage and that He has enabled us to receive multiple treatments and that He has brought about much healing.
Kathy, you and others ask how I do so many things—I am the ACFW MidAtlantic zone director, have the two blogs, and a special needs child. We also travel and I go to historical sites frequently for research. And I have been completing manuscripts at the rate of about one every seven or eight months, which is getting faster for me. But because of my physical limitations I am not as mobile as other people. God has limited my span of activities and so my butt in the chair time is likely much higher than other writers’.
And I want to give a praise here. Since I started writing this interview only three weeks ago (as of OCTOBER), I have gone through some things that are resulting in improvement in my arthritis symptoms, praise God! Although some has been really difficult to go through, I am seeing results from where God has taken me and moved me to. A lot of this is in dealing with food and medication allergies. And I am on very little medication for my Rheumatoid arthritis right now, thank you Jesus! And my mobility is greatly improving!!!


Kathy, you are such a sweetheart. Thanks so much for having me on your blog! Many blessings!


Carrie, you are a delight and an inspiration to me, and to many! Thank you for being so gracious with your time.

Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D., writes “romantic historical fiction.” Represented by Joyce Hart, “Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance” is Carrie’s first fiction release. Carrie contributed to “God’s Provision in Tough Times” releasing May, 2013. Previously a psychologist, Carrie lives in Virginia with her family. Carrie blogs at “Colonial Quills” and “Overcoming With God.” She has served in ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) leadership positions as Zone Director, Area Coordinator, and continues as co-chairman of a local group. Member ACFW, Romance Writers of America, Faith-Hope-Love RWA affiliate group and FaithWriters. Columnist/Board Member of The Book Club Network ezine. Loves God, history, and romance!

You can get an extra entry for either Carrie's novella or the pink basket delight if you answer this question in the comments below.

Question for our readers: If you could time travel to Carrie back in October and tell her something now that she is a published writer, what would it be? 




27 comments:

  1. Thanks Kathy! I was scanning through this interview and seeing how God has really provided! I am walking again PTL and I was able to go three square blocks in my neighborhood yesterday without discomfort! That is a huge praise and I am so pleased that my mobility is improving--thank you Jesus!!! I am no longer the ACFW Zone Director, which God led me to give up and I knew I'd not be able to keep up with any longer, much as I wanted to do so. My advice to myself would be the same thing I try to say every day--Put God first and keep doing what He tells you to do!

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  2. Amen, Carrie! What an inspiration you are. And yes, all glory to God, who has done great things. Rejoicing with you!

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    1. Glad to be skipping along with you and GRATEFUL that I am even able to do so again given that I've barely been able to walk the past two years. God bless and keep you always!!!

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  3. This was posted at fictionaddictionfix:

    Carrie, The Lord has given you the beautiful gift of writing. How wonderful that you have been encouraged by special teachers and mentors. Keep the song of writing in your heart always. Use it through your heart, mind and pen! (well i pad or computer these days!). Hold onto Philippians 4:13. Maryann
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. Oh, that is so sweet of MARYANN! Thanks so much for sharing this with me!

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  4. Carrie, you need to keep on writing. I truly loved your book and wished it was a full length novel. I already have her novella and would rather win the pink basket of goodies.

    deamundy(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I agree--Carrie is so gifted, she must continue and share those gifts with many. Thank you for encouraging Carrie. Will give you another entry for the basket.

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    2. Thanks so much, DEANNA! That is wonderful that you were blessed by it. This is a nice encouragement to me! Hugs!!!

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  5. If I was there in October, I would have hugged her and said congratulations, You are not only an inspiration, but God will continue to walk you through your physical battles as He uses you. I love the fact that she is an author now..and God is the author of her life, as well as all of our lives. We live chapter by chapter but He knows the whole book!!

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    1. well said, jojo. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. And he saves the best for last!

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    2. I love hugs!!! Amen to your analogy, Jo, for the chapters in our life!!! Hugs!!!

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  6. Thanks kathleen. It didn't take me long to truly Carrie. She is such a precious person and a great friend, encourager to others, and loves her GOD. I would have told she was great and the love of GOD shines through her in how she trusts HIM to see her through each trouble she has, and, that is the key. Keep up the writing if you feel that is what wants you to do and I have no doubt you will make it when the timing is right. GOd's time, not ours. I'm sure all the trials has taught her a good deal about patience. And, with her strong faith in HIM, he will lead her to be what HE wants her to be. And, Praise GOD for making her illnesses better. Prayers and faith are the key. I knew you could make it Carrie, just from getting to know you through Overcoming With God, and colonial Quills, and your FB page, and anywhere I find you. Congrats and congratulations dear friend. Just keep following GOD's where HE leads you. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com <3






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    1. Ohhhh, MAXIE, you are so sweet! I want to print this out as an encouragement to me when I am feeling down and doubting what I am doing. You are so right about following God's lead where He wants us to go!!! Thank you so much--you are an amazing encourager!!! HUGS!!!!

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  7. Sorry about all of the words I left out, but hope you can just fill them in as you read (like I used to do with my sweet mother's letters}. Guess I think faster than I can type. :) Hate when I forget to edit before submitting.
    Maxie

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  8. Hello again Ladies. It was nice to learn a few more things about Carrie. I don't think I'll ever see pink and not think of Carrie just like I don't see shiny with out thinking of Kathy!

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    1. LOL I know what you mean about the pink! And shiny! For you, I think of you when i see southern belles, horses, coyboys, shelties, books, phones, computers. . . .LOL I guess I think of you all the time :D

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    2. LOL, DL!!! I can't look at pink without thanking God for my two BFFs having survived breast cancer!!! Love that color!!!

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  9. Well, Iam sure she will not be the last, but she is a dear sister in the Lord , as you are Kathleen, the two of you made my dad today ! I guess I would have encouraged Carrie back in Oct to press on and have faith in who God made her to be and who God is... prayed with her and I have so enjoyed everything I have read of her and of her stories that I can't wait to read this one... What a blessing you all are to me.
    Hugs
    Linda Finn
    faithfulacres7@gmail.com

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    1. I have the novella and need to read and review it soon... I feel so blessed to meet both of you...
      Linda

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    2. Will keep praying for you, too, Linda! I saw your FB comments today and will lift you up to our Lord! Blessings!!!

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  10. Hey ladies! How fun to go from blog to blog and see two of my favorite people! So now that you had to give up coffee and are a tea drinker, Carrie, we are going to have to get Kathy drinking tea. Then we can get together for tea. :o) Love the stuff. Never touch coffee. And probably drink way too much tea. Of course living in the south that is very understandable.

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    1. Great idea, DL!! I wonder how she is handling our CQ Tea Party then, lol! Hugs!!!

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  11. I'd tell her that God isn't finished with her yet...He's still working on all of us. =)
    thanks so much for the insights.
    truckredford(at)gmail(dot)com

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  12. And by random.org drawing, the winner of our big pink basket and novella is: Quilting Grannie! Congratulations, Quilting Grannie! I will be emailing you for your contact information in the morning.

    Thank you to everyone who came by both days and wished Carrie well. Blessings to you all!

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    1. CONGRATS to Quilting Granny! What a great name! Thanks so much, Kathy for being such a wonderful hostess this week! Blessings!

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