Today we continue celebrating with
Jessica Errico on the release of her memoir,
(Click this link
for Part One of our Q & A with Jessica.)
How long have you been writing? What kinds of training did
you receive?
Writing has always been in my DNA. Since elementary school, I have dabbled in
writing stories, mostly drawing from personal experience. In sixth grade, when
I desperately wanted my ears pierced and was waiting on my parents’ permission,
I wrote an essay about a caterpillar that wanted the same.
Later, in college, I concentrated on art and psychology. It
wasn’t until I was a mother of two young children that I got serious about
studying the craft of writing. It seemed the perfect creative outlet for me
while the kids were napping, and my “creative juices” didn’t involve making a
mess!
Have you attended writers’ conferences? Do you belong to a
critique group? If so, what do you find most helpful about them?
Back in the mid-eighties, my husband encouraged me to invest
in my writing. I was invited to join a Christian critique group on Bainbridge
Island, Washington, that provided accountability for me. What a privilege to
share my writing with other sisters in Christ! Due to my association with
Elaine Colvin and Kay Stewart, I learned of opportunities to submit my writing
and had a couple of devotionals published.
During those years, I attended writers’ conferences in Warm
Beach, Washington, and even traveled to California to attend one at Biola
University. Those were enjoyable, intense events, where I assimilated lots of
information and attended workshops to learn about writing as a craft.
Tell us about your published devotionals.
I was fortunate to have wonderful contacts in the local
writing community. For example, I learned that Mary Beckwith was compiling an
anthology of devotionals geared to women contracted by Regal Books. I submitted
devotionals that were published in the first and second anthologies: Still
Moments and Songs from the Heart. My humble writings were printed alongside
others by Shirley Dobson, Edith Schaeffer, and Gloria Gaither. I was thrilled!
Payment was in the form of free books and a sense of accomplishment. These may
be out of print, but they are on my bookshelf!
Jessica, you’ll be glad to know I found both devotionals for
sale through Amazon. For our friends here at SM 101, I’ve included titles and
links for both:
Do you have a writing routine?
Now that my book is finished, I don’t have a fixed routine.
Yet, while writing my memoir, it took precedence along with my commitment to
Bible Study Fellowship. I forced myself to invest several hours a day typing at
the computer.
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What were the hardest parts of getting your memoir to
publication? Did you ever want to give up? If so, what kept you going?
The sheer discipline of writing it was the most difficult
part for me. Yes, there were times I wanted to give up, months when I didn’t
write a word. But I knew God had called me to write my story, and I always came
back to it. Plugging away at one chapter at a time helped me not to be
discouraged by the enormity of the project. And I think it’s essential to have
a couple of encouragers who will pray for you along the way.
I also struggled with how to format my story—whether to
break it into sections for readability—and what kind of theme would pull it
together for the reader. These were big unknowns and I really wrestled with
them. I committed to listening for God to show me how to do it. He used
unsolicited comments, the books of others, and even a movie to give me little
nudges.
Then I had to decide whether to pursue the traditional publishing
route, or to self-publish. After much hand wringing, I opted to assume the
financial risk of self-publishing in order to get my message out more quickly.
If you had it to do over again, what would you do
differently about writing and/or publishing your memoir?
Not to beat myself up for being inconsistent with a writing
schedule.
What hope can you offer memoirists struggling to finish
their stories?
Don’t give up! If you need some encouragement to stick with
it, share a section with a trusted friend, or another committed memoirist.
Sometimes it just takes a quick pat on the back, or nod of approval, to keep
going. Remember, our stories can bring glory to God and hope to others.
Tell our SM 101 group about specific activities you’re doing
to market/publicize your book. What advice can you give to those who have not
yet published?
The fun has just begun! I need to remind myself, as well as
your readers, that we can meet the challenges of marketing with an upbeat
attitude, perseverance, and grace. I’m currently sending off samples to chain
bookstores in hopes they’ll carry it in their inventories, and I’m looking
forward to scheduling author book signings as well. It was a surprise to hear
of so many folks purchasing my book in an E-book format!
Would you like to write another book?
I’m thinking about writing another memoir about how, in
answer to my neediness, God gave me the sweet unconditional love of my husband.
How can we buy The Mother Gap: A Daughter’s Search for Connection?
The softcover is available through me (jcerrico72@gmail.com)
for $15 (which includes shipping), and you can use Paypal; or on Amazon. Kindle and Nook versions are also available.
Thanks, Jessica, for your interview, and again,
congratulations on publishing your memoir. Flannery O’Connor said, “When the
book leaves your hands, it belongs to God,” and I know you’re eager to see all
He will do to hearten and heal others through your story. Bless you for the
hard work you put into it.
Bionic and bilingual, author Jessica Errico is passionate
about people, art and writing. Her travels throughout the United States,
Europe, and parts of Mexico, have given her a rich appreciation for natural
beauty, cultural traditions, and spiritual heritage. Educated at Dickinson
College in Carlisle, PA., she has worn many hats: art gallery manager,
full-time mom, newspaper columnist, worship leader, and director of a pregnancy
care center, to name a few. Her favorite titles are: wife, mother and
grandmother!
When not preparing for her Bible Study class, Jessica loves
to read, write, scrapbook and spend time with friends. An avid Qwirkle player, she enjoys sweet
fellowship with those who also cherish the Lord!
Be sure to check out Jessica’s blog, Mother Daughter Tango.
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