Today our author spotlight features Deanna Nowadick who talks about her latest release. A devotional I am happy to recommend.
Rapid questions
Long black or flat white?
I’m a writer from the Seattle area of Washington state who starts EVERY day with an iced latte. I’d love to find myself in Australia one day ordering a flat white.
Kiwis or koalas?
Koalas. My son travelled to Australia in college. As you can see, he had a great time.
Mangoes or kiwifruit?
Yes and yes. Kiwifruit (fresh) and mangoes (dried)
Cricket or rugby?
Cricket, although I’m still learning how the game is played.
Hobbits or Mad Max?
Hmmmm. I think I’d have to go with hobbits. I’m still trying to figure out the last Mad Max movie…
Books or TV?
Books. But that said, I’m binge-watching Firefly Lane on Netflix.
Sun or snow?
Sun. Lots of sun!
Desert or sea?
My husband Kurt and I enjoy fall and winter trips to Palm Springs in Southern California for desert sun. It’s definitely our happy place.
Plotter or pantser?
Plotter. I’m waaaayyyy too Type A not to have an outline.
Getting to Know Deanna Nowadick
Where are you from?
I’m from the State of Washington in the Pacific Northwest. I grew up in Tacoma where I went to school and college. My husband and I moved to Monroe when he got teaching and coaching positions here at the high school.
P.S. If you’ve read Kristin Hannah’s Firefly Lane, Monroe is next to Snohomish where Kate and Tully meet and begin their very special friendship.
What’s something interesting or unusual about you that not everyone knows?
Almost three years ago, I started walking. Every day. Every single day. In the cold. In the rain. Spring and summer, fall and winter. I marvel at the hedge roses and the sunrise. I’m on Walk #1045. It’s become a wonderful time to disconnect from the electronics and reconnect with God.
What do you like to eat or drink when you’re writing?
I’m not sure I could write without that iced latte beside me. I type and sip, sip and type.
What did you learn while writing your last book that surprised you?
My last book was a devotional, thirty reflections from the garden. Each story was short and I had to learn to “hit my mark” and keep to the point. My editor would ask that I cut and cut and cut. It was much harder than I expected. I learned the value of each word, each sentence, each idea.
Do you have a day job that helps (or hinders) your writing?
I am a financial professional whose had the joy of telecommuting for years. Not having to drive into an office, I’m able to use my mornings and afternoons to write. My co-workers are very supportive, and I’m tickled to be able to do what I do for our clients and also my readers.
What’s your favourite hobby (not including writing or reading)?
When not working and writing, I enjoy gardening, knitting, and needlepointing. In Book 3, Bouquet of Wisdom, I include a story about patience and forget-me-nots. Let’s just say I was not at my finest when I found myself with the wrong color of green yarn. Do you have forget-me-nots in Australia? (Jenny here Yes we do although not as easy to find as they use to be)
What types of books do you like reading?
I’m very eclectic. I just finished Lisa TerKeurst’s Good Boundaries and Goodbyes and Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughter House-Five. In my to-be-read pile are Great Expectations and George Orwell’s 1984, classics I’ve never read (really!), Trust, the Pulitzer Prize winner, and Francine Rivers’ A Lineage of Grace.
About Your Writing
What’s your favourite part of the writing process?
I’m always quite anxious as I get started, not sure what to write, what to say, how to get words down on paper, and then I’ll be in the middle of my morning walk and a story will come. And then the story will connect to a bigger, more important lesson in life. And then I’ll find myself hurrying home to write.
How does your faith impact your writing?
In every way. All three of my books connect antics and vulnerabilities to bigger, more important lessons in life. My writing has given me the opportunity to connect my own delightfully ordinary stories to God’s extraordinary love and faithfulness. In turn, I’ve been able to help other women do the same, so we can be encouraged and empowered knowing God’s been in the details—always has been, always will be.
What’s your biggest writing challenge?
The editing process is not fun. It’s necessary, but not fun. I cling to every word on the page. By the time I get a paragraph in place, I own it, I treasure it, I want it. And then the editor gets out her red pen and puts a line through it with “Not necessary” in the margin. I’ll pout and fuss and then go for a walk. By the time I’m back to my desk, I’ll see what my editor meant and strike the paragraph. But it’s painful!
Who or what are your main writing influences?
My family. My books share my story and our family’s story. It was also my mother who would read my silly family letters and say, “You need to write a book!”
If someone was just starting out with their first novel, what advice would you give them?
Write. I have yet to speak and not had someone come up to me and say, “I have a story to tell, but…” It happened again after church on Sunday. We all have a story to tell and we start by telling one story, by getting words down on paper. We craft that “terrible” first draft as Anne Lamott likes to say. We write. And then we write some more the next day.
About Bouquet of Wisdom: Reflections from the Garden
Describe Bouquet of Wisdom in one or two sentences.
Bouquet of Wisdom is a book of thirty reflections paired with garden flowers. Each story connects to a God who’s been in the details of our life, helping us find wisdom and gain understanding.
Who is the target audience for Bouquet of Wisdom? (Define genre, book category eg. Readers who like…)
Bouquet of Wisdom is a 30-day devotional for women who are looking for an inspirational message. The book can be read daily, weekly, or in a couple sittings.
What inspired you to write Bouquet of Wisdom?
I’ve wanted to write a devotional for some time. I originally thought about using Proverbs for as a guide, but for this first devotional endeavor, I decided to use Proverbs as well as other favorites.
And I love flowers and time in my garden. Bouquet of Wisdom gave me a chance to celebrate both.
What inspired you to choose the setting for Bouquet of Wisdom?
I love the garden, but I didn’t expect this book to follow a flowery theme. As I started getting more and more stories told, I began to see the links. First came dandelions. Then came daffodils and sunflowers. Then came the “ah, ha” moment…
What did you learn while writing Bouquet of Wisdom that surprised you?
Writing shorter chapters was harder than I expected. Because I was limiting the word count for each story, I had to stick to the theme. Every word mattered and if it didn’t advance the story, it had to go. It was very difficult at first, but it taught me to get to the point and stick to the point.
And while choosing Bible verses for each chapter, I also had to be careful that I didn’t make the verses say what I wanted them to say. A couple times my editor had to caution, “That’s not what the verse is about…”
What would you like readers to take away from reading Bouquet of Wisdom?
I would love for readers to see that our really big God is in the smallest details of our life: a handful of dandelions, weeds on the side of the road, a twisted, overgrown camellia bush. As I say in the introduction, “the flowers surrounding us create a unique collection of memories, and those memories can become an exquisite bouquet of wisdom and understanding.”
Please tell us about your upcoming book releases.
In Bouquet of Wisdom, I tell a story about picking up my grandson Enzo at day camp. His summer routine included different adventures and different locations each week. When he saw me walk in, he said, “Grandma, you found me!” And I replied, “Enzo, Grandma will always find you.”
I’d love to make Book 4 a children’s book with the title, “Grandma, you found me!”
Book – additional information:
Book Description:
Bouquet of Wisdom is a book of thirty reflections from the garden, personal stories paired with a flower and a lesson. Deanna looks back on a little girl who found courage in a bouquet of sticky dandelions. She remembers the teenager who wilted in the spotlight of a daffodil pageant. She treasures Christmas memories that included poinsettias in a hospital, paperwhites sitting on rocks, and beautiful blue hydrangeas in Brazil. Some blossoms remind her of God’s faithfulness; others emphasize his care. Each experience was a lesson learned-in season and out of season, in the garden and in life.
Book Sales links:
Deanna Nowadnick is a motivational speaker and author of three books, Fruit of My Spirit, Signs in Life, and Bouquet of Wisdom. Her writing has appeared in several print and online publications. When not writing, Deanna provides administrative support for The Planner’s Edge, an investment advisory firm. Deanna lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Kurt.
Author website and social media links:
- https://deannanowadnick.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/FruitofMySpirit
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-nowadnick-51b97435/
- https://www.instagram.com/deannanowadnick/
Deanna and Jenny, thanks for sharing your fun interview. 🙂