Introducing Christine Dillon

Fast Five

Kiwis or koalas?

Kiwis – they’re rarer and I love birdwatching. I have never seen a wild one.

Mangoes or kiwifruit?

Mangoes – I grew up in Asia. I do like Kiwifruit too – after all they’re Chinese gooseberries originally.

Hobbits or Mad Max?

Definitely Hobbits. Lord of the Rings is one of my favourite series of all time. I read it regularly.

Books or TV?

Books as my imagination is better than the best special effects.

Plotter or pantser?

Plotter but only as far as getting the main chapter idea and putting it on a corkboard. I have one coloured card for each chapter.

Getting to Know Christine Dillon

What’s something interesting or unusual about you that not everyone knows?

Although I’m Australian, I went to Asia at the age of two months with my missionary parents and lived there until I was seventeen. Then I spent twenty-two years there as a missionary. So I’ve actually spent most of my life in Asia and speak two Chinese languages/dialects.

Where are you from?

Sydney, Australia

What books are set in your town/city?

My six!

About Your Writing

What do you write?

I started with non-fiction and have written on practical ministry subjects (Bible storytelling/evangelism; 1-2-1 discipleship; spiritual warfare). I’ve just completed my sixth novel in a series that are contemporary Christian fiction/women’s fiction. The novels are based in Sydney but travel to other states and places too and the sixth even makes it to New Zealand.

How long have you been writing?

I went to a boarding school (because my parents were missionaries) and I had to write a weekly letter from age five. I credit that with learning the discipline of writing. I started writing to share with others at about age 30. My first writings were poetry and magazine articles. However, as a missionary, I’ve also been writing a monthly prayer letter since 1998. All those letters built my writing muscles and helped me learn to communicate a point succinctly which is useful for writing non-fiction.

I started practicing writing fiction in 2013 and then worked on what became my first novel for about four years.

What inspired you to start writing?

I started writing poetry inspired by my theology lecturer. He just had a way with words and several of us found ourselves scribbling lines during his classes (I think he’d have been pleased). The non-fiction came about because people kept asking me to train them and it became easier to write what I thought would just be a pdf to give to them. I hadn’t planned on anything being published but an editor saw it and approached a publisher.

Fiction was a totally different journey and came about after a push I received during a half-day of prayer. I was doubtful I could ever write a novel (or would want to) but eventually God provided the final shove as I was reading Francine Rivers’ Sons of Encouragement. I found it inspiring and suddenly saw that I could link my Bible storytelling ministry with writing by doing a practice novel in the Biblical Fiction genre. I wrote two practice novels and then finally started on the first novel that I hoped to publish. I thought I was writing a standalone novel but it seems God had other ideas and it became a series of six.

What’s your favourite part of the writing process?

I enjoy the research and initial planning. Then I love the final edits after the copy editor has been at work and the book is at the polishing stage. Best of all is the final read-through out loud when I’m amazed at how far the manuscript has come.

How does your faith impact your writing?

It permeates the whole process. I wouldn’t have started writing without God pushing me and giving me the ability. I have sent up many “Help!” prayers along the way. I’ve prayed about who could edit and about cover design. I’ve asked for help with networking and to avoid big (usually expensive) mistakes. I’ve taken my disappointments and frustrations to him and I’ve thanked him over and over for all he has brought about in the whole process.

I also find myself challenging other Christian writers when they say they don’t have the money or resources and I remind them that as Christians we have far more resources than secular writers. God is more than able to provide the money needed for editing … and I tell them some of my experiences.

Finally, where’s the best place to find you online?

I am very active on Facebook in various author groups. I also have my own Facebook group for people who want to pray for my writing and also vote on covers/titles … I can also be contacted through my website or author page on Facebook.