Sunday, May 23, 2010

Shannon Taylor Vannatter's "White Roses"


We're happy to have Shannon Taylor Vannatter with us today talking about her book, White Roses. To learn more about Shannon and her book, read on!



Your title: White Roses
1) How did this story come to you?
My dad always gets me flowers or balloons for Valentines. As he’s gotten older, I’ve wondered what it will be like the first time they don’t come. I turned it around and thought about it if I died first and figured he’d take them to the cemetery. Then it became the story of a grieving husband and the florist who does his wife’s flowers.


2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I wrote the book in 2001. It was the one I could never put away. At the American Christian Fiction Writers’s conference in 2005, Tracy Peterson brainstormed with me and helped me fix the conflict issue, but my craft was still lacking. I kept tweaking, changing, and gave it a new setting, Romance, Arkansas. That’s when the story came alive. At the ACFW conference in 2008, I took Margie Lawson’s editing class, which finally got my craft publishable.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Despite my southern accent, I lived in Illinois as a kid. My husband was my high school sweetheart. We were married for sixteen and a half years before our son was born.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m currently finishing the third book in my series for Heartsong Presents.

5) Parting comments?
I feel very blessed and in awe when I think of people, I don’t know, reading my words.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.shannontaylorvannatter.com/
http://www.inkslingerblog.com/
http://www.inkspirationalmessages.com/
http://www.heartsongpresents.com/
http://www.fictionfinder.com/

21 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great book. I would love to win it.

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  2. I've read other posts about this book and am so anxious to read it....can't find it locally. Please enter me to win!! THANKS!!
    jackie.smithATdishmailDOTnet

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  3. Hi Shannon! Your book sounds very interesting! I should would like to win it!

    walkinfaith4him(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  4. That sounds like a great story. I grew up in the north too and have a southern accent after living in Virginia for 30+ years!

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  5. Hi Shannon, White roses sounds like a great book. I can't wait to get it and read it. Also wonderful interview. Thanks for sharing,
    Heidi
    I'm already subscribe to the blog newsletter and I left a comment for Shannon...
    heidijohnjeffATverizonDOTnet

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  6. I love the cover of the book. Please add me to the drawing.

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  7. Shannon,

    I enjoyed learning more about your work and how you chose the topic for this book! I look forward to reading it!

    edwina[dot]cowgill[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  8. Love heartsong books. Please include me thanks
    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  9. Thank you for sharing the journey to write your book.
    Kaye Whitney
    kayewhitney@bellsouth.net

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  10. thanks for the chance to read this beautiful book :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  11. I love the way this book came fromt he idea of how her father always gave her balloons and flowers for Valentine's Day. That is my favorite holiday and I always do something special for each of my five kids. My kids in return always do something special for me as well, knowing it's my favorite day.

    This books sounds so interesting. Sad and heartwrenching because of the grieving husband, but good. I love reading books about grieving people and how they deal with it, as I am still grieving the death of my mother, even though it has already been 7 years.

    I'm going to go check out Shannon's website to see about other books now.

    Thanks.

    ~Steph
    soklad@hotmail.com

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  12. Sounds like a very interesting story! I'll post a review on my blog if I win it.

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  13. What a thought-provoking book! I'm glad you kept at it until it was published - it sounds like it is going to be well worth the effort & can't wait to read it. I would love to win a copy!

    Thanks for the interview & thanks K. Dawn for presenting Shannon to us.

    God go with you both -

    Beverly

    bgrider2@cox.net

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  14. Enjoyed the interview! White Roses sounds really good. Can't wait to read it. Please enter me to win :) thanks!
    august.lady54@gmail.com

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  15. Thank you so much for sharing about your book! I would love to win a copy because it looks like a great read. : ) Thank you for the opportunity!
    potosrose(@)gmail(.)com

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  16. This is my kind of book!
    Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]otmail[dot]com

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  17. K. Dawn,

    Thank you for inviting me to be on your blog. It was an honor.

    Karla,
    Knowing someone would like to win my book does my writer's soul good.

    Jackie,
    You're anxious to read my book. I think I'll go cry now.

    LaTawnia,
    I'm glad you think it sounds interesting. Writing is such a solitary profession and I'm so anxious for reader feedback.

    KrnDrln,
    I moved from a large city to very rural Arkansas at 12. I thought my life was over for years. Little did I know it had only just begun. Now I wouldn't live anywhere else.

    Heidi,
    You can't wait to get my book. Be still my writer's heart.

    Edwina,
    I love the cover too. They did a great job and the church looks a lot like the real one I used as a model.

    Abi,
    A heartsong was the first inspirational romance I ever read. Oh if only I could remember which one.

    Kaye,
    It's been a long journey. But worth it.

    Steph,
    So sorry to hear about your mother. Thankfully I still have both my parents and can't imagine life without them.

    Karen,
    You think my book is beautiful. Thank you so much for the nice compliment.

    Bobble,
    If you don't win, get with me about a review. Disclaimer: I am not pulling for Bobble to win.

    Beverly,
    The story went through at least twenty different versions before Heartsong nibbled and then three more after the contract. I'm very happy with the end result.

    Cas,
    Can't wait to read my book? Y'all are making me feel so good.

    Renee,
    Thank YOU for stopping by and for the compliment. I really enjoyed being here.

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  18. What a great Loving Dad you have! Think to deeply can make you sad....my Dad has been gone for awhile now, wish I had a memory of him like you have.
    Would Love to read this book!
    Thank You...Maureen

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  19. Cindy,

    Thanks. I'm so glad it's your kind of book. I started writing because I couldn't find the kind of book I wanted at the library. Christian fiction was in its infancy then. Now the list in endless, thank goodness.

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  20. Hi Maureen,

    He's a great Daddy. He took me all the way to Dallas a couple of years ago, when I won my first big writing award. While I went to the conference, he swam in the hotel pool with my five-year-old, all day long.

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  21. We have a winner! Jackie Smith, congrats! You win a copy of White Roses. I so hope you enjoy it.

    I appreciate everyone who stopped by. Happy reading.

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