An Interview with Jill Williamson by Guest Blogger, David.

Welcome to David, my first ever guest blogger. He is 14 and a student in my writing class. David loves computer and video games, but isn’t too fond of Taylor Swift music. Since the age of seven, he’s been hooked on Legos and Star Wars. When he grows up, David would like to be a Lego designer.

David had the chance to ask author, Jill Williamson, a few questions.

1. What got you interested in your career?

I’ve always been a creative person. I started sewing in the fourth grade. I remodeled my clothes and dreamed of a career in fashion design. After years of that, I tried to start my own businesses. I made jewelry, handbags, and wedding gowns. I even tried quilts. I kept asking God, “What do you want me to be when I grow up?” And I hoped that it would somehow involve my creative side.

Around the time I became fed up with anything related to fashion, I was working part-time as the secretary at my church. Since my husband was a youth pastor and I spent a lot of time helping him, I felt God wanted me to use my story to reach teenagers. I spoke to our youth group often, but I figured if this was going to work, I needed to get in front of more teens somehow. So I researched being a speaker. I learned about “putting in time” or speaking for free to build my name. Still, I had two small children and not a lot of time to dig up speaking engagements.

I discovered that organizations sometimes hire speakers based on articles written by the speaker. The idea of writing an article appealed to me—I could do that from home—so I looked into writing articles. Then a new Harry Potter book came out, and another barrage of debates within the church community flared up as to whether or not the books were acceptable for Christians to read. The debate inspired me to write my own teen novel that all Christians would love. Yes, I was a bit naive. I have since learned that no one likes every book. But that’s how I got started writing fiction.

2. Do you have any fears about your writing?

Sure. I worry that people won’t like my next book and that my career will end. The publishing industry is a business, so if books don’t sell well, publishers tend not to buy more books from those authors.

I also worry that I’ll make a huge mistake in my story, that I will miss something important in my research. I try to take care when I research things, but sometimes it’s hard to find the right information.

3. How many books have you written?

I’ve written nine books, five of which have been sold.

4. What’s your favorite book that you’ve published?

To Darkness Fled (Blood of Kings, book 2)

5. What do like about that book?

I love Achan. He stands up for what’s right, even if it gets him hurt. He’s sarcastic and heroic. And I love Vrell. She is smart and an emotional basket case. I love the tension in that story, how it keeps going. How things unfold. How everyone is dying for Achan to find out Vrell’s secret. And I love how it all comes out. I even love the agony of the ending.

6. Have you gotten any awards for books that you’ve published?

I have. My first novel By Darkness Hid (Blood of Kings, book 1) won a Christy Award, an Epic Award, and it was also named as one of Voice of Youth Advocates Best Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Novels of 2009.

Thank you to Jill Williamson for being part of this project. Please check out her website by clicking here.