A Talk with Author Donna Goodrich

I’m speaking today with Donna Goodrich. Donna is no novice to the publishing world. She is a freelance proofreader, editor and speaker, and the author of 25 books and over 700 published manuscripts. Her latest books are A Step in the Write Direction; The Freedom of Letting Go; The Little Book of Big Laughs; and My Rhyme-Time Bible for little ones, 15 Bible stories in poetry.

Donna, you’ve had two books release this year, and one slated for next year. You’re a busy writer! What prompted the recent revision of three of your books? 

I had two Step in the Write Direction books—the original and a student edition with assignments throughout. This got too confusing so when the original publisher went out of business and a new publisher picked it up, I decided to combine the two. It’s written simply enough so that junior high students on up can use it. The newest edition released earlier this year.

When The Freedom of Letting Go went out of print and a new publisher picked it up, I decided to add discussion questions at the end of each chapter so it could be used in a small group setting. The revised edition hasn’t yet released.

Was it difficult devising questions for each chapter for Freedom of Letting Go? Was there something in particular you used to guide you as you wrote them?

Not too difficult. I think I just tried to think of questions I would have after reading each chapter, and questions that would lend themselves to a wide variety of readers.

Did you get discouraged at any point? If so, what helped you get back on track?

The only thing that discouraged me on the two books was 1) on Step, the page proofs kept coming back wrong—charts on two pages instead of one, pages numbers off, etc. Found out my program wasn’t compatible with the publisher’s. Once we got this straightened out, things went smoothly, and 2) on Freedom, they hired a freelance editor who didn’t realize the book had already been edited and published and she made a lot of changes—even rewriting actual quotations. I finally just asked her for her corrections and went through and made those I thought needed changing (not very many!).

A lot of writers dislike marketing. How do you feel about it?

Author marketing plays a very large part in sales, and in today’s world, we can’t expect the publisher to do it all.

It’s not so much that I dislike marketing, I just had a problem with time as this last year my husband was in the hospital several times and passed away March 7; my daughter and I both were in the hospital with pneumonia and we both had torn rotator cuffs. Also, I had to have extensive work done on my mobile home so I haven’t put as much time into marketing as I should. Praying to have more writers workshops and speaking engagements next year which will help.

I’m so sorry to hear it’s been such a hard year for you. I hope you are physically on the mend and working through the grieving process. Events like can totally derail us. Still in all that you managed the proofing and editing fiascoes mentioned above and had a children’s book release just last week, right?

Actually, it releases in January with Harvest House Publishers, but it’s available for pre-order on Amazon. It’s called My Rhyme-Time Bible for little ones and is 15 Bible stories all in poetry for children 5-8.

Where can we buy your books?

Amazon (newest version of Step not yet available), some Christian bookstores, on my website, or by emailing me at dgood648@aol.com. I have inventory on hand. A list of my other books can be found on my web site: www.thewritersfriend.net. I have a big half-price sale going on now on some of my books, including the originals of Step and Freedom. Readers can email me for details.

Thank you for being here today, Donna, and sharing your valuable time with us. I hope I get a chance to hear you speak some day soon; the “Your Four Selves” sounds intriguing.

Donna’s website is filled with a lot of helpful information, so, readers, I hope you visit and check it out.  Donna also blogs every Monday at: http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com  If you have a question for Donna, post it in the comments box.

A Review of A Step in the Write Direction

“As a writer myself, I know how important it is to have someone ‘there’ to show you the ropes and how to get started. I had many questions in the beginning of my career, and wish I had had a book like A Step in the Write Direction to provide the answers. This book not only gives practical advice but encouragement for both the beginning writer and one who has been in the field for years. You’ll want to keep it handy as you’ll be going back to its pages every time you have a question” (Dave Clark, songwriter/creative director Lillenas Publishing Company. Winner of the 2009 ASCAP Living Legend Award and writer of 26 songs that have gone to #1 on the charts).