Gail Sattler’s story “It All Adds Up To Love” in Barbour’s Aloha anthology sent me running to my computer to search for Hawaiian vacation packages. Terrific characterization, vivid description, and flawless writing technique have made her a reader favorite, which is why several of her novella anthologies hit the CBA and www.christianbook.com bestseller lists. With 20 fiction and nonfiction books in print and five upcoming releases, Sattler has built an admirable writing career.

In addition to her writing, she and her husband offer web design and hosting services through their company “GetSet! Communications, Inc.” Visit their site (www.getset.com) and scroll through the client list. You will find a few familiar names such as Debra White Smith and Aisha Ford along with many other business and personal web sites.

Gail graciously agreed to take time from her busy schedule to share information about her writing. I hope you enjoy this look behind the scenes into Gail Sattler’s writing career.

Q: How many years have you been writing?
A: Nine years. I started writing when the company I worked for closed, and I thought I would have lots of time on my hands. Little did I know that writing would soon consume me.

Q: How much time do you spend writing daily?
A: It depends if I'm on a deadline or not. Some days I have the best of intentions, and end up staring at the screen or playing games. Other times, when I'm on a deadline, or in the middle of a part that won't let go of me, I can write from the time I get up to the time I go to bed, minus mealtimes, some family time, work if I have to work that day, and minus as little housework as I can get away with doing. My kids know how to work the vacuum and run the dishwasher quiet well.

Q: Do you set daily goals for your writing?
A: I have no daily goals, as some days are more, some days are less. For me, a "good" writing day is 1200 words. However, writing 1200 words for me takes a long time. I write slowly, and don't do a lot of editing. Generally, my goal is to write two or three hours per day, unless I'm approaching a deadline. Then my kids scatter when they see me coming for the computer and I only move to get more coffee. My family knows the phrase "Mommy's on a deadline" and all its ramifications quite well.

Q: Where do you write?
A: We have a few computers in the house, so I move between two of them. The one I like to use is in the basement in a nice office/utility type room, comfortably decorated, with 2 workstations, a futon, my piano, a couple of bookshelves, and the framed artwork from my first published book hanging above the computer. This computer is hooked up to the Internet, so it's convenient to stop and do online research when I need to know something. As well, when I have a question I can pause to e-mail my current research guinea pig then keep writing. Sometimes I just need to take a mental break for a few minutes and answer a couple e-mails before I continue. I also have an older computer on a small workstation in my bedroom. That one isn't online, and it doesn't do good games, so I use it when the kids are suffering from computer withdrawal or the house in general is too noisy.

Q: Do you plot or not?
A: Yes, I outline every book. I try to remember to briefly write out my character details so no one changes hair or eye color half way through the book. Then I make notes on my first scene and my last scene. Then I do the parts in the middle. The reason I outline my final scene before I start outlining individual scenes is because every scene must point toward the end of the book. Therefore, I know the end first, before I start the rest.

Q: Is your first draft rough or do you aim for a polished manuscript the first time through? How much time do you spend on rewrites?
A: My first draft is very close to my finished product. I don't polish too much, unless I'm over my word count, which has happened too often lately, and then I have to trim it down. If I don't have to cut words, I finish the book, read it through once and clean it up, and it's done. I generally don't do rewrites because I write each scene knowing my ending, so I know where I'm going and what I'm aiming for.

Q: How does your Christian walk influence your writing?
A: When my life is over, I want to be able to stand before God and lay all my books at His feet and hear "well done, good and faithful servant." If something can't fit into that criteria, it won't be in my books.

Q: Do you have any advice for a new writer?
A: Don't write to sell. Write because you love to write and have a story (or ten) to tell. Compare writing to playing an instrument. I will never be a professional musician, but I took lessons for years and worked hard to be good, and I love to play. That is how it should be with writing. Do it because you love it. If you sell, it's a bonus.