Name: Maxine Billings

Birthday: December 29, 1959

Occupation: Program Assistant

City of Residence: Temple

Favorite Movie: Father of the Bride (Part One).  I love to laugh.  Steve Martin is hilarious.  His reaction to his daughter’s engagement is funny.  I love the part when (after she announces her engagement at the dinner table) he pictures her as a little girl telling her family she’s getting married.

1.  What inspired you to write?

My first cousin, Jacquelin Thomas, has been writing for several years.  She’s a wonderful writer, and her books inspired me.

2.  Tell us a bit about A MEASURE OF FAITH.

A MEASURE OF FAITH is the story of a 39-year old woman who learns two weeks before her 40^th birthday that she may need to have a hysterectomy.  She begins to have a different outlook on life and desires to explore new things.  Her desire for independence and her changed attitude cause friction within her marriage.  Just when she begins to accept the change that is about to take place in her life, she discovers her birth mother who abandoned her at four years of age.  However, more traumatic than this discovery is who her mother actually turns out to be.

3.  Do you have a full-time career outside of your writing?

Yes.  I am a Program Assistant for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice.

4.  When you’re not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to engage in spiritual activities, spend time with my family, and do container gardening.  I also love to dance and listen to jazz and R & B.

5.  What is something about you that your readers would be surprised you do?

As a stress reliever, I usually spend my lunch hour sitting in my car in the Big Lots parking lot near my job reading, praying, and meditating.

6.  What do you enjoy most about writing?

I love creating characters and bringing them to life on paper and in people’s minds.

7.  How did you feel when you got THE CALL?

Excited and nervous.

8.  How did you get started writing your novel?

Well, I knew that whatever I wrote I wanted to inspire people in a positive way.  I wanted to write about family issues because family is important to me.  When we’re experiencing problems, we sometimes take out our frustration on those we love the most without really meaning to.  So I tried to think of an issue that would put a strain on the family members’ relationship with each other so I could show how they worked through it.  I decided on a women’s health issue that would test the family’s commitment to each other.  Originally, it was early menopause.  My editor, Glenda Howard, wanted the character to have fibroid tumors with the possibility of a hysterectomy.  I liked her idea because this is a health issue that many women today face.  Since most fibroid tumors shrink or stop growing with menopause, we decided to remove the menopause element.  Sometimes when we’re having one problem, it seems like one bad thing after another starts happening.  I needed something additional for my main character to have to endure.  So I came up with the idea of having her birth mother who abandoned her turn out to be someone she knew.

9.  What process do you use in writing your novel?

Jacquie (Jacquelin Thomas) gave me some helpful advice.  She told me to write my characters’ biographies, select a location or setting for the story, and do an outline of the story.  In writing my characters’ biographies, I write things such as their full name, nicknames (if any), birthdate, age, profession, physical description, and their personality.  This helps me to develop their characters more fully.  I get story ideas from everyday life, reading newspaper and magazine articles, and things I see on television.  I try to write my ideas down before I forget them.  I play around with them in my head and on paper.  If something doesn’t feel right, I throw it out or put it aside in case I want to use it later.  When I get writer’s block, I don’t try to force myself to write because I will get really stressed.  I give myself some time away from writing.  The next thing I know, the ideas start flowing again.

10.  How long does it take you to complete a manuscript?

At this point, it takes me a while because I work full-time and have spiritual and family obligations.  So it takes me several months.

11.  How easy or difficult was it to become published? 

A MEASURE OF FAITH was not my first manuscript.  Getting published was difficult for me because after my first manuscript was rejected in early 2000 by a different publishing company, I became somewhat discouraged and stopped writing for a while.  However, once I got refocused and received encouragement from Jacquie, it was much easier to start a new manuscript and submit it.  The most difficult part was the waiting once I had submitted the manuscript.

12.  Is being a published writer what you thought it would be like?

Definitely not.  As a reader, I didn’t know about all the editing writers have to do.  When I bought the book off the store shelf and read it, I just assumed that what I read was the way it was written from day one.  Was I in for a surprise!

13.  What do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment as a writer and why?

Actually getting published because after my first manuscript was rejected, I almost gave up on myself as a writer.  As a child, I was quiet and shy and spent a lot of time reading and writing more than the teacher required on writing assignments.  As much as I love reading and writing, becoming a published author is not something I ever thought about pursuing.  I’ve heard other writers refer to their books as their babies.  I understand why now.  You carry that baby around with you, putting a lot of time and energy into it.  Then when you finish, it’s like giving birth because you’re so happy that it’s finally here.  You sweated and labored long and hard, and look at what you have to show for it.  It’s a part of you.  It’s something you’re proud of.

14.  Give us a sneak peek at your next book(s).

My upcoming book is titled A TEST OF FAITH.  It deals with the effects of losing a loved one in death.  It is the story of twin sisters who are extremely close.  My main character, Andrea, loses her husband to a drunk driver.  The day after his funeral, she learns she is pregnant.  Andrea and her sister, Leah, become even closer during this time.  However, a year later, Andrea is still grieving over losing her husband and becomes angry and bitter at everyone, especially her sister who is engaged to her deceased husband’s brother.

15.  Do you like communicating with your readers?

Yes.  I love it.  They’re the reason I write.  I want to know what interests them so I can write good wholesome stories that they can enjoy and relate to.  I also want to know what they think of my stories and the characters.  I appreciate their input, support, and encouragement.