About June Foster:
An award-winning author, June Foster is also a retired teacher with a BA in Education and a MA in counseling. In 2013, June’s book Give Us This Day was a finalist in EPIC’s eBook awards and in 2014 a finalist in the National Readers Choice Awards for best first book. Ryan’s Father won The Clash of the Titles book of the month for January 2014 and was one of three finalists in the published contemporary fiction category of the 2014 Oregon Christian Writers Cascade Writing Contest and Awards. Deliver Us was a finalist in COTT’s 2014 Laurel Awards. June has written four novels for Desert Breeze Publishing. The Bellewood Series, Give Us This Day, As We Forgive, and Deliver Us, and Hometown Fourth of July. Ryan’s Father is available from WhiteFire Publishing. Red and the Wolf, a modern day retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, Books One, Two, and Three in the Almond Tree Series, For All Eternity, Echoes From the Past, and What God Knew are all available from Amazon.com as well as Misty Hollow. June enjoys writing stories about characters who overcome the circumstances in their lives by the power of God and His Word. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who find freedom to live godly lives.
What inspires you to write?
Six years ago I’d never written a book but found a story lurking inside my head. I happened to tell the story to my daughter. She remarked that I should write the story. That was the spark I needed. To date I’ve written and had published ten novels and am working on number eleven. God has guided and directed my writing journey and inspires me to compose stories that honor Him. My goal is to help readers find answers to their own life problems through the similar situations of my characters.
Tell us about your writing process.
For all of my ten novels, I’ve outlined the story and written chapter by chapter summaries. In the past I’ve always felt the need to be organized and write in a systematic manner. On book eleven which I’m working on now, I decided to depart from my usual method and try “seat of the pants.” So far I like the way the characters “talk” to me and events unfold. I still can’t resist my sticky notes and bulletin board, though.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Yes, I’m afraid I fall into that category of authors who speak to their characters. But sometimes they talk back and tell me how their lives should go. At this point, I’m sure my husband and other “non-writers” would question my sanity. Thank the Lord I’m not alone in this.
What advice would you give other writers?
My primary piece of advice to other authors is grow tough skin and don’t give up. I’ve discovered that writing fiction can be very subjective. One reader may love the story and another close the book after the first chapter. Agents and editors are the same. Many will not offer contracts after you’ve submitted your title. Realistically, a potential book must be able to make money for your agent or editor. If they deem your work unmarketable, it will go into their slush pile. As a Christian author, I try to listen to what God is saying about my work and keep on writing.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
When I first started writing, I submitted my work to traditional publishers and have so far been blessed to work with three – Desert Breeze, White Fire, and Helping Hands Press. In my critique group, we decided to self publish a series of novellas based on fairy tales. Mine was a modern day retelling of Little Red Riding Hood called Red and the Wolf. When I saw how convenient self publishing was, I decided to self publish my books – The Almond Tree Series. Self publishing has become quite popular in recent years and may be a way to publish the story that a traditional house won’t take. A word of caution, however. An author should take even more responsibility in seeing that the book is well written and edited.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I believe that eBooks and self publishing are here to stay. Many people are reading electronically today on Kindles, iPads, Nooks and a lot of other devices. Ebooks are cheaper and easier to store. Traditional houses are accepting fewer submissions based on waning sales of paper backs so I think we’re going to see more self publishers in the future.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Contemporary Christian romance
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
June Foster Home Page Link
Link To June Foster Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on other site
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Instagram
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit, to allow you, the reader, to hear the author in their own voice.
