An Interview with Patti Tingen

Patti: Oddly enough, I discovered I was a writer during the creation of my first book. What started out as a simple desire to preserve the stories of my extraordinary cat Knickerbocker, turned into something far greater than I would have ever imagined. He Was Never a Cat: Knick’s Story, My Story, Your Story became an incredible adventure as I honed my writing skills and formed lasting relationships throughout the writing, publishing and marketing process.

Dennis What type of writing do you do?

Patti: Both of my books are Christian inspirational non-fiction books. As I have continued on my spiritual journey and allowed God to deepen my faith, I have seen how He has used my experiences to impact others. Through many teaching opportunities at my church, God has blessed my words of personal experience and testimony to impact folks in a positive way. He has now transferred those spoken words to written text but my ministry remains the same—to use my life experience to teach, encourage and bless others.

Dennis: You have written a book titled A God for all Seasons. Please give an overview of the book and what inspired you to write it and what you want people to take from it?

Patti: A God for All Seasons: Inspiration and Reflection for All Times takes the reader on a yearlong journey, month by month. Starting with winter, the book moves through the natural seasons of the year. Each chapter then correlates with a month, starting with December, and offers personal testimony and insights for the various spiritual seasons that we all experience. The theme of the book is that God’s love and presence is with us through every time and every season of our lives.

During a time of reflection, I recognized in a deeper way than ever before, that God was with me in every single situation throughout my life. In every loss, every victory, every tear, and every joy—God was there. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.” With new revelation, I understood that we truly have a God for all seasons. Then I thought, “That would make a great book title!”

I pray my readers would find encouragement and hope for their life’s travels. I want them to know how much God cares for and loves them.

Dennis: You have written a book titled: He Was Never a Cat. Please give an overview of the book and how it connects to A God for All Seasons

Patti: He Was Never a Cat: Knick’s Story, My Story, Your Story is the heartwarming true story of my remarkable tabby Knickerbocker. Humorous tales relating the many antics of Knick are told in each chapter. I then draw a spiritual parallel to the characteristic described and share some of my own testimony and personal experience. The “Your Story” section of each chapter offers the reader an opportunity to apply the principles to his or her own life.

He Was Never a Cat has no direct correlation to A God for All Seasons. However, the common theme in both books is the sharing of my spiritual journey and the hope that my experiences will bring encouragement and inspiration to my readers.

Dennis: Do you belong to any social networking sites?

Patti: I’m on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/patti.tingen. My author page is https://www.facebook.com/PattiTingenAuthor?ref=hl

Dennis: What suggestions do you have for other writers/authors?

Patti: I found it very helpful to join a website with other aspiring writers. The feedback and critiques that I received from fellow authors was invaluable to me in polishing my manuscript for A God for All Seasons. I’d also encourage writers to never give up on their ideas. Do the hard work to see your story in print and you’ll never regret it!

Dennis: What have you learned about the publishing industry that might help other authors or those who may want to be authors?

Patti: I’ve learned that there are no easy or quick roads to publishing, even if you self-publish. It takes a lot of work if you want to produce a quality product. I’d also encourage any aspiring authors to do extensive research on publishing companies before they commit to one and be very wary of anything that looks too good to be true.

Dennis: What kind of marketing activities have worked for you that you might suggest to others?

Patti: Pounding the pavement! I’m so grateful to have gotten both of my books in a number of bookstores and gift shops. I looked for places that would fit my books’ genre as well as match with my targeted audience and simply asked, knowing the worst they could say was no. It was definitely easier with the second book as I already had contacts in place. I have the books on consignment at several places which presents a less riskier option for the store owner. Local newspaper articles have also been helpful. I’ve also participated in a number of vendor shows. Selling the books in person and being able to connect with readers and sign the books for them is a huge benefit! Online, I’ve looked for book reviewers or bloggers that enjoy my genre and contacted them for reviews and/or giveaways.

Dennis: Do you write articles? If yes please provide some links where others can read what you have written?

Patti: At this point, I have not written any articles.

Dennis: Is there anything else you would like to add to include in this interview? (information that you might suggest to other authors related to your publishing process or anything you would want others to know about you that may not be covered in the questions. Basically what would you want others to take away from this interview).

Patti: It might sound trite, but if even one person is touched by something you have written, it makes it all worthwhile. Every time I receive positive feedback from a reader, I feel so blessed. I am amazed and humbled that God would choose to use my words to impact even one person, much less hundreds. And to have some of those readers be from various parts of the world is even more incredible to me!