Saturday Stories, Angie Lofthouse

Angie Lofthouse is my guest for today's Saturday Stories. She is an amazing woman who I can't wait to meet in person one of these days. Perhaps at a writing conference if I'm lucky.


I have been following Angie's blog Notes from the Writing Chair for over a year now. Her posts are filled with wonderful writing advice, great book reviews, inspirational nuggets and tidbits of family fun. Head on over and check out her blog. You won't be sorry!


Without further ado....I'd like to introduce you to Angie Lofthouse.

Some background on our honored guest...


Angie Lofthouse is a stay-home mom of six children. Her fiction has appeared in NFG, AlienSkin, Amazing Journeys, The Sword Review, Dragons, Knights and Angels, Irreantum, and Unparalleled Journeys. She is also an editor forMindflights Magazine. She lives in a little canyon in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains with her family of writers, artists, singers, composers, illustrators and musicians. You can learn more on her blog (www.notesfromthewritingchair.blogspot.com)


Q--When did you begin writing?


A--I started writing in earnest in 1994. Before that I had written a couple of little things, but had an "I can't do that" complex, which thankfully I got over.


Q--At what point did you start considering yourself a bona-fide writer? Was there a moment or an event that helped you come to this realization?


Well, sometimes I still don't consider myself a bona-fide writer! I remember the first time I experienced a little bit of success. I came home from a grocery shopping trip, and my husband came out all excited to tell me that I had one third place in a short story contest that I entered. I called the contest coordinator and found out I had won $50! That was my first taste of actually feeling like my writing was worth something.

Q--What things have you done to improve your writing talent? Would you recommend any books or classes or exercises to help a writer improve?

A--My two favorite writing books are Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card and Beginnings, Middles, and Ends by Nancy Kress. I learned so much from those two books. Going to conferences did a lot for me too, as did League of Utah Writers meetings.The best way to improve, though is to just write!

Q--Please list any awards you've received and any stories (short and tall), poems, etc. that have been published


A--I have published twelve short stories in a variety of magazines. Most recently, "Shepherds and Kings" was published in StolenChristmas and Other Stories of the Season, and "Highway Songs" was published in Residential Aliens. A full list of my publications can be found on my blog (www.notesfromthewritingchair.blogspot.com), along with links to most of the stories if you'd like to read them! As far as awards, I placed in the top ten in the Science Fiction Writers of Earth short story contest for five straight years. Last year, I won the Publisher's Choice award in LDS Publisher's Christmas story contest.

Q--Describe your writing process. Do you have a routine or are you at the whim of inspiration?

A--I try to write for an hour or so in the morning and again in the evening after everyone is in bed. I also take advantage of times I can write during the day if they come up. It's not a real set schedule, but I try to write every day. I don't always have a solid outline, but I definitely need some kind of plan to get me where I'm going. I edit as I go, because I like to get it right the first time. I still have to revise, though.

Q--What is your preferred method of writing? Computer or Notebook

A--Notebook all the way! I can take it anywhere and write anytime. Maybe I could do that with a laptop, but I really don't like sitting in front of the computer for long stretches of time. I can curl up and get comfortable with my notebook and pen.

Q--What is the strangest thing, person, place, or event that has inspired your writing?

A--My story, "Getting Colder" was inspired by a disease that affects angelfish. It had all kinds of bizarre symptoms that became really creepy and interesting when I applied them to humans.

Q--Could you explain your role with Mindflights Magazine? Writers are always looking for places to submit work and this would be a great way to show them one more outlet.

A--I have been editing for Mindflights (www.mindflights.com) since it was formed from a merging of The Sword Review and Dragons, Knights, and Angels in 2008. Before that I was an editor for The Sword Review. Basically, I read submissions and decide which ones I'd like to publish. We have a team of editors that read and decide on the stories. We publish speculative fiction (ie. science fiction, fantasy, and occasionally horror) that is entertaining, enlightening and uplifting. We publish both short fiction and poetry. We are a Christian centered publication, so our stories are family-friendly and Christian-friendly. You can visit our website to read our submission guidelines. We'd love to hear from you!

Q--Please share a story about writing with us. It can be any kind of story you like, just something to provide inspiration or motivation or just a good laugh to those who read it.

A--When I graduated from college, I told my husband I wanted to be a writer, but at that time I lacked the confidence to actually start writing. In March of 1994, I worked as a doughnut fryer in a bakery to help get my husband through school. He was on campus and saw that Orson Scott Card was doing a book signing at the BYU bookstore that day. He ran home and grabbed some of my Card novels and went to the signing to surprise me. He came to pick me up from work that day with the signed books. I was happy. Then he told me that he'd mentioned to OSC that I wanted to write science fiction. I remember thinking, Why on earth would he say that?Then I realized that he was right. I did want to write science fiction. OSC had given my husband some great advice to pass on to me, and so I began. I'll always be grateful that my husband did that for me! 


Thanks, Angie!


If you're interested in joining me for Saturday Stories, please be sure to let me know by dropping a note in the comment box of this post or over at my blog!