Our series of interviews with contributors to Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul continues with Christian novelist Allison Pittman. She is the author of Ten Thousand Charms and Speak Through the Wind from the Crossroads of Grace series. We´ll talk to Allison about her work and her contribution to Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul.
It´s great to have you with us today, Allison!
Thanks! Great to be here!
Let´s get started by finding out more about you. How long have you been writing? Who or what are your biggest sources of inspiration?
I guess I´ve always been writing, but I didn´t begin to seriously pursue publishing until about ten years ago. A woman in my church started up a critique group, and having the support of a writing community made all the difference. I´d have to say that my greatest inspiration is my Lord, Jesus Christ. When you know him, know the Truth that He represents, you just want to tell that story over and over. That´s what I do, just with different characters living different lives.
You left a 17-year career in teaching to become a Christian novelist. Were you scared? How did/do you deal with moments of self-doubt?
Not as scared as my husband was. But seriously, yeah, it was terrifying. Actually, it was terrifying the whole time I was considering leaving. Once Mikey and I talked it out and decided, together, that I would resign, it was like a load was lifted off my back. I dealt with the self-doubt by working really, really hard—because now this wasn´t just a dream or a hobby. (I mean, my husband´s a teacher, too, and it´s awfully hard to support a family on one teacher´s salary…) But then I just had to rely on God´s promise where he says, "Commit to the LORD whatever you do and your plans will succeed" (Proverbs 16:3).
You´re also a wife and mother of three. How do you juggle your different roles? Do you have any advice for other women who are trying to deal with that delicate balance between a career and a personal life?
One of the things you have to remember is that sometimes, they simply don´t balance. When I´m up to my nose in deadline, sorry, sometimes family time suffers. Then again, I might turn down an opportunity to go to a conference because the cost in both time and money seems too high. All women are perfectly capable of wearing many hats, and more often than not we have to wear them at the same time. The thing is, all aspects—kids, hubby, career—deserve the same amount of respect, but not always the same amount of hours.
Tell us about your novels.
Crossroads of Grace is a historical series following the lives of three women: Gloria (Ten Thousand Charms); Kassandra (Speak Through the Wind) and Belinda (With Endless Sight). These three women spend about a year together in a brothel in the Wyoming mountains. Each novel stands alone, but by the end of the series the reader has a much more complete and complex understanding of these women. They are all very different—they came into each other´s lives with a story, and their time together impacts the direction their lives will take.
These novels are also time period pieces. What type of research did you have to perform to create a realistic portrait of the times for your readers?
I tried to do as much through primary sources as possible—reading journals of frontier women. The second book in the series, Speak Through the Wind, takes place in New York City during the mid-1800´s, so I read a lot of newspaper accounts, and editorials to get some of the details of the criminal element there. One thing I like to do, too, is to simply look at time-period photographs. Look into the eyes of those women, and the story is just right there. I looked at 19th century mugshots of prostitutes, and their eyes were just dead. I wanted to reach out and save them, so I tried to save a few in my stories.
My favorite part of the research was going to the town of Southpass, Wyoming, a perfectly restored historic town that factors into my books. It´s so awesome to stand in those buildings and think about the lives lived there.
Let´s talk about Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul. How did you get involved in this project?
I serve as co-president of our Christian Writers Group here in San Antonio. I went to the CS website and downloaded a list of up-coming titles, distributed it to my group members, and said, "Come on, people. Everybody here has at least one story that will fit on this list." I challenged them to write and submit, and when I saw the AI book, I thought—"Oh, this is too cool." Everybody who knows me knows that, from January to May, I am a woman obsessed!
Your contribution to this anthology focuses on part of your time teaching at Judson High School in Converse, Texas. Does the school know they have now been immortalized in a Chicken Soup book?
Oh, yes. And I´m obligated to bring them all to Oprah with me!
How long have you been watching American Idol?
Audition 1. Season 1. I remember during that first season, I threatened to resign my citizenship if RJ became the next American Idol. That made my sons (about 6 years old) furious, because they thought he was cool. One week, I told them that if RJ got eliminated, they could have ice cream for supper every day for the rest of the week.
What is it about this cultural phenomenon that fascinates you and glues you to your television?
Well, I hope some expose never comes along to disillusion me, but I love the fact that a nation comes together for something. Producers might manipulate the way some of the contestants are presented, but ultimately, it comes down to phone calls. And I love the human element—those stories of hopes and dreams. The mothers and grandmothers in the audience. Remember Vonzell? I loved watching the pride on her father´s face every time she sang! Plus, it´s one of the few shows my now thirteen-year-old sons and I can still sit down and watch together.
Has American Idol touched your life in a personal way? Did you ever think a television show could become so much a part of your life?
Sadly enough, I´m not surprised that AI is a part of my life, because that´s the way I can get with just about anything I watch. I don´t watch a lot of shows, but those I do, I´m fiercely loyal to. Don´t even get me started on Biggest Loser or Gilmore Girls…
As for touching my life in a personal way? Let´s talk about Taylor Hicks. I would never take on a name like Soul Patrol, but I totally predicted he would be at least in the top three when he initially auditioned. I mentioned in my article that, for that entire season, I signed all my AI emails "Mrs. Taylor Hicks." I bought the CD, loved it…but not as much as I´d hoped I would. And I was disappointed. More than that, I felt let down, but at the same time fiercely defensive. There´s something about watching and rooting for someone week after week that makes you feel invested in their success. When that didn´t happen, I took it personally. Maybe because he was the only contestant I ever actually voted for.
What´s up next for you? Are there future projects you would like to share?
I am super excited about a book I have coming out in the fall. It´s called Saturdays with Stella and it´s about the spiritual lessons I learned when I took my dog, Stella, through a six-week obedience course. It´s a blast!
Is there anything you would like to add?
Please stop by and visit my website www.allisonpittman.com. And…if he´s still in it…vote for Jason Castro!
Thanks for sharing your time with us today, Allison. Keep writing and watching American Idol. I wish you success and happiness in all you do.
Thanks! God bless you!
Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul can be purchased at Amazon.com and at booksellers nationwide.
It´s great to have you with us today, Allison!
Thanks! Great to be here!
Let´s get started by finding out more about you. How long have you been writing? Who or what are your biggest sources of inspiration?
I guess I´ve always been writing, but I didn´t begin to seriously pursue publishing until about ten years ago. A woman in my church started up a critique group, and having the support of a writing community made all the difference. I´d have to say that my greatest inspiration is my Lord, Jesus Christ. When you know him, know the Truth that He represents, you just want to tell that story over and over. That´s what I do, just with different characters living different lives.
You left a 17-year career in teaching to become a Christian novelist. Were you scared? How did/do you deal with moments of self-doubt?
Not as scared as my husband was. But seriously, yeah, it was terrifying. Actually, it was terrifying the whole time I was considering leaving. Once Mikey and I talked it out and decided, together, that I would resign, it was like a load was lifted off my back. I dealt with the self-doubt by working really, really hard—because now this wasn´t just a dream or a hobby. (I mean, my husband´s a teacher, too, and it´s awfully hard to support a family on one teacher´s salary…) But then I just had to rely on God´s promise where he says, "Commit to the LORD whatever you do and your plans will succeed" (Proverbs 16:3).
You´re also a wife and mother of three. How do you juggle your different roles? Do you have any advice for other women who are trying to deal with that delicate balance between a career and a personal life?
One of the things you have to remember is that sometimes, they simply don´t balance. When I´m up to my nose in deadline, sorry, sometimes family time suffers. Then again, I might turn down an opportunity to go to a conference because the cost in both time and money seems too high. All women are perfectly capable of wearing many hats, and more often than not we have to wear them at the same time. The thing is, all aspects—kids, hubby, career—deserve the same amount of respect, but not always the same amount of hours.
Tell us about your novels.
Crossroads of Grace is a historical series following the lives of three women: Gloria (Ten Thousand Charms); Kassandra (Speak Through the Wind) and Belinda (With Endless Sight). These three women spend about a year together in a brothel in the Wyoming mountains. Each novel stands alone, but by the end of the series the reader has a much more complete and complex understanding of these women. They are all very different—they came into each other´s lives with a story, and their time together impacts the direction their lives will take.
These novels are also time period pieces. What type of research did you have to perform to create a realistic portrait of the times for your readers?
I tried to do as much through primary sources as possible—reading journals of frontier women. The second book in the series, Speak Through the Wind, takes place in New York City during the mid-1800´s, so I read a lot of newspaper accounts, and editorials to get some of the details of the criminal element there. One thing I like to do, too, is to simply look at time-period photographs. Look into the eyes of those women, and the story is just right there. I looked at 19th century mugshots of prostitutes, and their eyes were just dead. I wanted to reach out and save them, so I tried to save a few in my stories.
My favorite part of the research was going to the town of Southpass, Wyoming, a perfectly restored historic town that factors into my books. It´s so awesome to stand in those buildings and think about the lives lived there.
Let´s talk about Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul. How did you get involved in this project?
I serve as co-president of our Christian Writers Group here in San Antonio. I went to the CS website and downloaded a list of up-coming titles, distributed it to my group members, and said, "Come on, people. Everybody here has at least one story that will fit on this list." I challenged them to write and submit, and when I saw the AI book, I thought—"Oh, this is too cool." Everybody who knows me knows that, from January to May, I am a woman obsessed!
Your contribution to this anthology focuses on part of your time teaching at Judson High School in Converse, Texas. Does the school know they have now been immortalized in a Chicken Soup book?
Oh, yes. And I´m obligated to bring them all to Oprah with me!
How long have you been watching American Idol?
Audition 1. Season 1. I remember during that first season, I threatened to resign my citizenship if RJ became the next American Idol. That made my sons (about 6 years old) furious, because they thought he was cool. One week, I told them that if RJ got eliminated, they could have ice cream for supper every day for the rest of the week.
What is it about this cultural phenomenon that fascinates you and glues you to your television?
Well, I hope some expose never comes along to disillusion me, but I love the fact that a nation comes together for something. Producers might manipulate the way some of the contestants are presented, but ultimately, it comes down to phone calls. And I love the human element—those stories of hopes and dreams. The mothers and grandmothers in the audience. Remember Vonzell? I loved watching the pride on her father´s face every time she sang! Plus, it´s one of the few shows my now thirteen-year-old sons and I can still sit down and watch together.
Has American Idol touched your life in a personal way? Did you ever think a television show could become so much a part of your life?
Sadly enough, I´m not surprised that AI is a part of my life, because that´s the way I can get with just about anything I watch. I don´t watch a lot of shows, but those I do, I´m fiercely loyal to. Don´t even get me started on Biggest Loser or Gilmore Girls…
As for touching my life in a personal way? Let´s talk about Taylor Hicks. I would never take on a name like Soul Patrol, but I totally predicted he would be at least in the top three when he initially auditioned. I mentioned in my article that, for that entire season, I signed all my AI emails "Mrs. Taylor Hicks." I bought the CD, loved it…but not as much as I´d hoped I would. And I was disappointed. More than that, I felt let down, but at the same time fiercely defensive. There´s something about watching and rooting for someone week after week that makes you feel invested in their success. When that didn´t happen, I took it personally. Maybe because he was the only contestant I ever actually voted for.
What´s up next for you? Are there future projects you would like to share?
I am super excited about a book I have coming out in the fall. It´s called Saturdays with Stella and it´s about the spiritual lessons I learned when I took my dog, Stella, through a six-week obedience course. It´s a blast!
Is there anything you would like to add?
Please stop by and visit my website www.allisonpittman.com. And…if he´s still in it…vote for Jason Castro!
Thanks for sharing your time with us today, Allison. Keep writing and watching American Idol. I wish you success and happiness in all you do.
Thanks! God bless you!
Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul can be purchased at Amazon.com and at booksellers nationwide.
