Writing with Gratitude: an Interview with Barbara Swihart Miller

What is your name/pen name/name you are comfortable giving us?

Barbara Swihart Miller

What project or projects, if any, are you currently working on?

I have so many projects that are in the process of being written. The most prominent one, my WWII novel, that I believe I am ⅔ of the way through my first draft. In addition to this, I am working on two devotionals, one genealogy volume, two cookbooks, and a few short stories.

What project or projects, if any, are on your back burner?

Again, I have so many ideas for future books. The next novel I have planned after this is a murder mystery. I will not start it, however, until the current novel is out to Beta Readers.

Why do you write?

It is something I have always wanted to do. Other than my short stories, I write to give people a voice. My novels are inspired by real people and events of the past. I like to tell tales that are not well known, and my genealogy volumes strive to make sure people do not remain forgotten. My devotionals are to help people who are struggling in their parenting journey.

How long have you been writing? How much of that time seriously? (You define what seriously means.)

I dabbled when I was younger off and on, but school and shenanigans took up most of my time. When my daughter turned three, about 2½ years ago, and went into preschool, that’s when I started to seriously write my first novel. I started writing my first devotional about a year before that. Both are now self-published.

Do you have any published works?

Yes. My first novel, The Call of Gold, a devotional, How to Love Your Preschooler, and two genealogy volumes. The devotional has also been translated into Spanish.

What is the best part of writing for you?

I honestly love the research behind what I am writing. I love immersing myself in the era and learning not just the politics of the time, but how people themselves lived. In regard to the devotionals, I love how close I get to God while writing. More often than not, he disapproves of what I originally intended to write and gives me a new topic. Even my cookbooks (that I work on pretty infrequently) are derived from family recipes, and I enjoy trying to modernise them and adding family anecdotes to the recipes.

Never let it be said that stay-at-home moms have nothing to do all day!

What is the hardest part of writing to you?

Giving my characters more emotion. I have brilliant scenes where the emotions are in your face, but mostly through the book, they are subtle, and you have to read between the lines. It is my biggest weakness in fiction writing and one I strive to overcome.

Another difficulty is finding uninterrupted time to write. Never let it be said that stay-at-home moms have nothing to do all day! Between errands, laundry, doctor’s appointments, and calling insurance and doctors, I have to strive to carve out time to write.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

I work on another project. I would say that is why I probably have so many going at once. I find it difficult to focus on one project for more than a couple of hours at a time – if I have that much time to work on writing to begin with.

Have you ever seen the sun set over the ocean?

Yes! I don’t get to see it often, but when I have the chance, I never miss it!

How did you find Pen & Pier?

Through NaNoWriMo.

What is your favorite genre to write? What is your favorite genre to read?

Historical Fiction. Both writing and reading. I dabble in reading other genres every once in a while, but it is not what I prefer.

If you could collaborate with any writer, who would that be?

I would love to write with Jennifer Coburn. She writes amazing WWII era novels and all them are centered around little-known stories, just like what I strive to accomplish. Hers are a little more lighthearted than mine,a nd I think that together, we could write something absolutely amazing!

Would you like to live in your own stories? Why, or why not?

No. Because, although I love history, I think it is important to ground myself in the present as well. I love my life right now. Even though things are very difficult, and I resided in more lows than highs, I would not trade it for the world. I have my husband and kids who would probably not be here in the time periods that I write. There was a high infant mortality rate during the gold rush era, so many people died on the Oregon Trail, and during WWII, my husband would be in the military. No, I’ll take now and I thank God every day for what I have been blessed with, even the hardships.

Do you have a favorite joke? (You can tell us, but you don’t have to.)

Sorry. I suck at telling jokes! But this is the one I always turn to when pressed:

Knock, knock.
Who’s there.
Banana
Banana, who.
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Banana.
Banana, who?
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Orange.
Orange, who?
Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?

What book(s) or stories would you want everyone to read?

The one(s) that keep you going all night, if someone asks about them. My all-time favorite would be The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. It made me think and keeps me thinking about it every once in a while.

What are you looking forward to the most for your writing within the next year?

Finishing my novel!