Lillie Ammann is a talented writer that I`ve known for some time now and I`m very pleased to host her on her virtual book tour right here on At Home Mom! Her book, Dream or Destiny, is an excellent read for anyone who likes a good mystery with some romance blended in.

Lillie will be hanging out here today, so feel free to ask her any questions in the comments and check back often to see what she has to say. In the meantime, you can read my review of the book here.

Please take the time to read Lillie`s interview below and for more information on her book or tour, you can check out her website!

1. How did you get started in writing?

I’d always dreamed of writing “someday” but was too busy running my interior landscape company. Then I had a stroke and realized “someday” wasn’t guaranteed. It took many months before I was physically able to write or type, but as soon as I could, I started my first novel. That book was Stroke of Luck, a romance novel about a woman who has a stroke. As you might guess, the story was autobiographical. The romance part of the story was fiction—I had been married to my own romantic hero for nearly 25 years at the time—but the heroine’s physical and emotional experiences were mine. After I finished Stroke of Luck, I kept writing. I sold my interior landscape business and started a new career as a freelance writer and editor.

2. Where did the idea for Dream or Destiny come from? Do you ever dream something that comes true?

No, I have never dreamed anything that came true. I got the idea from a television documentary about a woman who dreams about murders and helps the police solve crimes. I was fascinated and thought about that woman a lot, eventually leading to Dream or Destiny.

3. Was there a lot of research that went into this book, as in, did you check out precognitive dreams, or was it mostly an intuitive work?

It was mostly intuitive as far as the precognition goes. However, I did research child and spousal abuse since the murder victim and her brother, the hero, had been abused. My husband is a gun expert and collector, so my research on the murder weapon consisted of consulting him.

4. What is your writing process, do you work steadily, in spurts, with music, etc.?

I work steadily in spurts. When I was writing Dream or Destiny, I belonged to a critique group that met every week. I usually wrote a chapter the day before the critique meeting. When I write, I work steadily for several hours, but I don’t write every day. I work in silence—no music or any other distractions.

5. How long did it take you to write the book and how long to get it published?

The first draft took about six months, but it took ten years to get it published. I had an agent for two years, but after the contract expired, I put the manuscript away for a time. Periodically I would take it out and try again. I described this experience in more detail in a recent blog post.

6. What was the most challenging aspect of working on Dream or Destiny?

All the highs and lows during the ten years from writing to publication. Several times, I gave up temporarily. But somehow I always kept coming back and trying again. It seems this book really wanted to be published.

7. What would you say is the most difficult part of working at home? And the best?

The most difficult part for me is the temptation to work when I should be spending time with my husband and relaxing. It helps some that my office is a portable building in the backyard. At least I have to walk out the back door to go to work. But I tend to work too long without taking a break, and I’m available to my writing and editing clients more than I need to be.

The best part is being able to work on my own schedule. I work best in the late afternoons and into the night and don’t do mornings. Working from home lets me work on this schedule as well as to adapt my schedule when needed. Health challenges would make it difficult for me to work outside the home.

8. Were friends and family supportive of you during the process of creating and pitching the book?

Yes, very. My husband is my biggest supporter. At my book launch party, he wore a Dream or Destiny T-shirt and a nametag that read Jack Ammann, aka Mr. Lillie. My youngest sister helped me at the party and has always been a cheerleader for me. My late parents were proud of my writing. Other family members and friends have been great as well.

9. What words of encouragement would you give to writers who haven`t yet successfully published a book?

Be prepared for lots of rejection. Remember that every no is just one step closer to a yes, and don’t give up. Listen to advice from experts and other writers—my critique group was a big help to me—but evaluate everything you’re told and follow your instincts.

10. Can you offer At Home Mom readers any tips for staying relatively balanced when working on a huge project like this?

You have to prioritize and schedule. Figure out how much time you can realistically devote to the project and set small goals. By writing one chapter, just a few hours, a week, I finished Dream or Destiny in about six months. If I had spent a few hours each week trying to get the book published, I’m sure it would have happened long ago. But I didn’t work at it consistently and consequently it took ten years.

11. Any new projects that you`re working on, or is the main focus on promoting Dream or Destiny at the moment?

The focus right now is on promotion, but I’m in the planning stages of two new novels—the stories of Tess and Bonita, who are secondary characters in Dream or Destiny. I haven’t started writing yet, but I’m thinking the stories through and deciding which to write first. I do a lot of mulling over characters and plot before I ever sit down to the computer.

Do you have a question for Lillie? Feel free to ask in the comments, she`ll be hanging around here today, ready to answer any questions you have! Take advantage of it . . . after all, how often do you get the chance to grill a published author?

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• Dream Or Destiny: The Book Tour
• Dream or Destiny: A Very Good Read