Interview With Andrea Renee Cox
Ello everyone! Today I'm doing another interview! In celebration of Springtime in Surrey's birthday, I'm talking to Christian romance and women's fiction author Andrea Renee Cox! Hope you guys enjoy the post! C: Hi, Andrea! So nice to have you on the blog! Let's get started. How did you get started writing? When did you begin to seriously write? (As in, with the mindset of "this could be published"?)
A: Throughout elementary, middle, and high school, I enjoyed writing assignments of all types. My desire to write stories, though, began after years of watching my dad work on screenplays. So at age sixteen, I began writing screenplays. Several years in, I decided to switch to books, and I found that the format is much more my style.
When I began with the screenplays, I had that mindset of “this could get produced one day.” None of them have yet, but I’m still hopeful of circling back to my scripts and improving them with all the writerly things I’ve learned since I began this whole writing gig.
As for my books, as soon as I switched to that format, I believed they could be published. Should those early ones have? Not in their current states! They need tons of work to be publishable. But I have had three stories published in anthologies, and my fourth comes out in November.
C: So cool! I hope your screenplays are made into films soon! I'd love to see them on the big screen. What genres do you primarily write in?
A: I write contemporary and historical Christian fiction stories in the subgenres of romance, women’s fiction, and romantic tragedy. My stories are typically rich in emotion, because I love having my emotions moved as a reader and as a writer. I like to recommend reading my stories with a box of tissues nearby.
Readers who enjoy books by Christina Suzann Nelson, Kathryn Cushman, and Kim Vogel Sawyer will likely find something to love about my stories too.
C: I'll all for evoking emotion in the books I read. What was your first ever completed writing project? (And where is it now?)
A: My first completed writing project, not counting school assignments, was a screenplay that featured a love triangle, a summer camp, and the name of my favorite actor at the time. That thing is still in my computer, and I’m sure I have a printed-out copy somewhere, but it won’t see the light of day until I completely overhaul it. The writing was very basic. While I knew story from having watched thousands of movies, I didn’t know the nuances of what made a story great or how to implement many writing techniques at that time. I could definitely do a much better job with that story now.
C: Hey, kudos for keeping your first piece. I think I've deleted mine from all existence. XD What was your first ever published project?
A: My first published story was Any Thing, which featured a young widow with five rambunctious kids, who have little respect for a living room, and an overbearing mother-in-law. One thing I love about this story is that I filtered in homage to Dr. Seuss, one of my favorite children’s book authors.
Any Thing may be found in the Anything anthology. The purchase links are on the Books page of my website.
C: Thanks for sharing that! I'll be sure to check out the anthology. So, let's talk more specifically about your Springtime in Surrey novella. How did you get the idea for The Cottage on the Hill?
A: As soon as I found out the anthology would be set in Surrey, an image of a woman crying into her tea outside a quaint cottage came to mind. Shortly thereafter, the tagline “She cries into her tea every afternoon. He wonders why” came to mind. Between the two, I knew God was giving me a story I had to explore. I’m so grateful to Him, for Cottage quickly became the most romantic story He’s ever given me to pen. It’s definitely a favorite.
C: That's such a beautiful premise! And it is such a beautiful romance to read. How long did it take to write The Cottage on the Hill, and what were your favorite (and least favorite) parts of the process?
A: I’m not sure how long it took to write Cottage. Tracking that sort of thing is not typically part of my writing process. I keep track of daily word counts, but I usually have multiple projects in the works, not to mention edit jobs that are also in the mix, so the days and months on a single project can easily blur together.
My favorite part of the process was a tie between the exploration of the first draft and the moment I realized I had finally earned that final chapter.
My least favorite part of the process was the struggle to earn that final chapter. It was hard to let go of certain bits and find new ways of working the story to transform it from mediocre to marvelous. But the final result was certainly worth the struggle.
C: I've also found final chapters are really hard to write for that reason, so I can commiserate with you there. What's your favorite thing about being published in an anthology (or multiple anthologies, since The Cottage on the Hill is obviously not your first rodeo)?
A: I enjoy the collaborative spirit. When authors come together to publish a collection of stories, we each do what we can to help it be a success. We share ideas and use our individual skill sets to create not only the stories but also marketing efforts, graphics, games, and events to help readers discover our books as well as have fun through the book launch and several months afterward. In addition, I enjoy getting to know the authors I didn’t previously know. Some solid friendships can come out of being published in anthologies.
C: I feel the same way! I've made some great friendships from my very limited experience being published in an anthology. That collaboration is so rewarding at the end.
For those of my readers who didn't know, Andrea Renee Cox is going to be published in Wild Blue Wonder Press's upcoming anthology, Novelists in November, as well! What can you tell us about your story?
Thanks for asking! My story for Novelists in November is Melting-Pot Thanksgiving about an imperfect daughter tasked with creating the perfect Thanksgiving while balancing a tight writing deadline and guiding her two foster children through difficult life events.
I loved getting to play with different cultures in this story. I approached the cultures from a conservative point of view, as opposed to liberal, because people are so much deeper than the color of their skin. In Melting-Pot, I explored the emotions and circumstances of each character as an individual and also as a member of the family, and that allowed me to create a safe place for each one to express themselves while having conflicts with and supporting one another.
Here’s the full blurb for my story:
Melting-Pot Thanksgiving by Andrea Renee Cox
Can she create the Imperfect Perfect Thanksgiving?
Sarah Jones has many responsibilities on her plate, but Thanksgiving wasn’t supposed to be one of them. When asked to host the holiday, she can’t resist taking on the task, even if it means dealing with her mother’s interference. As Sarah juggles meal preparations, a tight writing deadline, and guiding her two foster children through difficult life events, she must also find the courage to buck high expectations and family traditions.
Will this novelist trust that the dreams God gave her will gain strength through the trials of strained communication, disappointment, heartache, and altered plans? Will this imperfect daughter find a way to craft the perfect Thanksgiving dinner?
C: Wow, I love how this story sounds! Do you have any other upcoming projects you're working on that you can tell us about? :D
A: I always have several projects in the works but usually can’t say much about them until I’m certain which one will be published next. However, I will share a bit about the story currently on my desk: It’s a short story that features wintry weather, a curious little girl, and a pregnant mama who loves her family. Later this summer, I’ll be getting beta reader feedback on this shorty. I’m eager to dive into revisions!
C: Sounds like fun! I can't wait to read it! Thanks for coming onto Southern Scribblings today, Andrea. It was lovely to have you here!
A: Thanks for the lovely interview, Cate! It has been a joy chatting with you today.
If you want to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Springtime in Surrey with us, I've left a description of the book and links to buy it below! And don't forget, pre-orders for Novelists in November are also live right now.
Have a great rest of your week, everyone!
Until next time,
~Cate
Springtime in Surrey
Springtime in Surrey is a Christian anthology featuring eight lovely stories. With a mix of historical and contemporary, romance and women’s fiction, a dash of mystery here and there, real-life themes presented in a loving way, and a vintage feel, this story is sure to charm lovers of Christian women’s fiction. Add to Goodreads Novelists in November
Novelists in November is a Christian short story collection featuring eleven emotional tales of authors finding their calling in Christ and pursuing hope, joy, and inspiration. This anthology contains touching stories from contemporary and historical fiction authors with a mix of romance, women's fiction, and mystery! Add to Goodreads
A: Throughout elementary, middle, and high school, I enjoyed writing assignments of all types. My desire to write stories, though, began after years of watching my dad work on screenplays. So at age sixteen, I began writing screenplays. Several years in, I decided to switch to books, and I found that the format is much more my style.
When I began with the screenplays, I had that mindset of “this could get produced one day.” None of them have yet, but I’m still hopeful of circling back to my scripts and improving them with all the writerly things I’ve learned since I began this whole writing gig.
As for my books, as soon as I switched to that format, I believed they could be published. Should those early ones have? Not in their current states! They need tons of work to be publishable. But I have had three stories published in anthologies, and my fourth comes out in November.
C: So cool! I hope your screenplays are made into films soon! I'd love to see them on the big screen. What genres do you primarily write in?
A: I write contemporary and historical Christian fiction stories in the subgenres of romance, women’s fiction, and romantic tragedy. My stories are typically rich in emotion, because I love having my emotions moved as a reader and as a writer. I like to recommend reading my stories with a box of tissues nearby.
Readers who enjoy books by Christina Suzann Nelson, Kathryn Cushman, and Kim Vogel Sawyer will likely find something to love about my stories too.
C: I'll all for evoking emotion in the books I read. What was your first ever completed writing project? (And where is it now?)
A: My first completed writing project, not counting school assignments, was a screenplay that featured a love triangle, a summer camp, and the name of my favorite actor at the time. That thing is still in my computer, and I’m sure I have a printed-out copy somewhere, but it won’t see the light of day until I completely overhaul it. The writing was very basic. While I knew story from having watched thousands of movies, I didn’t know the nuances of what made a story great or how to implement many writing techniques at that time. I could definitely do a much better job with that story now.
C: Hey, kudos for keeping your first piece. I think I've deleted mine from all existence. XD What was your first ever published project?
A: My first published story was Any Thing, which featured a young widow with five rambunctious kids, who have little respect for a living room, and an overbearing mother-in-law. One thing I love about this story is that I filtered in homage to Dr. Seuss, one of my favorite children’s book authors.
Any Thing may be found in the Anything anthology. The purchase links are on the Books page of my website.
C: Thanks for sharing that! I'll be sure to check out the anthology. So, let's talk more specifically about your Springtime in Surrey novella. How did you get the idea for The Cottage on the Hill?
A: As soon as I found out the anthology would be set in Surrey, an image of a woman crying into her tea outside a quaint cottage came to mind. Shortly thereafter, the tagline “She cries into her tea every afternoon. He wonders why” came to mind. Between the two, I knew God was giving me a story I had to explore. I’m so grateful to Him, for Cottage quickly became the most romantic story He’s ever given me to pen. It’s definitely a favorite.
C: That's such a beautiful premise! And it is such a beautiful romance to read. How long did it take to write The Cottage on the Hill, and what were your favorite (and least favorite) parts of the process?
A: I’m not sure how long it took to write Cottage. Tracking that sort of thing is not typically part of my writing process. I keep track of daily word counts, but I usually have multiple projects in the works, not to mention edit jobs that are also in the mix, so the days and months on a single project can easily blur together.
My favorite part of the process was a tie between the exploration of the first draft and the moment I realized I had finally earned that final chapter.
My least favorite part of the process was the struggle to earn that final chapter. It was hard to let go of certain bits and find new ways of working the story to transform it from mediocre to marvelous. But the final result was certainly worth the struggle.
C: I've also found final chapters are really hard to write for that reason, so I can commiserate with you there. What's your favorite thing about being published in an anthology (or multiple anthologies, since The Cottage on the Hill is obviously not your first rodeo)?
A: I enjoy the collaborative spirit. When authors come together to publish a collection of stories, we each do what we can to help it be a success. We share ideas and use our individual skill sets to create not only the stories but also marketing efforts, graphics, games, and events to help readers discover our books as well as have fun through the book launch and several months afterward. In addition, I enjoy getting to know the authors I didn’t previously know. Some solid friendships can come out of being published in anthologies.
C: I feel the same way! I've made some great friendships from my very limited experience being published in an anthology. That collaboration is so rewarding at the end.
For those of my readers who didn't know, Andrea Renee Cox is going to be published in Wild Blue Wonder Press's upcoming anthology, Novelists in November, as well! What can you tell us about your story?
Thanks for asking! My story for Novelists in November is Melting-Pot Thanksgiving about an imperfect daughter tasked with creating the perfect Thanksgiving while balancing a tight writing deadline and guiding her two foster children through difficult life events.
I loved getting to play with different cultures in this story. I approached the cultures from a conservative point of view, as opposed to liberal, because people are so much deeper than the color of their skin. In Melting-Pot, I explored the emotions and circumstances of each character as an individual and also as a member of the family, and that allowed me to create a safe place for each one to express themselves while having conflicts with and supporting one another.
Here’s the full blurb for my story:
Melting-Pot Thanksgiving by Andrea Renee Cox
Can she create the Imperfect Perfect Thanksgiving?
Sarah Jones has many responsibilities on her plate, but Thanksgiving wasn’t supposed to be one of them. When asked to host the holiday, she can’t resist taking on the task, even if it means dealing with her mother’s interference. As Sarah juggles meal preparations, a tight writing deadline, and guiding her two foster children through difficult life events, she must also find the courage to buck high expectations and family traditions.
Will this novelist trust that the dreams God gave her will gain strength through the trials of strained communication, disappointment, heartache, and altered plans? Will this imperfect daughter find a way to craft the perfect Thanksgiving dinner?
C: Wow, I love how this story sounds! Do you have any other upcoming projects you're working on that you can tell us about? :D
A: I always have several projects in the works but usually can’t say much about them until I’m certain which one will be published next. However, I will share a bit about the story currently on my desk: It’s a short story that features wintry weather, a curious little girl, and a pregnant mama who loves her family. Later this summer, I’ll be getting beta reader feedback on this shorty. I’m eager to dive into revisions!
C: Sounds like fun! I can't wait to read it! Thanks for coming onto Southern Scribblings today, Andrea. It was lovely to have you here!
A: Thanks for the lovely interview, Cate! It has been a joy chatting with you today.
If you want to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Springtime in Surrey with us, I've left a description of the book and links to buy it below! And don't forget, pre-orders for Novelists in November are also live right now.
Have a great rest of your week, everyone!
Until next time,
~Cate
Springtime in Surrey
Springtime in Surrey is a Christian anthology featuring eight lovely stories. With a mix of historical and contemporary, romance and women’s fiction, a dash of mystery here and there, real-life themes presented in a loving way, and a vintage feel, this story is sure to charm lovers of Christian women’s fiction. Add to Goodreads Novelists in November
Novelists in November is a Christian short story collection featuring eleven emotional tales of authors finding their calling in Christ and pursuing hope, joy, and inspiration. This anthology contains touching stories from contemporary and historical fiction authors with a mix of romance, women's fiction, and mystery! Add to Goodreads
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