What got you interested in writing?
NL: I have always enjoyed writing personal thoughts and stories. My father was quite a wordsmith, usually to some humorous end, so I grew up loving words. But I never gave thought to writing for publication until I was a children’s librarian and realized how poorly written many books were. On many occasions I commented to my husband that even I could write better than this. He nudged me to take some writing classes and see if indeed I could do better.
Can you tell us a little about what led you to write the books you have published with JourneyForth?
NL: When I was a librarian, one of my younger students kept me fully aware of how many weeks, then days, then hours it was until his birthday. He exuded excitement. On his Big Day, I walked past his class lined up in the hallway and heard a loud smack; then I felt it. This child had given me a birthday spanking in honor of his own birthday! When I turned to look into his face, his expression went from supreme joy to horrified realization in one slow melt. (Note: It is not a good idea to spank your teacher.) The concept of acting without thinking, but bearing the consequences even so, became the foundation of Pelts and Promises. That wasn’t a “very little” response, so I’ll stop there.
Who were some influencial authors along the way?
NL: As both an avid reader and a librarian with access to books of all sorts, I have encountered many authors who have colored my work. Here are a few: from Lloyd Alexander I have seen how to write fanciful fiction that models the sheer joy of story; from Avi I have seen an author who is capable in so many literary forms who is always stretching himself and his reader into new genres; from Madeleine L’Engle I have read deep and lovely themes served up in accessible and winsome language; and from John and Patricia Beatty I have learned that historical fiction need not be dry and dusty, but rather can ring with engaging authenticity.
Favorite children’s book?
NL: Yikes! Only one? OK, probably The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander.
Favorite line from a children’s book?
NL: “It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Some days are like that, even in Australia.” Not only a favorite line, but most quoted in the Lohr household.
What path took you to becoming the acquisitions editor at JourneyForth?
NL: I followed a providential path where the Lord used some health issues to move me out of library work (asthma that was triggered by book mold) into publishing. At first I worked in the page layout department at BJU Press “building textbook pages” from the author’s text and the designer’s plan. Then I made a lateral move within our publishing house from the textbook division to the trade book division, thinking I would be doing page layout on trade books, but ultimately assuming the responsibilities of acquisitions for the JourneyForth youth titles.
What kind of stories is JourneyForth looking for?
NL: JourneyForth publishes classical, conservative novels and biographies for pre-college readers; we have a significant readership among homeschooling families where there are many avid readers. Ours are the kinds of books children might call “library books,” and for our purposes they are stories that are both timely and timeless, since we keep our books in print for a long time. Right now I particularly need engaging books for upper elementary school-aged children (ages 8-12); these can be of all sorts including mysteries, adventures, or stories featuring either realistic or fanciful animals.
Do you have any advice for submitting writers?
NL: In the current economy all publishers are having to tighten their belts and re-focus on their mission. So now more than ever writers need to raise the level of their game. Write the very best story possible. Continue to grow as a writer, which may include attending conferences, participating in a critique group, reading books about the craft, and reading well-crafted books by the best of the best. Continue to grow in the business of writing, which means getting to know your audience, getting to know what specific publishers are looking for, and finding ways to professionally meet the needs of both.