NTRWA February 2007 Spotlight On...
     

MINDY OBENHAUS
          by Gina Nelson

When did you start writing fiction? Why?

I wrote my first work of fiction, complete with Polaroid photos, when I was in the fourth grade. Entitled Cindy's Dream, it chronicled the adventures of a young girl who went over the rainbow in a doll cradle, accompanied by dolls and toys that had come to life. Now it sounds like some bizarre B-movie. But at the time, it earned me an A.

About three years ago, I did what many writers have done. I put down a book and thought, "I can do that." I'd had stories rolling around in my head for years. I'd just never considered putting them down on paper.

Writing quickly became my passion, but also a spiritual journey. I didn't plan to write inspirational or Christian fiction until God called me to it. And I have to admit, I was rather reluctant. I worried that I would be held to a standard I couldn't live up to. But you know what? Christians aren't perfect people, and that's what I try to convey in my writing. God loves us in spite of our shortcomings.

Tell us a little about yourself, and your family

My husband, Richard, is my biggest fan. He's also my harshest critic. There have been times when I've had to remind him to say something nice [about my writing] so I don't smother him in his sleep. I shouldn't complain. I'm thrilled to have his support. We have five great kids ranging in age from 23 to 8--three girls, two boys--as well as two grandsons and a beautiful new granddaughter.

How long have you lived in Texas? What brought you here?

Moved to Texas from Michigan in 1982. I had no desire to go to college, and while the job market had bottomed out in Michigan, things were flourishing here. I married shortly thereafter, and in 1984 the military took us to Germany for 3 years then South Dakota, and finally Iceland. I've been back in Texas since 1991. I love Texas and, thanks to my husband, whose several times great-uncle was Davy Crockett, am firmly grounded in its history. As far as I'm concerned, I'm a Texan.

Why set your stories in Texas?

 First of all, write what you know, and I believe I have the best of both worlds. While I live in the burbs of DFW, we have a ranch near Columbus, Texas, about 70 miles west of Houston, on I-10. It's a working cattle ranch and our retreat from the chaos of city life. I've had adventures out there I never would have imagined. Things like being stung by a scorpion and stepping on a Copperhead. Yes, he was alive. Things like putting on our own fireworks display or loading Thanksgiving dinner onto the back of a tractor to take it my mother-in-law's because the flood water's were too deep for anyone to make it into our place.

The land itself is a huge inspiration for me. In my first book, Stolen Dreams, the heroine lives in the city, but her heart is in the country. In particular, a place on her family's ranch called Willow Springs. Walnut Hill, an area of our ranch, was where it all started. Very serene.

I've also met some charming and interesting characters in that area. People who make a party out of butchering a pig. In the fall, life comes to a grinding halt on Friday nights so the entire family can head to the high school football game to watch their son play, or their daughter march with the band. They work hard, they play hard, but their priorities are in order.

I know you recently attended the Citizen’s Police Academy. Tell us about it?

I highly recommend it. You come away with a better understanding of your community and a huge appreciation for the officers. We covered all aspects of the police department, from routine traffic stops to jail procedures to criminal investigations to SWAT. We even had firearms training where we shot everything from pistols to a machine gun. Pretty cool. I discovered I was a really good shot.

What do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors?

Hmm . . . well, obviously I like to read romance, or at least something with romance in it. It's just got to have a happily-ever-after. I like straight romance as well as romantic suspense and women's fiction. As for favorite authors I absolutely love Karen Kingsbury. That woman can suck you in and make you feel every emotion her characters are feeling. And I can never read her without a box of tissues nearby. When I grow up, I want to write just like her. I also like Colleen Coble, Debra Clopton, and Sharon Mignerey, to name a few.

What do you struggle with as a writer?

I tend to be a perfectionist, and as we all know, perfection is never achieved. Therefore, I only succeed in driving myself crazy. I'm a pantser. While I may have an entire story mapped out in my head, I couldn't lay it out on a storyboard to save my life. 

Finally, what do you consider your greatest achievement? Personally, and as a writer?
Without a doubt, my greatest achievement personally is my family. I'm an only child, but I always wanted a large family. Maybe I watched too many episodes of The Waltons and Eight is Enough when I was growing up.

All kidding aside, it's humbling to see my legacy, especially now that I have grandkids. It makes me feel good when my older children call me for advice or want to know how to make whatever it is they're fondly remembering at the moment. This past Christmas it seemed that each of the kids asked me about one tradition or another. When are we going to do this? When are you going to make that? That was pretty cool. 

As a writer, I think I'd have to say just the fact that I finished a book. Published or not, anyone who has written a book should be proud. There are lots of people in this world who say they are going to write a book, few actually do. Anything after that is just icing on the cake.

Mindy's Website.

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Gina Lee Nelson recently completed her first tender romance, PLAY IT LOUD. She’s currently working on a Young Adult Fantasy.