Let’s Chat! Author Allison Pittman

Welcome, Everyone! And Welcome, Allison!

Right up there among my top 5 people in the entire world sits Allison Pittman. I met Allison about ten years ago and have grown to love her more as the years go by. She’s a spectacular author who’s been honored more times than I have fingers on a single hand. (She’s gotten comfortable on the Christy Award stage 🙂 Believe me—you’re gonna love this week’s chat. (One thing I dearly love about Allison is she never—and I mean NEVER—is unable to find the time to help or listen or bounce things around with me.) Allison is a mentor extraordinaire! (And hilarious!)

CONGRATULATIONS, Pam W., winner of Allisons’ newest novel, Loving Luther! All Pam did was comment below, and her name was drawn from among the batch of commenters. 

Who Is Allison Pittman?

I’m not one of those people who can make a geographic claim to identity. My childhood and teen years were spent in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, and now I’m in Texas (San Antonio). So, while I have really strong opinions about what makes a good enchilada, I don’t see a singular influence on who I am today. (Click to Tweet!)

The constants in my life have been: Family and Faith. Really, my past is super boring—which is a blessing, I suppose, right? I have parents who continue to love each other to an embarrassing degree; I was a solid B student because I never wanted to work hard enough for A’s.

God knows I have absolutely no spunk whatsoever, no drive or persistence or tolerance for suffering, so He’s kept me at a good walking pace in the middle of a wide road. That doesn’t mean everything’s been perfect! I’ve experienced the loss of my beloved older brother, and I’ve seen my share of disappointment, but the sad points in life have made me so appreciative of every ordinary day. (Click to Tweet!) 

Allison’s Beginning as a Writer

My first novel was Ten Thousand Charms with Multnomah about ten years ago. I love that book—meaning I love it enough to wish I could go back and tweak it. I was at the Glorieta Christian Writers Conference and had an appointment with the editor Rod Morris. He looked at my pages and declared my craft REALLY needed work, but that my characters were intriguing. I took a year away from writing and just studied everything I could find. Two years later, I saw him again at the same conference, and (long story short), he contracted the Crossroads of Grace series.

Allison Pittman’s Debut Experience

I received the acceptance email and experienced an adrenaline rush like I’d never known before. Like, a visceral feeling. And then I cried uncontrollably for days. (literally, days) I don’t think I let myself really know how badly I wanted this.

Like I mentioned before, I’m not a driven, persistent person. It took me years to finish that first novel, and it wasn’t quite finished when Multnomah requested the full manuscript. I think I wanted to just brush it off and walk away if nobody wanted my story. It’s easier to handle disappointment if you never quite acknowledge desire. 

God has been so incredibly faithful, in that first contract and beyond. I’ve been steadily contracted since that first book, sometimes even with projects where I was approached by an editor with a story idea for me to write. God has led me in (and out) of teaching jobs so that I can continue to write. (Click to Tweet!) 

Allison’s Journey

I’ve been blessed with editors who have allowed me to write about my idiosyncratic passions. Historic baseball? OK! Three books there, including the Carol winner Stealing Home. (My mother’s favorite, by the way.) Flappers? Done!

When Tyndale approached me about possibly writing about the early Mormon church, they had no idea I grew up in Utah and my husband is an excommunicated Mormon.

So, yeah, I’ve been all over the place with my stories. Some authors can stay with Westerns, or—I don’t know—Oregon or something. I find stories everywhere. Rather, stories find me. 

What’s Up With Allison Now?

My new release Loving Luther takes me way out of my comfort zone—16th Century Germany, the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora.

This is another one of those stories brought to me by someone else…in this case, my agent, Bill Jensen. But I fell in love with both the story and the challenge. And, I really think readers will, too. It is such a different book for me, and I feel like I had to keep it a secret for so long! I actually finished the manuscript nearly 2 years ago, but we wanted to hold off and publish it to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. (Click to Tweet!) 

Now…here she is!

This is my first novel set outside of my usual Americana comfort zone, and I’m really hoping readers will follow me. Katharina’s story is still universally relevant—it’s very much a love story.

What’s Up Next?

My next historical takes us to the French Revolution by way of a Charles Dickens minor character. Y’all just put that on the back burner for a while. There might be a surprise in-between! 

Where to Find Allison Pittman

Readers can find me on facebook on my Allison Pittman Author Page, and at my website where I am an infrequent blogger. (seriously, infrequent) For fun, too, find me on Twitter and Instagram.

In the month leading up to the release of Loving Luther, I’ve been posting a daily pic of my Playmobil Little Luther figure, taking him everywhere with me.

Allison’s Give-Away Offer

I will absolutely do a give-away of Loving Luther, as well as a Little Luther Playmobil figure! Here’s a pic of my Little Luther with tacos. Combining my two very favorite things.

Books by Allison Pittman

Ten Thousand Charms

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speak Through the Wind

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With Endless Sight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stealing Home (Carol Award Winner)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bridegrooms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Time & Eternity

 

 

 

 

Forsaking All Others

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All for a Song

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All for a Story

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All for a Sister

 

 

 

 

 

On Shifting Sand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Offering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loving Luther

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh my, Lord, how gracious You are! You walked with Allison when she was a girl, a teen, a young adult, and as a mother of three boys—twins + one. You’ve given her the desire of her heart—a successful writing career—all the while wrapping her and her family in the fleece of Your grace. You’ve blessed Allison for her faithfulness.
Bless every word Allison writes for You.
~ For Jesus’ sake

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