Although Sian doesn’t have the opportunity to speak Welsh very often anymore, she can still wrap her tongue around “Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch” which is the name of a small village located a couple of miles from where she grew up. Not surprisingly, most people agree that the long place name is a pretty good test of a person’s Welsh pronunciation.
Sian Ann Bessey was born in Cambridge, England, but grew up on the island of Anglesey off the coast of North Wales.
She left her homeland to attend University in
the US, where she earned a bachelor’s degree
in communications with a minor in English.
She began her writing career as a student, publishing
several magazine articles while still in college.
Since then, she has written for multiple magazines, and has published historical romance novels, romantic suspense novels, and a variety of children’s books.
She is a USA Today bestselling author, and a Foreward INDIES and Whitney Award finalist.
Sian and her husband, Kent, currently live in Southeast Idaho. They have five children and six grandchildren.
Sian loves to travel and experience other cultures, but when she’s home, her favorite activities are spending time with her family, cooking, and reading.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where do you get your ideas for a new book?
There’s no one source for my ideas. Sometimes it’s a place I visit that feels like a perfect setting for a novel. Some of my books had their beginnings when I learned about experiences that my ancestors endured; others came from a desire to share the love I have for my Welsh homeland.
How long does it take to write a book?
It varies a great deal. Writing a novel has taken me as little as two months and as long as a year and a half. After I submit a manuscript to my publisher, I wait for evaluations to come back and then begin working on rewrites and edits. I’ve often wished that I could write a book as fast as I can read one!
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
I don’t remember any childhood longings to be an author. I’ve always loved to read, and creating visual images using words is something that has thrilled me ever since I was young. It wasn’t until after my first book was published, however, that I ever considered writing more than one novel
When do you write?
When my children were little, I wrote during their naptimes. As they got older and life became even busier, I stole time whenever I could. I would think through my storyline as I did the dishes, cleaned the house, drove children to piano lessons, etc. Then, when I had a few minutes—even if it was only the twenty minutes it took for dinner to cook in the oven—I’d head to the computer and try to put those ideas down. Now that my children are older, my time is more flexible.
How did you get started as a writer?
When I was in college, I submitted a paper to the New Era magazine. They published it and asked me to write for them again. I wrote occasional articles for the magazine for several years, but it was my father who encouraged me to write a book. At first, it seemed very daunting, but writing a story for my family gave it special meaning and encouraged me to keep going. Once it was completed, my sister-in-law suggested that I send it to a publisher. Three months later, the managing editor at Covenant Communications contacted me to let me know that they wanted to publish my book. That was the beginning of a long and exciting writing journey.
What is your advice for someone who wants to write a book?
Read. Read. Read. Discover what excites you in a book. Analyze what the author has done to draw the reader in, then apply it to your own writing. If your subject is something you feel excited or passionate about, those emotions will have a better chance of coming through. And as with all skills, practice makes perfect. Write as much and as often as you can. Journal writing, letter writing, short story writing, all writing helps hone your skills.