INTERVIEW: with my friend Marty Norman , author of
“Generation G – Advice for Savvy Grandmothers Who Will Never Go Gray”
1. “Generation G” is a really fun book on grandmothers. What made you feel you needed to write it?www.amazon.com and in local bookstores. Check out her website
at www.martynorman.com, and her blogs at http://martynorman.blogspot.com, andhttp://savvygrandmothers.blogspot.com.
It was not so much that I felt a need to write “Generation G”, but rather I felt compelled. When I started, the book was just a series of essays for my grandchildren. No one was more surprised than I to discover that having a grandchild is just the best, truly a gift from God. Your heart is so full it just pours out. Mine poured out on paper. I wanted to couple that pure grandmother joy with thanksgiving to God for the miracle of the grandmother experience.
2. What do grandmothers’ today need to know that their grandmothers didn’t?
You know, when I think back, life was simpler in my grandmother’s day, slow and easy with more time for family, talking, and just being together. Life is so fast now. Carpools, cell phones, ipods, tv’s. Making time for grandchildren is more complicated than it used to be. I find that I need lots of patience for there are schedules to coordinate and issues to deal with that my grandparents just didn’t have – divorce, long-distance and step-grand parenting, financial issues. And technology – that’s another issue. It takes a lot of time to keep up in that arena.
3. What is “Generation G” and how did the book get that name?
Generation G is the title the publisher’s created. Actually it has grown on me. To me “Generation G” is a term for my generation - godly grandmothers who have the time and desire to pass on their legacy of faith to the next generation. The scripture tells us that generational healing will pass down to the third and fourth generation. In Roman numerals “G” is one thousand. Wouldn’t that be great if our godly heritage was passed down for a thousand years!
4. You write about “savvy Grandmothers”. Who and what is a savvy grandmother?
A savvy grandmother’s many things: seasoned, silver, sophisticated, wise, and hip. Willing to be involved, she listens with two ears and one heart and keeps her mouth shut most of the time. A savvy grandmother knows the difference between giving advice and making suggestions. She keeps a guard on her mouth practicing what she preaches. But above all, a savvy grandmother’s a godly woman, boldly sharing her faith and witness as she passes on a godly legacy to the next generation.
5. How did you come to be a writer?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved to write. Even as a child I made up songs
and poems. “Lollipop On The Window Sill” was my first big hit. I even began a
novel when I was seven. The seed was planted. All it needed was sunshine, water,
and fertilizer. In the early years I wrote mainly for friends. In my adult years I
wrote for newsletters and in-house magazines. But it wasn’t until I got a monthly
assignment for in-house magazine that I got the bug. And I’ve been at it ever since.
6. What is your writing style?
I am a free-association sort of writer, though everyone has a different style. I get an
idea, maybe a couple of words or a title. Then I just sit down and let the writing flow.
Some people write in outline form but so far that doesn’t fit my personality. At some
point, I look up and see what I have. Usually there is a book or an article in there
somewhere.
7. What was the hardest part of writing “Generation G”?
For me, the writing of the book was not the hardest part. That just sort of flowed out
of me. But once I decided to make it into a book, I was overwhelmed! So much
paper, so many stories - how to organize? What to put first? Which stories have I
already used? Because of my free-flow style, I did not write the chapters in order.
Figuring out where they fit was a huge challenge. I am a big picture person. I finally
just had to lay it all on the floor so I could see the book in its entirety. Then I went
about the business of organizing sections and getting the flow of the book.
8. What are your favorite grandmother activities?
I love everything that has to do with grandchildren. If I had my druthers though, I love early mornings in bed, singing songs, telling stories – beginning the day in joy. I also love baking. I don’t even mind the mess on the floor, the flour, powdered sugar, and assorted candies that are everywhere. Picnics are big too. Most of all I love to pray with my grandchildren. When I look in their eyes, tell them I love them and how much God loves them, it doesn’t get any better than that!
9. What ministries are you involved in?’
Right now my main ministry is to exhort and encourage grandmothers to share their faith and tell their stories. I also involved in many prayer groups. I am also involved with an organization that is building community across racial and denominational lines through worship, prayer, and sharing. Missions is my call, and I have been on three mission trips. I am also heavily into disaster relief and orphan fund in Malawi, Central Africa. Currently I am feeling God’s nudge in a new direction and am seeking him in prayer in this regard.
10. Do you have other books in the works?
Actually I do. I have completed a number of children’s books but right now I am concentrating on my very first book which I believe to be my first fruits to the Lord. I am researching publishers and markets to determine my next step. I also am working on a book about the spiritual walk. It is always interesting to see the direction these things go. I don’t know what God has planned but I am on board and ready to roll when the time comes.
11. Do you have advice for other writers?
Yes - don’t give up. Whatever you do don’t give up. Writing is a passion, a way of
life. If you think you might be a writer, you are one. Writing can be a talent or a
learned craft. Writers come in all shapes and sizes, topics and themes range from
the whimsical to the sublime. There is no right or wrong in writing. Just write what
you know. The more you write the better you get. One of the hardest things about
being a writer is the rejection factor. So write for whoever will let you. Above
everything else, listen to your heart and trust your instincts.
12. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Absolutely. My prayer for the book has been that it will bless each one who reads it. I
pray that it will open up hearts to everyone’s own journey and inspire women to
generate ideas in how to make a difference in families. I pray that all grandmothers
will be inspired to boldly pass on faith to the children and grandchildren of the world.
With the state of the world, I am convinced that grandmother wisdom is needed. With
our energy, influence, and resources we can truly change the world for good. I believe
it is time for us to speak up. Grandmother power and being a power of one has great
potential.
Marty Norman is a wife, mother, and grandmother, who lives in Fort Worth, Texas .
She is the author of “Generation G – Advice for Savvy Grandmothers Who Will Never
Go Gray” found on
at www.martynorman.com, and her blogs at http://martynorman.blogspot.com, andhttp://savvygrandmothers.blogspot.com.
It was not so much that I felt a need to write “Generation G”, but rather I felt compelled. When I started, the book was just a series of essays for my grandchildren. No one was more surprised than I to discover that having a grandchild is just the best, truly a gift from God. Your heart is so full it just pours out. Mine poured out on paper. I wanted to couple that pure grandmother joy with thanksgiving to God for the miracle of the grandmother experience.
2. What do grandmothers’ today need to know that their grandmothers didn’t?
You know, when I think back, life was simpler in my grandmother’s day, slow and easy with more time for family, talking, and just being together. Life is so fast now. Carpools, cell phones, ipods, tv’s. Making time for grandchildren is more complicated than it used to be. I find that I need lots of patience for there are schedules to coordinate and issues to deal with that my grandparents just didn’t have – divorce, long-distance and step-grand parenting, financial issues. And technology – that’s another issue. It takes a lot of time to keep up in that arena.
3. What is “Generation G” and how did the book get that name?
Generation G is the title the publisher’s created. Actually it has grown on me. To me “Generation G” is a term for my generation - godly grandmothers who have the time and desire to pass on their legacy of faith to the next generation. The scripture tells us that generational healing will pass down to the third and fourth generation. In Roman numerals “G” is one thousand. Wouldn’t that be great if our godly heritage was passed down for a thousand years!
4. You write about “savvy Grandmothers”. Who and what is a savvy grandmother?
A savvy grandmother’s many things: seasoned, silver, sophisticated, wise, and hip. Willing to be involved, she listens with two ears and one heart and keeps her mouth shut most of the time. A savvy grandmother knows the difference between giving advice and making suggestions. She keeps a guard on her mouth practicing what she preaches. But above all, a savvy grandmother’s a godly woman, boldly sharing her faith and witness as she passes on a godly legacy to the next generation.
5. How did you come to be a writer?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved to write. Even as a child I made up songs
and poems. “Lollipop On The Window Sill” was my first big hit. I even began a
novel when I was seven. The seed was planted. All it needed was sunshine, water,
and fertilizer. In the early years I wrote mainly for friends. In my adult years I
wrote for newsletters and in-house magazines. But it wasn’t until I got a monthly
assignment for in-house magazine that I got the bug. And I’ve been at it ever since.
6. What is your writing style?
I am a free-association sort of writer, though everyone has a different style. I get an
idea, maybe a couple of words or a title. Then I just sit down and let the writing flow.
Some people write in outline form but so far that doesn’t fit my personality. At some
point, I look up and see what I have. Usually there is a book or an article in there
somewhere.
7. What was the hardest part of writing “Generation G”?
For me, the writing of the book was not the hardest part. That just sort of flowed out
of me. But once I decided to make it into a book, I was overwhelmed! So much
paper, so many stories - how to organize? What to put first? Which stories have I
already used? Because of my free-flow style, I did not write the chapters in order.
Figuring out where they fit was a huge challenge. I am a big picture person. I finally
just had to lay it all on the floor so I could see the book in its entirety. Then I went
about the business of organizing sections and getting the flow of the book.
8. What are your favorite grandmother activities?
I love everything that has to do with grandchildren. If I had my druthers though, I love early mornings in bed, singing songs, telling stories – beginning the day in joy. I also love baking. I don’t even mind the mess on the floor, the flour, powdered sugar, and assorted candies that are everywhere. Picnics are big too. Most of all I love to pray with my grandchildren. When I look in their eyes, tell them I love them and how much God loves them, it doesn’t get any better than that!
9. What ministries are you involved in?’
Right now my main ministry is to exhort and encourage grandmothers to share their faith and tell their stories. I also involved in many prayer groups. I am also involved with an organization that is building community across racial and denominational lines through worship, prayer, and sharing. Missions is my call, and I have been on three mission trips. I am also heavily into disaster relief and orphan fund in Malawi, Central Africa. Currently I am feeling God’s nudge in a new direction and am seeking him in prayer in this regard.
10. Do you have other books in the works?
Actually I do. I have completed a number of children’s books but right now I am concentrating on my very first book which I believe to be my first fruits to the Lord. I am researching publishers and markets to determine my next step. I also am working on a book about the spiritual walk. It is always interesting to see the direction these things go. I don’t know what God has planned but I am on board and ready to roll when the time comes.
11. Do you have advice for other writers?
Yes - don’t give up. Whatever you do don’t give up. Writing is a passion, a way of
life. If you think you might be a writer, you are one. Writing can be a talent or a
learned craft. Writers come in all shapes and sizes, topics and themes range from
the whimsical to the sublime. There is no right or wrong in writing. Just write what
you know. The more you write the better you get. One of the hardest things about
being a writer is the rejection factor. So write for whoever will let you. Above
everything else, listen to your heart and trust your instincts.
12. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Absolutely. My prayer for the book has been that it will bless each one who reads it. I
pray that it will open up hearts to everyone’s own journey and inspire women to
generate ideas in how to make a difference in families. I pray that all grandmothers
will be inspired to boldly pass on faith to the children and grandchildren of the world.
With the state of the world, I am convinced that grandmother wisdom is needed. With
our energy, influence, and resources we can truly change the world for good. I believe
it is time for us to speak up. Grandmother power and being a power of one has great
potential.
Marty Norman is a wife, mother, and grandmother, who lives in Fort Worth, Texas .
She is the author of “Generation G – Advice for Savvy Grandmothers Who Will Never
Go Gray” found on
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