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-This Tennessee author was born in Philadelphia and raised in New Jersey, but life has brought her to Tennessee, where she was working three jobs at a church, Cracker Barrel, and a law office.

She quit two of them to get serious about writing books.

Straight ahead on Tennessee Writes, we're meeting Tennessee author Anne Calvert.

We'll find out about her Christian fiction book series and which two jobs she quit to write.

Brew some fresh coffee and find a comfy chair.

Tennessee Writes starts right now.

-Books about Tennessee.

-Books that come from Tennessee authors.

-Books and stories with a Tennessee twist.

-West Tennessee PBS presents Tennessee Writes.

-Welcome to Tennessee Writes, the show that gets up close and personal with Tennessee authors.

My name is Peter Noll.

This is the show that goes beyond the book to learn about its author, from their childhood to where their stories come from.

They even offer advice if you want to write your own book.

Plus, we put the authors on a stopwatch as they try and answer questions in the lightning round.

-Tennessee Writes welcomes author Anne Calvert.

She's been writing since she was a young girl, writing poems about dating and boys.

Now she's all grown up and still writing.

Her husband told her to quit two of her three jobs to start writing books, and start she did, having written a series of three Christian fiction books.

Tennessee Writes welcomes Anne Calvert.

-Welcome to Tennessee Writes.

-Thank you.

-Have a seat, and let's talk.

Tell us how a New Jersey girl ended up in Tennessee.

-It was a boy.

That's how it usually starts, doesn't it?

I met my first husband.

He was stationed at the Philadelphia Navy base.

He was from here, and when he got out, we moved down here in 1989.

-You've raised your family here.

You have two children?

-I do.

I have a son and a daughter.

I've raised them here and was married for 18 years.

-Why have you stayed here?

Why has Jackson kept you here?

-Because I just haven't left yet.

-In my research, it sounded like you dream of living in the mountains, like in East Tennessee, or like the Rockies, or any mountain.

-I definitely want to stay in Tennessee or in the area of Tennessee, but East Tennessee is beautiful.

I long to be out there with nature and hiking and rivers and streams, and just a little bit more of quiet, small town.

-You're a dog lover.

-I am.

-You, at one time, had seven dogs.

-We did.

-How did you handle that?

-After four, it's nothing.

You can just keep adding.

It's no problem at all.

We just managed.

They were good dogs.

We had routines, and they were just fun.

It was fun.

-Now, some of them have passed.

Your website lists them all when they did pass.

Now you just have one, Bear.

-Bear, yes.

-What type of dog is he?

-Oh, he's everything.

-You're the best type.

-We're thinking some Chow, some Lab.

We just recently saw, I think it's Australian Kelpie.

There was an old movie called Red Dog.

We saw that dog, and it looked just like Bear, and looked it up, and that dog was an Australian Kelpie.

He looks a lot like that, too.

-You mentioned that you used to write as a little girl.

Did you ever envision that as an adult you would end up writing books?

-I hoped so.

I never really put any effort.

That's not true.

I have several stories that I have started .. Now that I know a little bit more, I'll work on those maybe and bring those out.

Writing seemed to be in my blood.

My dad put an article out about Catnip on Cat World or Cat Magazine.

It's been family members.

My uncle wrote, my grandpa wrote.

I don't know that anybody necessarily published.

-You're the first one to have a published book?

-A published book that I've written, yes.

My sister actually was in an anthology in high school, I think, that she has a poem in.

Officially, she was published first in that anthology, but I have the first book.

-Now, how did you get your start?

I read it was a chance meeting at the Jackson P.. Is that true?

-Yes.

When Wesley told me, "Go ahead and quit the two jobs, Tuesday and Thursday jobs, and start writing," I had no clue.

I had no experience.

I had no education.

I was green, and I knew very little.

I knew I wanted to write, so I went to the library, which makes sense.

I was looking over the writer's guide, where to write for magazines and such.

Shane Plunk, at the time he was the circulation-- -Shane is on the station's community advisory board.

-Nice.

He was on the circulation desk.

He was the manager.

He saw me looking at the books and said, "Are you a writer?"

I said, "I want to be."

That's basically where it started.

He told me about NaNoWriMo, which is National Novel Writing Month.

That's where people would come together around the world and try to write a 50,000-word book in the month of November.

I was really naive.

He said, "Would you like to try?"

I said, "Sure, why not?

What could go wrong?"

Obviously, I did not write a 50,000-word book in the month of November, but I just kept writing until August, my rough draft was done.

It was rough.

-That was the first of the Evie Series?

-Yes, Banderage, the first one.

It was a rough draft because, like I said, I had no education.

I really knew very little.

That's where it started.

-You mentioned earlier, your husband, you were working three jobs, part-time, right?

-Yes.

-T.. Your husband said, "Quit two and devote that time to writing."

Which two did you quit?

-It was my Tuesday job and my Thursday job, which was Cracker Barrel and the law office.

-What did you do at Cracker Barrel?

-I was a server.

-How many stars on your apron?

-Four.

-Four.

You were the top.

-I was there for a m.. -I always look for the four-star servers at Cracker Barrel.

The law office, what did you do there?

-I was a legal assistant for 14 years.

-Were you feeling, "You really want me to quit these jobs and devote that time to writing?"

-Oh, he didn't have to ask me twice.

Is that what you meant?

-Yes, exactly.

-He did not have to ask me twice.

I was ready.

Yes.

-When you first quit those jobs and were writing on those days, what was that like?

Were you watching Lifetime movies all day, or were you really writing?

-I probably wasn't watching Lifetime movies.

I can't guarantee you that I was writing all day, every day, but that was the idea and learning.

Not just writing, but learning too.

There's a lot more to writing than just writing.

That's for sure.

-Tell me about that.

What is all that other stuff?

-I knew nothing, like I said.

I had to go as basic as how to write and show, not tell, and all just the little things, which, of course, I learned through the years, and I'm still learning.

You can see the tip of the iceberg of what I've learned and how much more there is to learn.

There is more to writing than just sitting down and writing.

Just even marketing.

A lot of the indie writers, they do their marketing, and do their sales and events.

There's a whole lot more than just-- -One thing I've noticed in my research on you, there's the community of writers.

You were on a show happening now with another local author talking about your books and how you got started.

He's an author, and he was promoting you.

You spoke at the Bemis Book Club.

How often throughout the week are you doing other events to talk about writing and promoting your books?

-Now I've slowed down a little bit.

I did a holiday mart.

I've done a couple of those.

I did just recently a spring mart.

In the beginning, I did a lot more.

After book three, Broken Shell Beach, I did a book signing, did the spring market, but I have a fourth book in the works.

-A fourth in the Evie Series?

-Yes, fourth and final.

I just didn't push Broken Shell Beach as hard.

I didn't go after everything as hard.

I thought, "I'm going to wait, let me get through book four, and then we'll just do the real bi.. and really--" -Can you tell with book sales which books it's like, "Oh, I really promoted number two and number three not so much, and the book sales aren't what I thought they would be?"

-It's hard for me, per se.

Zoe Grace Publishing is the publisher, so she sees all the numbers, and she does send me an Excel sheet.

I don't look at it as much as I should, I'm sure.

I really don't know that.

I do a lot of selling my own books at the markets and stuff like that.

Even just local friends and family that want the books.

I do a lot more of that.

I could see that more in the sales than the other, but I don't know which ones I've done better or if I'm still going or whatnot.

[music] -Let's delve into Gidesha City.

Now, this is book two in the Evie Series.

-Correct.

-Did you know it was going to be Christian fiction, or that's just how it started?

-Yes.

-Did you think, "Oh, this is going to be a series of books," or it's just one book?

Then it was like, "There's more to tell in Evie's story, so here's book two."

You just came out with the third one, too.

You said there's going to be a fourth one.

Some people have an arc, and other people are like, "I just felt the story wasn't over yet."

-I knew from the beginning that it was going to be a four-book series.

I do not plot.

I do not outline.

Each book is written.

It's so fun because I write it, and it's like a reader.

I see what's happening as it's happening.

Each book starts and ends a story, so it's not a continuation.

You don't have to read one through four, but you have a better idea of who Evie is if you start with book one.

It was going to be a four-book series, and that's where it's stopping.

-I love to have authors describe their book for me, how you tell, like, "Hey, what's this book about?"

-Sure.

This story- -Gidesha City.

--Gidesha City takes place in a city, of cour.. and it's rundown.

Evie comes into town, and it's a depressed area.

In the Evie Series, Evie is given a backup.

Evie has a very close relationship with God, and so close that He has her go into different towns, which is the name of each of the books.

Gidesha City, she's sent there, and she's given a certain amount of people, that she doesn't know who they are until they're highlighted to her.

In Gidesha City, she has three people.

I will tell you that one is a police officer, one is a homeless man, and one is a single mom.

What I just told you was about all I had going into Gidesha City, was that it was going to be in a city, and it was going to be those three people.

Actually, jumping back one more time, it was going to be four people.

Fun fact, I wrote Gidesha City during NaNoWriMo, and I wrote over 50,000 words, and then I lost it.

-What do you mean lost it?

On your computer?

-I couldn't find it.

When I went back to it, I couldn't find it anywhere.

I had written the first one, and all those words, with four characters, four people, but when I went back to write it again, using my notes, and just the little bits that I had, I decided that the fourth person, who was going to be a child, was going to just scoot over and be the single mom, one of her kids.

The story goes where Evie not only helps her people, but the people around her in each of the books.

In this one, she actually takes part in trying to rebuild the city, or at least start in the right direction.

-I really got a sense reading the book, it probably took me Chapter 3, 4, I'm like, "Oh, I'm getting a Touched by an Angel, Highway to Heaven vibe.

Were you going for that?

Would that be accurate?

-I don't watch much TV.

The most I knew about Touched by an Angel was the-- Now I can't even think of her name.

-Roma Downey, the actress who plays the Angel?

-Not the Angel.

Not the lady.

Oh, I can't think of her name.

Just the one actress.

That's all I knew.

After I wrote it, my sister told me that it sounds.. I'll take it if it sounds like that.

-I wasn't the first person to say that.

-No.

Yes, kind of like that.

-She just encounters different people.

She's staying with Rose, and I think she was going to mass with Rose.

It was just in how she's trying to restore not only the city, but people.

You are restoring both at the same time.

When I finished it, I thought it's really about human touch and human interaction.

-Absolutely.

-So many times today, it's.. It's fake relationships on social media, or we just don't even get to know our neighbors.

-Absolutely.

-This was about getting to know people and having those real human interactions.

-Yes.

She goes into each city, and God doesn't tell her about her people because He wants her to get to know them and to care more for them.

She learns about them as she goes.

That's exactly what it is.

In each of the books, you probably notice that Evie and God communicate.

That's in italics.

Sometimes God answers, and sometimes He doesn't answer right away, just like in real life.

They have that communication throughout as well.

[music] -Anne, we have come to this segment on Tennessee Writes that some people think is the best.

It's the lightning round where we ask the authors a set of questions about writing and books and literature and see how many they can answer in two minutes.

Now, if you can't think of an answer, just say pass.

The goal is to answer as many as you can in two minutes.

The clock will begin after I ask my first question.

Are you ready to play?

-I'm ready.

-How many pages would the book about your life be?

-500.

-What animal best represents your book?

-A turtle.

-What is your favorite book of all ti.. -The Bible.

-What's your least favorite book of all time?

-Pass.

-How often do you check your Amazon book rev.. -Not very often.

-What is the name of the font used in your book?

-Pass.

-If you could pick a celebrity to narrate your book, who would it be?

-Pass.

-What's one book that you're reading right now?

-Unlikely Candidate.

-What food, item, or drink most helps you write?

-Coffee.

-If you could have a book signing event in any city in the world, where would it be?

-Paris.

-What author, living or dead, would you most like to have di.. -Francine Rivers.

-Do you prefer paper books or e-books?

-Paper.

-What actor would you want to star in the mov.. -Pass.

-Where is your favorite place to read books?

-Anywhere.

Coffee shop.

-What book is on your list to read next.

-Gidesha City.

[music] -Anne, we always love to ask the authors if they would mind reading from the book, hearing your own words, words that you've written.

Would you mind reading a little bit from Gidesha City for us?

-I would be honored.

-Thank you.

-I'm going to just start at the beginning, if.. -Yes, that's great.

-The quiet rumble of the bus slows, and the air breaks hiss, announcing Evie's destination.

As she gathers her bags and waits to get off the bus, she glances out the window at the rundown terminal, full of spray-painted artwork.

Colorful bubble words cover old bus schedules and advertisements.

Stepping off the bus, she spots that at the bottom of the wall is p.. that appear to be in line for tickets.

Evie wonders how the artists were able to graffiti the awning in front of the terminal without being seen.

When a taxi stops in front of her, she leans against the passenger door.

"Need a ride?"

He opens the van door before she can speak.

"Yes, please."

"Hop in.

Where are you going?"

Evie starts to tell him, but stops as sirens loudly rush past them.

Then another patrol car, sirens blaring, rushes by them.

Before she speaks, she looks out the back window to see if anything else is coming.

"Is it safe now?"

Evie laughs.

"Yes, but you better hurry.

Sirens are not foreign around here."

"Oh goodness.

Okay.

4477 East High Street."

"Really?

Are you sure?"

"Yes, that's what it says."

He turns and drives towards East High Street.

Working street lights are spotty, but where the lights do work, Evie sees store after store with graffiti and bars on the doors and windows.

Plywood covers the windows of dilapidated houses.

People of all ages are on the corners collecting change.

Stopping for a traffic light, Evie watches as a child, no older than five, with no shirt or shoes, go into the corner store alone.

"Oh, father, this is going to be tough, isn't it?

It's dark, and that small child went into the store alone.

I see a lot of vacant buildings, rundown homes, and children with no supervision.

Make your light shine through me to lead others to you.

Let my words be from you and give me the boldness I need to help the ones I'm here to help.

Search my heart, father.

Keep me from being offensive and give me discernment.

Shelter me with your protective wings.

You are my father, and my trust is in you."

"I understand your question now," Evie says.

"This area is rough, but East High is a couple of blocks over and not as bad.

I appreciate the heads up.

I travel often, and I have seen some good and some bad people, places, and things."

"You're here on business?"

"Yes, I'll be here until the job is finished, whenever that is."

"What do you do?"

"I help people find their way."

"Okay, like a traveling life coach?"

"Yes, I like that."

The van pulls up in front of a row of houses.

"Here you are."

"Thank you.

How much do I owe you?"

"I forgot to start my meter," Evie gasps.

"Will you get in trouble?"

"No, not at all.

Sometimes something inside of me tells me not to turn it on.

It happens."

"Sweet Evie, I told him to stop for you and not turn it on.

He is safe and will be a friend.

Don't be afraid."

[music] -Anne, there are people right now watching the show that are thinking, "I could write a book.

I've got something to write about.

Anne did it, I can too."

What advice would you give to them?

-I agree.

They can too.

I would say the best advice is to just start.

Just start somewhere.

There are wonderful writers' clubs in Jackson.

There's two different ones that you can attend to learn more.

-It's a very uplifting community.

-Very much.

-Everyone is just helping everyone else.

-Yes, it's more help than not.

I encourage everybody to, if you're thinking about it, just do it.

There's people along the way that will help you sort it o.. will read your work, will critique gently.

I just say, do it.

-This book in the Evie Series, number two, Gidesha City, is that a city you've lived in?

Because I've looked it up and there's no Gidesha City .. -As far as I know, none of my titles are real places.

Gidesha City was named after my best friend who passed away in 2004.

Her name was Alicia Giddens.

I took part of her first name and part of her last name and came up with Gidesha City.

-It's really a tribute to her.

-She would have supported me.

She would have been my biggest cheerleader.

I did that for her.

Yes.

-That is so nice.

-Thank you.

-What's next?

There's a third one out.

If you haven't, you could start at number one.

They're all self-contained, correct?

-They are.

-That you can pick up.

There's three currently out.

You're working on number four?

-I am.

Not as fast as my readers would like.

-There's no date out yet?

-No.

-No deadline.

-No.

Still working -Do we know a title of that one?

-No, we don't.

[laughs] None of us here do.

-Movie right.

Are you doing movies?

Are you podcasting?

Any of that?

-I have not been offered any movie rights or anything.

-Yet.

-I am here for that.

I've been told they would make great movies by the people that read them.

-How can people buy your book?

It's not on audio yet.

-No.

-Where do you send people to buy your b.. -They can go to Amazon.

That's where it is right now is Amazon.

If anyone's local and wants one, I will be glad to meet up with them, and I can sign it for them and chat, and do whatever else.

-Where can people contact you?

You have a great website.

What is that?

-It's annelcalvert.com.

I'm on social media as well, Facebook, Anne Calvert, and Instagram.

I'm on other things too, but again, there's a lot more to writing than not, but those are the places that I'm in.

-You like to hear from your readers and get their feedback.

-I love to hear from people.

It's my favorite part of selling the books is to get to talk to people and me.. Yes, I'd love to meet them and chat and visit.

-Anne, sadly, we've come to the end of the show.

We want to thank you so much for coming on and sharing more about yourself and your book and Evie's stories and what's coming up next.

As a thank-you gift, this is a Channel 11 writing kit.

It's a briefcase, a latte mug, coffee is your thing, a pen, and a notebook to help you on your future writing endeavors.

-Oh, thank you.

-Before you leave, would you mind signing your .. -I would love to.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

[music] -Channel 11.

Thank you for everything.

Blessings, Anne Calvert.

That's me.

[music] -For comments about today's show or to suggest a Tennessee author for a future program, email us at tennesseewrites @westtnpbs.org.

Tennessee Writes, on air and streaming now.

[music] -The program you've been watching was made possible through the generous financial support of West Tennessee PBS viewers like you.

Please visit westtnpbs.org and ma.. to make local programs like this possible.

Thank you.