Interview with Author Paul & Pam Pettit

Authors of Congratulations, You’re Gonna Be a Dad!
www.dynamicdads.com

by Trisha Bleau Smith

T4JYM: I was amazed at the wealth of information you presented in Congratulations, You’re Gonna Be a Dad! Where did the idea and the inspiration for the book come from?

Paul: We have been blessed with five children of our own. In addition, Pam works as a neonatal delivery nurse and has assisted with hundreds of deliveries. We want to help new dads get off to a tremendous beginning in their fathering efforts.

T4JYM: What are your next plans for writing?

Pam: Paul is finishing a book for Tyndale House entitled Dynamic Dads: How to be a Hero at Home. It will be ready for Father’s Day 2003, Lord willing.

T4JYM: What training do you have in writing? Do you consider yourself to be a good writer with a God given talent? Or did you have to work to get to where you are now, taking classes on writing and such?

Pam: Paul worked closely with Charles R. Swindoll for three years. He is an excellent writer and helped Paul develop his own style. Writing is hard, difficult work. Somone has said, “Writing is easy… All you have to do is sit down at the typewriter and open up a vein.”

Paul: Pam writes up medical reports at the hospital for every shift she works.

T4JYM: How did you get started in writing? How many times did you find your work was sent back to you before it was finally accepted by a publisher? Did they give you feedback when it came back to you?

P&PP: We rreceived several “rejection letters.” But we felt this project could really benefit young men so we stuck with it. The feedback one receives is minimal. The publishing houses simply don’t have time to critique each submission.

T4JYM: How do you go about editing your writing? Do you send it to people to read first, BEFORE you send it to publishers? How many times do you go in and change things?

Pam: Paul likes to write as he goes, with a rough draft. Then he edits it three or four times before submitting.

Paul: Pam is more careful the first time through and only edits once or twice. Also we edit each other’s work, which leads to fun discussion!!!

T4JYM: What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing writing as a career?

P&PP: Take a good writing class at a school. Write from the heart. Write for God’s glory. Write what you know about.

T4JYM: Tell us a little about yourself and your interests.

P&PP: We are a family of seven. We love swimming, golfing, gardening, family camps, and writing and reading. We go to church every Saturday night at Lakepointe Church in Rockwall, Texas.

T4JYM: Do you do any other kinds of writing? For example, magazine writing, devotions, etc.

P&PP: Paul writes for the ministry he founded, Dynamic Dads, and for his position at Dallas Seminary where he works full time. Pam writes at her job at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas.

T4JYM: What kind of activities do you like to do in your spare time?

P&PP: We play basketball in the driveway, eat Texas barbecue, and roller blade in our neighborhood. We also like to golf.

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