Mary, Welcome to Deb’s Book Nook. We are so glad
you could come by and chat with us.
Please tell us a bit about yourself
and the books your write.
I’m a fairly normal person, though
my young adult children might have a comment or two about that statement! I’m a
registered nurse by education only and I’ve been a receptionist, an executive
assistant, a practice manager at an OB/GYN office and finally, gratefully, a writer! Many of my books
contain medical situations and the nursing background comes in handy. I am a
huge champion of hope, the underdog, and second chances, so of course, that’s
what I write about. I’ve had my own share of second chances too– in marriage,
career, even my rescue dog who I love to write about. The possibility of second
chances inspires me as I observe the world and imagine what could be. And
that’s what fills my stories; one true love, one honest hope, one more chance.
On a personal note, I love to dig
in the dirt and play around with perennial flowers and herbs, walk my dog,
cook, read, and on the perfect day, ride off into the sunset with my very own
‘hero’ husband on his Electra Glide Classic aka Harley.
I had the pleasure of reading THEY
WAY THEY WERE and I really enjoyed it, especially how character driven your
writing is.
Tell us about your writing
style.
I’ve heard my writing style called
‘conversational and intimate’ – I guess that’s a fairly accurate assessment. When
I’m writing, I think about ‘real life’ situations and the emotions attached to
them. My books are indeed character driven which is no surprise if you know me.
I’m very interested in people and their situations – my husband shakes his head
when I tell him about someone he supposedly knows better than I do…I’ll say
‘How sad about this or that’ and ‘Good for them. Did you know…’ He usually
doesn’t. I get that honestly. When my almost eighty-four year old mother (whose
baking/cooking skills and common sense wisdom usually make an appearance in my
books) takes her annual jaunt to California to stay with my brothers, we always
ask her about her plane ride and if she got someone’s ‘whole life history’J
She never disappoints.
When did you become published and
how did your career as a writer come about?
Ah, the writing journey, not to be
confused with the publishing journey. Yes, well they were both quite
interesting. Back in the day, I only read classics or self-improvement books.
Then I became pregnant with my second child and suffered placenta previa. With
a toddler at home and the concern that I might lose my baby, it was a difficult
time. I had to slow down and stop playing wonder woman because it was no longer
about me and what I thought I could do – now it was about my child. I started
reading romances as a way to relax and because I didn’t want to read about
women throwing themselves in front of trains or drinking poison elixirs. I
needed happy endings. Thus entered the historical romance. After the first
book, I never looked back but it wasn’t until years later that I decided to
write my own.
It all began at the hands of a 286
computer, a failing marriage, and three daughters under the age of five.
Writing proved wonderful, (and inexpensive) therapy as I let my fingers and
bruised heart begin a tender love story where the hero and heroine surpass
incredible obstacles in search of true happiness and eternal love. But the
story was only 100 pages complete when I packed it away and moved with my children
to a rental bungalow where I took on the challenge of single motherhood and
re-entering the work force. The 5 1/4 floppy disk containing the love story
remained sandwiched between Lotus and PacMan until years later, when I
discovered it while unpacking boxes for the home I shared with my new husband,
three children, and two stepchildren. I powered up the old 286 computer, popped
in the disk, and spent the rest of the afternoon re-reading the story and
mapping out my future as a writer. It would take another two years of solid
writing, countless rejections, and another completed book before I made that
first sale. Innocent Betrayal came out with Kensington Publishing in May 2000
and has recently been re-released through The Wild Rose Press. This Regency historical
remains one of my favorites.
How many books do you have out now
and what is your most recent release?
I’ve published twelve books and
just this week received the rights back to one of my very favorite contemporary
romances, Paradise Found! When the reversion letter came in the mail today I
wanted to do cartwheels across the lawn (that didn’t happen…actually, that’s
never happenedJ)
My most recent release is a former
Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards semifinalist, Pretending Normal. Years ago, it
was a quarter finalist in the Ray Bradbury sponsored New Century New Writer
Award. Pretending Normal is a young adult book about a teenage girl struggling
to make sense of her life after her mother dies and she’s left with her
alcoholic father. It’s got some pretty dark moments with a sad yet hopeful
ending. My father was an alcoholic and I wanted to write this book as an
acknowledgement of the human frailties that exist in all of us as well as the bond
of family that holds one to another, in love, loyalty, even death.
What do you have in the works
now? Can you give us a sneak peek?
I just finished the first in a
Regency historical series I’m calling The Model Wife. It’s delightful and
delicious with a very different kind of hero. Next up will be book editing and
re-releasing of Paradise Found. Then book two of the An Unlikely Husband
series. (The Seduction of Sophie Seacrest is book one.)
Here’s a snippet for Paradise Found
– What if a man who has everything – wealth, power, looks, talent- is suddenly
stripped of one of life’s most basic needs – his sight – and what if the one
person who can help him redefine his new world is a woman who has been so
emotionally scarred and bruised by an ex-husband that she can’t see past this
man’s image to the real person inside?
Paradise Found explores the
delicate balance between ‘blind’ trust and hope, the development and nurturing
of feelings where physical appearances are non-existent, and the inevitable
fear that accompanies any relationship when the mask of politeness is discarded
and the true self is revealed.
Give us a small look into a normal
day in your life. Do you have a special
routine for your writing or do you sneak it in when you get the chance?
Life is much different than when I
first began writing with five children at home. They are all up and out now and
it’s just me, my husband, and our rescue dog, Cooper. I write every day after
breakfast and Cooper’s morning walk. In the old days, I could concentrate on
writing the story…in the new days, I have to concentrate on writing and marketing the story, which can
swallow huge amounts of time. That said, I’m learning and slowly wading through
the process. And though our children may live in different cities and states, I
am only a phone call away – as my husband knows when my daughter calls during
dinner!
Are you a big reader? Do you have a particular genre or author that
is your favorite?
Yes, I am a huge reader. I love
Regency historicals. I fell in love with related stories and finally realized
if I love reading about the hero’s brother or the heroine’s sister, then maybe
I should think about doing that with my own books!
In regard to influence, I’ve been
influenced by many writers – from Tolstoy, to Steinbeck, Joyce Carol Oates,
Judith McNaught, Elizabeth Berg…and yes, Jane Austen! They have distinctive
styles and when I read their work I think about what grabs me – how they create
a scene or an emotion that stays with me. And then I think about how I can do
that in my own work.
Do you think you have been
influenced as a writer by others?
Absolutely. When I read a
particular book that touches me, it stays with me a very long time. I love the
classics and as oddball as this sounds, I actually took a Literature class in
high school ….all by myself. I couldn’t fit this class into my schedule and the
teacher let me read the books on my own and take the tests (always essay, and I
always aced them.)
What is the best piece of advice
you have ever been given as a writer?
I will answer this in two parts.
The single best piece of advice I’ve been given as a writer is the same advice
I’ve been given in regard to life. It’s simple and very powerful – believe in
yourself. If you can do this, then you can weather all manner of disappointment
and setbacks. The second piece of advice came from wise woman and fellow
writer, Barbara Samuel. I had just finished taking one of her classes and at
the end she encouraged me to not look so much toward the outside world for
direction and validation but to tap into my passions – gardens, food, dogs, quirky
family history and write the best ‘me’ book I could. That singular advice
helped me turn the corner in my writing and move forward with focused intent.
I would give this same advice – in
life as well as in writing.
Mary, thanks so much for coming by
to chat with us! I look forward to
reading more of your wonderful books.
