This week I’m hosting Lyn Cote and The Desires of Her Heart as well as Maggie Brendan and No Place for a Lady. If you want to be entered in both or either of the drawings for these books, please leave a comment during the week with your email address (you
won’t be entered without an email address so I can contact you if you win). If you want to enter a drawing but don’t want to leave an email address, you can email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday evening.
Maggie Brendan’s interview:
1. What made you start writing?
I was an avid reader growing up and consequently, I was always plotting stories in my head. I have an active imagination. When I would observe life in general and events around me, I was always thinking-“What if…”.
2. How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?
Though I wrote my first little book in 3rd grade and one in the 5th grade, I wrote off and on throughout the years, when my children were small. I started to become serious about writing about 5 or 6 years ago after attending a Bible Study, Write His Answer, at my church.
3. How do you handle rejections?
Initially not well, I’m afraid, and it’s tough on the ego. However, one thing I finally realized is that a rejection is not a rejection of me personally, and maybe not even my work. It may be that it was not what the publisher was looking for at the time or it may not fit their particular need.
4. Why do you write?
I simply love to write! Even when I was working, I would write. I truly love entering “another world” where I can create and control the outcome of the story. I want to entertain the reader and make them “sigh” and feel connected to my characters as though they are living character’s lives.
5. What would you be doing with your free time if you weren’t writing?
If I wasn’t writing, I’d like to scrapbook with my daughter, or work on a painting and read more books. I would do more volunteer work at my church, and visit my grandchildren and daughter in Augusta. One granddaughter lives in my area, so I get to see her more often.
6. What are you working on right now?
I’m in the middle of book 3 of Heart of the West.
7. Do you put yourself into your books/characters?
Funny that you ask. I didn’t think I did but my critique buds and daughter said that some of my personality comes through in the heroine.
8. Tell us about the book you have out right now.
It’s a story about a young Southern belle from Georgia that goes to visit her aunt in Colorado and winds up going on a trail drive, something very few women did in 1892. Romance, tragedy and faith make up the composition of this story and the heroine must rely on God in the face of difficult times more than she ever has which makes her stronger.
9. Do you have any advice for other writers?
I’d tell other writers to read as much in your genre as you can but don’t stop there. Read other types of books and other writing styles as well. Attend writing workshops or conference if you can so you can connect with other writers, agents and publishers. Join a critique group or form your own. Writers are everywhere. Learn your craft and do it well and when you submit your first three chapters, be sure it’s a clean manuscript (meaning polished and edited) so that you present yourself as a professional and serious about your writing.
10. How important is faith in your books?
My faith is extremely important since I write inspirational stories. I must have time alone to pray and think and listen to the voice of God by myself and have corporate worship as well. This is one of the reasons I enjoy getting outside taking a walk.
11. What themes do you like to write about?
I enjoy stories that tug at the reader’s heart, through a challenge that they must face or obstacle to overcome. It may cause the reader to think, “I could do that!” I enjoy sprinkling historical facts throughout so that the story becomes believable.
12. What is your favorite book you’ve written and why?
I’d have to say my first novel is my favorite because it was the most fun to write. The heroine is full of spunk and becomes a lot stronger in her faith and how she looks at life, and how she regards others.
13. What is your writing schedule like?
When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is grab a cup of coffee and take a peek at email. Then I shower and have a bite to eat and then return to my computer by 9. I’ll look over what I wrote the day before to remind me of where I was going with the story. Some days there’s marketing things to do or researching a topic for my book. I’ll stop around 1 pm and have lunch, take a walk and then I’m back at the computer until supper. I try to do maintain this schedule 4 to 5 days a week. I do all the running around on Saturdays and Sunday is church but if I’m on deadline or doing edits, I’ll do some work on Sunday night. I like to leave Sunday afternoons open for free time and connecting with my family. I usually work on my blog in the evenings, when I take time to do it. http://southernbellewriter.blogspot.com. I am a resident blogger once a month at http://bustlesAndspurs.com.
