You’ve now sold
more than two million books
and are an award-winning author of 30
contemporary romances with 8 more scheduled to be released in 2014. When did
you publish your first book? At that time did you think you could make a career
at it?
My
first published book was Line of Scrimmage in 2008, but that
was the seventh book I wrote. I had always hoped to make a career out of
fiction writing, but until self-publishing came along, there was no prayer of
that happening. I didn’t leave my full-time job until the end of 2011, so I’ve
only been writing full-time for two years.
Your writing includes
different facets of the romance genre. Do you prefer one genre to write in more
than another?
All
of my books are contemporaries. The Fatal Series is romantic suspense, but it’s
also contemporary. I prefer to write straight contemporaries to romantic
suspense, but the suspense is extremely challenging and forces me to stretch my
storytelling skills. I always love the final product when I write a Fatal book,
but the process of writing the books is grueling. The straight contemporaries
are much easier to write.
How do you keep the
writing fresh and contemporary after so many books?
I
think it goes back to fresh, interesting characters who populate the stories.
They keep the books interesting and new every time.
How do you research
the storylines for your books?
I
do most of my own research with some help once in a while from my assistant and
my husband. I often visit places that I think would make good locations for
books. However, I tend to write about places I know fairly well, which makes my
books more authentic.
Do you think there
will always be print books? Yes,
I think there will probably always be print books. A LOT of readers still
prefer print to digital.
How do you feel the
digital market has changed the publishing industry for the better or worse?
I
think the digital age has changed the industry for the better because it has
given readers more options in how they acquire and read books. I also think the
“instant gratification” aspect of e-reading is good for authors and publishers
who are in the business of selling books.
How do you write? Or
are you afraid of duplicating stories after so many books?
There’s
nothing all that fancy about it—I start on page one and write the story
straight through. I’m what’s known as a “pantser,” meaning I write “by the seat
of my pants," making it up as I go along. I always know my main characters
fairly well by the time I begin, and I have a very good idea of where I’m going
with the story. The rest is a journey of discovery for me, and I like it that
way. I never outline or do character development ahead of starting a book.
Does writing come
easier now?
The
writing does come easier because I’ve been doing it for so long, and I don’t
fear duplicating stories because all the characters are so different from each
other, which is what keeps the books fresh. I never hear that readers feel
they’ve “already heard” one of my stories.
How much does
social media play in your promotion of your books? What suggestions do you have
for enhancing a writer’s social media platform?
Social
media plays a HUGE role in the promotion of my books. I have a big following on
Facebook that includes 30+ reader groups—one for each series and one for each
book—that give readers a place to discuss the series and characters with other
fans. Those groups have been extremely popular. The McCarthy Series reader
group is getting close to 7,000 members and the new Green Mountain Group
already has 3,000 members, and the first book, All You Need Is Love, just came out this month. I’m also
active on Twitter, although my readers tend to be more on Facebook than
Twitter.
What is some of the
best writing advice that you’ve received or could give?
Writers
write. They don’t talk about writing, they actually do it. Write every day.
Treat it as a job vs. a hobby. Take it seriously and take the time to learn
your craft before pushing a book out the door. A commonly held belief is that
it takes at least 10,000 hours of work to “master” a creative art. I can assure
you I put in twice that many hours before people I didn’t know started reading
my books. I believe the time I spent learning my craft is a big reason why my
books have done as well as they have. There are no shortcuts, no fast tracks,
no get-rich-quick road to glory. It’s a long, hard slog, and it’s not for the
faint of heart. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Any last tips about
writing that you would like to add?
Only
that if you don’t honestly and truly LOVE to write, you’re in the wrong
business. If you’re doing it for any other reason than you LOVE to write,
you’re in the wrong business.
Want
to know more about Marie and her writing, here’s some links to do that...
Follow
her on Twitter @marieforce
Great interview Chris. Thank you!
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