You’ve now published almost 40 novels with several series, but what inspired you to write that first novel?
While I was on maternity leave with my first daughter, I started reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I’ve always been a huge reader and started writing short stories when I was in school. After falling in love with Scotland through her storytelling, I decided to take the plunge and try my hand at writing my own Highlander romance.
How many books in did it take before writing became your full-time career?
I was actually laid off from my job as a Business Analyst just before the
pandemic due to a slowdown of incoming work. When that happened, I decided to try writing full-time. At that time, I had around 28 books
under my belt. I've been writing full-time for the last two years and it's been
an absolute dream come true
I've actually always wanted to write a historical fiction and decided 2020 was the year I was going to do it. I really enjoy digging deep into the research and losing myself in non-fiction books about the time period I'm writing. With romance, the focus of the story in on the love developing between the characters, but with historical fiction, the historical detail is as important as the protagonist.
Getting to add in
so much of the amazing facts and historical backstory necessary for historical
fiction is something I have found I absolutely enjoy. As far as the time period
goes, WWII is something that means a lot to me after having spent more than 12
years of my life living in Germany. I grew up going to museums that were
designed to not only share what happened during WWII, but also ensure such
atrocities never occur again.
I have to say
it's the plotting. I’m a very Type A writer and need to have all of the
character charts and plot completely done before I can start the book. It is
very hard to hold off on writing when I have to sit there and narrow down the
chapter-by-chapter details. But if I start too much before my plot is done, I
find myself in a hole that is very hard to get out of.
What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
My friends!
When I first started writing, I had somebody very important in my life who did
not support me at all - in fact, they were very disparaging about my work. It
was through my friends’ encouragement that I entered several writing contests.
I then won first place in those contests and that is what gave me the
confidence to find an agent and put my writing out there for publication. I
would never be where I am today without the love and support of my friends.
What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
I wish I would've
had a little bit more confidence in myself from the start. In my earlier books,
I never felt like I could push back with edits because I didn’t feel worthy of
speaking up for myself. Now that I’ve written so many books, I’m comfortable
with politely standing up for what I think should remain in my books if I don’t
agree with the edits. I think that confidence is definitely something that
comes with time though.
When you have to
stop writing, take a few seconds to jot down at least a sentence about what you
plan to have come next. It can be as simple as “He says no, she gets mad and
goes to see her neighbor” – whatever – anything that can help jog your thoughts
to pick up where you left off the next time you sit down in front of the
computer.
Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
Two very
important things to always continue as a writer: 1. Read! In your genre, out of
your genre, classics, contemporaries, best sellers…all of it. Keep your well
full or it will go dry. 2. Never stop learning. Nobody knows everything - and
if they think they do, they haven’t been digging deep enough.
What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
The
Librarian Spy is my next upcoming book that comes out July 26, 2022. This was
a really incredible book to write, not only because I had to research three
different countries during World War II (Portugal, France, and the USA) but
also because I was able to travel to each of the locations.
Meanwhile, in occupied France, Elaine has begun an apprenticeship at a printing press run by members of the Resistance. It’s a job usually reserved for men, but in the war, those rules have been forgotten. Yet she knows that the Nazis are searching for the press and its printer in order to silence them.
As the battle in Europe rages, Ava and Elaine find themselves connecting through coded messages and discovering hope in the face of war.
Sounds intriguing! If you’d like to learn more about Madeline’s books here is the link to her website which also features all her social media links!
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