Hello my dear readers! I am pleased to welcome Margaret Brownley to my blog!
First... A wee bit of introduction...
About Margaret:
New York Times best-selling author Margaret Brownley has penned more than thirty historical novels and novellas. Her books have won numerous awards, including Readers' Choice Award of Excellence. She's a former Romance Writers of American RITA® finalist and has written for a TV soap. She is currently working on a new series. Not bad for someone who flunked eighth grade English. Just don't ask her to diagram a sentence.
What inspired you to become a writer?
That’s really hard to say. I suspect I might have been making up stories in the womb, but didn’t actually write my first “book” till fifth grade.
What books have influenced your life most?
As a child I read Little Women and pretended I was Jo, the writer. I hated history in school—all those battles and dates. It wasn’t until I read Gone with the Wind at age thirteen that I understood history was about people and how they reacted to the world around them.
What is the one piece of advice you received about writing that helped you the most?
I got some pretty bad advice in the beginning. I was told to write what I know and not to quit my day job. If I wrote only what I knew, my stories would have been one-page long. I also quit my day job—not a very wise decision financially. It was either sink or swim and I was determined to swim. Devoting myself full time to writing paid off, and I recently published my fortieth book.
Do you have any preparation rituals before you begin to write?
I get up, grab a cup of coffee and write before anything else can interfere.
Which one of your books do you consider your “pride and joy”. Why?
This is like choosing a favorite child. Actually, the book I’m the most emotionally involved in is always the one I’m currently working on. Those are the characters I carry in my head and heart. Once a book is written, I usually put it out of my mind.
Any fun behind the scenes tidbits you'd like to share with us?
When my first book was published, I spotted several copies in a drug store. I was thrilled, of course, but a bit embarrassed to tell the manager I was the writer. So I decided to quietly autograph them. Someone saw me and thought I was defacing books. As I was leaving the store I was stopped by a policeman. I told him who I was and he asked to see ID. Unfortunately, the book came out under a pen name so it didn’t match the name on my license. Boy, did I have some explaining to do.
Do you pattern you heroes and heroines after people you know?
Sometimes I use someone’s mannerisms, traits or speech patterns. Fortunately, no one recognizes themselves in print, which makes me laugh. I have a friend who has several unique traits that I used, and even he didn’t recognize himself.
What is your favorite time in History?
Most of my historical novels take place in the latter part of the 1800s. I’m fascinated by the similarities between the 19thcentury and current times. The 1800s saw its share of bank failures, recessions, depressions and wars. Technology changed the way people lived back then just as it does today. The railroad made a big impact and so did electricity and the telephone. The telegram has been called the Victorian Internet and for good reason.
I especially like writing romance because you can explore every possible theme known to mankind through the relationship of two people falling in love. You don't need a cast of hundreds or even thousands.
We all have family, work and other obligations...how do you maintain balance while in the middle of a writing project?
It’s not easy. What saves is me that I’m an early riser and am usually at my desk by 4 a.m. By the time the world awakes and family calls, I’ve gotten in a day’s work. Some people are grouchy before their coffee. I’m grouchy if I don’t get my writing in.
What is the next project you're working on?
Right now I’m working on a new series, plus a novella for St. Martin’s Press. The first book in my Match Made in Texas series, Left at the Altar will be released in November.
Where can we purchase your books?http://www.amazon.com/Margaret-Brownley/e/B002BLN5A8
and how can we keep up with you?
Website: Margaret-brownley.com
Facebook:https://business.facebook.com/MargaretBrownleyAuthor/timeline/?business_id=1570988766476777
Last, but not least.....What and when is your next release? Provide a brief synopsis....
The third book in my Undercover Ladies series, Calico Spy, was released in January. I also have a story in the 12 Brides of Summer collection out in June.
Here’s the blurb for Calico Spy:
He never met a Pinkerton detective he liked; she never met a man so stubborn…
Pinkerton Detective Katie Madison makes a lousy Harvey House waitress, but it’s the only way she can get close enough to the scene of the murders of two of the restaurant’s servers to solve the mystery.
Sheriff Branch Whitman knows there’s something fishy about the pretty new Harvey girl with the flaming red hair, but he never would’ve guessed her to be a Pinkerton!
Soon a tornado hits town, and a shadow from the past puts Branch’s eight-year-old son in danger. Now the sheriff has no choice but to work with Katie—or chance losing everything he holds dear. Tracking a murderer is dangerous even for a man, and he fears for Katie’s safety. But as they get closer to the killer one thing becomes abundantly clear. Protecting Katie is one thing; protecting his heart something else.
Thank you so much for participating and answering all my questions, Margaret! This was fun to read!
Readers, feel free to comment or ask questions below!
Readers, feel free to comment or ask questions below!
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