Self-pubbed, Traditional or Other

This week we’re going to find out a little about author Mary Marvella. February’s theme is ‘Self–pubbed/traditional/ other writing formats’ so Mary will be talking about that and her new webinar. She’ll also tell us a little about herself and her writing, and answer some fun questions.

Mary has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember.  The stories she made up for the other children and the details she made up for their “play like” or “let’s pretend” games sometimes were so real they scared her. Mary taught language arts for 15 years, perfect for her BA in English. Her M.Ed in Counseling served her well during her years as a school counselor and as a teacher later. Now she tutors, teaches writers, and edits. Her inner English teacher loves the editing part. Her daughter doesn’t read her books (something about TMI.)

Editing for other authors allows her to contribute to preparing great stories for publication. Keeping an author’s voice, rhythm, and style intact is important to Mary. Writers shouldn’t be able to tell where her suggestions begin, because she uses their words.

Beverley: Are you self–pubbed, traditional or both?
Mary: I am both
Beverley: What made you chose that path? And tell us how it worked for you.
Mary: I got good rejections and had a publisher suggest self-pubbing one of my books she loved but couldn’t buy. I signed on as editor for a publishing company and contracted 2 books with a different publisher. I really need time to promote, but I love to edit!
Beverley: Have you written in any other writing formats? (non-fiction, journalism, flash fiction, poetry). If yes, can you share why you tried them and how it worked for you? And how has it affected how you write today?            
Mary: None of the above since college. I intended to write the children’s stories I made up for my daughter and then fictionalize the stories my grandmamma told me when I was young.
Beverley: Is there anything else you’d like to share about differences in self-publishing and traditional publishing for today’s writer?
Mary: I have freedom to write the stories I want to write the way I want to write them as a Indie. I also have the responsibility.
Beverley: How long have you been writing?                 
Mary: Since 1991 for fun.
Beverley: What genre do you write in and why?                 
Mary: Romantic suspense, woman’s fiction, paranormal, erotica and a sweet romance   I write the stories my characters demand I write and that I need at the time a story begins to build in my head.
Beverley: Who influenced you the most in deciding to become a writer?
Mary: My characters. I told stories from the moment I could create them in my imagination as a child.  My grandmamma was a story teller. I loved the classics, the REAL classics.
Beverley: What obstacles did you have to overcome to begin creating your work? Mary: I left teaching language arts which left me no time to write. Grading papers, raising a child, helping the EX photograph weddings on weekends, and taking night classes left me no time to write. Once I left teaching I managed start writing, I had to go to the Ex’s photo studio to use the studio computer and work at night when the computer wasn’t in use.
Beverley: What gets your creative juices flowing?
Mary:  Often a character will bug me to write his or her story. At some point that person’s story grabs my attention. 
Beverley: What will stop your creative muse the quickest?
Mary: Having too many demands on my time.  Paying bills by editing and tutoring is more important at times.
Beverley: What do you have for breakfast?
Mary: Usually when I tutor I drink chocolate coconut milk and grab cheese slices oan my way out the door. If I don’t tutor I heat leftovers from meals.
Beverley: What do you wear when you are writing?
Mary: PJs or sweatpants and Tee-shirts or sweatshirts.
Beverley: Where do you do most of your writing?
Mary: I have a rocking chair I gave Mama before she passed away. It has an ottoman that rocks. I brought it home and I use it. I work in a living room/den.
Beverley: Do you have a favorite cartoon character? Why?  
Mary: Mighty Mouse was mine as a kid. I loved the idea! I have always been the shortest person in groups.
Beverley: Who would you love most to meet 'in person' and why? 
Mary: Adrian Paul! (Highlander the Series.) If you have to ask, you haven’t seen the series or him!
Beverley: If you had an unexpected free day what would you do with it? 

Mary: I’d work on the older books I need to publish.  I should clean house.

Beverley: What are you working on now?          
Mary: I am reformatting one of my unpublished novels, editing a novella for a cowboy series, and making slides for a webinar on editing for self-publishing. I have a date set up. (grin) My authors and freelance clients say I work magic with my editing. Each has claimed I taught her more in hours than all of her teachers put together. I decided to try to teach about editing.

 

Blurb for Cheerleader Dad

A sweet contemporary romance reminiscent of the Parent Trap movies. Single parents raising eleven-year-old daughters must try to resist the ploys their children use to push them together as well as the growing attraction that sparks between them. 

Lily has been getting along fine without a husband and she doesn’t need one now. Jesse has raised her daughter without her mama since her birth. The wannabee cheerleaders want their parents to get together and do their best to engineer the match. Jesse and Lily try to resist the attractions they feel.

This story will make you laugh out loud and smile a lot.  

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Cheerleader-Dad-Mary-Marvella-ebook/dp/B013OND3I0/ref=sr_1_13?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1485833138&sr=1-13

You can find Mary at:

https://goodreads.com/author/show/4909455.Mary_Marvella
https://www.facebook.com/ARomanceCaper
www.MaryMarvella.com
https://www.facebook.com/mmbarfield
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Marvella- Author/121044561311561
http://pinkfuzzyslipperwriters.blogspot.com
Twitter @mmarvellab
http://www.GildedDragonflyBooks.com
http://amzn.to/22t6vOC-Marvella/e/B008E1SJ32/
Https://www.facebook.com/MaryMarvellaEdits

And check out her Webinar

Sparkle and Spit Polish, Self-editing Magic

Hosted by Mary Marvella Edits

02/07/2017 07:00 PM

Registration page link:

https://marymarvella.webinarninja.co/my/wnwebinarlist/index?webinar_id=54331

Don’t forget to check back next week for another author interview?