****AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH MISS. MAE****

[GERI'S BOOK REVIEWS]

I am Honored, and delighted to present to Today's Interview our very own
Miss Mae. A talented author, and one who fills my heart with "those Oldies but
goodies" from my Babyboomer Past. A Wonderful person, and a Treasure of
a Friend to all!


1. Geri: When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?

Miss Mae: In the fifth grade, when I fell in love with Nancy Drew, and Trixie
Belden books. I wanted to write thrilling adventures such as those girls
experienced.

2. Geri: What type of books do you enjoy writing?

Miss. Mae: Mystery! Well, I always hope it's a good puzzle...LOL! With a splash
of romance!

3. Geri: Did a special person in your life inspire you to become a writer?

Miss. Mae: Not really! But I would like to say that after receiving yet another
rejection on a story that was so dear to my heart, I wondered if it were meant for
me to be published. Yet! The wonderful critique partner I had, and currently have
who worked with me on "see No Evil, My Pretty Lady" inspired and encouraged
me to submit this story. She was right! I got accepted first time!

4. Geri: Have you written any books based on a true life story?

Miss. Mae: No! I haven't! Maybe that will come later!

5. Geri: Who is your favorite author?

Miss. Mae: Hmmmm, that's hard! Above all, I guess I have to say James Herriot.
He makes me laugh!

6. Geri: Are your characters created from people you've known in real life, or
are they from the imagination?

Miss. Mae: Mostly from my imagination, yet, there might be one, or two personality
traits taken from a person or people I've met!

7. Geri: How many books have you written?

Miss. Mae: Well, I wrote dozens growing-up! LOL! But, on the serious side,
I'm now on my third.

8. Geri: Where can your books be purchased?

Miss. Mae: Ross Press, Fictionwise, All Romance Ebooks, Coffee Time Romance.

9. Geri: Describe how you felt the first time you were published?

Miss. Mae: Ecstatic, thrilled, delirilious, and shocked. I was stunned, apprehensive!
I wasn't sure I believed the words "offer you a contract!" I was downright scared too!

10. Geri: Do you have any current work in progress for a new release?

Miss. Mae: Yes, I do! My latest manuscript is tentatively titled "Said The Spider
To The Fly." It's another romantic mystery. I hope to have it finished by the
end of the month!

11. Geri: What are some links to your websites?

Miss. Mae: http://www.missmaesite.com

12. Geri: Do You have goals set for your future in your journey of writing?

Miss. Mae: I'd love to have four, or five novels under my belt. Also, a movie contract,
or two, of course! But, I'm learning it's best to take life one day at a time. It's less
stressful that way!

13. Geri: At this point, and time in your life, are you exactly where you want to be
in your writing endeavors?

Miss. Mae: No, I'm not! I'd hoped to have a major manuscript published, or at
least contracted. Right now, it's still on the back burner. I'm waiting for when I'm
able to try to repair it.

14. Geri: In your opinion, what are some factors that can help authors reach their
dream of accomplishment?

Miss. Mae: For me, it paid to be realistic! Not everyone is a Margaret Mitchell, and
has a "Gone With The Wind" on their hands. Start small, even if it's a recipe
published in your local newspaper. Take time to work yourself up. Any publishing
credit will help, and hang in there. Persistence really does pay off!

15. Geri: Have you ever experienced writer's block?

Miss. Mae: Oh yes! LOL! And writer's stumble-fumble-grumble, and groan too!

16. Geri: What advice can you give to prevent writer's block?

Miss. Mae: Is there a way to prevent it? LOL! I have to get up and walk away
a bit to rest my mind, and eyes. Either a stroll in the yard will refresh me, or
just to lie downfor a while. It's different for everyone. But, I find when my body's
relaxed, and energized, it revitalizes my creativity too!

17. Geri: As a child, did you have favorite books?

Miss. Mae: Nancy Drew, and Trixie Belden. I loved those gals!

18. Geri: As a child, did you enjoy reading?

Miss. Mae: Yes! I was a true bookworm! I ate the pages!

19. Geri: If you had the opportunity for one day to live the life of a famous
author, who would it be?

Miss. Mae: I'd have to say that I don't want to live the life, other than my own.
I'm famous to my family, and friends, so does that count? LOL!

20. Geri: Many authors feel asense of self-satisfaction. Some feel a sense
of achievement, can you relate to such feelings?

Miss. Mae: Oh yes! have both! I feel like an architect who has gone from seeing
his ideas on blueprints to the finished, constructed project. It's natural to have
pride at what you've accomplished!

21: Geri: How do you balance your current occupation with your goals for
writing?

Miss. Mae: My occupation is writing. I just need to try to balance my personal
life with it LOL!

22. Geri: How did you feel at your first book-signing?

Miss. Mae: My book is electronic only, so a book-signing is not something I've
participated in. I hope that happens in the future!

23: Geri: If you won the lottery tomorrow, would that change your writing plans?

Miss. Mae: No! I'd still carry the desire to bring my ideas to paper, er, computer
screen--that is!

24. Geri: What was your most difficult task, from manuscript to promotions?

Miss. Mae: The promotions as I'm a shy person, and have always been perfectly
satisfied with being a decorative wallflower. Now, I must put myself out there,
center stage, gulp! It's hard to peel myself off the wall!

25. Geri: Some writer's need to listen to music, or focus on at the ocean, or
flowers. Do you have a particular scenery?

Miss. Mae: I really need to be alone, and quiet to immerse myself in the action,
scene, dialogue, and thoughts of my characters. Anything else to me is distracting!

26: Geri: If you have a book published in a different genre from one you've
already published, what would it be?

Miss. Mae: Inspirational!

Geri: Thank you so much Miss. Mae for today's Interview! You had me laughing
so much, I really enjoyed!

[Besa Kosova]

Miss Mae,

Thank you for the wonderful interview. I have to agree with you with being alone when writing. Everything else is distracting, isn't it? I don't know how other writers can write with sound effects in the background.

Good luck with the insprational writing.

Besa

Besa

[Miss Mae]

Hi Besa,

Oh yes, I really need to be alone. And what can even hinder me more is, if I've been to a site that has music, etc., I might have that tune rolling through my head, and then it's stuck there while I'm trying to work on the new manuscript. Aaaak, because I might be trying to write, "He looked deep into her eyes and said, 'You ain't nothin' but a hound dog'...."

So I need quiet...sssh....quiet, please!...LOL..

MM

[Lynda Coker]

Great interview,

I agree with Miss Mae, promotion is a whole new world with tons of things that 'go bump in the night.'
Of course, I'm sure that working with someone who is knowledgeable, sincere, and effective in the promotional arena makes the whole scary thing much more doable. Great job, Geri.

[GERI'S BOOK REVIEWS]

Hi Lynda,
Thank you very much! I just realized that I'm telling the entire world about
this Interview And I forgot to inform Miss. Mae LOL! Oh my! Running there now!

[Miss Mae]

Thanks for letting me know, Geri!...LOL..

[Miss Mae]

Hi Lynda,

Yes, promotion is a whole new life, isn't it? I get visions of these pushy salesmen who stick their feet in the door and nose in your face, and now here I am...**gulp**...meeting strangers in grocery stores, bank lobbies, post office, whatever, and I'm passing out business cards!...LOL..Shades of Twilight Zone, how things do come back to haunt you....

MM

[GERI'S BOOK REVIEWS]

Hi Sandy,
Your a Blessing! Thank you!

[Miss Mae]

Hi Sandy,

I read a couple of The Hardy Boys. Did anyone read The Bobsey Twins? I read those too, but Nancy was my favorite. I thought she led such an exciting life...LOL..I tried to read those "modern" version of Nancy too...Ugh, nothing like the original.

Thanks for stopping by, Sandy. Much appreciated! :)

MM

[Linda LaRoque]

Hey Miss Mae,
I'm a Nancy Drew fan also. If I won the lotto, I'd still write too, but I've have a secretary come in on occasion and help me stay organized.
Best of luck with your writing.
Linda

[Miss Mae]

LOL...Linda...That secretary might come in handy to keep you from diving into garbage bags!...LOL..Yeah, if we win the lotto, we'd just pay them to do all the "dirty" work, right?...LOL..Now, there's an idea!

Thanks for coming over! :)

MM

[Chiron O'Keefe]

Fabulous interview!

I grew up reading Nancy and Trixie too (though Trixie was my favorite). *smile*

And I HAVE to be alone to write. I envy those who can tap away at the local coffeehouse.

Smiles,
Chiron

[Miss Mae]

Hi Chiron,

I, too, have wondered how folks can block out noise like that. I understand James Herriot wrote his books while sitting in front of a television screen. Amazing!

And oh yes, I so enjoyed Trixie. I remember that girl got a weekly allowance and I went, "Wow! She's rich!"...LOL..

Thanks for coming by!:)

MM