Merry Farmer is one of the most delightful authors I know. She looks deceptively innocent and demure--until you see the mischievous sparkle in her eyes. Merry allowed me to grill her with the following interview about her latest release, THE WILD BRIDE.
When you’re not writing, what’s your favorite way to
relax and recharge?
That’s a trick question for
me, because from the day I picked up a pencil and learned how to write the word
‘grasshopper’ in 1st grade, writing has been my way to relax. But I
have been known to knit socks in my spare time. Lots and lots of socks!
How long have you been writing?
Since I was 10 years old and
realized one day that I didn’t have to wait for the teacher to assign a
creative writing assignment to write something. Best day of my life!
Why did you choose to participate in Debra Holland’s
Kindle World?
It was such an honor to be
asked to participate by someone as awesome and talented as Debra that I
couldn’t say no! … No, really, it was like the proverbial offer I couldn’t
refuse. I also happen to love group projects, particularly when we authors can
include characters from each other’s stories in our books.
Where do you prefer to write?
I have a special office area
in my house. My computer chair has a comfortable butt-print in it from all the
hours I spend there. I do usually listen to music while I write, a local,
classical music station here in Philly.
Are you a plotter or a panzer?
I’m definitely a plotter. I
used to be a pantser, but a couple years ago I learned a method of outlining
that works very well for me. It’s an involved, long process, but once I have
that outline, I can write like the wind and get a lot of words on the page in a
short period of time.
What research did this project involve?
Honestly, the biggest chunk
of research I did was reading Debra’s books to get a feel for the world and
consulting with my fellow authors to figure out how best to use their
characters. I also did a little research about the earliest automobiles and
internal combustion engines.
Tell us about your writing schedule.
I keep to a strict writing
schedule. I’m a full-time writer, so it’s my job. I work best in the morning,
so I usually write pretty solidly from about 8:30-10:30, then another solid
chunk in the afternoon. Every day, not just weekdays. I also make specific time
to read. As Stephen King says in his wonderful book, On Writing, if you don’t have time to read, you don’t have time to
be a good writer.
Do you write full time or do you have a day job.
Writing is my full-time job,
my hobby, my obsession, my boyfriend, my all-in-all.
Tell us something about yourself that might surprise
readers.
I may write romance novels,
but I’m kind of a big Doctor Who geek these days. I used to be a total Trekkie
too. There’s just something about the vastness of the universe and the infinite
possibilities of space that gets me all excited. I’m also passionate about
metaphysics and what might lie beyond those things that we, as mere mortals,
can comprehend with our finite minds. I almost minored in philosophy in
college…was only one class short.
What is something unusual you learned while
researching and writing this book?
I learned just how remote and
isolated some of those early mining towns in Montana were at the end of the 19th
century!
What do you hope your writing brings to readers?
I hope my stories make
readers think about life—then and now—in ways that they never have before. I
like to add a dash of unusual history into each of my stories and to try to
make people see that it doesn’t matter when you were born, we’re all people and
we’ve all always wanted the same things.
What advice would you give to unpublished authors?
Write your brains out. No,
seriously. The only way to know if this is the path you really want to pursue
is to write until you think you can’t stand it anymore, and then, if you still
have ideas and still want to get them down, you know you’re a writer.
Tell us about your Kindle World novel with a blurb:
Minnie Faraday is clever,
daring, and out of control. When she finally goes too far, her parents hatch a
plan to send her up to Morgan’s Crossing to marry the man she’s been in love
with since she was a little girl. It’s the perfect plan to settle and ground
her, and one her parents are sure will bring happiness to everyone involved.
One problem… They neglected
to tell Minnie about the plan before shipping her off.
Freddy Chance always had a
soft spot for the bright, adventurous girl who followed him around through his
youth, but marriage is the furthest thing from his mind. He has made a life for
himself as a mechanic in Morgan’s Crossing, in spite of a mining injury that
slowed him down. Minnie doesn’t fit into his plans, but, feeling a sense of
obligation, he’s willing to entertain the idea of marriage.
But when the beautiful and
very grown up Minnie steps off the stage, what was once innocent affection
blossoms into passion. Only, Minnie isn’t finished getting into trouble, and
this time her life and Freddy’s are on the line.
Buy link: http://amzn.to/1Pz9w4h
How can readers learn more about you and your other
books?
Newsletter sign-up URL: http://eepurl.com/RQ-KX
Website: http://merryfarmer.net
Twitter: @merryfarmer20
Facebook: www.facebook.com/merryfarmerauthor
3 comments:
Welcome, Merry. I enjoyed the interview. Thanks for sharing with readers. Best wishes for continued success.
I loved learning a little about you, Merry. (I loved Star Trek!) Best of luck with your writing career--and writing those wonderful books.
Thanks guys! It was so much fun doing this interview, and I always enjoy hanging out with you when we're able to meet up in person, Caroline. :)
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