Author Spotlight – Mary Ann Edwards | Writer's Treasure Chest

Welcome!

Please introduce yourself.

Hello! I’m Mary Anne Edwards, author of the Charlie McClung Mysteries, traditional mysteries with a touch of romance. I live in Georgia with my husband of 35+ years and a Tuxedo cat named Gertrude. I can thankfully say that I am a breast cancer survivor.

When did you start writing?

I think at birth. LOL! Seriously, my mother was a very creative woman, painting, writing, gardening, crafts, and the list goes on. My mother taught me the love of the written word. She had tons of books in a sorts of genres. So it was natural for me to pick up a pen and write. I started writing poetry, then short stories, and that lead to writing novels.

What motivates you to write?

My readers are my main motivation. They want more and I want to make them happy. I have all these ideas that are screaming at me to make them into a book.

What genre do you write in and what made you chose this particular genre?

I’ve always loved a good mystery. So I write what I love, traditional mysteries with a bit of romance.

What is your goal in writing? Do you have dreams where your writing should take you?

Right now, my goal is to continue with the Charlie McClung Mysteries. I’ve published three in the series, Brilliant Disguise, A Good Girl, and Criminal Kind. The fourth book, Sins of My Youth, will be released in May. I have six more storylines to developed in the series and hopefully there will be many more. My ultimate dream is to see Charlie McClung on the big screen or in a weekly series.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block and if yes, how do you deal with it?

Not really writer’s block. I get, I didn’t see that coming! Time for a rethink. I write a very loose outline for each book, but my characters always decide to go in another direction. Which means I have to change the outline. So I may get stuck for a couple of hours or a day. The shower is a great place for me to think. And of course, as soon as my head hits the pillow, my mind begins to spins with ideas and dialogue.

What advice would you like to give new, hopeful authors?

Start networking now! Yes, before your book is published. Get a website and all of your social media in place. Talk up your manuscript. Find a good graphic designer and editor. Once your manuscript is finished, you’re good to go.

Please, tell us about your work.

The Charlie McClung Mysteries are traditional mysteries. Think of Caroline Graham, Agatha Christie or Elizabeth Peters that’s my style of writing. The stories are set in a small town in Georgia during the early 1980s. And my two main characters are in their 40s. I do a lot of research to make my stories believable. I have some awesome professionals I partner with, a forensic pathologist, retired chief of police, a doctor specializing in poisons, a FBI agent, just to name a few. My characters are Frankenstein-like. I take pieces of personalities, mannerisms, and quirks from people that I know and add in my warped imagination to create my characters. I want my readers to say, “Hey! I know that guy.” I want my readers to hate the villains and to want the good guys to be their friends. My books are a balanced mesh of mystery, suspense, romance, and foodie.

Thank you for being my guest. It was such a pleasure to have you here!!

Thank you for this opportunity for me to introduce my books to your fans. The pleasure was truly all mine. Thank you, again.

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormaryanneedwards

Website: http://maryanneedwards.com/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/maryanneedwards/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MaryAnneEdwards/posts

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/maryanneedwards

Twitter: https://twitter.com/maedwards58

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Anne-Edwards/e/B00HZ28TIQ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7791576.Mary_Anne_Edwards

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-anne-edwards