The Interview - Mary Elizabeth Fricke
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What inspired you to start writing?
I've began telling stories before I could write them down. Writing is as natural to me as breathing.
What’s the most challenging part of writing for you?
The first draft. Getting that story into words on paper and then computer screen
How do you develop your characters?
I generally picture a person in my head in the beginning. They grow as the story unfolds. Or, sometimes they change to something entirely different than I first imagined
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Just do it. No one else can take those stories/poems/etc. from your mind and put them in written form. So just sit down and get those words in physical form. You can edit and improve them later.
If you could have dinner with any author, living or dead, who would it be?
Erma Bombeck. I admire her ability to poke fun at herself while emphasizing the most common sense
What’s your favorite genre to write, and why?
romantic suspense. The growth of romance and love while tackling everyday problems and a lot of unheard of or unexpected events is actually how life is. Except that, in fiction, I get to let the heroine have her dream guy and let karma take care of those who interfere
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received about your work?
someone told me I 'paint pictures with words'. I was deeply flattered
How do you celebrate when you finish a book?
With a huge sigh of relief
If you weren’t an author, what career would you have pursued?
I worked as a T.A. in parochial education before my youngest son was born. I also coordinated the elementary PSR classes for my parish for nearly 20 years. I think I would go back to teaching, at least working as a T.A. or a sub
Have you ever based a character on someone you know?
Distantly. Not a direct 'copy' of any person but sometimes I use mannerisms or to some extent facial expressions
How do you stay motivated to write?
I don't. It's one thing if a story is working well. Unfortunately, if it isn't, and I have nothing else I need to write, I might go for weeks/months without writing anything of significance at all.
What’s your writing kryptonite (biggest distraction)?
my family interrupting me. I tend not to write at all when they are in the house, especially my husband and grandkids
If you could rewrite one of your books, which one would it be and why?
Sweet Pea. I'd let Jake and Johnie be together from the 1970s instead of making them wait 15 years to get together
What’s your ideal writing environment?
late at night when everyone else has gone to bed, the t.v. is off and the phone is not likely to ring
Do you believe in writer’s block? How do you overcome it?
I've experienced writers block because of illness. I slowly overcame my illness and in doing so the urge to write returned. Slowly. I still am not able to spend the long hours at my computer that I used to. I've learned that slowly is better than not at all
How do you decide on a book’s title?
That's never an easy job. I tend to let the title be defined by something specific in the story. Example: In Pigeon in a Snare. Pigeon is a nickname the primary male character gives the primary female character. The reference to 'pigeon' led me to title the entire series after some reference to birds. In Roses for the Sparrow, the primary female character is sometimes compared to a sparrow while an admirer leaves long stemmed roses on her car or underneath her apartment door
What’s the best fan interaction you’ve ever had?
Someone asked me to sign their t-shirt. It was at a conference but I never saw what else was on the t-shirt
How do you keep track of your ideas?
I usually keep a file of setting descriptions, even floor plans of houses. Also, a list of occurances.They may not be in sequence but I can always change that. And, last, a detailed list/description of each character
How do you choose your book covers?
My neice has designed every one of my book covers. I describe a picture in my head and she designs from there. She is extremely talented
How do you prepare for book signings or public readings?
no
What’s a writing challenge you’d like to tackle someday?
I'd like to write my mother's story. She was a 4th youngest of fifteen children raised during the late 1920's through the Depression. Six of her brothers fought overseas in WWII at the same time. They all came home physically unharmed. However, a story with that many characters all having individual stories is quite complicated. My family wants me to tackle it. Someday I might.
Which of your characters do you relate to the most?
The young housewives and mothers, Sometimes the grandmothers
What’s the most rewarding part of being an author?
Having people tell you how much they enjoyed your work
What’s the hardest decision you’ve had to make while writing a book?
The ability to keep things short and simple. I tend to want to ramble on in scenery and conversations adding every minute detail which prevents my readers' imaginations from kicking in. Too much information can turn a reader away from a story.
If you could live in any book’s setting (yours or someone else’s), which would it be?
As most of my stories involve rural areas I have lived all of my life in such settings
What’s your favorite writing snack or drink?
ice cold coke or water