Welcome to Readers Write to Know! I asked you, my readers, what questions they would ask their favorite authors if given the chance. This week, please welcome Mary K. Norris. It’s always interesting to hear how authors come up with different ideas, and it’s incredibly fun to find someone who wrote an entire book out of one line in a song — which is how I came up with my current work in progress. Mary’s book sounds absolutely fascinating. I love stories like that. Please enjoy this interview where Mary answers your questions!
Tell us about yourself:
Mary K. Norris loves to travel the world and go on crazy, extreme adventures. Unfortunately, she can’t do that all the time, so she creates crazy adventures for her characters in supernatural worlds from the comfort of her home in Southern California. She has a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and when she’s not reading or writing she’s usually found doing some kind of physical activity, playing video games, or at Disneyland.
Tell us about your current release:
Hard-edged Cali Crazar is determined to succeed in a world that’s been less than giving. Fierce and protective Felix Del Valle is sent to Cali’s aid when a member of his guild catches a glimpse of the future where Cali is endangered.
Felix is an Eraser, someone with the ability to make objects vanish with a wave of his hand. Cali is a Silencer, a manipulator of sound, and has no idea of the world she has yet to uncover. As if trying to get Cali to believe she possesses supernatural abilities isn’t hard enough, Felix must also explain to her that she is his destined soul mate. Even Felix has a hard time believing he’s met his Mirror Mate, but when he first lays eyes on her the attraction is instant. As is the danger.
Together they must stop a power hungry corporate owner who fuels his multi-million dollar company by exploiting others with supernatural abilities. But the clock is ticking when Felix and Cali discover that Cali is the next target and the man after her is looking to use her for more than just money. It turns out she could be his one chance at eternal youth and power.
What inspired you to start writing, or did you always want to write?
I was always a big fan of romance. I loved any relationship development in TV shows or movies and didn’t really start reading until I was a sophomore in high school. My cousin introduced me to romance novels and after that I was hooked. I started reading like a fiend and eventually I started thinking up my own ideas, or I would read a book and it didn’t end the way I wanted so I finally decided to write something that would end the way I wanted. 😉
Do you have your plotline and character development already laid out before you begin writing a book, or do they develop as you write?
I’m more of a pantser when it comes to writing but I do have a rough plot outline, some more extensive than others depending on the book, and character sketches laid out. So I guess I’m both a plotter and a pantser. Sometimes I’ll go as far as to Google search images of specific eye or hair color to find my perfect character when they’re not fully fleshed out in my mind.
Do you have pre-determined length in mind when you first begin a book?
I always aim for 80,000 words or more. I want to give myself the space to develop the best characters and romance that I can.
What is your preferred method of writing? (computer, pen & paper, etc.)
When it comes to writing my stories I’ll only write on the computer. But when it comes to my notes, I’m definitely a pen and paper gal. And then afterwards I usually transfer my notes over to OneNote, but it’s just so fun to pull out a new notebook and pen for a new story or book series.
Where’s the strangest place you’ve ever had a great writing idea?
So the place isn’t exactly all that amazing, it’s my room, but the way the story idea came to me, I thought it was pretty amazing. I was listening to Pandora radio writing another story when a song came on and this one line in the song seriously sparked an entire idea! I had to stop what I was doing and write everything out, it was nearly a full fleshed story. It was the craziest thing that has ever happened to me and it’s never happened again. I mean sometimes songs will inspire me with the story I’m working on but I haven’t gotten a completely new story idea from a song since.
What do you do when you hit a roadblock and have NO idea what to write?
That’s usually when I go for a run, or step away from the computer and hope someone wants to go to the store so I can sit in the car and stare out the window so my mind can just wander. I also find reading is a great way to recharge my creative battery. And sometimes I try to push through the block and write a really rough piece just so I can get to a point in the story where I know what’ll happen next.
Find Mary online:
Here’s the link for my book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Silent-
And Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
http://maryknorris.blogspot.
https://twitter.com/maryk_
https://www.facebook.com/
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