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March 13, 2014

The Plotting Princesses are enjoying tea and a chat with author Marilyn Baxter

Sometimes, friendships are formed in fun circumstances. PP gal Vicki met Marilyn online via the True yahoo group and got to know her better when she took Marilyn's writing short fiction class. Let's get to know Marilyn too!


Hi, Marilyn! How did you get from your day job to writing romance?  I went from writing without a day job to writing with one after a divorce several years ago.  In 2001 I discovered romance novels, and earlier than that I had dabbled in non-fiction writing.  After a few years of reading romance, the writing bug hit again, and I knew I wanted to write about happily ever after.  Between that decision and the sale of TEA FOR TWO, I also wrote for the confessions and romance magazines.  Most of my stories had some romance in them even while the heroine was overcoming whatever seemingly insurmountable problem I had saddled her with.

What are your three favorite books of all time?  Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard, Nobody’s Baby but Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Barefoot by the Sea by Roxanne St. Claire.

Morning, afternoon, or evening person?  Evening!  And thank goodness the day job doesn’t start until 1:00 p.m.



Music--with or without? What kind?  With, but only instrumental.  Otherwise I end up singing rather than writing.  I have a set of CDs by SonicAid, one of which is Music to Promote Creativity.  It’s on my laptop, my iPod and my phone so I have it everywhere.  You can even listen to it on YouTube.

First or third POV?  Both.  I write in first person for the confessions/romance magazines and third for my contemporary romances.

How's tricks? Do you juggle multiple projects?  Not if I can help it!

What's harder: beginning, middle, or the end?  All of the above?  <grin>  The beginning is usually the most difficult.  It I can get the hero and heroine together at the right spot in the story, I’m usually okay.

Revisions: Love 'em or hate 'em?  I’ve only been through one set (with TEA FOR TWO) and they were very light.  I have a novella whose revisions are due next month.  Ask me this question again about April 30th.    ;-)

How did you come up with that title?  Best advice anybody every gave you?  My favorite title is for a book still under consideration by my editor.  DIRECT DEPOSIT is about a woman who wants to make a withdrawal from a sperm bank and a man who would rather make a direct deposit.  I got the story idea from an article about online sperm banks. 

The best advice?  Just write!

What's your favorite dessert? Peach cobbler!  That’s an easy answer.

Do you write at home or someplace else?  Both.  If I’m not at home, I’ll usually be at a coffee shop or book store.  Those seem to have good mojo for writing.  Or maybe it’s just the caffeine.

What's your favorite type of hero/heroine and why?  My favorite hero is the wounded hero who realizes this woman who drives him nuts is actually the one who can make him whole again.


Find Tea for Two at:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Boroughs Books
Website
Facebook
Twitter

EXCERPT:

Sam nudged Mollie’s arm with his elbow as they strolled down the sidewalk after dinner. “You know my grandmother is going to have a field day with this. Us going out to dinner again. You’re all she’s talked about for the past few days. Now I’m really suspicious she sent me to your shop to try and set us up.”

“Oh, I know she did. I figured it out that afternoon when she invited me to tea and made a point to tell me you were single. And my granny was in cahoots with her.”

“I emphasized I was not her latest matchmaking project. Apparently she wasn’t listening.” As they approached his car, Sam pulled his keys from his pocket and thumbed the fob to unlock it. “I should be mad. Somehow, though, I can’t muster up a lot of anger since we have this great business arrangement now. I can’t believe I already have clients.”

Mollie’s heart sank. This was all about him and his business? He hadn’t really asked her out on a date, had he? She was angry, and right now her anger wasn’t directed at her grandmother or Sam’s.

She was furious with herself for letting down her guard. For believing there might be something more than a professional relationship between them, even though she’d pretended not to want it. How many times had she seen the words Listen to your gut in the multitude of self-help books she’d read in the wake of her split from Philip?

Thank you, Marilyn, for visiting the PP today!

22 comments:

Wanda Kay said...

Great interview questions. Love you voice and the plot sounds interesting.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Marilyn! I'm so happy to have you here. You know I love how you coaxed me to plot in the TRUE writing class.

Good luck with the story. I already have it!

Kathleen Baldwin said...

Hi Marilyn!
I'm so glad you came to visit with the Princesses today.

Both you and your book sound delightful. A nice introduction to both.

Also I looked up your music from SonicAid and I'm playing their stress relief one right now. :)

Wow! Needed that.
Thank you!!!!

Marilyn Baxter said...

Thanks Wanda! And thanks for visiting today.

Marilyn Baxter said...

Oh, Vicki, I was evil in those classes, wasn't I? Thanks for buying TEA FOR TWO!

Marilyn Baxter said...

Kathleen, I'm glad the music works for you. I've written thousands and thousands and thousands of words to that music. It's a permanent resident on my iPod.

pastprimetravelers said...

Lovely blog. I appreciate how much time you devote to your work. I can't wait to read Tea for Two.

Marilyn Baxter said...

Thanks, Maria! I hope you enjoy it.

Melissa Keir said...

I enjoy hearing about new to me authors. I love the cover. :)

Marilyn Baxter said...

Thanks for dropping by Melissa. I love that cover too. When I got the sneak peek at it, I couldn't stop smiling.

Anonymous said...

What fun to learn more about the delightful and dry witted, Marilyn!!

Marilyn Baxter said...

"Delightful and dry witted."

I <3 you, Tina. Thanks for dropping by.

Shari said...

What a great interview. I have it on my kindle, I just need to find the time to read it. Direst Deposit also sounds very interesting. Wishing you the best of luck.

Marilyn Baxter said...

Thanks Shari. Because it's a Lunchbox Romance, you can read it during your lunch hour. My publisher created this line for folks who wanted a quick read for times like that.

Angela Adams said...

I read "Nobody's Baby but Mine," and it's one of my favorites, too!

Patricia Bradley said...

Great interview with Marilyn! And I loved Tea For Two!

Marilyn Baxter said...

Angela, that book has been on my "Top Favorites" list since I first read it, and so far nothing has knocked it off. I just love the whole concept of it.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Marilyn Baxter said...

Thanks, Patricia! I'm so glad you like Mollie and Sam's story. I'm such a tea lover it was inevitable I'd write about a tea shop one day.

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Marilyn,
Welcome to the blog! Enjoyed reading your questions. The story sounds great! Here's to many sales!!

Marilyn Baxter said...

Thanks, Karilyn.

Our names are one letter apart. I've never seen Karilyn before but I love it!

Marilyn Baxter said...

Thank you, Plotting Princeses, for having me today! It was great fun!

Sydell Voeller said...

Marilyn, I enjoyed your interview. Tea for Two sounds wonderful! Best of luck.

Sydell