It’s official! Patrick and I went to the clerk of the court today and got our marriage license!

Sooooooo exciting and a little surreal all at the same time. We’re really looking forward to our underwater wedding on 11/11/11. Some may call it kooky, but it’s totally us!

Even though Christmas is a couple of months away, what better time to start your holiday shopping than to pick up my new book that comes out on October 25th. It’s called The Spirit of Christmas and it has a lovely foreward by the Queen of Christmas herself:  Debbie Macomber!

There are some really beautiful stories in this books.  Tales that will make you smile, cry, laugh, and remember the true meaning of Christmas.  My story is called “That Chaotic Christmas” and I hope it will make people laugh and realize how special the holiday time with your family truly is.

If you’re looking for an awesome stocking stuffer or a little something for someone on your holiday list, please consider picking up our book.  You won’t regret it!

Hey everyone! Sorry I’ve been the world’s worst blogger. Travel schedule has been insane, conferences galore, and let’s not forget my wedding…in ONE MONTH! W00t!

I’ve been getting a ton of email from fans asking about the next book in the GHOST HUNTRESS series. When is it coming out? Will it be in print? How can I get it?

So, let me just explain what’s going on…

First off, my publisher, as awesome as they are, has opted NOT to continue the GHOST HUNTRESS series in print any further. Times are really tough for publishers and many are cutting back on what they’re putting out there. However, never fear because…this is a new day and age. Digital ebooks are fast heading towards outselling traditional print books. Most everyone has an ebook reader like a Kindle, Nook, Sony, iPod, etc., or even have apps on their phones that enable them to read a book.

All that being said, I hope to have GHOST HUNTRESS: THE JOURNEY, book 6, out before the end of the year, depending on my schedule. Since I have no control over my publisher’s decision, this is the only way I can think of to keep the series going.

The books will be uploaded in epub and mobi format and made available to customers through Apple’s iBookstore, Amazon, Sony, Kobo and Barnes and Noble and will be available at a more affordable price.

I realize this isn’t ideal for everyone, but it’s ideal in order to keep Kendall and company’s stories going.

If you would like to write to my publisher and request that they continue the series, you’re certainly welcome to do that, as well:

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
222 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116

In any event, I hope you’ll keep reading and keep up with Kendall and her adventures! Thanks for your support!

Hugs,
Marley = )

I’m not really into writing “how to” books because I’ve known too many people who get sucked into the rules, regulations, how to, and so what of writing books instead of actually…umm…writing…the book.  But there are a couple I will recommend to people as good inspiration and motivation.  One in particular is Julia Cameron’s THE ARTIST’S WAY.

In the book, she talks of “filling the writer’s well.”  What does this mean?  It means that as a creative person, you need to get out and see the world, see what’s around you, talk to other people, look at things from a writer’s perspective, eavesdrop on a conversation, smell the sky and try to put it into words…anything and everything that gets your creative juices flowing and encourages you to write what’s inside you.

I haven’t done that in a long time.

With all of our extensive travels, having the kidlets all summer, and conference after conference, I have neglected my writer’s well.  I haven’t concentrated on the little details that I pick up on a daily basis that go into my stories.

Today, that changed.  I had lunch with my good friend and critique partner, Jennifer Echols.  Not only did we dine at the famed Irondale Cafe — better known as the Whistle Stop Cafe from FRIED GREEN TOMATOES fame, but we had a long, deep conversation about our writing and where we’re both headed.  I realized what’s been holding me back from my craft of late.  Instead of reasons why I couldn’t find the time to write, I was actually coming up with excuses.  It was great talking to another full-time writer and get her perspective.

I now have an awesome new outlook on my writing.  I’m working on several propsals, have some ebooks that will be coming out soon, and have some amazing new ideas cooking in my head.

Thanks to good friends who are there to give you a leg up…and a healthy helping of fried green tomatoes!

Love ya; mean it!

I am soooooooo thrilled to be introducing you to my very good friend, Andrea Norwich, who has just published her first book!  (Wahhhhh!!!  The crowd goes wild!)  Now, while I cue up the interview I did with her, take a look at the book trailer first to whet your appetite!

Andi, thanks for joining me here on my blog and congrats on the release of your book! Please tell my readers about the book and what they can expect.

Thanks for hitting me up! My book is Turn of the Lykoi and it’s a thriller novel on werewolves. Readers can expect to “watch a movie” through the pages of the story. You will be on the edge of your seat as the story goes on. Most people who have read it have told me that they had a hard time putting the book down.

You’ve been working on this book for a long time. Tell us about your process, how you got the idea, how it came about, etc.

I am a big fan of Local St. Louis Author, Laurell K Hamilton. She writes a vampire/werewolf series called the “Anita Blake” series. There are many books in the series and as they moved on, though I loved the series still, I wasn’t enjoying how she was portraying the werewolves. Don’t get me wrong, I love LKH to death, and her stories still intrigue me, but I wanted to write MY side of werewolves.  To me, werewolves are very powerful, instinctual, universal beings. They are much more interesting than vampires.  I started to write a “short story”, to tell my side of the furry beasts. That short story became a 400 page novel. I scaled it back and decided to keep a bit of the storyline for a second and third novel, if the interest presented itself.  It has taken me seven years to get where I’m at now. At first, I was completely obsessed with the story. I ate, drank, slept TOTL. I shelved it after being burned by an editor that I had hired (ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS UTILIZE PEOPLE YOU KNOW AND TRUST, OR COME FROM A TRUSTED SOURCE). A few years later, I pulled it back out, started working on it again, but my life was going through a transformation and alas, the story was shelved again.  About four months ago, I decided to revisit the story and I’m glad that I chose this time to do so. My husband, Kitt, has been such a fire to my motivation in completing it. I read through the story and made changes and would not be where I am at today with it, if it weren’t for him.

I know you have an amazing talent for graphic arts (she did the cover herself!), but what made you want to sit down and write?

I thank you for the kudos on the art! Looking back, I can say now that I wrote the story for therapy. I was married to someone else at the time and it was my escape. I wrote about a heroine that I have always wanted to be.

Who is your favorite character in the book and why?

Sam Harris (the heroine) is by far my favorite character. She’s a girl. She cries. She gets girlie and emotional and irrational, but overall, she is a tough bird. She comes to terms with her inner beast (pun intended) and she comes out on top! I mean, who wouldn’t want to be the person who could accept all demons, all good and bad aspects and rise above and become BETTER? Wow, what a role model.

You chose to self-publish your book, which is much more “accepted” these days. What made you go this route and do you recommend it to other authors?

I have been rejected by two publishers “back in the day”, when the story wasn’t near ready, and it really left a bad taste in my mouth. I decided that if I was going to finish the novel, I would take it all the way. One of my mentors, Steven LaChance, had suggested that I look into self-publishing.
I must say, it’s hard work. I’m a very creative person, so I created my own website, the book trailer, the marketing materials for the novel, and even created the cover. If one isn’t as resourceful or have the contacts to do these things at an affordable price, then you might want to go the traditional way.  Also, if you DO go through the self-publishing or POD route, please please please do ample research and then research some more. Contact authors from the company you decide to work through because the last thing you want to do is put forth all this time and effort and then some coin, only to be taken for a ride. It’s your work. If you have put 100% into the story, you need to put 200% into the publishing and marketing.

I know you to be an excellent survivor through your life with your pacemaker and other personal challenges. Do you find that these experiences have strengthened you in a way that you can portray it into your writing and perhaps inspire others?

Yes, they have. But I have done what I can to stay open to the lessons. I know that there are some situations in life that there is just no winning. The only thing that you can do is win through learning and not repeating the mistakes. If you learn, you win, no matter which way the situation goes.  I believe that I come across as a normal (ha and I use that term very loosely) enough that others go, “Well shoot! If Andi can do it, if she can reach for the stars, why can’t I?” I say GO FOR IT! Even if you are unable to reach the finish line, what fun can be had along the way!

Are you planning any follow up books? If so, can you give us any insight into them?

Yes, there will be two more in the Lykoi series. There’s just too much of a story to leave it with one book. My husband, Kitt, is going to be co-author to the next two. We have created the storyboards for each and some of the scenarios have brought me to tears (yes, I’m a girl and I cry…neener neener).  Some characters will continue, some will not and some new characters will be introduced that will blow your socks away.

Where can readers learn more about you?

Hit me up on facebook! I’m still really new to all of this “hey I have a novel out” that I still consider an approachable person. I get super busy at times (art, photography, graphic design, two more books to write, marketing of the first book, being a wife and a mother), but I do my best to reply back to others. I’m pretty much an open book. I’m not living up to anyone’s standards but my own. I’m not a good person, but I’m not a bad person either. I’m me. You take me or you leave me. Life is too short to live up to anyone else’s expectations.

www.facebook.com/andreanorwich
www.facebook.com/turnofthelykoi.com
www.wix.com/twistedvisionspublis/co
www.wix.com/norwichdesigns/hmh

Now, Andi has been generous enough to offer up a FREE COPY of her book!  Just leave a comment in the trail here and the winner must agree to do a review for her.

Thanks again to my buddy, Andi, for being here on my blog.  I wish you nothing but success on your book and series!  Love ya; mean it! = )

Thanks so much!!!!