Interview with Author Bernadette Marie:
Hi Bernadette Marie. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...
- Please tell us about your latest book.
My latest book Matchmakers is book one in the Matchmaker Trilogy. This book follows the quest of two octogenarian friends and a teenager as they play matchmakers to Sophia and David, who fell in love a decade earlier, but due to careers, past mistakes, misunderstandings, and family were torn apart. Now Sophia has returned and finds the man she loved still waiting for her, but so are all the issues, which tore them apart.
- What can we expect from you in the future?
I am passionate about writing series about families and towns. In October my first Christmas Valley book Guardian Angel will launch. Christmas Valley will be visited each year around Christmas with new characters and new stories, with some of the old ones mixed in. In 2011 the Porter Family Series will launch with four books about the Porter family sibilings.
- How do we find out about you and your books?
You can find me at www.bernadettemarie.com, on facebook under Bernadette Marie, where I have a page and a fan page.
- Do you allow readers to contact you? If so, how do they reach you?
I love to connect with fans. They can email me at info@bernadettemarie.com
- Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?
Of course. There are the times when what you have written has touched them personally and they have accepted or changed something about themselves. They are also the force behind some of my series. Matchmakers, for example, was set out to be a single title. But at their request it is now a trilogy.
- Why did you decide to write romance novels?
Because I love books with happy endings, and I love being in love!
- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
There is a lot of me and those I know sprinkled through my books. Sometimes I don’t even know it’s there until I reread a manuscript.
- When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?
I was 12 when I started writing. I submitted my first manuscript at sixteen, but sadly it was rejected, but they did say it had potential. I dabbled with it for years, but in June 2007 I sat down and became a writer.
- Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
To pen the first draft of a book will usually take me a month and a half.
- What is your writing routine once you start a book?
My routine is to write whenever I can. When I’m deep in a book I’m like a runaway train and you just can’t stop me.
- Does your family bother you when you are writing - are there constant interruptions?
They know when mom is in a mode and they let me write. They have always been children (or husband) of a writer, so they know no different.
- Where do your ideas come from?
I am inspired by pictures, clouds, buildings, certain personality quirks, and lines in songs.
- What does your husband/wife/partner think of your writing?
My husband is the greatest fan I have. He supports all my hours of writing and all my crazy ideas.
- Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)
I have been married for 17 years and we have 5 wonderful little boys! In addition to being a writer I am also a martial artist. I will receive my Black Belt in October 2010.
- Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?
My very favorite author is Nora Roberts. I can’t get enough. But my favorite book is If Tomorrow Comes by Sydney Sheldon. It’s the only one I’ve read over and over again.
- Who are some of your other favorite authors and genres to read?
Nora Roberts
Karen White
Megan Hart
- Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.?
I am a member of Colorado Romance Writers and Colorado Fiction Writers
- How long have you been writing and working to that goal of being published?
Since June of 2007 I have been working to be published. I got The Call in October 2009!
- How many books have you written, and how many of those have been published?
I never waited for acceptance or rejections, I just always kept writing. I have 13 finished manuscripts. Matchmakers is the only one published to date, but we have release dates for three more and discussions for five more for 2011.
- Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?
I think each of these things has been the start of something. For Matchmakers it was the characters, for The Forgotten it was a setting, and for Guardian Angel it was an idea of building around a holiday.
- What part of a book has been the easiest to write? The hardest?
The easiest for me to write are those scenes where there is banter between people who know each other well. It’s fun to put in personality quirks. The hardest, aside from the love scenes, is the first four pages!
- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?
I start out in control of them, but in the end they usually write the book. I have many times wondered when it was that the characters take over.
- If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?
I am a Jack of All Trades as it is. I’m a fully licensed cosmetologist (I opened my own salon at 20) I have had online sales companies, and I teach karate. I would think that there would be something that would catch my interest.
- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?
Never ever give up and don’t stop writing. Write, write, write and keep submitting and putting yourself out there. If no one can see you, no one can buy you.
Thank you very much for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination!
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
Author Links:
Bernadette Marie's Website Email Facebook Blog
RaH Links:
This Interview Review Coming
Purchase Links:
Buy Bernadette Marie's Books at Amazon
Buy Snowy Creek Romance Books
Buy Loucks-Christenson Publishing Books