Margaret, welcome to Writers on
Reading! I’m looking forward to getting to know you as a reader. Your most
recent novel, Calico Spy released at
the beginning of this year—January 1st to be exact. With soooo many
historical romances to your credit, I’m curious, if you read the same genre? Do
you find one theme more repeatedly snags your attention as a read? Is there
something special you seek when selecting your next reading adventure?
Thank you
for letting me talk about one of my favorite subject: books! I actually read
all over the board; westerns, romance, mysteries, women’s fiction, the
toothpaste tube—you name it! I like to read fast-paced books on the treadmill
to keep my mind off the fact that I’m doing something that goes against my
nature.
You have me laughing. (I’m a toothpaste-tube reader too, and I think we can all relate to the treadmill comment.) What
was the most out-of-character book you’ve recently read, and what led to your
choice?
I read a lot
of weird books for research and some are pretty boring. I just finished reading
The Art of Blacksmithing and Pennsylvania Clocks. Can you believe? I’ve
now got books on Texas rangers spread throughout the house. I never read just
one book at a time.
Now that let’s into your reading
world. As a writer, you should know better, but as a reader, you know we all do
it…so, when did you last “judge a book by the cover”? How did it work out?
I don’t
generally choose a book by its cover, but I do choose them by titles. I picked
up the Eloquence of a Hedgehog and The Guernsey Literary
and Potato Peel Pie Society
solely on the basis of their titles. How can anyone not read titles like those?
It worked out just fine.
Love those titles and your thinking---after
all the titles show the author so much more than any cover can. Having
published so many stories do you find time to read during the months you spend
writing or with deadlines ahead is it either/or for you? If so, what did you
read while working on your last book? If not, what did you read when you
finished this one?
I always
find time to read. Since I finished writing Calico
Spy more than a year ago I honesty couldn’t tell you what I read
afterwards. I just finished book two in a new series. To celebrate I’m reading
Lee Child’s Make Me on my Kindle. The
book came out in September so as you can see I’m behind.
What
was the last book you absolutely couldn't put down? Why?
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is a beautifully written
book that must be read slowly and savored. Even after I finished reading it I
didn’t want to put it down.
Oh,
I’m jealous! I haven’t gotten to read that one yet. (Of course, once I read it,
I don’t get to look forward to it any longer, so maybe you’re a wee bit jealous
too.) Were you the kind of kid/teen who loved reading? Which novel do you first
remember reading?
I read all
the time as a child. My favorite was Little
Women. We didn’t have cellphones, video games, or the Internet back then,
so there wasn’t much else to do but read. We also didn’t have much in the way
of young adult books, so by the time I was twelve I was sneaking books written
by Daphne du Maurier and Mary Stewart. Frank Yerby
introduced me to the romance novel, and it’s a shame more people don’t know
about his books. I read beneath the covers with a flashlight. As a result of
staying up late reading, I couldn’t stay awake in school. Things got so bad
they tested me for a blood disease.
Your poor parents! When did you know
you wanted to write? Did any or multiple books influence this desire?
I think I
always wanted to be a writer and wrote my first “book” in fifth grade, a
mystery. It took place in a bakery and someone kept stealing the macaroons.
I hated
history in school—all those battles and dates. That changed when I read Gone with the Wind in sixth grade. That’s
when I realized that history was really about people and how they dealt with
the times. That had a great influence on me and is probably why I love writing
novels set in the nineteenth century.
With a chilling winter upon us, what
is on your cozy to-read list? And what is your ideal winter reading experience?
This
question made me laugh because I’m usually writing a summer story in winter and
winter story in summer. That’s how it always seems to work out. As for my
reading list I’m a judge for the Romance Writers of America Rita contest and
have nine books to read by March. Since this is a contest I can’t tell you the
titles, but of course they’re all romances. Yum, yum. I plan to read in front
of a blazing fire with a box of chocolates on my lap! I love that I can enjoy
myself reading and still call it work.
If
Katie in Calico Spy were to pick a book from today’s shelves, what do you think
it would be?
Katie is a
dime novel buff so it would have to be something equally popular like a
romance, mystery, or thriller. She’d probably pick up a Nora Roberts or Debbie
Macomber book. Then there’s always the possibility she’d stumble upon one of mine.
Hah! I luuuvv that answer! What a fun
interview. Thanks so much for visiting and letting us get to know you better as
a reader, Margaret! Folks, you can continue to connect with Margaret—and find
out more about her books!—at the links below.
Thank you. It’s
been fun!
BIO:
BEST-SELLING AUTHOR MARGARET
BROWNLEY has penned more than forty novels and novellas. Her books have won
numerous awards, including Readers' Choice and Award of Excellence. She's a
former Romance Writers of American
RITA® finalist and has written for a TV soap. She is currently
working on a new series. Not bad for someone who flunked eighth grade English. Just
don't ask her to diagram a sentence.
PURCHASE AND CONNECTION LINKS:
Website: http://margaret-brownley.com/
Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/MargaretBrownleyAuthor/timeline/?business_id=1570988766476777
Purchase links:
