Interview with Mary Davis and #giveaway!!!

Today we welcome Mary Davis to my blog. Mary is very graciously offering a copy of her new book to one commenter. USA only. Be sure to include contact information!

Mary, welcome! Tell us about the book:

The Pony Express Romance Collection is a collection of nine historical novellas set around the Pony Express written by nine different authors. “Nine historical romances revive the brief era of the Pony Express.”

My novella is called AN UNLIKELY HERO. It’s the story of a distressed woman running from a mistake who finds security in the quiet affection of a shy Pony Express rider. BethAnn White made a terrible mistake in a time of stress and grief. Now on the run with her younger sister, she must hide to keep them both safe or find a strong man to protect them. Though she finds herself attracted to one of the small Pony Express riders, she looks to the strong blacksmith for protection should she need it. Pony Express rider “The Fox” is short and scrawny, with red hair and freckles. He knows he’s no prize for any woman, but BethAnn stirs his heart, and he finds himself filling his sketchbook with drawings of her, knowing he can never win a woman like her. Can these two unworthy hearts learn to trust God to direct their paths?

If your readers would like to read page one of AN UNLIKELY HERO, they can find it on my blog on March 31^st.

It sounds interesting! Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

As far back as I can remember I’ve had characters running around in my head. I loved creative writing in school even back in elementary school. As an adult, I tried my hand at writing children’s stories but couldn’t sell any of them. Then I switched to Christian romance and love it!

What does your writing process look like?

If you can picture a bouncy ball set in motion in a rubber-lined room, that’s me, bouncing all over the place. I’m often working on several projects at once as well as in different parts of a current project. So the current novel I’m writing, I’m writing in one part of it, editing another, and taking yet another to critique group. (And if you’re wondering, yes, the timeline gets a little messed up in my head. That’s why I do a final read through to make sure everything is straight.) Then throw in two or three proposals that are at various stages into the mix, as well as, galley proofing, cover input, and marketing of a recent release.

Other times, I roll in a straight line across the floor working on just one aspect of one project. But this doesn’t happen very often.

I like to know where my story starts and where it ends before I start writing. Then I’ll often write the first two or three chapters and jump to the end to write the final scene or two. From there, I will either go back to where I left off near the beginning or jump around in the middle. Eventually, I connect the dots and fill in the missing scenes. Then edit and smooth things out. Novellas have less of this jumping around because they are so short.

If you could cast your characters in the Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would play your characters?

Hmm. For BethAnn I’d cast Amy Ruffle from the Australian series Mako Mermaids. Seth Green could play Fox. He even has the red hair so wouldn’t have to dye it.

Who was your favorite character in AN UNLIKELY HERO in The Pony Express Romance Collection?

I would say my hero, Fox. Pony Express riders were often just boys in their teens and some in their twenties, but all were small. There was a height and weight limit to keep the load light on the horses. So even the older riders had to be small, like the size of a jockey. I decided I wanted to turn one of these undersized riders into a hero. He didn’t shy away from danger. He would be the first one to help someone else.

What are you working on now? What is your next project?

Well, several things. I have another historical novella contracted that’s due to my publisher in May. The collection is called A Bouquet of Brides Romance Collection. My novella is called HOLLY & IVY. At Christmastime, a young woman accompanies her impetuous younger sister on her trip across the country to be a mail-order bride and loses her heart to a gallant stranger.

I also have the first of three contemporary Amish novels due to a different publisher in May. Book one of my Prodigal Daughters series is called COURTING DOCTOR KATHLEEN. Returning to her Amish community at age thirty with a medical degree in hand, Kathleen knows she won’t be readily welcomed back when her Amish brothers and sisters realize she intends to practice medicine in their community. Having lost his wife and child in childbirth, Noah vowed not to marry again, but he’s drawn to Kathleen because of her unorthodox ways, dauntless attitude, and unyielding conviction. Can a confirmed bachelor and a devout spinster find a life and love together?

I’m also working on proposals for three other historical novellas. One set around the Harvey Girls, another with a sewing theme, and the third around the Industrial Revolution.

Share your bio: 

Award-winning novelist MARY DAVIS has over two dozen titles in both historical and contemporary themes. She is a member of ACFW and active in two critique groups.

Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty years and two cats. She has three adult children and one grandchild.

Social media and buying links

Web Site: http://marydavisbooks.com

Blog: http://marydavis1.blogspot.com/

FB links: https://www.facebook.com/mary.davis.73932

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Pony-Express-Romance-Collection-Inspiring/dp/1683221176/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1488336109&sr=1-1&keywords=Pony+Express+romance+collection

Barbour link: http://www.barbourbooks.com/Catalog/ProductSearch.aspx?filter=Titles&search=Pony+Express+Romance+Collection&ExtendedSearch=False&SearchOnLoad=True

Barns & Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-pony-express-romance-collection-barbara-tifft-blakey/1124440730?ean=9781683221173