Interview With Author Mary Elizabeth Fricke
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I may be a greying Granny but that farm girl still resides in my heart. For almost forty-three years I have worked right alongside my husband farming the land, caring for the animals while also raising my two sons, working as a T.A. and religion teacher in my parish as well as a 4H Leader, and trying to break into the world of published writing. My first article was published in 1991, Titled: Unpublished Does Not Mean Unwritten (in Housewife Writers Forum) and my first published book was my autobiography, Dino, Godzilla and the Pigs (published in 1993 by SoHo Press). Life has changed a lot over the years as my sons grew up, married, and moved on to their separate lives. My health has taken a hard hit the past few years and I experienced a lengthy writer’s block. Last winter was exceptionally difficult; so, I’ve been ‘off the grid’ for a while. Nonetheless, I conquered that writer’s block and on Thanksgiving Day 2023, released the 6th edition of my Birds in Peril Romantic Suspense Series. Titled: Bluebird of Happiness. Right now I believe that is the final story for the series. Maybe not. I have no idea what I will write next. There will be something. Musey always bites when I least expect him to. I have also written and published the romantic suspense novels Sweet Pea Trilogy and Shattered Image. All are available from Amazon.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Bluebird of Happiness is the sixth of the Birds in Peril Series. The first story of the series ‘Pigeon in a Snare’ produced an arch-villain my characters fought through three more romantic suspense novels. Roses for the Sparrow, Plight of the Wren, and Robin Unaware. ‘Robin’ produced another villain and several suspects. It took both #5 Wise, Bold Eagle and #6 Bluebird of Happiness to conquer those bad guys, and solve all the suspicious mysteries. However, when I began to write Bluebird, I wanted a sweet love story between two people who had known each other most of their lives. But the story wasn’t going to be complete until those pesky villains were given their ‘just desserts’.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a night owl. Is that unusual? My best writing is done after 10 p.m. when the TV is off and the phone isn’t likely to ring, and my husband has gone to bed.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am an eclectic reader. I like just about everything from cozy mysteries to hard-core mysteries, romance of all genres, futuristic and even science fiction. I read non-fiction now and then, and some religious works.
I am a huge fan of Sandra Brown and Kim Harrison. The last book I read was Just Tyrus, a memoir by Tyrus the pro-wrestler.
What are you working on now?
I’m taking a breather through the holidays. There is a lot of promotional work to be done for Bluebird. And, it’s time for the end-of-the-year records, paperwork, etc. for the farm, plus Christmas. We’ll see where my muse leads me after the first of 2024.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I prefer websites such as Awesome Gang and Bookreader Magazine. There are quite a large number of websites that will allow authors to advertise their books for little or no cost. Amazon also helps authors. Facebook, perhaps, has the most contacts through their groups, my author page, and direct contact with readers.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write it. No one can take those words, that poem, or the story, out of your head and place them in written format but you. Just just let those words flow via computer or paper and pen. Once they are written you can go back to perfect them later.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Finish that story. Write it to the end. You can edit it later. Just get that first draft written. Wise words given to me from a popular romance author who has become a dear friend.
What are you reading now?
I have begun reading Laurie Alberswerth’s second Jude and Audie novel “Grain and Gravestones”. Laurie is a newly published author and her first Jude and Audie mystery “Bones and Bloodlines’ was a fantastic page-turner I recommend to everyone to read for a few hours of chuckling, head-scratching enjoyment.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Don’t know. I shall write again. I just don’t know what.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My fully charged kindle which has about 30 books waiting to be read on it.
My Bible (and my rosary)
and probably some of my own work. Sometimes writing is better for the soul than reading
Author Websites and Profiles
Mary Elizabeth Fricke Amazon Profile
Mary Elizabeth Fricke’s Social Media Links
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