Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This may be old news to some as I have done several of these interviews. This is more or less an update. My official bio: Mary Elizabeth Fricke has lived her entire life within five miles of the Missouri River. She and her husband of 37 years have lived 34 of those years on a farm that has been consistently owned and operated by his family for five generations. They have two grown sons married to wonderful women and two beautiful grandchildren.
A graduate of the Writer’s Institute of America and a member of the Heartland Writers Guild, she has published a number of articles in various forums and magazines, as well as Dino, Godzilla and the Pigs, My Life on Our Missouri Hog Farm. She is also a prolific ghostwriter.
Her stories, based in rural mid-western areas, concern the unique but quickly vanishing way of life on the family farm as well as other mysterious intricacies that evolve life from generation to generation. Romance is her preferred genre.
Previously published in the Birds the Peril Series:
Pigeon in a Snare (Lisa’s story)
Roses for the Sparrow (Jani’s story)
Plight of the Wren (Susie’s story)
Robin Unaware (Stephanie’s story)
Sept. 3, 2017: Demise of Innocence (Sweet Pea I)
Oct. 7, 2017: Time to Deceive (Sweet Pea II)
Nov. 30, 2017: The Price of Passion (Sweet Pea III)
‘Sweet Pea’ Gift Set (Books I, II, III) was published Feb. 2018
All are available from Amazon Kindle Select
The only connection between The Sweet Pea Trilogy and the Birds in Peril Series is their central Missouri location. All characters and most places are fiction.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Sweet Pea is a story I began in 1976. At that time the trends, practices were the current style. I kept those over the years as I rewrote, rewrote, and rewrote the story. Finally, the fall of 2017 I published Sweet Pea as a trilogy because I believed it was too long to be a single cover story. By Feb. 2018, I’d changed my mind. So I published the entire trilogy as a book set under one cover (for Valentines Day). All are available as Amazon e-books. Whatever the reader wants.
The official blurb for Sweet Pea:
To one man she gave her virginity; to another, she gave her heart. One, she would mourn. With the other, she would share life’s triumph and turmoil. With both, she would endure times of love, and passion and complete happiness as well as times of despair, confusion, and sorrow. One day at a time—each day, building unforgettable memories.
Sweet Pea I: The Demise of Innocence (1968-70): At seventeen Johnie is no longer a child but still full of virgin innocence—and defiance. She quickly learns growing up involves a lot more than physical loss of her virginity.
Sweet Pea II: Time to Deceive (1973-74) Johnie’s dream of happiness becomes a nightmare where Brenda cackles while Johnie boils naked in a cauldron of pea green soup.
Sweet Pea III: The Price of Passion (1984-1990) A secret part of Johnie’s soul survives nurturing the memory of Jake. Fate strikes several more dramatic blows and once again, everything changes.
Sweet Pea spans from the late 1960’s into 2009. Set in rural Missouri, it is a story for those who remember the profound cultural changes and historical events that took place in the later part of the 20th Century. It is is a nostalgic story of growing up; of forging lifelong friendships and loyalty within family that supports every life event, good or bad. It is a story of love that binds a man and a woman despite all odds. It is also a story of obsessive hatred and how such hatred destroys not only the innocent, but those who hate.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a night owl. Is that unusual? Primarily, whatever scenes (mind movies) stick in my brain the longest tend to become whole stories.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My reading habits are eclectic. I read more romance than anything but I like science fiction, paranormal and historical too. The list of what I have read is so long I’m not sure I can remember all the books I’ve read. Erma Bombeck was a favorite for non-fiction. I’ve read several biographies of all kinds. Favorite fiction authors include Sandra Brown, Nora Roberts, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Kim Harrison, Newt Gingrich and John Bowers.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m trying to complete #5 Wise, Bold Eagle and #6 Bluebird of Happiness of my Birds in Peril Series. The two stories are so entwined (but with separate primary characters for each story) I’m working on them together. It will be a while before they are published.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Websites such as these go a long way to promoting books. Amazon does a lot but I always fill out these kinds of interviews and keep them updated to accompany any promo/advertisements listing my published books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just do it. No one can take those words from your head and place them on paper/computer screen but you. The first draft is always the most difficult. After that, the work is just improving something you have already written.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Finish it! Advice given to me many years ago from a popular romance author who has become a dear friend.
What are you reading now?
Right now I’m doing some beta reading for fellow authors. Their work is not yet published so I won’t name them or the stories I am reading.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish the Birds in Peril Series. I have another manuscript I wrote in the 80’s but never tried to publish. I recently edited and updated it. So when the Birds are published, I intend to polish that story and publish it as well. After that, I still say that someday I’m going to write my mother’s story. I have her diary but I intend to write the story as fiction. Maybe after all these half-done stories are finished/published I’ll finally try work on Mom’s story.
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 Bible, my Kindle (because it’s loaded with about 30 some books) and pray its battery holds up for a long time.
Author Websites and Profiles
Mary Elizabeth Fricke Website
Mary Elizabeth Fricke Amazon Profile
Mary Elizabeth Fricke’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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