Maryann Miller

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I started my writing career as a humor columnist in the vein of Erma Bombeck, and it was great fun to write about the foibles of my family. That evolved into other journalism work for regional and national publications until I started having some books published. My first nine were nonfiction for teens, dealing with life issues they face, and Coping With Weapons and Violence In School and on Your Streets, was chosen as a Best Book for Teens by the New York Library System.

My first fiction publications in order are: Friends Forever, Play it Again, Sam, The Wisdom of Ages, One Small Victory, Boxes For Beds, Open Season, Stalking Season, and Doubletake.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Doubletake, my most recent release, was chosen as the Best Mystery for 2015 by the Texas Association of Authors, and I wrote it with Margaret Sutton. Collaborating was an interesting experience, and I was really pleased with how seamlessly our writing styles meshed.

When we started to develop the story idea, we wanted to showcase a really strong woman and came up with Detective Barbara Hopkins, who has to prove herself to the all-male department. She is pitted against a particularly sadistic killer and is then almost the victim of Doubletake.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t have any unusual writing habits, unless you count procrastination. (smile) After reading a biography of Jack London and learning that he set himself a goal of writing at least 1000 words a day, and then allowing himself the freedom to do something else, I thought I would try that. Unfortunately, other than writing my blog and taking care of business items, I don’t always get the words in first. I check mail and find a message I have to respond to. Then I check to see if my blog posted. While I’m there I should go ahead and promote it just a bit. Then I’m on Facebook and see a post from one of my friends. Then I see a new promotional opportunity, and I hop over to that website. LOL

That said, I do make myself stop all that and spend at least two hours writing, maybe more. I have two books I want to finish this year and time is getting away from me.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh, my, this is always such a hard question to answer. So many authors have inspired me. Anne Lamott and her wonderful Bird by Bird that gives writers permission to just write and worry about fixing things later. Dennis Lehane, Craig Johnson, Raymond Atkins, Laura Lippman, PD James, and so many other fine writers who challenge me to write better. And my all-time favorite, John Steinbeck who was a master at characterization and made me want to write about memorable people

What are you working on now?
My current WIP is a mainstream novel based on true life. It is my mother’s story, which I have always wanted to write, as she is the strongest woman I have ever known. I think after she died last year, she started channeling her story, so I put aside the third Seasons story and started working on Evelyn Evolving.

I’ve discovered that this type of book, fiction based on true life, is very popular. I am reading Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls, which is the story of her grandmother’s life, and in the book description it says that she was encouraged to fill in some missing blanks with fiction. That is what I have had to do with Evelyn Evolving, as so many things in my mother’s life were mysteries, which is why I had never written the story before. I thought I had to ferret out all those things.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Some advertising is effective, and Awesomegang does a great job with the ads and all the other opportunities for authors to share about their books. I have found that the social media sites are effective, too, but that takes time and dedication. It is best not to just be posting about the books, so we need to find other things of interest to post about.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write. Read, read, read. Then write, write, write. Seriously, the best way to hone the craft is by practice. Then when you get your first book published, don’t hawk it like a carnival barker. Be professional in every thing you do.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
One of the best pieces of advice was from Liz Carpenter who told me to never say no to an opportunity. So often if we have no experience with something we want to step away, but she encouraged stepping toward. That worked well for me when I was asked to do PR work for a large Foundation in Dallas. I knew nothing about PR work, but I went for the interview, accepted the job, and called a friend who had experience. “Help!” And she did.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading Half Broke Horses.

What’s next for you as a writer?
My plan is to finish Evelyn Evolving and the third book in the Seasons Series, Desperate Season. Then I will work on two other “based on real life” stories that my editor suggested I try.

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?
Can I cheat and bring my Kindle that has 200 books loaded in it? LOL Seriously, with nothing else to do, I can read three books in three days. Would I be stuck there longer than that? The first book I’d take is one of the latest from Dennis Lehane, World Gone By, which is on my nightstand waiting for me to read. Then I’d dig out my old copy of Of Mice and Men. And the others would be Laura Lippman’s latest two, After I’m Gone and Hush Hush.

Author Websites and Profiles
Maryann Miller Website
Maryann Miller Amazon Profile

Maryann Miller’s Social Media Links
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