Several thousand years later, after many eons of
famine, pestilence, war, and police actions (that we all know were wars
the government couldn’t sell us on), God the Father said, “The world
needs more righteous humor and romance. Let Mary McCall be born.”
God the Son said, “Dad, it’s my turn. Let her words
bring joy and inspiration to the masses. I am placing a pencil in her
hand.”
God the Holy Ghost chuckled. “I’m topping both of
you. I’m inspiring the invention of the internet to spread spam, email
jokes, time-draining games, and otherwise confuse the masses. And in
that world, all authors, including Mary, will have to promote their
books. Who’s got humor now?”
Thus, on a cold December 31st four minutes before
midnight in the Texas Panhandle on Reese Air Force Base near Lubbock,
Mary was born to Robert Duncan McCall and Minnie Stone Fulcher McCall.
Lt. McCall wiped his brow and grinned at his wife. “Thank goodness you
timed that well. She’s a tax deduction for the whole year.”
After that, she cost her parents tons of money. She
began with crayons on the walls, furniture and floors. Her parents saw
that wasn’t good and surrounded her with tons of butcher paper. By the
time she turned three, she was a reporter. She told her parent about her
brother breaking the glass on the coffee table, about her younger sister
painting the bathroom with shaving cream, and about her older sister
ironing her hair. Her parents saw that wasn’t good and explained the
difference between being a reporter and being a snitch.
Onward Mary grew until she was quite verbose. She
wrote poems, book reports, research papers, satires and just about
anything she could think of. Since she was using paper and pencils/pens,
her parents saw this as good. Unfortunately, Mary didn’t like French. So
when her high school French teacher gave her an A for paper on the Eifel
Tower that she didn’t write, she took the A and kept her mouth shut.
Over the years, Mary spent many hours in the confessional.
Eventually, Mary wrote for nurses, business people,
hospitals, doctors, psychology professionals, spiritual people and just
about anyone else who wanted to read her words. This landed her for a
time in Who’s Who in Nursing and Who’s Who in Business Professionals.
Everyone kept telling her that she should write fiction, because she had
a storytelling flair to her non-fiction, making it easy to read.
An avid reader, she finally decided to try her hand
at it. When her serial-killer who ritualistically terminated his victims
according to the Passion of Christ turned into a romance, Mary decided
she wasn’t going to be the author of the next Cherry Ames detective
series and she would write historical romances instead.
Once she wanted to write a TV series about her
dating life called, Mary Fills a Monastery, but Will & Grace came out
the same year, so she decided the timing wasn’t right and got a new dog.
In addition to writing, Mary loves to read old
Latin manuscripts, learn new & trivial historical facts, and sing. While
she likes to sing melody, God’s humor extended to her larynx, and she’s
a true contralto. She can also sing Ole’ Man River in the original key,
so go figure. Her favorite music is Ambrosian and Gregorian Chant and
early polyphony. Her favorite composers are Palestrina, Mozart, Fr.
Fredrick Faber, Billy Joel, and Elton John. Oh, and Sir Andrew Lloyd
Webber. She never writes a love scene without The Phantom of the Opera
playing in the background. Her favorite cyber playground is the Julie
Garwood Bulletin Board with like-minded wenches. Mary's yahoo groups are
too-numerous-to-count.
Simon (aka: Peter): no last name. He was a Jewish fisherman but ended up in Rome.
Romance Writers of America
River City Romance Writers
Hearts through History Romance Writers
Celtic Hearts Romance Writers
Faith, Hope & Love RWA, Inc.
Electronic and Small Press Authors Network
Savvy Authors, Inc.
Renee Vincent recently invited me to do an interview at
Past the Print, a wonderful
blog. I had so much fun visiting her website; I wanted to share the
interview here:
Tell us about yourself: Renee, thank you so much for inviting me here. I’m a post-wreck
survivor, who has worked in multiple fields, mainly nursing and I dabble
in Latin and forensics on the side. An avid reader of multiple genres
and nonfiction writer for professional journals, I decided to turn to
the world of happily-ever-after for the sheer pleasure of writing it. I
work from an apartment in Memphis that is run by my alpha Maltese,
Regina Catriona.
What genres do you normally write in?
Historical Romances set mainly in the
Scottish Highlands and England, though I’m branching out to do a series
of Inspirational Historical Romances set in the Appalachian foothills in
Tennessee.
Is there a genre you haven’t written in that one day you’d like to
tackle?
I’d like to revisit mystery writing, but I’d like to do Medieval
mysteries. My mind is playing with an angle for this, but I haven’t
quite mapped it out. It’s a matter of so many stories and so little
time.
Are there any authors who have influenced your work?
There are several. I have to start with
Horace and Ars Poetica. That’s
one of the best books I’ve ever read on writing. Next would probably be
Thomas Aquinas, and then onward to the Brothers Grimm. More recent
authors would have to include Mark Twain (whose Joan of Arc is my
all-time favorite Romance), Louis de Wohl, and Barbara Willard. But when
it comes to Modern Romance, I have to go with Julie Garwood, Kathleen
Woodiwiss, Patricia Potter and Vicki Henzi – among many, many others.
When did you first sign with (your current publisher)?
I signed with Eternal Press in February of 2010. Before that it was all
medico-nursing, psychology, business and theology.
How did you celebrate your signing?
Called family & friends and we had a party at
my sister’s house.
Do you have any specific things (or rituals) that help you to write or
that inspire you? Some folks say I’m crazy, but I write all my first drafts
longhand. I’ve written that way since I was a child and don’t myself
changing any time soon.
Is there a certain time of day you prefer to write?
I’m a night owl, but I’ll write any
time I get the chance.
What is your writing day like?
Very disorganized! I’m on-call 24/7 from home,
so I write whenever I get the chance. If I have to choose between sleep
and writing, I often choose writing. Then my body makes me sleep.
Some quickies for you (pardon the pun):
Satin or Lace?
Satin
Hot or Cold?
Hot
Camera or Canvas?
Camera
Denim or Leather?
Denim
Talking or Texting?
Talking
Irish or Italian?
OMG, how can I pick? My grandfather was Scot-Irish and my Nanna was
Italian!
Thunder or Lightning?
Fire and Lightning
Dark eyes or Light eyes?
Dark and mysterious.
The sound of a heartbeat or a crackling
fire?
I spent too many years as a nurse, so I’ll go
with crackling fire.
Sleeping bag or Bed?
Bed
Wine or Beer?
Wine, red or black grape; no white.
Coffee or Tea?
Tab! I’m a relic.
Holding hands or Holding his attention?
His attention, though I wouldn’t mind both.
Red or Black?
Black
Mountains or Beach?
Mountains of Tennessee: the great Smokies.
Silk sheets or Cotton sheets?
Cotton.
Tell us about your new release.
Highland Treasure is a work of love. I compiled
a number of abuse victims I’ve worked with into the Heroine and sent her
back in time. Interestingly, I didn’t set out to write a tale about an
abuse survivor. Once I get a glimmer of an idea, I live with my
characters for a while. Then the whole book runs in my head like a
movie.
What kind of hero is Leonce? He’s an alpha Highlander out for revenge.
Was there someone famous he resembled when you wrote him? Or is he based
off someone you personally know?
Neither really. I wanted to honor past family
members. Leonce and his son, Bertie, got their names from my
grandfather, Leonce Bertram. When I got into the meaning of the name
Leonce being lion, his took on the traits of a lion from the tawny hair
to the amber eyes.
What are your favorite hero traits that you cannot resist?
I love alphas that learn to love. They have to be protectors and
providers, who come to respect their women even if they didn’t in the
beginning. Put him in a kilt and I’m a happy camper.
As an author and essentially the “creator” of your hero, do you find
yourself attached to him in a personal way?
Very much so. I live with him the whole
time I’m writing the book. We carry on conversations and talk about him
and his life. Men like to talk about themselvesJ.
Does your heroine, Hope, take after you? Or is she someone you wish you
could be?
She doesn’t take after me at all, and I’d love to have her athletic
abilities rather than my linked-together spine. Hope is an abuse
survivor who lived on her own in the wilderness for years. She’s also
gifted with some special capabilities such as talking to animals and
understanding them. (Maybe we are a little alike. I always do what
Regina tells me to).
Out of all your books, do you have a favorite? The one I’m writing now. It’s always
the one with the most urgency and excitement, because the tale is
unfolding in my mind. I love the creative process. In my one of my
works-in-progress, I’m also writing my first alpha heroine, creating a
country, and splashing it full of adventure.
