I've noted that in my life multiple big events seem to arrive compacted into small bits of time. Like uranium--lots of power--small bit of space. I am nearly certain there is some sort of cosmic lesson I am meant to learn from this--and I must certainly still be learning as these dynamite weeks still arrive. I don't mind it--really--in fact pressure to perform and perform well may be my favorite adrenaline type. But I do note that the anxiousness that careens around the inside of my belly is less likeable as I age.
Granted part of what I do for a living will always create some bits of excitement--anxiousness--performance anxiety. You don't build movies and write books without thinking how the stories will be received. I must be emotionally invested in the projects or really neither would be worth the film/paper on which the stories are told.
But there are some weeks--some days--some hours--on which the outcome of a project depends more heavily and it is these hours that I will inhabit this week.
Excitement bursts, anxiousness careens, and my fingers cross.
I am thrilled to announce that for the entire month of March we will Spring Into Romance. Guest authors and giveaways and all to honor the one genre that we love--Romance!
Why do we love romance? Why do we write romance? Why do we read romance -- obsessively?
These are questions that I've asked some of the most talented (and my most favorite) authors to answer. A different and great author each day for the entire month of March!
Did I mention the give-aways? Books, gift cards, chocolate--and more! Every person that comments will be entered in the end of week give-away and also in the end of month BIG giveaway--and when I say BIG--I mean BIG.
So stay tuned. Only 35 days until Spring Into Romance begins!!
Can't Buy Me Love got its first blurb. What is a blurb? Well--when a fabulous author reads your book and tells you what they think--that is your blurb. I must be the luckiest writer in the world because a very fabulous author read Can't Buy Me Love and gave me a fabulous blurb.
Jenny Gardiner! Yes--the best-selling author Jenny Gardiner. This is what Jenny has to say about Can't Buy Me Love:
"Maggie Marr does it again! Can't Buy Me Love is an entertaining hot and heavy high stakes Hollywood love story that'll keep you turning the page!" --Jenny Gardiner, #1 Kindle bestselling author
Wow! Like I said--luckiest writer in the world. Can't Buy Me Love--it's coming soon--March 28.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent."
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"To save man from the morass of propaganda, in my opinion, is one of the chief aims of education. Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction."
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“We must rapidly begin the shift from a "thing-oriented" society to a "person-oriented" society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”
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“The saving of our world from pending doom will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority.”
Okay guess where I am? Does the title give it away? Got here today.
I am location scouting--yes location scouting. For a film. An awesome film. A great script written by a great director.
I brought a camera, so you know, I could show you all the fantastic places we are looking at for the film--however I of course managed to forget the chord which I need to upload pics to the computer.
I will update here throughout the week, but tonight--sleep. Tomorrow--studios.
In AN APPETITE FOR MURDER, aspiring food critic Hayley Snow follows a new boyfriend to the Conch Republic, otherwise known as Key West. But instead of landing a coveted job as a food critic and living happily ever after, she ends up as the prime suspect in the murder of her boyfriend's new girlfriend. Or at least that’s what the local police think after she makes it publicly clear she’d like to curdle this woman’s cream sauce. Hayley must solve the murder, and fast, or the only food she'll be reviewing will be what’s served on steel trays in the Florida State penitentiary.
What’s the most difficult part about being an author?
For me, it’s letting go of the book and letting the chips fall as they may. After all, I’ve spent nearly a year thinking of the story and developing the characters and honing each word—gosh, I’ve fallen in love and I want everyone in the world to read it! Or at least lots and lots of readers. But I don’t have much control after I’ve put the news on my website and tweeted and facebooked and talked to friends until I’m blue in the face!
What do you love about being an author?
There are so many wonderful moments! I love it when a plot finally comes together in my mind. I love it when characters start to feel real and my family and I talk about them as if they were real people. I love seeing the cover design for a book. I love seeing the book on bookshelves in bookstores. I love hearing from readers. It’s such a hard job, writing and then running the gauntlet of publishing, but the rewards are immense!
What’s next for you?
I turned in the manuscript for book two in the Key West food critic series before Christmas. It’s called DEATH IN FOUR COURSES, and it takes place during the “Key West Loves Literature” conference, featuring Hayley’s food writing idols from around the country. I will be getting it back from my editor for revisions shortly, and it will be published in September. Very soon, I have to start hammering out the outline and opening chapters for book three. I know it will involve a top chef contest on the waterfront in Key West, but I’m pretty fuzzy on the details so far!
Maggie, thank you so much for letting me talk about writing and books on your blog!
And thank you, Lucy for coming by! You are on my TBR pile--now readers go buy the book!
I am so so so excited! Here is the amazing cover, designed by Kim Killion, for Can't Buy Me Love!
The book publishes in ebook March 2012! Ages ago I was runner up in The Harlequin Presents contest--many of you read the first chapter. I loved the characters SO MUCH that I decided to write their entire story.
Also...Join me the month of March for my Spring Into Romance blog series! My favorite authors--Megan Crane, Jane Porter,Julie James, Maisey Yates, Marilyn Brant, Eden Bradley, Lynne Marshall, and many many more--a different fantastic author will stop by each day to write about why they read and write romance. There will be give aways of books and prizes! All so exciting!
I am an attorney, author, and independent producer. My Hollywood adventure began as a motion picture literary agent (after pushing the mail-cart!). Since then I've written for film, TV, and ghostwritten multiple celebrity books, (sorry can't tell you which celebrities). I am blessed to share my LA life with my outrageously good-looking husband (seriously--I get older and he gets better with age) and my fabulous children.
