Skip to main content

Interview with Margaret Daley, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 02.28.2006




Continuing my interview with Margaret:

CT: What's your writing schedule like? How do you ensure time for family and church?

MD: I usually write when I get home from school then on the weekends. You have to make time for your family and church as anything you want to do. I'm a very organized person and my son is grown and on his own now. It was harder when he was at home.

CT: What is your most memorable moment as a writer?

Selling my first book! Nothing beats that.

CT: When did you first discover that you were a writer?

MD: When I finished my first book, I started to think of myself as a writer. Of course, I will never show anyone that first book.

CT: Writing a novel is...

MD: like bleeding all over the white paper.

CT: LOL! I like that analogy. Must be your romantic suspense side coming out, or else Shirlee has rubbed off on you. ;) What's your greatest writing weakness and how do you overcome it?

MD: Description and details--I like a fast pace book and don't want too much description in the books I read. I have to go back and put it in after I've completed my rough draft.

CT: What's your best writing strength?

MD: Plotting--I love to brainstorm and come up with twists and turns.

CT: How do you handle deadline stress? Any advice or tips?

MD: I try not to get too close to a deadline because I don't work well under that kind of pressure. I try to set more time than I think I'll need for my deadline. With that said, I think I will be going right up against my deadline with the book I'm working on right now. It is the toughest book I've written so far.

CT: Most writers struggle with insecurity. How do you retain your confidence as a writer?

MD: Who said I was confidant? I have all the insecurities others do.

CT: Aaah, good to know authors have the same problems. What's the biggest risk you've ever taken as a writer?

MD: I've taken risks as a writer but I can't come up with the biggest one. I've tried to stretch myself with some books like the one coming out next March for Love Inspired Suspense called So Dark the Night. This book I'm writing right now tentatively called Vanished is hard because of the emotional stakes in it. A sheriff's daughter is kidnapped and he must be the parent as well as the cop. In inspirational romances with suspense you have three elements you must entwine together--suspense, romance and faith. That can be hard at times, especially in a smaller book.

CT: How do you handle writer's block? Do you ever get writer's block?

MD: I haven't gotten writer's block but I have suffered from writer's slowdown. I try to write through it if possible. Sometimes I just have to take some time off and get away from writing. I have been known to take a book on vacation and write on the beach.

CT: Describe your writing space as it is now, and your fantasy writing space.

MD: My office is painted hot pink and I have lots of flamingoes in it. I have a couch, desk and a lot of bookshelves filled with tons of books. I love my writing space.

CT: Hey, I love pink, too! I've only recently gotten over my denial and now I'm basking in my pinkness. Let's dress up in pink at RWA National. Do you have a special verse specifically to inspire your writing?

MD: I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20. It is so comforting to know that God is there for me always.

CT: What's the best writing advice you've ever received?

MD: You have to write to sell. If you don't put yourself in front of the computer and write, you will never be a selling writer.

CT: Thanks for doing the interview! Any parting words?

MD: Talent is 25% of writing and determination is 75%. Keep at it.

Camy here: Thanks, Margaret!

Knee update: Had my doctor's appointment today just to check my knee, see how it's healing after surgery. The doctor's assistant saw me, and she said it feels good. She even said I could start jogging, although I'm going to wait before trying that. Good to know I'm healing! Praise God!

My February contest: Today's the last day to enter my website contest for two Romantic Suspense book packs.

Bible in 90 Days: Day 48. I got back on track today and finished Isaiah. I have to admit I didn't understand a lot of what he talked about except the surface message--that the people of Israel need to repent in their hearts and not just worship with actions; that God will rain destruction as punishment for their sins, despite the fact He's been very lenient with them; and that God will not forget them forever. He will not only restore them, He will bless them abundantly. Isaiah gives a beautiful picture of Jerusalem the bride. And it fills my heart that I will be there.

Writing: I have to get the Genesis contest judges' packets ready to mail tomorrow, but then I'll do some writing after that.

Diet: It's hard to count calories when I cook, but I think I'm at only 1100 today, plus I went for a 75 minute walk with the dog. It was refreshing to walk outside after the rain--the air smelled so beautiful.

Popular Posts

Interview with Tamara Leigh

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.13.2006 Multi-published Tamara Leigh has shifted from Medieval romances to chick-lit! Her newest book is STEALING ADDA published by NavPress. It had been a long time since New York Times best-selling author -- and historical romance writer extraordinaire -- Adda Sinclaire had experienced more than a fictional dose of romance, but when publisher Nick Farnsworth walks into her life, everything changes. Life for Adda ironically reads more like a country song than a bodice-bursting, breathless affair. For starters, she has no actual romance in her life. That might have something to do with the fact that her husband -- correction-EX husband -- ran off with Stick Woman, whom everyone knew would never be more than a mid-list author anyway. To add insult to injury (and another verse to the country song), he not only took their dog but gave it to her. If this isn't enough, Adda's come down with a horrible case of writer's block and finds h

In-N-Out from A DANGEROUS STAGE

Source: tumblr.com via Camy on Pinterest In-N-Out, one of my fav burger joints, makes an appearance in the first chapter of A Dangerous Stage . It's a chain on the West Coast and Hawaii, I'm not sure how far east they have restaurants. They don't freeze any of their food, it's all fresh, including the buns and the french fries. When you order, you can see them use this french fry hand-crank machine to make their fries, it's pretty cool. The specific restaurant in A Dangerous Stage doesn't exist at that location, but there's a couple of them near me and I go there way too often than is good for me, but it's oh-so-yummy!

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures

Sweet & Clean Christmas Romance sale

I’m participating in the Sweet & Clean Christmas Romance sale. Check out all the sweet/clean romance books available and stuff your eBook reader! Sweet & Clean Christmas Romance

99c Squeaky Clean Christmas Romance sale

I’m participating in the 99c Squeaky Clean Christmas Romance sale. Check out all the sweet/clean romance books available and stuff your eBook reader! 99c Squeaky Clean Christmas Romance

Year of the Dog serial novel

About Year of the Dog : A month or two ago, I remembered an old manuscript I had completed but which hadn’t sold. It was a contemporary romance meant for Zondervan, titled Year of the Dog . The book had gone into the pipeline and I even got another title ( Bad Dog ) and a cover for it, but eventually my editor at the time decided she didn’t want to publish it, for various reasons. She instead requested a romantic suspense, and so I cannibalized some of the characters from Year of the Dog and thrust them into the next book I wrote, which was Protection for Hire . Honestly, I didn’t take a lot from Year of the Dog to put in Protection for Hire , aside from character names and a few relationship ties. I was originally thinking I’d post Year of the Dog as-is on my blog as a free read, but then it occurred to me that I could revamp it into a romantic suspense and change the setting to Hawaii. It would work out perfectly as (yet another) prequel to the Warubozu series and introduc

Clean Romance Deals

I’m participating in the Clean Romance Deals sale. Check out all the sweet/clean romance books available and stuff your eBook reader! Clean Romance Deals

Daniel 9:9

Dear Lord, Thank you for being so merciful and forgiving to us no matter what we’ve done or where we’ve been. Thank you for loving us so much, even when we find it hard to love ourselves. Even if we have rejected you, you still reach out to us and want us to come to you for love and comfort and forgiveness. Thank you for your magnificent grace. Amen 主よ、 私たちが何をしようと、どこにいようと、私たちを憐れみ、赦してくださりありがとうございます。私たちが自分自身を愛することが難しいときでさえ、私たちをこんなにも愛してくださってありがとうございます。たとえ私たちがあなたを拒んだとしても、あなたは私たちに手を差し伸べ、愛と慰めと赦しを求めてあなたのもとに来ることを望んでくださいます。あなたの素晴らしい恵みに感謝します。 アーメン

Last chance! Jane Austen sweepstakes

Last chance! Win a Library of 30 Historical Romance Novels + Jane Austen Swag Worth $250! This is a delightful surprise I've been eager to share! Join me and 30 extraordinary authors in an enchanting giveaway where we're gifting a vast array of historical romance novels to two fortunate winners! And the cherry on top: The Grand Prize winner will be treated to an exclusive Jane Austen swag pack, worth an impressive $250! You'll get the chance to win a copy of my book, Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer, as well as novels from renowned authors like Laura Beers and Kasey Stockton. (Please be aware that not all the historical novels in this giveaway are Christian or sweet.) To enter, simply click the magical link below. Wishing you the best of luck and a journey filled with delightful reads! Join Our Giveaway

Grace Livingston Hill romances free to read online

I wanted to update my old post on Grace Livingston Hill romances because now there are tons more options for you to be able to read her books for free online! I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses . And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel. I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love. And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fasci