This week, we’re talking with Maura Beth Brennan about her book, The Edge of Fear
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
My husband says that when I get really, really, really mad, I “swear like a sailor,” but I think he's exaggerating. Isn't he?
Why do you write?
Writing takes me to a different world, one that I can control. It's a heady feeling!
I love picturing a place, and different people, and then bringing them to life. I get totally lost in that.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
My latest book, The Edge of Fear, is a stand-alone sequel to my first book, The Edge of Memory.
I tried to imagine what it would be like to achieve your dreams, like my MC did in the first book. What would you fear the most? Then I wrote about that.
But you don't need to have read the first book to understand the second.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
The genre for my latest is “Domestic Thriller.”
What could be more terrifying than an evil, or a threat, right in or near your home or in the places you trust the most?
I love the slow, rising sense of fear in that setup. Delicious!
How would you describe your writing process?
Sometimes, I'm pretty methodical, like when I'm intent on finishing something. But often I work in spurts.
Sometimes I'm a plotter, sometimes a pantster. I flip-flop back and forth.
And against my better judgment, I love to write late at night. Bad idea, because then I can't sleep!
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
It's wonderful if you can connect with people who have read your books and have responded to them. I love that aspect of it.
Also, connecting with other authors is very rewarding.
I love Twitter – visit me there: @maurabeth2014 – and say hello!
What advice would you have for other writers?
It's never too late to start, so don't think “Oh, I'm too old,” or “I waited too long,” or “I have too many other responsibilities.”
Carve out a bit of time on a recurring basis, and start with anything, like putting all your ideas down on paper and then fleshing one of them out.
And take classes, either at a college or on-line. That's important.
Try to interact with other authors, for encouragement.
And, just be obstinate and stick with it!
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
My titles usually just occur to me, sometimes even before the story. Often the title is the inspiration for the story (weird, I know).
As for covers, I have a designer that I love and I work with her. I tell her what I envision and she comes up with several ideas, always much better than what I started with.
What's your next step?
I recently wrote a manuscript for a Romance novel. I thought I'd try my hand at that, and it was really fun to write. It's in the pre-editing stage right now, with lots of rewrites and edits to come.
I also have quite a few short stories, and have been encouraged by my editor to compile them into a book.
So, I'm excited for what I'll be doing in the coming year.
What book do you wish you had written?
There are so many wonderful books I would love to have written. Right now, Jane Eyre comes to mind.
I love that it has so many layers: social commentary, a woman's quest to find herself, a brooding male love interest, a love story, the sense of a looming tragedy, a hidden wife in the attic. I mean, what more could you want?
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
I get really excited, closely read each review, and take all the comments to heart.
I have had a couple of negative ones, but for the most part, they are very rewarding.
I especially love it when the reader explains what they liked the most about my story. That's a real high!
