Author Interview - Marian P Merritt

Marian, welcome to Quills and Inkblotts.

We are so happy to have you and congratulations on your latest Christmas Extravaganza title ‘Gumbo Weather: A Bijou Bayou Christmas Romance’ releasing December 1^st.

Lucy, I'm honored to be here at Quills and Inkblotts. Thank you so much for having me!

1.      Do you have a writing routine?

When I'm actively writing. I do. I get up, grab a cup of coffee, feed the dog and let her out, spend some time in Bible study, then write for 45 minutes, take a 15 minute break at which time I may do laundry, dishes, have breakfast etc then write for another 45 minutes. That's usually my morning routine. In the evening, sometimes I'll write another 45 minutes.

2.      How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Wow, you caught me with this question! I've never taken inventory of the stories I've started and for one reason or another didn't finish. I was surprised to find the count is:

1 Unpublished completed manuscript in need of serious editing!

8 Unfinished novels in various stages of completion.

3 Unfinished novellas (1 is a Christmas story that didn't feel right at the time but may be ready to see the light of publication!)

3.      Was there something that surprised you while writing your novella?

Nothing in particular, but usually when I'm writing I'm always surprised by how God faithfully shows up during my writing sessions. I don't know why that surprises me, but it's a sweet time of worship. One surprise I love!

4.      Did you have to do a lot of research while you wrote your novella?

Not a lot for this one. I had to research major league baseball farm teams and the process for when a player gets "called up" to the major leagues.

5.      Which character did you enjoy most writing about and why?

Although, this character doesn't fill a lot of "word space", Justin's Uncle Al was my favorite. He was a voice of reason and steadfast faith. He was the calm in any of Justin's storms.

6.      Are you working on anything else at the moment?

Yes, I'm currently writing another Bijou Bayou Novel! Many of the characters introduced in Gumbo Weather will make encore performances in For Gilly. One of the main characters is Evangeline Louviere, known to her friends and family as Gilly, one of the women Noel meets in Vivian's Bible Study group. Gilly has cancer and has asked her twin sister, Josephine "Jo", who has pulled away from the family and Christ, to complete a bucket list they wrote when they were twelve. It will be a fun, faith-filled journey that neither woman anticipated.  

GUMBO WEATHER PROMO

Gumbo Weather: A Bijou Bayou Christmas Novella

 

Colorado sports reporter, Noel Winters heads to Louisiana after finding love letters in her deceased mother’s belongings. When her car breaks down near Bijou Bayou, a handsome, struggling pitcher and part-time mechanic comes to her rescue by fixing her car, and offering to help her find her father. Only problem? As her alias, Micki Barrett, Noel wrote an article criticizing Justin Gravois's big league debut. Now she’s fallen for him, can she ever find the courage to tell him the truth? Justin Gravois, professional pitcher, wanted to make his uncle proud. When he finally got his shot, his dream turned into a nightmare. It didn’t help that sports reporter, Micki Barrett, wrote such terrible things about him. Now, Justin wants to forget about the past and move forward to next season. When he falls in love with Noel he wonders if she’s an answer to his prayer.

Purchase Links:

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M4NAKRJ/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Pelican Book Group:

http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_46&products_id=769

Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gumbo-weather-marian-merritt/1125000640?ean=9781611169577

Meet Marian:

Marian Pellegrin Merritt writes stories that blend her love of the mountains with her deep Southern roots. Her tagline, Where the Bayous Meets the Mountains, grew from both loves.

This Louisiana native writes her Inspirational Christmas romances and Southern women’s fiction with a Louisiana/Colorado connection from the Texas home she shares with her husband and a very spoiled Labradoodle.

Connect with her through

 Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter Marian P. Merritt's Readers Group

Buy links to Marian’s Books: http://www.marianmerritt.com/#!/cnec