Molly Blaisdell joins the 2014 Montgomery County Book Festival Author Line Up

Welcome             Molly Blaisdell...

Texan Molly Blaisdell started her first fan fiction group in junior high and never stopped writing. Today, she writes about geek girls with lofty dreams and about the absolute craziness of falling in love. When Molly's not writing, she's curled up with a book, heading to late night showings of popcorn blockbusters, or watching for shooting stars on a clear night. If she sees the moon in the daytime, she thinks she's lucky. PLUMB CRAZY is her debut romance novel. Molly lives in College Station, Texas with her college sweetheart Tim and two cats – one evil and one good.

 

Learn a little more about Molly in her interview below.

Do you outline before you write or just dive in?  Generally, I am a fan of the outline. If you don't give me a map, I'll never arrive. That said, I don't use formal outlines but rely on a synopsis format. I determine how many chapters I need. I add a few lines under each paragraph that sums up the action in that chapter. This is my method. I don't think there is a right way to write. I write my way, but yours may be very different.  

Why do you write for Young Adults or Children or Adult (whichever is pertinent)? Honestly depending on the season, I write for all three. My upcoming book, PLUMB CRAZY (Swoon Romance, May 2014), is a crossover for teens and adults. 
When you write a story, it's not for right now. It's for somebody, someday. It's also about once-upon-a-time, an imagined history. I write because I feel very connected to the future and the past. I'm hardwired to bring them together, to tuck something in your pocket for the road ahead. I find stories keep percolating long after you read them, and they are there to help in your trials and triumphs. 
There is usually humor in everything I write, too, because, to me, there is enough drama already. Laughing helps us all survive the degradations of this life. An excellent life is about making a difference in whatever way you can. Writing is my way.
Do you have a pet (pets)? Tell us about it (them) and how they help/hinder your writing.

I have two pets currently. Mr. Tibbs, who was rescued as a kitten from an abandoned house, and Mr. Oreo, who was a rescued cat from a local shelter.  

Mr. Tibbs is a giant cat. He is part Maine Coon and very calm. He is so huggable and when I can't find my way in a story, hugging Mr. Tibbs always helps. 

Mr. Oreo is a little tuxedo cat and a trickster. He likes to sit on my laptop keys and scratch through the manuscript pages while I'm editing. My printer jams a lot because, yes, that is also his favorite place to sit. And also in any box, the smaller the better. 
It’s the dawn of the zombie apocalypse, what 3 things are a must to take with you when you flee your home for refuge from the undead hordes??
I hope someone has written the Complete Guide for the Zombie Apocalypse because I could really use that book. I'd also take a water purifier and a ninja/superhero/immortal (because I'm not fighting zombies. No way!). 


 Thanks for the interview Molly! 

Meet Molly at the 2014 Montgomery County Book Festival on February 15, 2014.

For more information, visit www.mollyblaisdell.com/.

 

Introducing Kathryn Casey to the 2014 MCBF Author Line Up

Announcing Kathryn Casey...

 

A novelist and an award-winning journalist, Kathryn Casey is the creator of the Sarah Armstrong mystery series and the author of seven highly acclaimed true crime books. Her first novel, SINGULARITY, was one of Booklist’s best crime novel debuts of 2009, and Library Journal chose the third, THE KILLING STORM, as one of the best books of 2010. Casey’s protagonist is a Texas Ranger/profiler headquartered in Company A, Houston. Kathryn Casey has appeared on Oprah, Oprah Winfrey's Oxygen Network, Court TV, Biography, Nancy Grace, E! Network, TruTv, Investigation Discovery, The Travel Channel and A&E. She’s written for Rolling Stone, TV Guide, Reader’s Digest, Texas Monthly, MORE, Ladies’ Home Journal, and many other publications. Ann Rule calls Casey “one of the best in the true crime genre.”

 

For more information: www.kathryncasey.com

 

 

Find out more about Kathryn and her writing below:

 

At what age did you start writing? In elementary school I wrote awful poetry; does that count? In middle school, short stories. But nothing in earnest until college.

Patty Campbell talks about the germ for a piece of writing being like the sand in the oyster. What is your grain of sand? Do you begin with character or setting or something else? In my fiction, it began with a character, the series protagonist, Texas Ranger Sarah Armstrong. In the true crime books, of course, the characters are real, living and breathing folks. I can’t add anyone or write anyone out. It’s nonfiction, so the plot and those involved are as they are.

Do you outline before you write or just dive in? I dive in.
Who is your favorite character you have written or read about? My favorite character is the aforementioned Sarah Armstrong. If I could, I’d ring her up and invite her over for coffee. What fun it would be to hear her stories. Or I might drive out to her Tomball horse ranch with my tape recorder. Now that would be a good day.

What is one thing you would like your readers to know about you? That I understand they have a lot of options when deciding what to read, and I do my best to give them something worth reading. (This sounds a bit like the spiel the flight attendants give as the plane lands, but it’s true.)

In high school, where did you fall? (Prom Queen/King, Gamer Geek, Brainy/Book Nerd, Jock, Shy/Quiet Scholar, Skate Rat, Stoner, Class Clown, etc.) Your average kid, I guess. I was something of a secret book nerd, doing my best to camouflage.

Do you have a pet (pets)? Tell us about it (them) and how they help/hinder your writing. Our dog, Nelson, is my constant companion. He’s a white mop, a Havanese, with a prominent ego. But we love him. He actually has his own fan base on my Facebook page, where I post photos and videos. There was a movement afoot to give Nelson his own page. I nixed it, preferring to be able to monitor his posts. 

For more information:www.kathryncasey.com

Introducing Mary Gray to the MCBF 2014 Author Line-Up

INTRODUCING      MARY GRAY...

Mary Gray has a fascination with all things creepy. That’s why all her favorite stories usually involve panic attacks and hyperventilating. In real life, she prefers to type away on her computer, ogle over her favorite TV shows, and savor fiction. When she’s not immersed in other worlds, she and her husband get their exercise by chasing after their three children.

The Dollhouse Asylum is her first novel. View the book trailer here:

Mary took a few minutes to answer some questions for us, just so we could get to know her better. 

Thanks Mary!

Patty Campbell talks about the germ for a piece of writing being like the sand in the oyster.  What is your grain of sand?  Do you begin with character or setting or something else?

I'm a concept writer. For THE DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM, I wanted to explore the concept of a girl being trapped by a man she both loves and hates. I hadn't read a story with this exact scenario, and I wanted to see how it would play out. My current work in progress is a historical novel, and I want to see how three main characters believe a certain weapon will help their civilization, but how it will all go quite wrong. I'll give you a hint: it takes place during the French Revolution.

In high school, where did you fall? (Prom Queen/King, Gamer Geek, Brainy/Book Nerd, Jock, Shy/Quiet Scholar, Skate Rat, Stoner, Class Clown, etc.) 

I was the quiet new girl. I moved every year growing up (sometimes more!) and my dad didn't allow me to be in extracurricular activities, so I had a hard time making friends... and keeping them since we always had to pick up and leave.

What books or authors have most influenced your writing most?

Carrie Ryan's THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH inspired me to write THE DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM in the fact that I wanted to write a subtle horror with beautiful writing and post-apocalyptic elements. Neal Shusterman's UNWIND series has inspired me to write my current project in multiple third person present tense POV, and Robin LaFevers has inspired me to try historical. I am loving the research.

It’s the dawn of the zombie apocalypse, what 3 things are a must to take with you when you flee your home for refuge from the undead hordes??

I would grab my three children (my husband can take care of himself). My oldest is nine, and he'll probably grab his favorite books, my daughter is five, and she'll want her pillow and blankey, and my youngest is two. He'll want the Kindle because all his favorite shows are on there. 

To find out more about Mary, visit her website at www.marygraybooks.com.  Mary is on Facebook and tweets (@marygraytweets).

Come meet Mary Gray at the 2014 Montgomery County Book Festival on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at Lone Star College - Montgomery.