NOVEL WRITERS ALERT:
AN INTERVIEW WITH MARIA PEASE

Get Your Book

Maria:  I’ve been writing stories for as long as I can remember but never thought much beyond the fact that I felt at home writing. That evening when Steven declared he was going to write a story, I felt drawn to write as well. I opened my laptop, and the story practically fell on the page. Honestly, I didn’t consider that my story would become a book. I had no expectations for it and, therefore, no pressure. I continued to write well after my son went to bed, and it became my secret life. No one knew I was writing except Steven. When I realized I had written more than 200 pages, I was forced to acknowledge that it was more than a simple story and began to wrap my head around the fact that I had written a book.
 
Why a mystery? I have always love mysteries. I read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys as a kid and never really ventured from the genre. It felt natural for me to choose mysteries.

Career Change Can Happen

Q2:  A number of people feel they want to make a career change or do something different, like writing. What steps should a person take to become a writer - novelist, freelance writer, or otherwise?


Maria:  I was a paralegal and ran a judgment recovery business and was a substitute teacher. I was writing on the side when I decided that I wanted to transition into writing full time. The reality is that it’s tough to make a living writing novels but in my research on writing careers I was introduced to copywriting, which is also known as content writing. I discovered you could actually make a living doing it, so I began studying and reading books to learn the craft. I transitioned over a few years and now write & teach creative writing full time.

Learn From Others

Q3:  Did you have someone that you were emulating? How beneficial do you feel it is for someone who is interested in writing to speak with a knowledgeable, experienced writer/author?

Maria:  I wouldn’t say emulating, but I do write in the first person so my readers can experience things as Sam Parker experiences them. In a few reviews of my books, I have been compared to both Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich, which is a such on honor as I absolutely love them both and have read so many of their books.
 
I think it’s an excellent idea for a new author to speak with experienced authors. I actually started teaching my, "Yes, You Can Write" Workshops so I could help other authors learn about both writing and publishing and everything that comes with life as an author. It’s my way of paying it forward.