Q & A with author Lynne Marshall

Thanks so much for coming on today, Lynne. Would you please share a short bio with our readers?


I live quietly with my husband in Southern California, and I’m a rare native of the state. I worked as an RN for thirty years, I’m a dog lover, a cat admirer, a power walker, an avid reader, and fellow traveler on this wild road called life.


I came to fiction writing after my children were nearly grown, but I couldn’t put it off any longer, I had a story that needed to be told. That book is safely tucked away in my closet. Whew! Now I battle my empty nest (daughter in Boston, son in Okinawa) by writing stories which always include a romance, sometimes medicine, a dose of mirth, or both, but always stories straight from my heart.


I am fortunate to be published by Harlequin, and Mills & Boon in category romance (Special Edition) and Medical Romance with twelve books so far. I am also very happy to be one of the Roses for The Wild Rose Press, with my first long contemporary romance in the Last Rose of Summer line.


Q Do you consider yourself a shy and/or introverted person?

A Not only am I shy and introverted, but I’m a late bloomer! The trifecta of antisocial. Sigh.


Q In what ways has being shy or introverted hindered your writing career?

A I believe being shy often stems from feeling unconfident. I never believed in myself or my capabilities. I thought I didn’t have a right to write a book because I wasn’t highly educated, and, let’s face it, I goofed off a lot in English Lit, and only enjoyed about half of the classics I’ve read over the years. This does not bode well for ones aspirations of becoming an author.

Q In what ways has being shy or introverted helped your writing career?

A Being introverted helps my writing because I energize myself. When I’m writing a scene and get in the zone, nothing is more exhilarating. I don’t need other people to inspire or motivate me. What I might have trouble putting into words in a social setting, I can easily tell my computer.


Q What’s the hardest part of this business for you?

A The hardest part of this business is schmoozing with professionals. I am absolutely awful at it. My battle with nerves causes me to come off aloof, and I fear I’ve made people think I’m standoffish. I don’t want to take up their time out of consideration for them, not because I don’t like them or don’t want to talk to them. It gets complicated, doesn’t it?

Q Tell me about a time that you had to step outside your comfort zone either in your writing career or in your personal life?

A I made the mistake of submitting a workshop proposal to the Georgia chapter of RWA. AND THEY ACCEPTED IT! I gave a workshop called Riveting Revisions: the Key to Getting Published at the 2008 Moonlight and Magnolias conference with about seventy-five people in the audience. Somehow I did it, and I got good feedback from several attendees. Way outside my comfort zone. What was I thinking? I’ve done the class four times on-line now, and that is much more to my liking.


Q What’s one tip you could share with shy and introverted people that’s helped you?

A Well, we’re all just folks, and being genuine and kind should come easy to us, but for those times it doesn’t? When nervous, smile! People always respond to a friendly face. (Plus it’s a natural facelift!)


Q Would you please share a short blurb of your book and where my readers can buy it?

A Here’s a blurb for ONE FOR THE ROAD, TWRP July 2011 (Last Rose of Summer line):

D’Anne Palmer leads a life others dream of until she’s widowed and broke. Now she must return to California by hiring out her deluxe RV. One-hit wonder Tyler White hopes his three-week tour will recharge his career. Journeying from Nashville to Las Vegas, can close quarters help a has-been singer and the widow with California style find love?


Check out an excerpt here.

Q Where can my readers find you on the web?

A The book is available at TWRP website and at Amazon.com in e-book and print.

Your readers can find me on the web. I blog each Monday, post news and articles, and run occasional contests. Also, I draw a name for a free book from my backlist each month from those who sign up for my newsletter. Pop in and have a look around! I’m currently offering the epilogue for One for the Road exclusively to my newsletter enrollees.

17 comments:

  1. You sound so much like me. I definitely come off as standoffish when really I'm just terrified. It's probably not PC to say this, so I hope I don't offend anyone, but I call myself a social retard, because it's how I feel. Being in crowds is horrible. I've found though that a lot of times smiling and telling someone that I'm scared to death usually helps.

    Great interview!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lynne, thanks so much for being here today. We sound a lot a like. I have a tendency to come off as aloof and standoffish too...IF I don't make a concerted effort not to. It's a constant effort, LOL.

    Hi Joanne. No offense taken. I feel the same way. It's a struggle.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good morning Joanne and Rebecca.

    Joanne - thanks for reading the blog. I suspect there are a lot more people out there just like us.

    I've been told people are shocked to find out I'm an introvert, so that pasted on grin must be helping a little?

    And Rebecca - yes, it is a constant and concerted effort to not give in to the desire to just run away! run run!

    LOL.

    I feel so much more comfortable on-line - so that's a plus.

    Thanks, Joanne for not letting me feel introverted and friendless. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Lynne! TWELVE BOOKS! Geesh, I feel like such a newbie. I totally get what you mean about treading the social waters of promotion. Egad! I can't believe you gave a presentation in front of 75 people! Great job!! I would have been quaking in my boots! I am so excited about One For the Road. I CAN'T WAIT to read this story. Congrats on your success and here's to many more stories!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can SO relate to what you're saying, Lynn. I've had folks tell me they thougt I was snobby and then they realized I was just painfully shy. It's a terrible feeling!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi AJ! Thanks so much for commenting. I can't believe I actually gave that presentation, either! Just thinking about it makes me get nervous, and that was three years ago! LOL.

    thanks for your support and kind words regarding One for the Road. I have been blown away by the reader reviews at Amazon. Nothing, absolutely nothing! is scarier than sending our babies out there for readers to decide whether they like it or not.

    Wishing you all the success with Jezebel's Wish. You're a lovely writer. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh Maeve - I know, I know! We don't want to be the way we are, it's just hard to push ourselves out of our shells.

    I'd give anything to live in the skin of an extrovert for one day. But honestly, I'm happy the way I am.

    Thank goodness for our writing, right?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi, Rebecca! Fab job you're doing here. Congrats on the new book!

    HUGE HUG, Lynne! You know I LOVE your books, so I'll be running off to get my hands on a copy of One For The Road.

    Isn't it awful being so reserved? Like you, I'm often mistaken as being detached. Over the years, I've developed a way around this--I hug everybody! Yes even complete strangers. It's amazing how people respond to huggers (I've not had any bad experiences... yet lol) and can make an introvert appear to be extrovert.

    But shhhh...that my secret...don't tell anyone :)

    Best luck with sales.

    Hugs,
    Monique x
    Author of humorous, feel-good romance

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Monique! Thanks so much for the compliment, aw shucks!
    Hey, I like that idea, but somehow grabbing an agent or editor and giving them a hug might be tricky.
    I do like to hug my RWA chaptermates, and even give a kiss on the cheek from time to time though.
    I'll practice up my hugging and see how that works out next year at the RWA National conference. :)
    Thanks for reading the blog and commenting.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sounds like a wonderful story. And very original in theme. Love the RV idea! Good luck and great sales to you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for dropping by and reading the blog, Mary!
    Sending the same good wishes right back to you!

    Lynne

    Are you an introvert?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Lynne,
    You're certainly not an internet introvert as I often read your interesting comments on various blogs - you're very friendly:)
    Like AJ Nuest I'm very impressed with your output and your kudos in writing for HM&B - that's my ambition! You are an inspiration - will look out for your books now as part of my 'research'.
    I really enjoyed 'Jezebel's Wish' so I agree with your comment about AJ's writing ability. And I love Monique's idea of dealing with shyness through hugs - brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Lynne and Rebecca!

    I so COMPLETELY understand where you're coming from. Honestly - if that was me having to stand up in front of that many people - well - just the thought scares me to death. You are an inspiration!

    I started pretending I was confident. I got sick of being the wallflower : ) I went to my first romance conference about 12 years ago all by myself - and being the youngest in the room (I was a mere baby at 24!) I felt so out of my depth. I took a deep breath and introduced myself to a smiley-looking bunch and it all went well from there. I found early on that romance writers are the loveliest people you could meet : )

    Actually - from memory, I wasn't the youngest one there. I seem to recall briefly meeting a then unpublished Nalini Singh. I think she won a couple of awards that year. She was always brilliant.

    So now, the pretending has become ingrained and people think I'm naturally extroverted - Ha! If only they knew what a struggle it still is for me : )

    All the best of luck for "One for the Road". It looks like a fantastic read!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Cherie,
    Yes, the distancing effect of the internet frees me from face-to-face meetings and cringing over everything I might have said wrong or done wrong. It is a bit freeing.

    Being an introvert doesn't mean no personality, right? LOL.

    Also, breaking the ice through e-mail etc. is a good way to feel more comfortable with people when you finally do meet them.
    Cyber hugs to you! (trying out Monique's technique)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi LaVerne. I so agree that reaching out to others is the key. In NY this summer at RWA, I made a point to be the first to approach people because waiting for people to come to me, well, that just doesn't happen.

    Sounds like your plan is great. Fake it until we brake it (our shyness), right?

    Thanks so much for your friendly words, and I completely agree that romance writers are the most supportive authors on earth!

    Thanks for supporting me today. Cyber hugs to you, too!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lynne, reading your comments was like mirroring my own--loved your answers: trifecta--shy, introvert, late bloomer. LOL That's me! I am able to speak, but I prefer online classes. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Caroline - we're soulmates! LOL. the Internet is a wondrous thing.

    Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.

    best,
    Lynne

    ReplyDelete