Thank you for having me, Rebecca. I’ve been writing in one form or another for most of my life, but it wasn’t until my Rock ‘n Roll dreams of stardom erupted in flames that I decided maybe I’d write that book after all. After several starts and stops, I finished my first romance novel in 14 months. Somewhere in the course of that year I figured out what I was doing. The second novel was much better, and so was the third. I have high hopes for the fourth. I think I’m on a roll.
What’s the hardest part of this business for you?
The hardest part of this business is the rejection. There are so many great writers, so I try to remind myself when I get a rejection it doesn’t mean I’m a bad writer. In some ways it could mean I’m not quite “ready for prime time”, but beyond that it could also mean my particular voice is not quite right for the publishing line or maybe they already have an author with a similar voice and style.
And also perhaps when I arrived in the slush pile, the editor might have just finished reading four stories in a row about secret babies and marriages of convenience, and one more was the last straw. Or maybe she had a bad day because she ran out of chocolate. All good things to keep in mind.
Tell me about a time that you had to step outside your comfort zone either in your writing career or in your personal life?
I will tell you that once I had the misguided idea that I could be a sales person. A friend convinced me of this fallacy. I wound up in a networking group in which I was required to speak in public and make a presentation. And a funny thing happened – I didn’t die. I’m not saying I was very good, but somehow I got through it. And each time got a little bit easier. So this is also good for shy authors to know. Even if it feels like you’re having a heart attack you are more than likely not.
Great tip LOL. What’s one tip you could share with shy and introverted people that’s helped you?
Just remember that no matter what it looks like, even that loud and boisterous funny lady in the crowd (it won’t be me) worries what you’re thinking about her. We’re women, and it’s what we do.
Would you please share a short blurb of your book and where my readers can buy it?
My book is sitting on the desk of a Harlequin editor, so perhaps a letter writing campaign insisting that I be published post-haste? I’m just kidding. You can see an excerpt of my latest work in progress on Nanowrimo, called Loving the Enemy.
I have a self-published Kindle short story, which won Honorable Mention in the Writer’s Digest 2010 Awards. It’s called Pink Shoelaces, it’s YA and based on a tragic event that occurred in my small town several years ago.
Available now at Amazon.
Where can my readers find you on the web?
Twitter @mariabuscher
Maria Font Buscher (Facebook)
www.romancingthewriter.blogspot.com
