Author Interview–> Merry Farmer ~ Author in the Spotlight
Hey Friends,
Recently, I featured Merry Farmer’s book Fool For Love on the blog and was fortunate enough to also Interview her.
About Merry Farmer:
Recently, I featured Merry Farmer’s book Fool For Love on the blog and was fortunate enough to also Interview her.
About Merry Farmer:
Merry Farmer is an award-winning author of Historical Romance and what she likes to call “Sci-Fi for Women.” She lives in suburban Philadelphia with her two cats and enough story ideas to keep her writing until she’s 132. Her second novel, The Faithful Heart, was a 2102 RONE Award finalist and her unpublished futuristic novel A Man’s World won first place in the Novel: Character category at the 2013 Philadelphia Writer’s Conference. She is out to prove that you can make a living as a self-published author and to help others to do the same.
Find Merry Farmer on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon Author Page.
Below is my Interview with Merry. Enjoy! 🙂
Welcome to Njkinny’s World of Books & Stuff, Merry!
Lets start the interview.
Below is my Interview with Merry. Enjoy! 🙂
Welcome to Njkinny’s World of Books & Stuff, Merry!
Lets start the interview.
1. Describe
your book in one sentence.
your book in one sentence.
A down-on-his-luck
cowboy makes a disgraced English lady an offer she can’t refuse and changes
both of their lives overnight.
cowboy makes a disgraced English lady an offer she can’t refuse and changes
both of their lives overnight.
2. Tell me a little
about yourself.
about yourself.
Hi, my name is Merry Farmer, and I’m a hopeless romantic
with my head in the clouds. Except when I’m driving, of course. Then I’m all
business and a force to be reckoned with!
with my head in the clouds. Except when I’m driving, of course. Then I’m all
business and a force to be reckoned with!
3. Where would you
live if you could live anywhere in the world?
live if you could live anywhere in the world?
I would love to live in
Winchester, England. I visited there in 2010, and it just felt like home. It
also happens to be where Jane Austen lived for part of her life and where she
is buried. Beautiful place!
Winchester, England. I visited there in 2010, and it just felt like home. It
also happens to be where Jane Austen lived for part of her life and where she
is buried. Beautiful place!
4. State a random
fact about yourself that would surprise your readers.
fact about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I once spent two
summers as an actor at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, running around pretending
to be a medieval peasant all day, three days a week. It was awesome!
summers as an actor at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, running around pretending
to be a medieval peasant all day, three days a week. It was awesome!
5. If you wouldn’t be
a writer, what you would be?
a writer, what you would be?
Definitely a history teacher. All of my formal
education was actually geared toward me becoming a history teacher, but life had
other plans. I’d still like to go back to get a second master’s degree, in
History instead of Theater this time, and teach college-level history.
education was actually geared toward me becoming a history teacher, but life had
other plans. I’d still like to go back to get a second master’s degree, in
History instead of Theater this time, and teach college-level history.
6. How long have you
been writing?
been writing?
I think I first started writing to entertain myself when I
was 10, but honestly, I’ve loved writing stories since I learned how to write
words in first grade.
was 10, but honestly, I’ve loved writing stories since I learned how to write
words in first grade.
7. When you made your
first sale, how did you celebrate and with whom?
first sale, how did you celebrate and with whom?
When I got my first
royalty check, I took my brother and his wife out for a lavish dinner of fast
food burgers! That was about as much money as I made in that first month of
being published.
royalty check, I took my brother and his wife out for a lavish dinner of fast
food burgers! That was about as much money as I made in that first month of
being published.
8. Do you see
yourself in any of your characters?
yourself in any of your characters?
Not exactly. They’re all so much cooler
than I am. I’d love to be able to say I’m most like Charlotte Baldwin from Our Little Secrets, but she is way, WAY
cooler than I am!
than I am. I’d love to be able to say I’m most like Charlotte Baldwin from Our Little Secrets, but she is way, WAY
cooler than I am!
9. What were the
challenges in bringing this book to life?
challenges in bringing this book to life?
The most interesting challenge
was probably finding ways to make the reader understand what was going on in
Amelia’s head. She makes a lot of decisions that an independent, 21st
century woman wouldn’t make, but that a woman of her time would naturally feel
are right. Then again, every good plot is ultimately about characters making a
series of bad decisions before they make the right ones.
was probably finding ways to make the reader understand what was going on in
Amelia’s head. She makes a lot of decisions that an independent, 21st
century woman wouldn’t make, but that a woman of her time would naturally feel
are right. Then again, every good plot is ultimately about characters making a
series of bad decisions before they make the right ones.
10. Are you a plotter
or a pantzer?
or a pantzer?
If you had asked me when I started writing, I would have said
I was a pantser, hands down. But the more I’ve learned about the craft of
writing and the more experience I have, the more of a plotter I’ve become. In fact,
I’m about to attempt to outline an entire series in detail before I write it to
see if it helps me to write faster and cleaner. Stay tuned!
I was a pantser, hands down. But the more I’ve learned about the craft of
writing and the more experience I have, the more of a plotter I’ve become. In fact,
I’m about to attempt to outline an entire series in detail before I write it to
see if it helps me to write faster and cleaner. Stay tuned!
11. What is your
writing schedule?
writing schedule?
I still have a day job (because sitting at home by
yourself in front of a computer is not as fun as it sounds), so every morning I
get up at 5:30 am and work before work. Then, when I get home in the evening,
after dinner, I write for another hour or two before climbing into bed with a
book. Reading is as much a part of the writing process, so that’s how I end my
days.
yourself in front of a computer is not as fun as it sounds), so every morning I
get up at 5:30 am and work before work. Then, when I get home in the evening,
after dinner, I write for another hour or two before climbing into bed with a
book. Reading is as much a part of the writing process, so that’s how I end my
days.
12. Did you do any
research before start or during of the writing of the books?
research before start or during of the writing of the books?
I try to do as
much research as I think I need before I start writing because I was burned
once and wrote almost an entire book before realizing most of what I’d written
was impossible. But I still do a lot of looking things up as I’m writing. The
problem can be letting go of the research and getting down to the business of
actually writing.
much research as I think I need before I start writing because I was burned
once and wrote almost an entire book before realizing most of what I’d written
was impossible. But I still do a lot of looking things up as I’m writing. The
problem can be letting go of the research and getting down to the business of
actually writing.
13. Which genres do
you prefer to read?
you prefer to read?
I like to read romance as much as I like to write it,
but this summer I’ve been reading the Game of Thrones books. I love a good epic
fantasy or adventure, like Harry Potter or Hunger Games.
but this summer I’ve been reading the Game of Thrones books. I love a good epic
fantasy or adventure, like Harry Potter or Hunger Games.
14. Are there any new
authors that have grasped your interest?
authors that have grasped your interest?
I’m lucky in that I feel like as
an insider to the historical romance genre, I get an edge on who all of the
new, talented writers are. I’m particularly fond of Keira Montclair, Callie
Hutton, and Kirsten Osbourne.
an insider to the historical romance genre, I get an edge on who all of the
new, talented writers are. I’m particularly fond of Keira Montclair, Callie
Hutton, and Kirsten Osbourne.
15. What book is
currently on your nightstand?
currently on your nightstand?
A Storm of Swords
, by George R.R. Martin. I’ve been working my way through the
whole Game of Thrones series this
summer, and I love it!
, by George R.R. Martin. I’ve been working my way through thewhole Game of Thrones series this
summer, and I love it!
16. How important do
you find the communication between you and your readers? Do you reply to their
messages or read their reviews?
you find the communication between you and your readers? Do you reply to their
messages or read their reviews?
I think communicating with my readers is
incredibly important. I love interacting with them through my Facebook page and
my Twitter account. And even my blog where I try to generate discussions. But
I’ve been making an effort not to read my reviews lately. Those reviews aren’t
for me anyhow, they’re for other potential readers.
incredibly important. I love interacting with them through my Facebook page and
my Twitter account. And even my blog where I try to generate discussions. But
I’ve been making an effort not to read my reviews lately. Those reviews aren’t
for me anyhow, they’re for other potential readers.
17. Morning person or
night owl?
night owl?
Definitely a morning person. Always have been. I fall asleep at
around 9 pm no matter what.
around 9 pm no matter what.
18. If you were
stranded on a deserted island, who would you want for company?
stranded on a deserted island, who would you want for company?
Honestly? My
brother. It’s been just the two of us for a large part of our lives and I
totally love him. We can drive my sister-in-law crazy talking about 18th
century tall ships for hours. And I mean HOURS.
brother. It’s been just the two of us for a large part of our lives and I
totally love him. We can drive my sister-in-law crazy talking about 18th
century tall ships for hours. And I mean HOURS.
19. What’s your
favorite vacation spot?
favorite vacation spot?
Coastal Maine. Or anywhere on the coast in upper
New England or the Maritimes of Canada. I love a rocky beach and any place
where you can wear a sweater at night.
New England or the Maritimes of Canada. I love a rocky beach and any place
where you can wear a sweater at night.
20. If I give you a
time machine, what time period and in what place would you travel to?
Definitely the 1890s. I’d probably want to start out in England, but then
travel across the ocean to America. The 1890s were such a fascinating and
dynamic time period when everything was changing by leaps and bounds. Plus a
lot of people in the 21st century don’t realize how progressive a
lot of people’s ideas were. Actually, that’s one of the major reasons I love to
write in that time period. I like dispelling the myth that 19th
century people were “Victorian” in their thoughts and attitudes.
time machine, what time period and in what place would you travel to?
Definitely the 1890s. I’d probably want to start out in England, but then
travel across the ocean to America. The 1890s were such a fascinating and
dynamic time period when everything was changing by leaps and bounds. Plus a
lot of people in the 21st century don’t realize how progressive a
lot of people’s ideas were. Actually, that’s one of the major reasons I love to
write in that time period. I like dispelling the myth that 19th
century people were “Victorian” in their thoughts and attitudes.
21. If you could ask
your readers one question, what would it be?
your readers one question, what would it be?
What would you like to read
next?
next?
22. Are you working
on anything new and if so when can we expect to see it?
on anything new and if so when can we expect to see it?
Right now, I’m hard
at work on a brand hew historical western series set in the 1860s along the
Oregon Trail. The series is called Hot on
the Trail and begins with Trail of
Kisses, which will be released in late October. Cade Lawson has sworn to
protect Lynne Tremaine against an outlaw gang who has threatened her life, but
who will protect him against her?
Thanks for taking time out from your busy schedule to talk to me, Merry! Njkinny’s World of Books & Stuff wishes you all the very best and I hope to read more from you in the future.
at work on a brand hew historical western series set in the 1860s along the
Oregon Trail. The series is called Hot on
the Trail and begins with Trail of
Kisses, which will be released in late October. Cade Lawson has sworn to
protect Lynne Tremaine against an outlaw gang who has threatened her life, but
who will protect him against her?
Thanks for taking time out from your busy schedule to talk to me, Merry! Njkinny’s World of Books & Stuff wishes you all the very best and I hope to read more from you in the future.
~Buying Links~
Add Somebody to Love to your Goodreads to-read shelf!
~Checkout the Book Spotlight and Giveaway~
http://njkinny.blogspot.in/2014/09/book-spotlight-and-giveaway-fool-for
Chance to win Gift card and lots of amazing books!
Open Worldwide.
~Checkout the Book Spotlight and Giveaway~
http://njkinny.blogspot.in/2014/09/book-spotlight-and-giveaway-fool-for
Chance to win Gift card and lots of amazing books!
Open Worldwide.
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