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Welcome to my Reading Nook, Maggie Thom. Please
make yourself at home and let my cabana boys/girls get you a drink.
A margarita would be great. :)
Comfortable? Wonderful. Now let’s get started.
Can you please share with us a little about yourself?
I left a 20 year career in management to write full
time. I loved my career but I had always wanted to be a writer. So I made the
decision to quit my regular job (gulp) and jump into a career as a writer. I am
happily married, have teenage twins, love nature, hiking and anything outdoors.
Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it
cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?
Captured Lies is a suspense but it crosses several
genres - romance, mystery and murder.
She was kidnapped not once but twice
and now someone wants her dead because of it....
Her life was a lie!
Bailey knew her upbringing wasn’t
normal but she’s worked hard to stabilize her life. At 29, she finally has a
good business, a stable home; her life is miles from that of her
childhood. Then suddenly her mother dies, leaving a gaping hole and a discovery
that they may not even be related. If Guy, the private investigator is to be
believed, her life is a lie. Using the skills she learned on the streets,
Bailey travels back through a sketchy and dangerous past, to find
answers. Dodging bullets, staying ahead of those who want her
dead and convincing Guy she can do it alone, are making it difficult to
discover not only the secrets of her mother’s past but that of a family
claiming she is theirs.
Everyone seems to have a
story... but who’s telling the truth? And who wants her dead? Is Guy part of
the solution? Or part of the problem? To discover the facts, she’ll have to
untangle a web of deceit, lies, and secrets, dating back over thirty years.
But can she do it in time.....
How do you come up with ideas?
No clue. :) They just come to me. All the time
actually. It hasn't always been this way, though. Or at least not as plentiful as now. I used
to get an idea here. An idea there but that was it. I think that some of the
change has been because of a shift in how I write. I used to be so concerned
with having what I wrote perfect - perfect grammar, perfect sentences, perfect
punctuation - that it stalled me. I now allow myself to write without worrying
about any of that. I know that I will edit and that I will change what I've
written anyway. What I first write down often doesn't resemble the final draft.
My focus now is about getting the information down on paper first, then I worry
about fixing it. This has opened me up to a whole new world of ideas. Some of
my ideas come from being curious about what experiencing something would be
like. For example, Bailey loses her identity. I was curious as to what that
might be like so I wrote a story around it.
What do you enjoy most about writing?
I love creating characters - who they are, what
makes them act and react the way they do. I love putting them in difficult
situations to see how they would handle them.
Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline,
or...?
All three (lol). It really depends on the book.
Sometimes an idea will come to me and I'll play around with it in my head
before putting anything on paper. Sometimes a scene will come to me and I have
to write it down immediately or I know it will be lost. Then I'll backtrack and
figure out what the story is around this scene. Sometimes I'll get an idea but
know that I have to do some research before I even attempt to write it. Each novel
I write starts out a little bit differently. With Captured Lies it started with
a scene. And then another scene. And then another scene. That's when I knew I
had to put it down and plot it out. And create the outline. It's fun because I
can start anywhere in the novel. To finish it though I have to go through it a
few hundred times to make sure things happen in a sequence that makes sense, is
compelling and keeps you wanting to read.
What did you learn from writing your first book?
That when the first draft of Captured Lies was completed,
that's when the work really began. There was the reading, the editing, the
rewrites, the cuts, the editing, the rewrites , the cuts, rereading and on and
on it went. And that writing and editing is much easier than marketing. :) I
have always respected other authors but I have a new found respect for them,
especially Indie Authors. I really think the biggest thing I learned, was to
ask for help. Help with every aspect of writing, creating, publishing and
marketing a book. I wrote the story but it wouldn't be as good as it is without
having the input from others.
Is your muse demanding?
Yes, I'd have to say so. I am definitely not someone
who suffers from writer's block. Ideas come fast and plentiful. It's catching
them and getting them down on paper that is sometimes the problem. I think like
most writers my brain is constantly going with ideas, with scenes, with what
if. It's learning to step back and decide what it is you want to focus on and
what you can let go of.
Are your stories, plot or character driven?
I'd like to think both. I like to have strong
characters, who have a history, have their own story whom you can relate to but
I like it to have a strong plot, to keep the story flowing, compelling,
intriguing.
How do you balance a life outside of writing with deadlines and
writing muses?
I've had lots of practice. I worked in management
for over 20 years, in very demanding roles but I always put my family first. So
evenings and weekends were family time. I have always used a daytimer so I just
book that time as busy, for the most part. If I know things are going to be hectic
with promoting my book or meeting deadlines, meaning I need to do some work
evenings and weekends, I let my family know ahead of time and I book that time
as work time. But I know there is an end to it. With deadlines I'm pretty good
at knowing what is needed for time and booking it. As for the muse - sometimes she
just gets ignored, other times I will I write anytime, anywhere.
If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you
recommend I start with and why?
I only have one published so far, Captured Lies. So start with it. My
second book, Tainted Waters will be
out Spring of 2013.
A biography has been written about you. What do you think the
title would be in six words or less?
Way to Go, You Did It!
If money were not an object, where would you most like to live?
On Vancouver Island. I love being a Canadian. I love
living in Canada but I would live on the island because it has all facets of
nature - ocean, mountains, waterfalls, rivers and very little snow and cold
weather. :)
If you came with a warning label, what would it say?
Leap, the adventure is worth it
Care to tell us what may be coming next from you?
My next ebook is Tainted Waters. It is set to be published in Spring of 2013.
Frustrated at being fired from her
latest job and overwhelmed by her consolatory family, Sam decides to move to
the family’s cabin at the lake. A place she hasn’t been to since her dad
committed suicide twenty years before. Or did he? Snooping is something she’s
good at but someone seems to be taking offence to her looking too closely at
what has been happening at the lake. What she discovers is shocking. Now she must
uncover what’s real and what’s not. All that she learned growing up may be
false. Keegan who has recently moved to the area to finish his latest book is
also trying to find out if his grandfather, who’d passed away ten years before,
died of natural causes or was he murdered? The descendants of the four families
who own the land around the lagoon are dying off. Since Sam and Keegan are the
only ones questioning the deaths, they find themselves working together to seek
the truth. Are people being murdered? Who would benefit from the deaths? Why
would there be barricades and armed guards at the north end of the lake? To
stay alive, Sam and Keegan must find the answers and convince others, before
more people are killed.... including them.
Anything else you want to add?
Captured Lies has been entered into the Book of the
Year. If you enjoyed it please vote for it:
Thank you for what you do for authors and for readers.
Thank you for hosting me.
Captured Lies
is available as an ebook,
through:
soon to be available at:
Barnes and Noble
Apple's Itunes store
Diesel Bookstore
She
was kidnapped not once but twice and now someone wants her dead because of
it....
Her
life was a lie!
Bailey
knew her upbringing wasn’t normal but she’s worked hard to stabilize her life.
At 29, she finally has a good business, a stable home; her life is miles from
that of her childhood. Then suddenly her mother dies, leaving a gaping hole and
a discovery that they may not even be related. If Guy, the private investigator
is to be believed, her life is a lie. Using the skills she learned on the
streets, Bailey travels back through a sketchy and dangerous past, to find
answers. Dodging bullets, staying ahead of those who want her dead and
convincing Guy she can do it alone, are making it difficult to discover not
only the secrets of her mother’s past but that of a family claiming she is
theirs.
Everyone
seems to have a story... but who’s telling the truth? And who wants her dead?
Is Guy part of the solution? Or part of the problem? To discover the facts,
she’ll have to untangle a web of deceit, lies, and secrets, dating back over
thirty years.
But
can she do it in time.....
Teaser Excerpt:
Her
door was yanked open. She jerked sideways, her arm coming up to shield herself,
her foot lifting to lash out. Before she could make contact, a body pinned her
and a hand reached across her, ripping out the keys. The scream that formed on
her lips was swallowed, as she met a steely pair of blue eyes. He moved back
but not before redirecting her foot to the floor mat. Her hand instinctively
wrapped around the flash drive and slipped it into her pocket. Feeling faint
with relief, she slumped back. Her door slammed and her would be thief was soon
around the car and opening the passenger side. Sliding into the seat, Guy
closed the door, leaned back and glared at her.
Too
tired to move, she rolled her head sideways to meet the glower. Neither spoke.
She waited him out. After a long period of time, she raised her eyebrows.
He
folded his arms across his chest, and turned to look out the window. “Who was
the guest at your house?”
“What?”
“Who
was the nice man who was waiting at your home?”
“What
were you doing at my mom’s place?”
“Looking
for you.”
Since
he wasn’t looking at her, she took the time to study him. He definitely had the
cute bad boy down pat, all dressed in black, with his black leather coat and
his hair looking windblown and falling over one eye. The scruffy beard thing
was almost going too far.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Maggie Thom made the hard
decision to leave her successful, twenty year career in management, to write
full time. The leap was easy, the freefall was adventurous and very
enlightening. When she’s not running her children around or spending time with
her best friend, her husband, she’s writing - anywhere, anytime. Give her five
free minutes and you’ll find her busy scribbling down ideas. She lives in the
real world but loves to get lost in the lives of her characters - who live,
love and laugh and are all figments of her imagination. She is thrilled to
release her first novel - Captured Lies - filled with suspense, murder, mystery
and romance - available October 2012. She is busy writing her second novel to
be released, spring of 2013.
She can be found at:
www.maggiethom.com
www.facebook.com/authormaggiethom
www.twitter.com/authormaggiethom2
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6549592.Maggie_Thom
Book is currently available
through:
Amazon -
http://tinyurl.com/cp2go24
Kobo -
http://tinyurl.com/dxs82ld
14 comments:
Good morning Dawn. Thank you for hosting me today. I look forward to our day together.
Hi Maggie,
Congratulations on your first book. It sounds like a winner. My favorite reading genre is Historical Romance, I do enjoy reading the occasional romantic suspense/mystery. Captured Lies sounds like a book I'd enjoy reading.
You mentioned you left a day job to go into writing full time. Did you dabble a lot in writing while working that day job? Do you have a 'first, as yet unread book' hiding in a bottom drawer someplace? If so, what would it take to pull it out, dress it up and get it published?
Great interview, I love learning about the author.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Hi Karen. I'm glad you think Captured Lies sounds good. I've been writing for many years and yes I did a lot of writing while I was working. To be honest I have at least eight novels collecting dust. They would need some work. I do want to redo one and did try last summer but I may just have to start over. We'll see. Someday maybe. Thank you for stopping by.
Hi Karen. I'm glad you think Captured Lies sounds good. I've been writing for many years and yes I did a lot of writing while I was working. To be honest I have at least eight novels collecting dust. They would need some work. I do want to redo one and did try last summer but I may just have to start over. We'll see. Someday maybe. Thank you for stopping by.
Hi Indgeborg. Thank you. Glad you like what you're learning about me. There is something new to learn everyday about me. Thank youf or stopping by.
Loved your interview. The blurb is so exciting and i loved the excerpt.
The blurb is very interesting. To find out lies and secrets at your mother's death would be mind bending to me.
strive4bst(At) yahoo(Dot) com
Thank you MomJane. Glad you like the excerpt. What do you like best in a story? Thank you for stopping by.
Thank you anonymous. It would be a bit mind bender. I wanted to see how someone would handle discovering that their world is a lie. It was very interesting and enlightening to write. Thank you for stopping by.
That's a great name for a biography.
Love the teaser thank you.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Hi Mary. Glad you liked the teaser. What would you call your biography? Thank you for stopping by.
Hi Dawn. Thank you for hosting me today. Thank you for what you do for authors and readers.
I love your twitter posts, mostly because I also like interesting quotes.
emiliana25(At)web(Dot)de
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