Interview Mariah LeGrand

by

Joanna Challis

1. Hi Mariah! Your book sounds fascinating. Tell us a little about it and what inspired you to write it?

I have always loved anything about Scotland. And the ancient law that if they said they were married they were, intrigued me.

2. Is REIVER’S PASSION your first book?

No. I have written other novels. This is just the first one to get published. Ha!

3. What do you like most about Scottish history? I love your heroine’s name!

The fact that the Scots worked so hard to be independent from England. If they would have stayed banned together they could have made it. But they were just too busy fighting their opposing clans. They survived such hardships only to lose in the end.

4. How did you find the road to publication? Smooth / rocky, long / short?

Very long. I have always written things down, but finally got serious into writing novels around 1978. It was the era of the Avon authors that took us all by storm. Kathleen Woodiwiss, Rosemary Rogers, Laurie McBain etc. I had written a couple of novels during this time, and started sending them out. I used to say I got wonderful rejections. The editors would write me nice letters instead of the pre-printed form letter. Ha! Then in the early 1980’s I got too busy with life and raising my children to keep it up. I gave up in other words. Also my husband and I were running three different businesses and there just was not enough time. I didn’t get back into my writing until 2000. I became disabled and had plenty of time to go back and do what I loved best. Writing. A fellow author (Irene Pascoe) talked me into sending to Wings Press. And I haven’t looked back since. Lorraine Stephens and her crew are wonderful. I am so lucky to have found her. I call Wings Press a publisher with a heart! I will never write for anyone else.

5. What kind of books do you like to read?

Romance of course! Ha! My favourites are historical, and I have a few time-travels I love. But my favorite shelf is filled with Scotland’s historical novels.

6. How long have you been writing?

I started writing contemporary novels (like harlequins) 35 years ago. I still have them stuffed in my drawers. You never know when I may dig them out and work on them. Ha!

7. Do you undertake a lot of research in your books?

Absolutely! The real history of the country can add so much to the story.

8. What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most: beginning, middle, end?

The end of course. It is such a feeling of accomplishment to finish typing that last page.

9. Do you outline your books first or are you a seat of the pants writer?

I am definitely a seat of the pants type writer. When the characters take over and say let’s do this, it is a surprise to me and I love it. It is like reading someone else’s story as it unfolds.

10. Can we expect a sequel to REIVER’S PASSION and if not, what are you working on now?

I have another novel, THE GYPSY WITCH which will be released in September 2004 from Wings. And I have started another Scotland story called PRIDE’S PASSION. It is not a sequel but it is during the time of Bannockburn when 5,000 Scots beat 20,000 English to win the day for freedom.