Interview Marilyn Gardiner

by

Christine Poe

It's my pleasure to interview Marilyn Gardiner, a very talented multi-published author. Her wonderful stories entertain and hold a reader's interest as she weaves her own style of magic in the written word. Meet Marilyn Gardiner:

Keeper Of The Singing Bones, what an unusual title. What inspired you to write this exciting new tale?

After a visit to Jamaica, I knew I had to write a story with that gorgeous island as a backdrop. It occurred to me that it would be a vivid contrast if something truly awful happened when all that lush and almost excessive beauty surrounded you. I played with the plot for almost a year before I wrote the book.

What can you tell us about Juliet and Mac without giving away the surprising ending?

Juliet is a born and bred city girl, always immaculately put together and aggressively climbing the corporate ladder. She values honesty above almost every other character quality. Mac is rough and tough, he has a thousand watt smile, and nothing but disgust for females clawing their way through the industrial web. Despite the fact that they mix like oil and water, the electricity they make together could light up the entire city of Kingston, Jamaica.

Juliet suspects Mac isn't who he says he is and is horrified when he lies to her about making contact with a Rastafarian, a member of a militant group. Add a little Patois-speaking child, a missing brother, lost treasure, the magnificence of deep underground caverns guarded by "duppies" (ghosts) and a singing stone statue, and you have the "bones" of the story.

Your description of caverns is excellent. Have you ever been inside a cave or gone spelunking?

Yes. When I did my research, I crawled around in both improved caves (ones cleaned up and lighted) and unimproved caves in Virginia and West Virginia. I needed to know the feeling of profound underground darkness before I could write about it. The worst thing was that, despite the little headlamp I wore, I never knew what I was putting my hands in on the floor of the cave when crawling through narrow and low passageways. Ick! And double Ick!

Do you always experience your settings first hand?

Yes. I've never tried to write about a place I've never been. After I've spent time at a location I use all kinds of resources to bolster my knowledge, like National Geographic and the Web, but my backgrounds are always authentic. I grew up near the Mississippi River and Kaskaskia (Like A River, My Love), and lived in Washington, DC (My Pretty Lady), as well as Great Britain (Flight Of Angels). I visited Jamaica (Keeper Of The Singing Bones), and Florida (When The Wind Blows). My present work in progress is an unapologetic ghost story placed in central Illinois where I now live. I get goose bumps even as I write. What fun!

I understand you have taught college creative writing classes in the past. Is that how you became interested in writing?

No. I discovered the Public Library when I was eight years old and began devouring Nancy Drew books, two and three a day. From the beginning, I wanted a book of my own on a shelf in that library and, as of last month when I had a speech/book signing in that library, there are three of them there (although, I understand they are never there long and they have a waiting list. <vbg>). How sweet it was to see fulfillment of a lifetime dream. I wrote my first book at eight years old, but didn't see my first one published until last December. There have been a lot of years (and a lifetime of experience upon which to draw) in between.

I know that you like to sing and that you are an avid reader. Just for fun, who is you favorite singer and who is your favorite author?

At the moment, my favorite singer is my youngest daughter. She's doing a lot of singing locally. I am a soprano and she's an alto (smoky and smooth voice) and we do a lot of ensemble work, as well. I love Leontine Price, Robert Merrill and Barbara Streisand. Favorite author, hmmm...gee, there are so many:  Alice Hoffman, Sue Monk Kidd, M.M. Kaye, Wilber Smith, Nora Roberts, James Patterson, Mauve Binchey and Rosamond Pilcher.  I could go on...

I noticed that you have another book coming out in December 2002, When The Wind Blows. Is your next book a romantic suspense as well?

Yes, When The Wind Blows is a romantic suspense. Five-year-old Gilly is kidnapped and his mother is the only one who believes that her ex-husband took him. The romance is between the mother and the detective in charge of the case. I've been told the tension is extremely strong in this one. Little Gilly is darling, the detective is absolutely yummy, and Gilly's mother, Molly, is almost mind-numbingly scared. It was a real challenge to get her through this traumatic time!

I can't wait to read Keeper Of The Singing Bones and When The Wind Blows. In the meantime, Marilyn, keep writing and continue giving us your wonderful insight into romantic suspense.