Interview Marja McGraw

by

Connie Rachal

1. How long did it take you to write Bubba's Ghost?

It took about nine months, and it was a labor of love. Bubba is based on a real dog, same mixed breed, and he was about the smartest dog I’ve ever been around. Unfortunately, he wasn’t mine.

2. Who is your favorite character in the story? And why?

I think my favorite character in the book is the protagonist, Sandi Webster. She ended up taking on a totally different personality in the series than I’d originally planned, and it seems like sometimes I don’t know what she’s going to do next, until she does it. I like that she’s both a little naïve and a little street smart, at the same time.

3. Did you do research for this book? 

Yes, I did. A detective at the Covina Police Department helped me with answers and patience. A few retired police officers answered questions and guided me in the right direction when I wasn’t sure how certain incidents would be handled. And I grew up in Covina, so I knew a lot about it to begin with, although it’s changed a bit.

4. Do you ever get writer's block? If so, what do you do to get the story moving again?

I’ve had mild writer’s block. I just start typing, even if it isn’t very good or if it doesn’t make a lot of sense. Somehow the fact that I just keep going gets me back on track. I can always go back and change things later, so it doesn’t really matter what direction I take when I’m blocked.

5. Are you working on another book? What are you writing now?

Right now I’m working on a story where three sixty-something women have to rescue a friend from a nursing home. This story came from some experiences with a relative and a friend. There will be humor in the story, but there will also be some sadness. It won’t be a part of the series.

6. What is your secret to writing a successful story? 

It’s got to come from the heart and you have to like the characters you create. And if I find that a story isn’t going well, I turn in another direction. Sometimes you have to just let the story take the path it wants to instead of forcing it to go in a certain direction.

A ghost, a drunken bum and a bear-sized dog could be P.I. Sandi Webster's undoing. On the other hand, they just might provide a story to be remembered.

Bubba's Ghost by Marja McGraw marja@citlink.net