Interview Mary S. McGuire

by

Judy Mays

1. Why do you write and what does your family think of your writing?

I write because I love it; it is my passion and I'm delighted that now, with our family raised, I have the opportunity to indulge in my dreams. My husband, Gene, is very supportive (i.e. patient). You have to be patient to be married to an author.

2. Tell us a little about A Time of Forgiveness. What inspired you to write it?

"Forgiveness" is the story of a career woman, Meg Phillips, who has built her own consulting and software business into a successful enterprise. She suddenly realizes that in so doing she has missed out on a satisfying personal life. Just when she feels depressed over this, she meets the handsome and engaging Ryan Zarsky, a salesman for her company. They are mutually attracted and fall in love. To her utter amazement, she finds that while she is 37, he is only 25! The resolution of this problem, plus all the stumbling blocks the world places in their path, provides for a heart-warming read. I was inspired to write this when I came across an article in the Dallas paper telling about the mini-trend of older women marrying younger men.

3. What kind of research did you do for A Time of Forgiveness?

As I said, I did read several articles about this trend. Also, I have over the years collected several mini-plots which I incorporated into this book. You'll love my minor characters such as Nana Zarsky and the conniving Rita and Harry.

4. Who or what has influenced your writing the most?

I suppose my degree in English provided the background for all of this, but my love and interest in human nature has been the critical element. (24 years of teaching really helped!)

5. Is A Time of Forgiveness your first book? If not,what else have you published?

"Forgiveness" is the second of a contemporary trilogy. The first of the Trilogy, which came out in Feb. was A TIME TO TRUST, the story of a young woman recovering from the effects of a bad marriage, who meets and marries a pilot and widower with two sons. The last of the three books, TO TRUST AGAIN, will debut in Jan. 2003. This follows the characters in A TIME TO TRUST and is a romance with overtones of suspense and humor. My first book was a historical romance, RACHEL'S JOURNEY, a novel about a woman doctor going west to become a mail-order bride. Nov. 2001) All have been with WINGS PRESS.

6. Do you write in other genres? IF so, what?

The two genres, as I said, are contemporary romance and historical romance although I do love the short story; in my younger days, I wrote poetry, also.

7. If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?

We love traveling, visiting our family, and reading plus we are avid bridge players.

8. And finally, what words of wisdom do you have for aspiring authors?

Write what you know and write from the heart