Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Author Success Story - Mary Lindsey

Today is day two of Author Success Story week. This stuff is here to inspire you - to show that you, too, can make it in this biz!

Meet my Mary Lindsey, good writer and great friend. (And be sure to check out the CRAZY pics at the end of this post from when Elana and I met Mary in real life!)

1. Tell us about your book.

SHATTERED SOULS is my debut young adult novel scheduled for release Fall 2011 by Philomel (Penguin).

Here's the deal description from Publisher's Marketplace:

Mary Lindsey's SHATTERED SOULS, a dark and dangerous forbidden love story about a Speaker who helps lingering ghosts pass to the spirit world and the Protector who has pledged to serve her, to Jill Santopolo at Philomel, by Ammi-Joan Paquette of Erin Murphy Literary Agency (world).

2. Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publication?

My road to publication was rocky but charmed. I'll spare you the gory details. Suffice it to say I am blessed to have an agent like Joan, who believes in my project as much as I do. In fact, at some points along the way, she might have believed in it even more than I did.

3. Was there ever a time you felt like giving up? Why didn't you?

There were only two times I considered giving up: 1) When I realized I need to part ways with my first agent. 2) When I faced the daunting reality of querying all over again.

What kept me going is my love of writing, my amazing critique partners who kicked me in the butt when I turned inward (thanks, pentaverate), and something a publicist once told me: "The only thing all published writers have in common is they never quit."

Thanks for inviting me to participate in this interview, Suzette and Bethany, and thanks for running a blog that is so informative and up-lifiting.

Linkage:
Mary Lindsey's Weblog
Mary Lindsey's Website
Mary on Twitter
Mary on Facebook

And to read all of today's inspirational interviews, click below:
Elana Johnson
Lisa and Laura Roecker
Beth Revis
Leah Clifford
Victoria Schwab
Kirsten Hubbard
Carrie Harris
Kim Harrington
Amy Holder
Kathy McCullough
Tiffany Schmidt
Susan Adrian
Dawn Metcalf
Gretchen McNeil

And now, the truth about what happens when three (very imaginative) authors get together, mwah hah hah! (pssst... notice who won!)

























































I hope you all are having a fantastic week!

~Suzette~

37 comments:

Lydia Kang said...

Hey great interview! And it's always great to read more about Mary's success, woohoo!

Hey, when did you all get together and try to poke each other's eyeballs out?

Bethany Wiggins said...

MARY IS SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON! THANKS, MARY, FOR GRACING THIS BLOG WITH YOUR SUCCESS STORY!

Christine Fonseca said...

nice interview ladies!

Liza said...

Gosh those pictures made me laugh. Thanks for brightening a rainy day. Congratulations Mary.

Jackee said...

Thanks for the interview! Mary sounds awesome and her agent I know is too. Good luck with the book soon to be out!

And thanks for the pictures, ladies... I'm slightly frightened. Slightly.

:o)

Candyland said...

LOVE the pics! You're all so freaking cute!

Linda G. said...

Mary, thanks for telling us about SHATTERED SOULS--it sounds intriguing.

Wonderful interview & great pics!

Anne Gallagher said...

Great interview, thanks for sharing.

Sherrie Petersen said...

Omigosh those photos are too funny! I love the quote from the publicist. One more reason to never give up!

Unknown said...

Congrats, Mary! Your book sounds very cool. Also, I love the pics -- go Suzette! :)

Kathy McCullough said...

The book sounds great. Can't wait to read it!

Corey Schwartz said...

Oh, loved the interview.. and the photos!

Carolyn V. said...

Yay Mary!!! Congrats!

Oh my gosh. A pitch fork?! You guys are awesome! =)

Michelle McLean said...

great interview ladies. LOL those pictures get funnier every time I see them. Ha!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Wow. Great interview! Thanks, Mary. :-)

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the pictures! OMG! You guys were having way too much fun.

Nichole Giles said...

Seriously fun pictures. Um. Are those weapons at your house or Elana's? How come you didn't warn me when I was there?

Next time I'll remember to bring one of my own.

Great interview too. Congratulations, Mary!

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Love the interview, ladies. And the pictures....Hubba Bubba. You look like my kids playing in the backyard. LOL.

Angie said...

Congrats to Mary! Love the pictures.

suzie townsend said...

Great interview! I love those pictures :)

Mary Lindsey / Marissa Clarke said...

Thanks for the interview, Suz and Bethany. I love you guys! The photos are a hoot! Just to clear the record, the battle axe was at Suzette's house. Yeah. Right there in the yard. And well, when there's a battle axe right there at your fingertips, you must put it to good use. I have to confess: Suzette kicked our tails with the board of doom. Elana and I put up a good fight, though.

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I'm still pinching myself over the sale.

Mary

Elana Johnson said...

Oh, those pictures will never die!! They are so great, and it was the best time EVAH! Great interview, Mary! Can't wait to see Shattered Souls on the shelf.

About Me said...

Mary, your book sounds wonderful! It's nice to hear about your road to publication. :)

Unknown said...

Hugs, Mary. You'll always be a superstar to me. I'd live to interview you after my *April madness* wherein three writer pals are interviewed for the books they each have coming out this May!

Kim Harrington said...

OMG, those pics were great.

Cool interview!

Tamika: said...

These interviews are really great! There seem to be endless nuggets of encouragement from each writer.

Thanks ladies! The pictures are priceless.

Kirsten Hubbard said...

oh my goodness, you guys are ADORABLE. nice weapons, too.

Mary Lindsey / Marissa Clarke said...

Thanks again, everyone. And yes, Lisa, I'd love that if you make it through April. :)

The trip to Utah to meet Suzette, Bethany, Elana, Angie and Michelle was so much fun. If you guys get a chance to hang out with these women, DO IT. Oh, battle axe and weapons optional.

Tiffany Schmidt said...

Those pictures are hilarious!

And I love: "The only thing all published writers have in common is they never quit."

I'm getting all sorts of fodder for my inspiration journal this week!

Doreen McGettigan said...

A very inspiring interview! The pictures are great!!

Tess said...

Those pics rock! I'm giggling over here. And, congrats to Mary...her book sounds very intriguing.

Unknown said...

Great interview...am trying to figure out what your "weapon" is. A 2 x 4 and a piece of pipe?? Whatever it is, it's full of win. :)

Unknown said...

hilarious! thanks for sharing!
SB


not too serious i hope

Jemi Fraser said...

Mary - taking the steps you did took some serious courage - good for you!!

Love the pics ladies - those are AWESOME!!

lisa and laura said...

Oh my god, those pictures are amazing. Love the interview, love the sound of the book. Love it, love it.

Anonymous said...

Love those pictures!! And the weapons!

Stina said...

Love the pics and the interview! Looking forward for the book to hit the stores. :D

Kimberley Griffiths Little said...

Those fighting pics are priceless! You're all just too cute. :-)