Published Author Interviews
September 2008 Interview:
Marissa Doyle
Interviewed by Sarah Tanner
Marissa, Alexandra! Please tell us a bit about yourself.
Umm... native New Englander, former Ph.D. student in historical archaeology, mother of three teens, avid gardener, quilter, and sailor when not absorbed in writing, utter history geek, and devoted slave to a spoiled rotten 14 lb. house rabbit whose nickname is "Mr. Darcy" because of his disdainful air and elegant white cravat... er, ruff.
How long had you been writing before you got "The Call"?
I started writing in January 2003, signed with my agent in October 2005, and sold in January 2006.
Have you always been a full-time writer? If not, how do or did you keep your careers separate?
Before being a full-time writer I was a full-time mom of three... so now I'm squishing the two full-time jobs into the same space. Fortunately my kids were just leaving elementary school when I got serious about writing, so the heavy-duty school volunteer years were mostly at an end and I could write all day without interruption.
What's your writing schedule like?
As soon as the kids are on the bus in the morning and the breakfast dishes cleaned up and the bunny fed and petted, I head to my computer. I always start by editing what I wrote the previous day before getting anything new done, then work till lunchtime. At lunch I'll let myself read e-mail and check my favorite blogs, then most of the time I'll try to get a little more work done before everyone comes home. I often write on weekends as well, depending on life and on how wrapped up I am in the book. Fortunately I have a very wonderfully supportive spouse.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
A Pantsing Plotter. I generally complete a story synopsis before I begin writing, but it always changes and rearranges as I write and as I get to know my characters better. So the synopsis is more guideline than road map.
Do you have any research tips to share?
I love to read the bibliographies of source books because they generally will lead me onto more wonderful source books. I try to buy my research books whenever possible (in other words, when they aren't ungodly expensive!) because I like being able to browse through them at leisure and return to them frequently.
Do you write in any other genres, or could you imagine doing so in the future?
I've written two adult contemporary fantasies which my agent and I aren't actively marketing right now because I'm busy enough with my contracted work in YA. I love writing YA novels, though, because teens are such fearless readers and almost totally free of expectations. That means writing YA is incredibly freeing and fun because there are no "rules" and story rules supreme. I'll definitely be writing more YA historical fantasies, and may try some straight YA historical fiction without fantasy elements.
Your debut novel, Bewitching Season, was released in April 2008. What is it about?
It's a blend of history (actual people and situations) and fantasy (the addition of magic). Twins Persephone and Penelope Leland are about to do what other daughters of the aristocracy do: go to London for the Season and look for husbands. Shy, studious Persy would rather stay home and study magic with their governess Ally; the only thing drawing her to London is the possibility of seeing her idol, Princess (and soon to be Queen) Victoria. But then Ally disappears from a London street while shopping, and the twins discover that her disappearance is linked to a magical plot against the Princess by the odious Sir John Conroy. Persy must figure out how to rescue her beloved governess and the Princess, get through the Season without dying of self-consciousness, and deal with the results of a love spell cast on her crush, Lochinvar Seton, while under the influence of too much punch at her first party.
Do you have any upcoming releases?
Yes! Betraying Season, a sequel to Bewitching Season set in 1838 Ireland is due out from Henry Holt in Spring 2009, and I've just been offered a contract for a prequel set in 1814-1815... a real Regency-set story at last!
Finally, do you have any tips for aspiring writers?
As tempting as it might be, once you've finished your first book, put it away and start another. I firmly believe that the best was to grow as a writer is to write multiple stories, not obsess on polishing just one.
Thank you, Marissa!