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An
Interview with Jane McGarry
What inspired you to write Unexpected Rewards?
Stories about knights,
castles and adventure were always favorites of mine, so that was the jumping
off point for Not Every Girl, the
first book in the series. I had the idea for this strong female protagonist,
who was confident, but had enough self-doubt to resonate with readers as
authentic. Olivia’s circumstances change considerably in Unexpected Rewards and I was able to explore other sides of her
character.
When
or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?
From
when I was young, I always wrote for myself, just simple stories here and
there. I never seriously considered trying to publish anything until a few
years ago. When I became a stay-at-home mom, writing became my outlet—time that
was purely mine. Then, I had the idea
for Not Every Girl and, though it was
daunting to think about penning a full length novel while taking care of two
kids, I decided to give it a try. It took several years to complete, but was well
worth it in the end.
What is the earliest age you remember
reading your first book?
I remember taking a copy of Thumbelina out of the library over and
over when I was probably about four. On the cover, there was a tiny girl
sitting inside a flower and it simply fascinated me.
What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
I read a lot of genres and, while I have
a soft spot for the classics, YA has become my favorite. The books have
creative plots with relevant themes and vividly portrayed characters. There is also an abundance of strong, female
protagonists which serve as great examples for readers of all ages.
What is your favorite book?
This is
such an unfair question because it is SO hard to pick just one. But, I will say
100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel
Garcia Marquez. It is an amazingly lyrical and poignant work that completely
changed my vision of what a book could accomplish.
You know I think we all have a favorite
author. Who is your favorite author and why?
Again, so
difficult to pick just one. Jane Austen
is one of my favorites because of her strong female protagonists. I also find
comfort in knowing that the thrills and hurts of love were as intense a couple
of hundred years ago as they are today.
If you could travel back in time here on
earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?
I have always had
this strange fascination with Henry VIII. I would love to go back to the
splendor of his court and witness him in action (not as one of his wives
though!).
When writing a book do you find that
writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?
It depends on the day. Sometimes the ideas
flow so freely, I can hardly keep up when writing them down. Other days are
more of a struggle. These days it is usually better to walk away and
concentrate on other things. It is amazing how in the middle of doing a mundane
task, like the dishes, inspiration springs into my head.
Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like
a dog or a cat? Or any pets?
I have an over-indulged cat,
Leo, who is seventeen now and like a little old man. He is definitely the one I
like to spoil the most in the house.
What is your ""to die
for"", favorite food/foods to eat?
Chocolate
chip cookies – especially hot from the oven. Nothing better!
Do you have any advice for anyone that
would like to be an author?
First, read a lot,
especially in your chosen genre so you will know what publishers are looking
for in a work. Second, don’t forget that publishing is a business, so make sure
you learn about it while you are writing. It will help you immensely when it
comes time to submit your work. Finally, be persistent and believe in your work.
Don’t give up on your dream.
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