It is such a great honor to have an up close and personal interview with the delightful and fabulous Romance Goddess,
Mary Balogh. She is an extraordinary, captivating writer.
Doreen: "When did you decide that you wanted to be a writer? And why specifically romance?"
Mary: "I always wanted to be a writer. As a child I used to fill notebooks with long stories. I used to read a lot too--anything
and everything, including the classics. I never enjoyed books with unhappy endings, though. I have never wanted to reread
WUTHERING HEIGHTS or TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES, for example.I read to relax and feel good, and I like to write
to relax also, and to help readers relax and feel good. I can't think of any better genre with which to accomplish that goal than
romance."
Doreen: "Which was your first romance book that got published and by which publishing house?"
Mary: "My first book was A MASKED DECEPTION, a Signet Regency romance. NAL was the publisher."
Doreen: "Tell us some of the romance book awards given to you. What was your reaction and thoughts when you received
the news that you were nominated and later receiving the awards?"
Mary: "I have won several Romantic Times awards, including best new Regency author with my first book, and a number
of Waldenbooks awards for best selling short historical writer of the year. There have been others. It is always an honor to be
nominated and to win. There is so much competition out there!"
Doreen: "What do you do to celebrate your successful book sales?"
Mary: "Nothing really! If it is a particularly memorable achievement, like hitting the New York Times list, my publisher and
agent usually send me flowers, and I enjoy those for a week or two. I sometimes call my mother in Wales or email my scattered
children (scattered geographically, not mentally!). But I am not much of a celebrator."
Doreen: "What are the themes, social issues, philosophy that resonates in all your novels?"
Mary: "I believe love--not just romantic love--is the most powerful force in the universe. I believe in the power of love to
heal. In most of my books the heroes or heroines or both are not really whole people. There are issues they have to work out
before they can be whole. But without wholeness there can be no real commitment to love and no real openness to love. So
very often in my books the hero and heroine are working toward wholeness and helping each other so that finally they are
healed and whole enough to commit their lives to each other. I don't see lovers as two halves of a whole (and therefore incomplete
in themselves). I see them as whole, complete individuals who are finally strong enough to be vulnerable to love."
Doreen: "What advice would you give to wannabe romance writers whose manuscripts were rejected by publishers?"
Mary: "I think it's important to know why a book was rejected. It's sometimes hard to admit that it is just not good enough.
And it is even harder to admit that one just does not have what it takes to be a writer, I have just been watching the elimination
rounds of American Idol. It is amazing how many people with absolutely zero talent get very upset when they are cut, convinced that they really can sing.
But that said, if a writer believes that she really can write, then she has to keep on going. Keep trying. Most famous writers had at least one rejection
at the start (or before the start!) of their careers. I had two books rejected. They were atrocious!"
Doreen: "What do you say to people who are critical and cynical about romance books?"
Mary: "I don't say anything to them. They don't want to hear me and I don't want to talk to them. I mean, really--why
waste energy on this issue? I don't like science fiction. Does that mean it is worthless and that those who write it should feel
diminished by my indifference? Each to his/her own."
Doreen: "Who are the people in your life that inspire you?"
Mary: "Just generally speaking, people who overcome incredible odds to do great things. Like Helen Keller, for example.
The world is full of such people. I am in awe of them."
Doreen: "Who is the greatest love in your life? Why?"
Mary: "I don't think I would dare pick just one person, so I'll choose my late, lamented dog, Patch, a border collie cross.
My children used to accuse me occasionally of loving that dog more than I loved them. My answer was that sometimes she was
easier to love. She used to sit under my desk while I typed and come begging for ice cream in the evenings and run in circles when
she wanted to go walking and turn all rubber-legged looking for hiding places when it was time for a bath. I still miss her, nine
years after her death."
Doreen: "Tell us some of your happiest moments."
Mary: "Passing by the peak moments of euphoria, I am happiest when in my own home, alone or with my husband, surrounded
by all my familiar things and reading a book or watching a favorite program. I look out the window sometimes on a very ordinary
prairie scene, sometimes complete with snow, and I very consciously know that there is nowhere else on earth that I would rather
be at that particular moment."
Doreen: "What is your idea of perfect happiness?"
Mary: "Well there--I anticipated this question in the last answer. Perfect happiness is being here now--there is no other
place and no other time."
Doreen: "Who are your favorite authors and favorite books?
Mary: "Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, Bernard Cornwell (the Sharpe books), Sue Grafton (except for the K book without
an ending!) Anne Perry (the William Monk books), Janet Evanovich (the Stephanie Plum books) Deepak Chopra, Neale Donald
Walsch. I read all kinds of books. Perhaps mystery is what I find most absorbing."
Doreen: "What are your hobbies?"
Mary: "I read and knit. I belong to a community choir. I am an armchair sportswoman, particularly of curling and tennis. I
do like to walk, though, outdoors in the summer, on my treadmill in the winter. I like to do yoga."
Doreen: "Your favorite color?"
Mary: "Cream".
Doreen: "Your favorite movie/s?"
Mary: "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (Colin Firth)".
Doreen: "Who are your closest friends amongst the romance writers? What draws them to you?"
Mary: "Probably Julia Ross. We think so much alike as writers and persons. We both have a Welsh background. We
have a great deal of respect for each other's work. But I have a great affinity with all the Regency writers. There is a great
camaraderie among that large group of people--and an awesome amount of knowledge!"
Doreen: "What is your most treasured possession?"
Mary: "I suppose if there were a fire and I could rescue only one thing, I would grab my computer. But apart from such
practical things, I have a whole lot of little inexpensive things that people who are dear to me have given me, and I like to have
them within sight. I think of them as my treasures--a little glass angel with rainbow-colored wings from my grandson, for
example."
Doreen: "What is your greatest extravagance?"
Mary: "Starbucks coffee--lattes!"
Doreen: "Which Hollywood actors and actresses would you like to play the roles of your books' heroes and heroines?"
Mary: "None. Books are for the imagination. I don't like films made from books--they stunt the imagination and force
thousands or even millions of people to see characters and plot as the director sees them. My imagination is more precious to
me than almost any other part of my being--perhaps I should have named it above as my most precious possession. I don't even
like illustrations of characters on the covers of books."
Doreen: "Who are your heroes in your real life?"
Mary: "As I said above, I find heroic those people who see life as a challenge no matter what the odds against them.
People who overcome handicaps of various sorts, childhood abuse, injustices, tragedies, are true heroes. So are people who
devote their lives to helping others from no other motive but love. They are awe-inspiring."
* Dear readers, I highly recommend Mary Balogh's novels. Her stories are heart warming, exciting, romantic, and
demonstrate the power of love and courage. Very inspiring. My favorite is "More Than A Mistress."
