Spotlight Saturday: Author Interview with Ann Malley

I’m so pleased to be hosting my wonderful friend, romantic suspense author, Ann Malley, on the blog today! Ann is an excellent writer who consistently turns out well-crafted, high-octane novels, and her most recent release, Craving Grace, is no exception. I’d love to give her some space to talk about her work and her creative process, so pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee/tea/what-have-you, and join us for the conversation.

Welcome, Ann! I’m so happy to have you on the blog today. Let’s jump right into the questions, shall we? We already mentioned that you write romantic suspense. Anything in particular that you love about the genre?

Since I write sweet romance and inspired romantic suspense, I love the honesty of it. It’s me all over it. Faith, failings, hope, getting back up, danger, and a whopping dose of the things that gives a woman wrinkles. Suspense will do that. (Romance, too, because the real thing never comes that easily.) But, seriously, being forthright with a Christian worldview—whether it’s overt or marinated into word or theme—helps keep me on an even keel. I love being able to express myself and, perhaps, touch readers with something they can relate to. And I don’t just mean mechanics.

It seems like romance and romantic suspense are a good fit for you. Inquiring minds want to know, though, what unfinished writing projects do you have gathering dust in a drawer? Do you think you’ll ever try to publish them, or were they just part of the learning process?

Okay. Unfinished writing projects? Sounds like unfinished business, the kind associated with ghosts and such. Maybe it’s the season, Shaen, but past projects—buried but not dead—are rushing back to haunt me. In a big way.

And I’m thrilled!

The publishing industry has seriously changed since I first began working toward publication. (My first Indie effort, “The Blob”, with a plot admittedly ripped from the 58’s film classic of the same name, doesn’t count.) Much has changed since the 90’s. Too much in some ways, but the Indie market that’s opened up thanks to Amazon and other electronic platforms has me reconsidering my past. (Although I don’t regret putting my family first and leaving writing on the back burner. Simmering is a very good thing.)

Space Opera? Done that. Medieval romance? Yep. Viking, anyone? Love it! Vampire? Oh, yes, and long before the vampire craze. Ghost romance? Yes, although I’m keen on keeping the hero and heroine among the living as is proper. I’ve even covered Puritan New England. Puritans can be very romantic—who’d have guessed?

And, yes, there’s plenty of contemporary romance in there, too. Too many projects to count. Synopses, outlines, snippets. Genres always revolve around romance—a too-human pastime—with two exceptions. I have an ex-pat mystery series inspired by family who shall remain nameless. And then there’s my priestly mystery. This accidental investigator would prefer saving souls as the job description goes. But where there’s life there’s hope. So waylaying murderers is a great starting point.

I have to resurrect these Halflings. If publishing were about meeting guidelines as it used to be—I never pretended to be the literary type—I’d have an excuse to let things lie. No can do today.

So thanks for the question, Shaen. When will the above see the light of day? Who knows? I’m writing tight and fast. That’s the plan anyway. But I would absolutely love to take these assorted learning experiences full circle.

That’s so interesting. I love hearing about other writer’s unfinished projects, and most of us are probably all over the map. I know I have drafts of YA dystopian sci-fi, small-town contemporary romance, and even some frothy chick lit lurking in the recesses of my computer. It’s all about finding out who you are… and who your characters are. Speaking of, which character in your books is most like you?

Gracie Snow is a LOT like me. I wish that weren’t so. Poor Gracie needs to learn to step back. She needs to engage God’s grace instead of rushing ahead to prove something she really doesn’t need to. It’s okay for girls to be girlish, to be themselves, and to take your lumps without believing someone or something must take blame.

But that’s the lot of many a hot head.

Thankfully, God is not some sadistic kid with a giant magnifying glass waiting to spot out flaws and pounce. It took me a while to really grasp that. . . I’ll leave readers to determine how Gracie fares.

Love seeing those spiritual lightbulb moments in novels. They really can help us break through barriers of our own and encourage others along the way. If you could choose, is Craving Grace the book of yours you’d want to have adapted for the silver screen? Or something else? Who would play the main characters?

Without hesitation, I’d produce Fallen Angel: Diamond Dogs Book 1. Reason? I wrote it for the screen—that is, with the screen in mind. High stakes, explosive action, and soul crushing obstacles were all crafted with film in mind. The immediacy of film speaks to me. It speaks to audiences, too, and not just in movie theaters. I enjoy a thoroughly absorbing experience when I pick up a book. I want to be sidelined, caught unaware, compelled to keep reading. Others have to feel the same. Maybe not precisely, but why pick up a book if you’re not wanting to be taken someplace far, far away from whatever it is you should be doing. (Confession: I often read when I should be doing something else. Maybe it’s the rush of feeling naughty. But those childhood memories of reading beneath the covers have stuck. So did listening to Mystery Theater on the radio when I was supposed to be asleep. I guess that means I’ll be scouting out audio book publishing!! I sure hope so!

I hope so, too! I’m glad audio is making a comeback, with the popularity of Audible and podcasting. I listen to audiobooks and podcasts a lot in my spare time. What are some of your hobbies? Do you ever write about them in your books?

Great question, Shaen. My chief hobby—the one that’s stayed with me the longest—is crochet. I’ve dabbled since age 6. My brother taught me how. My Navy brother—13 years my senior and my only one—picked up the skill so he could make bikinis for the girls he met in port. No kidding. Funny thing is, I was a total tomboy growing up, although I was always last pick on volleyball, baseball, basketball. Coordination still eludes me. It was my brother teaching me to crochet, however, that made the lessons stick. Crocheting was COOL. It was okay because David did it. An odd twist, but it got me started.

I proceeded to outfit our bichon—Prince Louie—with dog collars, coats, and subsequently crocheted Christmas stockings and anything else I could imagine. (Imagine the fits and starts of my writing life and you’ll get the idea of what craft bags look like around here. I can’t bring myself to toss those either. LoL.)

Since then, crochet gave way to knitting and embroidery. I used to paint quite bit—acrylics mostly. Sketching has been a lifetime must. A house of creatives demands it. We made soap, painted rocks, tie dyed, ground bath salts, grew all manner of flowers. I used to have my own vestment making business that featured—guess what?—designer crocheted accents. Very high end. Time consuming, too. So I stick to writing now, except for the occasional gift and crocheted bookmark.

Poor Prince Louie! And the story about your brother in the Navy is so funny. I could see both of those stories winding up as a comic grace note in a novel. Is there anything from your childhood that informs your work? For example, where did you grow up? Do you use this setting in your novels?

I grew up in San Jose, California, back when Dione Warwick’s Do You Know the Way to San Jose had meaning. Nobody knew about San Jose. That nothing town somewhere south of San Francisco right beside the garbage dump now known as Milpitas. (See how times have changed? Garbage isn’t garbage anymore. It’s how you till the soil.)

Do I use San Jose in my work? Not directly, no. I haven’t yet anyway. The youngest of eight children who never moved ever—my Depression era parents wanted stability for their family—I caught a bad case of wanderlust early on. Funny now, but my childhood paintings of cardinals—birds I never thought I’d see in person—have taken life in my own backyard. Amazing what life and time can bring.

Will I go back to San Jose in my writing? Probably. It’s exotic now—an entirely different place than the blossom valley walnut orchard paradise where I could walk through the groves to the movies with my sisters. Being scared to death by terror tales, of course. Big families. Gotta love it. But with the Winchester Mystery House an arm’s reach way, well, you get the idea. Girls will be girls!

I thoroughly enjoyed this chat with you, Ann, and I hope my readers did, too. Thanks so much for agreeing to be on the blog today.

Goodness, Shaen, I started out believing I’d never be able to do justice to the questions you posed. Looks like I’ve rambled quite a lot. I appreciate you having me—that is on your blog and as your friend. American Christian Fiction Writers can’t be beat for connecting like-minded fellows and expanding circles. I’m so glad we met. And I’m very thankful for the opportunity to thank your readers for supporting our efforts to communicate something of ourselves—and God’s good news—in the context of FUN stories. Write on!

Write on, indeed (and to use my own sign-off, keep reading)! If you’d like to connect with Ann online or learn more about Craving Grace or any of her other books, you can find her at www.annmalleybooks.com. She’s also very active on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnMalleyBooks/

Twitter: @AnnMalleyBooks

Instagram @annmalleybooks

Keep reading!

Shaen