What inspired you to
become an author?
I decided to try my hand at writing a historical romance
after throwing a novel across the room while saying “I could write a better
book than that!” I’m the kind of person
who, first of all, never throws anything anywhere! And, second, I don’t believe in saying I can
do something better than someone else until I’ve actually tried it. So, I felt compelled to give it a try. I did write the book but I don’t know if it
was a better book or not. But by doing it I realized how much I loved
writing.
Do you write in
different genres?
The answer to this question is a very big YES! I started out writing romance novels. But
even then I couldn’t commit myself to just one genre within that genre. Among the romance novels I have written are
historical/family saga, suspense, paranormal, contemporary, horror, and
humorous.
Next, having pretty much used up all my romantic ideas, I
turned to what I would call metaphysical fiction. I am still wrapped in this new genre and can
see where I might write several more books within it.
My most recent genre obsession is horror. I call it women’s horror, but my readers are
by no means exclusively women. My newest
book, The Mortician’s Wife, is in this genre.
If yes, which is your
favorite genre to write?
I would have to say Horror is the most fun to write. I get to let my imagination go where it has
never gone before!
How did you come up
with the title for your latest book?
The story of how The Mortician’s Wife came about, and how I
came to choose the title, are a story in themselves. There actually is a haunted old building in
my town that had at one time been a mortuary.
And there actually was a woman who had been married to the last
mortician and continued living in the building for four decades after her
husband died. The story of The
Mortician’s Wife was inspired by these events, but the story is entirely
fictional. It is a result of my asking
myself, why would she stay there all by herself for all of those years? Had something terrible happened there that
made her stay?
Do you title the book
first or wait until after it’s complete?
I always give my books a title while I am beginning to
write. However, I do sometimes change
the title after I have finished writing it.
The Mortician’s Wife was one of the books where the title came to me
early on and just seemed to stick.
What is your “work in
progress” or upcoming projects?
I am currently working on a sequel to The Mortician’s
Wife. In this book, the wife is no
longer the central character—instead, the mortuary is. When I learned that because the actual
building is within my city’s Historical District, it would be very difficult to
destroy it, I realized that no matter how dangerous the hauntings may become,
the building will always be there. And, if the building is there, so will the
stories of its ghostly inhabitants.
Who designed the
cover of your latest book?
The cover for The Mortician’s Wife was created by Tim
Hewtson, my editor. After taking a tour
though the building he decided that it just had to be a part of the cover. I
believe Mr. Hewston captured the essence of the house and the story beautifully.
Do you have any
advice for other writers?
There are several
things I would tell someone who was considering becoming a writer. Or, at least, those who chose to write
fiction. First, don’t even consider doing it if it isn’t something you love. In other words, don’t do it simply for the
money. Like so many of the creative
arts, fame and fortune come to only a few fiction writers. With luck you may make a fairly decent
living, but only if you (and this is my second piece of advice), never give
up! Join a writer’s group, preferably
one that is specifically within your genre, such as RWA (Romance Writers of
America) and Mystery Writers of America.
Go to their conferences. Then,
write what you love. And, of course, read, read, read.
Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to talk to
you about my newest book, The Mortician’s Wife, and about my career in
general. Was a pleasure and an honor.
Maralee Lowder
October 29 Guest blog
Compelled By Words
October 30 Guest blog and review
Zombiegirl Shambling
October 30 Guest blog
Spooking The Spine event
October 30 Promo
Books & Beauty
October 31 print giveaway and promotion
SMARTMOUTHTEXAN
October 31 Guest blog
Immortality and Beyond –
November 1 Promo
Blooding Book Reviews
November 2 Guest blog and review
Mama Knows Books
November 4 Guest blog
November 11 Interview
November 12 Interview
Roxanne’s Realm
November 13 Guest blog
Fang-tastic Books
November 13 Review
Not Now...Mommy's Reading
The Morticians Wife
Maralee Lowder
Maralee Lowder
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Taylor Street Books
ISBN: 13: 978-1480011229
ASIN: B009KDVFEI
Number of pages:194
Word Count: 71000
Cover Artist: Tim Hewtson
Book Description:
“I have spent the night in supposedly some of the most haunted buildings in America. I have met people who could fairly be described as evil incarnate. I have been to the Old Mortuary in Dunsmuir. It is gorgeous but I wouldn't spend a single night there.” Kathleen McKenna, author of horror novels 'The Wedding Gift' and 'Family Matters'.
Five miles from the new age Mt. Shasta City, the sleepy Northern California town of Dunsmuir plays host to a nightmarish house – the Old Mortuary – where the mortician's wife spent four decades alone, and some say insane, sleeping in an alcove off one bedroom where she believed the evil spirits of the house could not get to her, harboring terrible secrets.
With the steady flow of dead bodies through the basement and the murderous events upstairs, this is the story of how the Old Mortuary of Dunsmuir became one of the most haunted houses in America as a result of the personality and misdeeds of one man, Horace Carpenter, whose eternal soul most certainly does not rest in peace, as many will attest, and probably never will.
About the Author:
Maralee Lowder found so much pleasure in reading such a wide spectrum of romance genres, she has never been able to write in just one. Her novels run the gamut of contemporary, historical, humorous, horror, paranormal and suspense.
Look for the sequel to "The Morticians Wife" coming soon
1 comment:
The title is enough to pique your interest and then you look forward and more interest
debby236 at gmail dot com
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