Welcome back bloggerverse! I have a special interview today with Mary DeSantis, a friend and fellow writer.
Well let’s start with the basics. First, thanks for taking the time to come speak with us today.
No problem. Thanks for having me.
1 – Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Sure. I’m twenty-four glorious years old, and I lived the first twenty-three and a half years in a very small city approximately 15 miles north of Boston, MA. I now live in Wilmington, NC, which is hopefully a temporary arrangement. I like autumn a bit too much to live down here permanently. I’m starting my third semester in Seton Hill University’s MFA in Writing Popular Fiction program and got my B.A. in Psychology from Merrimack College. When I’m not writing or thinking about writing because I have writer’s block, I’m reading, hanging out with friends, or singing. It’s a pretty good life.
Sure. I’m twenty-four glorious years old, and I lived the first twenty-three and a half years in a very small city approximately 15 miles north of Boston, MA. I now live in Wilmington, NC, which is hopefully a temporary arrangement. I like autumn a bit too much to live down here permanently. I’m starting my third semester in Seton Hill University’s MFA in Writing Popular Fiction program and got my B.A. in Psychology from Merrimack College. When I’m not writing or thinking about writing because I have writer’s block, I’m reading, hanging out with friends, or singing. It’s a pretty good life.
2- What do you write?
Fantasy—at least that’s what I’m writing according to Seton Hill. And it’s partially true. I love bringing the impossible to life, but my fantasy sometimes gets mixed up with mystery. Interesting children there.
Fantasy—at least that’s what I’m writing according to Seton Hill. And it’s partially true. I love bringing the impossible to life, but my fantasy sometimes gets mixed up with mystery. Interesting children there.
3 – Tell us about your current WIP.
I’ve got a few, but I’ll focus on the one I’m hoping to get an agent for after New Years *fingers crossed.* My working title for this project is “By the Fight of the Silvery Moon,” and revolves around MIA (not Missing in Action), the Magical Investigation Agency. It embodies that fantasy/mystery overlap I mentioned above. The main character is Vern Sumac—a dryad transplanted (not literally) to New York City. Ten years ago, she cut the bond with her tree (a Poison Sumac) for health reasons and now works at MIA for her best friend Warren Gazeban (the hottest guy alive). I’m supposed to be working on my elevator pitch, so here goes.
I’ve got a few, but I’ll focus on the one I’m hoping to get an agent for after New Years *fingers crossed.* My working title for this project is “By the Fight of the Silvery Moon,” and revolves around MIA (not Missing in Action), the Magical Investigation Agency. It embodies that fantasy/mystery overlap I mentioned above. The main character is Vern Sumac—a dryad transplanted (not literally) to New York City. Ten years ago, she cut the bond with her tree (a Poison Sumac) for health reasons and now works at MIA for her best friend Warren Gazeban (the hottest guy alive). I’m supposed to be working on my elevator pitch, so here goes.
Vern Sumac’s night up-state was supposed to be no-stress. But when she witnesses the murder of the Times reporter she met with that morning (who can apparently turn into a giant wolf), it’s back to the day job and a major downhill stress week. Can she help her boss and the MIA team figure out who did it?
4 – When did you get started writing?
My typical answer to this is “I got started writing when I was about seven. I got started writing well when I enrolled in Seton Hill’s program a year ago.” The first story I can remember writing was about a little girl who was imprisoned for something involving dragons. I recall very little about the actual writing aside from the following line: “And then she sang a little song about dragons.” I grew up watching Disney. Can you tell? Lol.
My typical answer to this is “I got started writing when I was about seven. I got started writing well when I enrolled in Seton Hill’s program a year ago.” The first story I can remember writing was about a little girl who was imprisoned for something involving dragons. I recall very little about the actual writing aside from the following line: “And then she sang a little song about dragons.” I grew up watching Disney. Can you tell? Lol.
5 – What’s your idea of a perfect character?
Oh, geez. Let’s see. Let’s make this person at least twenty-five—old enough to be more or less done with the whiny teenage phase. Beyond that, his/her personality should be a healthy combination of humorous and serious in whatever forms those appear. Said character’s past should be properly shrouded in mystery and be traumatic enough to make for a deep character but not so traumatic that the past gets in the way of telling the present story. Oh, and he/she should (pretty please) not be a vampire.
Oh, geez. Let’s see. Let’s make this person at least twenty-five—old enough to be more or less done with the whiny teenage phase. Beyond that, his/her personality should be a healthy combination of humorous and serious in whatever forms those appear. Said character’s past should be properly shrouded in mystery and be traumatic enough to make for a deep character but not so traumatic that the past gets in the way of telling the present story. Oh, and he/she should (pretty please) not be a vampire.
6 – Do you have any quick writing tips to share with us?
The way this question is worded, I could get away with simply saying “No.” Lol.
I won’t do that. Neither will I spew a laundry list of catchy advice, such as “show, don’t tell.” I think the best thing I can say is make sure writing is what you want to do. Contrary to popular belief, it’s a lot of work. When I wrote “The End” on my WIP, it was the most amazing feeling, but I knew there was still a ton of work to be done. So make sure you want to write.
The way this question is worded, I could get away with simply saying “No.” Lol.
I won’t do that. Neither will I spew a laundry list of catchy advice, such as “show, don’t tell.” I think the best thing I can say is make sure writing is what you want to do. Contrary to popular belief, it’s a lot of work. When I wrote “The End” on my WIP, it was the most amazing feeling, but I knew there was still a ton of work to be done. So make sure you want to write.
7 – What do you like to read?
I have a soft spot for urban fantasy. I too have a soft spot for young adult urban and contemporary fantasy. I know a lot of adults who stick their nose up at books filed as “young adult,” but murder mysteries and adult fantasy don’t make for good bedtime reading sometimes. That said, I love adult fantasy too.
I have a soft spot for urban fantasy. I too have a soft spot for young adult urban and contemporary fantasy. I know a lot of adults who stick their nose up at books filed as “young adult,” but murder mysteries and adult fantasy don’t make for good bedtime reading sometimes. That said, I love adult fantasy too.
8 – What’s your favorite book and why?
Only one? Crap. Lol.
I’m not sure if it’s my favorite, but I read “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline for my genre readings class last semester. That book impacted me in a big way, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes science fiction and doesn’t mind being bombarded by the 80s.
Only one? Crap. Lol.
I’m not sure if it’s my favorite, but I read “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline for my genre readings class last semester. That book impacted me in a big way, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes science fiction and doesn’t mind being bombarded by the 80s.
9 – Do you think we’ll ever fully convert you to write romance?
Lol. Doubt it, and I say that because I’m terrible at writing romance. I will leave that to the professionals. Will say, though, that I had a romance writer tell me that my thesis novel for Seton Hill was adult romantic fantasy. Take that however you will.
Lol. Doubt it, and I say that because I’m terrible at writing romance. I will leave that to the professionals. Will say, though, that I had a romance writer tell me that my thesis novel for Seton Hill was adult romantic fantasy. Take that however you will.
10 – What’s your favorite holiday and why?
That’s a toss-up between Christmas and Halloween. I love Christmas because it has pretty lights and music, and I love Halloween because I love getting dressed up.
That’s a toss-up between Christmas and Halloween. I love Christmas because it has pretty lights and music, and I love Halloween because I love getting dressed up.
Thanks Mary! It was great to have you here today and I’m glad we got to know a little bit more about you and your work.
~Rach
Fun interview! I think you should keep working on getting her into Romance. :)
ReplyDeleteI keep trying, Anita, but it doesn't seem to be working!
ReplyDeleteBut you know what I always say - you're all romance writers at heart! :-)