Hi there readers!
I told you I'd be back today with a special author interview.
I know it's about book bloggers this week, for BBAW, but without authors we wouldn't have this week.
So here is the lovely Mary Firmin, talking to us about her book, Deadly Pleasures.
Hello Mary, welcome to the blog!
Please tell us about Deadly Pleasures.
It is
the story of four women, unhappy with the men in their lives, who
decide to find a time-share Boytoy to entertain them. They do not
know that Michael Harrington, the hunky young stripper they hired, is
a suspect in a series of grisly murders. Enter Detective Matt Donovan
who is investigating the Bondage Murders. He arrives at the
mega-yacht, Ecstasea,
where the women are sunbathing and hatching their nefarious Boytoy
scheme. He meets Megan Riley and they are instantly attracted to each
other. The investigation continues and Megan manages to find herself
in places she does not belong. Meanwhile, Matt and his partner, go on
a wild ride through L.A.’S private sex clubs, bondage parlors, as
well as the homes and yachts of the rich and famous. When the
yachting crowd leave on their trip to Catalina Island, Matt finally
gets the clue he needs and attempts to head off the killer. But he is
unsuccessful, another murder occurs and the mega yacht, Ecstasea, and
everyone aboard, heads for an explosive disaster at sea.
Deadly
Pleasures is in the top 100 Indie books in the Kindle Book Review. It
was also in the top 5 in the mystery genre in the Reader’s Favorite
Book Contest. Further results coming sometime in September.
Who or what inspires your writing?
For
this particular book, I first heard this story of four men who hired
a prostitute to fulfill their sexual needs and set her up in an
apartment where she would be available to them. I was going to write
that book and develop a mystery around it. But then I thought, how
much more interesting it would be if four women were to do the same
thing. That is how the story began and I ran with it. I was always
interested in Bondage so I included S&M as a part of the murders.
When did you know you would be a writer?
When I was a young girl I
was always reading. I loved to write compositions and loved to
make up things to write about. My mother encouraged this but when I was quite young
we left England and went to Canada and my education was interrupted.
I never had the opportunity to continue with college so it dissolved
most of those dreams. In later years, a friend of mine and I attended
classes at UCLA and went to many writing conferences and conventions.
We became part of a private writing group in Westwood and attended
this weekly class for many years. In my first book Voodoo Fire, I had not yet found my “voice”. I believe that it came when I began to
write Deadly Pleasures. I was able to infuse it with humor and I
believe that’s what gives the story a special twist.
How long did it take to write your first novel?
My
first novel was called Voodoo Fire. It took about three years. It was
a learning experience and I plan on using a lot of that material in
my next book. It took me about the same for Deadly Pleasures but it
did not get published for a long time.
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Getting
started is the hardest part for me. Once I am involved with the story
it is very hard for me to get up and leave the computer. I do most of
my writing at night because of the silence. It is hard to concentrate
with the telephone and all the other interruptions of daily life.
Do you have any writing rituals?
No, not really.
Have you written anything else?
I
have written several short stories, two of which won contests, one
other novel, Voodoo Fire, and Rhumba, a screenplay. Deadly Pleasures
is the first book I have had published. My husband published the book
for me for Christmas in 2010. He passed away six months later and
never got to see the finished book. But the book was my savior after
he died. I had to keep working on it whether I felt like it or not.
While it delayed my grief I don’t believe it mitigated it.
I am so very sorry for your loss. Sounds like he is your angel.
Do you have any advice to aspiring writers?
Yes,
just START. It does not have to be perfect the first time you write
something down. You will change it many times before you are finished
Just get something down on paper. Harold Robbins told us, “You
have to put Ass Glue on your chair and not get up until you have
written ten pages.” Good advice!
Who are your favorite authors?
My
favorite authors are, Thomas Harris, Eric Van Lustbader, Dan Brown.
What are your favorite books, or which book has impacted you the most?
I
love Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon. I regard Mr. Harris as the master
of suspense and I treat this particular book like a text book. I also
like Dan Brown, because of the way he weaves truth with fiction so we
don’t know which is which.
What are you currently reading?
I am
reading The Troubleshooter by Rod Lindsey with a lineup waiting of
TheHangman’s Daughter by Oliver Potzsch and Lee Chadeayne, &
Faithful Shadow by Kevin J. Howard, and The Essene Conspiracy by Eric
Wachte.
How do readers find out more about you?
Thanks to Mary for visiting us and we wish you all the best!
And a special thanks to Stormi, (a fellow blogger), for setting it all up!
Happy BBAW!
GREAT interview. I read this book and loved it. Mary took me to places that I've never been before! And she did it all with good taste and humor. I'm looking forward to more books from this author.
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