Interview with author Margaret Daley, by Roxanne Rustand

We are so fortunate to have award-winning author Margaret Daley with us today! With over a hundred published books, she definitely knows what she's talking about, and it was exciting to have this opportunity to interview her.   Be sure to leave a comment or question for her,  to be in her drawing for a free book.
                                                 So here we go!
                                                           Roxanne Rustand

RR: Is there one piece of advice that you always give to aspiring authors?

MD: Do not give up. Persistence and determination are important for a writer.

RR: What houses do you write for now? What led you to begin indie publishing?

MD:  I write for Love Inspired/Love Inspired Suspense. I have chosen to indie publish too because there are stories that don’t fit my publisher’s guidelines.

RR: What are some of the challenges you face as a writer? Are there aspects of your life that are hard for family and friends to understand?

MD: My family usually understands when I’m under deadline and need time to write. There are always challenges to writing—finding the time, coming up with a storyline that works, feeling like there isn’t enough time in the day to do everything needed.

RR: Are you a plotter or a pantser?  What is your process?

MD: I’m a pantser more than a plotter. I know my main characters and their background as well as what the conflict will be. I have a framework for my story, but I don’t have a scene by scene outline.

RR:  Any advice to new writers about how you develop are gripping suspense plot?

MD: Think of writing a suspense like riding a roller coaster. Write toward the high points (action, conflict) but remember the low points are necessary. I call them the lull moments. Your readers need to breathe between the action scenes.

.

RR: Tell us about your current release.

MD: Legacy of Secrets. Threats and Danger. Second Chances.

This is another romantic suspense in my series Strong Women, Extraordinary Situations.

Down on her luck, single mom, Lacey St. John, believes her life has finally changed for the better when she receives an inheritance from a wealthy stranger. Her ancestral home she'd thought forever lost has been transformed into a lucrative bed and breakfast guaranteed to bring much-needed financial security. Her happiness is complete until strange happenings erode her sense of well-being. When her life is threatened, she turns to neighbor, Sheriff Ryan McNeil, for help. He promises to solve the mystery of who's ruining her newfound peace of mind, but when her troubles escalate to the point that her every move leads to danger, she's unsure who to trust. Is the strong, capable neighbor she's falling for as amazing as he seems? Or could he be the man who wants her dead?

RR: Your book sounds wonderful. Where did you get the idea for it?

MD:I was invited to be a part of The Inheritance Collection where one of the main characters is bequeathed something from billionaire Mr. Hopewell. That gave me the idea for my story.

RR: Is there a spiritual message in your book? If so, what is it?

MD: The importance of forgiveness in our lives.

Remember--if you ask a question or leave a comment, you'll be in a drawing to receive a free book!

Margaret Daley is a USA Today Bestselling author as well as an award winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. She has also won the Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, and the Barclay Gold Contest. 

She wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines. She has written over one hundred books and sold world wide 5 million books. 

Margaret was the President of ACFW and Volunteer Officer as well as President of Faith, Hope and Love chapter of RWA. She has taught numerous classes for online groups, ACFW and RWA chapters. She enjoys mentoring other authors.

Until she retired, she was a teacher of students with special needs for twenty-seven years and volunteered with Special Olympics as a coach. She has served on her church’s vestry and Outreach committee.

You can visit her web site at http://www.margaretdaley.com and read excerpts from her books and learn about the ones recently released and soon to be released.