Interview with suspense author, MARY ALFORD ~ Win a copy of her new book, DEADLY MEMORIES

Hello, suspense lovers, Mary Ellis here. And today I have the pleasure of interviewing author, Mary Alford. Mary has a brand new book, Deadly Memories, just released from Love Inspired Suspense.

First, the interview: If you had to describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say? I am a wife, a grandma, an author, and a doggedly optimistic human being in an increasingly unoptimistic world!  

What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies? 

I love doing crafts! Especially during the holiday season. There’s just something about creating something with your own hands that’s so much fun. I truly enjoy creating autumn and Christmas decorations to display around the house, although I’m not very good at it yet, but I’m learning.  

What was your favorite book as a teen or child? 

Oh, gosh, there were so many. I’m a huge fan of Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney. I loved Victoria Holt’s, On The Night Of The Seventh Moon, and Phyllis Whitney’s Sea Jade. I’ve said this many times, but these two authors are the reason why I write suspense.    

Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers. 

I once owned ostrich and emus, (and failed miserably at raising them!). I grew up playing the piano at my brother’s small church. And I am a HUGE Mountain Men fan. I can binge that show anytime. Those guys are tough! 

What genre did you start out writing? Have you changed course? Why or why not? 

I started out writing sweet and Christian romance, but soon realized those genres are not me. Since I loved reading Christian suspense, I tried my hand at it and was hooked.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment? 

I think the hardest criticism for me was receiving a rejection letter from a publisher who I was so positive my story would be perfect for. The biggest compliment is when a reader chooses to buy my next book and then take the time let me know how much they appreciate my work. That’s an awesome feeling.     

Any other genres you’d like to try? If yes, what and why? 

Well, I’ve been writing a lot of Amish Suspense lately. In fact, I have two new Amish Suspense books coming out through Love Inspired Suspense. The first book hits the shelves January 2020!

If you could go back in time and do something differently at the start of your career, what would it be?

I was so green in the beginning. I knew very little about the publishing industry…which on one hand might have been a blessing in disguise in that I didn’t realize how hard it would be to break into the publishing industry. Now, as I look back, I see what little I did know, but through the years, I’ve learned much. So, I guess I probably wouldn’t change a thing.   

 

What is the most important piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors? 

This is the one piece of advice that’s kept me going when I felt like throwing in the towel. Writers write. Simple isn’t it? But not always so easy to follow. Many times, I’ve considered quitting, but that advice has always kept me going. I’m a writer. What else am I going to do?

Here's little bit about the story, Deadly Memories:  A WOMAN WITHOUT A PAST

Amnesia may be keeping Ella Weiss from remembering her past—but not from saving the little boy who's been her fellow prisoner the last seven years. After managing to escape her cell, all she wants is to find where little Joseph is being kept. Instead she runs straight into CIA agent Kyle Jennings. Kyle isn't sure if Ella is actually a kidnap victim or if she's working for the gunrunner he's been after. One thing he is certain of is her uncanny resemblance to the wife he thought he'd buried. To save a child's life and stop a terrorist from slipping through his fingers, he'll need to uncover the secrets of Ella's past—and whether or not she's really the woman he's never stopped loving.

Here's a little bit about Mary: USA Today Bestselling author Mary Alford grew up in a small Texas town famous for, well not much of anything really. Being the baby of the family and quite a bit younger than her two brothers and her sister, Mary had plenty of time to entertain herself. Making up stories seemed to come natural to her. As a teen, Mary discovered Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt and knew instinctively that was what she wanted to do with her over-active imagination. She wrote her first novel as a teen, (it’s tucked away somewhere never to see the light of day), but never really pursued her writing career seriously until a few years later, when she wrote her first inspirational romantic suspense and was hooked. Today, Mary lives in Texas with her husband and loves to create characters who face dangerous situations with faith on their side. Mary is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/maryalfordauthor. Twitter: https://twitter.com/maryalford13 or any of the social media platforms listed at www.maryalford.net.

Please leave Mary a comment for a chance to win Deadly Memories: Faith in the Face of Crime from Love Inspired Suspense in ebook or print (print copy to US resident only.)

Winner will be drawn in one week!