INTERVIEW WITH GUEST AUTHOR
MAHRIE G. REID
MAHRIE G. REID
Q: Welcome Mahrie G. Reid, tell us a bit about yourself.
A: FYI, I’m a PK, MOT-NOT AND GOT. We all understand FYI. The rest translates to: Preacher’s Kid, Mother-of-Twins-Never on Time and Grandmother of Twins. Currently settled into writing, I’ve done many things to get to this point. (42 jobs in 19 industries – some of them 2 at a time and enough designations to fill a Christmas sock.) All of it is fuel for stories.
Additionally, I love learning and sharing what I learn both in my blog and at writers’ groups and conferences.
Living in Didsbury gives me a semi-rural setting but with easy access to the cities of Calgary and Red Deer. A husband that cooks, vacuums and shops leaves me time to write. And the cat, Kotah, keeps me moving with occasional nips on the butt.
Locally, I volunteer at the local Thrift Store and am chairing a history book project for the Didsbury Museum.
Q: What started you to pursue your writing career?
A: Few people believe it now, but I was a shy child. Stories carried me beyond my boundaries. I learned early that stories can be magical, educational, supportive and restorative. Sounds lofty, but it’s just I love to read good stories and always thought that creating stories for others would be the best job ever. My first book was at Age 9 or so – Pam and Penny and the Mystery on Tancook Island. Life intervened often, but I always came back to writing and now I’m able to pursue it full time.
Q: You primarily write mysteries. With quite the writing background, do you like writing other genres as well?
A: I started writing in romance and still enjoy a good relationship story. However, mystery kept creeping in and my mentor, Judith Duncan, encouraged that. I love writing a good who-dunn-it book.
Q: Are there any genres you don’t like writing?
A: Since I’m into stories with puzzles for fun and relaxation, any of the vampire, noir, or stolen children stories would not work for me. Life is too short to write depressing stories.
Q: Tell us about your latest work.
A: My current project is in the non-fiction area. Tools not Rules will be a workbook for both beginning writers and those stuck in the middle of a project. A novella or two for some of the time gaps in the mystery series are picking at me, but I’ve not quite started them. And then there is “Uncle Lem Fakes a Wife.” Book 5 in the series, it’s in the idea folder at the moment and will be a ‘boomer’ book with 60-somthing protagonists.
Q: What’s been the biggest challenge in your writing career to date?
A: Recent years has seen me with too much time. I did more work when I was super busy working 9 to 5 as well as writing. The balance between writing and promotion is ongoing. It does not matter how you have your books published, Indie or traditional, you are expected to maintain a digital presence, a brand and an author platform. I end up worrying about both and some weeks neither gets enough attention.
Q: What’s on the desk for 2019?
A: The above noted projects are keeping me busy and are likely to do so for this year. Most likely no new publishing until 2020. However, I am enjoying working as a substantive and line editor for writers I’ve met through my workshops.
A: FYI, I’m a PK, MOT-NOT AND GOT. We all understand FYI. The rest translates to: Preacher’s Kid, Mother-of-Twins-Never on Time and Grandmother of Twins. Currently settled into writing, I’ve done many things to get to this point. (42 jobs in 19 industries – some of them 2 at a time and enough designations to fill a Christmas sock.) All of it is fuel for stories.
Additionally, I love learning and sharing what I learn both in my blog and at writers’ groups and conferences.
Living in Didsbury gives me a semi-rural setting but with easy access to the cities of Calgary and Red Deer. A husband that cooks, vacuums and shops leaves me time to write. And the cat, Kotah, keeps me moving with occasional nips on the butt.
Locally, I volunteer at the local Thrift Store and am chairing a history book project for the Didsbury Museum.
Q: What started you to pursue your writing career?
A: Few people believe it now, but I was a shy child. Stories carried me beyond my boundaries. I learned early that stories can be magical, educational, supportive and restorative. Sounds lofty, but it’s just I love to read good stories and always thought that creating stories for others would be the best job ever. My first book was at Age 9 or so – Pam and Penny and the Mystery on Tancook Island. Life intervened often, but I always came back to writing and now I’m able to pursue it full time.
Q: You primarily write mysteries. With quite the writing background, do you like writing other genres as well?
A: I started writing in romance and still enjoy a good relationship story. However, mystery kept creeping in and my mentor, Judith Duncan, encouraged that. I love writing a good who-dunn-it book.
Q: Are there any genres you don’t like writing?
A: Since I’m into stories with puzzles for fun and relaxation, any of the vampire, noir, or stolen children stories would not work for me. Life is too short to write depressing stories.
Q: Tell us about your latest work.
A: My current project is in the non-fiction area. Tools not Rules will be a workbook for both beginning writers and those stuck in the middle of a project. A novella or two for some of the time gaps in the mystery series are picking at me, but I’ve not quite started them. And then there is “Uncle Lem Fakes a Wife.” Book 5 in the series, it’s in the idea folder at the moment and will be a ‘boomer’ book with 60-somthing protagonists.
Q: What’s been the biggest challenge in your writing career to date?
A: Recent years has seen me with too much time. I did more work when I was super busy working 9 to 5 as well as writing. The balance between writing and promotion is ongoing. It does not matter how you have your books published, Indie or traditional, you are expected to maintain a digital presence, a brand and an author platform. I end up worrying about both and some weeks neither gets enough attention.
Q: What’s on the desk for 2019?
A: The above noted projects are keeping me busy and are likely to do so for this year. Most likely no new publishing until 2020. However, I am enjoying working as a substantive and line editor for writers I’ve met through my workshops.
