Turtle Summer

By: Mary Alice Monroe
Every morning I gaze out at the sea with anticipation. My back pack is filled with supplies, my probe stick stands at the ready, and my team T-shirts and cap lay patiently in my dresser drawer. My annual season of being a “turtle lady” lays just on the horizon.

Loggerhead laying eggs

Every spring the sea turtles begin their long journey home for a new nesting season along the southeastern U.S. coast. The stretch of South Carolina shoreline that I am blessed to call home will soon welcome home caretta caretta, the loggerhead, who will venture onto the beach to give birth. And her arrival will mark the beginning of another turtle summer for me.

Available May 8th

My fellow turtle team friends and I like to bet when we’ll get our first turtle nest on Isle of Palms or Sullivan’s Island. The year I discovered our first nest of the season happened to be on May 25-- my birthday! I’ve been a member of this wonderful turtle team since 1999. My experiences inspired my first southern novel, The Beach House, in 2002, followed by the sequel, Swimming Lessons. And now, ten years later, Beach House Memories, the prequel of the series, is ready to make its debut on May 8th. This serendipitous timing of a new hardcover release with the start of a new sea turtle nesting season and the tenth anniversary of my first bestseller---makes this an extra special turtle summer for me.



A rescued hatchling in hand



It is an honor to share with readers the inspiration I’ve felt from being a “turtle lady” all these years and the life lessons the sea turtles have taught me. I hope through the pages of Beach House Memories, others will feel inspired by the turtle team characters of my story world and the real life details of the magnificent loggerhead that I am so fortunate to write about and share with the world this turtle summer.

What is one thing you're looking forward to that will make this summer season special for you?

Mary Alice Monroe is an award-winning, bestselling author of 13 novels and is an active conservationist. She lives near Charleston, SC. Her newest novel, BEACH HOUSE MEMORIES is available May 8th. Visit her at http://www.maryalicemonroe.com/.



Is It Blood or Fire

Back when I was struggling to make it as a young author, I launched two books under two names---Mary Alice Monroe and Mary Alice Kruesi.  The premise behind this poor advice from my agent---that at the time seemed like a good idea---was not to confuse the readers because I had sold two different kinds of books to two different publishers.  The Monroe name was used for books considered  Women’s Fiction.  My married name, Kruesi (pronounced as “cruise-ee”), was used for my fantasy novels.   I still can’t believe I agreed to do such a thing, considering that my own family members still sometimes misspell my married name.   

There I was with two contracts with two separate publishers. Sounds like a happy problem, right?  Be careful what you wish for.  I was committed to writing two novels in one year.  At that time, I was also a young mother of three children—fourteen, eight, and six years old.  It was a lot for any author to take on, much less a new one.

One day I burst into tears, sure that I was going to fail as a writer, as a mother, and pretty much as a human being.  So I picked up the phone to call my friend Nora Roberts.  Who else would better understand my dilemma of writing two books a year than America’s favorite romance writer with a solid reputation of churning out wonderful novels at rapid-fire pace? 

From a professional standpoint, Nora has no compassion for excuses or laziness.  She is well-disciplined in the craft, writing at her desk for eight hours a day, seven days a week.  And she expects others to do the same if they are serious about making it in the writing world.  As my friend, she also understood how hard it was to try to find the time to write while raising young children.  Nora offered me the greatest writing advice I’ve ever received—and now I’ll share it with you.

Nora told me how, when her two boys were young, she put a sign on her home office door that stated in big, bold red letters, IS IT BLOOD OR FIRE? IF NOT, GO AWAY! 

What Nora taught me that day was that a successful writer had to have enough respect for her time and craft that she wouldn’t let trivial distractions interfere with serious work time. Once the author was committed, she had to buckle down and see the project through without tears or excuses.  Though, chocolate and French fries were permitted.

The advice reminded me of Virginia Woolf’s admonishment in her book A Room of One’s Own:

    “A woman must have money and a room of her own to write fiction... So when I ask     you to earn money and have a room of your own, I am asking you to live in the presence of reality, an invigorating life."

That very same day I wrote the message in red magic marker on an 8X11 sheet of paper and slapped it on my office door.  My children thought it was funny at first and ignored it. Were they surprised when I firmly ushered them out of the office and closed the door in their faces!  I played fair.  At the same time I established a writing schedule that began the moment they went to school and I turned off the computer at three o’clock when they returned home. For years, my youngest thought it was very special to come into my office when he arrived home knowing I was waiting for him with my full attention.  He’d sit on my lap to tell me about his day.

My children learned to respect the sign after some trial and error, and a few tears.  But that simple sign gave me the balance I desperately needed in my home life and budding professional career.  It set boundaries, both physically and emotionally.  The process taught me how to respect the craft of writing, my writing space and time, and it taught my children to respect it also.  Mom’s business meant business.  And yes, I finished two books that year.  (I can’t say I’d do it again.)

Writing this blog entry today makes me realize that I’ve slowly slipped away from this discipline as my children left home.  I am at the office every day, but I take for granted my free time and allow phone calls, drop-ins, even pets to disrupt my schedule.  For 2012 I’m resolved to re-establish those precious writing hours that ban all outside distractions-- unless it’s blood or fire.  It’s time to put that sign back on the door!

Mary Alice Monroe is the NY Times bestselling author of more than a dozen novels.  Her new book, BEACH HOUSE MEMORIES, prequel to her Southern hit THE BEACH HOUSE, will be released May 2012.  Learn more at http://www.maryalicemonroe.com/.   

Where Did the Time Go

By: Mary Alice Monroe


“Where did the time go” is a phrase I utter so frequently I feel as if I own it.  I wish I could tell you that the reason for the feeling of time flying is because I am so engrossed in writing my next novel on a daily basis.  Some days I am, thankfully.  But there are also many days in which the hours are consumed by laundry, kids, emails, Facebook—and sea turtles.

My goal is 10-20 pages on a good day. I like to start early in the morning, when my mind is fresh and the creativity at its best.  I love those special moments when I wake with words in my head and dialogue so fresh on my lips I mutter them aloud.  Typically though, my day begins with a good cup of coffee and a read of my local newspaper. Then it’s pet duty-- feeding and cleaning up after my three dogs and two cats. 

Now however, it’s summer and the peak of the very busy sea turtle nesting season.  Turtles rule my schedule.  When I get the call at 6:30 in the morning that tracks are found, I fly out the door to the beach to join my teammates to search for eggs, move them if needed, and set up the protection signs.  At night I’m usually at the beach by 9 pm to monitor the nests and guide the hatchlings to the sea.

As distracting as these duties are from writing, the adventures I experience with my Island Turtle Team are the perfect muse for my current book. I’m working on the prequel to THE BEACH HOUSE, so searching for turtle tracks, probing for eggs and supervising nest boils fit perfectly into my fictional world.  The conversations shared, getting my hands in the sand, playing a small role in the risky game of life for these sea turtles help fuel the storytelling process.  Even though I find myself away from my computer more than I’d like to be on some days, it doesn’t mean that I am not working.  It is these moments that create the words that I store to get to next paragraph, the next chapter, the next scene. 

Still, the pages need to get written.  Deadlines loom.  There is no substitute for putting my hands to the keyboard and producing pages of story.  Knowing when to turn off the research and turn on the creativity is critical to the process.  I know this.  I do.  I tell myself this every day, multiple times a day.

Ah, but on those balmy nights when the moon is high and creates that ribbon of moonlight along the ocean, when the breeze is just strong enough to keep the gnats and mosquitoes at bay, when I’m sitting with my friends, my legs stretched out over the sand and we’re just talking about everything and nothing….  

Where did the time go?

Mary Alice Monroe is an award-winning, bestselling author of thirteen novels, plus one on the way.  Look for TIDES OF MEMORY to be released in the spring 2012.  For more information, visit www.maryalicemonroe.com.   

PROMOTING YOUR FIRST BOOK

By:  Mary Alice Monroe

You’ve finished your first novel, sent it to New York, and your pub date is set. Congratulations! Now you wonder what can you do to help your book succeed?

If you had asked me this question just a few years ago, I would have my answer ready. I’d tell you to visit bookstores in your region, set up book signings where possible, offer book marks if they accept them, and establish a relationship with the booksellers.

A problem many new authors face, however, is getting a bookseller to agree to a signing. If you are self published, it is even more difficult. If, however, you are successful at securing a book signing date, bring a smile, a cheerful attitude-- and leave all expectations at the door of the bookstore.

To paraphrase Forrest Gump, every book signing is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. Don’t be disappointed if no one is waiting to see you. Remember, as great as it is to walk up to the store and see a line waiting for you, it’s also great to get your book title highlighted in the window, to become acquainted with the book store staff and help them better understand your novel for future hand-selling, and to meet new readers.

What happens at a signing? If you sit at a table with a group of seasoned authors over drinks you’ll hear hilarious stories about book tours and signings. It’s bonding. Rather like a group of mothers sharing labor experiences, or soldiers recounting war stories. Most authors share the common experience of sitting in the front of the store with a stack of their books only to have a person walk up to the table and ask, “Can you tell me where the bathroom is?” or “I’m looking for a book by….” My advice at such a moment is to stay cheerful, introduce yourself and hand her a free bookmark. And if you know where the bathroom is, do tell! Whether the person buys your book at that moment or not, this reader now knows who you are. Consider this progress.

And that’s my point. Stay positive. Don’t measure the success of a book signing solely on number of books sold. Especially today as e-books have radically changed the buying patterns of readers. Other book signing tips include:

• Engage! Don’t sit at the table and tune out. (No reading other books or magazines, looking bored, etc.) Remember that you are a guest of the bookseller. Do as your mother taught you: It is your responsibility as a guest to be cheerful and engaging.


• No intimidation. I’ve watched open-mouthed as an author practically tackles someone and shoves her or his book in the reader’s face. If you do this and the reader walks away with your book, don’t feel smug. The bookseller is likely to find it lying on a shelf further back in the store. Be gentle and sometimes the shy reader will return after you’ve gone to check out your book.


• Practice your pitch. Can you describe your story in two exciting sentences?


• Thank your bookseller for the opportunity to sign. It’s work for them to bring you in, to advertise, and to offer you that cup of coffee. Perhaps buy something in their store.

As for publicity and promotion for your new book, any tip I might offer today may be out of date tomorrow. The business of bookselling is changing so fast we’re all scrambling. With the announcement that e-books will be counted toward New York Times placement, we are left to wonder how to appeal to this new market. Are book tours worth the time and expense? What new methods should we explore?

I honestly don’t know. We’re all searching for answers. I do know this, however. As a seasoned veteran in this business, I’ve witnessed many changes over the years. I’ve learned the only thing you really have control over is your book. Write the best book you can. Word of mouth is hotter than ever. Impulse buying can result in more books sold overall. For example, if a reader raves about a book she just read, another reader can download it instantly.

• Be positive. Negative thoughts can destroy your career. Watch what you say about other authors, too. The publishing world is like a small town.

• Take the long view. Success doesn’t usually happen overnight.

• Enjoy the experience! We are all so fortunate to be published and read. With each book you write, you’re living the dream.

On Sale May 3, 2011

Mary Alice Monroe is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of thirteen novels.  Her newest book, THE BUTTERFLY'S DAUGHTER, hits stores May 3. 
For more information visit http://www.maryalicemonroe.com/. 

A WRITER’S STRUGGLE WITH A BLINKING CURSOR

By: Mary Alice Monroe


I do all of my writing on the computer, so the rapid clicking noises my fingers make on the keyboard are the sounds of progress, a story in the works. That is, until the so-called “writer’s block” strikes, forcing my cursor to a blinking halt.

The most recent time it happened was while I was working on THE BUTTERFLY’S DAUGHTER, which is now in revisions and set to be published May 2011. The specifics of my struggle are not as important as what my husband said to me while I was venting my writing frustrations to him. He reminded me that my temporary storyline roadblock, was just part of the process I endure with every novel; a metamorphosis of sorts that I must go through for my story to emerge into what it is intended to be.

Looking back, I see now that I was much like the monarch butterfly I was detailing in my story. This period of writer’s block was similar to the chrysalis stage when the caterpillar quietly transforms into the beautifully painted winged insect. The struggle lasts for days, but soon enough, I emerge renewed, refocused and ready to return to the creative process.

Before the creativity returns, the period is a source of temporary anguish and frustration. American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne acknowledged this struggle when he once said,

“Easy reading is damn hard writing.”

There are a few things I do to move beyond the writer’s block. I sometimes call my sister whom I lovingly refer to as “my muse.” I can talk out a scene with her to get inspired again. I have also done this countless times with my husband, another special person whose conversation opens up my storytelling vision.

Sometimes I just have to step away from my work. Immerse myself in something else to temporarily forget about the book. Taking time to garden, swim, walk the beach and step outside of my writing cave is often just what I need to feel inspired again.

When I am not writing, I am reading. I like to revisit the classic works of my most favorite writers when I need inspiration-- Charles Dickens, William Blake, Henry David Thoreau, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, John Steinbeck and Edith Wharton. Sometimes, I’ll re-read southern classics by Marjorie Rawlings, Eudora Welty, or Tennessee Williams. And I also find modern poetry to be inspiring as well.

My final tip-- don’t ignore your dreams. The images and words provided by the subconscious mind can be a great source of creativity. I trust my dreams, and I often feel most creative and ready to write first thing in the morning.

Whatever you do, just don’t dwell on your frustrations or fears during a state of writer’s block. Instead, take heart knowing that you will find your way back to your story again.  What things do you do to move beyond moments of writer’s block?

Mary Alice Monroe is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels.  For more information visit www.maryalicemonroe.com or her weekly blog.  You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter. 

CRAFTING CHARACTERS By: Mary Alice Monroe

We all come across some unforgettable characters from time to time. Some may reside in your own family, while others live in the pages of your favorite books. Here are some of my all-time favorite fictional characters:

     Peter Pan (The Adventures of Peter Pan) Who doesn’t love that clever, adorable boy who won’t grow up? 

     Atticus (To Kill a Mockingbird) The father all of us wished we had, the father men aspire to be. (in fact, my daddy was a lot like Atticus.)

     Pilot-Major John Blackthorne (Shogun) A fabulous, well rounded character—plenty of flaws and yet noble. He embodied the misconceptions between East and West that continued for hundreds of years.

     Pip (Great Expectations) Such heart!

     Penelope (The Shell Seekers) A fully realized character that reveals the culture and sensitivities of the WWII “Greatest Generation” of women and the tremendous post war cultural changes.

Each of these characters was flawed, yet each pursued a journey discovering the depth of their strengths and virtues. 

I like to think that crafting characters is like painting. You start with a rough sketch: what they look like, their habits, strengths and flaws. I add a bit of color with tags, speech style, and quirky habits. I add motivations and conflict. As I write the novel, the characters are fleshed out. Like an artist with an oil painting, layers are added for depth and clarity until the portrait is fully realized.

Do not grow frustrated if a character seems to be lacking in the early process of your writing. Remember, no artist presents a masterpiece with just a pencil sketch. You must add layers of brush strokes and various colors before the painting is complete.

My painting, so to speak, is nearing completion. I hope these latest characters make a lasting impression!

Mary Alice Monroe has a new book, The Butterfly’s Daughter, due out May 2011. For more information about the author and her work, visit www.maryalicemonroe.com. You can also follow Mary Alice on Facebook and Twitter.

THE QUEST FOR A LITERARY AGENT

Behind every successful published author stands a good agent. Securing that partnership is the most important hurdle in this wild, wonderful world of publishing. However, it’s no easy feat.

I first began looking for an agent in 1986. I had a novel written but was clueless how to go about the business of getting published. During those early years, I felt I had to achieve the title of “published author” to view myself as a “real writer.” That accomplishment-- that crossing of some line I’d drawn in my mind--would be a validation. Only then would I consider myself on an equal footing with my published author friends.

Back in the day, from time to time we heard stories about fellow writers who landed book deals after their novel was plucked out of the mysterious slush pile by an editor. Yes, it really happened! That kind of good fortune is almost unheard of now. There is an old saying that literary agents are the first line of defense for editors. Today more than ever, agents and editors are deluged with submissions. The best weapon for getting your novel pushed to the top of the stack in an editor’s office is your agent.

Choosing the right agent is critical for the author. It can be a mistake for an author to accept any literary agent who says “yes.” Take your time doing research. Attend conferences where agents are speaking. Find out which agent represents books in your genre. Who are his/her clients? Does she demand a fee for reading your manuscript? You want an agent who believes in your work. If your agent doesn’t fight for your work, you could waste years.

Every relationship between author and agent is unique. But the common denominator is respect: an author’s for her agent’s time and effort, and the agent’s respect for the author’s work. Because in the end, it always boils down to the novel.

Choosing your agent, the right agent for you, is one of the most important business decisions you’ll ever make. There is a mountain of rejection in the world of publishing, and sometimes, getting published is a matter of your idea being at the right place at the right time. So believe in your talent, go to conferences, submit your work, and keep writing. Let me share with you one important thing I learned in the past twenty some years. You are a writer whether you are published or unpublished.



Mary Alice Monroe is a NYT Bestselling author and has written more than a dozen books, including Last Light over Carolina, Time is a River, and The Beach House. Her books have achieved several best seller lists, including SIBA and USA Today. Her latest novel, The Butterfly’s Daughter, will be out in spring 2011. You can follow Monroe on Facebook, Twitter and her weekly blog.

The Future of Publishing

By: Mary Alice Monroe

What is the future of publishing is a hot topic among all of us involved in the book publishing industry. At recent holiday cocktail parties, the fact on everyone’s lips was how Amazon sold more books on Kindle than they did “regular” books over the Christmas sales season. Anyone connected to publishing can’t help but ponder the future of publishing in light of the rise of the electronic books. While none of us knows with certainty exactly what the book business will look like just a few years from now, each of us has an opinion.

The electronic media reader, such as the Amazon Kindle or the Barnes & Noble Nook, continues to grow in popularity, while bookstores continue to post overall lackluster book sales. People have declared that we’re witnessing the end of publishing as we know it. Others argue that this isn’t true, that we are simply experiencing a shift. They claim that there will always be a demand for traditional books and the sense of community found in bookstores.

The most optimistic argument I’ve heard was from someone high up in the media world who believes this shift will actually increase overall book sales! For example, if you hear from a friend about a good book and it sparks your interest you can buy that book instantly with your electronic reader with the push of a button. If you had to get in the car and drive to the store, you might procrastinate and not buy the book. Hooray for instant gratification!

What concerns me more, as a writer, is how literature might change in light of use of electronic reading devices. Lynn Neary of NPR published a fascinating article last month on this topic titled How E-Books Will Change Reading and Writing. Writer Nicholas Carr was quoted as saying, “Thanks to the Gutenberg Press, you saw this great expansion of eloquence and experimentation” in literature. In contrast though, Carr also said, “the Internet is training us to read in a distracted and disjointed way.”

Also quoted in the article, Time magazine book reviewer Lev Grossman, who stated, ““They scroll and scroll and scroll. You don't have this business of handling pages and turning them and savoring them.” He says that particular function of the e-book leads to a certain kind of reading and writing: "Very forward moving, very fast narrative.””

Grossman believes more purchases will be based on brief excerpts. "It will be incumbent on novelists to hook readers right away," says Grossman. "You won't be allowed to do a kind of tone poem overture, you're going to want to have blood on the wall by the end of the second paragraph. And I think that's something writers will have to adapt to, and the challenge will be to use this powerfully narrative form, this pulpy kind of mode, to say important things."

This change Grossman speaks of won’t happen overnight.

Yet, no matter what changes I, and all writers, must make in the future to accommodate the changing patterns of readership, I remain hopeful. People will always want to read a good story, no matter if they prefer to turn pages or hit the scroll button. As for the conservationist in me, at the very least, I’m happy that the rising use of electronic books will preserve more trees!

Mary Alice Monroe is a NYT Bestselling author. She has written more than a dozen books, including Last Light over Carolina, Time is a River, and The Beach House. Her books have achieved several best seller lists, including SIBA and USA Today. In 2008 Monroe was awarded the SC Center for the Book Award for Fiction. She has served on the faculty of numerous writer's conferences and retreats and is a frequent speaker. Monroe publishes a weekly blog.