Author Q and A
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
We recently asked Mary Jane questions about her writing process and the future of her writing. The answers were interesting and provided insight into the creation of her novels. We thought you'd like to hear what Mary Jane had to say too, so take a look!What is your favorite suspense movie?
There are quite a few but I would have to put WAIT UNTIL DARK with Audrey Hepburn and Alfred Hitchcock’s THE BIRDS right at the top of my list.
Which authors do you feel have influenced your work?
Too many to count. Just about every book I read influences me in some way. But, as a kid, I was enthralled by the Trixie Belden mysteries by Kathryn Kenny.
What is the hardest part of writing suspense fiction?
For me, coming up with the ideas is the fun part…it’s the execution of the ideas, telling the story in a compelling way, which is the challenge. Also, writing requires a great deal of discipline and that can be tough.
How did you get the idea for the Sunrise Suspense Society?
I had written nine books, each with a different main character. After finishing the books, readers would write me, wanting to know more about those characters, curious about what happened to them after the book was over. So, I decided to take three of my most popular characters and add a new one and have them come together to solve the crimes and mysteries that they find themselves in the middle of because of their jobs in television news. These four characters will be the driving force of the Sunrise Suspense Society series.
What do you see for the future of KEY News and what can readers expect in books to come?
News is unpredictable, and that’s what I want the books to be as well. I want each one to be a new adventure, full of surprises and twists and turns. I want readers to feel they’ve been entertained and had a good ride. And I hope readers will enjoy following the lives of the characters as the books go along.
You have written quite a few books now. Do you have a favorite book or favorite scenes from the books?
Each book is my child and I don’t want to pick one. I love them all.
posted by MaryJaneClark.com
Female Suspense Authors
Monday, July 23, 2007
There is something about writing suspense novels that has called many female authors. Think about it. So what is it about a thrilling story and a ton of plot twists that draws some of the best writers of our age? It is a question that begs further investigation.How well do you know these women of suspense? Test your knowledge with this quiz. And how well do you know Mary Jane Clark? Well, you can see by taking our very own quiz, posted below. Hint: You can also find the answers by sleuthing around this site a bit.
1. Mary Jane's suspense novels are set in the fast moving world of television news. In real life, she has spent decades as a producer at:
a. ABC News
b. CBS News
c. CNN
d. NBC News
2. Suspense and crime solving is in Mary Jane’s blood. While she was growing up, her father was with the:
a. New York City Police Department
b. Central Intelligence Agency
c. Federal Bureau of Investigation
d. Drug Enforcement Agency
3. This novel takes place at a socialite hot spot of old where the KEY news interns learn about more than the news industry.
a. When Day Breaks
b. Nowhere to Run
c. Close to You
d. Hide Yourself Away
4. Which language has never had a Mary Jane Clark mystery translation?
a. Mandarin
b. German
c. Portuguese
d. Czech
To find out the correct answers, use the mouse to highlight the area below.
Answers: 1-b; 2-c; 3-d; 4-a
posted by MaryJaneClark.com
July 19th Event at Orange County Library, Little Egg Harbor
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Tonight, Thursday July 19th, Mary Jane Clark will be speaking at the Ocean County Library. If you are in the area, please do stop by and hear about When Day Breaks and Mary Jane’s writing process. You can call or register online to attend the event. The talk will take place at 7 pm at the Little Egg Harbor Branch, which is just one of 20 library branches located in this area of New Jersey. Currently living in New Jersey, Mary Jane is especially excited to connect with her fellow residents. If you live nearby as well or want to take a road trip for a great event, definitely come tonight and also look at the calendar events for all the other great authors that are coming to the library over the summer.Orange County Library - Little Egg Harbor Branch
290 Mathistown Rd., Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087
posted by MaryJaneClark.com
Donation to the ASPCA
Monday, July 2, 2007
For those of you who have been upset by the FICTIONAL prologue of When Day Breaks, I would like you to know that a donation to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals has been made to help animals in REAL LIFE.posted by Mary Jane
Suspense Novel Interview
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Recently, Book Expo America was held in New York City and, while there, Mary Jane had the opportunity to be part of an interview for the Author's Studio, a section of the Book Expo site. This site has podcasts revealing what authors have to say about their books, creative process and writing influences.The Book Expo website recently posted a podcast of their interview with Mary Jane about her latest suspense novel, When Day Breaks. It is an interesting discussion about how Mary Jane comes across new material and how her job in television news influences her writing. Another topic addressed is some of Mary Jane's thoughts on the current news industry. As the interview brings out, interestingly enough, her books featured a female evening news anchor long before there was one to be found on television. It also offers a view into how the characters of her books have developed so far and where we can expect them to go in the future, laying out a clear picture of many more exciting books to come.
This is a must-hear for any fan of her books or anyone else interested in mystery, thriller, or suspense fiction.
posted by MaryJaneClark.com
