Mary Jane Clark's Blog

Counting the days....

2008-07-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

With just over two weeks until the publication of IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT, I feel like an expectant mother who is counting the days until her child is born. The conception and gestation have passed and now its time to see how the baby will do in the world.

The first editorial review has come from Publishers Weekly...and it was a glowing one. They called IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT "Riveting"! And said the the book "....will keep the reader guessing to the shocking conclusion."

This is a good sign, but the real test comes on/after July 29th...when the readers will decide.

Many are called, but few are chosen....

2008-05-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

My newest book, It Only Takes A Moment, won't be out until August 5th....and the reviews aren't in yet. But we just got word that Mystery Guild has chosen It Only Takes a Moment as a September Main Selection....a great honor and a very good sign.

Happy New Year...Belatedly!

2008-02-09T11:03:00.000-08:00

Let me be the LAST wish you a very Happy New Year!

Question: How do two months go by without a post?

Answer: I was finishing the next book.

But, IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT is written now and it will be published this summer. August 5, 2008 to be exact.

IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT is the story of a high-profile kidnapping and what that means…for the kidnapped child, for her famous mother, KEY News anchorwoman Eliza Blake, for their family and friends, for the kidnappers, for the media and for the people who are working on solving the case. It’s about icy fear, anguished helplessness, self-recrimination, the nightmare of being looked at as a suspect while time passes and the child you love drifts further and further from you and the desperate pursuit of the ruthless criminals who have disappeared with her. Every decision, every action, every false lead, every mistake, every moment is amplified, becoming a matter of life and death.

This time, its personal for Eliza and the Sunrise Suspense Society as they band together to try to find Janie Blake.

IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT is the story I’ve wanted to tell but was afraid to write because it deals with kidnapping, a subject that has frightened me since I was young.

Deadline December

2007-12-15T12:15:00.000-08:00

Every year, for the last ten, when December rolls around, it means two things to me:

1. Time to get ready for Christmas

2. The new book is due to be submitted to my editor next month.

I've been tackling #2 up to now, working on IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT. Just finished a 14 stint during which I left the house only twice as I completed the first draft. (That doesn't mean that I wrote the WHOLE book in 14 days... I WISH I could do that.)

IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT is about a kidnapping. Eliza Blake's seven-year-old daughter, Janie has been abducted from her camp and it's big news. The inspiration for the story comes from the fact that, when I was growing up, my father was a Special Agent with the FBI. He worked on high-profile kidnapping and extortion cases which fascinated and terrified me. As a result, years later, the idea of somebody snatching my children was at the front of my mind as I raised them. Probably abnormally so.

I thought it was finally time to confront my fears.

Anyway, it's all on paper now, or at least most of it is. I can really enjoy Christmas and a short to trip to Florida with Elizabeth and David. When I get back, there will be time to polish the manuscript before sending it in the the publishing house.

IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT will be out next summer.

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYBODY! I hope this season is filled with good health and happiness for all of us.

Sarasota Reads...alot.

2007-11-19T11:04:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to say something about the experience I had at the Sarasota Reading Festival earlier this month. Wow, was it memorable!

Many of the streets downtown were closed to traffic all day Saturday as, literally, thousands of people, young and old, showed up to celebrate reading. They came to enjoy, they came to buy books and they came to listen to wide array of authors speak.

When I learned I was scheduled for a 9:30 a.m. speaking time, I was sure nobody would even show up that early in the morning. Instead, the Methodist Church chapel was filled with people who listened with enthusiasm as I stood at the pulpit (a first for me) and talked about gettting away with murder (probably a first for the pulpit). Especially touching for me was the fact that both of my parents, who spend time each year on Siesta Key, were able to be there as well.

Afterwards, there were long lines for Lou Dobbs, Barbara Taylor Bradford and Gene Wilder. Children's authors read to their young fans, cookbook author demonstrated favorite recipes, and local television news crews covered the fesitivities, interviewing writers and revelers.

Nice going, Sarasota.

Impressed in Indiana

2007-10-30T11:41:00.000-07:00

Three years ago, when budget cuts threatened the Carmel Clay Public Library, a group of dedicated volunteers got together with the idea of developing and hosting a major fundraising event for the benefit of the Library.

They came up with The Guilded Leaf Annual Book and Author Luncheon and, as an invited speaker, I can attest to the astounding success of their efforts. 450 PEOPLE showed up this year to hear six authors speak, get their books signed and eat a delicious lunch.

With a ticket price of $60.00, you do the math. The Carmel Clay Public Library Foundation Guild raised a significant amount for the Library. Even more impressive to me was seeing how the community came out in such numbers to make the event the huge success it was and support the public library.

Way to go!

Long live public libraries!

2007-10-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

This week I had the opportunity to speak at the New England Library Association luncheon in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. I was reminded, once again, if it hadn't been for the public library, I wouldn't be writing books today.

My sister, Margaret Ann, and I went to story hours when we were little, then, as we learned to read ourselves, carefully selected our four library books each week from the children's library shelves. We treasured our library cards. We learned to love reading. In fact, the first mystery I ever read, The Mystery of the Auction Trunk, came from the shelves of the Westwood, NJ Public Library.

To see that the tradition continues, that the librarians of today are as devoted as they've always been to ensuring that everyone, no matter what thier economic status, has the chance to enjoy books, makes me feel good about the prospects for all those little, future writers out there.

Southern Hospitality

2007-09-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I participated in Bookmarks: Winston-Salem, North Carolina's festival of books. It was a wonderful event held in Historic Bethabara Park and attended by all ages who came to meet and listen to authors, illustrators and chefs. I had never been to the area before and it was a pleasure to discover a city which is so devoted to the Arts.

For me, one of the high points of the festival was getting a chance to hear Elizabeth Edwards speak and having the opportunity to meet her. She is engaging and bright and genuine and utterly impressive. No matter what your political leanings are, if Elizabeth Edwards comes to speak near you, I urge you to make it a point to go and listen. This lady is an inspiration as a human being.

Book Festival Appearance

2007-08-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Anyone in the North Carolina area at the beginning of September should stop by the Bookmarks Winston-Salem Book Festival, being held for the third year in a row. This one day event, taking place on September 8th is a fun event that is sure to have something for every reader. Many talented authors come to this event and it is absolutely free for anyone who wants to attend.

It is a fantastic street festival, filled with book readings, panels, and lots more. There will be story time for the kids and writing workshops for the adults. Come discover new stories directly from the mouths of the writers as they talk about their recent writing. And in addition to great book related programs will be delicious food and enjoyable music. It's the perfect mix of education and entertainment and is a fun outdoor event for the entire family.

Mary Jane Clark will be attending this year's festival! This is a great opportunity to hear from Mary Jane about her latest book and ask questions about suspense fiction writing. More information and a list of other authors that will be attending can be found here.

Whodunit

2007-08-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

Recently, Mary Jane Clark took part in a panel at the New York Public Library, entitled "Women of Mystery: Peek Under the Writer's Veil," which discussed how to create drama, mystery, and believable female characters. Jane Cleland has some really good points from the discussion on her blog, especially regarding the aspect of creating a sense of fear.

Fall Book Tour Events

2007-08-15T06:41:00.000-07:00

This fall, Mary Jane Clark will be traveling to a number of states to talk with readers and share her love of suspense fiction. As the summer draws to an end, the weather gets cooler; perfect for curling up with a good book. So if you haven't already gotten a copy of When Day Breaks now is a great time to do so. Then be sure to check and see if Mary Jane will be visiting an area near you. If she is, please come say hello; she'd love to meet you. Her full schedule can be found on the News page and includes North Carolina, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Indiana. Events range from book festivals, to luncheons, to book readings. These are great opportunities to ask questions and share thoughts on fiction, mystery, and the book writing process.

The next event Mary Jane will be attending is a library conference in Memphis on Saturday, August 25th. It is going to be a book club extravaganza at the Memphis-Shelby County Library and should be a lot of fun, so she hopes to see some of you there!

Blog Book Response

2007-08-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

With the emergence of blogging, the Internet has become a place where everyone has a voice, everyone can offer an opinion. The blogs are mesmerizing to read and it's so interesting see what readers have to say. Here is some of what bloggers are saying about When Day Breaks:

BiblioHistoria
"I absolutely thoroughly enjoyed this book. Read it in 24 hours. I just could not put it down…I was very pleased to have caught this series at the beginning, rather than coming in part way through."

Critical Book Review
"Millions of Americans tune in to the news every night. But what happens when the news itself makes headlines? A new suspense novel asks just that as it weaves a spellbinding tale of murder and intrigue set in the glamorous, supercompetitive, high - stakes world of network news."

Diane's Blog
"I always like her characters a lot, and some of the reporters and behind the scene characters are in several of her books, so it’s nice to continue reading about their lives."

Daisy's Book Journel
"The novel was fun and entertaining to read and completely captured my attention. As a fan of CNN's morning new program, American Morning, I was particularly fascinated by the fact that the reporters were getting information more quickly and ahead of the police."

Candid Girl Chat
"It’s a great mystery intertwining scandal and television personalities.”

Thanks to everyone who has read and blogged about the novel. Mary Jane is excited to hear that so many people are enjoying her latest book and the first installment of the Sunrise Suspense Society.

A Big Week

2007-08-06T04:55:00.000-07:00

There's alot going on this week.

First of all, the paperback edition of LIGHTS OUT TONIGHT has just hit the store shelves. It's a story of murder, mayhem and the media (KEY NEWS to be exact) at a summer theater festival in the beautiful Berskshire Mountains...and I think, though I'm admittedly biased, that it is a great book for the beach, a vacation and this last full month of summer. But don't take my word for it:

Romantic Times BOOKreviews called LIGHTS OUT TONIGHT "A quintessential whodunit."

and

Booklist said LIGHTS OUT TONIGHT is "Perfect summer reading."

If you haven't read it already, I hope you'll give LIGHTS OUT TONIGHT a try.

On Tuesday, August 7, I will participate in a panel discussion Midtown Manhattan Branch of the New York Public Library (on 5th Avenue at 41st Street). The subject: WOMEN OF MYSTERY: PEEK UNDER THE WRITER'S VEIL. If you are in New York City, come hear how women mystery writers operate. It free and begins at 6:30pm.

Thursday, August 9, the West Caldwell New Jersey Public Library is playing host. I will be speaking about the KEY News suspense series and, in particular, the birth of the Sunrise Suspense Society in When Day Breaks. Again, it's free at 7 p.m. 973-226-5441.

And on Friday, August 10, the Stattsburg New York Public Library is hosting a luncheon at a lovely Italian restaurant. I'm really looking forward to the wonderful food, talking about the books and having a chance to see Staatsburg, which I hear is a charming town. If you're in the area and would like to attend, call 845-309-0512.

So, that's my week. I hope your week is a good one, too and that you are having a great summer.

Happy reading!

Author Q and A

2007-07-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

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.

Female Suspense Authors

2007-07-23T06:17:00.000-07:00

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

July 19th Event at Orange County Library, Little Egg Harbor

2007-07-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

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

Donation to the ASPCA

2007-07-02T03:24:00.000-07:00

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.

Suspense Novel Interview

2007-07-01T06:36:00.000-07:00

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.

When Day Breaks Prologue Reaction

2007-06-18T17:04:00.000-07:00

The first reactions to When Day Breaks are coming in from readers and I so appreciate hearing the overwhelmingly positive responses. It's great to know that people are enjoying the first book in the Sunrise Suspense Society Series set in the world of KEY News.

Yet, I think I should address the fact that there has been strong reaction from a few people regarding the prologue. For those who haven't read the book yet, I don't want to give away anything....but let's just say that something dreadful happens to an animal.

Let me be clear, the prologue was written to demonstrate how twisted and vicious the killer is. It is most certainly DOES NOT reflect how I feel about or would treat an animal.

This is my 10th book, and with an average of 3 or 4 murders per book, there must be 35 or so human beings I've "killed off". None of those fictional murders has ever inspired anyone to write me saying that I shouldn't have described them or suggested that I would hurt or kill people in real life.

I would hope that people understand that my books are fiction, that killers in books do evil things, and just because I thought of something horrible, doesn't mean I would ever think of doing it myself or approve of anyone else doing it.

Again, it's fiction.

June 13th Book Event At Bryant Park

2007-06-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

Mary Jane Clark would like to invite all of her readers to join her for a lunch time book event in Bryant Park. She will be meeting with Linda Fairstein, author of the Alex Cooper mysteries and former Court TV correspondent Catherine Cryer behind the main branch of the New York Public Library at 12:30 p.m. Should the weather conditions become unfavorable the event will instead be held at the Barnes & Noble located on the corner of 5th Ave and 46th Street.

New York Public Library
455 Fifth Avenue at 40th Street

Welcome!

2007-06-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Mary Jane Clark's blog! Here we will be posting updates about the When Day Breaks book tour, so be sure to come back often. Please check your local listings and don't forget to watch Mary Jane's appearance on the CBS Saturday Early Show tomorrow.