Please Welcome Mary Ricksen

Posted under Just Everyday Stuff by nitawick blog on Tuesday 24 February 2009 at 10:28 pm

Today I have Mary Ricksen, one of the talented roses in the garden at The Wild Rose Press.

Mary, I understand that you use your dog in your book? Is that true?

Yes Nita I do. My German shepherd, Junior. Junior

Is a character in my first book, TRIPPING THROUGH TIME. If you are not an animal lover don’t read my books. I have always felt pets were family members. There are several other animals in my book. What can I say, I love them all.

Nice pic. Junior looks like a sweetie. I heard you are a member of the blogspot The Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writers, tell us about the blog.

We are a group of romance writers of all genres. From erotica to paranormal, or from historical to contemporary, the PFS write it all. I am going to do a blog on 3/2 about ,Heather Graham, Heather is the New York Times bestselling author, and on 3/16 I will be interviewing ,Rhonda Pollero, the USA Today bestselling author. We do everything, recipes, excerpts, interviews, we even have a deal of the day. Come see us.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Ah, there it is. Everyone asks that one. I am a pantser, plotting confuses me. I just let it flow. Now they say there is less editing for a plotter, but I am just not wired that way.

What made you decide to write a book?

I have always liked to write. But I never realized I could! I tried everything. I made stained glass, sang in a band, painted, nothing was beyond average. I could do a lot of things a little bit, but nothing really well. I had to find what it was that I had some talent at. And then I found my muse. It was there in my dreams, my imagination, my soul, just waiting to jump onto the page. Literally, I used notebooks to write the first draft. It was always quiet late at nite, and I need quiet. When I got my contract I looked at it every day for a month. Just couldn’t believe it. I will have to pinch myself when I hold the book in my hand in March. I love writing, it makes me feel so good about myself.

Do you pattern your characters after people you know?

I will admit to having a persons characteristics in mind when I use them. Maybe Aunt Jane is fussy and smells like wintergreen. Know what I mean? People give me characters characteristics, but I make up the stories and the problems for them.

So you give your characters a hard time?

Yes! As soon as I get them out of one problem. I push them into another conflict, hopefully they will have character growth along the way. I pity the poor girl in my next book, a work in progress, I am going to put her in a fire and she just might get burned. The sister of mine whose characteristics I will not like that. Ha!

Thanks for the interview, Mary, and good luck with your book, TRIPPING THROUGH TIME, and your next book, BURNED INTO TIME.

Look for an excerpt and more info about Mary and her books at her web site.

21 Comments »

Comment by Lynda — February 25, 2009 @ 1:20 am
Great excerpt! I love the dog picture as well. Some how I thought German Shepards had more brown than black? We’ve got a black lab, Ginger, and a Springer Spaniel, Jerry (Springer).
Comment by ArkansasCyndi — February 25, 2009 @ 9:34 am
great interview, Mary. Junior is beautiful. At my house, not only are the dogs part of the family, sometimes they think they’re in charge of this family! We have Maggie (14 y/o Border Collie) and Jill (3 y/o Flat Coated Retriever)
Comment by Barbara Monajem — February 25, 2009 @ 11:59 am
This sounds like a fun story, and I like the unusual setting. We visited Lake Champlain when I lived in Montreal.
Comment by Mary Marvella — February 25, 2009 @ 12:19 pm
Wonderful interview, Nita, but who would expect less when you’re with Mary Ricksen. Love the photo of Junior, a real heart stealer! We Fuzzy Slipper girls are all excited for Mary!
Comment by Teri Wilson — February 25, 2009 @ 12:25 pm
Mary, Wow, it sounds like we have a lot in common. I had to pop over here and get a glimpse of Junior. He is gorgeous! Good luck with your book. It sounds fab.

Blessings, Teri

Teri Wilson ~ Romancing the pet lover’s soul
www.teriwilson.net
Comment by Beth Trissel — February 25, 2009 @ 1:46 pm
Hi Mary! Great interview. I love your book cover and wonderful theme. And the dog. Beautiful dog. I put animals in my books too.
Comment by Toni V. Sweeney — February 25, 2009 @ 3:06 pm
I know what you mean about animals being family members! My first book was all about my pets. At that time, I had three poodles. Spacedog’s Best Friend turned them into telepahic canines from the planet Canaris! Keep up the good work!
Comment by Mona Risk — February 25, 2009 @ 5:32 pm
Great interview Mary. You are so multi-talented, in addition to being a great writer. I love your hero Ryan.
Comment by Mary Ricksen — February 25, 2009 @ 6:15 pm
Thanks for being there, you guys are the best! A great bunch of animal lovers!
Comment by Traci — February 25, 2009 @ 6:42 pm
I love your dog - he looks too big to be a junior - anything - lol.
Great interview, mary!
Comment by Scarlet — February 25, 2009 @ 9:24 pm
Great interview! The Fuzzies are very proud of you!

Scarlet
Comment by Mary Ricksen — February 25, 2009 @ 9:48 pm
Jerry (Springer) Ha!! My husband would love it!
Comment by Lainey Bancroft — February 25, 2009 @ 10:21 pm
Well done, ladies. And you’re right, Mary, who doesn’t love a loyal pet?
Comment by Helen Hardt — February 25, 2009 @ 11:47 pm
Hi Mary, how fun to see you here! Junior is adorable. I, too, consider my pets part of the family.
Comment by Linda LaRoque — February 26, 2009 @ 12:19 am
Hi Mary,
Love the picture of your dog. I too love pets in stories. They add so much character. I write time travels too. Will check yours out.
Linda
www.lindalaroque.com
Comment by Skhye — February 26, 2009 @ 8:39 am
Singing in a band and stained glass? Wow. That’s diversifying. And love your dog. Great interview.
Comment by Rebecca J. clark — February 26, 2009 @ 1:56 pm
Great post and I LOVE your dog. I’m a German Shepherd lover myself. We have a 16-week old GS named Boomer. Got him Christmas day.

I’m glad you finally found what you’re good at. You must be SO excited for your upcoming release. Good for you.

:)Becky
Comment by Mary Ricksen — February 26, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for commenting!
Mary
Comment by Susan Macatee — February 26, 2009 @ 2:42 pm
Great interview, Mary! Your dog is beautiful!!
Comment by Jianne Carlo — February 26, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
Great excerpt Mary, Tripping Through Time is such a lovely book. Can’t wait to buy a print copy. I already have the electronic.

Jianne Carlo
Comment by Sharon Donovan — February 26, 2009 @ 5:56 pm
Great post, Mary! I know what you mean about finding your muse. Wow a singer in a band? You’ll have to blog about that! Good luck with your future book and many mega sales!

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Please Welcome Mary Ricksen

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