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Thursday, December 7, 2017

#ThursdayThoughts with Linda Maran

Good Morning!

Today's guest is brand new to our blog and a new Pelican Book Group author so please give Linda Maran a great big WELCOME and let's hear what she has to say.

Take it away Linda....

Ironically, I’d never even heard of Amish Inspirational Romance until the late literary agent, Mary Sue Seymour, suggested I write one!
I’ve been writing since I was a young teen, mostly poetry back then.
In my late twenties I became ill and was unable to work at my current job as a secretary for a large firm, so I turned idle time into writing time.
I love to cook and wrote many food articles and even put together a regional cookbook back then. Unfortunately, two such books had already been published, but I had a lot of fun doing it, and learned quite a bit about discipline and organization.
In 2004, I wrote and self-published: Confronting The Bully of OCD. There was a need for such a book and so I put myself out there and outlined the techniques taught to me by a New York City OCD specialist, who graciously allowed me to do that.
I’ve always loved to read good stories with a twist and about ten years ago, tried my hand at fiction and submitted it to literary agent, Mary Sue Seymour. It was she who encouraged me to keep writing (despite the fact that my submission was not up to par.) God rest her soul.
She suggested I join RWA and a Christian critique group and finally, asked me to try to write an Amish romance.
I’d never even heard of Amish Inspirational Romance. But I remembered how I enjoyed and was fascinated by my trip to Lancaster, PA earlier, and so embarked on setting my goals in that direction. I then read my first Amish book called, The Shunning, by Beverly Lewis and was hooked.
Since I don’t believe in coincidences, it happens that there is an Amish community an hour and thirty minutes from our vacation place in upstate, NY. I made several trips there as part of my research on that particular sect of the Amish, gathering as much information as I could. That, plus reading a lot more Amish novels and books, and befriending some ex-Amish on Facebook, all contributed to the culmination of this novel, The Stranger.
I am very grateful for my first published novel and all the people who helped it become a reality, especially my critique group, Scribes 202, who literally taught me the rules for writing fiction and my wonderful agent, Linda S. Glaz.
Find out more by visiting my Facebook Page and get your copy of The Stranger directly from Pelican Book Group or Amazon.

How wonderful for you, Linda, Congratulations!! 

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

12 comments:

Patricia Kiyono said...

Congratulations on finding your path to publication! Having a critique group certainly helps - it was my critique group who helped me complete my first novel, too. I love Amish romances, but I've never tried writing them. Best wishes for your book's success!

Sharon Ervin said...

Linda, congratulations on being published by a major player in the business. Obviously, you've made all the right moves and have the right stuff. Your story encourages.

Kathleen Neely said...

Thanks for sharing. Congratulations on your publication.. I am also new to Pelican. I am in the process waiting for a release date. I enjoy Amish romances. I look forward to reading yours. Best wishes.

Linda Maran said...

Thanks for your comments, all. I appreciate the encouragement.

Jacqueline Seewald said...

Congrats, Linda, on being well-published!

Marie Bast said...

Thanks for sharing your writing history, Linda. I've read The Stranger and I loved it. Nice job and congratulations on your first novel.

Hannah Rowan said...

Congratulations on your new novel, Linda! Interesting about the OCD book as well.

Alina K. Field said...

I agree that nothing happens by coincidence. God has His hand in all the good things that happen!

Erin Unger said...

Welcome, Linda!Mary Sue Seymour was also the first agent I queried years ago. And like you, my writing wasn't ready but she encouraged me to get in a critique group and a writers group. Before then I'd never even heard of any. Thanks for this nice post.

Linda Maran said...

Thanks, all for your encouraging and wonderful comments. I truly appreciate them all.
I wish everyone the best on their wiring endeavors also. It's an interesting journey and having the support of other writers keeps me forging ahead.

Alicia Dean said...

OH wow, what a unique genre. I love the idea of Amish Inspirational. Sounds like a great read. I love how your writing career started, you definitely had an angel helping you along. Best wishes!

Linda Maran said...

Yes, Patricia and Erin, a critique group really helps. I really benefit from it and the women are all so helpful and nice.