Author Interview ~ Mary Demuth ... Take II

What book or project is coming out or has come out that you’d like to tell us about?

Wishing on Dandelions, the sequel to Watching the Tree Limbs. In it, I take the character Marnatha to the age of 17 where she encounters suitors, a possible move, and a really obnoxious character named Georgeanne Peach. Though this one doesn’t deal specifically with the same subject matter as the last book (childhood sexual abuse), the reader will see the character grapple with its ramifications. Racism is hit pretty hard as well.

In terms of this book, the cool thing was that NavPress bought Watching the Tree Limbs and another yet unnamed book. I was able to convince them that Maranatha needed to live on to another book. I’m hoping that someday, she’ll live to see another book, but that’s out of my hands. (Maybe we should start a campaign… call it “Let Maranatha live!”)

Even with the high praise you received on your first novel, Watching the Tree Limbs, do you still experience self-doubts regarding your work?

Yes, particularly in novel writing. Now that I’m published, particularly with Watching the Tree Limbs, publishers are a bit freaked out by me. They call me edgy, which is funny to me. They think I write too darkly. I would contend that in order to shine redemption, you have to show life as it is, and that, my friends, can be dark. Plus, the whole idea of story is conflict, conflict, conflict. Yeah, sometimes I wish I could write all sweetness and light, but then the world we live in collides with my characters, making a great big hairdo of a mess.

What mistakes have you made in this business?

Not understanding how very much an author must promote her books. Although I have found I really enjoy it, I didn’t realize how nutty it would be to promote three books in one year. So, I doubt I’ll try to do that again.

What’s the best advice you’ve heard on writing/publication?

Write from your passion.

What’s the worst piece of writing advice you’ve heard?

Write what you know. (There are all sorts of things I don’t know. I’m thankful for that. If I only wrote what I knew, I wouldn’t grow intellectually.)

What’s something you wish you’d known earlier that might have saved you some time/frustration in the publishing business?

That this is a business. I was one of those idealistic writers with eyes wide open, thinking nostalgically that everything would just plain happen once editors saw my “brilliance.” Ha! You need more than good writing to make it in this business. I remember in college someone asking me what I would major in. I’d scoff and say, “Well, I know it won’t be business.” Now, I’m a businesswoman—and oddly, I love it. But I didn’t expect to do so much on this side of the desk.

Is there a particularly difficult set back that you’ve gone through in your writing career you are willing to share?

This waiting period right now as I wonder if my fiction will be published again.

What are a few of your favorite books?

I just finished (I know, I’m slow) the Poisonwood Bible. I heard that Kingsolver wrote EVERY scene from EVERY POV and then chose the right one that worked for the story. That’s like writing five books, folks. Utterly amazing. Great prose. A wonderful study in creating obvious difference in POVs.

What piece of writing have you done that you’re particularly proud of and why?

Currently it’s Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006). I sweat blood while I wrote that book. I almost put it down, but Jesus kept at me to keep writing it. And now it’s been blessing readers who don’t want to duplicate the homes they were raised in. I heard of one gal who is not married yet (and determined not to get married). She read the book and said, “Now I have hope that I can overcome my past.” She’s now open to marriage and having children. That’s why I wrote that book—to show readers that Jesus can heal them so they don’t have to parent the way they were parented.

Do you have a pet peeve having to do with this biz?

All this shuffling around gets to me. One week you have a champion at a publishing house, the next week they’ve decided to move on to a “better place.” Why oh why do people keep moving around? Makes me crazy.

Do you have a dream for the future of your writing, something you would love to accomplish?

I’d like to see my first novel, Crushing Stone, be published by an ABA house. It’s out there right now, and I’m in that anxious waiting mode.

Was there ever a time in your writing career you thought of quitting?

As the French say, “Pas de tout” (not at all). I love this job!


How much marketing do you do? Any advice in this area?

I read this from www.raintoday.com and it really helped me: “The most effective way to promote a book, the survey found, was through the Internet, followed by coverage in trade magazines that report on an author's particular field. Book signings were far down the list . . .” So I have worked hard at establishing my web presence. I keep my website (www.relevantprose.com ) updated. I blog regularly at www.relevantblog.blogspot.com and www.pioneerparenting.blogspot.com . I’m a guest blogger at the Masters Artist (http://tpr.typepad.com/themastersartist/). And soon, I’ll be joining eleven of my Christian Author’s Network friends in doing a blog exclusively about how to market and promote books at http://canblog.typepad.com/ . This one goes live September 1st. I’m really excited about how corralling a group of crazy authors to speak about one subject. Be sure to check it out.

Parting words?

It’s a marathon, this writing journey. Don’t rest on your laurels if you’ve been published once or twice or ten times. Always, always improve the craft with each project. Stay teachable. Be humble. Give Jesus ALL the glory.



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