Interviewing Christian Romance author MaryLu Tyndall

MaryLu Tyndall is a Christian Romance author that I got in touch with through Christian Romance author Linore Rose Burkard after I reviewed her novel Before the Season Ends. She contacted me about a possible book review, author interview and author guest blog. After I checked out her website to know more about her current released novel The Red Siren, I got back to her and we set up for an author interview for today and an author guest blog for Thursday, March 19 and for a book review that will be posted here soon. Now enjoy my interview with Christian Romance author MaryLu Tyndall.

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Phoebe Jordan: When did you know that writing Christian romance was going to be the thing that you would do with your life? Which author inspired you to start writing romance?

MaryLu Tyndall: Not until I got my first contract! I always loved writing, but I wrote mostly as a hobby until 2003 when I felt a strong desire to write a pirate story, but not just any pirate story, a tale about a Christian Pirate. I finished my very first manuscript and then went in search of a publisher, knowing full well that the chances of getting publisher were very slim. But doors kept opening for me wherever I went, and I received a contract for a 3 book series just a few months after my agent sent the manuscript out to publishers. That’s when I first realized that maybe, just maybe, God’s plan for me was to write Christian novels.

Phoebe: Did you know what type of Christian romance you wanted to write about or did you experiment with different genres before you chose the one that you felt was for you?

MaryLu: I’ve always loved historicals, so it was a no-brainer for me which genre I wanted to write. I love being swept away to another time and place where men were strong and brave and women didn’t mind being cherished and protected. I think in our modern age, we’ve lost so much of the lure, the attraction between the genders that goes beyond the physical. Our roles have become so blended and confused that it’s hard to tell who’s who from their behavior.

Phoebe: What was the first fiction you ever wrote? And do you still have it with you?

MaryLu: I “attempted” to write a historical romance about twenty years ago called Out of Time. I never completed it but did submit the first three chapters to AVON and was flatly rejected. At the time I was a single mother who worked full time and I didn’t have much confidence in myself so I gave up. I burned the manuscript, and I’m glad I did. It was truly horrible!

Phoebe: How much research do you have to do for your novels and does it take you a long time to gather that research?

MaryLu: I do quite a bit of research for each novel—probably close to a couple of weeks to a month full time before I even begin writing. And then the research continues while I’m writing as small details arise that I need to investigate. I use a variety of research tools: good old fashioned books from the library, online websites, museums, and on-site research. For my Charleston series, I spent a week in downtown historic Charleston taking all the tours and visiting the museums, etc...

Phoebe: How did you come up with the concept for your current novel The Red Siren, which is the first in your new Charles Towne Belles series?

MaryLu: In my research for pirates, I came across various stories, fact and fiction, about women pirates. The idea intrigued me so much that I decided to create a story around one who roamed the Carolina seas. In the early years of Charleston, SC, the port city was ravaged over and over again by pirates, so my tale fit right into the time period. But being a Christian novel, I had to give my lady pirate a good reason to be doing what she’s doing, and I couldn’t make her as violent as some of the lady pirates I read about. (Some were worse than the men!)

Phoebe: How did you come up with the concept for your upcoming August 2009 novel The Blue Enchantress, which is the second in your new Charles Towne Belles series?

MaryLu: The Blue Enchantress is the story of the sister of the lady pirate in The Red Siren. There are three books in the series and three sisters, each representing one of the seeds sown in the parable of the sower found in Matthew 13. This story is about Hope Westcott, a beautiful woman who thinks her only value is found in her appearance and who throws herself shamelessly at any man who will give her the love and attention she craves. But her plans go awry when her latest lover abandons her to be sold as a white slave on the island of St. Kitts in the Caribbean.

Phoebe: How many more novels do you have planned to write for your new Charles Towne Belles series?

MaryLu: At this time only 3, but the stories lend themselves to further sequels.

Phoebe: How do you come up with each of your characters for your novels? How do you choose their names out of so many names out there?

MaryLu: I select names that were used back in the time in which I’m writing, but I also go to a website (baby naming websites are great for this!) where I can look up the meaning behind the name. That way I can choose a name that suits the personality of the character.

As to how I come up with the characters themselves, it is a long complicated process that has much to do with the theme of the book, each character’s journey or character arc, and the plot. I have an extensive character chart which I fill out for each main character, and I rely heavily on the book 45 Master Characters by Schmidt and my own personal experience with different types of people to create interesting characters.

Phoebe: Do you have a process of how you start to write your novels?

MaryLu: By the time I start a novel, I already have an outline bulleting the general plot of the story and the three or four major crises that occur in the novel, as well as a general idea of where I’m starting and where I want to end. I also have a fairly detailed character chart for each of the main characters listing things like their physical description, quirks, favorite sayings, goals, fears, background, personality, and how they change in the course of the story. I’m not a detailed plotter. I find I can write more freely if I allow the characters the freedom to move in directions they want to. I gather all my research around me, say a prayer, and begin writing!

Phoebe: Which do you like best, writing a series or writing stand alone novels? How is writing each different for you?

MaryLu: I prefer stand-alone novels because when I finish one book, I feel like I’m truly done! With a series, there’s much more to consider when you try and connect the books together with theme and characters.

Phoebe: What process did you have to go through to get your first book published and did it take you long?

MaryLu: My story of publication is not typical. As I said above, I wrote only as a hobby for many years, never having the confidence to even submit my work. It wasn’t until 2003 that I felt led to try to find a publisher. Once I made that decision, it only took me three months to find an agent and it only took him another two months to get a nibble on the manuscript. I truly believe this was a miracle from God, because I know it usually takes years and thousands of rejections for most authors to get published.

Phoebe: How did you feel when you finally saw your first published book came out and how do you feel about your other novels being published?

MaryLu: The day I got my author copies from my publisher in the mail, I think people heard me screaming for joy in the next county! There’s nothing quite like holding your first book in your hands. But with each subsequent book, the joy doesn’t fade. I feel truly blessed and give all the credit to God who has enabled me to do something I love to do every day.

Phoebe: Do you ever get writers block? What do you do to get rid of it so you can get back to writing your novels?

MaryLu: Yes. I think every author suffers through times when the creative well has dried up. What works for me is taking a break from writing and doing something I enjoy that inspires me: watching my favorite movies, listening to music, painting, going for long walks...etc..

Phoebe: What is your biggest reader pet peeve, if you have any? (stock characters, unresolved endings, predictability, everything wrapped up hurriedly in the end, etc.)

MaryLu: Lack of conflict and tension and predictable, trite characters.

Phoebe: Which aspects of writing do you enjoy the most and why? And what is your biggest writing pet peeve? (overuse of exclamation points, adverbs, bad guys named Wayne, etc.), if you have any?

MaryLu: My favorite part of the writing process is the time when I turn off my left brain that contains all the rules and restrictions, and I close my eyes, dive into a scene and let my creativity go wild. I don’t really have a writing pet peeve. If it’s a good story with lots of conflict and interesting characters, I don’t mind exclamation points or adverbs or any of the other things that drive some readers mad.

Phoebe: What is the one writing tool can you not live without?

MaryLu: My Online Thesaurus.

Phoebe: How do you handle your writing schedule and your personal life without going insane?

MaryLu: Who says I’m not insane? LOL. You’d have to ask my husband about that one. But honestly, it’s not easy. Right now, for instance, I’m on a tight deadline for my next book, I’m doing the edits for the last one I wrote, and I’m doing marketing for the one that just released. Besides that, I’m going on a week long book tour in Michigan and attending two conferences this year. That and caring for a home, a husband and two kids still living with us. Crazy! Yup. That’s me.

Phoebe: What do you do to relax after having spent a long while writing? Do you have any hobbies?

MaryLu: I love to oil paint, but I haven’t had much time to devote to that recently. I also love long walks and good movies.

Phoebe: Is there any advice that you would give to an aspiring romance writer that you wish someone had given you?

MaryLu: You may have a ton of good story ideas, but if you want a chance at getting published, you must study the craft of writing. Learn how to put together a scene, how to create tension, chapter endings, create deep interesting characters. There are a ton of great writing books out there which you should study daily. Also, read the best-sellers and study what makes them tick. If you can afford it, hire a book doctor to go over your manuscript line by line and teach you how to make it perfect.

Phoebe: Is there any writing tips, research tips, promotion and marketing tips that you would give to an aspiring romance writer that you wish someone had given you?

MaryLu: If you want to be successful in getting your name out there, you must have a strong web presence. Web site, blog, Facebook, etc...and you should join writers groups such as RWA, ACFW as well as local groups. Get involved, go to conferences, and review books on your blog. Make a name for yourself even before you get published. Publishers want to see that you’ve thought ahead about marketing and that you already have a potential following.

Phoebe: Do you have a favorite genre you like to read? Who is your favorite author(s)?

MaryLu: I love historical romance, which is why I suppose I write in that genre. My favorite author is Rafael Sabatini, who died in 1950. A more modern author who I really admire is Francine Rivers.

Phoebe: What are you reading now? And what do you plan to read after that?

MaryLu: Currently, I’m reading Sandokan, The Tigers of Mompracem by Emilio Salgari. Next in line is Tosca Lee’s Havah.

Thank you Phoebe!