Three Times A Charm with Marilee Brothers


Three Times a Charm is a weekly feature that spotlights authors, illustrators, bloggers, agents, editors or promoters from the publishing industry.

This week you get to meet an author I met in person at the Northwest Author Fair. Young adult author, Marilee Brothers visits this week to talk about her books.

Thank you, Marilee, for agreeing to be a part of my weekly feature, “Three Times a Charm.” 

You’re welcome. Thank you for inviting me.

Tell us a little about yourself.

A former teacher, coach and school counselor, I live in central Washington State and write full time. My books include Castle Ladyslipper, a medieval romance, The Rock and Roll Queen of Bedlam, winner of the 2010 Booksellers Best award for romantic suspense, Moonstone, Moon Rise, Moon Spun, Shadow Moon and the soon to be released, Midnight Moon, the last in my young adult paranormal Unbidden Magic series. I’m a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Impressive line up! Tell us about your Unbidden Magic series.

For those of you who enjoy a young adult “clean read,” the Unbidden Magic series is for you. No fur. No fangs. Just good clean fun. The protagonist is Allie Emerson, fifteen in the first book, Moonstone and seventeen in the final book. She lives with her single mom in a 24 foot travel trailer in fictional town of Peacock Flats, Washington state. At the beginning of Moonstone, Allie falls off a ladder, develops telekenetic power and acquires a spirit guide and magical moonstone pendant. One reviewer said, “Cross Twilight with a Stephanie Plum book and you’ll get Moonstone. It’s supernatural and smart, funny and affecting. I didn’t want to put the book down.”


That sounds like a series I’d love! I’m definitely adding it to my to-read list. Now, for the Threes. Share with us your top 3’s to help us know you a little better.

  • Top 3 books you’ve read in the past year.

After watching The Game of Thrones on HBO, I’ve become totally obsessed with the books by George R.R. Martin. I raced through Song of Fire and Ice, A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords. I’m currently reading book 4, A Feast for Crows. The books are quite violent and graphic, not my usual fare, but I simply can’t stop reading them. Since each book is 800-900 pages long, I figure it’s a lifetime commitment – LOL! I’ve also read everything written by James Lee Burke and Lee Child.

  • Top 3 tools of the trade you couldn’t live without.

My MacBook Pro with its built-in Oxford American Writers’ Thesaurus, Google and the ever reliable pen and paper.

  • Top 3 skills to hone for people just starting in your business.

1. Don’t be afraid to write a crappy first draft. Nobody gets it right the first time. You can’t edit an empty page, so let it flow and fix it later.

2. Don’t let the fear of rejection paralyze you. One of my favorite writers, James Lee Burke had three published books, but then collected 111 rejections on his fourth book, The Lost Get-Back Boogie, before it was picked up by a university press and eventually nominated for a Pulitzer.

3. Seek feedback on your writing. None of us can be objective about our own work. The internet has created a giant global network of writers. Seek out a critique group or beta reader, kiss your baby and send it out for a thorough examination. Oh, yeah, try not to be defensive if somebody tells you your baby is ugly. Pretty it up and send it out again.

  • Top 3 personal and/or professional goals.

Just one. I want to write a YA book with a male protagonist. It might just happen this year since I owe one more book to my publisher.



This year! You must write fast. Where can our tech-savvy readers find more about you and your books?

Visit my website at http://www.marileebrothers.com, my blog at http://bookblatherblog.blogspot.com and follow me on Twitter @marileeb and Facebook, www.facebook.com/marilee.author.

Thanks, Marilee, for talking with us on Three Times A Charm. It has been so much fun getting to know you better. Many successes for you and your books!

THANKS!

I am always looking for guests for Three Times A Charm. If you are an author, illustrator or book reviewer, an agent or an editor. If you have something related to children’s publishing that you’d like people to know about, feel free to contact me about a future appearance.

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