Ask the Author: Mary Morris
Answered Questions (11)
Mary Morris
Hi Loraine, well, if Larry Bergreen, whose work I deeply admire (please feel free to tell him) says the term is Indies, then I'm sure it's Indies. He's the expert here. Thanks for following through with this. Good to know the answer myself. with best wishes, Mary
Mary Morris
I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to see this. So glad you loved The Jazz Palace. I published a book of historical fiction a few years ago called Gateway to the Moon about the Spanish Inquisition and the secret Jews of New Mexico. Am working on a sequel to that. Not sure if I have another Chicago historical novel in me, but perhaps one will come. I love that city. It's home to me. Much appreciate your writing and again apologies for this very tardy response.
Mary Morris
Dear Adrienne, I am so sorry I didn't see this...I am not so good on keeping up at this site. I'm going to try and do better. Yes, we were related to Ethel through Alan. My mother's maiden name was Zimberoff. Apparently all Zimberoffs are related or at least we come from the same time. And also the story of Martin is very touching. It is nice to know we are related. Please feel free to email me at mmorris348@yahoo.com. And I'll certainly do better at responding than I've done here. But I appreciate hearing from you. best, Mary
Mary Morris
Dear Lorraine, I am so sorry that I missed these questions from you. I hope it's not too late to reply. I don't actually know the answer to the first question re: the New World. It is possible that this is not what Columbus called the place where they were headed, but I did not find that in any of my research but I'm going to check it out. As to Art Rubin being Rachel's father, that would be an interesting idea but it didn't cross my mind. I was so focused on Elena being Miguel's mother. I think it would have been too many coincidences, but...it's not a bad idea at all. Thanks for reading and for your interest. I appreciate these thoughtful questions.
Mary Morris
Dear Eric, I'm so sorry I missed your messages. I don't go on to Goodreads as much as I should. So glad you loved The Jazz Palace. I have just finished another novel of historical fiction about the secret Jews of New Mexico. It's a novel that moves in time from the voyages of Christopher Columbus and the Spanish Inquisition to present day New Mexico. It's really a story of America. I hope you get a chance to read it. And yes I thought The Jazz Palace would make a great film as well. We got close to a deal but it didn't come through...I'm still hoping something will. Thanks for your notes. I'll try and check her more often! my best wishes, Mary
Mary Morris
Well I have a bed that has a very interesting history and I wrote a twenty-page essay about it and shared it with a writer I respect and he said it's not a story; it's a saga. That was seventeen years ago. The bed and its origins are no longer in the book but an entirely different story emerged. I'm like a snake, leaving behind old skins, until I'm grown.
Mary Morris
Usually a germ of an idea, a phrase. Sometimes it might be a title. I never say I'm going to write a generational family saga about the ever-changing landscape of Brooklyn in the past forty years. I'll see two guys who might be brothers and look out of place, sitting on a park bench, and think to myself, "I wonder what their story is." It's always something quite specific. This is why I keep journals all the time.
Mary Morris
I just finished THE JAZZ PALACE which will be published in June, 2015, but in a sense I'm still working on it. But actually, actively working on...I have a novel in stories I've been working on for some time and also a sort of mystery novel that I've just gone back to. I am slowly reentering new work. Not easy after having had a long love affair with another.
Mary Morris
This is not an ailment I suffer from, but the only way I know how to deal with NOT being able to sit down and write is to sit down and write. As George Elliot said, the hardest thing about being a writer is pulling your chair up to your desk.
Mary Morris
The best thing about being a writer is being a writer. It is the pleasure of thinking up ideas and moving words around on the page. Anything else is gravy.
Mary Morris
Have a practice. Do it everyday. Like a dancer even if you aren't performing you need to stretch. If you are serious about being a writer, then you need to do it seriously.
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