Ask the Author: M.J. Roë
Answered Questions (8)
M.J. Roë
First off, I've just begun reading a book by Gabriella De Ferrari I picked up at a book sale at our local library. A Cloud on Sand (1990) was the author's debut novel.
Next up will be Les Parisiennes : how the women of Paris lived, loved, and died under Nazi occupation by Anne Sebba. It's getting mixed reviews, so we'll see, but I generally enjoy WWII Paris-related books.
After that, I definitely want to read Cara Black's new mystery in the Aimée Le Duc series. Murder in Saint Germain is due to be released on June 6 and I'll be in line at the bookstore for a signed copy.
Next up will be Les Parisiennes : how the women of Paris lived, loved, and died under Nazi occupation by Anne Sebba. It's getting mixed reviews, so we'll see, but I generally enjoy WWII Paris-related books.
After that, I definitely want to read Cara Black's new mystery in the Aimée Le Duc series. Murder in Saint Germain is due to be released on June 6 and I'll be in line at the bookstore for a signed copy.
M.J. Roë
The greatest mystery in my own life happened in the late sixties when I was a young university student studying in Paris. That was back in the day when there were no communications satellites, no worldwide Internet, no cell phones, not even any personal computers! Basically, the dark ages. Anyway, I started to date a French medical student. A year later, he drove me to the airport for my flight back to the United States. We said au revoir and promised to write to each other. I flew home to the US, and I didn’t hear a thing from him again. My letters went unanswered. In those days, mail wasn’t returned to senders from a foreign country. There was no way to call him. Months went by. Basically, I never knew what happened to him. The mystery haunted me for a long time. Had he been in an accident? He was draft age. The Vietnam War was raging at the time. Had he been sent to war? Killed? Or, on the other hand, had the Frenchman just decided he didn’t want anything more to do with me? That haunted me, too. I had no closure.
I went on with my life. I married, had a family, pursued two careers, and have made many, many trips to France over the years. Then, after I finally retired, I became an author. Thirty-five years later, I turned that mystery into the plot for my debut novel, a romantic suspense titled The Seven Turns of the Snail’s Shell (published 2009; awarded honorable mention Paris Book Festival 2010). Writing is a great way to resolve a life mystery!
I went on with my life. I married, had a family, pursued two careers, and have made many, many trips to France over the years. Then, after I finally retired, I became an author. Thirty-five years later, I turned that mystery into the plot for my debut novel, a romantic suspense titled The Seven Turns of the Snail’s Shell (published 2009; awarded honorable mention Paris Book Festival 2010). Writing is a great way to resolve a life mystery!
M.J. Roë
I think my all-time favorite fictional couple is Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. There is a chapter toward the end of the book in which Elizabeth asks him what "set" him off, i.e., attracted him to her, in the first place? "--my behaviour to you was at least always bordering on the uncivil," she says, "and I never spoke to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not. Now, be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?" His answer is priceless. "For the liveliness of your mind, I did." Their relationship is very modern considering the time.
M.J. Roë
It's a prequel to the first two novels, The Seven Turns of the Snail's Shell and The Blue Amulet.
M.J. Roë
Just released my third novel, As Darker Grow the Shadows, A Novel of the French Resistance. Scribbling ideas for novel number four at the moment. Plan to participate in November 2014 Nanowrimo.
M.J. Roë
1) If you have an idea, sit down and start getting it onto paper. Make notes, scribble on post its, write freely. 2) Read! Then create files of ideas you've gleaned from your reading. You never know when something comes in handy.
M.J. Roë
I read. Always triggers a thought that gets me going again.
M.J. Roë
Spending time in a different world, even a different time.
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