Ask the Author: Maggie Lynch
Answered Questions (7)
Maggie Lynch
So many to choose from! It is probably Romeo and Juliet though I would want to rewrite the ending to be a happily ever after. The love is so pure and innocent and yet they are faced with a world of problems. The story features prejudice, secrets, amazing beauty and horrifying mistakes. I like stories that reveal both the good and evil sides of human nature. However, I personally believe that love can prevail and my stories always make sure it does.
In a modern Romeo and Juliet I'd have Romeo call 911 and make sure Juliet was saved before Romeo kills himself. He would then have all that time at Juliet's bedside to rail against the stupidity of the feud, renew their undying love and in their marriage show the community that the two sides are more alike than different. Of course, the story would also spawn an entire series about their progeny and their impact on the world as they grew up. :)
In a modern Romeo and Juliet I'd have Romeo call 911 and make sure Juliet was saved before Romeo kills himself. He would then have all that time at Juliet's bedside to rail against the stupidity of the feud, renew their undying love and in their marriage show the community that the two sides are more alike than different. Of course, the story would also spawn an entire series about their progeny and their impact on the world as they grew up. :)
Maggie Lynch
Yes, I do! Go to my website, http://maggielynch.com and sign up for my email list. There is an option in the right column where it says NEWSLETTER SIGN UP. Once I verify your email, I ask you what kind of books like you to read and for those you select, I'll send you one of mine in that genre (usually first in series) for free. Of course, you need to give me your email because that is the only way I'll know where to send the book. And you are opting into get my monthly newsletter. If you decide you hate the book, hate my newsletter, or anything else you can unsubscribe at any time.
Maggie Lynch
I've never had writer's block--a time when I didn't know what to write. However, I've had times when I procrastinated writing because I was afraid, or knew I had to write a difficult scene and couldn't go there emotionally right then, or questioned my ability to resolve a major plot point or theme. In other words, I knew what I had to write and why I had to write it, but chose not to face it at that moment.
Sometimes I deal with this by simply not writing for a while. After a period of time, I then my force myself through it by giving myself permission to be over the top in my scene. By writing it as melodrama or as way too much action or people saying crazy things, I get out all the fear knowing that I can decide to scrap it all later or edit it, tone it down, change it. This always works for me. Surprisingly often, what I thought was "too much" or over the top isn't that far from the mark. It is all about my fear to approach it.
I'm a really positive, up-beat optimist most of the time. This means I really don't like torturing my characters or giving them so much struggle in their life. So, sometimes it's hard to write. But deep down I know I MUST make it hard for them because life isn't all puppies and unicorns. Once I do get it down my procrastination ends and I can move on.
Sometimes I deal with this by simply not writing for a while. After a period of time, I then my force myself through it by giving myself permission to be over the top in my scene. By writing it as melodrama or as way too much action or people saying crazy things, I get out all the fear knowing that I can decide to scrap it all later or edit it, tone it down, change it. This always works for me. Surprisingly often, what I thought was "too much" or over the top isn't that far from the mark. It is all about my fear to approach it.
I'm a really positive, up-beat optimist most of the time. This means I really don't like torturing my characters or giving them so much struggle in their life. So, sometimes it's hard to write. But deep down I know I MUST make it hard for them because life isn't all puppies and unicorns. Once I do get it down my procrastination ends and I can move on.
Maggie Lynch
Two best things:
1. When I finish the book and send it to my editor, I always feel a great sense of accomplishment and of having learned something important in the process.
2. When a reader writes me to tell me he/she loved it, or it moved them, or they learned something. That is the best reward ever!
1. When I finish the book and send it to my editor, I always feel a great sense of accomplishment and of having learned something important in the process.
2. When a reader writes me to tell me he/she loved it, or it moved them, or they learned something. That is the best reward ever!
Maggie Lynch
Believe in yourself and the story you have to tell. Share your work with others early and often so that you get feedback on your stories ability to move others or to entertain others. Listen to feedback with an open mind but also listen critically. Evaluate whether the feedback helps you to tell your story better OR tells a different story. If it makes YOUR story better then see if you can learn from it. If it tells a different story, be strong in your vision and move forward.
No book can please everybody. No book gets only 5 star reviews, even with NYT bestsellers. Write the book you want to write and make it as good as you can. Then let it go--whether that means submitting it to agents/editors or self-publishing. Then start the next book.
No book can please everybody. No book gets only 5 star reviews, even with NYT bestsellers. Write the book you want to write and make it as good as you can. Then let it go--whether that means submitting it to agents/editors or self-publishing. Then start the next book.
Maggie Lynch
Everything around me inspires me! I write about people who face hard times and have to dig deep to get through them. All my stories have some basis in real life--real emotions and struggles. In writing these stories I'm reminding myself how we all make hard choices, and it is those choices that define us.
As my tag line says: "Stories of making heroic choices one messy moment at a time." I love everyday heroes. I believe we can all be heroes if we just take a moment to think, to see, beyond our own needs. A hero can be someone who notices someone struggling to get groceries in the car, and offers to help. A hero can be someone who advocates for doing the right thing even though its not popular. A hero is someone who chooses to help another, to advocate for another, to love another even though it's scary, it's hard, or it's downright confusing.
Those messy moments, unsure moments are so interesting and so amazing! People inspire me every day and I want to record those moments in my stories. Those stories inspire me anew and I hope inspire others by showing how one person gets through the tough times and comes out a better person, a happier person in the end.
As my tag line says: "Stories of making heroic choices one messy moment at a time." I love everyday heroes. I believe we can all be heroes if we just take a moment to think, to see, beyond our own needs. A hero can be someone who notices someone struggling to get groceries in the car, and offers to help. A hero can be someone who advocates for doing the right thing even though its not popular. A hero is someone who chooses to help another, to advocate for another, to love another even though it's scary, it's hard, or it's downright confusing.
Those messy moments, unsure moments are so interesting and so amazing! People inspire me every day and I want to record those moments in my stories. Those stories inspire me anew and I hope inspire others by showing how one person gets through the tough times and comes out a better person, a happier person in the end.
Maggie Lynch
Heart Strings is the third in a series of four Contemporary Romantic Women's Fiction novels. It continues to look at the lives and loves of the women in the Sweetwater Canyon Band.
Sarah Cosgrave has been the quiet character in these novels. She has a deep Christian faith and has often found herself at odds with the decisions and behaviors of her bandmates. All people have some trauma in their background–for some it is around common experiences like betrayal and distrust. For others it is around larger experiences like assault, dysfunctional families, poverty, or death of a parent or child.
Many people believe that those with a deep faith have it easier–that their belief in a caring and loving God makes it easier to face trauma. I don’t believe faith makes it is easier to face. However, once one comes to terms and is still able to maintain their faith perhaps it is easier to accept. However, what I wanted to explore in this story is the existential struggle when someone’s faith is in the balance.
When I was about 10 years old a younger brother died of heart failure. Though he was often ill and hospitlalized. As a ten year old I had a simple faith that God would cure him. When he died I was so angry at what I perceived as a betrayal of my faith, that when the pastor visited and offered to comfort me I kicked him in the teeth. Not on purpose. Ikicked out my foot in anger and it connected with his mouth. Yes, I actually drew blood.
That was a child’s reaction. In many ways, I was fortunate to come to grips with my faith and balancing it against the realities of life at such a young age. The timeline of a child is small. A child has not yet experienced how years and years can add to the questions. I believe that for adults the struggle becomes existential and even more painful. The answers to the questions are more complex and will eventually drive someone either away from their beliefs or more deeply into them.
It is this struggle that Sarah faces–coming to grips with a dysfunctional past, the second death of a parent, and the betrayal of love. Though she is a faith-filled Christian, it is not an easy path. But it was one she must define in order to be whole and find love and her happily after.
Sarah Cosgrave has been the quiet character in these novels. She has a deep Christian faith and has often found herself at odds with the decisions and behaviors of her bandmates. All people have some trauma in their background–for some it is around common experiences like betrayal and distrust. For others it is around larger experiences like assault, dysfunctional families, poverty, or death of a parent or child.
Many people believe that those with a deep faith have it easier–that their belief in a caring and loving God makes it easier to face trauma. I don’t believe faith makes it is easier to face. However, once one comes to terms and is still able to maintain their faith perhaps it is easier to accept. However, what I wanted to explore in this story is the existential struggle when someone’s faith is in the balance.
When I was about 10 years old a younger brother died of heart failure. Though he was often ill and hospitlalized. As a ten year old I had a simple faith that God would cure him. When he died I was so angry at what I perceived as a betrayal of my faith, that when the pastor visited and offered to comfort me I kicked him in the teeth. Not on purpose. Ikicked out my foot in anger and it connected with his mouth. Yes, I actually drew blood.
That was a child’s reaction. In many ways, I was fortunate to come to grips with my faith and balancing it against the realities of life at such a young age. The timeline of a child is small. A child has not yet experienced how years and years can add to the questions. I believe that for adults the struggle becomes existential and even more painful. The answers to the questions are more complex and will eventually drive someone either away from their beliefs or more deeply into them.
It is this struggle that Sarah faces–coming to grips with a dysfunctional past, the second death of a parent, and the betrayal of love. Though she is a faith-filled Christian, it is not an easy path. But it was one she must define in order to be whole and find love and her happily after.
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