64 ratings | 26 reviews | avg rating:4.33

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Mary Hogan

Goodreads Author

Born

in Oklahoma City, OK, The United States

Website

http://www.maryhogan.com/

Twitter

authorMaryHogan

Genre

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Young Adult

Influences

www.annetyler.com
www.adrianatrigiani.com
www.louiseerdrich.com
www.barba ...more

Member Since

November 2013

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Though an Okie by birth, I grew up in Southern California in the era of baby oil tans. Except mine. My youth was filled with sunburns and other red-faced events. Now, I live in the blessed shade of skyscrapers. New York City. Where I was meant to be all along.

At the risk of sounding bigheaded, I love GOOD books. I like to read writers who inspire me to read their sentences over and over just for the joy of it. You know that feeling? Like, wow, how did she think of that phrasing?

That said, I joined Goodreads because I'd become a genre snob. There are good Sci-fi novels, right? Historical? To my delight, I've found that to be true. As in life, when you open up, the world opens with you. Or so said Oprah. Before she abandoned us. :)

On a perso Though an Okie by birth, I grew up in Southern California in the era of baby oil tans. Except mine. My youth was filled with sunburns and other red-faced events. Now, I live in the blessed shade of skyscrapers. New York City. Where I was meant to be all along.

At the risk of sounding bigheaded, I love GOOD books. I like to read writers who inspire me to read their sentences over and over just for the joy of it. You know that feeling? Like, wow, how did she think of that phrasing?

That said, I joined Goodreads because I'd become a genre snob. There are good Sci-fi novels, right? Historical? To my delight, I've found that to be true. As in life, when you open up, the world opens with you. Or so said Oprah. Before she abandoned us. :)

On a personal note, I am married to the man of my dreams. We share our home with the lovely Lucy, a Catahoula rescue dog who, frankly, isn't that into us. In another life, she was Greta Garbo. When I smother her with kisses she literally rolls her doggy eyes.

Professionally, I'm the author of ten novels. Seven Young Adult novels (HarperCollins), one bestselling mainstream book (TWO SISTERS) an historical novel called THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTO (William Morrow) and the upcoming love story, LEFT (Morrow). Goodreads helped me open up to WRITING in new genres, too. Thank you!!

Both LEFT and TWO SISTERS are personal novels for me. TWO SISTERS was inspired by my own sister, Diane, who passed away in 2010. The fictional story emerged as I struggled to understand why my sister died the way she did. It's a story about secrets and how they can disintegrate a family.

LEFT is a love story with a twist. It tells the tale of a woman who develops a fantasy life to cope with her husband's descent into dementia. Alzheimer's and other dementias run in my family. This novel is for the current--and future--caretakers who inspire me every day.

For another VERY personal story, I wrote an article about my mom's last days for Woman's Day magazine. If you've gone through your mom's passing, or soon will, you may relate. (If you feel like reading it, I posted the link on my website maryhogan.com)

I swear it's all true.

...more

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Mary Hogan I was once given the best advice I ever heard on how to eliminate writer's block: write BADLY. Sit down and write sentences you would be too embarrass…moreI was once given the best advice I ever heard on how to eliminate writer's block: write BADLY. Sit down and write sentences you would be too embarrassed to read aloud. Because, writer's block is really perfectionism run amok. "If I can't write perfectly, I can't write at all!"
The truth is: even good writers write badly sometimes. They just fix it before anyone reads it. Thank goodness for computers!! Can you imagine all the wasted paper with typewriters?!(less)

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Mary, I absolutely LOVED "The Woman In the Photo"! It allowed me to immerse myself, once again, in another time and place (even to plan a trip to Johnstown! ) I was so intrigued with this story I am following with David McCullough's book about Johnstown. What are you writing next? Another historical fiction? I consider you now among my faves for this genre.

Mary Hogan Dana, what a nice holiday gift to receive this note from you! Isn't Johnstown an amazing story? I was hooked the moment I heard about it. So heartbrea…moreDana, what a nice holiday gift to receive this note from you! Isn't Johnstown an amazing story? I was hooked the moment I heard about it. So heartbreaking, and so avoidable. If you can, visit Johnstown in fall. The Alleghenies are truly spectacular. Johnstown itself is an interesting working class town. Modern and old. Somewhat eerie.

That whole area has been struck by tragedy. Did you know that United Flight 93, the plane that crashed in Shanksville, PA on 9/11, went down only a few miles from Johnstown? The memorial is very moving. In that whole area, you can feel the energy of the brave souls who perished. (I know this sounds very airy-fairy, but you can!) And you will love David McCullough's detailed book. It's where I began my research and I owe a huge debt to his incredible skill as an historian and writer.

In answer to your Q, the novel I'm writing now is a family story, more in line with TWO SISTERS than THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTO. Though I love, love, LOVE the historical fiction genre, a great story like Johnstown has to find you. So much immersion happens, you really have to be almost kidnapped by the story. Unable to NOT write it, you know? If such a story every comes my way again, I will pounce on it. In the meantime, I hope that you like my other novels, too!

Happy Holidays!!

All best,
Mary(less)

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Combine Editions
Mary Hogan’s books

Average rating: 3.67 · 11,238 ratings · 1,454 reviews · 65 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Woman in the Photo 3.96 avg rating — 4,055 ratings — published 2016 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Two Sisters 3.43 avg rating — 3,061 ratings — published 2014 — 21 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Pretty Face 3.72 avg rating — 2,146 ratings — published 2008 — 19 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Left: A Love Story 3.31 avg rating — 750 ratings — published 2018 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Serious Kiss 3.54 avg rating — 587 ratings — published 2004 — 17 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Perfect Girl 3.17 avg rating — 385 ratings — published 2007 — 23 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Susanna Sees Stars 3.20 avg rating — 75 ratings — published 2006 — 14 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Susanna Hits Hollywood 3.42 avg rating — 55 ratings — published 2007 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Susanna Covers the Catwalk 3.81 avg rating — 16 ratings — published 2008 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Susanna Loves London 3.16 avg rating — 19 ratings — published 2012 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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18 posts
Mary Hogan's Blog

Truthiness in Fiction

"Write what you know."

That's nearly everyone's advice to beginning authors. From the start, I took it to heart. The first line of my first published novel was: "My father drinks too much and my mother eats too much which pretty much explains why I am the way I am." At the time, I didn't fully understand what it meant to expose your family's secrets to, literally, the world. I remember my mother Read more of this blog post »

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Published on June 28, 2018 07:07 • Tags: alzheimer-s, dementia, left, love-story, marriage

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Series by Mary Hogan

Susanna (5 books)
by

Mary Hogan (Goodreads Author)

3.32 avg rating — 170 ratings

Mary is Currently Reading

Mary Hogan is currently reading

Still Me (Me Before You, #3)

by Jojo Moyes (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Mar 03, 2018 08:29AM

Quotes by Mary Hogan (?)

“Red", I write "is the color of life. It's blood, passion, rage. It's menstrual flow and after birth. Beginnings and violent end. Red is the color of love. Beating hearts and hungry lips. Roses, Valentines, cherries. Red is the color of shame. Crimson cheeks and spilled blood. Broken hearts, opened veins. A burning desire to return to white.”
― Mary Hogan, Pretty Face

tags: mary-hogan, pretty-face, red

158 likes

“If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live ” “Right here ” Enzo replies. “In your arms.”
― Mary Hogan, Pretty Face

tags: love, romance, teenage-love

18 likes

“The spirit of Italy has taken over my soul. I'm relaxed, happy, warm. It's as if i'm part of the earth, not just standing out it.”
― Mary Hogan

4 likes

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Polls

October BoTM Side Reads!! 1st Poll.

Top 5 books will move onto the second poll!!!

Before I Go To Sleep

by S.J. Watson

11 votes, 15.3%

Two Sisters

by Mary Hogan

9 votes, 12.5%

This is Where I Leave You

by Jonathan Tropper

9 votes, 12.5%

Outlander

by Diana Gabaldon

8 votes, 11.1%

The Winter Sea

by Susanna Kearsley

7 votes, 9.7%

The Enchanted

by Rene Denfeld

6 votes, 8.3%

The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini

5 votes, 6.9%

A Fine Balance

by Rohinton Mistry

5 votes, 6.9%

The Night Watch

by Sarah Waters

4 votes, 5.6%

The Joy Luck Club

by Amy Tan

3 votes, 4.2%

The Orphan Master's Son

by Adam Johnson

3 votes, 4.2%

Replay

by Ken Grimwood

1 vote, 1.4%

The Old Mermaid's Tale

by Kathleen Valentine

1 vote, 1.4%

72 total votes

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