Q&A with MaryLu Tyndall discussion

Hi everyone! Well, I finally broke down and started a goodreads group! My desire is to connect with my readers and get to know you a little bit better.
I'm gearing up for my next release, Surrender the Dawn, coming out in August, and I'll be giving away free copies in July. So climb on board and make yourselves at home!

Yippee! I'm Sheri from Virginia and a huge fan of your books. Hi, Everyone! Can't wait to meet other fans!

This is pretty awesome. :) I've only read three of your books, but I've reread them. I really enjoy your writing style.

Thanks Sheri! Thanks Kendall. That means a lot.

Hey everyone. I am Melanie from British Columbia Canada and I absolutely love MaryLu's books! They are pretty much amazing! Can't wait to meet other fans of hers.

Hi Im Jenny from Australia. I love your books too and love that you are at goodreads now as its a great place to interact.

Hey MaryLu,

You know I love you and your stories :) I'm Rel from Australia (waving to Jenny!!). This should be fun.

Hugs

Hi Rel good to see you hear. We aussies need to stick to gether dont we.

;-)

Hey MaryLu...you write some awesome books! And readers, I can vouch from personal experience that as sweetly as she wields a pen, she's even more sweet in person.

M.L. wrote: "Hi everyone! Well, I finally broke down and started a goodreads group! My desire is to connect with my readers and get to know you a little bit better.
I'm gearing up for my next release, Surrend..."

I love your book "The Falcon and the Sparrow". I really got into the storyline. Oh I'm called Susan by the way.

Hey MaryLu,

Have to agree with Michelle (hey Michelle!) MaryLu is a sweetheart in person--an awesome lady.

Hey Debbie Lynne...didn't know you were on Goodreads. Great to see you here!

Hey everyone!
My name is Leah.
I LOVE your books Mary Lu!! They are all SO interesting and exciting!
I cant wait for your next one to come out!
I'm glad you made a group on here so we can get to know you.

What a nice surprise to wake up this morning and see all these friendly faces here! I'm waving at old friends and new ones. Thank you all so much for your kind words!!! What a blessing you all are...
It's finally turned into summer here in Northern California.. makes it hard to stay inside and write! But I have a deadline in 2 months! Yikes... More on that later... enjoy your day!

M.L. wrote: "Thanks Sheri! Thanks Kendall. That means a lot."

*smile* Just the truth. I look forward to reading more of your work soon.

Melanie wrote: "Hey everyone. I am Melanie from British Columbia Canada and I absolutely love MaryLu's books! They are pretty much amazing! Can't wait to meet other fans of hers."

A fellow Canadian. :) Hi.

Hey, MaryLu! Another book? How exciting! Congrats! I love your writing! :D

Hi Linnette! Thanks so much! And yes.. another book this August.. then the next one next June.. and three more contracted after that. I'm tired just thinking about it.. but feel very blessed. :-)
Thanks for joining!

LOL I imagine! Someday, I hope to feel that kind of tired. ;-)

Hi there!! I just joined this group recently, and just tonight finished reading the Charles Towne Belles trilogy, which I loved!!!
What is fresh in my mind at the moment about the last book in particular (The Raven Saint) is the way Grace learns real grace in her life i.e. she goes from being a very legalistic, stare down your nose Christian, to a woman who realises her own faults and sins and therefore realises the full truth and awesomeness of God's grace and forgiveness and love!! I've read a fair few Christian novels, but I just really loved how you bought this message across in this book, it was a beautiful thing (c:
I a new fan, and can't wait to plough through your other books (c:
Sorry, that was a bit of a ramble, HI, my name is Penny from Australia!!

Hi Penny from Australia!! It's a pleasure to meet you!! I'm so glad you enjoyed Charles Towne Belles. Did you have a favorite of the three? I must say, I had a lot of fun with Grace in The Raven Saint. I know too many Christians like her!! And it was great fun bringing her off her high horse. LOL. Please stay in touch.. I'm so bad about posting here, but I'll try harder. I'm pretty active on my blog, however, if you want to check it out. http://www.crossandcutlass.blogspot.com

Hugs and blessings! MaryLu

Hi penny nice to see a fellow aussie.

Hey Marylu! I just say this and thought what a slacker I've been on here. LOL So glad to see I'm in good company. Too many of these to keep up with and they just keep adding more!

Hi Debbie Lynne! I need to get over here more often! But with FB and my blog and twitter.. uggg.. but I really like Goodreads and need to be more active here. Thanks for joining my group!!

I joined the group back in the middle of June so it has been a while. LIke I said, I've been slacking! So sorry, my friend. I can't seem to keep straight where I've been and where I need to be. ;o)

Hey. no problem! I haven't been here either. :-) But I'm hoping to remedy that soon.

MaryLu, I don't know how any of us are supposed to keep up with so many different things and still have time for writing. :-)

Agreed, Linnette! It's driving me crazy. I'm putting out 2 full length novels a year.. that includes all the research I have to do.. plus do most of my own marketing.. blog posts, interviews, Facebook, Goodreads, My own blog, articles, another blog I'm on.... it's insane. I'm working harder than I ever have in my life!

There has to be a limit to it! Julie Lessman said her hubby and team at Revell took over her calendar because she has the inability to say no. She was wearing herself thin! A body can only do so much. You might have to start filling in MaryLu time into your calendar so you don't overload yourself. I don't know how you do it. Just thinking about it makes me tired! :)

Oh.. I know Julie well. We've got the same personality. I hate to say no to anyone.. especially when I hear that voice in my head that keeps saying.. "you have to do this if you want to sell books" I wish my publisher would take over my calendar, but they seem to be doing less and less. My hubby is saying the same thing you are.. that I need to slow down and let some things go. What I need to do is trust God more for my sales and rest in Him. :-) Easier said than done.

(((Hugs))) Maybe you need a marketing consultant to help you with your calender, or even a friend to help keep you accountable where that's concerned. I know for me it would be hard even then. I hate to tell people no. So hard! That's the one plus about my chronic illness. It's forced me to learn how to say no. But I wouldn't wish that on you for anything!!! And, yes, it is easier said than done for sure! I'll pray for you. :)

I have hired someone.. finally... for my next release in July. She's a friend who does freelance marketing work.. so hopefully that will eleviate some of the stress. But I've still got to do all my own article and blog writing..etc.. It's funny, I know some of the big name authors actually hire someone to comment on Facebook! I wonder if their fans know it's not them they are speaking to. LOL.
I'm so sorry to hear about your chronic illness. :-( Sometimes I do feel like the Lord would have to put me in traction to get me to slow down.
Anyway, thanks for your Hugs and prayers! They mean the world to me!! And I'll put you on my prayer list too.. for your healing! Hugs

Thanks for you prayers and hugs, too, MaryLu!

Article writing and blog writing... that's one thing I haven't become consistent in, yet. It's also one reason I'm not in an extreme hurry to get "Finding Beth" published (a hurry, yes, but not extreme). I am taking steps in that direction, but I'm trying to trust God with the timing of it. I'm considering self-publishing. One reason is so I can keep more control over my schedule due to my illness. But that route takes money to do it up right. I'm applying for a writer's grant. We'll see what happens.

I don't know if I could pay someone to answer for me. It just seems dishonest.

I'm thankful God has used me to give you a little encouragement. We sisters in Christ need each other! :)

Yes, indeed, we do need each other! Thank you so much for brightening my day. :-) About self-pubbing... you'd probably have to do even more marketing because you wouldn't have a publisher backing you up.. but how much you did would be entirely up to you. Lots of authors are going this way now cause the new e-book revolution has made it so much easier. I'll pray God gives you a clear direction. :-)

Thank you! I appreciate that! :D

Hi Danielle! This group isn't very active, but I always get the messages and respond. Welcome!

Hi again, I finally read Veil of Pearls and remembered all over again why I love your books!!! Am currently broadly hinting to the hubby that your books would make a welcome Chrissy present if he's struggling for ideas (c: hee hee

Hi Penny!! I'm so glad you enjoyed Veil of Pearls!! Thank you for making my day. :-) I'm praying you get your Christmas wish from hubby. LOL.. God Bless, and have a Merry Christmas!!!

Hi MaryLu, this is Tracie from Califonia.

I LOVE your books, how did it take me so long to discover your adventurous stories? Your characters are very real.

It is hard for me to find the type of romances that I enjoy in the Christian romance genre. LOL just read what you said about Grace, she reminded me of myself when I was younger, a bit judgmental & hard on myself when I was discovered that I failed being the perfect Christian!
Also, I LOVED Kent Carlton, my favorite! more hero's like him please, wow what a great love story with Kent & Isabel! Great scene on the ship where he gives her to Merrick, very dramatic, also when Isabel finally realizes she loves him and how God changed Kent's heart. I could go on and on.
Thank you for your great adventurous stories, it is nice to escape into a safe historical romance =).

Hi Tracie! Where are you in California? I'm in the Bay area. Anyway, THANK YOU so much for your kind words. It's funny.. I was more like Hope when I was younger, but while I was writing Grace, I realized to my utter dismay, that I had a lot of her in me too! Yikes! And Kent... ah yes.. the ultimate reformed bad boy! He and Merrick and Charlisse and Isabel will always hold a tender spot in my heart. I'm hoping to write a story that adds to the series.. we shall see what my publisher says. ;-) Anyway, thanks again and God bless! MaryLu

Thanks so much for responding MaryLu, I live in Orange County So California =)
I SO hope that you do add on the the Pirates series, of course it would be a great success like the other books! Anyway, thanks for the great stories, May God bless your future books with His inspiration!