Okay, let's get down to business...here's the interview...(don't you just wish you were sitting next to Mac under a shady umbrella with a beer in your hand? I DO!)
LR: What’s the most compelling thing about your most recent
project, the thing that’s kept your butt in the chair through hours of writing
and revising?
MC: I’d have to say humor. I love a read that makes me laugh, and
writing something with the idea of sharing humor with others motivates the hell
out of me. That process is easier in some cases than in others, but with ThatDating Thing, the characters were so much fun, I basically went along for the ride
- like a chuckling stenographer.
LR: If you had to recommend one writing resource, either a class
or a book or a workshop, what would that be?
MC: I can’t really say one particular resource is my holy grail. I’m a hands
on learner, and pick up bits and pieces of knowledge everywhere. Though I’ve
attended workshops and read the books, I tend to grow more by doing. I guess you could say I’m a true pantser by
any definition of the word. For example, I took a great plotting course with
Rose’s Colored Glasses a couple of years ago. They gave me some tools I was
poorly lacking, (character development, tagline and blurb writing, etc) but the
focus of the course, plotting, went in one ear and out the other. I still suck
at plotting, and don’t care. My system of flying by the seat of my pants works
for me, and trying to rein that in only frustrates my muse.
LR: Fantasy or reality? Most people lean one way or the other in
their work. Do you have a preference, or do you swing both ways?
MC: Obviously I
swing both ways, since my first release, Gift of the Realm, was a fantasy, and my second, That Dating Thing, is a
strait out contemporary, but I’m most comfortable with reality. Give me a good
contemporary story and I’m twitching to roll up my sleeves and get to work.
LR: Clutter or quiet? Describe your perfect writing situation.
MC: I jokingly refer to my house
as the Testosterone Ranch. Ranch hands are everywhere! For years, I’ve
complained that I have never been able to walk around my house naked because I
never know who will walk in. Consequently, I’ve learned to block out the chaos,
or I’d never get anything done. But, my ideal writing situation is early in the
morning, when all is quiet and the day is still new. I start out on my patio with a couple of cups
of coffee, working until reality sets in and the crowds begin to stir.
LR: How to you juggle all your hats (spouse, parent, worker-bee,
housekeeper, writer)?
MC: What a good question. As with everything in life,
different hats are prominent at different times. I’m lucky enough to only work
outside the home sporadically. Late spring and summer are usually free of work
commitments. These days, I mostly wear the writer’s hat, and I’m thrilled to
say my family is very understanding and supportive. (Hubby has dreams of ‘the
writer wife’ supporting him in his retirement. LOL He’s bound to experience
some disappointment, but I’ll let him have his delusions for now) Up to this
week, (Yay, I’m officially done) I was still in treatment for breast cancer and
he and my grown boys learned to chip in with the day to day chores while I was
recovering from my latest toxic cocktail. With two releases in two months, and
another in the works, I’m hoping to continue that practice for a while.
LR: What’s your favorite non-writing activity? Like, are you a
closet marathon runner? Could you crochet a house-cozy if you had to? Maybe
you’re an aficionado of free-form jazz?
MC: My girlfriends have several names for
me, including Princess Mac, because I don’t like to do things that make me
sweat or get dirt under my nails, but believe it or not, I love off-roading. I
drive a Jeep Wrangler and think nothing of whipping off onto a dirt road, just
to see where it leads, and living at the Testosterone Ranch, dirt bikes are a
big part of my reality. I have a Honda 400EX quad, and have been know to fly
over the sand dunes in Glamis California with my hair on fire.
LR: Football, basketball, baseball or soccer? Which one gets
your blood moving the fastest – or is there another sport you prefer?
MC: I grew up
in Boston during the Larry Bird era, and ours was a basketball family. I played
varsity ball all four years during high school, but these days, football does
it for me. I’m a huge Patriots fan and who can blame me? What woman doesn’t get
a kick out of watching fine male specimens in those shiny football uniforms?
LR: What’s next on your horizon? Describe your current WIP(s) or
other upcoming project.
MC: I’ll be jumping into edits for The Billionaire’s Con soon,
a humorous contemporary just signed with Still Moments Publishing. And I’m currently working on a follow up to
That Dating Thing. Brian Hurley is the best friend of Rylee Pierce, the heroine
of That Dating Thing. He captured my heart and needs his own happy ending.
OH! Brian gets a HEA?! That totally makes my day. I kinda fell for him, too. Anywhoodle, thanks so much, Mac, for sharing your work and your life. And thanks, everybody, for reading along. You can connect with Mac on her website, Twitter, or Face Book. And keep going for a sneak peek at That Dating Thing...
Peace,
Liv
That Dating
Thing
Blurb:
The daughter of
Wall Street’s most notorious stock swindler, dog trainer, Rylee Pierce, has
perfected the art of flying beneath society’s radar. Prosecutor, Cooper Reed is a threat to her
carefully hidden truths, but how is a woman supposed to resist a man capable of
handling a psychotic Great Dane, while charming her out of her panties before
she has the chance to blink?
Excerpt:
“So, this is The
Canine Academy?” He eyed the cages. “Where are your other students?”
A soft release of
pent up breath reached his ears and he smiled. Yes, off balance was just how he
wanted her.
“Gone for the
day.”
“Why is Pippin
still here?”
“Pippin required
a more intense program. He’s our only boarder at the moment.”
“Have dinner with
me,” he said, without turning around. She didn’t answer and he waited several
beats before glancing over his shoulder. Her eyes shuttered, she fell back on sarcasm.
“We just finished
dinner. What do you have, a tapeworm?”
He faced her. “I’d
like to take you to dinner, Rylee.”
Her hand went to
Belle’s head beside her and she jutted her chin up a notch. “That wouldn’t be a
good idea, Coop.”
“Why? I’m
attracted to you, and a man can tell when the attraction is mutual.”
She said nothing,
returning his gaze while she scratched the fur between Belle’s ears.
“It’s just a meal.”
He crossed his arms. “I’m not suggesting we jet off to Vegas.”
She snorted
softly. “That’s a relief. Casinos give me a headache.”
The dry sarcasm
made him smile. She hadn’t said no.
“Look, you’re a
great-looking guy.”
He flashed a grin,
pleased when her lips twitched in response.
“And I admit you
have a certain amount of charm.”
“But?”
“But, your father
is married to my aunt.”
“Your mother’s cousin,”
he corrected. He dropped his arms to his sides and stepped toward her. “And Dad
and Silvia can get their own dinner.”
Her lips formed a
genuine smile, but she shook her head. “People rarely come out of this kind of
thing on friendly terms.”
“This kind of
thing?” He continued to advance.
“We’re connected
through Sil and Elliott. I don’t want to see them caught in the middle when
this…dating thing, or whatever it is you’re after, ends.”
“This dating
thing?”
“Or whatever it
is you’re after,” she repeated. As he closed the distance, she stepped back and
bumped up against the shark cage. She slapped her spread fingers against his
chest to prevent him from coming any closer. “I’m not in the market for a
relationship right now.”
“Then we don’t
have a problem, because neither am I.” He brushed a fingertip over the perfect
skin of her cheekbone. “So, here’s what I suggest.”
Her eyelids
fluttered, pupils dilating, and reluctant temptation replaced the wariness in her
dark orbs. Still, she kept a defensive hand on his chest.
“If you insist on
negotiating when I’ve already explained my concerns,” she said, holding his
gaze, “I’d rather you didn’t touch me.”
He checked the
urge to kiss her at the artless admission of finding his touch disturbing. Instead,
he moved his hand to the cage beside her head. He wrapped his fingers around
the metal bar and dipped his head, bringing his face closer to hers. She
blinked but held her ground, boldly meeting his gaze.
“I propose we get
to know one another,” he pressed. “A few dinners. Maybe a show, or a ball game
or two if you like. We find out what makes each other tick.”
“Hmmm.” Her mouth
moved into a smirk. “Five seconds ago you were talking a meal. Now it’s a few
dinners and a ball game or two. At this rate we’ll be jetting off to Vegas by
the end of the week.”
She didn’t try to
stop him when he took the final step that brought their bodies within inches of
each other. “Has anyone ever accused you of being a wiseass?”
Head cocked as
though considering the question, her mouth quivered on a smile. “Nope.”
“How about a liar?”
She lost the
battle with the smile and her low laugh sent a lash of desire whipping across
his midsection. He did what he’d wanted to do since arriving at his father’s
condo days ago. Leaning in, he took...
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