Author Interview: Mary Ellen Bramwell
Author Interview:
Mary Ellen Bramwell
Title: The Apple of My Eye
Genre: Mystery/Romance
How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a writer?
I was 10 when I wrote my first short story. But it was a hobby until my mid-forties when I decided it could be a career.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My first book is an unpublished memoir about motherhood. I wrote it as a rebuttal to some of the parenting books out there. I doubt I will ever publish it, but it gave me the confidence to write a full-length novel having only written short stories up to that time.
What have you written?
I've written magazine articles and newsletters, buy my first published novel is The Apple of My Eye. It is a mystery/romance.
Is there a message in your book and/or books?
There are various themes, but underlying them all is a sense of hope and a strong sense of family. Families, even broken ones, can be a source of strength and joy.
Is there anything in your book and/or books based on real life experiences?
Just little things like in The Apple of My Eye when Brea is being wooed by Paul. He surprises her by bringing her dinner late one night while she is in the computer lab working on an assignment. My husband did that for me when we were dating. I thought it was so sweet.
Who is your favorite character from one of your stories?
Probably Brea from The Apple of My Eye. I like to write intelligent women who are strong but never brassy.
What actor do you see playing them in a movie?
This is too funny! My husband and I love to play this game. I would have to go with Jennifer Lawrence.
What books and/or writers have influenced you the most?
All of them. I know that’s not really an answer, but I learn something from every book I read, even if it’s that I don't want to write that way.
What is your favorite book?
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
How do you conquer writer’s block?
I take a break and read a book. Reading always seems to stimulate my writing brain.
What has been your greatest challenge when writing?
Actually, for me it’s getting over the fear that my book is boring. It can take a while to create a scene. When you read it, it goes fast and the suspense or drama flows. But when you write it, it’s slow. I have to stop periodically and reread from the beginning to know that the flow and timing are what they should be.
How do you rejuvenate after a writing session?
I play with my kids.
What is your funniest experience in writing?
The Apple of My Eye starts with the death of Brea’s husband. One time, a would-be reader asked me how long ago this happened, thinking I was Brea. I had to assure her that it was only fiction and my husband is alive and well.
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a book now with a seven-year-old narrator called When I Was Seven.
What have you learned and do you have any advice for other authors?
I run into a lot of people who say they’ve always wanted to write a book. If that’s true, just do it. It may end up only being for your only family, but just get started and plug away at it one page at a time. Also, embrace feedback.
If you could go anywhere in the world? Where?
I would love to travel more – to anywhere! There’s nothing like describing a place you have been or something you have experienced. You can't fake that in writing. For instance, in my WIP, a character walks along a beach. Having been there, I can describe the feel of the sand or the waves as they wash over your toes.
When Brea Cass, a young mother, is awakened in the night by the news that her loving husband, Paul, has been shot during a robbery, she is stunned. Arriving at the hospital to discover he has died shakes her whole world. When she finally emerges from the fog of her life, it dawns on her that something is amiss in the way her husband died. What was really going on?
As Brea searches for answers, she discovers things she never knew, things she’s not sure she wants to know. Delving into the mysteries that surround her brings several questions to the forefront of Brea’s thoughts. Can I move forward despite heartache? Am I loved? Is someone who has made mistakes redeemable?
Mary Ellen Bramwell has been writing stories since she was ten years old. After working in other fields and raising five children as a stay-at-home mom, Mary Ellen has returned to her first love, writing, working for magazines while completing her debut novel, The Apple of My Eye. She resides in Northeast Ohio with her husband, Allen, and her two youngest children.
I was 10 when I wrote my first short story. But it was a hobby until my mid-forties when I decided it could be a career.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My first book is an unpublished memoir about motherhood. I wrote it as a rebuttal to some of the parenting books out there. I doubt I will ever publish it, but it gave me the confidence to write a full-length novel having only written short stories up to that time.
What have you written?
I've written magazine articles and newsletters, buy my first published novel is The Apple of My Eye. It is a mystery/romance.
Is there a message in your book and/or books?
There are various themes, but underlying them all is a sense of hope and a strong sense of family. Families, even broken ones, can be a source of strength and joy.
Is there anything in your book and/or books based on real life experiences?
Just little things like in The Apple of My Eye when Brea is being wooed by Paul. He surprises her by bringing her dinner late one night while she is in the computer lab working on an assignment. My husband did that for me when we were dating. I thought it was so sweet.
Who is your favorite character from one of your stories?
Probably Brea from The Apple of My Eye. I like to write intelligent women who are strong but never brassy.
What actor do you see playing them in a movie?
This is too funny! My husband and I love to play this game. I would have to go with Jennifer Lawrence.
What books and/or writers have influenced you the most?
All of them. I know that’s not really an answer, but I learn something from every book I read, even if it’s that I don't want to write that way.
What is your favorite book?
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
How do you conquer writer’s block?
I take a break and read a book. Reading always seems to stimulate my writing brain.
What has been your greatest challenge when writing?
Actually, for me it’s getting over the fear that my book is boring. It can take a while to create a scene. When you read it, it goes fast and the suspense or drama flows. But when you write it, it’s slow. I have to stop periodically and reread from the beginning to know that the flow and timing are what they should be.
How do you rejuvenate after a writing session?
I play with my kids.
What is your funniest experience in writing?
The Apple of My Eye starts with the death of Brea’s husband. One time, a would-be reader asked me how long ago this happened, thinking I was Brea. I had to assure her that it was only fiction and my husband is alive and well.
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a book now with a seven-year-old narrator called When I Was Seven.
What have you learned and do you have any advice for other authors?
I run into a lot of people who say they’ve always wanted to write a book. If that’s true, just do it. It may end up only being for your only family, but just get started and plug away at it one page at a time. Also, embrace feedback.
If you could go anywhere in the world? Where?
I would love to travel more – to anywhere! There’s nothing like describing a place you have been or something you have experienced. You can't fake that in writing. For instance, in my WIP, a character walks along a beach. Having been there, I can describe the feel of the sand or the waves as they wash over your toes.
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About the Author
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Great interview! I love learning where author's first began and who influenced them.
ReplyDeleteI do too. Being a writer myself, these authors are my inspiration.
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