Today at FAR, we have the pleasure of speaking to Mary O'Connor. Hi Mary! And welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews! The readers are eagerly waiting to hear about Mary.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I'm a writer of course, but I also wear many, many other hats as a wife, mother of three, daughter and sister to seven siblings. I volunteer a lot with my kids' schools and my church, I love to take photos, scrapbook, travel and that's just to name a few of the things that I cram into seven days a week. I live in Texas, near Houston, in a wonderful, supportive, small-town-feel community. I still can hardly believe I'm a published author--my first published work came out August 2007 from New Concepts Publishing and is called The Seduction of Prince Frog. This was a totally different book for me to write-Historical Fantasy-but I wrote it incredibly fast (for me) and had a blast writing it. It's the retelling of the fairy tale The Princess and the Frog. Who knew a frog could be so sexy? Okay, you have to read the story to get that remark!

Would you like to discuss your latest book?

I am so excited about my book coming in February from New Concepts Publishing. It's called THE VIOLET SOCIETY: DEATH AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. It's set in a fictitious town in the Texas Hill Country (a beautiful place for those of you who've never heard of it) and stars a struggling antique dealer named Cassie, a handsome ex-con furniture builder named Porter and a murderer causing all kinds of problems and who shall remain nameless until you read the book! It's romantic and sexy and suspenseful and I had so much fun writing it. The second book in this series, MURDER AND MERLOT, is coming soon, but in the meantime, you can start reading about one of the couples you'll meet in DEATH AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH when you go to my website. I'm writing the story of Matt and Val, and each month you can read the next chapter in this year-long story called Silver and Gold. January is Chapter 1, February Chapter 2 and you have to come back each month for more! It's FREE!

Are there any other works in progress at the moment you would like to share with us?

I am working on yet another fun project involving lost treasure and foreign places and that's all I can say other than I CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE IT WITH YOU! Wish me luck!

What inspires you to write?

Settings influence my writing the most. Something about the hush of an old castle, the mist curling around a mountain or the casual air of a riverside Texas town makes my muse come alive. Then the characters come as my mind begins a story in whatever locale has intrigued me. Oddly enough, I don't even have to have actually been there. If I saw it in a movie, a documentary or perhaps a picture in the book-I can be completely transported.

What is your absolute best genre to write? To Read?

I flip flop both in my reading and writing between historical and contemporary. I guess I can't make up my mind.

What do you think about Internet publishing and E-Books?

I think it's fantastic. Avid readers finally have a resource for filling that need for a good book any time of day or night. And with the decrease in costs to produce a book, they become more affordable than ever. As a writer, we can see a book go from idea to sales in less time than ever.

Do you ever suffer writer's block?

Yes, but I have two tricks. I either read what I already wrote (somehow reliving it recharges the brain cells) OR I think of the worst possible thing that could happen to my characters and throw it at them. Poor little people never know what hit them!

Where do you see yourself in the next couple of years as far as your writing goes?

I'd like to see myself in print so I can reach that part of the market. As for my writing, I'm at the mercy of my muse.

If you could meet any famous person in the world who would it be and why?

I think Queen Elizabeth. I want to know what her day to day life is really like. It's hard to believe she puts her pants on one foot at a time like the rest of us when she lives in the spotlight every time she makes an appearance. Do you know she drives herself when she leaves for Windsor from Buckingham? Crazy!

Is there anything in your life that you would change?

Hmm, that's tough. I feel very blessed within my own personal life, but I do wish for better circumstances for a few people in my life who are suffering right now.

Do you have a favorite cookie?

Have you ever had potato chip cookies??? Oh my gosh, they're to die for. WHO KNEW??

Do you have a favorite late night snack?

Popcorn, hands down. And it has to be the full strength kind. Not the dried-tastes-like paper kind.

Do you have a household chore that you really hate doing?

Dishes, laundry, mopping, vacuuming, dusting and any kind of wiping or putting away or scrubbing.

Do you have a web page or Myspace you would like to share with your readers?

PLEASE come visit my website! I'm almost always running a contest and you have to check out that web-book I'm writing! www.maryoconnorbooks.com

Thank you so much for spending time with us, Mary

Thank you for having me!!

Interviewed by: Linda L.