Today I would like to welcome Marilyn Parrish to Fallen Angel Reviews. Hello Marilyn! It is really great to have you with us today. Thank you for taking time to answer some questions for us.

Thanks, Linda. I'm happy to be here.

Marilyn, why not sit down in our cozy chair and allow the readers to get to know a little something about Marilyn. If we were to follow you around for a whole day, what would the day be like for you?

My pampered cat Chloe insists that she be served breakfast first. Then I start coffee and share breakfast with my husband. He usually does the morning cooking. Isn’t that great? Am I spoiled or what?

I work on the computer for about 3 hours each morning and return in the early afternoon or evening depending upon my writing project. I often lose track of time. I also read several different magazines to determine their current trends. I’ve had hundreds of “romantic confession” stories published over the years in various magazines and subscribe to all Dorchester publications. My short romance Secrets of the Heart is scheduled for the August issue of True Story.

My story Secret Lovers will appear in the next July/August issue of New Love Stories, a new magazine that premiered in January 2009. I have six short romantic stories currently under consideration at various publications. In addition to writing short stories, I’m working on two novels. One is the first of a proposed mystery series and the other is an inspirational romance.

Would you like to tell us a bit about Deadly Desire? We would love to hear where you got the inspiration to write this book?

I wrote Deadly Desire on assignment for Amira Press. It appeared in 10 weekly installments on Amira’s blog to promote their Grand Opening. I wrote one episode weekly and wasn’t sure what would happen to my heroine Leah. The idea for Deadly Desire came from the headlines. I read so many sad stories of battered women and empathize with their plight. The story took on a life of its own and the character’s actions surprised even me! It was so well received that Amira Press decided to publish my novella in its entirety. I love the cover.

What kind of promotion work do you use to promote your books?

I blog on Myspace and include reviews of Deadly Desire. I also do occasional online chats. I belong to several online writers groups which promotes sales. I also enjoy the friendship and support of other writers.

Can you tell us something about you that makes you unique?

I love cats! My home boasts several cat posters and countless cat figurines. A shelf over the sink is filled with miniature cat figures. My sister does beautiful embroidery and needlepoint work and created beautiful cat pictures that grace my writing room. I’ve shared my life and heart with many wonderful cats and feel blessed. I adopted my current cat Chloe when she was 3. She had health problems and needed 5 teeth pulled. She’s such a joy. I also fed homeless and feral cats every year when we owned a winter condo in Corpus Christi, TX. I fed about 12 cats twice daily for years and was known as the Cat Lady. I wish I could have taken all the cats home with me.

When is your best time of the day to compose your stories?

Morning and early evening are my most creative times.

What is your favorite part of the book, the beginning, the middle or the end?

The end. Readers have told me it really surprised them. I won’t say more so I won’t ruin it for prospective readers of Deadly Desire.

Do you do an outline or just go with the flow?

For short stories, I make a mental outline. I have to know where I’m going before writing the first word. I fully outline my novels-in-progress and do short chapter synopses before writing.

What would you classify as the three most essential ingredients of an excellent novel?

Characters readers care about, suspenseful plot twists that make the novel hard to put down and an ending that surprises and satisfies.

What would you classify as the three things that make a novel one that doesn’t interest the reader?

Flat characters, a predictable plot and tedious, unrealistic dialogue.

If a person were to look inside your work station, what would they see? Is your work area neat or cluttered?

Both. When I’m working on something that requires research, papers are strewn about in what I excuse as Creative Clutter. Other days, I’m fairly neat.

With summer being your favorite season, you have a day set aside for your readers. Tell us what you have planned for us?

I’d love to take readers to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico in North Padre Island in Corpus Christi, TX. It’s like warm bath water and one of my favorite places. We’d swim, splash one another, laugh and make castles in the sand. Then I’d take everyone to Snoopy’s, a colorful, casual restaurant on the waters of the Laguna Madre. We’ll sit outside on the deck to watch gulls and pelicans and greet friendly diners who arrive by boat. After our shrimp, salad, fish filets or juicy burgers and fries, we’d relax and watch the red orange sun set over the turquoise water. Then we’d go next door to Scoopy’s for yummy ice-cream cones, the perfect end of a perfect day.

Marilyn, you wake up one morning to learn that you are a pilot of an airplane. One hundred passengers are eagerly waiting you to choose their destination, where would you fly the plane this morning for a fabulous weekend?

I’d take them to Bermuda. I’ve never been there and hear it’s unspoiled and gorgeous. My passengers and I would share the joy of discovering its beauty together.

Your community is having a ‘build your favorite pizza’ for a charity fund. You are assigned to build your favorite pizza, tell us what are the ingredients?

My pizza would be fairly simple.
Chicago is famous for its pizza. My favorite ingredients are mushrooms, green peppers with sausage covering just half of the pizza. Mmm.

Would you like to share your website, myspace or any other group with us at this time?

Yes. You can find me at www.myspace.com/purrings

Marilyn, it has been a pleasure to speak with you today. I look forward to more of your books, and wish you the best in your writing.

Thank you, Linda. I’ve enjoyed chatting with you.

Interviewed by: Linda L.