Author Bio:
MaryAnn Clarke Scott set out to write engaging stories that walk a tight rope between heart-warming Romance and intelligent Women’s Fiction, and it’s caused her nothing but trouble since, beginning with what to call it. In truth, she writes stories about women healing form past wounds as they define and achieve their own personal happily ever afters.
M. A. Clarke Scott is a Chatelaine Grand Prize winner for The Art of Enchantment, first in the Life is a Journey series of romantic women’s fiction about young women abroad who discover themselves and fall in love while getting embroiled in other people’s problems. Reconcilable Differences is first in the Having It All series about professional women in Vancouver struggling to balance the challenge and fulfillment of career with the search for identity, love, family and home. She also loves to weave dramatic relationships into steampunk and cyberpunk adventures.
She’s been an architect, a gerontologist, a telephone operator, a dental hygienist, and an education savings advisor. When not writing, she meditates while hiking wooded mountain trails, does yoga and Pilates to fend off decrepitude, reads eclectically, contemplates wormholes, experiments with painting abstract expressionism, kills plants and tries not to burn dinner. Clarke Scott lives on beautiful Vancouver Island, Canada with her husband and cats. Although she knows she lives in Paradise, she still loves traveling the world in search of romance, art, good food and new story ideas.
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What inspires you to write?
Many things, but mainly characters and places. One of my series is inspired by my travels, and of course I'm motivated to travel more. Most often my stories grown out of imagining a particular character in a situation and then writing them out of it, all the while addressing themes and issues common to modern women, and relationships.
Tell us about your writing process.
I am an outliner, and become more so with each project. I really love story structure and have a variety of tools that I use to help me puzzle out the story. Of course in the writing of it, there are always deviations and surprises, but I always refer back to my plan to make sure it all fits together.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I listen to them. I think it's common for fiction authors to hear voices. I eavesdrop on fictional conversations. But I don't talk *to* them. That would be weird! *smirks*
Who are your favorite authors?
I have so many, I can never answer this question. I'm a Jane-ite, and have favourites in the historical genre, such as Mary Balogh. I also am a reader of SF and have favourites there too, like Neil Stephenson. But lately I'm reading mainly contemporary romantic women's fiction, because that's what I write. Favourites include Kristan Higgins, Emily Giffin, Barbara O'Neal, Sophie Kinsella, Christina Lauren, Sally Thorne, Helen Hoang, Susanna Kearsley, Katherine Center, Eleanor Brown, Carol Mason, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Jennifer Weiner, Liza Palmer, Jill Mansell. There's so much talent, there are many others. And never enough time to read!
How did you decide how to publish your books?
After many years of querying and pitching, I just decided one day I wasn't getting any younger and I would take on indie publishing. I don't think I had the patience to go the traditional route, and I also like to have more control. I'm an author and run a small publishing company now. I didn't realize this would be true when I set out on this path. It's been huge commitment, and learning curve, but I enjoy it.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think what we're seeing today is closer to the new normal. With authors having more autonomy and control over their product, and their careers, and also a more direct communication line with readers and fans. The tools for indie authors to do a great job and not be crushed by the work are getting better all the time. But the industry is in transition, and I think there will be more changes as the two ends of the spectrum find a a way to work together. There are still many tools that traditional publishers have access to and control of that are difficult for indies.
What genres do you write?
Romantic Women's Fiction, also some Science Fiction
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print
Website(s)
MaryAnn Clarke [Scott] Home Page Link
Follow MaryAnn Clarke [Scott] On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Barnes and Noble
Author’s Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.
