#WriterWednesday with Mary Ann Miller

I’d like to welcome Mary Ann Miller to the blog for #WriterWednesdsay.

Things I never want to run out of: ice cream.

Things I wish I never bought: crappy luggage.

Hardest thing about being a writer: naming things. People, streets, restaurants, anything that requires a name. I will admit to using the internet to help me with restaurants. I google popular names, make a list, say them aloud, and pick one or change one to better reflect my novel.

Easiest thing about being a writer: writing the rough draft. At this stage of writing, it’s exciting to know the story can go anywhere. Thoughts come out of nowhere and some make it into the book.

Something I’m really good at: gardening. I lived in the Midwest my entire life except for the last five years and learning a new ecosystem has been a challenge, but I’m getting there. In March, I planted eighteen-inch elephant ears and by mid-August they were six feet tall. I had to dig them up and transplant them because they covered the front of the house.

Something I’m really bad at: cooking. I hate to cook and I’m terrible at it. Just ask my husband or my kids.

Last best thing/worst thing I ate: In December 2023, I got Covid for the fourth time and lost my sense of taste and smell. Both are coming back slowly and food either tastes disgusting, not so disgusting or has no taste at all. I have been surprised at what tastes awful. Chocolate, bananas, bread, bacon all taste the same and they’re terrible. I search for foods that have no taste and when I find them, I eat them until they too, taste terrible.

Last thing I ordered online: Ty Beanie Babies for my six grandchildren.

Last thing I regret buying: white cushions for the patio furniture. The mold and mildew in Florida is unbelievable.

Things to say to an author: I love your book.

Things not to say to an author: Your book was boring. I couldn’t finish it.

Favorite places: Rome, Italy and Athens, Greece

Places I never want to go again: China.

People I’d like to invite for dinner: Louise Penny. I’d like to pick her brain about creating fictional small towns. She has readers who ask where Three Pines is and can they visit. That’s a writer’s dream.

Cancel dinner: Sean Diddy.

The nicest thing a reader said to me: my brother, Ed is an introvert, but he has come to both book launches. After the Cracks Beneath the Surface book launch, he sent me a text “You should write more books. That was a fun party.”

Craziest thing a reader said to me: “I’m glad you don’t write stupid books.”

Real-life story that made it into a book: In Cracks Beneath the Surface, my main character, Sheriff Jhonni Laurent is in the kitchen of Aubrey Holmes, daughter of the victim and they’re talking about chocolate cake. Laurent says that her mother used to put mayo in her cake because it keeps the cake moist. I had a neighbor who did that, too.

Something readers think is about me, but it’s not: batting cages. In my youth and even later into my forties, I was active in sports. Either playing, coaching, or refereeing soccer, volleyball, softball. One of my characters, Stacy Simmons, is the softball homerun champion. I never hit a homerun. I wish I had.

About Mary Ann:

Mary Ann Miller currently lives in Florida with her husband, where she is working on the third novel in the Sheriff Jhonni Laurent series. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northern Illinois University and earned a paralegal certificate with Roosevelt University. Miller is a member of MWA, ITW, and Sisters in Crime and when not writing, can be found reading poolside or hosting family and friends fleeing the cold winters of the north.

Let’s Be Social:

Website:https://maryannmillerauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormaryann/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryannmillerauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/148508877-mary-ann-miller

Twitter/X: https://x.com/mary_mille12370