Interview with Margaret Daley

Today, we’re blessed with an interview of Margaret Daley. Margaret has agreed to give away a copy of her upcoming book, BURIED SECRETS, so check the bottom of the blog for details.

HC: Thank you, Margaret, for agreeing to be with us and answer some of our questions! When did you first discover you had a gift for writing?

MD: I have always loved to tell stories. I had to learn the writing part. I decided in the late 70s to put one of my stories down on paper. No one will ever see that first attempt, but from it, I was hooked on writing.

HC: Did you always want to write?

MD: No. As a child, I used to make up stories when I played with my paper dolls and other toys.

HC: With your busy teaching schedule, how do you make the time to write?

MD: Someone once said if you really want to do something, you will find a way. I carve out time to write and I am very disciplined (as well as organized) which I think helps. I have had to give up certain things I enjoy doing in order to write however. One is that I don’t get to read as much as I wish I could.

HC: I note with great delight that you have a new book coming out in October. Buried Secrets looks as though it’s a companion piece to Heart of the Amazon. Am I right?

MD: Buried Secrets is about Zach, the twin brother of Kate in Heart of the Amazon. This novel is set in New Mexico. It’s National Treasure meets Indiana Jones.

HC: That's a great visual image. I'm looking forward to it!

How long have you been associated with Steeple Hill?

MD: I sold my first inspirational romance to Steeple Hill in June 2000. My first Love Inspired came out in March 2002 called The Power of Love.

HC: How many of your novels have been published so far?

MD: I recently sold my fifty-second novel.

HC: Wow! I'm seriously impressed! What a wonderful blessing!

What are your top five suggestions for people who can’t help writing and would like to be published? (I was going to say, what are your top five suggestions for people who want to write, but I remembered one writer saying, “Don’t!”)

MD: 1. Read. Read. Read the type of books you want to write. Get familiar with the market.

2. Write. Write. Write if possible every day or as much as possible.

3. Be persistent, even in the face of a rejection. Rejections are part of this business and I certainly have had my fair share. Don’t let them stop you from persuading your dream.

4. Keep working on learning the craft. Even after twenty-seven years, I am learning something new all the time—trying something different to expand my writing.

5. Network with fellow writers and if possible go to conferences. Several of my big breaks have come from going to a conference and meeting a certain editor or hearing about an opportunity from a fellow writer.

HC: How does your spiritual life affect your writing?

MD: Deeply. I find the Hand of God throughout my writing. I couldn’t do it without Him.

HC: Thank you so much for sharing with us. God bless you as you continue to write for His glory!

For a chance to win a copy of BURIED SECRETS, which comes out in October, please either sign this blog, my Hope Chastain, Writer's blog, or send an e-mail to hope_chastain [at] yahoo.com. Lose the spaces and replace the [at] with @.