Hello and welcome! Today, I have the honor of bringing you an interview with author Marie Landry! Marie is an experienced writer that I have known for many years. If you were to ask her, Marie would say she has the best job in the world; one where she gets to make stuff up for a living and shamelessly eavesdrop on everyone around her. She writes happily ever afters while dreaming about the day she’ll have her own epic love story to tell. *
I would highly recommend you check out her Amazon page and also her website Ramblings of a Daydreamer. You will not be disappointed
Shall we begin the interview?
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Well, I’m a big nerd and an unapologetic fangirl. I love to write, and I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I wrote many stories and even a few short novels, and then I wrote what would become my debut novel, Blue Sky Days. After a lot of deliberation and research, I decided to self-publish in January 2012. Since then I’ve published seven more books, and I have several projects on the go. Besides writing, I love to read, travel, take pictures, and occasionally blog. One of my current passions is bookstagram – the book community on Instagram – and I also love music, TV, and movies.
2. How do you come up with your story ideas?
Honestly, they just come to me. Sometimes an idea will pop into my head and an entire story will unravel. Other times I’ll get bits and pieces of ideas and have to tie them together. That’s what happened with my current work in progress; a comment a cashier at Walmart made sparked an idea, and then a friend’s kind of odd seasonal job sparked another idea, and when I put them together, a story unfolded.
3. How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?
I’ve tried so many things over the years. Because I started out as a book blogger, I already had a platform and a decent amount of followers. A lot of them were supportive of my writing endeavors, and were interested in reading and reviewing Blue Sky Days. I also did blog tours for that book, and have done a few since with varying degrees of success. Social media is my main avenue of advertising these days – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I haven’t played around much with paid advertisements in the last couple of years, but I keep hearing that’s the way to go, so I’ll be doing some research and figuring out where to invest for my next release.
4. Can you tell us about your upcoming book?
My next book – currently untitled – features Ivy Sima, who was a side character in my 2017 Christmas novella, Mistletoe Kiss. A few readers told me how much they loved Ivy, so I knew she had to have her own story. It’s set a little less than a year after Mistletoe Kiss, and it’s a romantic comedy with an emphasis on Ivy’s self-discovery and personal growth. I was hoping to make it pure romcom, but I can never seem to do that; I love exploring characters in depth, and my novels end up being very character driven. That being said, I think it’s still pretty funny, and the hero is a super yummy Scotsman, who’s been a lot of fun to write!
5. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
Never give up. You’ll likely hit some (or a lot of) resistance along the way, but if you’re a writer who really, truly wants to and needs to write, you won’t let anything stop you. You might not get much support from family and friends, there might be people who tell you it’s foolish to pursue writing as a career, you might worry you need special training or a certain type of education (which is so not true), and writers are known for being hard on themselves and full of self-doubt, but keep going. Believe in yourself, and don’t stop believing in yourself.
6. Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre?
I write romance because it’s what I love to read. It’s so much fun to explore relationships, hit on an adorable meet-cute, and watch people – even fictional ones – fall in love. You can do so much with romance too, which is part of why I hate that it doesn’t get the respect it deserves or that some people consider it ‘frivolous’. I’ve written and read stories that have ripped me to shreds emotionally. I’ve also read and written stories that are pure, escapist fun. Both are valid and meaningful. Romance can range from angsty and dramatic to hilarious to sexy to suspenseful, or sometimes all those things combined. The possibilities are endless, and it’s those endless possibilities that appeal to me most.
7. What’s the best thing about being an author?
Getting to tell stories for a living. I love that I get to be creative every day and dive into fictional worlds. I love that I can touch people with my words, entertain them, show them they’re not alone. It’s an amazing feeling.
8. Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?
I love to read, and I’m an avid reader. It’s rare for a day to go by without my nose being stuck in a book for at least part of it. Like I said, I love romance. Romcoms are currently my go-to, and for those my favourites are Brenda St John Brown and RS Grey. I also love contemporary young adult, and I’m a big fan of cozy mysteries too (Maddy Hunter’s Passport to Peril series is a must-read if you’re a fellow cozy mystery fan).
My links:
Blog: Ramblings of a Daydreamer (http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SweetMarie83
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarieLandryAuthor/
Bookstagram: https://instagram.com/sweetmarie_83/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rambling_daydreamer/
*Taken from Marie Landry’s Amazon profile page
Wow! What an amazing interview! Thank you so much, Marie!
Did you all enjoy this interview as much as I did? I hope you will check out some of Marie’s books because they are fun and amazing reads!
Thank you again, Marie!
Author’s Note: If you are a blog author (it does not have to be The Sims related) and would like to be featured in an interview, please send me an email using my contact form! I would love to interview you, too!
Too cool you know real authors !🤭
Thank you! 🙂 I’m very grateful for my friendships. 😀
🤩
Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Kymber. I had so much fun answering your questions! And thank you to everyone who has commented; it means so much that you’d take the time to read this. I really appreciate it! <3
Thank YOU, sweet Marie! 🙂 Your answers were very insightful. I really enjoyed seeing how you put stories together and get ideas. <3 I hope everyone will check out your books, too, because I know they will not be disappointed!
I love how you have a variety of writers to interview!
Thank you so much! 🙂 I really love seeing the responses from all kinds of writers.
What a fun interview!
Thank you so much! 🙂 I’m glad you liked it.
wonderful interview!
Thank you, Lisa! 🙂
I snooped around her Amazon up yet. Looks like fun!
Her books are really good! 😀
This is a fantastic interview, I really enjoyed reading it so thank you for sharing. I’m also an avid reader and would love to write what I read (crime thrillers), finding the freedom of endless possibilities so incredibly appealing. I’m not sure that I could or would ever write my own novel but I love getting inspiration from writers, and it’s interesting that your story ideas just come to you or that little snippets of ideas come together randomly 🙂
Thank you so much. 🙂 I thought that was interesting about Marie, too, how she could piece together snippets and have ideas form. She’s very creative! 😀
Crime thrillers are great! I like them, too. 🙂
I loved all of this and I love Marie’s attitude to writing and to romance. The romance genre is unfairly maligned and I’ve been affected by it myself – for years I’ve tried to convince myself to not like and to not write romance. When I decided to give in and follow my passion, the floodgates opened 🙂 I think I have to try out some of her books at some point!
It’s really cool to hear from a self-publishing author as well, as that’s a path I’m considering 🙂 It seems more cozy than trying to get published (and maybe a tiny bit less scary… but only a tiny bit!).
We’re so lucky to have posts from you, Kym. Thank you to both you and Marie for sharing <3
Thank you, Louise. I’m really glad you liked the interview. I’m glad you decided to follow your passion for writing romance and I agree the genre is not treated fairly.
Her books are awesome and I think you’ll really enjoy them a lot. 😀
We are so lucky to now get updates twice a week from you, Kymber! They’re a true delight to read. As is this interview, of course. The thing about not giving up is so true. I almost cried today because of doubting my abilities as a writer and for the hundredth time wanting to end it all just because I’m not good enough, so thank you to Marie for saying that. It was what I needed someone to tell me. What she said about romances is true as well, they can be very good books.
Thank you, Jowita. I’m so glad this interview provided you with what you needed to hear. I can honestly say that I love your writing and I agree with Marie that you should never give up. <3 <3
Thank you so much, Kymber. You are ever so supportive. This kind of mood made me wonder and I started thinking that maybe you can’t just really say that someone is a better writer than the other one in most cases, like in our community. Everyone’s style is just so different that I admire everyone in a different way. There are days when I read someone’s blog and I think: Gosh, that has to be my favorite writer out there, but really, I found that I simultaneously love so many writers and everyone for a different reason. It’s amazing. It’s not just about the skill, it’s about the style. You can’t compare so many new styles and call some better than others, they’re different, not worse. So these are my thoughts of today.
I agree with you. I used to feel really bad because I always thought my writing was too simple. I would read authors that used flowery words and sentences and wish I could write like that. But it’s like what you said, everyone has their own style so we shouldn’t compare. I’m really glad you shared your thoughts about all of this.
I think my writing is very simple, too, even simpler than yours (although I’ve never really thought of yours as particularly simple). That might have something to do with the fact that my vocabulary isn’t really as good as I’d want it to be, so I prefer constructing sentences (it brings me some joy thinking of all the options in which I could build a particular sentence, using all I’ve been taught at school and elsewhere, which probably is still not much) than using all these fancy words. I try to use the dictionary to liven it up a little bit, though. But you see, I’m not that descriptive. I never go into descriptions of the surroundings for example or I don’t add enough commentary in the dialogue. Sometimes I write a dialogue and then I add the heir’s thoughts after the particular lines, so that it doesn’t seem too blank. I love writing about emotions and describing how a person feels, that’s why I have some chapters which are purely reflective and don’t have much action. But then, I guess, first person is limiting in that I purposefully take up a more colloquial and simple approach to convey the feeling of a diary. Do you see that in your first person writing, too?
Yes, I do see what you mean. I would definitely rather write in third person because I do find first person very limiting. I think that’s one of the reasons I’ve decided to do bonus posts. In those, I can add someone else’s POV.
Sometimes, it’s hard to convey that everything that happens is from your character’s POV and that POV might be flawed. My character may not always relay things exactly as they happened. For instance, Holden is very emotional and that is what tens to come forward the most when he is narrating. He might overreact to a situation because of this, too.
I find I’m much less descriptive in first person. I’m always challenged, though, to make each heir sound different than the others. I like trying to figure the new heir out.
I notice in your writing that your heirs are very different with distinct voices all their own. I think that’s difficult to do yet you are a master at it. 🙂
I feel the same way. This story is, I think, the first time I’ve ever tried first person in writing. It’s you who inspired me to do so, as I thought it’d be a good challenge. I feel the exact same way about bonus posts. Plus, you know that’s a pleasure with my boy Frankie whom I adore. In the Hailey bonuses, though, there’s third person and it’s actually me speaking so you can compare how different it is to my usual first person narrative when it’s like being an actress taking on the role of someone else.
It’s true, I find that in my writing as well. It happens especially if your heir is not very observant or is too self-centered to pay attention to some things or other people. I found that a lot with Sam as I often wanted to write an observation, then realized Sam would never make such and had to cut it off. As with Fletcher, it wasn’t really that bad, but Holden felt so strongly about it, so I could see that this situation held a greater importance in his own eyes.
Yes, first person definitely affects how descriptive we get. I also like trying the new voices out… And oh goodness, thank you so much and I’m really glad that you think so. I think part of it is definitely my writing improving, but then the other factor is characterization. Wouldn’t that be fun to write a paragraph and have people guess which heir said that? I think it would be a fun challenge.
I inspired you to write in 1st person? I didn’t know! 🙂 It’s been an experiment with me. LOL
Yes! I know what you mean about trying to write your heir but their personality can get in the way. I can see how that would have been the hardest with Sam because he was so self-absorbed and only looked at other people as an extension of himself.
And you’re right about Fletcher and Holden. What you say about Holden was true. He is so emotional! lol
Oh my goodness! That sounds like a brilliant challenge! I love it!
Honestly, an experiment with me, too. Like the whole blog, actually. My computer was supposed to lose it anymore. And it never did.
Yes! Totally getting in the way. Hailey’s nature and how she feels about sex was particularly embarrassing to write. And I had to touch on some topics taboo to myself.
He is very emotional!
Oh, I think I might do it on my birthday or blogiversary. Would be fun!
Well, I think if Hailey’s nature embarrassed you and you wrote it anyway, you have successfully stretched yourself as a writer. Which is excellent! 🙂
The insecurities are shared . My stories and my sims writings are not the best you can find on the simlit community and I am relatively not read and I got few views. As long as you got the pleasure to write something , nothing will stop you. My sims amazes me so much I often find something to write about them, I am lame at French, lame at English well I am under everything.
Tell yourself you got the nerves to write in a language is not yours, to use the sims game as based, (that is not easy because we miss a lot of things) so why stopping now? Because of your style. Your style is yours and if your readers is hooking to your story it’s because they like it.
The faithful readers you owned think of them believe me it’s frustrating as a reader to see the story I read bruttaly stopps. When I had to delete the version of my story from 2016 because the save was corrupted, my handle of readers asked me why I did it. I had no choice to restart.
I hope to cheer you up because I am sad to see other simlit sad.
Such sweet words of encouragement. Thank you. <3
You are welcome. I hope to help Jowita because we’re both non English fluent and speakers. We share the same struggles, To us it’s not natural to speak English, It’s not our everyday and we got an other mentality than English Native because we think different. All languages of the world are unique due to how people name a thing and how we see the world through the language.
But if we write English it’s mainly for training us to avoid to forget it. That’ why it’s good to learn an other language. It opens your mind the rest of the world is sometimes more accurate than us when they see the world.
I couldn’t agree more about learning another language. It’s sweet of you to write to Jowita with encouragement. 🙂
I did because I can’t stand that people judge themselves bad whereas they are successful.
You have a very good point. 🙂