Author Guest Post With Mary Burton

 Mary Burton has kindly agreed to guest post here about her work, and share her inspiration for becoming a writer in honor of her newest romantic suspense release, Before She Dies.

 About The Author:

Mary Burton’s southern family has always enjoyed tall tales and a good yarns. Early on, MB realized that Story had tremendous power to inspire strong responses such fear, laughter, love and even sorrow. It didn’t matter if the tale was found in the pages of a book, spoken in hushed tones around a Girl Scout campfire, or spouted at an old fashioned southern family reunion. This appreciation of story motivated MB to earn an English degree from Virginia’s Hollins University.

After decade of working in marketing and sales, MB became convinced she could write and sell one of the many stories buzzing around her brain. Fingers crossed, MB left the marketing profession and devoted all her spare time to writing a novel. Soon after, she sold her first manuscript to Harlequin Historicals. Since that initial sale, MB had written twelve historical romances for Harlequin Historicals, four short romantic suspenses for Silhouette Romantic Suspense and a non-fiction book The Insider’s Guide to Direct Marketing. Her first single title romantic suspense for Zebra I’M WATCHING YOU was a December 2007 release.

In 2005, THE UNEXPECTED WIFE was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s RITA contest and WISE MOVES was 2006 nominee for Romantic Times’ Critics Choice Award. Her romantic suspense titles have received critical acclaim from New York Times Best Selling authors Carla Neggers, Brenda Novak and Lisa Jackson as well as Library Journal and Publishers Weekly.

MB resides in Virginia where she enjoys yoga, cooking, hiking and the occasional triathlon.

Find Mary Burton on the Web:

Official Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

 Guest Post:

Thomas Edison once said that, “Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration.”  I’d say that quote also sums up writing a book.  Inspiration or that initial spark of ideas can be very exciting.  It is what gets us to that first blank page and dares us to step outside the box and begin typing.  Without inspiration to motivate, not many books would get written.

What inspires a book?  A song?  An article?  People?  Memories?    The answer is yes to all.  Inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes.   However, that initial spark of inspiration is only the very beginning of your novel.  It will take hours of work to weave and thread those wonderful bits and pieces into a book.  I’ve often wished the muse would deliver my next story in a neat package, but she never has.  She expects me to take my ideas and nurture them.  She forces me to spend sleepless nights worrying about character motivations.  She drives me to read books on the writing craft.  And she insists that I do not one or two drafts of a book but seven.

And so it was with BEFORE SHE DIE\S, which began a couple of years ago when the heroine Charlotte first appeared as a secondary character in my novella Christmas Past in the SILVER BELLS collection.  Charlotte was a fascinating character and I was certain hers would be the book that would finally write itself. With utter confidence I sat down to write only to discover the opening scene of the book didn’t present itself until I’d written 400 pages of rough draft.  During the second draft, I was forced to dig deeper into Charlotte’s character so that I could understand the villain better.  And it was during the 4^th draft that I realized I had a big gaping hole in the book’s middle that needed to be filled.  It turned out that BEFORE SHE DIES, which began with such strong inspiration, required just as much work as any of my other novels.

What inspires me to write?  Honestly, I’m not sure.  I just know it’s something I have to do.  I know it’s what drives me to return to the computer each day and work when other people are enjoying a pretty day, reading a good book or relaxing.   But I can’t imagine doing anything else.

My advice to aspiring writers?   There will always be a good reason not to write.  The kids, the job, the dishes, the dog, the significant other—you will always be needed elsewhere.  But if you want those first few sparkling ideas to turn into first the first draft of a book and later a polished final, it’s going to take time and a lot of work.  However, when you feel like shelving the whole project (and there will be moments like that), think back to what drove you to put pen to paper because it’s going be that one percent of inspiration that keeps you typing.

 Before She Dies:

Title: Before She Dies

Author: Mary Burton

Publication Date: January 31, 2012

Publisher: Zebra Books, a Kensington Imprint

Genre: Romantic Suspense

He Is Their Judge…

In death, they are purified. Holding his victims under water, he washes away their sins as they struggle for their last breath. Then he stakes their bodies to the ground, exposing them for what they really are. Witches, sent to tempt and to corrupt…

Jury…

No one knows about defense attorney Charlotte Wellington’s murdered sister, or about her childhood spent with the carnival that’s just arrived in town. For Charlotte, what’s past is past. But others don’t agree. And as a madman’s body count rises, she and Detective Daniel Rokov are drawn into a mission that’s become terrifyingly personal…

And Executioner…

At last, she is within his reach. All his victims deserve their fate, but her guilt is greatest. And with every scream, he will make her see what it means to suffer and repent—before she dies…

Find Before She Dies Online:  

Goodreads | Book Depository | Nook | Kindle | Amazon | Kensington

 Mary Burton – Author Profile:

Here is a fantastic clip Kensington Books put together to share Mary Burton’s author profile.

 Blurbs:

BESTSELLING AUTHOR MARY BURTON FOLLOWS HER SUCCESSFUL “COMPELLING THRILLER,” DYING SCREAM WITH BACK-TO-BACK  SUSPENSE IN SENSELESS MERCILESS

Richmond Novelist Burton Switches It Up For SENSELESS, The First Of Her Novels To Feature Her Alexandria, Virginia Homicide Unit

“Steig Larsson fans will find a lot to like in Burton’s taut, well-paced novel…Burton (Dead Ringer) surrounds her appealing protagonist with a strong supporting cast.” —Publishers Weekly

“Burton gives us a fast-paced thriller with a touch of romance. With hard-edged, imperfect but memorable characters, a complex plot, and no-nonsense dialog, this excellent novel will appeal to fans of Lisa Gardner and Lisa Jackson.”—Library Journal

“Burton’s latest romantic suspense will have readers sleeping with the light on…well-paced thriller with a gloss of romance.” — Publishers Weekly

 GIVEAWAY (CLOSED): 

Thanks to the kind people at Kensington Publishing, 
I have one print copy of this novel to giveaway here on my blog! 

***Open to those with US or Canadian mailing addresses only!***

(The Publisher will be sending out the prize!)

Giveaway policies:

·         To Enter: Please leave a comment indicating why you want to read this novel and leave your e-mail address.

·         This giveaway ends on February 28^th, 2012

·         This giveaway is open to those 18 years of age or older. 

·         All giveaway winners will be announced on the blog.

·         I can disqualify any entry as I see fit. 

·         I will use Random.org to select the winners.

·         Once the winners have been notified, they will have 24 hours to confirm their interest otherwise new winners will be selected.

WINNER: Marjorie/cenya2

Happy reading until next time!