Welcome to Writing for Christ Mary Connealy, it is great to have you here!
Mary Connealy writes fun and lively romantic comedy with cowboys for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters series. She is a Rita Award and Christy Award finalist. She lives on a ranch in Nebraska with her husband and has four grown daughters and two spectacular grandchildren (pictures available upon request).
Onto the interview...
Do you have a favorite genre to read/write?
For some reason lately I’m crazy for Regency romances. I’ve always liked them okay but lately that’s almost all I’m reading, with the exception of some favorite authors who write outside that genre. I wonder what’s up with that? I have no desire to write them. I’m just really enjoying the witty repartee in the Regencies. In my cowboy romances, my heroes tend to answer questions with a grunt. Which I love writing, because I love the attitude or the cowboy. As for writing, I am romantic comedy with cowboys. Historical romance in a Stetson.
Do you have a nugget of writing advice that has completely changed how you view writing?
I think the best, most fundamental advice I have been given and that I give now, is to keep writing. Write every day. Open that document and make forward progress. Yes, study, take classes, enter contests, submit work to agents and editors, attend conferences, make contacts, join a critique group, read great writing blogs like Seekerville………….but none of it is worth a thing if you don’t put words on the page. Write.
What do you enjoy most about being a published author?
I love everything about being a published author……..well, maybe not so much with the public speaking. But I’ve found something of a comfort level with it. Yeesh. But everything. The first creation process, the revisions, the editors I’ve worked with, the people I’ve met and the places I’ve gotten to go. It’s all amazing and wonderful.
Places for readers to learn more about you?
http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/ http://mconnealy.blogspot.com/
http://www.maryconnealy.com/
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/ http://mconnealy.blogspot.com/
http://www.maryconnealy.com/
Thank you for being with us today!
Okay readers, here is your chance to enter to win Mary's latest release: Deep Trouble
Please leave an email adddress! If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win.
For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber
Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.
Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on May 13th.
For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber
Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.
Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on May 13th.
Thanks for this chance to win - Mary's my favorite!
ReplyDeletekvbwrites(at)gmail(dot)com
Loved Wrangler in Petticoats. Looking forward to this one, too. Please include me in drawing.
ReplyDeleteLisa Carter
Sweet Tea with a Slice of Murder
lisa@lisacarterauthor.com
Please include me in the drawing! I'm a subscriber and a follower :)
ReplyDeletebharbin07[at]gmail[dot]com
Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI love Mary's books!
They are so fun. I just got Sharpshooter in Petticoats the other day!
This book looks and sounds great!
(I am a follower, and a subscriber.)
dymesich(at)juno(dot)com
I love Mary's books and would love to win this one. Please enter me in the giveaway. Thank you.
ReplyDeletewfnren at aol dot com
I have not read any of Mary Connealy's books so would love to try one!
ReplyDeletegravesok@gmail.com
I'd love to read this author that is new to me!
ReplyDeletelgm52@hotmail.com
I'd love to read this author that is new to me!
ReplyDeletelgm52@hotmail.com
I'm a follower
ReplyDeletelgm52@hotmail.com
I'm an email subscriber
ReplyDeletelgm52@hotmail.com
Please add me in the drawing.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks for the giveaway - I love Mary's books.
ReplyDeleteI am a follower & a subscriber.
Elaine rejordan79@msn.com
Thanks for having me on, Casey. Thank you for all the kind words in the comments. And for those of you who havent' read one of my books, a goo dplace to start might be Cowboy Christmas because it is on SUPER SALE on cbd.com And Cowboy Christmas is a series with Deep Trouble, although the books stand alone completely. I just loved Gabe, a secondary character in Deep Trouble and wanted to give him a happily ever after.
ReplyDeleteCowboy Christmas is selling for less than three dollars on cbd.
Good grief you spend that on a cup of coffee that lasts ten minutes.
Cowboy Christmas
Hey Case and Mare, great interview!! Love your comment about the witty repartee of regencies and how your cowboy heroes usually just grunt -- too funny!!! Well, if that's true, I can assure everyone that nobody provides sexier grunts than Mary Connealy in her heroes!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I noticed several commenters saying they've not read Mary yet. HOLY COW, I hope one of you wins because EVERYBODY needs to read Mary -- she was voted #2 Historical Fiction Author after Francine Rivers in the Family Fiction Readers' Choice Awards for 2011!!
Hugs,
Julie
Thanks for offering this wonderful book. I would love to win it. The reviews sound wounderful!
ReplyDeleteBlessings.....Joy
ibjoy1953{at]yahoo[dot]com
This book sounds great!
ReplyDeleteEm
embassie@hotmail.com
I love Mary's cowboys and I'm super excited to read this!
ReplyDeleteMary I love regency's too and I totally think you could write a story featuring your cowboy and a Regency heroine, just have him travel back in time!! Hahaha I'm just kidding, I'm on a time travel kick. I just finished Michelle Griep's, Undercurrent and I'm in the midst of Diana Gabaldon's, Outlander. :-P
+1 follower
+1 Subscriber
XOXO~ Renee C.
steelergirl83atgmaildotcom
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for a chance to win a book by Mary! She is a great author!!
ReplyDeleteI am a follower
I am an email subscriber!
kcmelone(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the giveaway! Please sign me up. Mary is one of my favorite authors!
ReplyDelete-Emily
hendrickson_emily(at)hotmail(dot)com
I'm a GFC follower! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
ReplyDeleteamanda38401 at gmail dot com
Thanks so much for the chance to win Mary's latest book! Would love to read this one. : )
ReplyDeleteMichelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net
+1 I am a follower
ReplyDeleteMichelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net
+1 I am an email subscriber
ReplyDeleteMichelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net
Love the cover! Looks like a great book!
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower.
I'm a suscriber.
parisakins@gmail.com
If anyone wants to try one of my books for a really reasonable price. Cowboy Christmas, the first book in the series that includes Deep Trouble is on super sale on CBD.com
ReplyDeleteCowboy Christmas Only $2.99
C'mon, you'd spend that on a cup of coffee that'd last you ten minutes!
Oops, I see I already said that before.
ReplyDeleteDuh! :) I knew it sounded familiar.
Wonderful giveaway!
ReplyDeleteNew follower - Loves2Read
New subscriber - lovez2read@comcast.net
email - lovez2read@comcast.net
I enjoyed every book I've read of Mary's, even the ones without cowboys (but still with the humor--"Nosy in Nebraska.") Thanks for the interview with Mary and for the opportunity to win "Deep Trouble."
ReplyDeletepmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
I forgot to mention I'm a follower and a subscriber also.
ReplyDeleteI've read "Cowboy Christmas" and thoroughly enjoyed it so I really want to read "Deep Trouble." It did take me awhile to figure out if Gabe was a character to like or not, but I did end up liking him. It will be fun to continue his story.
pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
I would love to read a Mary Connealy Regency. But then, I was also the one who thought a Mary Connealy paranormal would be good too. LOL.
ReplyDeleteI guess that means I'll read everything you write.
:)
Love to be included in this giveaway.
ReplyDeletethanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
gfc follower
ReplyDeleteABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
I love funny. I love cowboys. I LOVE Mary Connealy's work! Would love to win a copy of her book. Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteSmiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.
countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com
Thanks Casey for featuring Mary! Great interview.
ReplyDeleteMary, I'm a fan of regency romances as well! Who knows maybe you'll write one someday!
Please enter me
crazi.swans at gmail dot com
I'm a follower!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite authors! Hoping I win!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower.
I'm a subscriber.
Doreen
priviesandprims at yahoo dot com
Would love to be entered for Mary's new book......she is such a great writer!! Thanks!!!
ReplyDeletejackie.smith[at]dishmail[dot]net
I'm an E mail subscriber!!
ReplyDeletejackie.smith[at]dishmail[dot]net
Hey - stopped over from FB and Seekerville too.
ReplyDeleteWould love to win ANY of Mary's books (that I don't already have) so please enter me! may at maythek9spy dot com
Thank you!
This is a happenin' place, Casey. Thanks for having me on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a chance to win this book. I just love the cover and enjoy Mary's books.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com
would love to read mary's latest novel...thanks for the chance :)
ReplyDeletei'm a follower
i'm an email subsriber, too
karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
Deep Trouble is sure to be exciting, Mary always leaves me satisfied with a great story and a smile on my face. Please include me!
ReplyDeleteI'm a subscriber.
I'm a follower.
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com
The cover is beautiful and makes me want to win it to read. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteybutler(at)oppcatv(dot)com
I follow on Google Friend Connect. ybutler(at)oppcatv(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI subscribe by email
ReplyDeleteybutler(at)oppcatv(dot)com
I'm a follower, and I'd love to read one of Mary's books! Ann_Lee_Miller@msn.com
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, ladies!! Mary has made me a lover of "Historical romance in a Stetson" ;) I would LOVE to read Deep Trouble!! Thank you for the chance, my friend!!
ReplyDeleteI'm already a follower of your beautiful blog :)
Blessings,
Amanda
mrose608{at}gmail{dot}com
If it's got some spunk, a bit a romance and a horse or two... I'm in!
ReplyDeletetwinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com
+1 I also have been reading Regency novels recently --ever since I discovered Julie Klassen's books, so you're not alone in that. =)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win! I enjoy Mrs. Connealy's mix of action and humor present in her books.
+1 e-mail subscriber.
jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu
Thanks for the WONDERFUL giveaway! This looks like a must read!
ReplyDeleteI'm a subscriber and a follower.
God Bless,
Elizabeth
ecriggs1990[at]aol[com]
SOOO wanna win this! Sharpshooter in Petticoats was my first Mary Connealy - but it will NOT be my last. Please enter me!
ReplyDeletejoanne(at)joannesher(dot)com
I've heard so many great things about Mary C's books! I would love to win a copy. crmcc at setel dot com
ReplyDeleteLove Mary
ReplyDeletermjagears AT gmail DOT com
I'm also following, it's under MJ, I have no idea why my follow icon stays old even when I update it. Sigh. Blogger is terrible lately about a lot of things.
Hey, Hey, just went to my feed reader and saw that I won the book from Seekerville!! Whoohoo. So, you can take me out of the running. :)
ReplyDeletethanks for the interview & for the writing tips Mary! would luv the win :)) blstef1 at mts dot net
ReplyDeletea GFC follower :)) thanks!
ReplyDeletewelcome to FHC! tea's on...
Wow, I wandered off for a day to celebrate motherhood and look at all these comments. Thanks so much for jumping into the drawing everyone.
ReplyDeleteI've read some of Mary's books and she is a great writer. Would love to read this one. Count me in on the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteplhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net
I'm an email subscriber.
ReplyDeleteplhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Congrats Mary. LOVE your books. So refreshing!
ReplyDeletesrstormo@yahoo.com
I'm a follower. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read one of Mary's books! Thanks for the chance to win.
Ann_Lee_Miller@msn.com
I'd love to be entered, please.
ReplyDeleteviolin_girl_2@yahoo.com
(and I'm a follower)
Wheather i win or not I WILL read that book! thanks1
ReplyDeletemcline@bbc.net
I have read quite a few of Ms. Connealy's books and loved them. Will definitely read this one as well, but would love to get it sooner rather than later. :)
ReplyDeleteGinger
ginger(dot)solomon(@)gmail(dot)com
I too have not read any of Mary's books.. yet! I plan on doing lots of reading this summer but would love a chance at this one. Because who doesn't enjoy a cowboy book?!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
prshea at mac dot com
Mary,
ReplyDeleteDo I have a book for you!:) Regency is my genre girl. So you just hop on over to my website at www.jilliankent.com and read my first chapter under the book section.
I still haven't read your books yet, Mary, but I plan on that during my summer break when I'm writing my my brains out. Take care and have fun. Hope to see you at ACFW this year.
Jill
jilly11(at)cinci(dot)rr(dot)com
Who can resist CoWbOyS?! uh-huh! Thanks for the opportunity to win :) I'm so glad to learn more about Ms. Connealy
ReplyDeleteamanda38401 at gmail dot com
I also follow your blog :)
ReplyDeleteamanda38401 at gmail dot com