Hi Marin! Thank you for being here at A Writer’s House. I’m very excited about your new release. Please tell us more about Secret Promise.
Secret Promise tells the story of the long lost brother of the heroine in my first book, Stirring Up the Viscount. When he finally returns home, he finds it irreparably changed. It’s a story of second chances and the power of love.
I enjoying writing about second chances myself. I like believing we have the opportunity to right old wrongs or maybe catch the one that got away. Was there a special inspiration for this book?
Unlike the first book, for which the inspiration was easy to pinpoint, this one is tougher. Most of the story just took shape, but it was not until I learned about a Civil War prison in Lake Erie that I knew what had happened to Edward while he was in America.
Did anything in particular stump you while writing the book?
Somewhere about the 35,000th word, I got hopelessly stuck. I had the ending plotted in my head, but I had no idea how I was going to get there. Then I went to my RWA chapter’s annual writing retreat, and wham! Something clicked, the Muse checked in, and I wrote 24,000 words in four days. I also gave myself a pinched nerve and carpal tunnel, but it was totally worth it. J
Well they do say we have to sacrifice for our art! When you’re not sacrificing for your art, what keeps you busy?
What doesn’t? I’m a mom, wife, lawyer, dog wrangler, volunteer in entirely too many areas, and a wee bit obsessed with Pet Rescue Saga and Netflix.
There’s nothing better than a binge-watching weekend with Netflix. Everyone has a secret movie they HATE to love. What’s yours?
I absolutely loved the Twilight Series—books and movies. Hate me if you must, but I am unapologetic.
There have been many discussions over Team Edward or Team Jacob in my house so I can’t hate you for that. Now that your big secret is out, what’s next for you?
I got hopelessly stuck about halfway through the third book in this series—are you sensing a theme?—so I am working on an unrelated story set in 1851 England. I haven’t gotten to the halfway point yet, but I did actually plot this one, so there’s hope.
Sometimes hope is the hardest to cling to when you’re writing and get stuck or just can’t figure out what to do next with a character. Getting stuck, though, isn’t the hardest thing we deal with, though. How do you deal with rejection or 1-star reviews?
I recently got a 2 star review, my first. I know the 1 star is coming! It was pretty depressing, but my critique partners sent me encouragement and a very amusing video laced with profanity, so I shook it off and got back to work.
That’s all we can do. I try and remind myself that even the big names in our industry have gotten poor reviews, or the dreaded rejection letter. It’s all a part of the business.
Thank you so much for sharing a part of your journey in writing Secret Promise. Now keep reading for a short excerpt from Marin’s newest release then be sure an pick up your own copy at one of these retailers.
The Wild Rose Press Amazon B&N Kobo
Available October 30, 2015 from The Wild Rose Press
“Good day, sir. What can I get you? We have a very good cottage pie today.”
Edward frowned. “Aren’t you a bit young to be working in a public house?”
“Oh, I don’t work here,” the boy said. “Me mam’s the owner, and Molly didn’t come to work today.”
“Molly?”
“The barmaid, of course.” His tone held a hint of derision, as if he thought Edward an idiot for failing to know who Molly was.
“Of course.” Edward was amused. “Well, then, I suppose I shall have the cottage pie, and an ale. And perhaps I could have a word with your mother, when she has a moment?”
“What do you want her for?” The boy’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“I used to live here, many years ago, and would like to speak to someone about…” Edward broke off as a woman emerged from the kitchen, carrying two plates piled with food. She had fiery red hair and a lithe figure, and moved easily through the tables. After setting one of the plates before a man sitting near the bar, she turned and scanned the room. Her gaze alit on the boy first, and she smiled. Then she spotted Edward. All color drained from her face, and the remaining plate slid from her hand, shattering on the stone floor.
“Mam!” The boy raced to the woman and clutched at her skirts, but Edward was unable to move.
“Anna,” he whispered.
About Marin:
Clevelanders are tough, a bit cynical, and just a little crazy, and Marin McGinnis is no exception. When she’s not chasing 
after big dogs or watching tweens skate around hockey rinks, she is immersing herself in romantic tales of years gone by. She lives in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband, son, and two standard poodles.
You can find her hanging out at marinmcginnis.com, on her group blog at throughheartshapedglasses.com, on Twitter @MarinMcGinnis, Facebook at facebook.com/MarinMcG, Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12256384.Marin_McGinnis, or Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/marinmcginnis/