Seven Questions with Maryann Kempher

Welcome to my new(est) blog series, SEVEN QUESTIONS with SUPER INTERESTING PEOPLE!

Today’s 7Q features debut autor Maryann Kempher

V: Tell me about yourself.

MK: My family moved to Reno NV, where Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is set when I was 15. I currently live in Florida with my husband and two children, two dogs and one cat. My favorite authors are Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. My guilty pleasures include any and all sweets. I love all cake, cookies, brownies, and of course a grande Café Mocha.

V: Tell me about your book.

MK: Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is romantic suspense. It will appeal to romance lovers, because Scott and Katherine (eventually) have such a fantastic friendship, that blossoms into something more. They really like each other and the reader will really like them. It will also appeal to readers who love a good mystery; a woman is brutally murdered three blocks from Katherine’s. She sees the killer as he’s preparing to dispose of the women’s body, but manages to out run him. He finds out who she is and starts stalking her.

V: What inspired you to write THIS book?

MK: This is my first book. The plot is nothing like what I had originally planned. I had seen something on television that gave me an idea, but after a lot of research—I went a different way. This story has changed so much since I first started writing it. For instance, in the original version Katherine’s mother was still alive.

V: What’s your favorite thing about your main character?

MK: Her wit. She’s a smart ass, but not mean. Just very smart. It’s what brings her and Scott together really. Her attitude appeals to him.

V: If you could ask your readers to picture ONE thing in their minds, as they’re reading, what would it be?

MK: Picture Katherine and Scott sitting on her small emerald green couch. Katherine’s feet tucked under her legs, she’s holding a grande café mocha from Starbucks in one hand. Scott’s sitting at the other end. They’re watching a movie, but not really paying attention, they are so aware of each other. It would be so easy to just reach over and touch, but neither will risk getting rebuffed, or worse—messing up their friendship.

V: What is the biggest obstacle you’ve had to face on the road to publication? (Also, how did you survive?)

MK: The query process. It’s just been very hard for me to write a decent query letter. Practice, query websites, chocolate.

V: If you had to give one piece of advice to yourself (as an aspiring author) ONE year ago, what would it be?

MK: Before you start writing, buy yourself a few good self-help books in the genre you want to write. There are very few things you’d try to do without first getting some instructions, why is writing any different? I would also highly suggest you send your finished manuscript to The Editorial Department, they do a fantastic job showing and telling you where the MS has flaws.

V: That’s it for today’s 7Q. A big thank you to Maryann, who very graciously agreed to be my guinea…eh, first victim…um, inaugural guest of honor! And of course, please feel free to contact Maryann and ask her some questions of your own!

Where you can reach Maryann:

Twitter: @MaryannKempher

Facebook: Author Maryann Kempher

Author Website: http://mkempher.com/