Maggie Blackbird

Today, I have author Mary Cope in the interview chair. We’re discussing her latest release Beautiful One, a young adult romance. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

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1. Do you have any tattoos?

Mary: No, I don’t have any tattoos. However, when my book was published, I thought about getting the same tattoo as Elizabeth’s love interest. The tattoo is written in Italian. I don’t want to reveal its meaning, but as a romantic at heart, I love the word. I might still get the tattoo someday… we’ll see.

2. How long have you been writing?

Mary: I’ve been writing for the past ten years, not only completing my book ‘Beautiful One’ but also several online articles, typically focused on romance. Currently, I’m writing the sequel, ‘Beautiful Mess.’

3. What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?

Mary: Just do it! That’s my advice. My high school English teacher once said, ‘There is a book in each of us,’ her words were impactful to say the least. I never forgot them.

Writing can be deeply personal as well as overwhelming. I suggest setting realistic goals and breaking down your writing tasks into manageable steps. It’s important not to be too hard on yourself; writing is a process. Try to enjoy the act of writing itself.

I also highly recommend joining a writing group or workshop. Such groups can provide a supportive environment for sharing your work and receiving feedback. Personally, I was in a critique group, and it not only motivated me to finish my book but also led me to some wonderful friendships.

From a technical standpoint, when you start writing, keep moving forward. Don’t get bogged down in editing, or you may never finish. Once your story is told, you can always go back, edit, change, and revise.”

4. Have you ever experienced self-doubt as a writer?

Mary: The answer to that question is a definite yes. Doubt can be a destructive thing, paralyzing even. In fact, I doubted myself so much that I almost never submitted my manuscript. The reason for my doubt came from the fact that I wasn’t a writer. To be honest, I kept my writing a secret from my family, friends, and everyone else. I didn’t want to share this desire I had. I mean, who was I? A middle-aged housewife writing a New Adult Romance story? Really? But, it was fun for me, so I decided to continue.

Then something clicked. When I reached chapter 7 of my story, it was at that point I knew I was going to finish. Having no idea what I was doing, I joined a local writers’ group. Nervous and intimidated, I sat at a table with strangers and read them my first chapter. My formatting was off, my tenses were all over the place, and basically, chapter 1 was a mess. But, thanks to the encouragement I felt from this group of writers, I came back the following week and continued to do so.

When my story was finished, the doubt came back. I shelved my story for five months because I didn’t think it was good enough. But then I decided, “What the heck? I’ve got nothing to lose.” So, I enlisted the help of a great friend of mine, and we tackled the dreaded “query letter.”

“The query letter, the query letter, it has to be perfect!” That’s all I heard from everyone, so writing the query letter freaked me out. And, if you’re in the midst of writing one, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Anyway, I pushed the doubt aside and sent off my first query letter. “Hmmm, that wasn’t so bad,” I thought, so I sent another. Eventually, I sent my query letter to every publisher I could think of. And yes, I received rejections, but I also received manuscript requests, and that feeling fueled me and gave me the confidence I needed.

5. Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.

Mary: There is much more to Beautiful One than Elizabeth’s transformation and the emotional struggles she faces while caught in a love triangle. Beautiful One is also about friendship.

The relationship between Elizabeth and her best friend, Melissa, is woven throughout the pages of my book. Melissa is not only Elizabeth’s best friend but also a source of strength and support. As Elizabeth undergoes her transformation and navigates the complexities of her love life, Melissa is a constant presence, offering encouragement and understanding. Their deep connection highlights the importance of friendship.

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Title: Beautiful One
Series: N/A
Author: Mary Cope
Genre: Young Adult Romance

Transformation, empowerment, love and music come together in the book, Beautiful One.

Blurb: Elizabeth Ryan is a beautiful, shy, naïve high school senior. Having never dated she meets the boy of her dreams, Aidan Mitchell. Despite his history of womanizing Liz is drawn to him. Soon Liz becomes the envy of all the girls on campus, when they become a couple and her dream boyfriend sweeps her off her feet and into the dating world that is all too new and strange for her. When other guys start to take notice of Liz, Aidan is troubled with fits of jealousy.

Elizabeth then meets the ruggedly handsome, Spencer Hayes and they quickly bond over their passion for music. Liz begins to struggle with the feelings that spark between them. In the end Elizabeth finds herself torn between helping Aidan overcome his jealousy and anger and giving into what her heart truly wants.

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“Elizabeth.” My heart leapt as I opened my eyes, and my breathing stopped for a second. My eyes roamed over his handsome face. His jaw was slightly swollen and bruised, but other than that, his face was untouched. His grey eyes were unusually light from the angle where I sat, and his dark hair was tousled in a way that made me ache to run my fingers through it.

“May I?” He motioned to the bench next to me.

I was still surprised to see him, so I just nodded.

Spencer sat and shifted his body so it was facing mine. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Didn’t you get my calls?”

In my rush to see Aidan, I had left my cell phone at home, so I shook my head no.

Spencer gave me a ghost of a smile and softly chuckled. “Are you gonna talk to me or just nod your head?”

“I’m sorry. I’m just shocked to see you.” I shifted my body so it was facing his.

“After last night, I wanted to make sure you were okay.” His soft gaze traveled from my face to the length of my body. When he saw the bruises, his jaw clenched before he frustratingly blew out a breath of air. He gently lifted my arm to examine it further. I could sense he was trying to rein in his anger. “Did he hurt you anywhere else?”

Spencer reached to place a stray lock of my hair behind my ear.

My eyes didn’t leave his. I whispered, “No.”

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Mary Cope is a passionate romance writer known for her ability to craft characters that feel undeniably real. Drawing inspiration from both her personal experience and vivid imagination, Mary’s words resonate with readers. A romantic at heart, Mary believes true intimacy is what love is all about.

Follow Mary: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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