Bio: Schooled by
experts such as Perry Mason, Jessica Fletcher, and Dr. Mark Sloan, Marji Laine
writes the mysteries she craves with a touch of romance and a thread of faith.
Her series are made up of stand-alone stories with satisfying endings where
justice prevails. She sets most of her books in and around the Dallas
area, where she has lived all of her life, or in the small towns of East Texas that she adores.
A homeschooling mom of four, she loves to discuss possible
book scenarios with her daughters. Their conversations have even been known to
alarm waiters and store clerks. At which point, one of her girls will roll her
eyes and say, “My mom's an author.” That pretty much explains the way her mind
works.
Dear Readers, Marji
Laine is a dear, dear friend. I’m thrilled to share her first full-length novel
with you. She’s a member of the critique group that meets in my home, and we
were privileged to critique most of this book. YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE IT!!
Welcome back, Marji. Tell
us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I write a lot of my faith into my characters. My heroine’s
tend to pray as they think things through. I do the same thing, inviting the
Lord into my day and staying aware that He’s there. Cat and I also share a
fondness for Diet Pepsi and legacy. She doesn’t think she’s the right person to
fill her father’s shoes. Boy, can I appreciate that feeling and the self-doubts
that go along with it!
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
I talk for my dog and the trouble is, he’s a lot funnier
than I am. Probably the craziest thing I’ve ever done was in college. One
summer, the high-rise dorm was empty and my soon-to-be hubby’s roommates were
the night security guards. So on Friday nights, we’d get a huge group together
and play a stone-age version of laser tag, with water guns. Some outlandish
things happened with that, I can tell you!
You just reminded me
of what probably was my craziest, and most dangerous, thing I ever did. And it
was in college. On our campus undeveloped land, which was in the foothills of
the Ozark Mountains, there was some kind of
pipe that stretched from one hill to another over a deep small valley. It had
to be over seventy feet in the air. The pipe was less than 12 inches in
diameter. I walked across that thing one time. If I’d have fallen, it would
have killed me. (grimace) When did you first discover that you were a writer?
I’ve always loved writing. Co-wrote my first screen play at
the age of seven, with my best friend who was eight. But I realized God’s call
on my life to this career almost six years ago. My mom asked me: if money and
time weren’t issues what would I want to be doing. I answered, “Write!” I
surprised myself, but not my mom. She’d always seen it.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
That has really opened up with my new role at Write
Integrity Press. If I’m simply selecting a book for free time (That is still a
thing, right?) I’ll lean toward the romantic suspense novels or funny cozy
mysteries. But I also enjoy a great historical romance, like mail-order bride
series, and I have a few fantasy authors who write some of my favorite books!
And then there are the straight romance novels. Those are pretty standard! In
fact, I guess the only genre in the Christian realm of books that doesn’t
really interest me is thriller. Wow, I like a lot of books!
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
I laugh a LOT! In fact, I posted a joke the other day after
I’d spent at least five hours (No, I’m not exaggerating!) in my car, spread
over the course of the daylight, transporting teenagers to jobs, classes, and
various activities. I posted the definition of a mother of teenager’s life = I
do run-run-run. I do run-run! (Only folks who remember the 70’s will appreciate
that quote.) Stress can break anyone, so I try to always do my best and not
sweat the times when my best isn’t enough.
Good advice. Before
my children got their driver’s licenses, I saw a bumper sticker that I wanted. “If
a woman’s place is in the home, why am I always in the car?” How do you choose
your characters’ names?
Sometimes, the characters come with names. Then there are a
few characters that I dub victim, hero, best bud, or meanie face. There have
been a few of those tags that have become names. And then, there are those that
I’ve researched and examined. Googled and sought the meaning of to make sure
they match the character. Those names aren’t really any better than the ones
I’ve named after their character tags.
What is the accomplishment
that you are most proud of?
Proud isn’t exactly the word. I’m pleased to be releasing
this, my debut novel, that has been almost six years in the making. I’m excited
to learn what people think of this. (And terrified.) I’m giddy that it will finally
be in people’s hands in just over a week!
It took eight years
before my first book was published. If you were an animal, which one would you
be, and why?
This makes me think of an old saying that made the rounds as
email was becoming more and more used. I wanna be a bear. They get to sleep
half the year. They can do tricks like catching fish in their bare hands – bear
claws. Getting fat is normal, expected, and attractive. Females have babies the
size of a large peanut while they are sleeping, and the kids know better than
to tick-off Mom. Yep, I’d choose a bear.
What is your favorite
food?
I don’t have a favorite. I really don’t. I love sugar free
Hershey’s chocolates with caramel fillings, but other than that, I’m a fan of
food. I like toffee cookies and snickerdoodles (sugar free), chicken enchiladas,
queso, biscuits and gravy, filet mignon, fettucine alfredo, chicken parmesan,
and chili with rice and Fritos. Does that narrow it down at all?
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest issue was that I thought I knew what I was doing.
I had a teaching degree with an emphasis in English and knew when to use
semi-colons. I was set, right? You and some of the other wonderful people from
the DFW chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers gently informed me that I
was a dunderhead. Lol! Not really, but you did an amazing job of training me
through weekly critique groups. For more than a year, I attended two per week
and learned as much from listening to critiques on other manuscripts as I did
from the comments on my own.
Tell us about the
featured book.
This was one that you critiqued on, Lena!
Finally coming in print. Squee! Here’s the short version:
Cat McPherson felt she’d lost everything when her father
died, but as the target of a madman bent on revenge, she still has much to
lose. Her former boyfriend, Ray Alexander, returns as a hero from his foreign
mission, bringing back souvenirs in the form of death-threats. When several
attempts are made on Cat’s life, she must find a way to trust Ray, the man who
broke her heart.
Keeping Cat safe from a fallen cartel leader might prove
impossible for Ray, but after seeing his mission destroyed and several godly
people killed, he knows better than to ignore the man’s threats. Cat’s
resistance to his protection and the stirring of his long-denied feelings for
her complicate his intentions, placing them both in a fight for survival.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Villa Montes, Chiapas, Mexico
“A boy.” Sevilla clapped his hands. The smack echoed against
the bare adobe dome. “He will be a fine boy.” He beat his boot heels on the
marble floor. His black beard bounced against his white tunic. “Ha. Go
upstairs, wife. Lie down. Rest.”
“I have plans for the afternoon.” Oleta took a step backward,
putting the leather sofa between them. Her large eyes wary. But her middle
already showed evidence of his child.
“You will do as I say.” He snapped in her direction and put
his back to her. His child would be the heir to his business. His kingdom. He
must be strong and healthy. “Go now and take care of my son.”
“He is my son, too.” The woman’s voice cracked. She pressed
her back against the wall.
She tested his good humor. His eyes hardened as he shot her
a glare. His hands fisted at his side, prepared to take action on her
insolence.
But this was supposed to be a joyful time. He relaxed his
muscles and applied a measured smile under his black whiskers. “Be careful,
Oleta. I cannot guarantee that my gratitude will last too far beyond my son’s
birth.”
She stiffened. Good. She should be scared. She’d seen enough
to know her fortunate circumstances and to be thankful for them.
Sidestepping out of his study, she scurried up the stairs.
Her heels clicking like the little mouse she was. Popping in a hollow manner.
The sounds grew louder. She gasped as glass broke, echoing in the entrance of
his villa.
“Oleta?” He stepped toward the great hall.
“Señor Sevilla.” Two from his security. Good. He needed
answers.
“Go, check on Oleta. Make sure my son is all right.”
Captain Ortega gestured to the other man. “We must get you
to safety.”
“Another drill? These are getting tiresome.”
“They prepare your security team to keep you safe, sir.”
Ortega ushered him through the thick hallway to his helicopter hanger.
The other man had seen to Oleta. “Make sure my wife comes.”
The captain touched his earpiece and issued the order.
Sevilla climbed aboard the revving bird and looked back.
Ortega grew pale. “We must go.” He climbed aboard.
“Not until Oleta arrives. She is carrying my son. My heir.”
His humor returned. A young prince to carry on his legacy.
The angled roof sections lifted.
“Stop. I will not leave without her.”
“We have to go, Señor.” Ortega strapped a belt around
Sevilla and shouted at the pilot.
“I will have your head.” Sevilla kicked at the man, willing
him to fall out of the gaping side of the transport. No such luck.
I don’t remember this
scene in the first draft. I love it. How can readers find you on the Internet?
I’m pretty easy to find. I’m always around my website
and blog, http://MarjiLaine.com, and I usually have Facebook open so I get
notices when folks comment on my page, /MarjiLaine. I’m also on Twitter and
Goodreads, but nowadays I also hang out at the Write Integrity Press website: http://WriteIntegrity.com.
Anyone wanting to chat can email me from the contact page on either website.
Thank you, Marji, for sharing this new book with us. I absolutely love the cover.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Counter Point (Heath's Point Suspense Book 1)
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