One of my favorite authors to interview is back. Welcome, MaryLu. Tell us about your salvation experience.It’s quite a story! I was a non-believer most of my life. I grew up in an alcoholic home without a father and spent most of my younger years following after the ways of the world. And guess where that led me? At 35, I was miserable, lonely, and desperate for love and meaning in my life. Searching for answers, I picked up a self-help book in the psychology section of the bookstore, and believe it or not, the doctor’s recommendation was to read the Bible from cover to cover. So, I found my old Bible, dusted it off, and did just that. Somewhere in Ezekiel in the middle of the prophecies about Israel, I realized that the things that Ezekiel spoke about thousands of years ago were coming true all around me. And it was like someone turned a light on, and I realized there was a God. There, alone in my bedroom, I got on my knees and gave my life to Him. And I haven’t been the same since!
Our God is awesome. He meets each of us where we are and accepts us when we turn to Him. How did you and your husband meet?
I’m not sure you want to know this, but my husband and I met in a bar before either of us were saved. We were both lost, lonely puppies that God threw together because He knew the good plans He had for us. My husband is now a Christian too. He was a much tougher case than me :-) and it took many years for God to break through to him, but God finally visited him much like He did Saul in the New Testament. But that’s another story.
Praise the Lord for His mighty works. You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?
You, Lena, because you’re such a great mentor for writers and so giving of your time and talents. Laurie Alice Eakes because she is an historical expert, a really nice lady, and a fabulous writer. Louise M. Gouge, a great writer and super lady, and Michelle Sutton because she’s not only a great writer, but she’s crazy like me.
That sounds like a wonderful group. I love all those ladies, too. And, MaryLu, I have a really crazy side, too. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?
I’m
one of those people who is constantly putting my foot in my mouth, so embarrassing moments are quite common in my life. If you’ve seen Bridget Jones’ Diary than you have a good idea what I’m like. I suppose I’m so used to it now that I usually laugh at myself and shrug my shoulders.People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?
First of all, I tell people to stop talking and start writing! Books don’t get written by dreaming about them. But I would also caution them to make sure this is truly God’s will for them and not their own agenda. Because if God isn’t in it, it won’t happen, at least not like they hope it will. Next, they need to study and learn the craft. Writing is like anything else. You have to learn how to do it. Join writer’s groups, join a critique group, enter contests, etc… do all these things, but most of all write. Write what’s on your heart and your passion will come out on the pages.
Tell us about the featured book.
A female pirate falls in love with the British Navy Captain trying to catch her. The Red Siren is a love story, it’s an adventure, and it has a strong spiritual theme which ties in with the story of the sower and the seed in Matthew 13. The heroine, Faith Westcott, has given up on men and on God and becomes a pirate in order to garner enough wealth to protect her sisters from unwanted marriages. Dajon Waite hopes to pay penance for mistakes he made in his past by being the best Navy Captain he can be and by following all of God’s rules. But what will he do when he discovers that the woman he loves is the same pirate who outwitted him more than once off the Carolina shores?
How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website: http://www.mltyndall.com/
My blog: http://crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/
My books are sold online at Amazon.com and Christianbook.com
Thanks Lena!
Thank you, MaryLu for spending this time with us. Your interviews are always interesting, and I just love your books.
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