Interview with Marie Higgins

Today, I'm excited to have Marie Higgins as my guest. She is the author of Winning Mr. Wrong, Heart of a Hero, and her newest release, Hearts Through Time. 

SH: When I was exploring your website, I noticed that you have many different books listed under your works in progress tab. Do you work on more than one project on a time? If you do, how do you keep them straight?

Marie: Once upon a time in the beginning of my writing career, I did work on more than one project. I usually had one modern day romance, one Victorian, and one American historical going on at the same time. I wish I knew how I kept them straight. All I know is when I started back on each story, it was as if I’d never left. All I had to do was read the previous scene – and my characters were talking to me again. The only bad thing about doing it this way was that it took so long to write the story. If I start on a story and don’t get distracted, I can write it within six weeks…and that’s even with me working a ten-hour day job Monday – Thursday.

Currently, I have two historicals trying to be told, two contemporaries, and one YA. Really, I don’t know what’s wrong with me… lol

SH: Wow, being able to keep all those stories straight at the same time is amazing. What author has had the most influence on your writing?

Marie: The author that made me fall in love with romance was Kathleen Woodiwiss. I could not get enough of her stories. I don’t know if she influenced my writing, but she definitely made a mark on me with the romance genre. In the past couple of years, my critique partner, Melissa Blue (who is a published author) has had a lot of influence on me…and that’s a good thing, because I happen to think she’s an awesome writer.

SH: Critique partners are so important. I don't know what I would do without my critique group. If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring author, what would it be?

Marie: NEVER GIVE UP! The writing world is a hard business. Authors get all kinds of rejections – either from critique partners or from editors and agents. After a while we all get that urge to give up. But I’m telling you not to do it! If writing is what you love, then don’t let anyone bring you down.

SH: That's good advice. Tell us about your latest book. What is it about and what inspired you to write the story?

Marie: My newest release is titled Hearts Through Time. Three years ago, I wanted to write a paranormal, but vampires and werewolves didn’t interest me. However, ghosts did. I didn’t want my ghost story to be scary. How could it be when I love writing humor? So one idea led to another…and I started my story. I’d written three chapters and then stopped, realizing there was a complicated mystery in this story that needed to be plotted. I’m not a plotter, so I let the story sit for a year and a half before one of my friends started bugging me. In one night, I sat down and forced myself to plot this book, and I’m so happy I did!!

When a beautiful woman claiming to be a ghost from 1912 appears in Nick Marshal’s new office and begs for help in solving her murder, he’s intrigued enough to consider her plea. A scandal that rocked Hollywood almost destroyed his law practice, so taking on a client who insists she’s dead seems a good way to refresh his career. The more history he uncovers, the deeper he falls for the ghost. Abigail Carlisle believes Nick is her heart’s true desire, but how can happily ever after happen when she’s already dead?

SH: If you were to write an autobiography, what would you call it?

Marie: The Goof – the amazing tales of Marie Higgins. hahaha  Yeah, I’m silly and I love it!

SH: I like it. It sounds like it would be a fun read. What hobbies do you have?

Marie: I used to call writing my hobby, but now I’m living my dream. I really don’t have any hobbies. I don’t have time. I enjoy spending time with my husband, my daughters and grandchildren, but when I’m not doing that, I’m writing. I don’t have time for anything else. J

SH: And just for fun, chocolate - milk or dark?

Marie: It’s got to be milk chocolate! I don’t like dark at all. Funny you’d mention this, because in my story Winning Mr. Wrong, my heroine tries out a theory she learns from an internet article. “Dark chocolate is for falling in love – the chemical Phenethylamine found in dark chocolate mimics the feeling you have when you’re in love.” Does it work? You’ll have to find out when you read this story. heehee

Thanks, Stephanie for interviewing me. Readers can find me at my blog, or on Facebook!