You can meet Mandi in person, and get your own signed copy of her book this weekend, September 3, at Pioneer Book - 858 South State Street, Orem, Utah from 1-3 pm
Tell us about yourself:
I’m a mom of three great kids. I have two boys, ages 6 and 5 and a little girl, who is 2. I’ve been married for 11 years and we love living in Utah. I grew up in Emery County and I feel very blessed for the memories I have. I love the desert and mountains, and I’ve been interested in everything from archeology to paleontology…and I could go on and on. Really, I just love the outdoors. One of my favorite hobbies is collecting and searching for fossils in the desert and surrounding areas. I also grew up frequenting museums and accompanying my parents on archeological digs in the San Rafael, and I love to incorporate my hobbies and interests into my writing. I love spending time with my husband and children and we spend most weekends rock hounding or exploring new places as a family.
When did you first start writing?
As a young woman I loved to read. I devoured books and little-by-little my interest in writing developed. I wrote my first full-length novel when I was 12 years-old. It’s terrible, but I’ve held onto it through the years because, really, I am very proud of that tattered manuscript. Writing my very own adventure story was such a thrill, and since that time, I’ve always aspired to become a published author. Unfortunately, as I grew older, time became scarce and my writing fell to the background. Then, about three years ago, my husband returned to school and in the evenings while he attended classes, I wrote. I finished my first novel, The Alias, during his first semester. Not long after, I decided to take a chance and send my manuscript into a publisher. I had to work hard to see my dreams realized, but I don’t regret a minute of my time spent.Tell us about The Alias:
Jacey Grayson is a recently divorced mother, who learns some frightening news about her ex-husband, John. Frightened, she and her son Blaze flee to Utah to hide among rural Mormons.
Is there a message or theme that you wanted to convey in this novel?
The main theme in The Alias is Jacey’s attempt to overcome years of abuse and develop a sense of who she really is. As the story progresses we see her desire to change and grow. She struggles with feelings of guilt and remorse for staying with her ex-husband so long and exposing her son to abuse, but as the story progresses we also see how she uses the lessons from her past to move forward into a more promising future.
What is your favorite hobby besides writing?
Do you see writing as a career?
I would like nothing more than to become a career author. I love to write novels. I have so much fun developing new characters and creating fun, suspenseful stories. Writing is just a part of who I am. I have several manuscripts, all in various stages of editing, and one day, I’d like to see more of my books on the shelves. Writing is a lot of work and very time-consuming, but it’s worth every minute. One of my greatest rewards has been the feedback from my readers. I’m so touched when someone tells me that they could relate to my characters or that my writing has touched them.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
I think the hardest part of writing is simply finding time and…commas. I hate commas. I’m not sure why, but correct comma use is beyond my comprehension at times. I feel bad for my editor.
or on her blog Mudrock and Pink Nail Polish
I love this interview! I'm so glad you posted it :) It's always nice to get a sample of how people's minds work, their motivation behind writing, and the fact that other than being writers they're the next Indiana Jones archeologist extraordinaire. Lovely to see Mandi on Saturday and meet you Cindy!
ReplyDeleteI know now what's my next book on my to-read list. Loved the interview and thanks for sharing a piece of Mandi :)
ReplyDeleteShannen & Cami - Mandi really is great. She's genuinely one of the nicest people I've had the honor to meet!
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