Today I want to introduce you to a new friend of mine, who
is absolutely fantastic. You’re gonna love her from the get go. Her name is
Marian P. Merritt, and she writes Christian Romance, and Woman’s Fiction, which
is my favorite of her work. But, I’ll get to that later. For now, I want you to
know who she is and what she’s about.
But first, I want you to see why I wanted to highlight this amazing woman...
When Charleston Charly Maynard loses her job just weeks after her fiancé calls off the wedding, she decides to visit the cottage in the quaint village of Cavazzale, Italy she’s inherited from her grandmother. She’s hoping the time there will help her to decide what to do about her future. When she meets André Lagneaux, a handsome man from Bayou Country, who is visiting his brother in Cavazzale, Charly ignores the attraction. After all, she's not looking for romance. When André Lagneaux’s parents set up a family trip to Italy, André is eager to spend Christmas with his brother and godchild. Meeting the beautiful American woman at the airport adds to his excitement. He'd loved to get to know her, but her cool demeanor tells him she's not interested. Will she let down her guard and allow them to get to know one another? When Charly finds a prayer in her nonna’s diary that makes her realize God may have His own plan for her future, she must learn to trust. But, what if His plan includes the dark-haired Cajun?
How awesome is that? Right?
Q. You don’t appear to be from Boston…
A. Hardly! I grew up in South Louisiana in a small community
south of New Orleans. Although there were times my Cajun accent was mistaken
for one from the Northeast. Go figure…
Q. So, you’re one of those bayou gal’s who was always saying,
“You know how those uppity folk are. They live way up north in New Orleans?”
A. Yes, I’m officially from “down the bayou” and New Orleans
was considered “town.”
Q. I take it you love the South?
A. I love a lot of
things about the South. Especially the food and the people!
Q. You lived for a while in Colorado, and I gather you
really enjoyed your time there.
A. Yes, I’ve lived in Colorado for the past eight years and
while I missed so much about the South, I learned to appreciate so much from that
state.
Q. You now live in Texas. How did that happen, and do you
feel like Texas is as much of a home as Louisiana?
A. My husband was transferred by his company to Houston.
We’ve lived here before so we were glad to come back to reconnect with friends.
While I’m happy to be living back in the south closer to family and fresh
seafood, I do miss the mountains, cooler temperatures, and low humidity of
Colorado!
Q. Writing is clearly a passion for you, and it’s something
you dearly hope will help inspire others. What was the key book you read as a
kid that sparked for you?
A. I’m not sure there was one book in particular. I read so
many books growing up “on the bayou.” The
Island of the Blue Dolphin and Chita:
A Memory of Last Isle were two books that have stayed with me. The
characters were so vivid that I felt I was in the story with them. I appreciate
the authors giving me that experience.
Q. You attended the University of South Alabama. What was
your field of study and how does it influence your writing?
A. I have a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. My
medical background gives me another dimension to add to my characters.
Q. I saw on your fabulous website, http://www.marianmerritt.com, “While this
bayou girl is glad to be back in the south because she loves her Southern
roots, doesn't wear white after Labor Day, says y’all and can make a
killer roux, she misses living in the mountains with
it's low-humidity air and white Christmases! That's why you'll find a
Louisiana/Colorado connection in each of her books.”
I have to admit, I was immediately reminded of the old television show,
Designing Women, which was set in Atlanta, NOT Louisiana. I know that show was
much before your time, but which of the characters mostly closely mirrors you?
A. Actually, Travis, I remember the show well. It was one of my
favorites! I relate with Mary Jo. I know what it’s like to be a single mom
trying to earn a living. I can also relate to her sharp wit.
Q. What is your favorite Christmas memory?
A. Going to my grandparents house and getting the wonderful Christmas
fruit baskets they had for us each year.
Q. What is your deepest regret?
A. Deepest regret? Hmmm….I try really hard not to dwell of things of the
past. I believe God wants us to live in His plan for our future and if we do,
there’s no room for regrets.
Q. If you could live for one year
in any place on this Earth…
A. Wow, there’s so many places I would love to live. My number one place
would be on a farm/vineyard in Tuscany, Italy.
Q. Is outer space something that interests you?
A. No. I’m a bit claustrophobic so the space suit would really freak me
out.
Q. Is there another creative passion in your life?
A. I love photography and pottery. While I get to play with my camera
often, I don’t get to use my wheel as much as I’d like.
Q. Who was your secret teenage crush?
A. Oh wow…blushing. That would be Donny Osmond. Big poster on my bedroom
wall and all the Teen Beat magazines
that he was on the cover.
Q. Sweet tea or coke?
A. Neither. I try to avoid sugar so I go with Unsweetened tea.
Q. How far back do your Southern roots go?
A. Good question. At least 6 maybe 7 generations or more. I haven’t
actually counted. But I know there are several generations of grandparents
buried in the same cemetery in the bayou town where I grew up.
Q. If you could go back and visit with your younger self, what age would
it be and what would you say?
A. Twelve. I’d take myself to lunch and say, “No matter what. Don’t settle
for anything less that your dream no matter how impossible it may seem.”
Q.
Let’s talk about your books. Which of your novels is your favorite?
A.
Now Travis, that’s like asking me which of my children is my favorite! I like
each of them for different reasons. The
Vigil is a story close to my heart because God sent me so much of that
story in the middle of the night.
I'm going to insert ONE small sentence from the description of The Vigil. It was hooked immediately: "While reading a dying patient's Korean War love letters, family secrets shatter Cheryl's beliefs about her family and herself and shed light on the reason she fled her hometown."
Q.
Why do you choose your current genres? Is there a genre you want to explore?
A.
I love reading Women’s Fiction and can relate to those characters so it was a
natural path for me to write those stories. I may have a mystery swirling
through my brain that may one day materialize on the page.
Q.
What’s next for you?
A.
I’m brainstorming another Christmas novella. This one set in the fictional town
of Bijou Bayou where The Vigil is
set. Some of those characters will make an appearance.
I’m
also working to complete a Women’s fiction story set in Tuscany, Italy and
Mandeville, LA.
Lightning
round!
Q. List 10 things you like:
A. Here’s is
the list I have on my website:
Jesus
My
Family
Sunshine
Rain
Snow
– only when it's falling
Baby
Giggles
Puppies
(who doesn't love puppies?)
Optimism
Vintage
Sports Cars
Saints
and Broncos Football
Q.
What? You got something against the Dallas Cowboys?
A.
Sorry, Travis. They are not on my list of favorites.
Q.
List 10 interesting things about you:
A.
I
cried when I saw Michelangelo's David.
I
drive a truck.
I've
climbed Diamond Head in Hawaii.
I've
owned two Harley Davidson motorcycles: A Sportster 883 and a Road King Classic.
I
believe in pursuing your dreams.
I
can shuck an oyster.
I
graduated with a degree in physical therapy at thirty-four.
I've
walked on the Great Wall of China.
Most
of my childhood was spent running around barefoot.
I
"kinda" speak Cajun French. (I can understand a lot and speak a
little.)
Q.
What’s the best way to follow you?
A.
I have a readers group on Facebook that I share information with my readers.
Marian
Pellegrin Merritt writes stories that blend her love of the mountains with her
deep Southern roots. Her tagline, Where
the Bayous Meets the Mountains, grew from both loves.
She is
a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Women's Fiction Writers
Association.
This Louisiana
native writes her Christmas romances and Southern women’s fiction with a
Louisiana/Colorado connection from the Texas home she shares with her husband
and a very spoiled Labradoodle.
Buy links to Marian’s Books:
http://www.marianmerritt.com/#!/cnec
