Mary L. Ball discusses her book

Mary L. Ball lives in North Carolina between the wondrous mountains and beautiful beaches. When she's not enjoying the outdoors--mainly fishing--she writes novels and Christian articles. Her passion is weaving together inspirational romantic suspense and mysteries.

Welcome, Mary. It was such a pleasure to meet you at High Country Festival of the Book last week.

Please tell folks where you live, and how your environment affects your writing.

I live in a small town in North Carolina; sometimes my views on things are different. For example: with the exception of Wal-Mart and CVS the main street rolls up at six-pm, everything closes. So, I tend to draw information from my rural surroundings that don’t fit, in most of today’s society. I’ve had to learn to compare things to the larger towns located twenty-five miles away  

Is it available in print and digital formats?

Yes, the novel is available in both paperback and eBooks, as well as audio.   

What do you think is the greatest lesson you’ve learned about writing so far? What advice can you give other writers?

Writing is a growing process. I learned to take the criticism and rejections as a chance to better my skills. No determined author has time to wallow in negative responses-you simply rewrite and go on. If a writer truly wants to become an author they can’t give up. Don’t let others trample on your dreams. Life is what we make of it, not what people tell us it should be.

  
Where do you store ideas for later use: in your head, in a notebook, or on a spreadsheet?

I am constantly writing down bits and pieces of inspiration. I keep my grandson so life around my house is busy and doesn’t always afford me the time to sit at my computer when a thought hits. I go into my office and jot things down in a note book, sometimes I even get up in the middle of the night to make a quick note.

Can you tell us your writing goals/projects for 2012 or beyond?

My work in progress is titled (for now) The Ring of Fate

Here’s a bit about it:

 There are those who’ve been blessed over the centuries by a tiny gold band, a mysterious object that causes lives to change-sometimes forever. 

Gracie has given up on everything but her work after becoming the youngest CEO of Mugful’s Beverage Company she believes life is complete. Her grandmother or “Granny Kay” as Gracie calls her asks her to oversee renovations at the family home, in addition to searching for a missing heirloom.

First contact with what she believes is an insignificant ring, lost for fifty years, sends her life spinning. Gracie experiences strange dreams. Feelings surface; she doesn't understand; mere thoughts that should remain unspoken, is voiced. Gracie’s emotional journey begins, testing a heart as cold as the ring itself-forcing her to question everything she believes.

Is this magic or just her soul reaching out for a different world, a life that she can only find through faith and a divine trust in God?  

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

I love for folks to visit me website and leave comment.

http://MaryLouwrites.webbly.com

I’m a bit blog deficient but I try anyway.

http://inspirationalfictionauthor.blog.com/

Thanks for dropping by, Mary, and I hope to see you at other events.