Which is your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is watching my dad and mom dance around the kitchen when she was making dinner. They would put an old Big Band record on the record player and dip and sway, while my father sang along to my mother. It was so romantic, graceful and reassuring.
What developed your love for writing?
My love of writing developed from my love of reading and my overactive imagination. When I was in second grade, I won a short story competition at my school and my entry was published in the State-wide Creative Writer journal. I haven't stopped writing....
Why did you choose to write under the pen name Morgan Malone?
I write (primarily) under a pen name so as not to embarrass my son. My son and daughter are proud of my writing career but romantic memoir and sexy romance are not things they like to associate with their mom. I chose my name based on the name of my first cat and the town where I grew up.
When did you retire from your career as an administrative law judge?
I retired in July 2008 after thirty years as a NYS Administrative Law Judge and Counsel for a small administrative agency regulating public sector labor and employment law.
What inspired you to pursue your first great love: writing?
I bragged to my late husband before he died (in 1988) that I could write as well as Danielle Steel. He challenged me to do it...after I retired because we needed both our paychecks to support our two children. And I love the heroes I dream up.
What do you love the most about writing erotic romances and romantic memoir?What do you love the most about writing erotic romances and romantic memoir?
I love telling a story about mature adults (over 35, at least) who fall in love for the last time in their lives to inspire readers to believe it's never too late to fall in love. And that mature couples can have it all in their romantic relationships.
How much do you prepare before giving workshops at RAGT and Romance Writers of America about writing “seasoned romance”?
As I've now been part of several workshops with different authors who write "seasoned romance", I have a pretty good sense of what I want to say. So, my preparation is usually geared toward what a particular audience is looking for and updates about recent developments in the "seasoned romance" genre.
From where do you get idea for writing love stories featuring heroes and heroines?
My ideas are based upon real life and research. I take snippets from my own life or the experiences of friends, research specific locations, time periods, sexual preferences, relevant literature and flesh out my ideas in a loose outline. Then, of course, once you start writing, the characters have a way of taking over.
What challenges did you face while writing your memoir, 32 Days: A Memoir of Love and Death?
My memoir, 32 Days: A Memoir of Love and Death, is an homage to my late husband and his courageous struggle to survive a traumatic injury that left him completely paralyzed. The challenge, apart from the emotional toll of writing about some very painful days in our lives based upon notes I had written to him each night he was in the hospital, was the lapse of time. Mitch died in 1988. I started writing 32 Days over 25 years later, I needed to check my recollections and my notes against what facts I could research about the summer of 1988 in Northern New York State and the recollections of many of the people who were part of the story.
How did you come up with the title of your book, Unanswered Prayers?
Unanswered Prayers is from the song of the same title by Garth Brooks. He was my inspiration for my hero, Sam Rhodes. A good guy from Oklahoma with a kind heart, great voice, showmanship...then I gave him a sexy build, a troubled past and a feisty reporter who got under his skin from the moment they met.
How did you begin writing the series, Barefoot Bay?
Barefoot Bay is a series created by the fabulous Roxanne St. Claire. It was originally part of Kindle Worlds and Rocki invited me to write in her "world". One novella led to four novellas and when Amazon discontinued Kindle Worlds, we independently published the series as a joint venture. Rocki gave us a world to write in and let us create our own characters. It's been a great adventure.
What were some misconceptions you had about the book and publishing industry before you became a published author?
I thought traditional romance publishers would want to publish romances with older characters, men and women in their forties and fifties, maybe even sixties. I was astonished to find virtually no interest in publishing this genre because, as one editor told me, "no one wants to read about old people having sex."
What other things, apart from writing do you enjoy doing?
I love watercolor painting. And I spend a lot of time with my little grandsons, who are two and five.
What are some of your plans for the future? Are you working on a new project at the moment?
Once things are better, I hope to travel again. I love Maine, Cape Cod, Myrtle Beach and I want to visit England, Israel and Scandinavia. I am continuing to research and write my Pirate Trilogy: Pirates of the Eastern Shore. I am also working on a new series: The Never Say "I Do" Club.
When were you first introduced to AllAuthor and how?
I noticed a fabulous banner on Facebook featuring a book by my dear friend, Judy Kentrus. I asked how she created the banner and she told me all about AllAuthor and and your great services
