Debut author Marian Myers has her first story in our new Special which comes out on Wednesday. We decided to catch up . . .
Tell us about your story “Her Own Mind”.
“Her Own Mind” is the story of Jenny’s quest to find the perfect outfit to wear to a wedding. I suppose it isn’t surprising I wrote a story about a wedding because, with my younger daughter’s this year (she got married on 26th February), weddings were never far from my thoughts!
This is the second time I’ve had to find a Mother of the Bride outfit, so I have a lot of sympathy for Jenny and the advice she is given about suitable clothes for a woman of a certain age. Although, I hasten to add that all my family and friends have been really supportive!
How long have you been writing fiction?
I’ve written stories for a long time, but only for myself. A few years ago, my husband suggested I take it more seriously, but I still couldn’t build up the confidence to actually try submitting them anywhere until the first lockdown started.
Who are your favourite authors?
Without a doubt, my favourite author is Jane Austen. I loved L M Montgomery and Louisa May Alcott when I was growing up. Other favourites are Agatha Christie and E M Forster.
However, there will always be a special place in my heart for Michael Bond’s Paddington Bear! I was given the first book when I was four and I was an instant fan.
What are your future writing plans?
I really want to concentrate on writing more short stories and getting better at it, but I think I would eventually like to write a pocket novel. There are a few characters lurking at the back of my mind, so I might just have to try to bring them to life.
What advice would you give to new authors?
Really study the magazine before submitting your first story, so you get a feeling for whether your story will be a good fit. It can still be quite scary pushing that ‘send’ button, but you’ll feel a great sense of achievement once you have. Then, if you get a rejection (and I had quite a few before my first acceptance) don’t be downhearted, because it really is part of the process of being a writer. If a story isn’t accepted, I’ve used it as an opportunity to have another look at it and see what I can learn for the future.
Thank you, Marian! To meet more of our Writers Of The Week, please click here.
Tracey Steel Having worked on a number of magazines over the years, I have found my perfect place on the “Friend” as I’m obsessed with reading and never go anywhere without a book! I read all of our stories with a mug of tea close by and usually a bit of strong cheese too!
