Author Spotlight: Mae Clair

From Christina

This week I'm delighted to have Mae Clair as my guest. We had a fun interview, and I'm excited to share news of Mae's latest book release, Twelfth Sun.

Welcome, Mae!  How about we begin at the beginning...and you can tell us a little about yourself.

Mae: Thank you so much for inviting me on your blog, Christina. To share a bit about myself --I’m married to my high school sweetheart, hold a day job in real estate marketing and had my first novel, a time travel/paranormal romance called WEATHERING ROCK, published by Lyrical Press in October 2012. I’ve been writing since grade school and am thrilled to finally be able to share some of my stories with others. What an amazing and supportive writer/reader community I’ve discovered online!

Christina: It's true, Mae. There's a wonderful community of authors and readers online and a genuine sense of camaraderie. What's especially fun is learning what other authors do in addition to writing. How about you? What are some of the activities you enjoy when you're not at your desk?

Mae:  I’m a voracious reader and enjoy everything from romance, thrillers and mysteries to horror, science-fiction, YA, fantasy and non-fiction. I adore cats, love old photographs, genealogy, American history, folklore and exploring old graveyards. I prefer small gatherings to large parties and would rather have a good conversation with someone than watch a movie.

Christina: Oooh, goody! Another American history buff. I'll let you explore the graveyards on your own, though.  Do you have a regular writing routine or schedule you follow? Do you write daily?

Mae: I wish it were daily, LOL! Because I work full-time, writing is mainly limited to one day a week. I set aside Sunday afternoons for that purpose and can usually accomplish a fair amount since it’s a set routine. During the week, I write posts for my blog and jot notes on any fresh story ideas that start puttering around inside my head.

Christina: I'm impressed. I could never keep my thoughts organized enough to work on writing once a week. I can lose my way from one day to the next. It's awesome that you can hold down a full-time job and still turn out completed novels for the rest of us to enjoy. So... how do you do it? How do you manage to balance writing with your other responsibilities?

Mae: It’s rough, and like many authors, there are days I feel completely overwhelmed. If it were just home life, writing and work, I would probably find a better balance, but toss social media into the mix and it can be daunting.  I’m frequently exhausted but remind myself that’s a typical state for a struggling author. I’ve become very good at juggling priorities and going without the proper amount of sleep, LOL!  On the plus side I’m doing what I’ve always dreamed of doing - - writing stories that others are able to read. The fatigue is worth the trade-off. J

Christina: What genres do you enjoy writing...and why?

Mae: For now I’m happy writing character-driven romances with a touch of mystery, whether contemporary, mythical or paranormal. In the past I’ve also written fantasy and can see myself embracing that genre again someday. Like fantasy, romance has a magical quality - - star-crossed loved, the triumph of overcoming obstacles, the flush of forever and the promise of an HEA. I’m a romantic sap. J

Christina: LOL...well, romantic sap that you are, what would be your perfect romantic date?

Mae: Dinner and drinks at an intimate restaurant or pub…preferably in a small coastal town with a view of the water. Afterward, a stroll along the shoreline or meandering through a park at twilight. The evening would end with an overnight stay at a small cottage or a 19^th century B&B. I love anything with overtures of stepping back in time.

Christina: Ah, yes...there's that history thing again. I understand completely. Now, let's move on and talk about your new book. I know what it's about, and I'm intrigued. I'm planning to grab a copy as soon as it's released. The title, TWELFTH SUN, is a real attention-getter. How did you come up with it?

Mae: One of the perks of my day job is occasionally naming the streets in new home subdivisions. Weathering Rock Drive was a street name I came up with for a community of single family homes. I liked the sound of it so much I modeled a 19^th century estate after it - - Weathering Rock - - and made that the title of my novel (the estate is key to the book).

 For TWELFTH SUN, my contemporary romance/mystery releasing on August 5^th through Lyrical Press, I combined my favorite number and an appreciation of astronomy to create a fictional 19^th century schooner. My hero and heroine become involved in the treasure hunt for an artifact rumored to have been on the vessel TWELFTH SUN before she sank in the 1800s.

Christina: Who is your favorite character from the book...and why?

Mae: I’m pretty partial to the hero, Dr. Elijah Cross. He’s a twenty-five year old marine archaeologist with a PhD who looks like a street musician and has an off-the-cuff attitude. He’s got his hands full between the hunt, other treasure seekers and the reclusive billionaire who set the whole thing up, but the person commanding his attention is Reagan Cassidy. 

They’re paired up on the treasure hunt and he’d like to get to know her better. A lot better. Unfortunately, she’s thirty-five and considers him too young for any type of romantic involvement. He’s really got his work cut out for him in changing her mind.

Christina: The more I hear about the story, the more intrigued I am. I love treasure-hunting stories. So, tell us about the setting, please. Does it play a role in the story?

Mae: The story takes place on the eastern seaboard in a small coastal town, one of my favorite settings. I was able to draw on my love of the ocean, beach settings and a smattering of nautical folklore. And then there’s the lavish seaside mansion belonging to my billionaire, where all of the treasure hunt participants are invited to lodge as guests. It was a lot of fun creating his estate and staff.

Christina: Sounds fun! And it sounds like a great read. Before we get to the rest of  the important stuff -- all the links where readers can contact you and find your books -- I've got one last question. Maybe a silly one, but here it is. What's one thing you can share with us about yourself that most people don't know?

Mae: I can’t parallel park. It’s ugly when I try to, so I avoid driving to locations where it might be required. If there is a parallel parking gene, it skipped me over!

Christina: Are we related? My entire family is missing that same gene! I do want to thank you again for being my guest today, Mae. I've enjoyed learning more about you, your work, and your busy schedule. I'm excited for your upcoming release. I'm marking August 5 on my calendar, and I'm looking forward to reading TWELFTH SUN.

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About Mae Clair:

Mae Clair opened a Pandora’s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back.  Her father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars. She snagged the tail of a comet, hitched a ride, and discovered her writer’s Muse on the journey.

Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with conflict, romance, and elements of mystery.

Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about writing, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail, and cats.

To learn more about Mae Clair, visit her at:

Website

Blog

Twitter (@MaeClair1)
Facebook Author Page
Goodreads

For buy links, book blurb and a video trailer on Mae’s current release, WEATHERING ROCK, a time travel/paranormal romance, visit:

http://maeclair.net/weathering-rock-2/

To add TWELFTH SUN, a contemporary romance/mystery available August 5^th to your TBR Goodreads list and read the book blurb, visit: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18063460-twelfth-sun