MARY DEMUTH is an author of six books who helps parents to turn their trials into triumphs. Mary has spoken at several national writers conferences and has had the privilege of teaching in the US, Europe, and Africa for various churches and church planting ministries. She's appeared on national TV in Canada, and WFAA's Good Morning Texas. Mary and her husband, Patrick, reside in Rockwall, Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France, where they planted a church.Visit her other web sites: http://blog.myfamilysecrets.org/ and http://www.thewritingspa.com/.
DAISY CHAINby Mary DeMuth
Published by Zondervan
ABOUT THE BOOK
The abrupt disappearance of young Daisy Chance haunts the small town of Defiance, Texas. Fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper searches for answers in this gritty and compelling story of love and sorrow, revealing God's hand of redemption in impossible situations. Lyrical fiction from a bright new literary talent.
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AUTHOR INTERVIEW
1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?
I had several long conversations with a friend who had a father who seemed to be the upstanding Christian citizen of his community, only to punish his family behind closed doors. It bothered me so much, that the kernel of this story formed.
2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?
Everything influences my writing. But I must say I am no prophet like Hixon, and no saint like Bald Muriel. And I certainly can't relate to Jed as a fourteen year old boy. All the characters are part of me, and yet they have their own personalities. Thankfully, this is true. It would be boring to keep reading ME in every book!
3. If one of your characters were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?
Jed would be Neopolitan since that was a common flavor in the 70s, and he is multi-dimensional, sometimes thoughtful, sometimes guilt-ridden, sometimes afraid.
4. Are there any themes in Daisy Chain that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?That keeping secrets doesn't protect. Hiders never prosper. And authenticity, the importance of it, weaves its way through the book. It's something I'm passionate about, and you'll see it in several of my books in smaller ways.
5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?
I don't like to write about missing children. It's hard and painful and awful. My favorite is fleshing out secondary redemptive characters who add life and light to the story.
6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?
The second book of the trilogy is called A Slow Burn and it releases in October. My memoir, Thin Places, releases in January. And the final Defiance book comes out Spring 2010.
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Thank you, Mary, for being in the spotlight with us.
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