Meet fellow Clean Indie Reads author, Marianne Jones

20160208_161649_001-1 (616x640) Today I’d like to introduce my fellow CIR author, Marianne Jones. Here’s a little bit of background about Marianne, then I’m going to ask her to answer three questions for us!

Marianne Jones is a retired teacher, actor, and choir director from the wilds of Northwestern Ontario. Married, with two amazing daughters and two gorgeous granddaughters, she is the author of seven books and contributor to numerous magazines, newspapers and anthologies. Her work has won awards, and she was named International Christian Poet Laureate by Utmost Christian Writers. Although not all her words are carved in stone, three of her poems are, in permanent installation at Prince Arthur’s Landing at Marina Park in Thunder Bay.

Wow, poems carved in stone! How special is that! Now … onto our three questions. Firstly, what inspired you to become an author, and how old were you at the time?

I was 10 or 11 when I decided to become a writer. I loved reading more than eating—and I love to eat! I had been writing descriptions in my mind since I could remember, trying to find the perfect words to express how things made me feel. I wrote poetry for fun, and was looking at a poem I had just written one day when it all came together for me: what better way to spend my life than by devoting myself to writing?

How true. Now, next question … what three things would you say are the most important for an aspiring author to keep in mind as they being their writing journey?

Read, read, read. There is no better way to learn the craft. As you read, you are internalizing information about how to structure an effective paragraph, what makes a powerful sentence, how to do transitions—everything that makes for good writing. It will teach you more than any number of courses and conferences. Secondly, I will pass on the advice I read that helped me the most. Success in writing belongs to the undiscourageable. There will be many discouragements along the way, but you’ll get there if you don’t give up. Thirdly, I’d say to write about what moves you the most. If you are passionate about your subject, that will sustain you through the hard slogging.

What great advice–it is so easy to become discouraged, but if you have a story to tell, there will be someone (or many someones) who will be better for having read it. Now, for the last question – what makes you happiest as an author?

Getting a cheque in the mail for my writing makes me pretty happy. Hearing from a reader that my words touched her or him is a special moment. But I think the satisfaction of completing a good poem, or page, or paragraph makes me the happiest. Any day that I get some writing done is a good day.

I agree on all fronts! So, let’s learn a bit about some of your books, and where we can find them.

My books can be found on Amazon–both as ebooks and print books. Here is the link to my author page.

The Serenity Stone Murder is a humorous cozy mystery about two middle-age best friends and church ladies, Margaret and Louise, who get embroiled in trying to find out who killed the manager of the Thunder Bay Casino. It’s a hilarious, gentle romp with a hint of potential romance. Sequel to follow!

Great-Grandma’s Gifts is a children’s picture book that is a tribute to “crafty” moms and grandmas. It was inspired by my mother, who turned her love of sewing into clothes, dolls, stuffed animals and quilts for her many grandchildren. It celebrates those special ladies who express their love of family with gifts from the heart, rather than the store. The sweet illustrations by Karen Reinikka add to the charm. It’s a perfect gift for children, moms, aunts and grandmas!