Mysterical-E

He Said, She Says

Madeline (M.M.) Gornell
Interviewed by Barbara Hadges

Madeline (M.M.) Gornell has five published mystery novels—PSWA awarding winners Uncle Si’s Secret and Lies of Convenience (also a Hollywood Book Festival honorable Mention), Death of a Perfect Man, and Reticence of Ravens (a finalist for the Eric Hoffer 2011 fiction Prize, the da Vinci Eye for cover art, and the Montaigne Medal for most thought provoking book). Her latest, Counsel of Ravens is her first sequel, a continuation of Hubert Champion’s Mojave saga, and has garnered a London Book Festival Honorable Mention, and Runner Up in the Los Angeles Genre Fiction category. She continues to be inspired by historic Route 66, and expects to release Rhodes in 2014. Madeline lives with her husband and assorted canines in the Mojave Desert near the internationally revered Route 66.

Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/author/mmgornell

BMH:    Where do you live?
MMG:    I live in the middle of California’s High-Desert, in a small town on Route 66. We have no neighbors (no amenities either), and I just love it. Except, of course when I need to drive 30 miles for milk and eggs!

BMH:    How long have you lived there?
MMG:    We moved here in 2004 when we left the Puget Sound area in Washington state where we’d lived for twenty plus years. Born and raised in Chicago, but I’ve lived in Great Falls, Montana (very short time), Houston, Texas (also a very short time), Fairfield, Oakland, and San Jose, California, North Bend, Washington, and now, the desert!

BMH:    Why did you choose to live there?
MMG:    Happenstance, really. A combination of luck (or bad fortune depending on your point of view!), what was available, the property fitting our life style, and cost.

BMH:    Tell us about your family.
MMG:    The “we” I’ve been referring to are my husband, and currently five dogs. Our cat we brought from Puget Sound is now deceased. When we arrived here, one cat and two dogs were quite satisfactory. However, people—who I don’t understand how they can do it—dump their animals in the desert, consequently, the five we have. Fortunately, I love dogs.

BMH:    You have a long weekend. What would you do with the time?
MMG:    Write, read, eat, nap. Exciting, huh?

BMH:    You can go back in time, meet and chat with anyone, who would it be? What would you talk about?
MMG:    Agatha Christie. We’d talk about writing, of course. And everything English! And this would be at high-tea.

BMH:    Who are your favorite authors?
MMG:    P.D. James. She is my “rock-star.”

BMH:    What is something you wish someone would have told you before you became an author?
MMG:    That’s such a hard one because there was so much I didn’t know. Fortunately Sisters in Crime was around with tons of information. But I mainly focused on “how to write” issues, not how to promote! I certainly should have started earlier on that front. Not sure, however, if I would have paid attention—sometimes I’m a real rock-head! What I do believe is, it’s never too late to start anything you really want to do. Since having my first book published, other authors have been immensely generous with help, advice, encouragement—it’s a great community.

BMH:    What do think about the new faces of publishing?
MMG:    Don’t think I know enough to say anything really smart in that area, but in general I’m all for improvements, changes, and enhancements that make life— writing and publishing in particular—easier.

BMH:    What's your favorite flower?
MMG:    Lilies and fruit tree blossoms.

BMH:    Do you watch television? What is your favorite program?
MMG:    I love TV, have since I was a child. The best shows on right now to my taste—good drama, well written, good acting—are Justified, Longmire, The Good Wife, Blacklist (Spader makes the show!), Person of Interest, and Elementary. Then there are a bunch I watch just for the heck of it! Pure silly escapism kind of entertainment. Yep, I’m a real TV junkie.

BMH:    How do you promote yourself?
MMG:    Poorly. And I’m not being a smart-alec. I think I could do more, but time is a problem, and writing is more important to me than promoting. I do all the social media stuff, and do some ads, and my new publisher has helped with ads, go to conferences, network. Still though, no silver bullet. Of course if I had limitless funds…

BMH:    What would be your ideal vacation spot?
MMG:    Traveled a lot in the past. My favorite “vacation” spot right now is my garden at home with my dogs.

BMH:    How did you celebrate when your first book was published?
MMG:    I was rather quiet. Savoring the moment (or maybe in shock?)—though I probably did jabber to my husband on and on. I do remember it was a wonderful moment.

BMH:    Do you have some hard learned advice for new authors?
MMG:    My belief is every writer’s journey is unique. But since you asked—listen to all advice, use what you think will work for you, and never, never, never give up!

BMH:    What is the oddest thing you've ever done?
MMG:    Move to the desert.

BMH:    What do you do just to cut loose and have some fun?
MMG:    Read a book. I know, I know, I lead a very dull life. But that’s the way I want it, so I feel pretty darned lucky.