Marilyn Tyner

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LM – Marilyn, would you tell our readers something about yourself and how you became a writer?

MT - I started writing about fourteen years ago.  I’ve been an avid reader since I first learned to read and discovered the magic of being transported to a different place and time through written words.  In addition to that, I’ve always had these ideas and stories floating around in my head.  I have my sister, Alice Wootson, to thank for urging me to try my hand at writing.  She’s also a published novelist.

LM - While you are an established writer, what other writers do you enjoy?

MT - I’ve always loved LaVyrle Spencer’s writing.  In my early days of reading romance novels I enjoyed Judith McNaught, Jude Devereaux, and Kathleen Woodiwiss.  When the field opened for African American romance novels, my list was expanded Felicia Mason, Frances Ray and Rochelle Alers.  Aside from romance, I enjoy Sue Grafton, Walter Mosley, Robert Ludlum and too many to name.  I have to mention Agatha Christie who was responsible for getting me hooked on mysteries many years ago.

LM - Share with us the titles of the books that you have written.

MT - My first novel, STEP BY STEP, was published in 1997.  I wrote it never expecting it would actually be published.  For one thing, I deliberately created a full-figured heroine.  It also revealed the problems that can arise for people who have been witnesses to domestic abuse.  My other novels are SECRETS, FALSE IMPRESSIONS, SECRETS OF THE HEART, and EVERYTHING TO GAIN.

LM - Which book is your favorite and why?

MT - I guess the above answer would lead you to believe that my favorite is STEP BY STEP, but I can’t really say that I have a favorite.  I like each of them for a different reason.  I liked the showing the relationship between two single parents in SECRETS, the wonderful fantasy of a private island and sixty-foot yachts in FALSE IMPRESSIONS, being able to demonstrate that it’s possible to have romance in a marriage as in SECRETS OF THE HEART and again in EVERYTHING TO GAIN.  I also liked EVERYTHING TO GAIN because I had an opportunity to throw a little mystery into the mix.  I continued this and expanded it even more in ONE HEARTBEAT AT A TIME.

LM - What would you consider to be your greatest accomplishment as a writer and why?

MT - Being able to demonstrate that there is really no such thing as ‘happily ever after’.  All of my novels make it clear that good relationships don’t just happen, they require work.  That’s why I usually throw a wrench into the works just when the reader thinks the hero and heroine will have smooth sailing.

I also enjoy conducting workshops and encouraging other writers.

LM - How do you develop the personalities of the characters in your books?

MT - That’s really hard to say.  I don’t have any formula and I don’t write character outlines.  Basically, I live with my people even before I start writing and their personalities develop as problems arise or the relationship deepens.

LM - Your latest book is titled, ONE HEARTBEAT AT A TIME.  How did you decide on the title of this book?

MT - I started thinking of song titles. I’ve never been good at coming up with titles.  I usually try to fit a title to the book.  I discovered with this one that it was easier to come up with the title and add something in the book that would harken back to the title.  (I don’t believe I just wrote ‘harkens’.)

LM - The main characters in ONE HEARTBEAT AT A TIME are Elizabeth Roberts and Adam Gregory.  They both happen to be stockbrokers and work at the same company.  In real life most people prefer to work in different companies from their significant other.  Is it difficult to write a good storyline when your characters work at the same company in the same line of work?

MT - In this particular book it worked well because Elizabeth had already been there for years before Adam arrived on the scene.  It also worked well because of the basic storyline and the problems that arose in the company.

LM - Elizabeth happens to be the sister of heroes in two of your other books, FALSE IMPRESSIONS and EVERYTHING TO GAIN.  What made you decide to give Elizabeth her own story, and at the same time bring closure to the last book with the marriage of her brother Derek?

MT - A number of readers had written to tell me that they had been disappointed that I didn’t include Derek’s wedding in EVERYTHING TO GAIN.  I had also had a number of requests for Derek’s story after people read FALSE IMPRESSIONS.  I decided those same readers might enjoy reading about the sister and also revisiting the family.

LM - Not many authors have the ability to balance the romance scenes and the suspense parts in a story so that you look forward to the next chapter.  How do you decide how much of each should be discussed in each chapter?

MT - It’s not really a matter of deciding how much to put in each chapter.  The two parts parallel each other and when something happens in the romance, it’s normal to me to have some event take place in the suspense to either strengthen the relationship-or drive a wedge through it.

LM - What can our readers expect from you in the future?

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