We had so much fun with Mary Lyndon Simonsen and so many unanswered questions, we asked Mary to come back and visit with us. So settle in and relax with author, Mary Simonsen. If you have questions too, please leave them below and we’ll try to get more answers. What was the first Jane Austen book you ever read? Did you read it for pleasure or because it was part of a course you were taking and was required reading? Click here to read the rest of the interview… Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

Thank you for inviting me to write a guest blog on Fresh Fiction. I thought I would share with you today a little bit about my writing process, which actually involves a goodly amount of self-directed conversation, also known as talking to myself. Before I sit down in front of a computer to begin my novel, I have been walking around with a story in my head for weeks, months, and in the case of Searching for Pemberley, years. By the time I put my fingers on the keyboard, I have very definite ideas as to how the story will begin and end, but the mushy middle is subject to change. When I begin writing a story, I start with a “brain dump;” that is, I type out a very rough draft of a chapter. Once I have that down, I want my mind to be empty of all other thoughts, so I go for a long walk or I engage in some mindless task, such as sweeping the patio or pruning my shrubs. But when I really need to concentrate on a scene, my favorite thing to do is to get out my Shark steamer and clean my tile…