Interviews with authors can be boring. I know; I’ve read plenty. I’m sorry in advance.

Let’s just pretend I made you some Tortilla Soup taken from The Irresistible Table.  We’re hanging out, slurping, talking, laughing. Sit back, relax, eat {of course} and let’s talk.

So Mary, how did you get published?

I started out writing angst-filled diary entries in the sixth grade, graduated to angst-filled poetry in the 8th grade, aspiring to AP English in high school, then majoring in English in college. I created a newsletter for moms in the early 90s. I wrote in obscurity a good ten years before I got serious about publication in 2000. Then I met my dear friend and mentor Sandra Glahn who helped me navigate the crazy world of publishing. In 2003, I became a newspaper columnist and wrote my first novel, which helped me find an agent. In 2004, I sold my first two manuscripts, both parenting books. It’s been a busy, thrilling, wild ride ever since. Click here to read the whole nitty gritty story.

I’ve written an entire book {I know; I’m crazy} about how YOU can get published called The 11 Secrets of Getting Published.

If you could have lunch with any author {living or dead}, who would it be?

Definitely my BFF Nelle Harper Lee because she doesn’t talk to anyone publicly. I want to pick her brain, ask her questions, and just absorb her. {Sorry if that sounds creepy.} One book that gave me a great glimpse into her life is Mockingbird by Charles Shields. Here’s Nelle expressing her deepest desire:

When did you start speaking?

When I was a one-year-old, with the word “Goalie-gopter,” which of course means Helicopter. I’ve been speaking ever since.

That’s not what we meant. When did you start professionally speaking?

Ah, well. I’ve been speaking for churches and groups since the mid 1990s. I spent nearly three years in France where I had the opportunity to speak in Munich, Vienna, Florence, Monaco and Amsterdam—quite an eclectic combination. And, no, I don’t speak all those languages, though my children speak French fluently and make fun of my accent.

You can watch some of my speaking here, peruse my topics, or read endorsements {in your spare time}.

What about pets?

We have three, all named after literary characters. Scout is our newest {a frisky kitten turning into a long, lean cat}. Madeline is a cranky old lady cat who has an EU {European Union} passport because she traveled to France and back to the States. She’s an international cat of mystery. And Pippin the Wonderdog is a bread-eating golden retriever who is afraid of birds and can’t swim. Here they are:

{Note that Madeline is reading The Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans. She’s well read.}

What are your favorite books?

How long do you have? The soup’s going to get cold! I’ve created a list over at Amazon if you’d like. Click here: My Favorite Books.

You can also check out a more comprehensive list of my favorite spiritual growth books here. Here’s a list of my favorite business books. And these are books that will help you in your journey of healing. Here are my favorite true life biographies. And last, here are my favorite writing books. Ah, sweet books!

What kind of ministry do you do at church?

I disciple high school girls through my church, Lakepointe. And my husband and I teach a Life Group there every Sunday. Here’s a picture of some of the girls I’ve had the privilege of pouring into:

What’s your favorite ice cream?

A breathtaking tie between Moose Tracks and Mint Oreo cookie. Though I must say the best ice cream in the world is gelato from little gelato stands along the Italian Riviera. Wow.

Do you have any regrets?

Wow, that’s a heavy question after ice cream.

To answer your question, no. I’m perfect {insert laugh track here}.

Of course. My main regret is working like a crazy woman, letting life pass me by. I’m watching my children become adults, and it gives me this holy ache. Did I love them enough? Did I play with them enough? Did I instill Jesus in them enough? Did I engage enough?

Your most embarrassing moment?

Now you’re truly going to “know” me. When I was in the fifth grade, I went on all the rides at the county fair with some older, cooler girls. I was too afraid to tell them I had to go to the bathroom. On the scrambler, I peed on them all. No, we are not still BFFs.

Here’s the actual ride issuing a dire warning:

Do you prefer to write nonfiction or fiction?

Yes.

Here’s my fiction if you’re curious about my storytelling. They’re in order of publication.

And here’s my nonfiction, also in order of publication.

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?

Fish eyeball in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It tasted like a hunk of chalk. If you dip it in peanut sauce, it tastes like chalk smothered in Jif.

If Jesus walked into your room right now, what would He say to you?

What He’ll say: “Stop worrying so much! I’ve got this!”

What I hope He’ll say: “Well done, good and faithful Word Servant.” Oh to hear the melody of His voice.

Which countries have you visited?

So many. Hmmm, let’s see:

1. The good ol’ US of A.
2. Texas, because it thinks it’s its own country.
3. Canada
4. Mexico
5. Malaysia
6. Singapore
7. France
8. The Netherlands
9. Switzerland
10. Germany
11. Monaco
12. Italy
13. Portugal
14. Austria
15. England
16. Ghana
17. South Africa
18. Haiti

Here’s a pic of my latest adventure to Haiti with Help One Now.

How does your life influence your writing?

I use my life as a reservoir of ideas. Which means you probably shouldn’t get too close to me or you may end up as a villain in one of my novels. Seriously, everything is fodder, though I am cautious in sharing about my sweet family. I ask for permission when I write about them.

If you really want to see the raw, open-mic Mary, follow me on Twitter. You’ll see exactly how my life influences my writing, 140 characters at a time.

What do you do on a lazy Saturday afternoon?

I wish I could say I fully rested, but often I’m working on projects around the house, gardening, decorating, cooking. I secretly wish HGTV would pop in and photograph my house. Or better yet, crash my kitchen {my countertops aren’t cute}. Consider the picture below my open invitation to all things Home and Garden TV:

What do you hope folks come away with after they read your book or hear you speak?

That Jesus is real and active and is available to heal, restore and renew your life today. Whether you’re a friend needing strength, an abuse victim strangled by the past, or a seeker trying to figure out life with Jesus, it’s my sincere hope you find authentic answers in the pages of my books and from the words of my mouth.

Any closing remarks?

I’m just like you. I’m terribly needy and frail. But I serve and follow a dynamic God who dares to stoop low to earth to give me strength and joy and peace. That’s my sincere prayer for you today, that you’d know His power in your weakness. And that you’d experience His whisperings every single day.

I’ll finish with my very best accomplishment on God’s beautiful earth: my family. They are my joy and laughter. I love you, Patrick, Sophie, Aidan and Julia.