Margaret Daley Interview

 Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself. 

A. I have been writing for over thirty years. I first book came out in 1981. I’ve been fortunate to have sold 82 books so far in my career. Not only was I a writer for many years but also a high school teacher of students with special needs. I have retired from teaching but not writing. I have been married to my husband for 41 years, have one son and four granddaughters.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

A. I’ve always been a storyteller. The writing part came later. One day I decided I’d try writing down one of the stories floating around in my mind. I did and that started it all.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break? 

A. Silhouette Romance bought my first book–Second Chance on Love. It was the first contemporary romance I wrote. Before that I wrote historical romances. But the industry was swinging toward contemporary stories. I wrote 20 books then went through an 8-year dry spell before I started selling again. I continued to write a few more books in the secular market before I wrote my first book for Love Inspired. That started my career in the Christian market.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release? 

Blurb for Saving Hope, the first book in Men of the Texas Rangers Series:

When a teenager goes missing from the Beacon of Hope School, Texas Ranger Wyatt Sheridan and school director Kate Winslow are forced into a dangerous struggle against a human trafficking organization. But the battle brings dire consequences as Wyatt’s daughter is terrorized and Kate is kidnapped.

Now it’s personal, and Wyatt finds both his faith and investigative skills challenged as he fights to discover the mastermind behind the ring before evil destroys everyone he loves.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Saving Hope?

A: The students I worked with. I wanted to do something to caution young teens about human trafficking.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

A: That through the Lord there is hope even in the middle of a tough situation.

Q: What is your favorite scene/chapter from the book?

A: When Kate leaves Wyatt’s ranch and ends up in trouble. (Don’t want to say any more and give some of the story away.)

Q: What inspires you to write? 

A.  The Lord–I couldn’t do it without Him.

Q: How has being a published novelist differed from your expectations of the profession? 

A: I’ve been in the business for many years and have realistic expectations. I have seen a lot of different types of situations in the publishing industry–had a good many of them happen to me.

Q: What advice or tips do you have for writers who are just getting started?

A: Read what you want to write and keep writing. Determination is a big part of this business.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now? 

A. I’ve started working on the second book in the Texas K-9 Series for Love Inspired Suspense continuity series for 2013. It’s based around a K-9 Unit in Sagebrush, Texas.

Q: What is something your readers might be surprised to learn about you? 

A. I don’t like to get up in front of an audience and give a speech.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do? 

A. I don’t have a lot of spare time, but when I do, I like to go to lunch and a movie with friends, spend time with my family, especially my granddaughters and read for pleasure.

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us? 

A. You can’t sell a book if you don’t sit down and write it completely. Then you need to send it out to publishers.