My Writing Corner : Getting Into The Story

I've said it before, but it bears repeating--one of the reasons I began doing a blog on writing and writers was because I loved the idea of learning about fellow writers--why they write and how they write. Today's guest in My Writing Corner, Mary Georgina de Grey has a wonderful story to tell. Her newest book is Then Time Stands Still and it was released in September.

Welcome, Mary. Please tell us a little about how you got started as an author:

After writing a children’s adventure story in my early 20s, which sank immediately, I wrote no fiction until about ten years ago. I was writing languages courses for schools and one editor asked me to produce a pack of French short stories and poems with questions and exercises – and I was off on my writer’s journey: I enjoyed dipping into fiction so much, I had to write a novel. But my life was busy, and it wasn’t until lockdown that I began to write seriously.

As a linguist, it seemed logical to use the countries I’d lived and worked in. Stuck at home, I wanted to travel, and Italy glowed in my mind as a really desirable place to visit, and so my first published novel began. Then The Earth Moved was published in 2023.

What do you find is the most challenging part of being an author?

Getting published, of course, but then once that’s happened, other things challenge you. I’m very focused, and when I’m in the story, I have to force myself to do the marketing – but then I do enjoy some of that.

I designed my own website and that was fun. I think what I do most on Facebook and in my newsletter is to give background to my books. And I do a lot of research, so I’ll have taken interesting photos, and then I enjoy creating text to accompany them. For instance, with this new book, Then Time Stands Still, the background is about the food, the customs and the architecture of Zaragoza (Spain), where it’s set. I think getting the balance between writing and marketing is the most difficult.

How do you develop characters?

Sometimes it begins with a news headline, but generally, I’ll be in a place or read about it, and if it sparks my interest, a shadowy character lodges itself in my mind. But it needs filling out. I write a bio for each of the main characters, feeding in past traumatic events, good qualities and bad, which will shape the way they react to what happens. Then I may choose an aspect of the character and push it as far as I can to increase the intensity – you want the person to stay with the reader long after they’ve finished a book.

Of course, I might get an idea from someone I know, but it’s never them – more like a characteristic they have. I live with the main character for a long time before really writing anything, often working on the what ifs in the middle of the night – light out, just thinking. I find it impossible to make notes in the night but somehow all these thoughts come together.

Tell us about your road to publication

Being published for non-fiction did not help to find a publisher or an agent but it did teach me self-discipline and how to work with an editor, not be too precious about my creations. I submitted to both agents and publishers and The Wild Rose Press (TWRP) was the first to ask to see the MS – I’d suggested I could write a series in that each book would be set in a different European country, and each heroine would be strong and determined to make the most of her life, despite a few earlier setbacks.

I’ve been lucky with my editor, Eilidh Mackenzie, who has taught me so much.

What is your book that will be featured today and how did you come up with the idea to write it.

This is my third published book, Then Time Stands Still. The second with TWRP and is the story of a young woman archaeologist, Amancia. She’s talented, mixed race and held back in her career by caring for her family after her father’s death. The idea came during a writing exercise with my Writers’ Circle in a session on setting and how to make it come alive to the reader.

Having worked and lived with mixed-race people in Bristol in England, I know that the path isn’t always smooth, and this was something I wanted to talk about.

I’ve always been interested in archaeology, but I still had to do a huge amount of research to get an authentic feel to the story. But you know, the research also suggested lots of plot points.

Let’s get a blurb:

English archaeologist Dr Amancia Harding has looked after her family for five years. Now it’s time to take care of herself and leading a team on a dig in Spain is the perfect way to propel her career forward. Her good intentions are threatened when she meets vineyard owner Max Serrano.

Damaged by war in Ukraine and a tragic event in his past, Max has given up on relationships and taken refuge in making wine, but the attraction he feels to Amancia forces him to confront painful issues. There’s also the gulf between their two cultures to consider if a relationship is to have any chance of success.

Ambitious and fiery in character, can either accept that compromise is sometimes necessary to find happiness?

How about a quick excerpt?

She warmed at the sight of her oldest friend. They’d been at primary school together and, although they’d studied at opposite ends of the country, the friendship had continued right through university. But five years ago, they’d both returned to Bristol, and here Lizzie was, to provide the support that friendship demanded. Just seeing her made Amancia feel better, stiffening her backbone. Despite the rubbish day she’d had, she found herself grinning.

Sliding onto the rough wooden chair, she pointed to the wine. “Not sure about this, Lizzie. I might get seriously into it, the way things are going.”

The other woman laughed. “I did feel for you for a couple of minutes, when you texted me the result.”

“Only a couple of minutes?” What did she mean? Surely this was the one person she could count on for support.

“Well, I decided it’s for the best.”

“What? I thought you were my friend.”

“I am – and you can stop being sorry for yourself because I’ve got some good news.” She paused dramatically, watching Amancia’s face. “Hope you really are prepared to leave your job at the museum – like right now.”

“How did you know what I’d decided?”

“I didn’t but I knew you had to come to that decision sooner or later and I think it’s the right move.” Amancia began to protest but Lizzie wasn’t having it. “I’m only judging from what you’ve been saying recently and it’s clear you’re not appreciated – or not enough.” She grasped her friend’s hand and pulled it towards her, turning it to reveal the dark stain on the inside of the wrist. Her eyes flicked to Amancia’s chin and back to the wrist. “Not appreciated – and not only by the museum.”

“What? – oh this? I dropped a stone exhibit, tried to grab it before it hit the floor, and this was the result.” Her laugh sounded artificial to her own ears and wouldn’t have convinced a stranger, let alone her best friend.

“Don’t lie to me, Amancia. He did this, didn’t he?” She reached across and gently touched the almost invisible bruise on her friend’s jaw. “And when did this happen?”

Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. “Three days ago. I … I couldn’t believe it, but he’s under terrible pressure just now, and I know I annoyed him. It was such a silly argument. Please, Lizzie – can we not talk about this for the moment? I’ve had a tough day, and I’m meeting him later – maybe. That’s more than enough of James.”

Lizzie gave her a long, hard look.

What are you working on now?

I’m on the third of the novels for TWRP, Then Love Burned Bright. It is set in France, and I’ll soon be organizing a research trip to Toulouse and Bordeaux to make sure my memories of the area are up to date. I’ve found the internet to be very helpful as well.

I’ve also started what I call the ‘Island Series’, and the first is likely to take place on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. A recent visit inspired me to set something there.

What advice do you have for beginning writers?

Read a lot in different genres, fiction and non-fiction, and some psychology won’t come amiss. Reading in your own genre can be helpful and you begin to respect others, seeing how cleverly they handle a difficult transition or an emotional situation.

Here are three books I have recently read:

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
A modern version of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid
Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris

None of these is about writing but such reading will feed your imagination.

Writing is hard work, so settle down at your desk and write – and ditch perfectionism at this stage. Find out what’s most comfortable for you – paper or computer – and write. I like to get through the first draft quickly because I love editing. Writing friends have recommended participating in NaNoWriMo – 50K words in one month – to get going,

What helps you? Make a plan, a pathway to the end you envisage. If you haven’t envisaged an ending, this is probably the first step. Your plan can be quite sketchy, but don’t be afraid to tackle a later scene that’s already fully formed in your mind as soon as it arrives there.

Courses and books are useful. I’d recommend a series of books by Janice Hardy. If you are writing romance, her book on Show Don’t Tell is hugely helpful for the beginner.

Here are the buy links for Then Time Stands Still followed by Mary's social contact information.

Buy Links: