Leading Ladies of Mystery – Marian Selby
Hello! My name is Marian Frances Selby. I’m 47-years old and live in Georgia. I like to garden, cook, and bake. I’m told my Kahlua brownies are to kill for. But my cooking skills can’t compare to my best friend’s, Joan Delaney, who is a one-star Michelin chef. I enjoy the gothic soap opera, Dark Shadows, and I can’t say no to a good mystery. I have a wall full of mystery novels by Agatha Christie, Anne Perry, Elizabeth Peters, and Caroline Graham, just to name a few favorites.
I made my first appearance in Brilliant Disguise. That is where I met the second love of my life, Detective Charlie McClung. My first love, Lee Selby, was my high school sweetheart. We were married right after I graduated high school. Lee was an airline pilot. After 18 years of a wonderful marriage, he die in a plane crash. I was devastated. Having no interest in love after Lee’s death, I was alone for 11 years. Then Detective Charlie McClung entered my life during his investigation of the suspicious death of Diane Panell, my friend and next door neighbor.
Charlie is Irish-American and practically perfect in every way. I tried to fight the instant attraction I had for him, but …you’ll have to read the Charlie McClung Mysteries to find out what happens between the two of us. He and I make a good crime solving team. Although, he does all the hard work. Charlie is a brilliant detective and really doesn’t need my help. I can’t help but make a couple of suggestions here and there, and I try my best to stay out of danger.
Yes, I must say, we are good together. I invite you to read all about our journey together through life, love, and murder. I loved to hear from you! Please feel free to ask me any questions. Who knows, you may win a prize.
I'd like to do a giveaway of winner's choice of a Mobi copy of Brilliant Disguise, A Good Girl, or Criminal Kind. Let's do three winners. I will need the winner's Kindle email address, not email address. They will have to ask Marian questions to enter the giveaway.
About the Author:
Although I was born in Mercedes, Texas, I have lived in Georgia most of my life which has been filled with a variety of experiences. Some were great and some, well let's just say I have learned many lessons the hard way.
I have been married for 35 years to the most practically perfect man. We enjoy traveling and watching mysteries on TV. We have recently adopted a Tuxedo cat named Gertrude. I am an active member of Sisters in Crime Atlanta Chapter, Mystery Writers of America, and I sit on the advisory board of Rockdale Cares, Inc., a non-profit advocacy group for the developmentally challenged.
I began writing in high school but not seriously until 1999. I write traditional mysteries and my biggest influences are Agatha Christie, Anne Perry, Caroline Graham, Elizabeth Peters, and my family. I have had short stories published in Evangel and The Associate Reformed Presbyterian magazines. I have published a collection of eclectic short stories titled, My Favorite Work of Art.
My first manuscript, Useless Beauty, is waiting for me to breathe life into it. It was put on hold because my second manuscript, Brilliant Disguise, was begging to be written. It is the first in the Detective Charlie McClung mysteries. Brilliant Disguise was released on January 21, 2014. The second book, A Good Girl, was released in September 23, 2014. Criminal Kind, the third book in the series was released on June 30, 2015. I am currently working on the fourth book, "Sins of My Youth." There are at least six more to follow in the series.
Thank you for having us!
ReplyDeleteMarianne, If you could meet anyone, who would it be, and why? Thank you for this chance.
ReplyDeleteI would love to meet Tom Petty. Marian would love to meet Agatha Christie.
DeleteAwesome! Thank you for answering! :)
DeleteWill you 2 get married in the future?Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteAh, good question. I truly love Charlie and I know he truly loves me.
DeleteWill you and Charlie ever go skinny dipping?
ReplyDeleteWe do have a pool now.
DeleteMarion, when are you going to write your books? You have read tons and tons. You could write about you and Charlie...lol
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea, Brian!
DeleteTo Mary Anne, Thank you for the hours and hours of reading enjoyment!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brian, for spending hours with us.
DeleteHow did you decide on a storyline for a book and how do you develop the characters and the story.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Storylines generally come from a song combined with a warped mind. The characters are made from pieces of people I know or have observed in the wild. I think I know exactly what's going to happen, but once I start writing the characters begin to say otherwise. I often say to myself, "Well, who knew that was going to happen?"
DeleteI don't think I'm crazy, well, not completely, yet. LOL
One more question. Since there seems to be a crime wave, how come the books Mary Anne writes about you take so long to come out?
ReplyDeleteWell, she can usually get them out sooner but this time she had a couple of set backs that was out of her control. She is already working on our next story, Flirting With Time. She hopes to have it out before Christmas. Let's see.
DeleteWhat things are your must haves for writing?
ReplyDeleteA big glass of Diet Dr Pepper, all of my Charlie McClung notebooks for each book (I use them to refresh my memory), my laptop, my cell phone, and sometimes a cat in my lap.
DeleteWhat things are your must haves for writing?
ReplyDeleteA big glass of Diet Dr Pepper, all of my Charlie McClung notebooks for each book (I use them to refresh my memory), my laptop, my cell phone, and sometimes a cat in my lap.
DeleteWhich comes first for you--the story or the characters?
ReplyDeleteThe story comes first. The characters appear during the plotting process. Once I start writing, the characters personalities develop.
Delete