I’ve been a fan of Marcia Preston’s work for many years through OWFI. I’ve become personally acquainted with her in the last few years through Sisters in Crime and Tornado Alley writing clubs. And I’ve found she is lovely. Not just talented.

When I asked her to speak to the Enid Writers Club, she agreed and we struck a bargain. She’s driving in from out of town, not too far away, but we appreciate it and we’ll buy her lunch. She has a lot to teach about writing and her presentation, The 50 Shades of Crime Fiction, is her favorite. We can’t wait to hear it.

She is the recipient of the Mary Higgins Clark award and has served on judging panels for the Edgars. She is a past-president and Honorary Life Member of the statewide Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc. She taught thirteen years in public high schools, freelanced for a long list of magazines, and worked as magazine editor and public relations director for The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. For many years, Marcia edited and published ByLine, a national magazine for freelance writers.

I had a few questions for her so we could get to know her personally before she speaks at our workshop.

1.What drives you to write? I’m not actually sure. The love of the written words, I think.

2. What’s your writing schedule? Do you write every day? I don’t. When I was younger, I tried to do that. But now that I’m retired and have plenty of time, I’m not nearly as driven. Go figure.

3. Give us a glimpse of the surroundings where you write. Separate room? In the kitchen? At the dining room table? I have a dedicated office, which is lovely. I didn’t always. My office has a large bookshelf crammed full, an oversized desk, two chairs, and a cat on the small table.

4. How did you come up with the plotline/idea for your current WIP. I’m currently working on a traditional mystery set in Southern California. It’s about a woman who awakens in the night to find her naked husband drowned in their swimming pool. This actually happened to my sister!

5. Which comes first for you – character or plot? And why? For mysteries, it’s usually some event, like the dead guy in the pool. One time it was a hanging in an old barn. For my more serious books, it’s more of an idea. For example, in The Spiderling, I wanted to write about what families of servicemen or women went through when the spouse/father is deployed and killed. I have a son who was career Army. But he’s safely retired now!

6. Tell us one unusual thing about yourself – not related to writing. I’m an amateur lepidopterist. I’ve been fascinated with the metamorphosis of butterflies since I was a small child. I collected them (sorry), captured the caterpillars and fed them until they made their chrysalis, and watched them hatch into something beautiful and amazing. This carried on into my adulthood, as well.

7. What three words describe you, the person? Hmm. We never see ourselves as others do, but in my own mind I’d say I’m restless, calm (I know, a contradiction), and kind.

8.If you could hang out with any literary character from any book penned at any timeline, who would it be, why, and what would you do together. I’ve always been fascinated with the mystique of Ernest Hemingway. He was bipolar, and so is one of my granddaughters, so I’d be interested to talk with him about that. What would we do together? Well, it’s Papa Hemingway, so we’d probably drink!

9.Favorite sound. The ocean

10.Least favorite sound. Yelling

11.Favorite actor or actress. Brad Pitt. (I dreamed about him last night!)

12.Who would you want to be for 1 day and why? (It can be anyone living or dead). Albert Einstein. I would love to know what it’s like to be that intelligent.

13.What’s your version of a perfect day? Lounging by the surf with my much-loved husband. He’s been gone 14 years.

It’s been great to talk to you, Marcia. Thanks for the interview and all my questions. I can’t wait to listen to your presentation at the Enid Writers Club fall workshop.

You can find Marcia here https://www.facebook.com/marcia.preston.73 or on her website Marcia Preston – Books, Biography, Latest Updates In 2023.

What are you reading, writing, or creating this week?