Interview with YA romance author Mary Cope

I’m chatting with young adult romance author Mary Cope about her new novel, Beautiful One.

During her virtual book tour, Mary will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:
Mary Cope is a passionate romance writer known for her ability to craft characters that feel undeniably real. Drawing inspiration from both her personal experience and vivid imagination, Mary’s words resonate with readers. A romantic at heart, Mary believes true intimacy is what love is all about.

Welcome, Mary. Please tell us a little bit about your new release.
Transformation, empowerment, love and music come together in the book, Beautiful One.

Elizabeth Ryan is a beautiful, shy, naïve high school senior. Having never dated she meets the boy of her dreams, Aidan Mitchell. Despite his history of womanizing Liz is drawn to him. Soon Liz becomes the envy of all the girls on campus, when they become a couple and her dream boyfriend sweeps her off her feet and into the dating world that is all too new and strange for her. When other guys start to take notice of Liz, Aidan is troubled with fits of jealousy.

Elizabeth then meets the ruggedly handsome, Spencer Hayes and they quickly bond over their passion for music. Liz begins to struggle with the feelings that spark between them. In the end Elizabeth finds herself torn between helping Aidan overcome his jealousy and anger and giving into what her heart truly wants.

What was the inspiration behind your latest release?
The inspiration for Beautiful One came to me when I was dropping off my daughter in high school. As my daughter was gathering her things to exit the car, an overweight teenage girl walked by. My daughter glanced at her, looked at me and said, “Kids are so mean, it must be really hard to be overweight in high school.” That was the day the character, Elizabeth, was born and the idea for Beautiful One began.

Excerpt from Beautiful One:
“Elizabeth.” My heart leapt as I opened my eyes, and my breathing stopped for a second. My eyes roamed over his handsome face. His jaw was slightly swollen and bruised, but other than that, his face was untouched. His grey eyes were unusually light from the angle where I sat, and his dark hair was tousled in a way that made me ache to run my fingers through it.

“May I?” He motioned to the bench next to me.

I was still surprised to see him, so I just nodded.

Spencer sat and shifted his body so it was facing mine. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Didn’t you get my calls?”

In my rush to see Aidan, I had left my cell phone at home, so I shook my head no.

Spencer gave me a ghost of a smile and softly chuckled. “Are you gonna talk to me or just nod your head?”

“I’m sorry. I’m just shocked to see you.” I shifted my body so it was facing his.

“After last night, I wanted to make sure you were okay.” His soft gaze traveled from my face to the length of my body. When he saw the bruises, his jaw clenched before he frustratingly blew out a breath of air. He gently lifted my arm to examine it further. I could sense he was trying to rein in his anger. “Did he hurt you anywhere else?”

Spencer reached to place a stray lock of my hair behind my ear.

My eyes didn’t leave his. I whispered, “No.”

Do ideas for plot or characters appear first?
Ideas can come in different ways for different writers. Some writers might start with a character in mind and then develop a plot around them, while others might begin with a plot idea and then create characters to fit into that narrative. It really depends on the individual writer and their creative process.

For me, the plot came first and then the characters filtered in. Never having had a professional writing background, I would consider myself an organic writer. I think about my story, and when I begin, I already have an idea for the ending. My goal is to write towards to the end.

Have you ever traveled when researching information for a book?
I didn’t have to travel for research; in my early twenties, I actually lived in the location where “Beautiful One” is set. The story unfolds in the beach community of Dana Point. Every place mentioned in the book is somewhere I’ve either visited or worked. The stairs Lizzy runs up, I’ve run up too, and the dog, Maggie, was my own. Although my sweet Maggie has since passed, she will live on in the pages of “Beautiful One.”

When did you begin writing?
I started my writing journey in my late forties. I was reading a best-selling novel, and to be honest, I could not get through it. As much as I tried, I found the storyline ridiculous. The characters seemed shallow, and the dialogue forced. Frustrated, I set the book down, wondering how it had become so popular. That was the moment I thought to myself, “If this is a bestseller, I might as well try my hand at writing.” And that’s exactly what I did.

How many hours do you dedicate each day towards writing?
I don’t have a fixed writing schedule. I write until my thoughts wander or the ideas run dry. When that happens, I typically take a break, leash up my dog, and head out for a walk. Walking helps clear my mind and enables me to refocus on the chapter I’m trying to complete. I often find that the break revitalizes my creativity, allowing me to return to my writing with a fresh perspective.

Links:
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