Merri Maywether - Small Town Romance
Twenty years ago, Merri Maywether went on a date with a very sweet man from Montana. Three weeks later they were engaged and they have lived happily ever after. When Maywether writes her romance novels, the characters are the people that she sees on a day to day basis. As our Author of the Day she tells us all about it and also talks about her latest novel, Just a Friend.
Please give us a short introduction to what Just a Friend is about.
Jorgen and Pam fall in love the first time they meet. When his reputation gets in the way, they decide to be just friends. The stars align to show them they were meant to be more.
What inspired you to write about a love-match that friends would disapprove of?
Jorgen is a bad boy figure from a book within my Ashbrook, Montana series. He broke the small town good girl’s heart. When he tried to right his wrong it was too late. His reputation had been cemented. Several of my readers wanted to see him get a happily ever after. Small towns believe in redemption. But they come with time and gestures to show an authentic change in character. This was one way to show how it’s done.
Tell us more about Pam and Jorgen. What makes them such a great couple?
Pam brings out a softer side of Jorgen. Everyone in Ashbrook has set him in a box. She helps him break out of it and prove them wrong. ?
What do you think makes a bad boy so irresistible?
Bad boys surpass limitations. When someone says something cannot be done, the bad boy personality will set out to prove them wrong. They may stumble along the way, but they get back up and try until they succeed.
Do you believe in real life happily ever afters?
Yes, I believe in real life happily ever afters. I am living one. My husband proposed three weeks after our first date and have been happily married for twenty-one years...Five years ago, when we told people we were moving to the family farm in Montana, they took bets on when I’d leave him. What the naysayers didn’t know was small-town communities believe and will fight for love and family.
What is the most romantic thing you have ever experienced personally?
Six months after moving here, the change from a large city to a rural town overwhelmed me. I told my husband I wanted to leave--alone. It was his fault life was harder than I could handle. Within an hour we had several family friends reminding me what made me fall in love with my husband and our small town life.
Why did you title this book "Just a Friend"?
Jorgen the Romeo is different than Jorgen the friend. My readers fell in love with him as a friend. It was time for Ashbrook, Montana to see the softer side of him.
Why did you pick a small town as the backdrop for your series?
I know from living in one that small towns are romantic. Relationships take precedence over everything. A lot of the experiences I write about in my books mirror what we live.
How do the other books in the series tie in with this one?
This is a supplement to the Ashbrook, Montana series.
Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?
I am a middle school reading teacher and the school librarian. When I’m not writing, I train for ultramarathons or the Spartan Race.
Do you have any interesting writing habits? What does a typical writing day look like for you?
My characters talk to me. So when I wake up at three a.m. to write for a couple hours my mind is ready to go. While I’m working on a book I’ll share tidbits of what is going on a character’s life. If I’m not tired after teaching, I will write what I’ve talked about for an hour after work.
Are any of the characters in the book based on real people?
The side characters are caricatures of friends and family.
What are you working on right now?
Honey, I’m Home is set to launch at the end of March. Gavin Bloom waited five years for his chance with Sarah Crawford. When she finds out her boyfriend cheated on her he sees his opening. Sarah needs money to buy out her brother’s half of their childhood home. She gets a lot more than she bargained for when she wins twenty-four million dollars the day after she finds out her boyfriend has been fixing more than the electrical lines.
Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?
Readers have several ways to get more of my stories.
sign up for my mailing list at https://mailchi.mp/3abf07261021/merri_maywether
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