Connie Mann Interview

Q: How long have you been writing and what other careers or jobs have you had?

A:  From the time I wrote my first story in third grade–an epic saga about my hamster–I’ve wanted to be a writer. I wrote and edited non-fiction for years before making the switch to my first love, fiction.

My day job is the complete opposite of writing and provides a perfect balance. I’m a USCG-licensed boat captain and I get to take 5^th graders out on the Silver River here in Florida and show many of them their first alligator. Super fun.

Q: Do you write in only one genre and if so which one and why? If not, which ones and why?

A: I write romantic suspense because that’s what I love to read. I love worrying about the characters and trying to figure out how they will survive the danger and defeat the bad guys before they figure out their happily-ever-after.

Q: How does your faith play into your writing?

A:  It may be subtle, but it’s always there. I believe our God is a God of hope and second chances and that theme is at the core of every story I write.

Q: How do you choose your settings for your books?

A:  Setting is one of the first things I decide when starting a book. I love the quirks and little details that make a place unique. I play those up in my stories until the setting almost becomes a character of its own. Usually, the setting is so tied to the story that you couldn’t move it anywhere else without it becoming a whole different story.

Q: Do you base your characters on people you know or are they totally made up?

A: My characters are totally made up, but I use photos of movie and television actors to give me a visual of that character, how they move and speak, how they look. I’m a visual person, so until I can see what they look like, I can’t really write them.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release TANGLED LIES?

A: Tangled Lies is about Sasha Petrov and her two foster sisters who are called back to their family’s small Florida marina for their foster mother’s birthday. Mama’s fighting cancer and her birthday request throws the sisters for a loop: she wants them to find her biological son who disappeared years ago. Sasha is a boat captain and she agrees to try—and to help run the marina. As she and Jesse Claybourne—her high school crush who’s also come back to town—try to unravel the mystery, they realize there are those who will stop at nothing to keep those secrets hidden forever.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

A: Several things I’d been thinking about all came together for this story. I was trying to imagine how a mother would survive if her only child suddenly vanished, without a trace, and was never found again. How would you go on? And what if you couldn’t have other children? I so admire foster parents and those that gather displaced children into their arms and make them part of their families, so the idea of foster sisters sprang from there. And readers have been asking me to write a boat captain heroine, so I decided this was all coming together in the perfect storm, as it were.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

A: I hope readers remember that no matter how tangled the family relationships, or how rocky the past, as long as there is life, there is hope. Nobody comes from a perfect family—most are a hot mess at one time or another. We don’t love perfectly—only God does—but our job is to love freely and unconditionally, and accept the imperfect love of family in return.

Q: Tell us what you like about the main characters of this book.

A: I love Sasha. She’s fearless on the water, but feels she’s always disappointing her family, though never on purpose. She somehow doesn’t think she’s worthy of love, so watching her gradually accept that she’s deeply loved exactly as she is, forms a big part of the story. Jesse is perfect for her. He’s a tough hero with a big heart who did the wrong thing for the right reason and is still trying to make things right.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?

A:  I’m editing another Florida-set romantic suspense, only this one focuses on a search for buried pirate treasure. I’ve had a blast writing it. Who doesn’t love a good treasure hunt, eh matey? Stay tuned.

Q: If money were no object what vacation would you like to take and why?

A: I love to experience new places, cultures and people, so if money were no object, I’d grab my family and tour Europe by train—hop on and off whenever we wanted and check out all the places we’ve only seen in pictures. Then we’d hop a plane to Africa and go on a photo safari. To see those animals in the wild would be amazing.

Q: What is the silliest thing you have ever done?

A:  Just one? Here’s a favorite. My son’s first job was at an ice cream place and they had these crazy theme nights. For pajama night, my daughter and I scooped up my Mom and we met my friend and her daughter and her Mom there for free ice cream—all wearing our PJs, bath robes and slippers. Hilarious.

Q: What is the hardest thing you have ever done?

A:  Our family is slogging through some really hard days right now, walking a loved one through the horror that is Alzheimer’s. Knowing we will lose them mentally before we lose them physically–it takes a toll on the heart. My head understands when they recognize my face but don’t remember my connection to them, but my heart shatters. Still, we know God is not in heaven wringing His hands over this. He is walking us through, a day at a time.

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet?

A:  My website is at www.conniemann.com and I’d love to have you join my newsletter list so you’ll be the first to know what’s new. I also hang out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ConnieMannAuthor?ref=hl#!/ConnieMannAuthor and twitter https://twitter.com/CaptConnieMann. And I’ll be honest, Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/captconniemann/ is my favorite procrastination site.

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us? 

A: Thanks so much for the chance to be here. It’s been a pleasure. I hope you all will connect with me online. I’d love to hear from you.