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Spotlighting local author: Marie Nicole Ryan
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Like many great authors, Marie Nicole Ryan, author of novels Holding Her Own and One Too Many, has always known writing was her destiny. Growing up she was an avid reader and consummate romantic. With a soothing voice and charismatic laugh Marie will tell you about how her novels, erotic or sensual in nature, are “romantic suspense...dangerous, dramatic, ...and delicious.”
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Marie Nicole RyanIt was during the 70’s that Marie was struck with the realization that she had to write. She read novels by Rosemary Rogers and, in getting lost in Rogers world, began to reconstruct her own. Marie loves “romance and adding the suspense and mystery” to a story. As she says, “Writers just write because they have to – and whatever genre they read they are drawn into writing.”
But knowing what you want to write doesn’t always equate creating a novel. It wasn’t until the 90’s, when Marie got her first PC, that she knew “I can really write a book.” With the freedom of the knowledge that she could break her own mental barrier and write; Marie did. She writes “erotic novels that are educational.” For, “a reader can take what she has learned and introduce that element to her significant other.”
One of her deepest and darkest secrets is that she loved the TV show ‘La Femme Nakita.’ It was after watching the show that she was struck by inspiration. The hero and heroin of the show “captured her imagination,” so she wrote “what happened in between a scene” filling in a part that was left out.”
Writing in her style and voice, she let the inspiration guide her. For fun, and because she was such a fan, Marie posted the story on a story board for other fans to read. Happenstance would connect Marie to another well-published writer who was burnt out from her career. This author was writing fan fiction and had published 30 books with Harlequin Silhouette.
The author enjoyed Marie’s story, and soon the two became friends. She became Marie’s mentor and encouraged her to write. She also pushed Marie to join RWA. Once Marie did she learned the technical side of writing and began to polish her talent.
Honing her craft is important to Marie, for “Storytellers are born, but there are certain conventions and rules that must be learned.” The reality of these rules is “famous authors can break them, but the average writer can’t.”
She perfected her “writer’s voice,” focusing on “how you chose to say it and what you use to write about.” She wove her stories together with a “recurring theme: family. There is always a dose of family drama on the side. Family is always important. These stories are all about people coming together.” As with most blossoming relationships, family is always in the midst of the drama.
For Marie, one of the more challenging aspects of creating a story is finding a high concept plot. The dialogue and characterization come naturally, and she loves dialogue so much that she would happily create an entire novel of dialogue, could she get away with it.
The most difficult facet of writing is the revision. What’s difficult is “revising as it makes story sense” and “staying objective.” After a writer spends so much time and gives so much of themselves to creating a work of art, it can be difficult to go and judge what you have created as unnecessary or not up to par.
Marie “enjoys when an editor sends revisions. Then an objective person can evaluate it and see what is missing” and aim her in the right direction so that she may “make it the best it can be.” Because that’s what it’s about after all, making your story be the best it can be to entertain the reader the most it may.
And Marie is happy to put in the hard work. Writing takes effort and writing well takes patience and drive. As Marie says, “the longer I write the less I think I know.” It’s an evolving craft, and the knowledge and challenge keep her moving forward and making progress.
Style:
Marie doesn’t outline. Going into a story, she “has a broad idea, but the best part is when the characters surprised you”
She references Tolstoy and his character Sergei. Tolstoy once said, “Sergei did it on his own” in reference to Sergei shooting himself. Like the characters for Marie, she may put them to paper, but they create the story of their lives.
The characters feel real to her; in fact she once refused to re-phrase a sentence “because the character wouldn’t say it like that.” Some authors hear a scene; others can see it. Marie hears their voices and the way the scene unravels. While the characters may have a piece of her in them, they are not necessarily her.
“Everything is fodder for the writer.” It’s just a matter of perception and how it shows itself to the reader.
Dreams to be realized:
With a laugh Marie will tell you, “Sure, I’d love to get rich” but who wouldn’t? What she really would love is an agent, to help expose her works to a wider audience which is what you would get with being in mass market.”
While Marie feels she has “a lot left to accomplish.” She is happy simply to be able to write everyday. The emails she received from readers are her riches and she has high hopes of achieving her other dreams.
Marie is published though a small press, and therefore she must market herself. This isn’t the most natural fit for her personality. Like many writers she is more of an introspective personality.
For her, marketing can be like the line a past RWA speaker said, “I have never seen such a room of introverts trying to act like extroverts.” It’s not a skill that comes easy.
There is a level of sexuality is Marie’s novels. “Some of the books are very explicit.” But as she says, “I would rather have high sex than kill a character.”
Advice:
“Before you’re published, conferences/workshops are wonderful.” They are a great way to learn and network. After you have been published, “they are good for seeing friends.” And you’re never too experienced to learn something from the panelists.
Marie is a member of MCRW, the music city romance writers, which has monthly meetings. They are her writing community; ‘Where you get to hang out with people who think like you do.’ She believes that every writer needs to find a sense of community.
She advises that writers not fear the economy, referencing the current sales and how they “have shown sales are going up in hard times for romance.”
She also recognizes that if you are a new author, “the market is so tight with what they are buying.” She advises that the writers “need high concept” and “you can’t give up.”
The reality is, “Everyone who doesn’t give up isn’t going to make it, but if you give up you definitely won’t.” Remember to “believe in yourself and write consistently. If not everyday as consistently as you can.”
Fortunately for readers, Marie is continuing to refine her craft and create stories. To learn more about Marie Nicole Ryan, and her wonderful works, go to: http://marienicoleryan.com/
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