I first met Mary T. Bradford on the Fantastic Summer Splash Blog Tour on Facebook. I was at once impressed with her honesty, compassion, and willingness to support other authors.
As I grew to know her a bit, I discovered that my first impressions were correct, but that she was also a writer with a distinct and original style. A style that I am sure will lead her into greatness.
I am honored that this talented author has allowed me to be a part of the launch of her debut novel, My Husband's Sin.
Thank you Marta for giving me this
opportunity to share my thoughts with you.
It is a joy to have you join me Mary. Please tell us a bit about My Husband's Sin.
If you don't mind I will use publisher's words, they say it best.
My Husband’s Sin
is the debut novel from Mary T Bradford. She is an Irish author, married and
mother of four children. She has been writing short stories for many years with
which she has enjoyed publishing success in Ireland and abroad. While working
on a story it happened that the story kept getting longer and the word count
continued to climb, resulting with Mary having her novel. My Husband’s Sin is published
by Tirgearr Publishing at www.tirgearrpublishing.com.
Synopsis: In the weeks following Lillian Taylor’s burial, her four loving children assemble for the reading of her will. For the grieving youngest sibling, Lacey, life is about to come crashing down as a deep secret is revealed. The fall-out affects every member and they struggle to regain the happy family unit they once shared. Each of the four, now adult, children take the reader on a journey as they try to come to terms with and learn to handle this huge revelation.
My debut novel is centered around the
Taylor family. Lacey, the youngest of the family is dealt a horrible blow at
the reading of her mother’s will. She is devastated and the knock on affect on
her three siblings shakes the family unit. Lacey has questions that need
answering and at one stage she must leave Ireland to search for some of the
answers. Will the Taylor’s come together and unite or do they fall apart and
remain so?
What are the main themes in your
book?
In my novel, My Husband’s Sin, there
are a few themes but the main one is loss. Losing a parent or indeed any family
member is a difficult time for everyone concerned. Lacey Taylor, suffers loss
greater than the others when after her mother Lillian’s funeral, a letter she
is given destroys her life further. She now suffers betrayal as well. But it
only takes a small crack to appear in a family for it all to come crumbling
down.
If you were casting the movie
version of My Husband’s Sin, who would you choose for the leading roles?
I would love the young actress, Amanda
Seyfried, play the part of Lacey in my debut novel. The solicitor, Mr. Philip
Sherman, played by Jeff Bridges, then Sally by Michelle Pfeiffer and finally
Robert, by Jason Stratham. The other characters, Willow and Cora I have no
idea.
Why did you write this novel?
I always promised myself that I would
write a novel. I have written many short stories and had tons of ideas but none
of them ever stayed with me and nagged me like this one. It started as a simple
story and just kept growing, the word count grew and the characters kept
insisting on me sorting out their dilemmas and after some moments of writing
delights and writing disasters, I ended up with My Husband’s Sin.
How do you go about writing a
novel? Is it a simple or a complex process?
Wow what a question! I am not a plotter
when it comes to writing in general. I have either an idea or a name to begin
with and after some thought, I may have an end. Then to get from the start to
the finish, I have no idea, honestly. I put down on paper whatever is in my
head and take it from there. As I am writing, the characters or indeed objects
pop into the writing and it is they that lead my stories. In My
Husband’s Sin, a black metal box appeared. I had no clue why or what it
represented until much further on, it turned out to be an essential part of the
novel.
Whether writing a novel is a simple or
complex process I think depends on the writer. Some like to do a lot of
research and make maps and plans and know each detail before they commit to
paper. Others, I suppose like me, put it down and get it out and then when
doing the next draft, and the next, and the next... finally get to the end.
What are you working on currently?
I have my fingers worn to the bone at
present because I have three projects on the go. Yes I am a nut to take it all
on. I am writing my second novel which is totally different from My
Husband’s Sin; it is not even in the same genre. It is a good V evil
story, a priest who is sent to do battle with the devil and it all takes place
inside a locked room. So who wins? That
is a question I have not yet answered LOL.
I am also writing a western novella for
a group that I am involved in. The group are called Writers of the West, it is
an exciting project. Finally, I am busy seeking a home for a play I have ready
for production.
What would your perfect day be?
A perfect day, let me think, it would be
warm, not too hot, by the sea, with a picnic of cold meats/white wine/salads. A
book of course and would I want company? Well if, Kevin Costner or Charles
Bronson were available, or maybe Michael Bublé, he could serenade me right?
Tell us about a hidden talent you
have that most people don’t know about?
I enjoy public speaking. I have my CC
(Competent Communicator) from Toastmasters International and I started the
advanced manuals. I also represented my local club Fáilte Toastmasters in
competitions. Unfortunately, I no longer have the time to participate but I may
go back to it another time.
Recently Mary has dipped into play-writing and one of her plays was shortlisted in the Claremorris Fringe Festival in April of this year and was performed by the Half A Breakfast Theatre Group. Another of her plays had a Staged Reading in July at Friar’s Gate Theatre in Kilmallock, Limerick in Ireland. Her short story collection, A Baker’s Dozen, is also available on Amazon.com.
You can find out more about Mary T. Bradford at/on:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-T-Bradford-Author/464343040298924?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-T-Bradford-Author/464343040298924?ref=hl
Thank you Marta for a lovely chat xx
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