Mary: I'm a South Jersey native, proud of my Jersey roots, and now make my home in the Florida Keys where I work full time for a nonprofit marine mammal education and research facility. How I wound up here, in my "middle" years, has everything to do with my parents bringing my brother and me to the Keys on family vacations when we were kids. They took us to a place that was home to the original "Flipper" dolphins, and that started my lifelong fascination with these amazing animals. Back in the 1970s, Mom and Dad bought a winter home down here and I visited once or twice a year. Even after my father passed away in the '80s, Mom continued to winter here and I always vacationed and went to see the dolphins. My professional career since college always involved advertising, publicity and writing of some kind and, in the '90s, I supported myself with freelance writing. So when my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1998, I was able to become her caregiver and support. When she passed away, I'll admit that I was at loose ends and having a lot of difficulty focusing on anything - including my career or my romance writing. I came down to the Keys, visited the dolphin center again and learned of their volunteer program. I returned that winter as a volunteer. For five weeks, I worked harder than I'd ever worked on vacation and had the most fun. Things progressed over the next two years and I knew that I wanted to be a full time member of the staff.

The sunrise viewed from my back porch

It might sound hokey, but working for this organization that I so admire, with people whom I consider family, helped heal my heart and spirit. I love putting my experience and expertise to work in service of our mission. The center also inspired the setting for, and helped me learn what I needed to write ALL KEYED UP, which was my debut novel from Medallion Press. No surprise, the book takes place at a dolphin facility in the Florida Keys. However, and I absolutely mean this - the characters are not based on anyone I know. LOL However, people who know our dolphins may recognize some mixed characteristics.

Although I'm single, I am very close to my brother, sister-in-law and two nephews, as well as my aunts, uncles and cousins. I'm also blessed with a phenomenal family of dear friends.

What do I do when I'm not writing? I love the water and would be happy spending much of my free time on a boat or going fishing, which I don't get to do nearly enough. I love spending time with friends and my beloved dog Moe.

My darling furkid, Moe

I read a lot, spend too much time on the Internet and am a fervent fan of football and baseball. Go Philadelphia Eagles! Go Philadelphia Phillies!

Donna: Can you share something about yourself that can’t be found on your website?

Mary: Hmmm - Does it say on my website that I have a wicked, naughty sense of humor and am proud to be a smart aleck? There isn't an innuendo that I'll miss and I tell people that I'll gladly see your entendre and double it. *g* That aside, I'm also committed to volunteer activities such as the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, and I still participate in fund raising activities for a charity league back home in Jersey. I'm also known for making the world's best, most decadent double-chocolate brownies.

Donna: Do you ever use personal experiences when writing your stories?

Mary: Yes and no. Obviously since my first two books are set in the Florida Keys, I draw on a lot of setting. I incorporated some personal dolphin experiences in both ALL KEYED UP and KEY OF SEA. In KOS, there's a scene where a dolphin engages the heroine in an impromptu game. That really happened to me. I think you'll find that my characters sometimes share a few of my reactions or attitudes.

Here's the main thing that I can say absolutely happened to me: In KEY OF SEA, the heroine has a few run-ins with land crabs. Those were all inspired by a true event when one day I was forced to defend myself and my dog against a land crab the size of Jabba the Hutt. We dueled in my yard and I was armed with the only thing that would protect me against a severed artery - a pooper scooper! I tell the full, real story on myself all the time because it's so hysterically ridiculous. Good friends always told me that I HAD to use it in a book. So, I did.

Donna: Do you ever find your characters in situations that are hard to write them out of?

Mary: When that happens, it usually means that I'm trying to force them in a direction that they don't want to go, or that I'm forcing them to react to situations the wrong way. So I need to sit back and let them show me how the scene is really supposed to evolve. When I do, invariably, the roadblocks dissolve.

Donna: How long does it take you to write a story?

Mary: I'm not being coy. It takes as long as it takes - or it takes as long as deadline allows. I sold KEY OF SEA when it was less than half done and then the publisher told me they needed it in two months. That was powerful motivation to finish quickly. Right now, I'm having a heck of a time making progress on a third book. I keep starting new stories, writing for awhile, and then losing my momentum, so I start something else. I have three books partly written.

Donna: What is the hardest part of writing a story?

Mary: The beginning is the most difficult part because I'm learning the characters. I need to really know the people in the book - what they want, why they want it, what gets in their way. I need to know them on deep levels - emotionally and psychologically. It can take me forever to work out the first few chapters. Then, when they click and really come alive inside me, the writing flows much faster and more smoothly.

Donna: What is the funniest thing that has happened related to your writing?

Mary: I'm not sure if you mean during the writing process itself or what, but I'll share this story. I have some older, retired friends who are enormously supportive of my writing and totally fascinated that I do this. This doesn't mean that they don't enjoy teasing me about it, too. One of them, a great guy who's about 65, says he was the inspiration for my first hero because they are both named Jack. Ever since, we've referred to him as the stud puppy. One night, I had them all over for a holiday party during the push to finish KEY OF SEA. They asked how the writing was going and I couldn't resist telling them that I had to spend the entire next day writing a love scene. You can imagine the kidding and the comments. There were also numerous ribald comments about my less-than-experienced technique at blowing a conch horn, but we'll save that for another interview.

Donna: What kind of books do you read for pleasure? Who are some of your favorite authors?

Mary: I read mostly romance novels and hit several sub-generes - contemporary romantic comedy, historicals, romantic suspense and some paranormal. I also love mysteries and thrillers. I have SO many favorite authors I almost hate to start a list for fear that I'll leave out someone important, but here goes: Nora Roberts and JD Robb, Jennifer Crusie, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Janet Evanovich, Sherri Kenyon/Kinley McGregor, Kay Hooper, Julia Quinn, Karen Marie Moning, Lisa Kleypas, Heather Graham. One of my favorite authors is one of my dearest friends and critique partners, Beth Ciotta. I adore her books and love that I get to read them before they're published. Lori Armstrong, who writes mysteries for Medallion Press (BLOOD TIES and the new HALLOWED GROUND) is fantastic. Outside of romance, I read Robert B. Parker and James Patterson. I recently discovered JA Konrath's mystery/thrillers. The list goes on and on and on.

Donna: What has been your favorite question or comment by your fans?

Mary: My least favorite comment was, "Can you get your publisher to change your books covers?" My least favorite comment is when someone comes up at a booksigning, picks up my books, finds out they're romances and sneers, "I don't read trash." I smile and say, "Good, because I don't write trash. I write romance." I hate that some people automatically equate romance as trash just because we include love scenes.

Donna: Your love of dolphins comes through in ALL KEYED UP. What kind of research did you do for your books?

Mary: Obviously, I've learned a lot through my job which really helped me make the dolphin material authentic. The kind of research I do most helps me make the characters authentic in the way that they speak and think. I toured the National Aquarium in Baltimore and absorbed numerous details that I used for Victoria, my marine mammal scientist. For example, when Jack and she kiss while they're in the lagoon, the imagery that comes to her is that they're suspended like seahorses in the water. She not only speaks like a marine scientist, she thinks and imagines like one, too. Same thing with Jack. His imagery is all connected to military or DEA details, or boating and the ocean. In KEY OF SEA, Bobby is a fishing guide, so a lot of that detail comes through for him. I love doing that kind of research. It's so much fun.

Donna: I love your characters. It was great to meet them again in KEY OF SEA. Is there a Jack Benton or Bobby Daulton in your life?

Mary: I WISH! LOLOL That's so funny because reporters were determined to get me to admit that my characters are based on people that I know. I finally told one writer that I'm a single woman and would love to meet a guy like my heroes, but I haven't, so I make them up.

Donna: When will your next books be released?

Mary: Ack! When I get it written and sold. That could be awhile, unfortunately, but I'm working on it!

Donna: What kind of books would you like to write in the future?

Mary: I love romantic comedy. I think I will always want to write books with lots of humor and characters who look at life in sometimes odd ways. I also believe that there is a market for romance novels whose heroines are in their 40s. I want to explore that because I can relate.

Donna: Can you give us any hints about future stories? Are you going to write a book for Bobby’s sister, JoJo? Will she end up with Rafe Escobar?

Mary: I can't really give you a hint about the book I'm working on now. It's too soon. JoJo and Rafe might be a story, or stories, in the future. I don't know whether they would end up together. That would be up to them.

Donna: It’s hard to imagine a world without the Internet, but how has it affected you as an author?

Mary: One of the most practical things that it allows me to do is keep in touch with my friends who are also my critique partners. When I lived in Jersey, we could get together in person and discuss each other's work. Now that I live in Florida, we send chapters to each other via email. I am also a devoted blogger and bloghopper. Talk about a great way to communicate with people. I am addicted to blogging!

Donna: What are some of your favorite web sites and discussion boards?

Mary: I love RBL Romantica! I stop by a few times a week, even though I don't often comment. You know, I was a RBL girl before I ever sold a book. The support and camaraderie are priceless. I also hang out a lot on Sherri Kenyon's Dark-Hunter bbs and chat. Now that I've gotten into blogging in the last eighteen months, I have a number of blogs that I love to visit and read on a regular basis.

Donna: Do you have any advice for the aspiring authors here at RBL?

Mary: Never give up on your dream. Never stop learning the craft of writing. So much of good craft can be learned. You can continue to improve and strengthen your writing until you produce publishable work. Keep writing. Keep working. Do not give up. I was this close to giving up and then, on my next submission, I sold ALL KEYED UP.

Donna: Anything else you would like to say?

Mary: Thank you to everyone at RBL Romantica for your passionate support of romance novels and of romance authors. I started reading so many authors because of your recommendations and the buzz you provided about their books. You all are the best!