#WriterWednesday with Mary Lee Ashford
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I’d like to welcome my friend, the fabulous Mary Lee Ashford, to the blog for #WriterWednesday!
Hardest thing about being a writer: The actual writing. I so wish it came easier, but it doesn’t.
Easiest thing about being a writer: Story ideas. They are everywhere!
Things you need for your writing sessions: White board, sticky notes, reference books, and my cat.
Things that hamper your writing: Noise, to do lists, my cell phone, and my cat.
Last best thing you ate: A homemade Scotcheroo. So delicious…
Last thing you regret eating: That second Scotcheroo.
Things you always put in your books: Older characters. Just like in real life they have great stories to tell.
Things you never put in your books: Children in jeopardy. Just can’t do it.
Favorite places you’ve been: Scottish Highlands, English Cotswold’s, Hawaii.
Places you never want to go to again: The underground tour in Edinburgh. One and done for me.
The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought:
Carole King’s Tapestry album. To this day I really love singer/songwriters and the genesis of that love was probably that well-played LP.
A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: Rap. I’ve tried. I really have. My kids love it but it just doesn’t speak to me.
Your favorite movie as a child: The Wizard of Oz. Watched it over and over.
A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult):
The Day the Earth Stood Still. Not scary at all by today’s standards but it totally freaked me out as a kid.
Words that describe you: Caring, upbeat, optimist.
Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Worrier, overthinker, over-analyzer.
The nicest thing a reader said to you: “Your book helped me through a really rough time.”
The craziest thing a reader said to you: “I read your book to my dog and he loved it.”
Something you’re really good at: Listening. People’s stories fascinate me.
Something you’re really bad at: Meeting new people. I know, I know. It’s hard to hear people’s stories if you don’t meet them first, but it’s that first break-the-ice conversation that I’m bad at.
Things you’d walk a mile for: Definitely a bookstore. I’d walk a mile for a bookstore. And if they had coffee there too, I’d probably walk more than a mile.
Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Math problems and spiders. Equally to be avoided at all costs.
Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: I worked in the public sector for more than thirty years so there are a few of those scattered throughout my books. Of course, names changed to protect the guilty. In fact, look for a UFO reference in Night of the Living Bread.
Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: The baking. I’m not the baker in the family. My husband is. But I’m a world-class taste tester…
About Mary Lee:
Mary Lee Ashford is a national best-selling author, a lifelong bibliophile, an avid reader, and a supporter of public libraries. In addition to writing the Sugar & Spice series for Oliver Heber Books, she also writes the Pampered Pets mystery series as half of the writing team of Sparkle Abbey.
She is the founding president of Sisters in Crime – Iowa and a former board member of the Mystery Writers of America Midwest chapter, as well as a member of Novelists, Inc., and Sisters in Crime Guppies.
She loves encouraging writers and is a frequent lecturer and workshop presenter for writers’ groups. Mary Lee has a long-time interest in creativity and teaches a university-level course on creative management. She also presents workshops on creativity and on various elements of writing and publishing.
She currently resides in the Midwest with her husband, Tim, and Zoey, her feline coworker. When she’s not writing, her passions are reading, travel, and time with her family, especially her six grandchildren.
Let’s Be Social:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/maryleeashford1
BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mary-lee-ashford
Threads – https://www.threads.net/@authormaryleeashford
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/authormaryleeashford/
Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/maryleeashford.bsky.social
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17806883.Mary_Lee_Ashford
