Author Interview: Marion Ueckermann

JAN: Today I’m pleased to share with you an interview with Marion Ueckermann, an author from South Africa. Marion, how long have you been writing and how did you come to it?

MARION: Around 24 years ago the first creative words flowed from my fingertips in a cross-stitch book with a narrative journey. Three years later, at the end of 2000, we immigrated to Ireland and I began writing poetry and then songs. Fast forward another seven years to the first (unpublished) novel I wrote. Another two or three (unpublished) works followed (some I do plan to finish and publish one day). I was then told about Pelican Books and that they were seeking novellas for their Passport to Romance line. They had a list of cities around the world and three things that had to be in the stories in those places. I looked at the list and knew I could set a story in Helsinki because I’d recently been there. That first published novella happened in August 2014, and my first indie published novella a year later.

JAN: Very cool to use your love of travel and your experiences. What is your preferred genre?

MARION: Contemporary Christian Romance, or CCR as we writers like to call it. Although, this year I am planning to write two books for The Mosaic Collection, one novel and one novelette (or novella), which will be more Women’s fiction than romance.

JAN: Why do you write?

MARION: To glorify God with the words He gives me.

JAN: How and where do you write? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

MARION: I try to get into my office (which used to be my oldest son’s bedroom years ago) by 9am. I usually finish around 6.30pm when hubby gets home. I write directly into a formatted template on Word. Yes, I have (or had) Scrivener, but just have no time to learn it. And why reinvent the wheel when something works? I use an Excel spreadsheet to track my word count and what’s happening in scenes for each chapter, and make notes such as a timeline, character information, important hyperlinks, etc.

I’m totally a pantser. Usually I have a kind of three-boned skeleton to start with, ie. most times know what my three plot turning points will be, but sometimes I might only have one or two and what’s missing comes to me as I write.

JAN: Good to hear. The actual writing often clarifies things for me. Where do you get your ideas? What inspires you?

MARION: Sometimes it’s from writing to a brief when collaborating with other authors. Usually, it’s from an image that I’ll choose for a cover. That’s a huge inspiration for me and the story flows from trying to figure out what that character or characters’ story is/are.

JAN: How do you research and how do you know you can trust your sources?

MARION: I’ve traveled overseas many, many times, and I always try to use what I experience in my writing, hence my tagline “A Novel Place to Fall in Love”. When it comes to medical things, I take my characters to my doctor. She loves working alongside me on medical things. Plus, one of the authors I collaborate with was a registered nurse before she started writing full time, and she is always a great help to get medical situations correct. Other times I’ll ask questions of someone who is knowledgeable on a certain subject. And finally, there’s good old Google, but I do check out a few websites when researching there.

JAN: What do you like most / least about writing?

MARION: Most – seeing my characters come alive on the page. Least – deadlines!

JAN: I agree! What are your favorite / most effective social media?

MARION: Facebook, especially the readers’ group that Autumn Macarthur, Alexa Verda, Paula Marie and I have been running for well over a year now. It’s a wonderful place to grow our readership base, to showcase our books, and to interact with our readers (and reward them with free books on their birthdays).

JAN: How do you balance professional time with personal time?

MARION: Sometimes I just don’t… That’s why it’s been six months since my last release. Way too long, but having had my son, his wife and two sons in our home for several months in preparation for their move to Cape Town (a two-hour flight from us), then the birth of their baby girl, and shortly thereafter, their move from here and settling them into their new home… Well, all that took priority. Sometimes you just need to attend to your family’s needs first.

JAN: What are you reading? Do you prefer digital or print?

MARION: I’ve just read The Cake List by my South African author friend, Dianne J. Wilson. It’s brilliant and I thoroughly enjoying this amusing and intriguing story. 

I love a paperback, but digital is so much more practical. I can have hundreds of books at my fingertips 24/7.

I’ve now started reading a non-fiction book by David Platt called A Compassionate Call to Counter Culture in a World of Poverty, Same-sex Marriage, Racism, Sex Slavery, Immigration, Persecution, Abortion, Orphans, Pornography. About two years ago our cell group did a study by this author and preacher called Who is God? We were blown away by the depth of this man’s biblical knowledge. I’m excited to see what he says about these hot social issues and how we are to respond in ways that glorify God. And I’ve no doubt that story ideas for novels will spring to mind as I read.

JAN: Sounds like a book everyone should read. What are some of your favorite things? What makes you unique?

MARION:

• Hugs and kisses from my grandkids.
  • The smell of rain on dry, African dirt.
  • Soft, white beaches.
  • Lindt chocolate.
  • Fry’s Turkish Delight.
  • Peanut M&Ms.
  • A good curry.
  • Old English roses.
  • Latte coffee.
  • Travelling.
  • Puppy’s breath.

My niece said my hidden talent is: “You seek God in everything no matter how small…you put in more than what you get out of anything! Your heart is in every little thing you do ♥”

JAN: What a beautiful tribute, Marion! What keeps you going in your writing career?

MARION: Four years ago, I gave up my corporate day job with the comfortable salary, pension plan, and company car because God, almost audibly, called me to write full time. So writing is now my day job and pays some of the bills. Plus, I have all these stories in my head that want to be told, and with each book I write, more characters want to be heard, want their own stories. But mostly, I write because God is using my stories to touch people’s lives. I guess that’s exactly why He called me to step out of the safe, corporate boat and navigate the unknown waters of being a full-time author.

JAN: How is your faith reflected in your writing?

MARION: My stories always have a spiritual arc for my main characters, which stem from my own faith. I mean, how can I give my characters faith in God and what He can do, if I don’t first believe that way myself?

JAN: Exactly! What are some things you learned from your own writing?

MARION: Oh gosh, I’m constantly learning something new with each book I write. I’m sure if I had to think about each story, I’d find something to share with you that was new to me. I’ll share just two though.

Before I wrote Oslo Overtures for Pelican Book Groups, I had never heard about wingsuit pilots. Then I decided to write that story, and I learned all about these daredevils who defy death with every jump. Who ever thought that men (and women) would literally be able to fly (themselves)? Bonus on this book was that I got the opportunity to have a coffee date with one of the best (if not the best) female wingsuit pilot in the world when she visited South Africa, a country dear to her, from the USA. I dedicated that book to her.

In my current WIP, I’ve learned that it is rare for horses, other than Appaloosas, to have the whites of their eyes showing unless they’re rolling their eyes back. Eyes with a visible white sclera is a distinctive Appaloosa breed characteristic. My sister-in-law told me that when I visited the stables with her and there was an Appaloosa there. She pointed the horse out because she knew my current heroine grew up on a stud farm and owned an Appaloosa.

JAN: Do you have any advice for a beginning writer?

MARION: “Be careful! Don’t be in a hurry to publish.” As a novice, that writing advice came to me from close author friend, Shirley Corder, and kept me from making a mistake more than once. I know she’s proud of what I’ve achieved.

JAN: Thank you, Marion, for taking the time to tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. Readers, to learn more about Marion Ueckermann, go to her website and take a look at her extensive booklist.