INTERVIEW | Mary DeMuth

 

Mary, describe yourself for our visitors.

I’m a mom of three, pet owner of two, and wife of one who loves anything domestic (interior decorating, cooking, sewing, gardening). I am currently discipling a group of high school girls which has turned out to be such a blessing. I love to sing to Jesus, am ecstatic about great worship music, and am a terrible guitar player.

How do you find time to connect with God?

I try to run every day, which is my time with Jesus. It’s quiet, and my head finally clears. This year I’m reading through the Bible in a year. I’m enjoying that. I am also passionate about keeping a sabbath. Without that time set apart, I fall apart.

Who are your favorite authors? Favorite books?

• Sue Monk Kidd: The Secret Life of Bees
• Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird
• Leif Enger: Peace Like a River
• Walter Wangerin: The Book of the Dun Cow
• C.S. Lewis: Til We Have Faces
• Khaled Hosseini: The Kite Runner

Tell us about your journey to publication.

I wrote for ten years in obscurity while my kids were very young. I intended to get published during those years but didn’t have the time or tools to do so (or the understanding of the publishing business). I did publish a newsletter and wrote curriculum. But I seriously pursued publication starting in 2000.

I attended regional writing conferences, breathing this prayer: Lord, help me to minister to people here. Show me the needs. At one conference, I was able to pray for a lady who had been really struggling. During our prayer, she had a huge breakthrough. I counted that conference a success. I hope that my focus is on God’s Kingdom and not advancing my own. Now that I’m published and have good relationships across the industry, I’m so thankful I didn’t view editors like Amway prospects. They are people, and now they’re my friends.

In the beginning I knew nothing about the publishing business. I sent in articles instead of queries, and I did a lot of shotgun submissions, not reading guidelines. Being new, I simply wasn’t known in the publishing world, so that worked against me. I completed my first novel in 2003 and attended my first major conference that year. I didn’t even know I needed an agent. I met with one well-known agent who said he wasn’t taking any more clients. So I chatted with him and walked away, trusting God. A week later, he emailed me and sought to represent me. I’ve been with Alive Communications ever since. So, in my case it wasn’t hard to find an agent, but remember that it took ten years of hard writing labor before I wrote the book that wooed an agent. It’s great writing that gets us audience with agents.

One of my biggest hurdles came in the midst having of five books under contract. Since our family was moving to France to be missionaries. I was sure I was giving up my publishing dream. On the contrary, everything worked out fine. And I believe the lessons I learned in France about humility, submission, following the Kingdom of God no matter what, truly informs me today as a writer.

Tell us about your current book.

Daisy Chain is a southern coming of age story about a boy who can’t shake the guilt over the tragedy of his missing fiend Daisy. Jed carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, longing to protect, to understand, and to rise into manhood. It’s the first book in a three-book series, a tragedy told from three perspectives. I like to call it “like an Oprah book, but with hope.” Though characters get themselves into a heap of trouble, redemption is always near.

How did you come up with ideas for this book?

This book came as a result with a conversation with a friend about a difficult home life with a parent who appeared to be a Christian leader to everyone else, only to harm and frighten his children at home.

List your three most recent books.

• Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture
• Wishing on Dandelions
• Watching the Tree Limbs

What’s next for you?

I’m finishing up the trilogy and am looking forward to my memoir, entitled Thin Places, to release in January 2009.

Where can visitors find you online?

Personal blog: http://www.relevantblog.blogspot.com
Website: http://www.marydemuth.com
Writing blog: http://www.wannabepublished.blogspot.com
The Writing Spa: http://www.thewritingspa.com

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