Paradox Forged in Blood: Interview with Historical Fiction Author Mary Frances Fisher

Mary Frances Fisher, a lifelong resident of Cleveland OH, has spent the majority of her career as a legal nurse consultant and signed with Taxi Modeling and Talent Agency as a commercial print model in 2012. With Germaine Moody and writer contributions from over 100 countries, she co-authored her first published work in 2013, 50 Seeds of Greatness (www.50seedsofgreatness.com).

Her additional writing experiences include several short stories published by Transcendent Publishing: "Earning My Wings" in Touched by an Angel: A Collection of Divinely Inspired Stories and Poems, October 2013; "Mercy's Legacy" in Best of Spiritual Writers Network 2013, December 2013; "Be Careful What You Wish For" in The Best of Spiritual Writers Network 2014, January 2015; and "The Gift" in Finding Our Wings: A Collection of Angelic Stories and Poems, March 2016.

She has written a screenplay based on "Mercy's Legacy" and is working on a Paradox Forged in Blood companion novel, Growing Up O’Malley. Mary Frances lives in a suburb of Cleveland with her family.

For More Information

Visit Mary Frances Fisher’s website.
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About the Book:

Title: Paradox Forged in Blood
Author: Mary Frances Fisher
Publisher: Cambron Press
Pages: 300
Genre: Historical Fiction

A murder on Millionaire’s Row.

A killer's chilling words, "Shh. I know where you live.”
A woman tormented by her guilt-ridden past.

A historical murder mystery, Paradox Forged in Blood is set in Cleveland, Ohio, during the late 1930s. Four decades after the murder of socialite Louis Sheridan, the cold case is resurrected with receipt of new evidence that transports detectives back to Nazi Germany. The only living witness, Ellen O’Malley, must confront a haunting secret and her complicit actions.

For More Information

Paradox Forged in Blood is available at Amazon.

Q: Welcome to The Writer's Life! Now that your book has been published, we’d love to find out more about the process. Can we begin by having you take us at the beginning? Where did you come up with the idea to write your book?

I’ve always loved mysteries and while reading a wonderful mystery, the story contained a character attempting to become a published author. I thought to myself, I can do that! I wrote a Prologue for a historical murder mystery and shared it with family and friends. They loved the idea but, then I realized, where do I go from here? I learned to tap into my strengths of life’s lessons and personal interests – family and events in the 1930s to 1940s. The main character, Ellen Grace O’Malley, was my mother and best friend so I drew upon shared family values and experiences. The O’Malleys are truly representative of the Greatest Generation dating back to the 16^th century with Grace O’Malley, an infamous Pirate Queen.

Q: How hard was it to write a book like this and do you have any tips that you could pass on which would make the journey easier for other writers?

I’d recommend taking a basic course in writing a novel. The next step is to find an editor who will provide valuable advice and tips to polish your manuscript. Throughout the process of writing, keep a table of characters and events as a quick reference tool.

Q: Who is your publisher and how did you find them or did you self-publish?

Cambron Publishing, LLC is my publisher and I was referred to them by my editor, Lorraine Fico-White. Traditional publishing was always my goal for two reasons: validation from a professional that my novel was worthy of publication, and guidance with resources to produce a quality book marketable to the public was amply provided by the award-winning author MK McClintock of Cambron.

Q: Is there anything that surprised you about getting your first book published?

I always knew editing would be a large component of getting a book published, but the number of quality edits for a first book was very extensive. However, it produced a first-rate story and was well-worth the editing process.

Q: What other books (if any) are you working on and when will they be published?

I’ve been working on a companion novel, Growing Up O’Malley, in between tightening up and revising Paradox Forged in Blood while working my day job. It’s been a challenge but I have no doubt the finished product will be a delightful rendition of the O’Malleys as they struggle though the Depression and WWII with strength, humor, and strong family ties. My goal is publication between 2016 – 2017.

Q: What’s one fact about your book that would surprise people?

For younger readers, experiencing first-hand the effects of the Great Depression, World War II events, and the German American Bund. (An organization ostensibly created to promote jobs for Germans in America but in reality it was the birth of the American Nazi. In February 1939 they paraded through the streets of New York with a rally in Madison Square Garden and over 25,000 attendees swore allegiance to Hitler on a stage with the Nazi and American flags flown side-by-side.)

Q: Finally, what message (if any) are you trying to get across with your book?

The importance of weathering life’s difficulties together as a family and pursuing the truth at all costs.

Q: Thank you again for this interview! Do you have any final words?

The journey toward publication of Paradox Forged in Blood was a wonderful learning experience and I hope the readers will enjoy traveling back in time.