Monday, October 14, 2013

Interview with Sweet Romance Author Marie Higgins


Marie Higgins is a multi-published author of romance; from refined bad-boy heroes who makes your heart melt to the feisty heroines who somehow manage to look past their faults and love them regardless. She’s married with two children and two grandchildren; and she has lived in Utah all her life. Visit her blog for more about her books – http://mariehiggins84302.blogspot.com 

Hello, Marie. This new romance has a different spin to it than your other books. It’s actually a ghost story. Haha. Please tell us about your novel, Waiting For You.

You have no idea how different this story is from others I’ve read or heard about. My heroine, heiress Abigail Carlisle, is a ghost who was murdered in 1912. She’s been stuck in the building where she was killed for over 100 years waiting for the man her gypsy grandmother told her would help her one day. All Abigail knows about this man is that he’s a solicitor with the initials N.M. Abigail knows she’ll find him – because he will be the only person who can hear and see her. Abigail’s heart tells her that this man will help her pass over.

Nick Marshall was once a high-profile lawyer who was stuck in a scandal. Now, a few years later, he’s ready to clean up his life…which means he cannot date his clients. When he meets the heiress for the first time, he convinces himself that he’s finally having that mental breakdown that he’d been waiting for since the Hollywood scandal. But soon Abigail convinces him that she really is a ghost. He’s determined to find her killer and help her cross over…either that or check himself into the mental ward.

Slowly, she starts to become real to him, and he’s in danger of breaking his rule about having feelings for his clients, because now he wants to give Abigail his heart. Abigail is very much attracted to Nick as well, but… How can there be a happy-ever-after if she’s already dead?

Wow! What a new concept for a story! Where did you get your inspiration for this book?

I know you’re going to laugh, but growing up I was always playing Charlie’s Angels with my friends (the original three). I was always Sabrina, but I wanted to be Kelly. lol  Anyway, after the angels were off the air, Jaclyn Smith made a lot of movies. One was titled  “Love Can be Murder”. That was about a detective and a ghost. She was the detective. It was a funny movie, and at the same time, there was a good mystery and love story. (Although I didn’t like the ending at all!) This is what inspired me to write “Waiting For You”.

My book was previously published as a different title a few years ago, but the publisher had taken out some funny scenes. So now that the book is mine again, I’ve added back in these scenes and made the story even funnier.

Back a few years ago when paranormal romance was big, I wanted to write one, but I didn’t want a vampire. Well…the next best thing in my opinion, was a ghost!

I love this story idea. And I’m glad that you put the humor back in the book because that’s what makes a good book to me. What kind of research did you have to do for this novel?

I had to research what California was doing in 1912. I had to make sure the names of the streets were the same, and buildings. I even used the mayor’s manor house as my heroine’s home. Oh, and this was the fun part… I researched the Titanic. I mention the sinking a couple times in my book. And, did you know that the first newspaper that published the news about Titanic’s sinking actually said that all the passengers were saved? Oh yeah! So, that’s what I added in my story. I also had to research how they ran a newspaper office in 1912. That was hard, but thankfully, I found information.

I love your research. One reviewer wrote: “Happily surprised!” What intrigued you most about writing this ghostly love story?

Believe it or not – a lot of things intrigued me. I don’t plot my stories, although in this book I had to mainly because there were so many suspects who could have killed Abigail and I needed to fit them in the time-line. But as I was writing the story, I found my characters had different ideas. I loved the way they directed the story toward the end. There are many twists and turns, and…(eerie music starts to play) nothing is as it seems.

Haha. Well, you’ve got me hooked. I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for this wonderful interview.



36 comments:

Marie Higgins said...

Thank you Linda, for having me back on your blog. You are AWESOME!

Louise said...

Oooh, I love the premise. This is one I want to read, whether I win it, or not ;).

Katherine said...

Sounds like a great book, I'd love to read it! Thanks!

katsaddress AT gmail. DOT com

Collette Cameron said...

Hi Marie,
Don't enter me in the contest; it's already on my TBR list. Just wanted to stop by and say again how much I love the cover!

Videoclimber said...

I love ghost stories

videoclimber(at)yahoo(dot)com

Marie Higgins said...

Thanks, ladies!

Amy said...

Marie's book sounds so good. And I love a good historical ghost story. :)
Thanks for the post.

Amy Campbell

Mozi Esme said...

Perfect for this time of year...

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Becky said...

Great interview! This book sounds really good and is definitely one that I will be reading. I can't wait to read it and find out who killed Abigail. That is interesting how the first newspaper published about the Titanic and said that all of the passengers were saved. I can't wait to read this story.
beckqward@gmail.com

Charissa said...

This sounds like a fun read. I love the ghosty premise.
charstastny(at)gmail(dot)com

Ella Quinn - Romance Novelist said...

What a great interview!! This book is on my TBR list! Tweeted and shared on FB.

Unknown said...

Many thanks!
leighav@hotmail.com

smiles said...

Oooh, Titanic references in the book! Also, I love how your author pick kinda matches the book cover :)

Bewitched reader said...

LOVED the interview! Author interviews are always fun and so interesting!! And I really enjoyed the book trailer. CANNOT wait to read this one!! Thank you so much for being a part of this fun and awesome blog hop!!

jessie2247 said...

This book sounds great! I can't wait to read it.
i_love_books at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

I love the ghostly love story. Book sounds great. Thank you for the chance of the giveaway.
Barbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

A ghostly romance novel would be great. Book sounds wonderful.
Barbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

Pam said...

Great interview. Sounds like an interesting book.

pjmillion (at) comcast (dot) net

Unknown said...

Great interview. Thanks for the chance
Tammy Hudson
HUBTIVOLI1@YAHOO.COM

Renee G said...

This sounds like a fun story -- not too scary. rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

bn100 said...

The heroine sounds interesting

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

GL Tomas said...

Just followed you :) for the spooktacular blog hop giveaway! Hope you can hop on over to Twinja Book Reviews


Hosting a giveaway there as well :)

Diana said...

1912 seems like such a fun time period to research and write about. Add in a ghost, a mystery and some romance and you've got one heck of a book! I can't wait to read it!!

Diana said...

...And this came out on my birthday! Way cool!

Diana said...

Oops, I forgot to add my email because I was so excited about this book. Haha.
Diana
dianacb98@gmail.com

Megan Parsons said...

I really enjoy books with ghosts in them! Loved the interview! makeighleekyleigh at yahoo dot com

amanda whitley said...

i love that this is a ghost story! it sounds awesome.

Holly Letson said...

Sounds like an interesting read. I am intrigued.

Bookworm Lisa said...

I've enjoyed the books of hers that I have read. Thanks for having her on your blog.

lisaisabookworm at gmail dot com

Daniel M said...

sounds like a fun one thanks for the giveaway! - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

Ruth said...

Love the book cover and story. Count me in!
ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

BeachHouse Writer said...

beachhouse dot writer at gmail.com

Can not wait. Thanks

Cindy C. said...

I totally love the plot of this story. I'm intrigued. Thank you so much for this giveaway!

cindycandia (at) yahoo (dot) com

BookLady said...

What a fascinating book! I love ghost stories. Thanks for the great giveaway.
bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com

Ryan Snyder said...

Hey hun! :D

ashleyryansnyder@gmail.com

Linda Weaver Clarke said...

Congratulations, Diana. You are the winner of this awesome mystery. I know you'll enjoy it very much.