#AuthorInterview: “Then Time Stands Still” by Mary Georgina de Grey

Let’s welcome Mary Georgina de Grey in the hotseat. We’ll be talking all about her new book and writing life, so we best get started…

What kind of research did you do for Then Time Stands Still? 

This is my favorite question because I had so much fun researching this book. First, I already knew the town of Zaragoza, having visited twice – but things change so I had to bring my information up to date. 

There were two major areas of research: archaeology and winemaking, and as soon as I started on the winemaking, I found climate change was already impacting Spanish grapes and vineyards were putting in measures to ensure the quality of their product. Of course, wine tasting was just huge fun. I’m no expert but I think I got that right.

Archaeology is an area I have long been interested in, particularly the Romans, so when I discovered Zaragoza had only really become aware of its Roman past in the 1980’s I used the internet and various books and of course visited.

Bristol UK was a city I lived in for 20 years – you’d think I’d know it intimately, but I still had to refresh my memory about certain things, and I made the acquaintance of chef Trung at the Saigon Kitchen on Zetland Road which features in the story. I recommend it to anyone visiting that wonderful city.

How did you pick your characters’ names for Then Time Stands Still?

Amancia, my heroine is mixed race – English and Jamaican – so she needed an appropriate name, since her family was proud of their heritage. Similarly with other members of the family. 

Max just seemed a strong male name; he has been quite damaged by his experiences, and I wanted to show there was a strength there in spite of the problems. Also it travels well through Europe as a name.

How long have you been writing? When did you decide to become an author?

I wrote a lot as a child without being aware that it might be something you might do for a living – unlike my 7-year-old granddaughter who already is writing and wants to be an author. For 17 years I created language teaching materials and that included short stories for teenagers in French and Spanish. This gave me a push and suddenly I was writing a novel. The first one published (Then Then Earth Moved) was not the first I wrote. I started with YA and strangely, nearly 10 years later, someone has just shown interest in it. However, I have just written my fifth romance set in the quirky little town of Totnes in lovely South Devon which will be out early next year.

What did you do when you received your first Acceptance Letter? 

I remember a magazine article where the author described how she screamed and shouted and then drank gallons of champagne. I think it might have been a tiny bit exaggerated. I just thought, ‘Well, finally …’ But I was very pleased.

Sometimes the romance genre gets a bad reputation for being clichéd and full of Fabios. How do you respond to that?

I do feel strongly about this to the extent that I give talks on the subject. It is nonsense that you can write a high-octane thriller, and no-one minds admitting to reading it but if you mention romance, you’re a lesser person. It infuriates me.

Any advice for the aspiring authors out there? Particularly those who are feeling a little discouraged?

Read as much as you can, in and outside your genre. Add some non-fiction, – I often look at history, popular psychology and books about the development of the human mind, which I find fascinating. I hope by doing that to avoid some of the deep prejudices I see around me. 

I am still looking for an agent, which seems to be as difficult as finding a publisher, and it’s only getting more difficult. I’d say, make sure you get input from a professional editor. There is no point in sending off a manuscript that is less than excellent. For good advice and access to editors who have been properly vetted, join the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLI) https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/   so you can use their services, even if you intend to be traditionally published.

How do you market your books? What do you find more effective?

I try so hard with social media but am not consistent enough, for instance with my newsletter and FB page – once I’m in the middle of a novel, everything else fades away. But I do as much face-to-face marketing as I can, book launches, taking part in local festivals, giving talks at different venues. I try to make all my presentations relate to my book ideas and romance in general, but I do not often talk about my books per se. I may mention something in one of my books to illustrate a point. People seem to enjoy the talks, and I often sell a satisfying number of books afterwards.

Besides writing and reading, what are some of your hobbies?

Every day, I walk for about an hour and swim half a kilometer to keep fit. Otherwise, gardening is something I enjoy, and I love cooking for family and visitors, especially recipes from countries in which I have spent a lot of time. My secret passion is jackets of beautiful design and materials, many of which I have made myself – very useful when doing presentations.

Blurb for Then Time Stands Still

English archaeologist Dr Amancia Harding has looked after her family for five years. Now it’s time to take care of herself, and leading a team on a dig in Spain is the perfect way to propel her career forward. Her good intentions are threatened when she meets vineyard owner Max Serrano.

Damaged by war in Ukraine and a tragic event in his past, Max has given up on relationships and taken refuge in making wine, but the attraction he feels to Amancia forces him to confront painful issues. There’s also the gulf between their two cultures to consider if a relationship is to have any chance of success.

Ambitious and fiery in character, can either accept that compromise is sometimes necessary to find happiness?

Tag line: He could be the perfect lover, but can she help him overcome the problems that stand in the way?

Biography for Mary Georgina de Grey

Email: marygeorginadg@gmail.com 

Website: https://marygeorginadegreyauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086424198194 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marygeorginadegreyauthor 

Newsletter: contact marygeorginadg@gmail.com 

Learning several languages and using them at work has meant I have lived in different European countries, and I even spent a couple of years in South America. Though I live in the UK now, this rich experience has provided me with lots of material for my novels.

The novels each have a love story as central, featuring strong women determined to make something of their lives, despite setbacks – and there are quite a few. I now have three books published, have completed a fourth, romantic suspense, and am just beginning on a fifth to be set in France.

My home is in South Devon on the beautiful English Riviera with my husband, an artist and sculptor. When not writing a novel, I’m putting together talks about romance and why it should be given serious consideration as a genre. As you can imagine, I get booked up around Valentine’s Day, but I also speak at festivals when I get the opportunity