Maggie Gilbert came knocking on my country manor door!

She brought a few gorgeous horsemen with her too.

Welcome Maggie Gilbert.  If you have a malcontent teenage daughter, nudge her in the direction of Riding on Air and watch the magic of Maggie’s words transform and inspire.

Take it away, Maggie:

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A poignant young adult romance about following your dreams and realising what really matters.

Are there cowboys or country manors in any of your stories?

If you kind of squint a bit, I guess there are. ☺ A lot of my stories are set in rural areas, so there are plenty of country homes of all types. There are certainly gorgeous horsemen too, so I suppose that counts!

It certainly counts. Every man astride a horse must have some cowboy in him. I refuse to believe otherwise.

Will you tell us about yourself and what genre(s) you love writing? 

Ooh, where to start. I’m not terribly exciting, really. I’ve worked a number of different jobs, some to do with writing in one form or another, some not so much. I’m married with two lovely stepdaughters and two fur-kids, a Jack Russell terrier and a Foxy cross Jack. I currently have a full-time day job with an Agricultural Society and I just got a promotion into a new position, so it’s an exciting and challenging time.

Fur-kids!  I’m going to steal that, Maggie.


So… you keep excitement to yourself, but let it all out in your stories. You’re dedicated to your job, the fur-kids and your family.  You get promotion at work  AND you write a book? 


I’m in awe.


I would call you: serenely scintillating.

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While I like to read across a fair variety of genres including urban fantasy, I really love writing contemporary stories. There may or may not be a rural setting or horses but there has to be a romance. I write young adult, new adult and adult stories. I haven’t ruled out urban fantasy though, I do have a few ideas of that flavour simmering away. 

What writing project did you put aside to answer these questions?

My debut YA Riding on Air came out on 1st April and I’m working on a related book.

Excellent news. Riding on Air received a lot of interest, I’m sure you’ve gathered any number of young followers!

Are you fun to go on holiday with?

That depends who you ask! I tend to like to go to a café to read or write, and then back at wherever we are staying I pretty much lie around and read or watch movies. That’s not terribly sociable is it? I canvassed the family and they say I can be fun though, so that’s good to know. They could be exercising tact, of course.

☺

Will you name one entity you feel supported you outside of family members?

Romance Writers of Australia, Inc. If you’re serious about writing and publishing you should join the organisation. They provide an enormous amount of support and education; you can find people to read your work, contests to enter, conferences to attend. RWA will put you in touch not only with publishing professionals, the people who can represent or buy your work, but also with an invaluable network of friends, colleagues and mentors. I wouldn’t be published without them, and I know a lot of my fellow RWA members feel the same.

Coudn't agree more.

Do you see writing as a career?

Absolutely. I have a full time job I am committed to but I am no less serious about and dedicated to my part time job, which is writing. Part time job, perhaps, but as most writers will tell you, a full-time occupation. Balancing the two with family and friends and other bits of life can be demanding at times but it’s working pretty well so far. Thankfully.

And thanks so much for having me here, Jennie!

My pleasure to have you over, Maggie - there is passion in your answers, as there obviously is in your life.

 



Here is where you can find Maggie Gilbert (the serenely-scintillating author full of commitment and dedication) after I wave her off at my blue door:

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Maggie Gilbert webpage

 Maggie Gilbert on twitter: @maggie_gilbert_

And here is where you can buy Riding on Air by Maggie Gilbert

As always, Jennie recommends readers purchase (or pre-order) the titles of their dreams and support the writers who have taken the time to answer these questions. Writing is hard work and not for the faint-hearted - but so joyful for the reader.  What would we do without books (and writers)?

Feel free to leave a pleasant  comment, we’d love to hear from you!

Jennie & Maggie