Mystery Author of the Month: M.M. Gornell

Author, M.M. (Madeline) Gornell

I’m honored visiting Patricia Gligor because she’s not only one of my favorite authors, but also one of my favorite people. An interesting fact, in that Patricia and I have never met. So when she asked me if I wanted to visit electronically, of course I jumped at the chance.

My bio doesn’t go into depth about “where I’ve been or what I’ve done in life,” because I don’t think readers really want to know about my past—it’s where and what I’m doing now that counts. But in truth, it’s a silly notion on my part, because all my past is inherent in what I write. Indeed, Patricia asked me to answer three questions, which forced me to think about “where I’ve been” before my writing life.

Patricia: When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

Madeline: I don’t know when I knew for sure, maybe in my thirties or so? What I can tell you is—as a child I wanted trains, books, kiddie printing presses, books, ice skates, books—for Christmas presents. You get the idea. I loved TV from the minute it came out, and I also remember sitting in our living room in my favorite chair reading books or a magazines with the TV on and loving it. Admittedly, as I became a teenager, one of those magazines was a publication entitled something like “True Confessions.” Considered risqué for a teenager at that time.

Writing became a main focus/love with my first word-processing-computer—an HP 150 (how can I still remember that!). It was my enabler to write longer pieces than school essays. In my forties, and when my first short story “Duck Soup” was published in Alfred Hitchcock magazine, I was “hooked.” Haven’t left my love for writing since.

Patricia: If, for some reason, you couldn’t be a writer, what profession would you choose?

Madeline: A movie producer or director—and if I were more talented, maybe even an actress. I also love pottery, but my talent/skill level keeps pottery as a hobby. Truthfully, Patricia, I can’t imagine life without reading and writing. My current work-in-process is called Rhodes – The Movie-Maker. Vicarious living through my writing possibly?

Patricia: Do you have a bucket list, things you still want to do and/or places you want to visit?

Madeline: I’m not a good traveler, or flyer. I did do some in a prior-life, but that’s over. It would be nice, though, to eat my way through France and Austria without having to get on a plane ever again (beam me there and back, Scotty!), and not gain a single pound in the process. Half flippant answer, I know, but I’m happy staying at home out here in the Mojave thinking I’m living in a much smaller world than I am.

So, I don’t really have a bucket list. But I do have a “redo” list—where I could go back and say or do things differently than I did the first time. 

Bio:

Madeline (M.M.) Gornell’s mystery novels include—PSWA awarding winners Uncle Si’s Secret and Lies of Convenience (also a Hollywood Book Festival honorable Mention), Death of a Perfect Man, and Reticence of Ravens (a finalist for the Eric Hoffer 2011 fiction Prize, the da Vinci Eye for cover art, and the Montaigne Medal for most thought provoking book), Counsel of Ravens (a London Book Festival Honorary Mention and LA Book Festival Runner-Up) is her first sequel, and was a continuation of Hubert Champion’s Mojave saga. And her latest, Rhodes The Mojave-Stone is a San Francisco Book Festival Honorary Mention winner.

She continues to be inspired by historic Route 66, and lives with her husband and assorted canines in the Mojave High Desert near the internationally revered Route 66.  
Rhodes - The Mojave-Stone Blurb:

Between Needles and Victorville, California, many Mojave Desert locations have called out—“Stop awhile, listen to what I have to say.” Special places where one can envision future dramas unfolding and evolving, while simultaneously eavesdropping on tales from long gone times. Then add into such flights-of-fancy, kaleidoscope-like memories of Chicago mansions and childhood neighborhoods; followed by the improbable thought of a homestead—indeed a whole town—rising out of the rugged and desolate ridges along a familiar stretch of Route 66.

All these images commingle to tickle the imagination. Indeed, there are many events and stories hidden underneath shifting desert sands, and quite possibly many of these tales are doomed to ride ad infinitum on relentless desert winds—ghosts trapped on a plane-of-existence they can never escape. The town of Shiné (Shy-knee) is a fictional concatenation of several of these magical places, fanciful thoughts, and hidden dramas. A place where provocative and unanswered questions actually escape the entrapment of Mojave winds and take center stage.

Hopefully, the small fact Shiné does not exist will not dissuade you from visiting…

 

Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/jkctmqb  (Amazon Author Page with all books listed)

Drawing!

As a thank you for visiting Patricia’s blog and “listening” to me, I would like to give a free book (paper or eBook any title) to 3 lucky readers who leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you! And be sure we have your email address with your comment sign in.
 

Congratulations to the winners!
Amy Reade, Sandra Novelly and Paul Alan Fahey, Madeline will be contacting you for your mailing addresses.