A Very "P" Interview with Author @MaryBilliter #atozchallenge
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Q. Is there
any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up
or as an adult?
There is only one person who shaped my writing, whose
influence made such an impact on my life that I never considered any other
profession, than writing.
As the daughter of a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, my
craft was shaped early in childhood.
My father, Bill Billiter, was
a journalist during a time when it was a time-honored profession. Men wore fedoras, white linen squares were tucked
neatly in coat pockets and everyone was a suit-and-tie man. It was a romantic
period. And I fell in love with the idea of
being a writer.
But novelty is not the same
as practical experience. When an editor cuts half your copy, it takes passion, persistence, and perseverance to keep the pen on the page.
My father died before he
could read my first byline or book, but that hasn’t stopped me from writing. If
anything, it keeps me writing. When I
write, I am the closest to my father – the writer who had the most influence on
me.
Q. What was
your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
My
husband, Ron Gullberg, just finished reading an advance reader copy of “The XYZ
Affair.” He works out of town during the week and is home on the weekends. So
during the week, I’d get text:
“I
like this Gorm guy.”
Chris
Gorham or “Gorm” is the main love interest for protagonist, Dani Quinn. Gorm is
an unabashedly bald sports reporter. My husband is bald and used to be a sports
reporter. Hmm….
An
hour later, my cell chimed with another text:
“Don’t
like this Bob guy.”
“Bob”
is the other love interest for Dani. Bob looks like Thor.
Through
these texts, I laughed and rediscovered favorite parts of “The XYZ Affair.”
When Ron wrapped up reading the book, he texted:
“Finished!
Very good! The XYZ Affair angle gives it a National Treasure feel. Like how you
weaved in stuff about the father.”
And
instantly I was reminded of sections in the book that brought me to my knees
when I wrote them.
Later,
I texted Ron that I was given the author letter “P” for The Masquerade Crew
blog and that it had to relate to my book. A return text quickly surfaced.
“P is for promise and the
emotional struggle to keep one.”
“The XYZ Affair” is about two people who don’t break their promise
despite love, loss and secrets.
