How do you pronounce your name?

My name is pronounced “mar-gyuh-reet” and it’s French. I’ve heard many variations and every now and then I’ll hear the “Margarita,” drink joke. The fun part is when the discussion about my name turns into a topic of its own.

When did you start writing?

I’ve been writing since 2000 as a hobby, but soon realized that I wanted more. I wanted my works to be read. In 2009, I set out to hone my craft with the hope of writing stories that would entertain my readers.

It's my passion to be here for my readers.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Rewrites! Thanks to my writing mentor, I love them. 

Why did you decide to work with a writing mentor?

It was a personal decision based on my desire to succeed in my career as an author.  

What keeps you going when you’re running on empty?

My vices are avocados, Bossanova jazz, and classical music. 

What do you do for downtime?

I play golf. It helps me to relax. And if I'm ever stuck on a scene, golf helps me figure it out.

Are you excited about the release of your crime novel, Promised Lies?

I'm very excited. I originally released it as Led by Lies, but after I met an agent at a writer's conference, I realized I needed to expand my word count and dig deeper to make this book work. 

After expanding the book, I was much happier with how it turned out. Everything about the book said to me, Promised Lies. 

What are you currently working on?

I just finished a YA mystery and now I’m currently working on the next Lily Blanchette novel.

How would you describe your new main character?

Detective Lily Blanchette: Dedicated, Driven, Despises Lies and HEELS!

What's next for you?

Next on my list is to work on my upcoming shows for Crime Writers’ Panel during the summer of 2017. All of us at CWP have crazy schedules and we’re looking forward to starting a new season filled with information to help writers who are doing research for their books.

I'm also working on a blog series called After The Badge. 

What is the Crime Writers' Panel?

Crime Writers Panel is a free online workshop put together by a team of writers, including members of law enforcement and forensics. We provide guidelines to help authors craft realistic situations; starting with the initial dispatch of a call, continuing through CSI investigation and encompassing gritty procedures from an officer's point-of-view.

What led you to pursue “positivity,” as a way to deal with everyday life?

“Living Life to the Fullest With Positivity,” was something I came up with to push me through the hard times of my writing career.

I learned a lesson when I lost my best friend to an automobile accident. One day she was there and the next she was gone. It was that day that I realized how short life is and promised myself that I would always try to think positive and not focus on the negative.

Is there something that you would like to tell other authors?

Stay focused and give it your ALL.

A ~ Ask questions about yourself and your writing. Make sure this is something you want to do.

L ~ Listen to the answers. Sometimes the reply is not what you’d expect or want to hear.

L ~ Learn from those answers. Then take the appropriate steps to master your art.