3 Things I Want to Know About Mae Clair

Mae Clair is one of my favorite people. She's SO nice, and friendly, and talk about supportive! She's definitely a writer's best friend. Each week Mae blogs about mythical creatures, and it's always fascinating, as well as informative. (Okay, a few of them are scary enough that I have to read them with my eyes closed. I'm chicken!) I also love all the adventure and mystery in her romance books. She's got a new one out, Solstice Island, that she's just self-published, and I can't wait to read it.

Please welcome Mae while I get all nosy and ask her a few things that are on my mind!

1. You write about some intriguing mythical creatures, in your books and on your blog. Which one do you REALLY want to see in real life?

Wow. Nothing like starting with the hardest question first! Hmm . . . there are so many critters and beings I’d love to chat with, so that’s a really tough one to answer. I’ve done the most research on the Mothman who haunted West Virginia in the mid-1960s, but I’m not sure I’d want to run into a seven foot winged humanoid with glowing red eyes if push came to shove. For some reason I always viewed the Loch Ness Monster as a kind of benevolent sea creature and would love to spy her from the banks of the lake. 

“Look, there’s Nessie!” Can you imagine me jumping up and down, pointing excitedly from the shore? From a nice safe distance, of course. She might not be as benevolent as I think!

2.  I can totally see you doing that. LOL And I'm sure you can see me cowering behind you, saying, "Are you sure we're far enough away?" So, do Daniel and Rylie, the hero and heroine of Solstice Island, love coffee as much as we do?

It was a drastic oversight on my part NOT to have them drinking coffee. Duh! :D I’m going to step out on a limb and say they love the stuff (I can do that, right? I’m the author.) In the novella, they drink beer and spring water. Oh . . . and some seawater, when a certain beastie decides to snack on their boat.

3.  Yes, you can do that! And I hope they don't gulp down TOO much seawater. Which scene was the first one you wrote?

I’m one of those annoying linear writers who always starts with scene one, connects it to scene two and so on. Solstice Island was a little different in that it wasn’t originally called Solstice Island. I’m not even sure what it was called! More than likely, it didn’t have a title at the time. 

The opening prologue was the beginning of longer novel I intended to write. Instead of Daniel’s parents being on the boat it was a college kid and his girlfriend having an amorous night while tying one on. That got scrapped, but I liked some of the “creature” scenes I’d written, so I kept those and modified the rest to fit my shorter novella.

I love when pieces of a story can be used for a different one. I've done that a couple times, although at first it feels like I've got a FrankenWIP. Hey, maybe that's a monster you can blog about!

Anywho, thanks for stopping by today, Mae. It was great to have you, as always, and I'm looking forward to more great stories from you!

~~ Bio ~~

Mae Clair has been chasing myth, monsters and folklore through research and reading since she was a kid. As an adult, she stumbled onto the field of cryptozoology and realized there were others like her who loved speculating about weird and wonderful creatures. 

Her blog, From the Pen of Mae Clair, features a weekly post each Monday where she examines a different myth or urban legend. In 2013, she journeyed to West Virginia to learn more about the legendary Mothman, a creature who will factor into an upcoming novel.

As a writer, she pens tales of romantic mystery flavored with a twist of myth or folklore. Married to her high school sweetheart, Mae lives in Pennsylvania. Her passions include cats, history and exploring old graveyards.  Look for Mae on her website at MaeClair.net.

~~ Social media links ~~

Website and Blog ~ Twitter ~ Google+ ~ Facebook  

Amazon Author Page ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Solstice Island

Can an ancient leviathan work magic between a practical man and an idealistic woman?

Rylie Carswell is an amateur cryptozoologist in search of a mythical creature, the Sea Goliath. In order to reach Solstice Island, a location the ancient leviathan is rumored to haunt, she’s forced to hire charter boat captain, Daniel Decatur.

Initially, Daniel wants nothing to do with the trip or the fool woman waving double payment in his face. Convinced she’s yet another loony treasure hunter looking for gold on the remote island, he reluctantly agrees. An embittered neighbor wants to have his charter license yanked, so the extra cash will help him stay afloat.

It doesn’t take long for Daniel to realize Rylie is after the same beast his parents were tracking when they mysteriously vanished ten years earlier. He’s avoided all links to cryptozoology ever since, but the smart and sexy cryptid hunter has him second-guessing his oath and wondering what he’s signed on for.

Warning:  A family legacy, glowing plankton and rough waters.

~~ Excerpt ~~

“I’m busy too,” Rylie snapped. “If you don’t want double your usual fee, I’ll find someone who does.”

That stopped him. It was still early in the season. Double would get him off to a good start before the Memorial Day customers kicked in. He could use the upfront cash. Business stood to be less this year thanks to Gus Claremont’s vindictive slander.

Recalling last season’s accident sent a phantom twinge of pain through the deep scar on his back. Best not to think of that now. 

Grimacing, Daniel shoved the wretched memories aside. He hooked his thumbs into the belt loops of his faded jeans and turned to face the woman on his deck. She stood with her arms crossed, her expression sour. The sunglasses were perched on top of her head now, revealing eyes the color of honey, smoldering with agitation.

“Well?” She didn’t stamp her foot but tapped it restlessly. He had to admit she was cute, despite looking indignant and quarrelsome. Maybe he’d misjudged her. She appeared to have backbone even sporting those oversized Gucci sunglasses.

He shrugged, not wanting to come off as eager. “What are we fishing for?”

“Does it matter?”

 “I have to allow for rigging and bait.”

 “You won’t need either.”

He frowned. “Look, lady, I’m not a tour boat. If you’re in the market for a sunbathing cruise, Keel Beach isn’t the place.”

“I’m not interested in a tan. I need you to take me to these coordinates.” She pulled a creased slip of paper from her pocket and thrust it at him. “Can you do it or not?”

Daniel unfolded the paper, mentally gauging the location. Something cold and ugly crawled through his gut. “This is Solstice Island.”

~~ Available for purchase at Amazon ~~ 

Comments

[Mae Clair]

Hi,Donna! Thanks so much for having me as your guest today. I has such fun answering your questions. What a great way to start a Friday! :)

And I loved that image of us on the bank of Loch Ness making sure Nessie wasn't in the mood for a snack, LOL!

[Donna Cummings]

Mae, I'm thrilled you're here today! And you're right, it's good to kick off Friday with a little fun and frivolity. :)

As long as you stay in front, I'll be happy to see what Nessie is up to. But when she starts looking at us like potential snacks. . . I'm outta there! LOL

[Samantha Hunter]

Oh, beaches and sexy guys and mythical creatures... I'm in. :)

Sam

[Donna Cummings]

LOL, Sam -- that's a pretty hard combo to beat, isn't it? Well, unless it's a scary creature. Then I'll have the hunky lifeguards take care of it. :)

[Mae Clair]

Hi, Sam! I'm glad you like the combination I brewed up for Solstice Island. I hope you enjoy the tale. I really had a great time writing it! Thanks for checking out my answers. Donna comes up with such excellent questions :)

[Flossie Benton Rogers]

I got my copy of Solstice Island, and before I read it I'll make sure to get in the spirit by having a steaming cuppa at my side.

[Emma Meade]

I love Mae's Mythical Monday posts. Your day doing real life research on the Mothman sounded like good, scary fun.

[Donna Cummings]

Flossie, yes, coffee is always a good part of the reading (and writing!) experience. Although now that it's warming up outside, I may make the switch soon to iced coffee. :)

Emma, it sounds so scary just READING about Mae's adventures. I know I wouldn't be brave enough to go on those jaunts. LOL

[Mae Clair]

Hi, Flossie, so glad to hear you grabbed a copy, and yep, sitting down with a nice cuppa is a good way to enjoy it. I've got my favorites from Kuerig.

And Emma, visiting the TNT Area where the Mothman was spotted numerous times was something I will always remember. What a great trip!