Writing as Margaret Brownley, she has published more than 40 novels and is a New York Times bestselling author. Known for her memorable characters and humor, she is a two-time Romance Writers of America Rita finalist.
Not counting the book she wrote in sixth grade, and the puzzle of the missing socks, this is her first mystery.
Website ➜http://margaret-brownley.com/
Twitter ➜https://www.x.com/katejuryduty
Facebook ➜https://www.facebook.com/MargaretBrownleyAuthor/ and https://www.facebook.com/p/Kate-Damon-61565155275435/
Instagram ➜https://www.instagram.com/katedamonbooks
BookBub➜https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-damon
Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4072660.Kate_Damon and https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/163681.Margaret_Brownley
📙Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published. Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?
First of all, thank you for having me and letting me share my story. I can hardly remember a time when I didn’t want to be a writer. So it really wasn’t a deliberate decision on my part, but rather a natural
progression.
As for why I decided to write this book, all my stories start with a question. The question for Jury Duty is Murder concerned the psychological and emotional impact on jurors who are sequestered for extended periods, specifically for months. I had no idea I was writing a mystery until bodies started turning up on my computer screen.
📙Is this your first book?
No, this is not my first book, but since I’m using a pen name, it feels like it. Writing under Margaret Brownley, I’ve published more than forty-six historical romance novels and am a New York, Times bestselling author. This is my first mystery, which is why I’m writing it under a pen name.
📙With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?
When I first conceived of the idea for the book, I queried my regular publishers. But since it was so different than anything I’d previously written, no one was interested. So I put the book aside. However, the characters kept nagging at me and, finally, I continued to work on the book alongside my other projects. I queried a small press, and the editor was kind enough to suggest I send the book to the Wild Rose Press. That’s what I did, and here we are.
📙Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey? The pros and cons?
Having published numerous books, my journey has been a long one. I actually penned my first "book" in sixth grade, which ignited my lifelong dream of becoming a writer. However, my early aspirations faced significant challenges. In school, I struggled with English and even flunked the subject because I could not grasp the concept of diagramming sentences (still can’t). This setback was compounded by a discouraging remark from my teacher, who advised me to abandon any thoughts of pursuing writing.
Life took its course through various responsibilities such as jobs, marriage, and motherhood. Despite these commitments, the desire to write remained a constant presence in my life. I wrote for the church newsletter, and after making the church picnic sound like a Grisham novel, my pastor took me aside and suggested that God probably meant for me to write fiction.
Since I wasn’t about to argue with God, I told my family that I intended to start taking my writing seriously and work on a book. To my surprise, my three children reacted with relief; it turned out that my penchant for crafting lengthy and what I believed were clever excuse notes had become a source of embarrassment for them.
The next four years were challenging as I faced an overwhelming number of rejections—enough to cover the walls of my home. It was during this period that I decided to join a writers' group, which proved to be a pivotal moment in my writing journey. The support and feedback from fellow writers helped me refine my craft and regain confidence in my abilities.
📙What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?
I was pretty ignorant about the whole publishing business. My writing group taught me how to write a proposal and how to slant it for specific publishers and editors. Back in those days, we didn’t have the Internet, and I spent a lot of time and money sending my books to the wrong people. Now, you can look up publishers and editors online and find out what kind of books they are interested in.
You can also join online writer groups, which provide invaluable information. My writing group also held yearly conferences. This enabled me to meet editors and pitch my stories face-to-face. I also met my agent at one. They say writing is a solitary profession, but I found the opposite to be true. The amount of support and help for writers is amazing. All you have to do is reach out.
📙Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?
Absolutely. It’s a tough business and the more you know, the better your chances of getting published.
📙What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?
First, write the book. Then be sure to stay in touch with your characters every day, even if it means rereading your last chapter. That keeps the subconscious working. Finally, join a writer’s group, preferably in your own genre.
Jury Duty is Murder is available at Amazon.
