Today we’d like to introduce you to Mara Purl.
Hi Mara, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Though my home city is Los Angeles, I was invited to spend a summer performing in the small coastal town of Cambria, California. Having lived only in big cities, I found a small town intriguing and began to think of it as an interesting paradigm for a story. When the owner of the local radio station came backstage after one of my performances, he said if I ever wanted to do something for radio, to let him know. Now I had an invitation to present this proposed story. So I structured a fictional town loosely based on the real one, created characters, and began writing scripts for a new radio drama I named “Milford-Haven.” I sent scripts to him . . . but got no response. I discovered this was because he had sold the station. So I approached the new owners. Had they been receiving my scripts? They had . . . and they’d been throwing them away! Hmm. Then I mentioned I might be able to find sponsors and that immediately piqued their interest. I visited stores and companies up and down Main Street, and most wanted to support my proposed show. The new owners said “You’re on the air!” That was exciting, but first I had to actually find a cast, find a studio, record and produce episodes and deliver them to the station. As you can imagine, I was very busy suddenly! The show did go on the air and became a local hit. Wonderful! But the real surprise came several months later when I was approached by the BBC. The fantastic UK network offered us a contract and ultimately we became a hit on BBC Radio 5 with 4.5 million listeners! That eventually drew interest from publishers in creating novels based on my show. Now, with 15 bestselling books in my novel saga, I like to say I’m an “overnight success.”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Is the road to publishing ever smooth? Most likely it’s not for any author. The great thing is that we learn from every challenge. In my case, though I had an offer from a major publisher, that company was about to be purchased by a conglomerate that had different goals from the original publisher. But the press had already carried the news that my radio series would soon be a book series, so I had to find a way forward. I called upon mentors in both the publishing and the news business and formed an advisory board. These mentors were instrumental in guiding me through the next steps. Further collapses and consolidations lay ahead, but gradually I found my audience, while at the same time finding my own narrative voice. Though there have been disappointments and delays, I am truly grateful for everything I’ve learned along the way. Now I love writing more than ever! I believe that if you’re someone who receives that “tap on the shoulder” that leads to writing, it’s important to respond to it. Qualities that turn out to be critically important are patience, persistence, and a sense of purpose.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What sets me apart from others is that, although I’m an author, I have a “double root system.” I have a theatre background, having grown up in a theatre family and also having performed and written theatre and television. I also have a journalism background, having worked at two newspapers very early on.
Journalism, which I greatly respect, is one of the most important aspects of life, particularly for those of us living in democracies. It taught me several things: how to research; how to meet deadlines; how to get myself out of the way and write what I actually observe. Meanwhile script writing, which I also respect, taught me story structure, character development, and the importance of both the said and the unsaid in dialogue.
That experience of spending a summer performing in a small town allowed me to put my finger on the pulse of a societal movement at the time, as people moved away from cities to create fresh opportunities for themselves in small towns. I became one of the first authors of women’s fiction to write about small town life. Who knew? It’s been fascinating to see many other authors follow me into this genre.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
An important book and workbook that helped me when I had left journalism and was committing to creative work was “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. In a society that favors business over the arts, and logic over intuition, it’s difficult to sustain a creative career and sensibility. She offered practices and techniques that help creatives rebalance and keep moving forward.
Also one of the most important practices I’ve always had is seeking out mentors, asking for their advice and guidance, listening to their recommendations. I haven’t always followed exactly what I’ve been told, but I continue to cherish their insights. Louis L’Amour was one of my mentors and one of his major pieces of advice was never to give up. Another was Nichelle Nichols who, like me, was both a performer and a writer. Some mentors we know for years; others for a season; still others perhaps for only the length of one conversation. But if we tune in as best we can, this can enrich our paths.
Pricing:
- When each new book is launched, it’s available for free for the first 3 days.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.MaraPurl.com
- Instagram: @MaraPurl
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaraPurlAuthor/
- Youtube: marapurl2929
- Other: https://go.authorsguild.org/members/2278
