Author Mary Catherine Gebhard answers 10Qs.
If you had a choice to live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
This is such an awesome question. I always thought I’d want to live in Ireland, somewhere on coast where the waves crashed beneath me and I was surrounded by green hills. I’d be in a small cottage with a great bathroom overlooking the coast and fireplace in the living room. If not that, I guess Denver isn’t so bad! Currently I’m in Salt Lake City, Utah. I always felt like Denver was our cool cousin or something.
What is your writing process?
I create a playlist for the novel, outline each chapter, and start writing. I make sure to write every day, even if I’m not inspired. Of course, the process isn’t always that tidy. Generally inspiration hits me in the worst locations like the shower or when the flight attendant tells me to put my laptop away. Sometimes it hits me while having sex… My boyfriend and uber talented musician, Eric Lo, wrote a song for You Own Me, and I’ve listened to that a lot while writing this novel.
Describe your journey as an author so far.
I started writing a novel in high school, and I thought big words meant I was the shit. Reading my old books from that time, it feels like a thesaurus vomited on the pages. Mostly I think my journey meant I got more comfortable with myself. First, I used big words because I thought that made my writing better. Second, I started publishing under a nom de plume, Eva Natsumi, because I was so afraid of what people would say about my work. Finally, I’m releasing a novel under my name. I feel comfortable and proud enough of my work that I can take whatever people say about it! That feels pretty cool.
How do you stay motivated?
It honestly isn’t hard to stay motivated. Writing is my first and true love. If I don’t write for a couple of days, I go through withdrawal. What’s hard for me is focusing on one project.
What has been your biggest obstacle while writing and how have you overcome it?
I think my biggest obstacle has been sickness, mental and physical. There were times when I was so physically sick I would fall asleep while in the middle of writing and times when I was so mentally ill that I would rather lie on the bathroom floor and cry than write. Now that I’m doing better, I’m so much more freaking productive.
Why did you write this book?
I have a lot of unfinished or almost finished books, but this one just called to me. I thought this would be a great story. I saw a lot of myself in Lennox.
What do you hope readers would take away from this book?
I really hope they enjoy the story. I just want to create something that someone enjoys.
How long did it take you to write this book?
When I decided to finish it, it took me three months (a summer). Keep in mind that half of it was already written during my manic episode, though.
What’s next for you?
Next I’m going to keep writing, work on the two novels, play with kids at the daycare I work at, and eat way too many cookies while watching Friends on Netflix. Oh, and I’m getting my first tattoo!
What do you know now that you wish you knew as a teenager?
That it gets better. I was so, so sick and so, so sad. Part of me wishes I could go back and tell Little Me that eventually I get better. Eventually I write the novel. We did it! I would never go back, though, because we all know what happens when you go back in time. You step on the butterfly and Hitler lives.
Title: You Own Me by Mary Catherine Gebhard
Genre: New Adult, Psychological Romance
Synopsis
“I’ll love you until you break my heart. I’ll give you the broken pieces of my heart as an offering to you, because you own it. Whole, shattered, alive, or dead; you own my heart no matter what condition it’s in. I’ll stay with you until you figure out how to feel. I’ll stay with you even if you never do.”
This is a story about happiness, and how it doesn’t simply happen because you fall in love.
Lennox is on the run from her ex-boyfriend. She had to drop everything, tell no one, and move to a new town, alone. She expected to be lonely, she expected to be afraid, but she never expected to meet a man named Vic who drove her crazy with lust and anger and called her “Lenny.” If it’s at all possible, Vic is more twisted than the man she ran away from.
She should ignore him, but they’re drawn to each other like magnets. Lennox ran from from Seattle to Santa Barbara to get away from violence, to create a new life, and to be something simple. Instead she’s found herself wrapped up in great friends and an epic love. This new life is the opposite of everything she wants, but it might just be everything she needs.
Add You Own Me to your Goodreads shelf.
Purchase You Own Me
About the Author
Mary Catherine Gebhard bites off more than she can chew and sometimes calls herself Eva Natsumi. She’s lived in Salt Lake City, Utah her entire life, but occasionally goes on vacation from reality. Don’t worry, she sends postcards.
Connect with the author: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
[wysija_form id=”4″]
