Whoooo are you, Maggie Toussaint
June 25, 2026
Whoooooo are you? I ask myself that question at various times because I’ve worn different hats in my lifetime.
Growing up in the 1960s in a shrimping community of mostly relatives was an idyllic experience and the end of the Baby Boomer spike in population growth. So, it is always poignant looking back to those golden days of glorious freedom, exploration, and innocence.
I am often asked if there was any one thing that shaped me into a multi-award-winning author, currently at 30 books of published genre fiction. This should be an easy question, but there wasn’t any one thing that stood out. It was the entire experience.
As a kid, I became self-reliant, chock-full of curiosity, and filled with wonder at the rich splendor of my coastal environment. All of life intrigued me and especially, its secrets.
Books took me to faraway places, sparked my imagination. I even stood on a step stool and made green eggs and ham for my parents one summer morning when I was about six. I thought it was the most glorious breakfast Dr. Seuss-inspired ever. Mom and Dad were not thrilled to see runny green eggs and mostly raw bacon sliding all over their plates at seven in the morning. Our dog wasn’t nearly so picky.
My college education trained me to be a scientist, and that career blessed me with the skill of systematic problem-solving. Marriage taught me how complex relationships can be, how important it is to choose your partner wisely. Being a mother showed me that the best laid plans go off the track at any moment, and I learned to improvise and go with the flow.
Along the way, I realized that I needed to go beyond writing in a journal and write for publication. After all, I wanted to give back to the next generation of kids and adults dreaming of faraway places, of shadows and light, of love and loss. Those goals instantly became a challenge because a) I didn’t have time, and b) I didn’t know how. But that didn’t stop me. I scribbled and dreamed and wrote privately for years until I had something magnificent and wonderful. Or so I thought.
Then I learned about networking and joined writer’s groups. Through a period of nearly ten years (1996-2005), I withstood a storm of rejection letters and didn’t give up. Instead, I honed my craft and learned from the best in the field. When I pitched to editors and agents at this point, I felt their keen interest. Soon, I had contracts in two genres, romance and mystery. This worked for a while, but eventually I shifted to focus entirely to the cozy mystery world, with the exception of one trip through science fiction in a futuristic ecothriller.
Never, ever in my life did I think I would write about anything paranormal. It was absolutely too scary for me, and I would never be able to close my eyes again. But life happened. A sister passed away too soon, and I felt compelled to write a story about a woman who listened to the dead. I rationalized that since I was writing the tale it wouldn’t be too scary for me. That turned out to be true, and the series became the seven-book Dreamwalker Mysteries.
Being an author means I have the freedom to follow my muse. It means pushing my introverted self out in the world to meet readers and other authors. It means overcoming fears. The process made me whole and taught me so much. It brought together all that I was and all that I yearned to understand.
So, getting back to the original question of “How did I become an author?” The answer is I lived and breathed stories every day of my life.
Have you ever felt the need to write, give back to libraries, or honor the person who taught you how to read?
Comment for a chance to win a first-in series book from me. Up for grabs are IN FOR A PENNY (Cleopatra Jones mysteries), GONE AND DONE IT (Dreamwalker Mysteries), SEAS THE DAY (Seafood Caper Mysteries), or SNUFFED OUT (Magic Candle Shop mysteries).
The winner will be announced the following week and contacted by email. The book formats are digital (worldwide) and print (US mailing address only). The prize is forfeited if not claimed in a week after the announcement.
For more information about Maggie Toussaint, visit her WEBSITE
Photos and graphics in this post are author created and/or author submitted.
[Sidebar: When I penned this post, I had the ear-worm of of the famous song by The Who titled “Who are you” running through my head. Also, I am an original member of Booklover’s Bench, which means I’ve been here since 2012, same as Nancy J Cohen and Terry Ambrose, though Terry took a few years off in the middle. However, the idea and implementation of this group came from author Terry Odell, who has since stepped down.]
Posted in Let's Talk, with Maggie Toussaint • Tags: Let's Talk, Maggie Toussaint, Valona Jones, Who is Maggie Toussaint | 27 Comments
Maggie, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about your storied life. Congratulations on so many published books! 📚 And I’m sorry you lost your sister. However, it was great to hear that your loss inspired a new series !
Well done, you!
Thank you, Nannette! That old saying of “what doesn’t break you, makes you stronger” is something I’ve found to be true my whole life long. And at the same time, I’ve realized that everyone has “something,” and wishes they didn’t. People with straight hair want curly hair and vice versa. So, we are all on a journey, whether we want to be or not! I’m so glad you came by and left a comment.
Maggie, how interesting that we both began writing at the same time, sold our first books at the same time, and dipped our toes in other genres before settling firmly into the world of cozy mysteries!
Yes, we have had a similar path to publication and it always amazes me how many people have things in common. I guess we always thought that writers came fully prepped to pen bestsellers. The truth is all of us authors must work at our craft. One of the bonuses for me is that all of the errors that I used to make are common among beginning writers, and so I am able to pass that knowledge along to help people along their way. Keep on writing!
Hi Maggie! I’m delighted to learn about your writing journey. Your experiences are an inspiration to me. HUGz.
Thanks for being a true-blue friend, Cheryl. It is always wonderful for any kind of artisan when we find our tribes!
ha. I’ve never liked writing (journaling never appealed to me and I can’t make up a story to save my life 😜) – this is why I so value those of you who *do* write and share your wonderfully creative works with the rest of us!
HI Maria! First, thanks for your nice note in the mail. It always warms my heart to receive real mail instead of political fliers and bills. I’m so glad you came by Booklover’s Bench today.
I’m always interested in learning about my authors, what motivates them to write. You’ve had a full life, with so much more to look forward to!
Hey Anne, it always confounds me when I count up my years on this earth. I am no longer a young person, though I am still very young at heart. I still wake up and look forward to every day, and I am blessed to still have family around. I hope you look forward to each day as well!
I’ve always enjoyed writing just for fun. Currently I’m off and on working on a story inspired by a conversation with my mom, a theme she thought would be fun but never saw so I told her I’d write it for her myself.
Good for you, Alicia! No matter how we come by ideas or how we “write”, the process of creation is fulfilling in ways that you may not expect. Wishing you a spendid writing odyssey.
Lately I have been thinking of writing something. I do love libraries and go there often. I like to donate books to their bookstore. Deborah
Hi Deborah! It is always wonderful to meet people who value libraries and support them in various ways. I love that you donate your books there. Take care!
I loved reading your story. I like you read author stories and find out how they started writing. And yes I donate most of my books to our library store.
Hi Helen, Thanks for reading my story! I am so glad someone snapped that photo of me in my all-time favorite swimsuit. I loved it because it was so comfy and with all the ribs, I called it “Worms.” Mom never understood that it was a complimentary name but she had plenty of great insights into other areas.
Hi Maggie, I really enjoy your books and reading. I thank my Mom for my love of reading. She was a big reader and was always taking us to the library to make sure she had books to read and we always picked out books for ourselves. As much as I love reading ive never thought about writing a book, just writing a card stress me out. Writing a book would really freak me out.
Hi Dianne, I don’t want to add any stress to your life. I never thought about writing a book until I read a dreadful one. Long story short, it was much harder than I thought but I stuck it out and came through that learning cycle. It’s not for everyone. If you told me I had to create an oil painting with real objects in it, I would totally freak out, so I understand where you are coming from. I am glad that your Mom valued libraries and reading and that you became a reader. Keep on reading!
Thanks for an interesting post. I enjoyed reading it.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Diana.
I enjoyed your post. I used to love writing poetry when I was a teenager. It was a great catharsis for me. I also love to donate books and money to libraries. From an early age, libraries have always felt like a magical place for me.
Libraries are magical places! I knew they felt special but I never connected them with magic, and of course they are! Thanks for pointing this out, Cherie! And kudos to you for supporting libraries. They need all the help they can get.
I am a parent/grandma/retired special education teacher. I have always had books around. I have donated books to my local library.
It is heartwarming to know that other readers still have high opinions of libraries. Books were a formative part of my growing up, and likely yours too. Books are an important record for any civilization and need to be collected. I’m sure a dedicated reader like you made sure that your kids and likely grands too experienced libraries as youths. Hooray for libraries…and for readers!
We had a similar path to publication. My first book to be published was the seventh one I’d written. Joining the writing community and professional organizations made a big difference. And like you, I dabbled in scifi stories although mine combined with romance. You’ve certainly had a wealth of experiences.
Thank you, Nancy. I can’t say enough about how kind other writers are or how much mingling with professional writers does to elevate one’s writing. Everyone can write a story, after all, but writing for publication is another matter entirely. Keep on writing!
THE WINNER OF MY GIVEAWAY, AS SELECTED BY RANDOM.ORG, IS DIANNE CASEY! CONGRATULATIONS, DIANNE. I’LL SHOOT YOU AN EMAIL. REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE A WEEK TO CLAIM THE PRIZE!