Let's Talk with Maggie Toussaint

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.]