Meet Prism Author, Mary L. Ball!

I'm excited to present author, Mary L. Ball today. She's a fellow Prism Book Group author. Check out other great books by this publisher at http://www.prismbookgroup.com/.

Mary L. Ball

Welcome to the Diamond Mine, Mary! Tell us about your genre, and when you realized God wanted you to write?

Ever since I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I've wanted to tell people about His grace. I dislike a preachy person, so I'll mention my relationship with Him, but writing is another avenue of showing people how God works in our lives. Sometimes, we need a story to help us keep the faith.  I've always written Christian articles in the newsletter and on a few sites, but one day the Lord gave me an idea for a fiction novel. The inspiration just keeps coming.

Now, I see that you have two out with Prism Book Group, Escape to Big Fork Lake, and Stone of Destiny.  Are they part of a series or separate?

No, both are stand-alone novels, although my next novel to be released with PBG is titled, Redemption in Big Fork Lake, and visits the same characters in, Escape to Big Fork Lake.

I love old homes and see in your second novel that you have your main character, Taylor Harrison, renovate the family home. How did you research this and did you find anything, 'mysterious?' Lol

I enjoy watching HGTV, Property Brothers, and Love it or List it. That's my research. The hubby and I have done renovations of our own, so I know the pain. LOL. There are many things found in old homes that can turn mysterious. :) One could write about old letters in the wall, a lost picture, or even a missing ring from fifty years ago that has a legend surrounding it. (As in Stone of Destiny.)

Hmm. Great story starters! So, what is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

Each of us, believe we have the answers and know what we want in life, but at times, we're confused by the demands of the world. I hope the readers will discover that often our own desires aren’t the ones that lead to happiness. Trusting in God and following His guidance is the only true way to find contentment.

I gotta ask, fishing?! That's really your favorite pastime? You gotta let us know how that came about!

Fishing is a sport I learned to do with my husband. It's our time together when things get hectic, and we need to unwind. I like the challenge of catching a fish. When I'm fishing, it's just me and hubby. We talk about life and dreams. I watch nature and reacquaint myself with God's world. Not the congestive mess we see in the city, but the beautiful water, trees, and wildlife. Just writing this makes me want to grab a pole and go to the lake. I also enjoy going to the coast. I live in NC about 3 hours from Carolina Beach. Two years ago, I caught the largest Red Drum for the season on Kure Pier. Hubby had to help me reel it in, but it was fun hanging onto the 45-pound fish!

Wow, fishing, writing, editing, ministry─you are one busy gal. How does a normal day look like for you and how do you find time to write?

Peggy, you asked how a normal day is for me. You know the old saying, "be careful of what you ask." A normal day─I haven't found one yet. LOL. My favorite time is early morning. I get up before 6 o'clock, have my coffee, catch up on email, and write. Sometime after eight, I walk next door to the house where my Mother and Stepfather live. (Mom has the beginning stages of Alzheimer's-stepfather has Dementia.) I see they're okay, change Mom's bed and help them get settled for the day. Then back home where my grandsons are waiting, (Did I mention I watch my two grandsons while my daughter works?) One is 15 (No keeping him-only guidance, I hope.) the little man is seven. Throughout the day, I attend to any duties a work-at-home-Nana does. They'll be various phone calls from Mom, congregation, and friends. Somewhere in the midst of that, I can sometimes write more, or shut out on FB and Twitter. School's ended for the year, which means I also need to spend time with my grandsons. We have a no-electronics day out. I live in town, so we often go a few blocks to a fast food restaurant for lunch. That takes care of the day. At three, Joey (husband) comes home from work, and then dinner needs to be prepared. Oh my, I forgot to add that I sing at retirement homes with Joey and a few from church every Tuesday night.

Time to let us in on your secrets. What's next for Mary L. Ball’s list of novels?

A lot is going on. I have a new release scheduled for this year, titled, Redemption in Big Fork Lake. (I mentioned it earlier.) I have another novel, Postmark from Heaven, which I hope will be coming out this year also. My currant WIP is titled, Voices of Suspicion.

Thanks for being with us here at The Diamond Mine, Mary! You're yet another gem in Christian Fiction!

Here’s a sneak peek at Stone of Destiny:

     Taylor has given up on everything but her work. After becoming the youngest CEO of Mugful’s Beverage Company, she believes life is complete─until her grandmother asks her to oversee the renovations of the family home, in addition to searching for a missing heirloom.

     Her first contact with what she believes is an insignificant ring, lost for fifty years, sends her life spinning. Taylor experiences strange dreams. Unexpected feelings surface that she doesn't understand. Thoughts that should remain unspoken are voiced.
     Taylor’s emotional journey begins, testing a heart as cold as the ring itself and forcing her to question everything she believes.
     Is this a fairytale, or simply her soul reaching out for a different world─a life she can only find through faith and a divine trust in God?

  

With Mary's new release coming up, here's your chance to get acquainted with the characters! 

Leave a comment with your email address for for a chance to win, Escape to Big Fork Lake!

You can follow Mary on her blog: http://marylouwrites.weebly.com/

or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorMaryL.Ball

Or Twitter: https://twitter.com/inspires4mary

You can purchase Mary's books through Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, and Prism Book Group.