Author: 
~ Interview By Deborah Blake
I first found the amazing Lucy March through another favorite author, Jennifer Crusie. At the time, Lucy was writing humorous romance (what some might call Chick Lit) under the name Lani Diane Rich. I quickly became hooked on both the books and the woman—following her over to her blog where she was posting every day about her journey to her 40th birthday. The blog, and Lucy’s soul-baring honesty, creating a fabulous, unique community called “The Betties” which still exists to this day.
Lucy, however, has moved her focus back to writing, teaching, and blogging about writing, often in the company of fellow author pals Jenny Crusie and Anne Stuart. Together, these Goddesses share their vast accumulated writing wisdom, and on her own, Lucy teaches her acclaimed classes at Storywonk.com.
I was fortunate enough to meet Lucy in person last year at the New England Chapter RWA Conference in Salem where she was the guest of honor. She was even more inspiring and charming in person, but I didn’t have nearly as much time to talk with her as I would have wished. Thankfully, she has agreed to come chat with me now, and answer a few questions about her new book, A LITTLE NIGHT MAGIC, her new life, and what we can expect from her next.
Deborah:
Hi Lucy! I think it is quite fitting that we met in Salem, since your new book is filled with magic. In fact, I just finished reading A LITTLE NIGHT MAGIC, and I absolutely loved it. But it is a change in some ways from your previous books. It is still clever and funny, but it has a whole different feel to it. What genre would you consider it to be? Paranormal romance? Magical realism? Or have you invented something entirely new? And for those who haven’t read it yet, can you tell us a little something about the book?
Lucy:
Hey, Deb! Thanks for having me here!
I don’t think I’ve invented anything entirely new; it’s a funny, romantic story that takes place in a world where magic is real, and ready to cause trouble.
The story is about a waffle house waitress living in a small town in Western New York who discovers that she has odd, seemingly innocuous magical powers. With them, she has to save her town from the malevolence of dark forces. Save the waffles, save the world.
Deborah:
I assume that you changed to the pseudonym Lucy March to mark the difference between the old books and the new ones. Was this your idea, or did your publishers (St. Martin’s Press) ask you to do it? How does it feel to recreate your persona as a writer? Are there pros and cons to changing your name, or is it all good?
Lucy:
It was my publisher’s idea, and I went with it, although I’m terrible at it. It’s a very thin veil between my identity as Lani Diane Rich and Lucy March; sometimes I feel like Lucy March is a uniform I only wear at work. It’s a pretty uniform, though!
I think having the separate identity is easier for some writers than for others. I’m terrible at it. I teach writing and record podcasts about storytelling as Lani Diane Rich, and I write the books and all that as Lucy March. Half the time I don’t know who I am. Had I realized at the time how bad I was going to be at this, I might have requested that we keep my regular name. As it stands, I will just continue to do my best, and answer to whatever anyone calls me.
Deborah:
I know from your blog that you have gone through a tremendous amount of change in the last couple of years, and I really admire the fact that you have created a wonderful new life for yourself. How are things going, and how have your personal changes impacted your writing?
Lucy:
Things are great. I divorced a few years ago and recently remarried, which was as much of a shock to me as to anyone else. I’m not the kind of person who needs to be married. As a matter of fact, I wasn’t terribly good at it the first time, and was determined never to do it again. But then the absolute right person came into my life, and it was either stick to some idea I had about marriage sucking, or take a chance that it was real. It was, and so far, so good.
I think everything in your life flavors the writing, like the way that whatever’s in the ground while the grapes are growing flavors the wine. I’m too close to my work to say what has changed, exactly, but I think it was going to change anyway. It will always change. I always change. I’d like to believe it’ll always be for the better, but that’s probably not for me to decide.
Deborah:
You give online classes for writers based on what you have learned over the course of your career. (I took one myself, in fact.) The classes focus on the process of Discovery (pre-writing) and Revision (post-writing). Which is your favorite part of writing—discovery, drafting, or revision—and why?
Lucy:
Which is my favorite? Hmmm. Well, I hate drafting; that’s always the hard part, although there are those exciting moments when you have the perfect line or the perfect moment, and it can be exciting. Revision is a powerful process, and I like that, but it’s also a lot of hard work, and it can sometimes be demoralizing. Discovery is when you let your magic flow; you play, you read, you watch movies and television, and you imagine all the wonderful things the book is going to be.
Discovery. Hands down.
Deborah:
One of my favorite aspects of A LITTLE NIGHT MAGIC was the magic. Of course, most of us don’t have the ability to do magic the way your protagonist Olivia does, but I love the idea that some people might have special gifts. If you could have one magical talent, what would it be?
Lucy:
Ha! I think if I had to pick the kind of magical talent that exists in the ALNM universe, I’d love to have the ability to change the look of things. You know, touch an ugly coffee mug and suddenly it’s red with white polka dots. Boom, and the wallpaper is a beautiful vintage pattern. Tap, tap, and the tablecloth is a vibrant green.
Deborah:
As always, my first thought when I finished the books was, “When is the next one coming out?!” What’s up next for Lucy March, and when can we hope to see the next book?
Lucy:
The next book in the series, That Touch of Magic, takes a secondary character from A Little Night Magic, Liv’s friend Stacy Easter, and tells her story. It’s scheduled to be released in early 2013, but of course, that means I have to finish it first. I had a good half of it written last fall, then realized it was all wrong and threw it out and started again. Now what I have is absolutely right, but I’m two months past my original deadline. My publisher was gracious enough to grant me until March, so I’m burning the midnight oil to get it done. Wish me luck!
Deborah:
Lucy, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me. Any parting advice for writers (whether published or working on getting published)?
Lucy:
I think if I was to give advice to a writer, it would be to honor the magic. Craft is great and it’s important, but don’t dismiss the value of the magic, which is that touch of flavor that only you can bring to that story. The magic is what makes it a book only you can write, and sometimes we discount the importance of that.
Thanks for having me!
Lucy March is the alter-ego of bestselling writer Lani Diane Rich. She teaches online writing workshops at StoryWonk.com, where she also produces a daily podcast for writers, StoryWonk Daily, with her husband, Alastair Stephens. You can also find her at LucyMarch.com, LaniDianeRich.com, and Popcorn Dialogues.com.
Posted in 
Tags: 