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Maryann McFadden

Goodreads Author

Born

in Brooklyn, The United States

March 03

Website

http://www.maryannmcfadden.com

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Historical Fiction

Member Since

August 2008

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscommaryann_mcfadden

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In 2007 Maryann McFadden "won the literary lottery" according to writing blogs when her previously self-published novel, THE RICHEST SEASON, sold at auction to Hyperion Books. It became a Target Breakout Novel and an Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association. Her next 2 novels, CAPE COD LIGHT (previously titled SO HAPPY TOGETHER) and THE BOOK LOVER are also Indie Next Picks. THE BOOK LOVER is inspired by her own journey in the world of books. Her 4th novel, THE CEMETERY KEEPER'S WIFE, is a historical novel set in her NJ hometown and has become a book club sensation. It is a novel she believes she was destined to write. Maryann's books have been translated into multiple languages and her unusual publishing journey has inspired ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Maryann McFadden Honestly, I don't get writer's block a lot, but when I do I have to do several things. First, I have to turn off my inner filter. That little voice th…moreHonestly, I don't get writer's block a lot, but when I do I have to do several things. First, I have to turn off my inner filter. That little voice that starts to say "this isn't good enough" before I even finish writing a paragraph. Writers know that it takes many paragraphs, and pages, to sometimes come up with something that is a fraction of that length.

The other thing that truly calms me, and helps get my creative juices flowing, is WALKING! Yes, it frees my mind, and I won't let myself think about where I'm stuck. But...before I'm done walking I usually have thoughts bursting and I record them on my phone so when I get back to work, I've got my material to get started again! (less)

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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Maryann McFadden Don't give up. And don't stop honing your craft!

In April, 2007, my originally self-published novel, The Richest Season, sold at auction to Hyperion B…moreDon't give up. And don't stop honing your craft!

In April, 2007, my originally self-published novel, The Richest Season, sold at auction to Hyperion Books in a 2 book hardcover deal. A writers blog referred to it as “winning the literary lottery.” I had to laugh. Because it implied that getting published was as simple as buying a ticket and waiting for a number to be drawn.

Hah! If only it were that easy. My ordeal in trying to get my novel taken spanned 6 years in total. The Richest Season was shelved in a closet no less than 3 times, as I became frustrated and gave up on the publishing world again and again. But I kept hearing the same refrain from people who’d read the manuscript in a fat 3 ring binder: Your book is better than anything I’ve read in months. Why isn’t it out there?

That question, which I heard over and over for several years, made me want to scream! Yes, I knew I had a wonderful book! I knew it was well written because I took years to carefully craft it. It began as my Master’s thesis. And NO, I had no blankety blank idea why it wasn’t taken!
As a big birthday approached I began to do some soul searching. I wanted to keep writing. I didn’t want to give up. But what defined success to me as a writer? To be read! And to move people when they read my work. I wanted The Richest Season to be out there in reader land, for people to know about Joanna, Grace and Paul, three characters who I believed deserved to live in reader’s imaginations. I wanted them to fall in love with Pawleys Island, as I had more than 20 years ago.

And so I decided to take one of the biggest gambles in my life: to self-publish The Richest Season. After all, I reasoned, if I could sell houses, which I’d done very successfully for nearly 20 years by then, I could sell this book!!! I found a small print on demand publisher which I’d never heard of, and I was hoping no one else had either. I wanted the book judged on its own merits. Print on demand was a new process and self-publishing hadn’t become as popular as it is today.

The Richest Season debuted in May, 2006. I immediately orchestrated a book launch at a local college. I had no idea how many would show up and I was feeling like a bit of a fraud, as it got lots of hype in the local media and most people assumed I got a regular publishing deal. I was scared to death. Despite a torrential downpour and with little parking nearby, I managed to fill the parlors. One of the first women who came in, who’d gotten the book from Amazon, the only place it was available then, hugged me and said, “I loved your book. I wanted to live it.” I went on to sell over 100 books that night.

I began pounding the pavement. Getting a bookseller to read a self-published book isn’t easy. The big stores and chains simply won’t. So I focused on the independents. I not only got them to read it, once they did, many asked me to come in for signings. Then it became a staff pick in a handful of stores. In one, The Richest Season went on to become their top selling trade paperback for 2006, outselling The Kite Runner.

The next eight months were exhausting as I continued to market my novel in any way I could, while still working. I racked up 25 signings, some library and senior talks, and met with nearly 40 book clubs in 10 states, many via web cam. Reader feedback was unbelievable. And I sold more then 2,000 books, what some literary books do in a lifetime, I learned.

One night in November, I decided to search for an agent again. I sent out e-mail queries and the very next morning got a call from a top agent asking me for an exclusive. I agreed. Eight weeks later they called, asking me to come in. After a harrowing trip into New York that included snow, ice and a train shut-down because of a terrorist alert, I was rewarded with a smile and these words: “This is a wonderful book!” Validation! She then sent copies of the manuscript to major publishers in New York. Meeting some of them in their offices, hearing their compliments on my writing, character development, etc. well…it was surreal!

Shortly afterward, my agent decided to hold an auction for the rights to The Richest Season. It was an exciting and nerve racking afternoon, waiting for THE call. When it came, I was thrilled to learn that Hyperion Books (Disney) won, offering me a 2 book hardcover deal. This was it! After years of rejection, I was the real deal!

Within a few weeks, Random House in Germany bought German rights in a 5 way auction, and Mondadori took it in Italy in a preempt

In 2009 my second novel, So Happy Together debuted in hardcover. Both novels were Indie Next Picks, as is my third novel, The Book Lover, which debuted in 2012. These are “must reads” endorsed by the American Booksellers Association. The Book Lover actually has a lot of my writing/publishing journey through the character Lucy and it's thrilling to say it's my best reviewed work so far.

Now, finally, after 5 years, I've just released my first historical novel, THE CEMETERY KEEPER'S WIFE, a story I believe I was meant to write!

My advice to aspiring writers with a dream is work hard, persevere, and BELIEVE!

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Maryann McFadden’s books

Average rating: 4.1 · 4,440 ratings · 542 reviews · 8 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Richest Season really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1,355 ratings — published 2008 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Book Lover 4.05 avg rating — 1,077 ratings — published 2012 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Cemetery Keeper's Wife 4.14 avg rating — 776 ratings — published 2018 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Cape Cod Light 4.54 avg rating — 520 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	So Happy Together 3.71 avg rating — 445 ratings — published 2009 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Christmas Star 4.40 avg rating — 260 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wiedersehen am Cape Cod: Roman by Maryann McFadden (Goodreads Author), Renate Reinhold (Translator) 4.29 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Richest Season Lib/E by Maryann McFadden (Goodreads Author), Cassandra Campbell (Reader) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Maryann McFadden's Blog

THE CHRISTMAS STAR Backstory

The Christmas Star

As the holiday season approaches, one thing I so look forward to each year (besides decorating and reading Christmas books and watching Christmas movies) is seeing my beloved Christmas Star shining over my hometown.

Each December, since welcoming soldiers home from WWII, the star has been shining and has become a symbol of hope. Everyone in my small NJ town, nestled in a valley s Read more of this blog post »

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Maryann is Currently Reading

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Reunion Beach

by Elin Hilderbrand (Goodreads Author)

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Apr 02, 2023 03:31AM

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The Beachside Inn (Marigold Island, #1)

by Fiona Baker (Goodreads Author)

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Mar 13, 2023 07:31AM

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Winter Garden

by Kristin Hannah (Goodreads Author)

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Feb 12, 2023 04:10AM

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Maryann McFadden rated a book it was amazing A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A Novel Summer took me to Provincetown, one of my favorite places, and did not disappoint! This book had all of my favorite things: a gorgeous setting, great characters, romance, and an intimate peek at the bookstore and publishing world that I think ...more
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I love a book set in the Lowcountry and this one took me right there. Summers at The Saint has everything you could ask for: a gorgeous setting, a great cast of characters, romance, and a mystery that will have you turning pages into the wee hours. Y ...more
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A remarkable debut in the rom-com genre that I couldn't put down! I was really impressed by Elle Evan's intricately plotted storyline that kept me guessing until the very end. The characters are real, the writing impressive, and the ending will not d ...more
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A remarkable debut in the rom-com genre that I couldn't put down! I was really impressed by Elle Evan's intricately plotted storyline that kept me guessing until the very end. The characters are real, the writing impressive, and the ending will not d ...more
Sep 25, 2024 05:03AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Wedding Issues by Elle Evans. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Wedding Issues by Elle Evans <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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Kate Brandes is a stunningly beautiful writer who has penned a young girl's coming-of-age story that defies the odds. Tilly Stone will both break your heart and inspire you as she forges through life relying on nothing but nature and her wits while w ...more
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Quotes by Maryann McFadden (?)

“If you believed hard enough and refused to give up, dreams really could come true.”
― Maryann McFadden, The Book Lover

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“Sé que ganarse la vida es duro y todo eso. Pero, por Dios, párate de vez en cuando y habla. Aprende a mirar a tu alrededor y entender lo que está pasando en tu vida.”
― Maryann McFadden

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“Lejos de su mordacidad, se sumergía en libros que la transportaban a otros lugares, otras vidas.”
― Maryann McFadden

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Maryann’s Quotes

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”
― Mary Oliver

tags: poetry

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