Across the Beer Bar with M.S. Spencer

Happy First Day of (Unofficial) Summe... BOOKS ON SALE!

Across the Beer Bar with M.S. Spencer

Welcome to my beer bar M. S. What can I pour for you to start?Why, thank you, Liz. [Looks around with approval.] Why don’t I let you choose for me? I do love red and brown ales, but I believe you specialize in lagers, so I’m happy to be a guinea pig.
All right, for lack of "ales" (we are a lager house) try this Wolverine Dark Lager...
Tell us about your journey to publication…do you have self published titles?No. All seven of my novels have been published by indie publishers. I think every writer, no matter how meticulous, needs an editor. Plus, I liked the support and interaction with publisher, editors and artists. When I’d readied my first novel for submission, I decided to go the ebook route. It seemed obvious that the new generation of readers were more used to screens than pages and I sensed that that industry would blossom, as indeed it did. Plus it’s SO much easier to submit!

What is your favorite of the books you have written and why?I love them all and couldn’t possibly choose. Each of the seven is a unique story and has a unique setting. Some are more action/adventure, a couple are murder mysteries—so it depends on my mood. I’d rather know which are my readers’ favorites!

Uh oh empty glass--what can I pour for you next?Why thank you for noticing—was it my pleading look or my hand hovering over the glass? I’ll have anything but stout, thank you.
Sorry, but as a lager house we follow the German beer drinking calendar pretty closely so...no stouts in late spring early summer. Have one of my amber lagers...
Why "romance" books? Have you always been a fan? Name some of your favorite authors.I never cared much for the formulaic romances and was pleasantly surprised to find how far we’ve come from those—with so many genres and themes added to the one key element—the happy ending. I’m all for happy endings, but I like a little humor, a little mystery, and a dab of suspense before I get there. My favorite romantic authors tended to be English classics—Thomas Hardy, the Brontes, Jane Austen.

Would you mind sharing a poem with us?Gladly. I have written thousands of poems, but my favorites are in a series on Zelda, my alter ego—or rather, the kernel of mad adventure tucked away in a corner of my liver. She supports me when I’m hurt and berates me when I’m silly. This poem refers to a disastrous love affair of mine.Barabbas
How strangely it fellSnow in Samos.Only Zelda liked itAnd me.We rolled balls into snowmen,Labeled themAccording to our fancies.We named OtisAfter my pet ceramic frog. He has a sly expressionIf you turn him to the left.A knowing smile From the right,But his heart is aliveAnd he is capable of true love.The other one we called Michael Because he was so coldAnd empty.The villagers came outTo watchZelda held still in that way she has when she is about to alter viewpointsHeld a cement block over MichaelAnd dropped it.

And what is your next project? I have two novels in progress. In the final stages is The Mark of Love & Death, a murder mystery/romance set in Alexandria, Virginia at the George Washington Masonic Memorial. If you’re interested in international intrigue involving renegade masons and black ops, long-lost papers of George Washington, and great romance, this is for you. Here’s my ad line:Who to trust? The policeman, the Senator, or the secret agent? Claire Wilding must decide and soon, before the murderer strikes again.
The other, called The WishingTree, is set on Chincoteague Island (home of the ponies). So far it involves two mysterious brothers, NASA scientists, would-be spies and would-be asylum seekers, and of course a juicy romance.

For a nightcap--what's your poison?Jack Daniels. Of course! Cheers!
Well, you'll have to go down the road to another bar for that. I only serve the beer made in my brewery....