Topic: Author Interview
Marisa Gary the person:
1. What three words do you think describe you as a human being?
Christian - wife - mother
2. How do you think others would describe you?
It depends on who "others" are. Other Christians would describe me as someone who loves the Lord and is deeply involved in church and ministry. My co-workers would describe me as hard working, dependable and driven. My family thinks I'm crazy for trying to cram 25 hours into each day.
3. Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.
Outside or within writing, living my life for Christ is my passion. I've learned that I cannot do any of this without God. I give him all the glory and the honor for the privilege of being one of His children.
4. Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.
Yes, we have Annie the Dog and she is an integral part of our family. She's a lab/pit mix. For those people who think pits are mean by nature, come to my house. Annie will lick you to death, but that's about it. I even has a sign posted that says "Please Step Over the Guard Dog." Annie is the first pet I have ever owned and I cannot imagine my life without her.
5. What is your most precious memory?
Giving birth to my son is my most precious memory. Of our three children, only TJ is my biological child. His birth was not an easy one, but I thank God every day for him.
6. What is your most embarrassing memory?
I was in fourth grade. I was wearing a "wrap-around skirt" and a coat. While playing hop-scotch, the skirt "un-wrapped" and fell to the ground. Even though I had a coat on, I was absolutely mortified. I have never worn a wrap-around skirt since that day.
7. If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing with your life?
I cannot support myself yet as a writer, so I can tell you what I currently do with my life. I am a Technology and Documentation Manager for a large public company in the Daytona Beach area.
8. In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.
Marisa Gary, Christian wife, mother and writer died yesterday. She leaves behind Robert, her loving husband of 60 years; three children, Ashley, Justin and TJ; 9 grand-children and 27 great-grand-children. Marisa's favorite past-time was to spend time with her children and their children.
A successful author, Mrs. Gary wrote several popular Christian devotion books and many self-help books dealing with chronic illness. Mrs. Gary has requested that a portion of her estate go to her home church to help fund their mission work around the world.
Marisa Gary the writer:
9. Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a "real" writer?
The day my first book's ISBN number was published I realized I was a real writer.
10. What is going on with your writing these days?
I am continuing to write devotions that address living with, through and in spite of chronic illnesses.
11. What are your future goals for your writing?
I would like to gain enough success that I can write full-time and home school my kids.
12. Can you describe a typical writing day for you?
After putting in a full day at work, cooking dinner and cleaning up, I usually have an hour or two to devote to writing. Otherwise, I try to get up an hour earlier than everyone, about 5am for some alone time with God and then to write.
13. Why do you write?
I write to glorify God and to inspire others to foster a deeper relationship with Christ.
14. What writer most inspires you? Why?
I don't mold to other writers, so I would say no one. Contemporary Christian music inspires me and it inspires a good number of my devotions.
15. How do you define your writing?
Christian devotional/insprational
16. In one sentence-what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?
Marisa Gary was able to capture the grace and mercy that God offers each of us and put it into words that touch our hearts and makes us think about our relationship with Christ.
Marisa Gary the details:
17. Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?
18. Is there a place where readers can reach you?
Marisa@marisagary.com or http://www.marisagary.com/
19. Can you list all your book titles so people can look for them?
Pure and Simple Devotions
20. For new readers-what can they expect when they read your book(s)?
January 2008
In conclusion:
21. Take as much space as necessary to speak to our readers-what would you like them to know about you and your writing?
I am just an ordinary person, with an ordinary life trying to do something extraordinary for God. I work a full-time job, I raise my kids, I keep my home, I'm extremely active in our church and I write. It doesn't leave much time for anything else. If I could do anything different, I'd like to be able to write full-time so I could home-school my children. God knows my heart; he'll answer this prayer if it is His will.
The working title for my next devotion is "You Had to Go There to Get Here" and it focuses on the moments when we think God is absent from our lives; it's about those moments when we look to the sky and say, "Where are you?" only to find that we needed to be in that specific situation in order for something down the road. It's about looking back and thanking God for allowing us to be put through hardships in order to be where we are today.
If you want to learn more about me, visit my website and blog at http://www.marisagary.com/
