A Slice of Ireland: Malinda Andrews & The Irish Baker an interview. Here at the Mystery Review Crew, we’re considered a group of avid reader’s, which means you can often find us with a book in our hands, whether it’s a Mystery or not. So this month, we’re interviewing Malinda Andrews about her small-town contemporary romance, The Irish Baker, set in Ireland! We stumbled upon her books while researching where to go on our “trip” to Ireland (you can visit part one of our trip here).
About Malinda Andrews
Malinda Andrews is a transplant to the Midwest from Washington State, and still lives within a stone’s throw of Lake Michigan. While missing the ocean views and mountain peaks, Wisconsin has become home over the years.
For as long as she can remember, there has been a love of storytelling. The form changed over the years from making up stories about her toy horses, to penning short stories as soon as she could write, to writing novels in high school. Encouraged to read and write by her parents, she followed her passion for the written word and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee.
Malinda Andrews has continued to pass on her love of writing and reading to others through speaking engagements, mentoring younger writers, and guest teaching in classrooms. In her home life she fosters a love of story in her three young children by reading to and with them and encouraging imaginative play.
Several of Malinda Andrews’ stories have been shortlisted for awards, as well as being finalists in contests, making her an award-winning author.
You can visit her at: https://malindawrites.com/
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Our interview with Malinda Andrews
Hello Malinda, and thank you for taking the time from your busy week to let us interview you!
At any point while writing The Irish Baker, did you pause and think, “I might be responsible for someone’s spontaneous plane ticket to Dublin”?
I never even considered it! I was trying to capture the feeling I got when visiting. The people, the landscape, I tried my best to include it in the story. When there, I was so overwhelmed with the beauty of the landscape, and the hospitality of the people, I knew it had to be incorporated into the story.
What’s a stereotype about Irish culture or romance novels that you intentionally broke (or maybe leaned into just for fun)?
It’s not so much a stereotype, more something that many people don’t know, or don’t really think about, but Ireland is steeped in supernatural lore. At nearly every town or village, there is a local legend about a ghost, or a creature. It happens a lot around the Celtic cultures in the UK. So, I had to include a ghost. It fit the setting well and gave the romance story a little bit of paranormal intrigue.
Did you always know you wanted to be a writer, or did your passion for storytelling develop over time?
I have been a storyteller for as long as I can remember. I was always coming up with scenarios for my toys and stuffed animals. When I could read and write on my own, I started writing things down. The earliest story I remember writing down was a small little story about a sled dog team.
What was the first story or piece of writing you remember creating? How has your writing evolved since then?
Thankfully, my writing has come a long way since then. Especially since I was in second or third grade at the time! By the time I hit high school, I was writing in much longer forms and had completed stories. Frequently, my writing assignments were over the required pages, and some even didn’t have a real end. (Thankfully, my teachers didn’t seem to mind!) I took a lot of writing courses in high school, which helped, as well as majoring in creative writing in college. In college, I learned to have a thick skin, how to edit and speak technically about written works, and how to write faster.
Are you a planner or a “pantser” (writing by the seat of your pants)? How do you approach structuring your stories?
I’m a little unique in that it depends entirely upon the story I’m working on at the moment. My fantasy and fairy tale projects are very plotted out. I use something that’s distinctive. I call them “Scene cards”. Using 3×5 cards, I put a “title” for the scene, which POV I’m writing from, who is in the scene, things to remember, and any dialogue or events that need to happen in that scene.
With my romance stories, it’s a little different. Each project has its own notebook, and I keep notes on characters, plot points, and details for that story. I have a general idea of what I want to happen in the story, and then just start writing. The Irish Baker, and Wolf’s Blood trilogies were written that way. Unsurprisingly, they require more editing than the fantasy and fairy tale stories!
What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of being an author, and how do you navigate those challenges?
The most challenging part of being an author has been learning marketing. I’m not naturally an extrovert, or think about marketing strategies. I’d much rather stay at my laptop and write stories. But over ten years, you tend to pick up some things, and I’ve learned a lot. Including my limits. I’ve learned that each author needs to find what works for them, and that things can change over time.
Can you recall a specific moment or accomplishment in your writing career that made you particularly proud?
The first time you see your book in print is absolutely a highlight of every author’s career. A few of my works have been semi-finalists, and finalists in various other writing award categories, which was exciting and made me proud. But I think the proudest moment I’ve had was when my firstborn son, who at the time was 7, begged his teacher to allow me to come into his class and do a visit with my middle grade fairy tale. He had recently understood what I “do” and was so proud and excited that he wanted to share it with his entire class.
How do you handle writer’s block or moments when inspiration seems elusive? Do you have any strategies for overcoming these obstacles?
For me, I’ve found that writer’s block happens when something isn’t working with the story. Usually, it’s a hitch somewhere in the plot, or an overarching theme in the book. I will take a step back and have a break from the project. I try to gain some perspective and come at the story with fresh eyes, and really think through the points of the story and determine what isn’t working before jumping back in.
The best thing for inspiration is to work. It has to find you working. I would much rather edit a poorly written page, than be staring at a blank page. I don’t rely on inspiration to write, especially now that I am a busy mom of three. If given the time to write, whether inspired or not, I write!
Can you share a funny or heartwarming anecdote related to your writing journey?
One of my stories was inspired by a squirrel. Not kidding in the slightest! I followed a social media account of a squirrel that had been rescued after a hurricane, and that accounts handle inspired the story of Iora in Awaken. I started with the idea of a girl squirrel falling in love with a prince…and the rest of the story followed quickly after that!
How do your personal interests, hobbies, or experiences influence the stories you choose to tell?
Horses, cats, and other pets have been a large influence on my life, so they show up frequently in my stories. The relationship the Dragon Ryders have with their dragons is loosely based on how my relationship with my last horse was. Or at least, how I imagine our conversations would have gone.
In the Irish Baker, Milo the cat is loosely based off our family cat at the time, Hayden. He was a very large, vocal, and loving orange tabby cat. He sadly passed away two years ago, but he will forever be in The Irish Baker books.
In what will be my next release, the main character crochets. Which is something I love to do. I have made dozens of blankets, scarves, stuffed animals and other various items over the years. I’m also certified to teach, and have taught in classroom settings, and private lessons!
Is there a specific genre or writing style that you haven’t yet explored but would like to try in the future?
I haven’t yet written a mystery story. Mystery writing is something I want to do, a supernatural “who done it” is actually in my plans for the future. I just need more writing time to get through my ideas for books! That specific idea will end up being a 13 book urban fantasy series when all is said and done. So, once I get rolling, I want to be able to keep on it until the series is finished.
Are there any exciting projects or new directions you’re planning to explore in your upcoming works?
I just finished drafting my next release, The Scottish Lawyer, which is like The Irish Baker in genre. Currently, I am going through round one edits before sending to my beta readers and editors.
After that? It’s back to my fantasy world for the epic conclusion to the second trilogy in that series. It’s always bitter-sweet to complete a trilogy/series. Especially when it’s a world that I have been writing in for a long time. There will eventually be more books in that world, with those characters, but for now, I’m shifting to concentrate on contemporary romance, finishing my fairy tale duology, and a new paranormal series that has not been announced yet!
Thank you so much, Malinda Andrews, for letting us interview you. We really enjoyed getting to see your sense of humor and to know you just a bit better through this interview 🙂 Be sure to check out Malinda Andrews, The Irish Baker, below.
The Irish Baker by Malinda Andrews
Genre: Romance
When life hands you lemons . . . You make lemon scones! At least that is the case for Aubriee Harper. After a humiliating break from her fiancé, Aubriee loses herself in the orders of baked goods that flood her small Chicago bakery. Life is quiet and routine. At least until her best friend and business partner, Karen, gives her a one-way ticket to Ireland with strict orders to take a vacation.
Thrust out of her element, will Aubriee be able to find the healing that Karen encourages in the quaint town of Doolin near the Cliffs of Moher? Local musician and heartthrob Declan O’Tyne spends his days sleeping and his nights performing music. A true lover of women, his heart is transformed after meeting a devastatingly beautiful woman under the full moon one night. Will he be able to convince Aubriee that she can trust again after her heartbreak?
