Interview with Author Mary Barr (HOW TO BUY A HUSBAND)

Matthew Toffolo:. What is your novel about?

Mary Barr: In brief, my novel centres around a rich lonely woman in Texas. Lyme Carrington-Lynch and her wacky group of girlfriends. She is thirty-five years old and has a life style most of us only dream of; but with her lifestyle comes responsiblity. Her powerful controlling father has always made it known she must be married and produce a son before she turns 35. The time is now and she has failed to do so. Now her father will choose her husband for her. But from a strong wiled and stubborn father comes a daughter who knows her own mind and now the battle of the wills will commence. Lyme has never been in love, doesn’t understand it, and since the loss of her mother doesn’t want to be loved. Until, she has a chance encounter with a stranger on a plane. Her attraction is instant and deep. Her desires knows no bounds. Before she even speaks to him she is hopelessly in love. The fact he is married, doesn’t care to know her, and doesn’t even appear to like her, makes no difference. He hardly knows she exists; but Lyme knows money can buy anything, it is how she was bought up and she believes it. So if, he doesn’t want her maybe she can buy him, This is the story of how Lyme Harrington-Lynch sets out to buy a husband – before, her father finds one for her.

2. What genres would you say this story is in?

Romance /adventure

3. How would you describe this story in two words?

Ambitious/romantic

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

I have never been to the movies

5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

The summer of ’69. By Brian Adams

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

‘Boy’ by Roald Dahl

7. What motivated you to write this story?

I write mainly, suspense thrillers, murder mysteries and childrens’ books. I only write fiction but I wanted to try a different Genre. So, I thought how does a woman marry a man who doesn’t even like her? And this book is the answer….. although I had to make it interesting and fun to read.

8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

Roald Dahl
Such a brilliant mind and a crisp, clean, uncluttered writer. He adds humour and excitement into his words just by being ‘him.’

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I am passionate about many things, but writing has been number one since I was seven years old. I design and make jewellery, I paint colour on canvas using wax. I build houses and have been known to cook. I also enjoy cycling,, playing tennis, golf, boxing, rowing… etc

10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?

I have entered several times before, and it is not about entering but more about which manuscript to enter. I have many completed manuscripts, they are unpublished and one day I must do something about that. Although I have been published eight or ten times, for me its about finding a publisher who is a good fit and has the same vision for my work as I do. That’s the key and that’s what makes it happen. I love writing, and I tend to write another book rather than send out pitch letters to publishers and get rejected…lazy I guess…but one day!

11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

I am not really in a place to pass on advice; But I have read a lot of work from first time writers and to you I would simply say, keep it simple. Have one story line and stay focused. Always write your synopsis and index first. And refer back to them often. If you don’t love it don’t do. Find your passion and each day will be perfect.

 

Performed by Allison Kampf

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Producer/Director: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne

Editors: Kimberly Villarruel, Ryan Haines, John Johnson

Festival Directors: Rachel Elder, Natasha Levy

Camera Operators: Ryan Haines, Temitope Akinterinwa, Efren Zapata, Zack Arch