MJ Fredrick has been writing since elementary school. MJ’s first romance she wrote was in 5th grade and was inspired by Grease. Unlike many authors, she completed 20 manuscripts before getting her first two books published. Before our interview with MJ, a book description of Midnight Sun: This wasn’t the adventure she’d signed up for…A sexy boss, a rough crossing, and pirates—all Brylie Winston wanted was a job to help her earn money to buy her own restaurant. She hopes to earn it by working as a chef on a cruise to Antarctica. But she’s slept with her boss, which throws her off-balance even more than the rough seas and warnings of pirates in the area. And he’s determined to have a repeat performance…Bad boy former snowboarder Marcus Devlin is running from his reputation, sent to learn the family business after decking a senator’s son and making the papers. So maybe he indulged in a last-minute fling before boarding his family’s cruise ship to Antarctica. Perhaps Fate is showing him that wasn’t so bad—the gorgeous redhead who snuck out of his bed is on the cruise. She’ll be a lovely distraction during his exile. But then South American pirates take over the ship. Interview with MJ Fredrick.
Why did you write this book?
I was up late one night flipping through channels when I came across a show about cruises to Antarctica. I was fascinated, and thought it would make a great setting for a story. The problem was, I didn’t have the right story. I had the right hero—a bad boy from a rich family, a man who’s never had responsibility but is forced by his family to take part in the family business, the cruise line. I had the heroine TYPE, a librarian type. At first Brylie was a scientist, working her way to Antarctica by giving lectures on the cruise. The first draft of the book was more of a “what would happen on a cruise to Antarctica” than a real adventure. It wasn’t until a friend said, “I kind of see it as Die Hard on a cruise ship” that the story came together for me. Add modern day pirates and, voila!
How did you come up with the title?
Well, though it doesn’t play a huge part in the book, summers in Antarctica are all daylight, all the time. Therefore, Midnight Sun. Cruises can only run in the summer because the ocean ices up quickly once fall hits.
How did you choose your genre?
I have always been a huge believer in happy endings, so romance is a no-brainer for me. Every time I write a romance, it’s like falling in love all over again.
What inspired you to be a writer?
I have wanted to be a writer ever since I knew where books came from. I was a voracious reader as a child, and wrote my first book the summer after fifth grade. My mom said I needed to get a job that would help people, so I’m also a teacher, but writing is my first love.
What is the weirdest place you’ve been at or thing you were doing where you came up with a book idea?
My dad, stepmom and I were driving back to Minneapolis from their lake home last summer. We drove through a town and my stepmom mentioned that the owner of the big bar and grill had been trying to sell it for years. Instantly the owner formed in my head, and by the time we got to Minneapolis, I had a three book series plotted. I’ve written one and a half.
What has been the toughest part of your writing journey?
The year I had an agent was the toughest year. I felt like I was so close, but kept getting revision requests from the agent until I felt the book (Hot Shot) was no longer my own. Not only that, I had no time to write anything new, which is my favorite part of the writing process. I parted ways with my agent and started Hot Shot from scratch, then submitted and sold it to Samhain.
Do you need to be in a specific place or atmosphere before the words flow?
I have this lovely big chair in my sunroom that is an awesome writing spot, though I also enjoy writing in my back yard in my Adirondack chair if the weather cooperates. I make soundtracks for some of my manuscripts, but some lend themselves to that more than others.
How do you come up with ideas?
I love getting new ideas. Some have come in dreams, like Beneath the Surface. Some are inspired by movies, like Don’t Look Back and Breaking Daylight. Some have come from road trips, like above.
Author website: http://www.mjfredrick.com/
