Genre:  Fantasy

Format: ebook, paperback

Buy: The Victor

1. Do you have a day job as well?

I have been a career administrative assistant since the age of 19. I actually wrote my first book, The Victor, when I was a receptionist at an ammunition factory on a typewriter (before computers) when I had nothing else to do.

2. When and why did you begin writing? 

I’ve always been artistic and creative. I used to sew, embroider, and draw quite a bit. I had a good friend I met at the age of 12. On one of her visits, we lay on our stomachs, and she produced a typewritten story in which she had put us in as characters. We read it out loud to each other, and it was so much fun that I created a story for our next get-together. At that time, we were really into the Six Million Dollar Man television series, and we saved the day in each of our short stories–we must have written hundreds. We wrote and illustrated a “feature” length story, too, which I still have.

Lisa had always wanted to be a teacher when she grew up, and soon I found her red-marking my stories for spelling, punctuation, and grammar problems. I decided I would make sure she could find no errors in any future stories. This decision honed my English skills. Lisa is a creative, brilliant person, and was a big influence in my writing. I learned a lot of creative writing techniques from her.

3. What inspired you to write your first book? 

I was inspired to write The Victor 30 years ago from a line in an Amy Grant song called: “Fairytale” from her Father’s Eyes album.  It said: “two princes wage the battle for eternity but the victor has been known from the start”.  An image popped into my mind of Jesus as a knight in shining armor and Satan as a black knight crossing swords over the “bride of Christ”. Shortly after beginning the book, I asked the Lord for a “confirming scripture” that the book idea for The Victor was from Him, and was led to Psalm 45:1  “My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” The Victor was released on April 14^th of 2009 and in 2010 I finally got to meet Amy Grant in person at the Life and Faith Concert Tour in Richmond, VA.

4. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I have written 3 (with one more in the works): The Victor (my baby), Make a Wish, and In Plain Sight (an Amish paranormal fiction with a Jewish surprise at the end).

5. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

The part where the two main characters are reunited after years of being separated. It is a very tender and emotional moment.

6. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

The Victor is basically a very elaborate Gospel track disguised as a Medieval action/adventure love-story for people of all ages and both genders. Make a Wish is a compilation of short inspirational stories where I granted wishes for real people. You will see the world, trials and tribulations in a very different light after reading this book. Kleenex is definitely needed. In Plain Sight started out as a paranormal love story and grew into something much more profound.

7. What books have most influenced your life most?

Definitely the Lord of the Rings. It is the gold standard for high fiction.

8. Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

J.R.R. Tolkien and Stephen Lawhead. They are both believers and weave their faith into their masterful stories. They both had me sobbing, wringing my hands with worry and rejoicing with the characters.

9. What are your current projects?

I am currently putting the finishing touches on a semi-Amish fiction love story about a 40 year old widow form Southern California falling for a 40 year old Amish widower in Lancaster, PA called “Plain & Simple”.

10. What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Editing The Victor on a typewriter. Excruciating until the mid 1980s when computers came along.

11. Who designed the covers?

I got to help design the cover for The Victor with the publisher’s graphic artist. Make a Wish I did myself and for In Plain Sight I provide the stock footage and the idea and paid a graphic artist to create the final product.

12. Do you have any advice for other writers?

If you are self-publishing, hire a good editor; they are worth their weight in gold and will significantly improve your final product. I personally recommend mine, Tracie Storey. She has worked for major and traditional publishing houses and not only does line by line editing but also helps with concept, logical inconsistencies and timeline issues. She is very thorough and reasonable. Her email is: venusian31@prodigy.net

Watch the trailer:

Marlayne Giron is a wife and mother living in Orange County, California. She currently works as a part-time career secretary and enjoys cooking for her family every night, scrapbooking, making high teas, and entertaining.

The Victor was released on April 14th of 2009 and many doors have opened up for her to get the word out on her book. One of which being that as a direct result of her former employment with John Styll at CCM Magazine 28 years ago (who is now currently President of the Gospel Music Association), both he and Amy Grant now have copies of The Victor and Marlayne’s personal copy has been autographed by Amy Grant herself.

Visit Marlayne at her website:  www.thevictorbook.com, Blog, Facebook, or Twitter.