Marilee Brothers
With her fondness for blue sky, sunshine and
mountains, Marilee never wandered far from
her home in central Washington state. She grew up in a
family of readers, a gift for which she is eternally
grateful. At age eleven, she wrote her first play and
produced it in the back yard after recruiting several
neighborhood children to play supporting roles. Marilee, of
course, was the star.
Enter hormones. Though her writing was sparse during
adolescence, her imagination grew by leaps and bounds when
she developed an all-consuming crush on a hot guy named
Mickey who she stalked for eighteen months. Since Mickey
didn't know she was alive, no restraining order was
necessary.
As a freshman in college, Marilee met the love of her life.
Married at nineteen (not recommended) and the mother of two
baby boys by twenty-one (bingo... bango...) Marilee returned
to college to earn her bachelor's degree in education before
giving birth to a third son (bongo!) Outnumbered four to
one, Marilee finally put a stop to the male baby boom. The
seasons were defined by the type of ball she tripped over in
the living room. Fall: Football. Winter: Basketball. Spring:
Baseball. At the Brothers' dinner table, Marilee learned not
to say, "Throw me a roll."
After teaching and coaching at the high school level,
Marilee earned her master's degree in psychology and
counseling. Much of her writing reflects her experience as a
counselor for behavior disordered teens.
Marilee's first book, Castle Ladyslipper, is a historical
romance with paranormal elements set in 12th century England
and written under the pseudonym, Lee Grantier, her paternal
grandmother's name. Her second book, The Rock and Roll Queen
of Bedlam, is scheduled for release in October 2009 by
Medallion Press. It features a young teacher of behavior
disordered teens searching for a missing student.
Marilee never dreamed of writing for young adults until she
received a personal letter from an editor affiliated with a
large publishing house. Though the editor rejected what
would become the book purchased by Medallion, she said, "I
really enjoyed your style, which is an amazing combination
of intelligent and goofy. (Is this a compliment?) You are a
natural YA writer. Give it a try."
Never one to say "no" to a challenge, Marilee gave it a
shot. Hence, Allie Emerson was born and her YA (young adult)
fantasy for Bell Bridge Books, Moonstone, became a reality.
Marilee now writes full time.
Visit Marilee online
at
http://www.marileebrothers.com
Books-and-Authors.net: Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a
part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and why?
Marilee Brothers: I grew up in eastern Washington state in a
book-loving family. Okay, I confess. I’m a bookaholic. Is there a
twelve step program for that? When I’m close to the end of one book,
I absolutely must have another on standby to avoid the horrors of
withdrawal. The symptoms are unmistakable. Sweaty palms. Body
twitches. Emotional outbursts. I become desperate. Anything will do.
Cereal boxes. Shampoo directions. (wet hair, apply shampoo, lather,
rinse, repeat).
I know it sounds like a cop-out, but I
can’t help it. It’s in my DNA. The only sound in our home was that
of pages turning. When we needed our fix, we slipped into the local
library. I was bad from the start. At ten years of age, I sneaked
into the adult section when the librarian wasn’t looking. It was
inevitable that I’d get busted. When it finally happened, I was
forced to read children’s books which really ticked me off. Nothing
juicy. No words to sound out. Just a bunch of prissy girls dressed
in pinafores, whose very presence made the world a better place.
(Huge eye roll) I wanted something more. I needed something more so
I started making up my own stories.
Books-and-Authors.net: Why do you write?
Marilee Brothers: I believe within every person, there is a desire
to create something artistic. Over the years, I watched my creative
friends paint, draw, sew, quilt and throw pots. I longed to be
creative as well and tried my hand at candle making and knitting
among other things. Rather than dwelling on my spectacular failures,
let’s just say I was born with five thumbs on each hand. But, what I
did have was a wildly creative imagination. At the age of ten, I
began writing plays featuring a cast of thousands (at least in my
mind), performed in our back yard before a captive audience
consisting of parents, elderly neighbors too creaky to make a quick
getaway, two dogs and a vicious cat who critiqued the show by biting
the star’s ankles.
Books-and-Authors.net: What is it about the young adult genre you enjoy?
Marilee Brothers: I love the fact I can channel my inner teenager
and change reality. Writing for young adults is a blast and, because
I write urban fantasy, I’m allowed to create my own world. At the
beginning of Moonstone, Allie Emerson has way too many problems for
a fifteen-year-old girl. When she falls off a ladder onto an
electric fence, Allie develops telekinetic power. In addition, Allie
discovers she has a special mark on her palm and a destiny that says
she’s meant to save the world from evil. Since this is urban
fantasy, if I remain true and consistent to Allie’s world, anything
is possible. How cool is that?
Books-and-Authors.net: Briefly detail your book Moonstone.
Describe your title Moonstone as it relates to the plot.
Marilee Brothers: In Moonstone, Allie Emerson lives with her single
mother, Faye, in a twenty-four foot travel trailer. On her fifteenth
birthday, she acquires paranormal powers. At the same time, she’s
given a moonstone pendant that comes with a prophecy. According to
the prophecy, Allie is “the maid whose palm bears the sign of the
star.” Allie discovers she is a member of the Star Seekers, a
super-secret organization whose members have a star located
somewhere on their palms and possess varying degrees of psychic
abilities. Because Allie’s star is located smack dab in the middle
of the lunar mound, hers is unique and, in concert with the
moonstone, evokes powerful magic. Since she is a novice in the ways
of magic, she is supported by her friend, Kizzy Lovell, known as the
town witch. Allie also forms a strong bond with Junior Martinez, a
former gang banger trying to go straight. Along with all of her
challenges, she’s trying to survive high school.
Books-and-Authors.net: Who are the Trimarks?
Marilee Brothers: The Trimarks are also a secret organization, but
are bent on creating the very evil Allie is trying to defeat.
Trimarks can be identified by what looks like an inverted
equilateral triangle located on the palm. Their goal is to get their
hands on the moonstone and stop Allie. FYI: famous Trimarks include
Adolf Hitler, Timothy McVeigh, Ted Bundy and Saddam Hussein.
Remember, this is fantasy!
Books-and-Authors.net: If Hollywood called and asked you to
cast Moonstone for a film - Who would you cast and why?
Marilee Brothers: Allie Emerson – Ellen Page
Faye Emerson – a frowsy Meg Ryan
Junior Martinez – Nicolas Gonzalez
Kizzy Lovell – Susan Sarandon
Books-and-Authors.net: Briefly discuss your other
books.
Marilee Brothers: Allie Emerson’s adventures continue in Moon Rise,
the second book in the Unbidden Magic series. Moon Rise will be
available July, 2009. The book opens with Allie’s powers on the
fritz. Junior Martinez is among the missing but a hot, new
half-demon guy moves to town with his twin sister.
In October, 2009, my humorous chick lit suspense, The Rock and Roll
Queen of Bedlam, will be published by Medallion Press who dubbed it,
“A wise-cracking tale of mayhem and murder.” The protagonist,
Allegra Thome, is a young teacher of behavior-disordered teens. In
her spare time, Allegra, her grandmother and aunt perform karaoke at
retirement homes, singing rock and roll oldies. Her life changes
when she’s innocently swept up in a drug bust, meets a taciturn but
sexy DEA agent and, that same night, discovers one of her students
is missing.
Books-and-Authors.net: What do you hope to achieve with your books?
Marilee Brothers: Pure entertainment!
Books-and-Authors.net: What was the last book you read?
Marilee Brothers: I’m currently reading Firefly Lane by Kristin
Hannah. Great read plus it takes place in Washington state.
Books-and-Authors.net: What's next?
Marilee Brothers: Four more books for Bell Bridge,
approximately a book every nine months. For me, producing a book is
a lot like pregnancy. Nine months from conception to delivery. My
fervent wish is that everyone likes my babies as much as I do.
Books-and-Authors.net: Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they
enhance your writing?
Marilee Brothers: In addition to writing, I read 2-3 books a week.
I’m now hooked on faery books. Could there be faeries in Allie’s
future? I’m also a fitness nut. I don’t feel good unless I work out,
take a walk, do something active. My husband and I enjoy time with
our three sons and their families. Our winter months are spent in
Southern California where we re-connect with our wonderful Canadian
friends and play lots of golf.
I find it’s essential for my mental health to shut off the computer,
put my latest book on hold and focus my energies on something
entirely different. Golf works well for this. Unfortunately, it does
not translate to good scores.
I believe within every person,
there is a desire to create something artistic. Over the years, I
watched my creative friends paint, draw, sew, quilt and throw pots.
I longed to be creative as well and tried my hand at candle making
and knitting among other things. Rather than dwelling on my
spectacular failures, let’s just say I was born with five thumbs on
each hand. But, what I did have was a wildly creative imagination. 
