JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Mary Firmin, author of Deadly Pleasures
(iUniverse)
Megan Riley and her three best friends hire a time-share boytoy, unaware he is a suspect in the Bondage Murders.
Young prostitutes are being victimized, and Detective Matt Donovan is on the case. When he visits the Yacht Club where the four women are sunbathing and hatching up their Boytoy scheme, Megan falls hard for the handsome Detective.
While following the leads, Matt and his partner Angelle Bentley go on a wild ride through L.A.’s private sex clubs, sleazy bondage parlors, and the homes and yachts of the rich and famous.
Not far behind them is the intrepid Megan Riley, who is following her own investigation and getting herself in a world of trouble.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write “Deadly Pleasures”?
Mary Firmin: The inspiration for “Deadly Pleasures” came from a story I heard about four men who hired a prostitute, then set her up in an apartment and gave her a salary to be available to fill their sexual needs.
I thought about writing this story and including a murder. Then I got the idea of making the main characters four women. Using the women was more forbidden, and I thought it made very interesting reading.
JP: What sets “Deadly Pleasures” apart from other books in the same genre?
MF: BlueInk Review called “Deadly Pleasures”, “Sex and the City meets James Patterson.” This book also won the Gold Medal in the Readers’ Favorite’s 2012 International Book Contest in the General Mystery category.
This novel has many facets. The back story of the girls hiring the boytoy really sets it apart. We have a couple of Detectives, but we also have a bungling Megan who is trying to help her friends, chase Matt Donovan down, and at the same time trying to find the Bondage Murderer.
The book builds in tension until the girls are on Catalina Island at a yacht club event, and it rises to the final, hectic scenes on the high seas.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to “Deadly Pleasures” getting out to the public?
MF: First of all, iUniverse provided me with a Publicity Agent. I managed to be interviewed by a local TV station. I was interviewed many, many times by different newspapers. I appeared in featured articles in “The Desert” where I live.
I also hired Stormi of Lightning Book Promotions to be my Social Network Liason. Her website is http://lightningbookpromotions.com or contact her at Stormi@lightningbookpromotions.com. She helped me to set up my Facebook Page, my Blogsite, Goodreads, Shelfari etc.
She organized Blog tours and helped me in more ways I can tell you. Many book clubs read “Deadly Pleasures” and loved it. If possible, I would go and speak to them when they were finished reading it. They seemed to appreciate that. I have used Twitter an awful lot to promote sales.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish “Deadly Pleasures “?
MF: I have always belonged to a writers group. That has helped me maintain discipline. You have to show up every week with X number of pages. Because of a long break in between when I was unable to write, it took me about 3 to 4 years to finish.
My husband bought me a publishing package for Christmas in 2010, and the book came out in November 2011. We did not know that my husband would pass away in June 2011. He never got to see the finished book.
“Deadly Pleasures” helped me to recover from my grief, or at least delayed it, because of the editing, deciding on a cover, etc. that comes with the final publication of a book. I am having a harder time getting back to the second book.
JP: What’s next for Mary Firmin?
MF: I have a plan to write three books in the “Deadly” series. The next one, “Deadly Secrets”, is set in the wealthy Golf and Country Club world of The Desert. In this environment, there are a few unfortunates who have many horrible secrets hidden in their pasts.
This story will be about such secrets. I am almost half-finished with this story. The third is still unnamed.
http://maryfirmin.blogspot.com
http://facebook.com/mary.firmin
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I loved Mary’s book and I am so glad to see her in another interview! Can’t wait to see what her second book will have in store for us. If you like mysteries then you should check out Deadly Pleasures!!
Mary, thank you for opening your heart in revealing to us about yourself as well as the book. I wish you well as you continue in your writing career.
Wow, your book trailers are so beautifully done!!! Too Sexxy is right. Wishingyou much success!!!
DEADLY PLEASURES was so much fun to read. In addition to murder and sex, Mary sprinkled her novel with humor. The four women friends are a hoot! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. I can’t wait to read DEADLY SECRETS, Mary’s next book in the series.
Mary,
This is a wonderful interview. I love getting to know more about your book. I also love the unique style used to express your thoughts and view your book and trailers via the hyperlinks.
Best of luck to you with your new writings.
Congrats on a great interview, Mary. Looking forward to the next book.
Mary, thank you for your detailed, inspiring description of your book’s journey and for sharing how the writing process intertwined with your life.
A great interview for a great writer!