Marja McGraw- Twelve Question Tuesday

Today I am excited to welcome Marja McGraw to Twelve Question Tuesday.

1.  Please tell me the three most important things people should know about you.
I’m a klutz. If you see me coming, give me plenty of room. I’ll go out of my way to stick up for what I believe in. I talk a good game, but I don’t really have a lot of self-confidence, so please be kind. 

2.  Are you a dog person or a cat person?
I’m definitely a dog person. We have two Yellow Labrador Retrievers, and they’re outstanding dogs, although they don’t always listen too well. I’ve had dogs most of my adult life and adored each of them for different reasons. I had a miniature toy poodle once who actually saved my daughter and I from an intruder who cut the phone lines and tried to break into the house during the night. (Short version of the story.)

3.  Tea or coffee?
Definitely tea. I love the smell of coffee in the morning, but I’ve never developed a taste for it.

4.  Boxers, briefs, boxer-briefs, or commando? 
LOL None of the above. I’m a girl, after all. 

5.  What was the first thing you ever wrote?
A story for creative writing class in middle school, or as we called it, Jr. High School. A teacher in another class read it aloud to her students and I was shocked, but smiled all the way home from school that day. It was about a dog. There’s that Dog Person coming out in me again. Then I grew up and wrote a terrible book called, Summer’s Ghost. Never published it, but I used the title in another book I wrote.

6.  When did you finally decide to call yourself a writer?
When my first book was published. I don’t like pushy people, and yet I’m pushy because it’s the first thing I tell people about myself. Almost without fail they ask if I write children’s books. Um, no, mysteries. I guess I need a new, grittier look or something. Maybe if I spike my hair?

7.  Which of your works are you most proud to have written?
That’s a tough question. I guess I’d have to say Old Murders Never Die (which is about being stranded in a ghost town). No, on second thought it might be They Call Me Ace (funny stuff). Then again, it might be What Are the Odds? which is my current WIP. I guess they all hold a special place in my heart.

8.  What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
I was quite young I moved into a new apartment. When I walked into the kitchen and stepped on the tile, blood squirted up around the edges. I had horrible visions of a dead body buried under the floor. I ran to a neighbor’s apartment and she ran back with me. She, too, thought it was blood. We were about to call the police when someone else showed up, and it turned out it was rust from a water leak. Oh, brother! Was I ever embarrassed!

And then there was a stalker situation. Oh, and facing a rattle snake up front and personal. Watching the police walk through my home with guns drawn after someone broke in. You could only see their silhouettes through the shades. Hmm. I’ve got a bunch of scariest moments. Then there was the guy who cut the phone lines. The scariest is one I don’t talk about.

Is it any wonder I chose to write mysteries?

 9.  How did you end up getting published?
Persistence and determination. I’m nothing, if not tenacious. Sometimes that can be considered a fault, but in this case it paid off. Writing a readable book didn’t hurt, either.

10.  Would you be food or fighter if the zombie apocalypse were to happen?
I’m laughing over this question. I’d definitely be a fighter, once I got over the shock of seeing a real live zombie. Guess I should rethink my wording. Real live zombie?

11.  What is the most daring thing you have ever done?
I’m not really a very exciting person, so that’s another tough question. I don’t know if it’s daring, but when I worked in law enforcement I once had to search a ladies room for a bomb, with no training. (Many years ago when things were different.) Daring? I’m terrified of flying, so every time I get on an airplane I’m doing something daring.

12.  Would you rather be rich or famous--and you could only have one-- and why?  The fame would be based on something good, not something like being the best serial killer or anything like that.
I’d rather be famous. That would mean people are reading my books. I can’t imagine what it would be like for my name to be a household word. (Can you tell I’m all about books?)

Holli, Thank you for inviting me to visit your site today. Your questions were a lot of fun.

FROM THE WRITER:
 
BLURB:

The Bogey Man – A Sandi Webster Mystery (recently re-released)
Imagine you’re a young female P.I., it’s the early morning hours and you’re watching the motel room of an errant husband. The angry wife shows up and blows your cover, and the husband comes after you. Now imagine Humphrey Bogart comes to your rescue – but the actor has been dead since 1957.

Website:          http://www.marjamcgraw.com/

Blog:               http://blog.marjamcgraw.com/ (Updated weekly)

Amazon:          http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marja%20mcgraw&sprefix=marja+mc%2Cstripbooks%2C212&rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Amarja%20mcgraw