About Mary | FAQ's | Interviews

I suppose I have always been enamored with story and character. My mother tells me I could be the most annoying little kid, waking up each day as a new character. Every morning she would have to ask me "who" I was for that day, because unless properly addressed I refused to answer anyone. One time when I was about four years old, my parents were out shopping at Sears. They each thought the other had me by the hand when in fact I was exploring my own aisle (translation: I was lost!) Two salesladies found me and sat me on the counter, asking me my name so they could page my parents. I remember their consternation when I would only answer "Little Red Riding Hood." They couldn't shake my real name out of me no how, no way. I knew the value of persistence even then. My parents say they nearly fell over, when over the loud speaker they heard, "Would the parents of Little Red Riding Hood please come claim their child?" They knew exactly "who" was lost. These days I mostly wake up as myself, though I do seem to hang out with a lot of characters during the day. Usually when people mention their education in their bios they only mention their college degrees, but to me, it is just as important what happened way before that. Wow--second grade! I will never forget Mrs. Alsenz. Boy, could she tell a great story! She would make them up and pretty soon have a classroom of wiggly kids exuberantly telling stories right along with her. And then there was Mrs. Bonsey in fourth grade. She always praised my writing and made a shy little girl feel like she might actually excel at something. And finally in twelfth grade came Mr. Kirk, crusty on the outside with a heart of gold on the inside, who loved the English language and taught his students to do the same. (Hey, Mr. Kirk, do you see me waving at ya?) Later I went on to get a BFA from Long Beach State University in art. I worked for a time as an artist then started the most challenging job of my life--motherhood. Holy smokes, no one told me there would be no coffee breaks. But it is the most rewarding job I have ever had (watch out--I'll start dragging out the pictures.)  Still later, I went to San Diego State University where I received my teaching credential. I went on to teach many different grades but it was my second grade students who pushed me back into writing. During Writing Workshop I would sit with them and write, loving the process, loving the stories, and lo and behold deciding I would love to return to my first love. That's a whole lot of lovin' going on and luckily for me I was able to do just that. Not that writing is easy. I have a huge stack of rejections to prove it, but I still have enough of that Little Red Riding Hood persistence in me to keep on going. Now I write full time from my home in San Diego. My books to date are The Miles Between, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, A Room on Lorelei Street, Scribbler of Dreams, and David v. God. More are definitely on the way.   What's that? You have a book report that is due in five minutes?!? You just want the cold hard facts? You got it: Author: Mary E. Pearson Books: The Miles Between, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, A Room on Lorelei Street, Scribbler of Dreams, David v. God DOB: 1955 Place of Birth: Southern California Family: Married to the man of my dreams, two lovely daughters and one terrific son-in-law Pets: Two golden retrievers, Brody, and Hunter. Hobbies: Reading, of course! I also love to work in the garden. It's a great place to think about stories I'm working on. I am one of the few people I know who likes to weed. I also enjoy long walks, snow skiing, cooking, and family get togethers, and my husband and I enjoy traveling to new places whenever we get the chance. Favorite Books: Too many to name them all, but one of my all time favorites is The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck.	Yep, I'm the dizzy roly-poly in the middle, sandwiched between my big brother and sister.
	Here I am at the grand age of three, trying out my first serious "author pose."
	"Yeah, Santa, that's a good one! And have I got a couple of stories for you . . ."
	My first high school picture, but . . . Picture this: Freshman year + Picture Day + Big Zit on end of nose. Could anything be worse to a 14 year old? Many thanks to that dear photographer who took my picture straight on so my Mt. Vesuvius wouldn't cast a shadow across my entire face. Miracle of miracles: my mom was right that one day I would actually laugh about it.
	Here I am at 16, hugging my fur ball, Rags. If you haven't guessed by now, I'm a dog lover--hair, slobbers, and all. Since Rags, I have had four more dogs: Duke, Buddy, Brody, and Hunter.

If you aren't already completely bored with the trivia of my life, here is a link to my personal web pages with more stuff than you ever wanted to see or know about me.
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Where do you get your ideas?

Everywhere. From living life, from watching life, and from a whole lot of wondering. Writing is how I explore those things I wonder about. And most stories don’t just have one “inspiration” but many. It takes a long time to write a book. Lots of mini inspirations or wonderings jump on the train during the process.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?

The first draft. I don’t have a roadmap of where I am going–I just have to trust the process and believe that I will get there. That makes for many hair-pulling moments.

What do you do when you are faced with writer’s block? What helps you get over it?

Lots of things help me. Reading, long walks, listening to music, driving, showers, and especially goals. Sometimes you just have to sit your butt in the chair and write even if you aren’t feeling “inspired.” Writing is fun but it is also hard work.

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in becoming an author and how did you overcome it?

Rejection. That is what every author faces, and I've had plenty. The only way to overcome it is persistence. You can't give up. You lick your wounds, improve your writing, and keep right on trying. That is how virtually every author gets published. They are too stubborn to quit.

How did you celebrate publishing your first book?

When “the” call came, I still remember jumping up and down in the kitchen with both of my daughters and squealing. That was all the celebration I needed.

Will you ever write a sequel to Scribbler of Dreams?

No. Right after "where do I get my ideas" this is hands down, my most frequently asked question, but I think Kaitlin and Bram's story is complete. However, I do have a story idea simmering that I think might appeal to Scribbler fans. We'll see.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a writer?

READ. Reading is, without a doubt, the best preparation for a writer. You can take classes and be told how to write, but reading hundreds of books internalizes what it takes to tell a good story. There is an old saying that you must read a thousand books before you can write one. That is very close to the truth.

Did you read a lot when you were a kid?

Yes. I was a very quiet child and I loved to read. I even read the encyclopedias in our house just for fun. I'd pull a random one out, flip it open to a page and read whatever I stumbled upon.

Do you have any pets?

I have two very spoiled golden retrievers, Brody and Hunter. In the past we have also had lop-eared bunnies, rats, love birds, lizards, gold fish, and hermit crabs.

How did you survive your teen years?

Three F's. Friends, Faith, and Family. They were all there for me at various rough patches.

Have you ever written something that you feel uncomfortable writing, knowing that your family and friends will probably end up reading it?

Not uncomfortable at the time of writing it, because right then all I care about is the character, but later after A Room on Lorelei Street was finished, I worried about a few people who might raise their eyebrows at certain parts. My fears were unfounded. They took the parts I worried about in stride, I think because these passages were true to the story.

Tell us about fan reaction to your books.

I am always amazed when I receive fan mail and how each reader is able to focus in on a different aspect of the story. Different parts have more meaning and importance to one reader than another. I find it humbling because I don’t really own the words or their meaning and once a book is published it takes on a whole new life, becoming whatever the reader creates as a result of their own life experiences. It is like my book is many books instead of just one and each one is true and valid. I find this fascinating.

Are you working on anything right now?

I am always working on something. As soon as I finish one book I begin another. Sometimes I have to take breaks from my writing because of all the related “stuff” I must do with published books, but there is always one waiting for me back at my computer.

I am working on a story. Could you read it and give me some advice?

Sorry, no. I wish I could but I get many requests like this and I wouldn’t have time to write if I said yes to them all. I encourage you to find a critique group. Every writer needs support and feedback. Your local librarian, English teacher, or the SCBWI (Link: http://www.scbwi.org/ ) might be able to help you find a writing group near you.

What do you hope the reader will remember or take away after they have read one of your books?

There’s a hundred different answers to that depending on the book and the reader but a few thoughts . . . I hope that perhaps they will remember seeing themselves and feeling less alone, or remember stretching to ponder new ideas or viewpoints, or remember walking in someone else’s shoes and gaining a new perspective, or perhaps simply remembering a fond few hours where they were able to escape into a different world where they shared a journey with me.

And a couple of NOT so frequently asked questions:

As a young person, who did you look up to most?

My sister. I was five years younger and I tagged along behind her incessantly and she was always nice to me and always included me. Of course during our teen years we had a few arguments—mostly over the bathroom—but other than that we have always gotten along great. She is a strong, even-tempered, salt-of-the-earth kind of person and I still look up to her.

What is your worst habit?

Laughing at inopportune moments. I suppose it is nervous laughter, but my husband has already told me that I can’t attend his funeral.

What was your worst subject in school?

Math. I am not a numbers person. I can barely remember how old I am—which is sometimes convenient.

If you were stranded on a desert island, who would you want for company?

My husband. He is my best friend, makes me laugh, and one of the smartest people I know. He’d figure out a way to “unstrand” us—that is, if we even wanted to get off the island. Being stranded on a desert island with him doesn’t sound so bad. Sort of a forced vacation. Can we have a pile of books too?

What is the one thing such as, sky diving or any other daring thing, that you would love to do but you are too afraid?

I would love to paraglide someday. Yes, I am afraid, but I think it would be so much fun. They have a glider area in La Jolla where you run off a cliff and glide out over the ocean. Very tempting.

Finish this sentence: People might be surprised if they knew I was good at . . .

Roof repairs. Actually, I'm the handy person around the house. I grew up with a dad who could fix anything and never met a tool he didn't like, so taking my dad's lead I will attempt almost anything. I remember when a tree branch fell through our roof and when I went to Home Depot for supplies the sales guy took one look at me and said, "you'll never be able to fix it." Ha! That was the wrong thing to say to me. After that I think I would have fixed it myself if I had to cut each shingle with my teeth.

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For interviews please contact Henry Holt Books publicist at byrpublicity@hholt.com

To read past interviews, including ones about specific books, check out these:

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The Miles Between:
Presenting Lenore
Publisher's Weekly
Writer Musings 

The Adoration of Jenna Fox:
Publishers Weekly
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America
School Library Journal
Cynsations
Bildungsroman
Teen Book Review
A Chair, A Fireplace, & A Tea Cozy
Bookselling this Week
Debbi Michiko Florence

A Room on Lorelei Street:
Pop Goes the Library
Teacher Librarian Podcast with Miranda Doyle
Cynsations
Teenreads

General Interviews:
Best Book I Have Not Read
Readergirlz
Shelf Awareness (scroll to "Book Brahmin") 

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