Doylestown Author Likes to Write Local

Bucks County is home to many successful writers. Marie Lamba, author of What I Meant (Random House), lives in Doylestown, not far from Fonthill.

What I Meant went on to have three printings and great reviews (Publisher’s Weekly called it “an impressive debut”). Now its sequel, Over My Head, recently launched with a signing at the . I recently had the pleasure of interviewing her about her books and craft. 

Bev: Your novels are set in Doylestown. Why did you choose that setting? 

Marie: There are so many interesting aspects to Doylestown. A teen can walk from school right into the center of town to meet with friends, grab a smoothie, work a job. There's a train station right here…dangerously convenient for a teen who wants to sneak into Philadelphia, like my main character Sang did in my first novel. And in “Over My Head,” Sang falls for a 20-year-old lifeguard from Fanny Chapman. They meet one night on the spooky grounds of Fonthill, Sang tries to tell him how she feels during a party held in the sculpture garden of the . I've got scenes at the , , , , , all over town. So many distinct locations to choose from!

Bev:  Have you spoken at any schools in Bucks County?  Have you participated in events locally? 

Marie: I've had the good fortune to be a part of many talks and events around the area, including talks at , with Central Bucks school librarians, and teen scout groups throughout the area, and with the teen group at the Doylestown Library. I've done book signings at most of the bookstores throughout the county, and, with my group The Liars Club, we've thrown parties for area independent bookstores including The Doylestown Bookshop, Farley's and Canterbury Tales.

Bev: You seem to write for teenagers. Why how is that different than writing for adults?

Marie: I'm surrounded by teens as a mom and as a leader of older girl scouts. Writing for teens can be tough because you have to avoid being preachy or overprotective, which are natural adult instincts. You have to let your characters do horrible things, and sometimes even get away with them. What I like most about the teen years are that they are a time when we all think and feel deeply, and what happens then shapes us and makes us question which path we should take in life. What could be more interesting and important than that?

Bev: Are there any local groups you know of or that you participate in that help writers hone their craft?

Marie: I go to the incredible monthly meeting called the Writers Coffeehouse on the last Sunday of every month at the in Willow Grove from noon-3 p.m.  It's run by my group, the Liars Club, it's free and open to writers of all levels, and is a great place to hear from folks about trends in the business and to get answers to questions about craft and marketing. It's also the perfect place to meet other writers. You can join the group's Yahoo group, too, and be plugged into what's going on in your writing community and connect with others.

Before I helped form my own closed crit group, The Rebel Writers, I belonged to author Don Swaim's vibrant critique group the Bucks County Writers Workshop that meets every other week in Doylestown. Writers can get on the list to join when spaces open up. 

Plus, for people who love a bit of romance in their work, there is the Bucks County Romance Writers, a group I enjoy for their business-like approach and their monthly speakers. They also hold plot parties, an interesting way to kick-start a novel, and a monthly book-in-a-week online group.

Bev: Do you have any advice for people hoping to get a book published?

Marie: Make sure you know the market, and present yourself to editors and agents as someone they would want to work with. And be relentless in your quest to create the perfect manuscript before you submit it anywhere. Professional writers work every day to improve their writing, and so can you. If it's what you love, never, ever give up.

Bev: Where can people find your books?

Marie: Doylestown Bookshop, or you can request your favorite bookstore to order them, and they are available online through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

Bev: Do you have a website?

Marie: www.marielamba.com

Beverly Black lives and writes in Bucks County.