Novel fulfills ‘a lifelong dream’ By DENNIS WILKEN – TGI Staff Writer Mary Deal always wanted to be a writer. But it’s only in the past 10 years that the single mother of one has gotten serious about putting words
Novel fulfills ‘a lifelong dream’
By DENNIS WILKEN – TGI Staff Writer
Mary Deal always wanted to be a writer. But it’s only in the past 10 years that the single mother of one has gotten serious about putting words on the page.
Deal’s fourth novel, “The Tropics, Child of a Storm,” is actually three intertwined novellas that share tropical locales and characters forced to extremes by violent, natural events.
Like most novelists, Deal’s first draft of “Tropics” came more easily than the rewrites that were necessary to publish her work.
“The first draft took seven weeks. But in total it took about a year,” Deal said.
The book is published by Writer’s Showcase, presented by Writer’s Digest. Deal said sales are going well.
“Tropics'” success means more to Deal than simply having a book in print.
“This has fulfilled a lifelong dream. We all go through denial. But it will never happen if you don’t make it happen,” Deal said.
Deal has lived on Kaua’i for the past five years. She came here from California. And she said she has no plans to leave.
“I think I’ll live here until I croak,” she said, laughing.
Deal, who also offers editing and rewriting services from her Wailua home, is optimistic about her writing continuing to improve.
“Everything improves as you practice. Even if you’re publishing your work, you are still practicing. You can always improve,” said Deal, a co-founder of the Kaua’i Writer’s Roundtable.
Deal can be reached at www.marydeal.com.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
