MS - Good question, I would love to blame it on my publisher, but it's not them, it's me. They took a sneak peek at it in a very rough format and gave me some notes on it and I agreed wth everthing they said and I had in fact, had  worried about the things that they pointed out. They were very, very good at pointing out things in my first book so I really listened to them. You have to put your ego in the closet somewhere and do everything they tell you because they have read a lot more than I have. They had some comments, but after that they have been asking me to send it in but I did not feel like it was ready. I'm only just feeling like it is ready for them to read through again and make final comments on things that need to be changed becauae it is never ending, you could edit a book forever. At some point you have to bail. Even looking back at Greetings from Jamaica, I look back and I would have done this differently and I would have been more graphic here and at some point you have to move on. It is just like painting or drawing, you could noodle around forever and you could destroy it too. That's a long answer, but not sure, but I'm hoping this year. It is already July and it will be another three months with printing it. I've already desigend the cover. It could be at the end of this year if everything goes well.

UV - Is there anything you would like to say to readers or potential readers of your book.

MS - My publisher gave me this advice that I thought was good, she said keep something fresh near you that you really like to read and admire. Something you pick up and you are sucked up right away even if you have read it a few times, read it again before you start writing your book. Because it will help you not to fall into the trap of things that you don't like about other people's writing. If you keep someone real good, not that you are copying the way the writer writes but I don't have it on the tip of my tongue, she sent me a book, she said: "your writing reminds me of this person" someone I hadn't ever read before. "She writes much better than you", she was brutal! I have to say I read the book and I got it, she wrote the way I like to write but she went a little farther, she instead of worrying, will the reader think I'm dirty if I say this or think I'm a foul mouth if I say that, or think I'm egotistical, she, the writer had such guts. Even though the story did not interest me, I ploughed through the book becasue she was so gutsy and funny in the way she wrote. Once I read that, I knew how to rewrite this book, even though I only had 4 pages. It was great advice because it worked for me.

For readers, I hope that that they will give new writers a chance because there are always people out there, even if you don't have 7 books to your name, the fact is I've read alot of writers that keep churning out book after book, it becomes very formula to me. The same characters, the same circumstances, maybe slightly different, maybe a different death they are investigating. Personally I like to read a book that is a little bit more out there. Just like when I pick movies I like to watch, I like movies that really take chances, the movie that comes to mind recently is "Lars and the Real Girl". It was the most fabulous movie I've seen since "Life is Beautiful". Movies like that, that really touch you and are not about the same old story you have seen a million times. I hope that the books that I write will move, fall into the category it won't be the same story you have read a million times. Thats all I can promise whether you like it or not. I strive not to be boring. If I put some shocking things in there to wake you up while you are reading and hope you don't bail on it. Another thing I recommend to readers is recommend don't lend! Truly, I have a good job and I don't need the money from the writing but if I did I would not do it. I just would not do it. You need to support your gay writers and it's a small industry.

UV - Thank you Mari so much for letting us do this interview and chat to you. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

MS - You are welcome Michelle. It has been great. I appreciate it very much and if there is anything you need just give me a yell or write me a note. If you think of any quetions you think of later, I would happy to answer them by email or whatever. It has been great. Thank you and I appreciate you choosing the book too. There are alot of books out there and I'm amazed you picked mine.

UV - It is a good book and you are a good writer. I've always being saying, it's not necessarily always true that lesbian books are bad and I am so happy when I find one. I can say see I told you so, there are some really good writers out there.

MS - Thank you, I really appreciate it.