26 Inside the Emotion of Fiction MAGICAL MISTLETOE by Magnolia Maggie Rivers, published by Freeman Group, LLC on February 14, 2018.

26 Inside the Emotion of Fiction MAGICAL MISTLETOE by Magnolia Maggie Rivers, published by Freeman Group, LLC on February 14, 2018.

What is the date you began writing this piece of fiction and the date when you finished the piece of fiction? Began in October 2017/Completed in January 2018

Where did you do most of your writing for this fiction work? And please describe in detail. And can you please include a photo? I do most of my writing in my home office with some writing done at two coffee shops (Starbucks and Panera Bread). My home office consists of two bookshelves with two rows of books on each shelf. My office desk sits in one corner facing the center of the room, with a credenza and two tall cabinets behind and beside it on both sides. They are all gray in color except for the bookshelves which are light colored wood. On the other side of the room are three gray metal file cabinets.

The fun thing is there are stiletto trinkets on every available surface, some I’ve bought myself but most have been sent to me by my reader fans. One other thing that sits in my office are a pair of red Alabama (my hometown) stilettos autographed by Coach Nick Saban himself. They’re in a glass display case that sits on top of the file cabinets. I have a radio to listen to music if I need. Behind me, on the credenza is a small water fountain for the sound of running water, like a small trickling stream.

What were your writing habits while writing this work- did you drink something as you wrote, listen to music, write in pen and paper, directly on laptop; specific time of day? When I write, I usually have my radio on and the little water fountain behind is running. And always, my little dog, Mouse, the Diva of Doggies, is in her little pink bed on her heating pad (which fans have sent to her) snoring away. I’m a coffee drinker and usually drink coffee until around 1 or 2 p.m. Then I switch to sweet tea (I’m from the South originally). I now write directly on my desktop computer. When out at a coffee shop, I use my laptop. I’m a late night, early morning writer. I’m usually in bed around 10 p.m. and wake up around 2 a.m. I write until around 6 a.m. and then head back to bed until around

Can you give the reader just enough information for them to understand what is going on in the excerpt? I just love these few lines. To me it’s what true love is about. These two people have had their problems. Abby is a believer in the legend of the mistletoe. Spence is not. Yet, to prove to her that he loves her, he drives from the small town of Shady Rivers, Alabama to New York City, and knocks on her door.

Please include the excerpt and include page numbers as reference. The excerpt can be as short or as long as you prefer. Page 116.

Abby opened the door. A look of surprised delight crossed her face.

“You forgot this,” said Spence as he handed her a bouquet of mistletoe. The moment she took it, he pulled the door closed.

Why is this excerpt so emotional for you? And can you describe your own emotional experience of writing this specific excerpt? Spence’s one line “You forgot this,” just brings tears to my eyes. This man loves this woman so much that just because she believes in the mistletoe, he will, too. He doesn’t even wait for her to reply. He simply hands it to her and closes the door. I guess it’s emotional to me because I think every woman and man out there would like to find that kind of true love. The feeling I get is feeling lost for so long and finally, with that one gesture, you’ve found home. Home is where you’re loved, you’re safe and you know you belong.

Click on HOME to visit Maggie’s website.

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Magnolia “Maggie” Rivers was born and raised in Alabama and started developing her writing career at a very early age. Before she learned to write her ABCs, she made squiggles on paper that only she understood but those were her stories.

First published in the early 1970s, Maggie writes hot, sexy, sizzling contemporary romances.

She teaches an adult education class through the Des Moines Public School system entitled “How to Write A Novel” and also teaches the same program throughout Iowa’s prison system – a position secured for her by Gov. Vilsack.

She’s attended workshops by Jenny Crusie and Bob Mayer; Janet Evanovich; J.A. Jance; Laura Baker and Robin L. Perini; Lois Greiman; Cheryl St. John, Mary Winter; Michael J. Manno; Kali Van Baale; and Tamara Siler Jones; to name just a few.

She spent four years in the Air Force as a Nurse and has spent over 40 years as a Legal Secretary.

In addition to writing, she is also an award-winning photographer, specializing in nature and wildlife photography. She has won numerous photography awards and was selected to participate in the “Faces of Iowa” project which was exhibited at the Des Moines Art Center before traveling around the State of Iowa.

maggie@maggierivers.com