43
Best-selling author Mary Ellis makes library appearance
Photo
Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.Best-selling author Mary Ellis spoke to the attendees at the Austintown library about how she comes up with her stories and what the life of a fiction author is about.
Photo
Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.A small but enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Austintown library to hear best-selling author Mary Ellis speak about her life and career.
Photo
Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.Best-selling Amish fiction and historical romance author Mary Ellis made an appearance at the Austintown library to speak about her life and work.
By TIM CLEVELAND
Best-selling Amish fiction and historical romance writer Mary Ellis made an appearance at Austintown library on Aug. 9 to give the crowd an idea of how she comes up with stories and the life of a fiction writer is like.
Ellis has written 20 books, 17 that have been published and three upcoming historical romance books set during the Civil War.
Ellis said growing up close to the Amish community helped spark an interest in their culture, so much so that she nearly married into it.
“I grew up in Maple Heights, so we were an hour from Burton in Geauga County,” she said. “My parents were fascinated with the Amish. They took me all the time and we bought our produce there.
“I was fascinated with the Amish at an early age. I planned to marry an Amish fellow. Once my mother explained to me how much work an Amish wife had, I instead went to college and married my college sweetheart.”
Ellis now lives in Medina County, still about an hour from the Amish.
“I go down there, usually to Wayne County and Holmes County, and I do my research of the Amish,” she said. “I have made friends with both men and women. They have welcomed me into their homes and answered all my nosy questions.
“I have got to develop contacts with people who trust me, that I will not be disparaging to their culture, that I will not embarrass them by putting personal things in books that they can relate to.”
Ellis said writing historical fiction presents its own set of challenges.
“The challenge with historical fiction is history is set in stone and you have to weave your fictional story into the real-life situations and characters,” she said. “You still want your book to be romantic and action-packed, yet you want to be very realistic.”
Ellis came to Austintown library after an appearance at the library in Sandusky. She said doing those events has given her an opportunity to meet her fans and receive feedback on her work.
“I like to do events like this because I like to meet with people,” she said. “I spend my day in my office and I am alone with my computer. This is my only opportunity to listen to readers and their feedback about my stories.”