Conversations With Colleen: Meet Author, MJ Mallon

Posted on December 13, 2018 by Colleen M. Chesebro 45 comments

Conversations with ColleenThe December Edition

Hello everyone! This week I’m happy to share with you another of my dearest friends, British author, Marjorie (Marje, or MJ) Mallon. Over the years, Marje and I bonded over our love of all things magical, and especially our love for crystals.

So, when I asked Marje to pick three or four questions from my huge list HERE she said she was happy to. We all aspire to be successful authors and the best way to learn some of the tricks of the trade is to ask questions from those who are traveling that path.

Marje is also a member of the Sisters of the Fey blog, a group of eight authors who came together to share their love of all things magical. As I mentioned, Marje loves crystals. All this research on the Sisters of the Fey blog goes to good use. Much of this information finds its way into Marje’s books. Check out this post HERE, about the Bloodstone crystal which is also the featured gem in “The Curse of Time.”

Everybody, please meet Marjorie Mallon.

I am a debut author who has been blogging for many moons at my lovely blog home Kyrosmagica: https://mjmallon.com. My interests include writing, photography, poetry, and alternative therapies. I write Fantasy/paranormal, YA, middle grade fiction, and micro poetry – haiku and Tanka. I love to read and have written over 100 reviews: https://mjmallon.com/2015/09/28/a-z-of-my-book-reviews/

My alter ego is MJ – Mary Jane from Spiderman. I love superheroes! I was born on the 17th of November in Lion City: Singapore, (a passionate Scorpio, with my Chinese Zodiac, sign a lucky rabbit,) second child, and only daughter to my proud parents Paula and Ronald. I grew up in a mountainous court in the Peak District in Hong Kong with my elder brother Donald.

As a teenager, I travelled to many far-flung destinations to visit my abacus-wielding wayfarer dad. It’s rumoured that I now live in the Venice of Cambridge, with my six-foot hunk of a Rock God husband, and my two enchanted daughters.

After such an upbringing my author’s mind has taken total leave of its senses! WhenI’m not writing, I eat exotic delicacies while belly dancing, or surf to the far reaches of the moon. To chill out, I practise Tai Chi. If the mood takes me, I snorkel with mermaids or sign up for idyllic holidays with the Chinese Unicorn, whose magnificent voice sings like a thousand wind chimes.

Hi, Colleen. Thanks so much for this interview. I’m really looking forward to our chat.

Hi, Marje. Thanks for stopping by. So, as a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

Oh, I am greedy I have two! Myths and Legends intrigue me, so I’d have to pick a fire-breathing dragon and a snowy-white unicorn, twirling together in a divine never-ending whirlwind of good-versus-evil.

With that in mind, I had a logo created which I use on my blog. Isn’t it lovely?

CLICK HERE to find your own spirit animal.

I have a fascination with yin and yang, darkness and light and this is evident in much of my writing. I’m drawn to creating dark, thoughtful stories, such as my fantasy debut novel The Curse of Time # 1 Bloodstone but I let off steam by adopting a multi-genre approach when writing flash fiction and poetry.

I enjoy writing light-hearted flash and was surprised and delighted to win first prize in The Bloggers Bash Blog Post Writing competition with The Queen’s DressDown Day: https://mjmallon.com/2018/05/24/winners-of-the-2018-bloggers-bash-blog-post-competition/

I’ve even been known to dabble in a little murder from time to time! Winning the first prize in the Carrot Ranch flash community’s Flash Fiction Contest #7 with Mr Blamey: https://carrotranch.com/2017/12/19/winner-of-flash-fiction-contest-7/

Wow, Marje. That’s fabulous. With all your great successes, what do you think is the most important thing about a book in your opinion?

A book should evoke a powerful emotional response in the reader. It should take us on a magnificent journey, transport us to a time and place that is so fascinating that we can’t bear to leave, not even for a second. If a book makes me cry, fills my heart with excitement, or makes me cheer, I am truly happy. Nothing makes my day more perfect than weeping in public whilst reading a fantastic book! Yes, I have been known to do this…

For me, the most important element has to be the characters within the narrative. They should be so well-developed, that they acquire the attributes of real people – potential heroes, heroines and villains. People that we can relate to, detest, fear and care about. For me the characters are paramount. I have to be able to hear, see, and imagine them in a complete, totally satisfying way.

Do your novels carry a message?

My debut YA fantasy novel is quite a philosophical, poetic read. There are hidden messages in the narrative. One device I employ is the use of mirrors as a metaphor for entrapment/mental health.

The characters themselves reflect light and darkness in the form of shadow/lies, (Ryder: Hero/Shadow Demon,) crystals representing truth/light. (Amelina: Heroine/Krystallos magician.)

I like to entice the reader to look beyond the ordinary to see what lies within. Beauty can be a mask of deception, a creature can be ugly but does that mean he is bad?

We all feel invincible when we are young but youth is fleeting. All humans are vulnerable. We all face the same fate, time is the grim reaper and we must snatch what happiness we can. That is my message – live life to the fullest, treasure each and every moment, be happy and learn who to trust and love.

Thanks so much for the visit, Colleen. I had a great time.

Thanks for stopping by, Marje. Next time bring some British Tea. ❤

Fifteen-year-old Amelina Scott lives in Cambridge with her dysfunctional family, a mysterious black cat, and an unusual girl who imprisoned within the mirrors located in her house. When an unexpected message arrives inviting her to visit the Crystal Cottage, she sets off on a forbidden pathway where she encounters Ryder, a charismatic, but perplexing stranger.

With the help of a magical paint set, and some crystal wizard stones she discovers the truth about a shocking curse that has destroyed her family happiness.

Unique Selling Point: Unique, Imaginative, ‘Charming, enchanting and richly layered this is purely delightful.’

This delightful book will appeal to teens and young adults who love stories filled with magical crystals, dark family curses, and mysteries waiting to be solved around every corner. Each chapter leads you on a journey of discovery where Amelina earns the right to use three wizard stones to reset the balance of time and finally break the curse that holds her family hostage.
A captivating tale!” -Colleen M. Chesebro (Editor)

MJ Mallon is a contributing author in the Plaisted Publishing House Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018.

Reviews needed! Please support us.

Available on Amazon, Apple, Nook, Kobo, Scribd, 24S, Playster, Indigo, Angus &Robertson, Mondadori Store: UniversalBuying Link

The Ghostly Goodbye is a paranormal love story about a young woman called Iris who can’t get over her husband’s death. She is mourning him so much that she feels dead inside. Her husband Ed sends her a ghostly message from beyond the grave via an old forgotten garment in her wardrobe. She responds by dragging herself from her tomb-like bed and he draws back the curtain of death to visit her in a most unusual way.