Interview with Marilyn Turk

 Hello Everyone! I'm excited to introduce you to another historical author!

Marilyn Turk has been published in Guideposts magazine, Guideposts books - A Joyful Heart and A Cup of Christmas Cheer, The Upper Room, Clubhouse Jr. magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and Lighthouse Digest magazine. Her Coastal Lights Legacy novels feature stories with lighthouse settings. She has also written a Lighthouse Devotions book. She writes about lighthouses and writing @ http://pathwayheart.com. She lives in Florida with husband Chuck and enjoys boating, fishing, tennis, and gardening when she’s not climbing lighthouses or playing with her grandsons.

Welcome Marilyn! We're so glad you could visit us today.

Thank you, Amber, for inviting me. I’m happy to be here.

What made you decide to become a writer?

In high school, my English teacher praised my writing which made me think I could do it.

I’ve read devotions for years, so I felt that someday, I would write some. However, the desire to write a book didn’t come until much later.

Those English teachers have inspired many students. I'm amazed at how many folks have a similar tale! Where did the inspiration for your latest book come from?

While on vacation to St. Simons Island, my agent sent out an email asking if any of her clients had written a Southern Gothic book because a publisher was looking for that genre. I didn’t know what Southern Gothic was, but when visiting Jekyll Island during that trip, the idea for a story developed. The Gilded Curse is not quite Gothic, but it is suspenseful. We’re calling it “historical romantic suspense.”

That sounds great. I love a little suspense! Your website tagline is Pathways of the Heart. What does this mean to you?

Good question. Pathways of the Heart refers to the choices we make – our heart’s desires.

Sometimes our heart leads us right, but sometimes it leads us astray. My logo is a lighthouse, a symbol of safety and guidance that directs the paths of the mariner. Like a lighthouse, God tells us in Proverbs 3:5-6 that if we trust in Him with all our hearts, He will direct our paths.

I love lighthouses, and I think that's a perfect connotation.

I’ve loved lighthouses for years, but only saw one in person when I moved to Florida twelve years ago. From that time on, I’ve been researching lighthouses and visiting them when possible. When I began to write a blog and prayed about what to write, I felt God tell me to write about lighthouses. My research had uncovered some fascinating facts and stories, so I began to write about them. But every time I wrote a story, a Bible verse popped into my head that related to the story. I realized God was showing me the relationship between these stories and His Word, so the stories became devotions. In November, my Lighthouse Devotions book was published. It has 52 devotions, so there may be a Book Two in the future.


That's wonderful. I'll have to check those out for sure. How does your faith and spirituality work in with your writing?

Because I’ve prayed to God about my whole writing journey – what to do, where to go, etc.- I believe I’m following his guidance to write my stories, my devotions and my blog. He gives me the stories, so I’m obligated to Him to write them.

I absolutely relate to that. What are you working on next?

I’m editing the second book in a series I started before I wrote The Gilded Curse. I have started book three in the series and still have book four to write.

I’ve also got another suspense novel in my head that I will be researching on vacation this summer.

Very interesting. Looks like you have some great stuff going on. Thank you so much for being with us!

Readers, here's a link to Marilyn's new book! Be sure to check it out.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Historical-Fiction-Gilded-Curse/dp/1938499115/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456879483&sr=8-1&keywords=The+gilded+curse