Martha Conway

About Me

For many years I wrote literary short stories but then I found myself wanting to write a story where something actually happened so I wrote a mystery that was published in 2003 and was nominated for an Edgar Award. After that I wanted to write a historical mystery, which I've just finished. Now I'm starting a new book which is really more historical than mystery and a bit more like the short stories I used to write, except that now I'm addicted to things happening. That's more fun to write.

Why do you write?

I joined this site because my friend Briggs pointed me to it, and only yesterday I decided that for the rest of the month I was going to say yes to whatever came my way. Why do I write? Because I like to! As a secondary dividend it's a good way of getting out of going to work. Having babies serves the same purpose, but is initially more painful.

Any favorite authors? Books?

Jane Smiley, Diane Johnson, Denis Johnson, Ian McEwan (esp. Black Dogs), Toni Morrison, Cormac McCarthy (the middle years), Liza Cody, Cara Black, Virginia Woolf (natch), Margaret Drabble (all but later years), Doris Lessing, E.M. Forster, Patrick O'Brian, James Salter.

Favorite books: Howard's End, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, A Very Long Engagement, L'Affaire, All the Pretty Horses, The Golden Notebook, The Radiant Way.