Here’s an extract from an interview that Maria did with M.E.Wood, the literary fiction editor of Bella Online when Carry Me Down was published
Moe: What inspires you?
M.J. Hyland: Many things inspire me, especially great films. Most recently I was inspired by the film, Darling, directed by John Schlesinger, starring two of the finest actors of all time: Dirk Bogarde and Julie Christie. Great films inspire me to write vividly and they remind me of the importance of character-specific detail.
Moe: Every writer has a method that works for them. Most of them vary like the wind while some seem to follow a pattern similar to other writers. On a typical writing day, how would you spend your time?
Maria J. Hyland: My writing routine is strict and rarely changes. I write for six hours a day, six days a week and, after I’ve written, I read, eat and, at night, I often watch a film. Before I sleep, I read and write some more. If my writing is going well, the novel and its characters are the first thing on my mind when I wake. I am boring.
To read the full interview, click here