MaryJanice Davidson gets the job done

Photo by Mac McGoon Studio

Today we're pleased to have MaryJanice Davidson here to talk about her latest novel, The Love Scam, which published this week.

MaryJanice is the NYT and USA Today best-selling author of several novels and is published across multiple genres, including the UNDEAD series and the Tropes Trilogy. Her books have been published in over a dozen languages and have been on best-seller lists all over the world. She has published books, novellas, articles, short stories, recipes, reviews, and rants, and writes a bi-weekly column for USA Today.

A former model and medical test subject, she has been sentenced to live in St. Paul, MN, with her husband, children, and dogs.

Visit MaryJanice online:
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Synopsis:
Rake Tarbell is in trouble. When the fabulously wealthy and carefree bachelor wakes up horribly hungover in Venice, it’s not something that would normally be a problem...except he has no idea how he got there from California. Or who stole his wallet. Or who emptied his bank account of millions. Or who in the world is Lillith, the charming little girl claiming to be his long lost daughter. For the first time in his life, Rake is on his own and throwing Benjamins around aren’t going to solve his problem. Now if only the gorgeous, fun, and free-spirited woman who brought Lillith into his life was willing to help the situation…

Claire Delaney finds Rake’s problems hilarious and is not in the least bit sorry of adding to them by bringing Lillith into the mix. A pretty Midwestern girl with a streak for mischief, Claire isn't the type to hang around with a guy like Rake. Even if he is drop-dead handsome and charming as all get-out. Even if he needs help and she has all the answers. But if this helps Lillith, she will go out of her way. And with a guy like Rake, she’s willing to bend her rules a bit for some fun.

But when adventure-filled days turn to romantic nights as they search for answers, and someone starts following them through the streets of Venice, Claire realizes she's playing more than just a game. And maybe, just maybe, she isn't willing to let go of Rake or Lillith just yet. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

Which of your characters are you more similar to: Claire or Lilith?
Ah, that would be the character who is *not* a genius. So Claire. I mean, it's not even close. "Genius" and "MaryJanice" are never in the same sentence. Well, they're in the sentence I just wrote, but not because of any genius on my part. So.

What is something you learned from writing your previous novels that you applied to The Love Scam?
That writing is the best job in the world, but it can be hard to keep your butt in the seat (or on the couch, in my case--I do a disgraceful amount of writing in front of the TV) when you've been working on the same project for five months. Plowing through to the end when you can't stand the sight of your manuscript is the difference between an aspiring author and a published author. By now, I've figured out that it's worth it to see it through to the end.

If The Love Scam were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
Oooh, I love questions like these. Margot Robbie or Zendaya for Claire, any one of the STRANGER THINGS kids for Lilith (well, maybe not Steve Harrington), Helen Mirren for The Nuclear Option, and Chris Evans, Timothée Chalamet, or Anthony Ramos for Rake. (Because c'mon...who wouldn't want to see a soaking wet Timothée Chalamet rise dripping and swearing from the Venice Canal?)

What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
Hamilton! Great story, great actors, great music--and I am not a fan of musicals. I admit I was nervous, which was unnecessary. Hamilton lived up to every bit of the hype and then some. Possibly because immigrants get the job done. :-)

What is your biggest pet peeve?
When one of my kids eats the last of something and doesn't tell me. I can literally be standing right in front of them, holding my keys and loudly going over my grocery list, and they won't mention we're out of paper towels/eggs/ammunition/blow darts until I need to use paper towels/eggs/ammunition/blow darts. Makes me nuts.

If we were to visit you where you currently live, what are some must-see places we would have to check out?
Well, I currently live 35 minutes from the Mall of America, so that one's a given. But we also have a pretty terrific zoo, wonderful independent book stores, beautiful college campuses...or would that be campii? Ironically, I didn't go to college, so I'm vague on the plural for campus...

And this might strike a more sober note than I usually go for in interviews, but the memorial to George Floyd is striking, and worth a visit.

Thanks to MaryJanice for visiting with us and St. Martin's Press for coordinating the interview.