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MEET MARY L. HERSHEY
by Bonnie O'Brian

What did you like most to do when you were a child?

Mary L. Hershey

I loved visiting the candy store and the public library! My favorite activity on Saturday after I did an ENORMOUS amount of household chores (gah!) was to crash on my bed with a favorite author and a sack of candy. That was my idea of childhood bliss. Okay, it’s my idea for adulthood bliss, too.

What book influenced you the most when you were growing up?

I think Beverly Cleary’s books most influenced the writer that I’ve become today. She dealt with very real sibling rivalry in such an honest and humorous way. Her characters were so authentic! I love combining humor and pathos, conflict and grace. I want my readers to find themselves in my characters who are flawed, funny and struggling to find some truth.

Have books ever gotten you into trouble?

Yes! When I was in elementary school, my father took me to the library every Saturday and I was allowed to check out ten books. What a feast!

I got behind on my reading and didn’t turn my books in as scheduled one week—and then I panicked when the due date came and went! I lied and said I’d taken then on my bike to the library and turned them in. I hid all ten of the books under my mattress. I suffered for days and weeks, lying nearly sleepless each night on top of my guilty stockpile. When the “Delinquency” letter came from the Library, I nearly had a stroke. Needless to say, when my father came to me with the letter, it took less than about a minute for him to get a full confession out of me. We took all the books back, paid the fines, and I slept much better after that. But, I still get nervous when Library due dates are looming!

What really triggers your imagination?

I am constantly running a game of “What If?” in my mind—in any situation that I’m in. I could be walking through a hardware store, and I’ll think—What if a plane landed on the roof right now? Or, what I discovered that the Security Guard was really a felon on the run?What if they started selling fresh pies in the hardware store? What if they had hardware stores for women only? See what I mean? I can hardly turn it OFF. ;-)

What is the best piece of writing advice anyone has ever given you?

Anne Lamott. Keep your butt in the chair. It is really that simple. Anything beyond that is snake oil, in my opinion.

What in your life has helped you the most prepare for a writer’s life?

Running marathons! If you can run a marathon, you’ve got what it takes to go the distance on the road to publication. You need a vision, a plan, dedication, training, at least one cheerleader, the right props/tools/shoes, the ability to work alone, and the willingness to keep going even when you feel like you are running across broken glass.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you have done differently?

Whenever I think of this question, I want to say that I wished I started sooner. I didn’t publish my first book until I was 50. But perhaps for me, 50 was the perfect age. I’m smart enough to know how to handle the rejections and the accolades, and not let either get to me. I’ve learned how to appreciate things so much more than when I was younger. But, I do think I would have tried to get a job in the publishing world to prepare me to be a better writer. I would have loved to work as an editor, from the ground up, in New York. I think what I’m saying then is that maybe 50 was the right age for me to get published, but if I could have done it over, I would have like my life to have been more infused and saturated with writing earlier on.

Who are your favorite authors?

My current favorite authors for adults are Anne Lamott and Elizabeth Gilbert. My current fave children’s authors are Jerry Spinelli, Sue Stauffacher, Gennifer Choldenko, John Green, RL LaFevers, Val Hobbs, Lee Wardlaw, Ellen Kelley, and Thalia Chaltas.

Has anyone written you a fan letter you’d like to share?

Dear Ms. Hershey,

Thank you for autographing my book. And, letting my autograph your book. I kind of like your books so far, but my mom says I have to wait until I’m older to read it, because there are some adult things in it. And I think you are very nice and I liked that I got to meet you. Bye Too-da-loo, Olie .