Q: Hi, Margaret and welcome. I am so glad you could join us here at RomanceJunkies. To start, will you please tell us a little bit about your current projects? My current project is a romantic thriller that has taken me some time to write. I have 5,000 words to go and then that is finished. I have a new book out sometime with Whiskey Creek press. HIS OTHER WIFE, which I am really excited about. It is a little different from my previous novels.

Q: Do you remember what your first "real" writing project was? Did you write it out by hand or use some other method?

Well apart from all the stories I used to write and hide, my first big project was a historical romance called A SPRIG OF BROOM I wrote it all out by hand, and then I had to type it on a manual portable, hey folks remember those days? It took ages as it was a very long book. It was accepted by the first publisher I sent it to, but he wanted me to cut it down and that was a real task for me, but I did it. Gosh I can remember how excited John and I were when we got that letter!

Q: If you could change one thing about the way you write a book, what would it be?

I wish I could write a book that required no editing. I confess I make some stupid errors by getting carried away, and no matter how hard you look for these, some do escape.

Q: Are there certain things that you have to have to write; for example, music in the background, a favorite drink by your side? Do you have a set time of day that you feel your writing is more creative?

I write mainly in the afternoon, that is when the tasks are done and I am not writing thinking "have to feed Eddie", "have to go the gym", "must get some fruit from the store". All work is done and put away and I can concentrate on my work. I don't play music when I write, I like silence, although when I am thinking about my plot I love romantic music as that inspires me. I like to have some water, that is all, nothing special.

Q: What is the one "bell and whistle" feature on your computer that you couldn't live without? What about the one that you never, ever use?

That has to be the spell checker, not that I am a poor speller but I very often mis-type something. There are lots of things on my computer that I wish I could use. There must be loads of short cuts that I am not aware of, in fact I know there are, but I just don't know how to use them. I can't understand the manual, it never makes sense to me because I don't really understand the language of computers. I am learning but find it hard. I am a good typist, as I trained as one years and years ago, so really my computer is to me a really technologically brilliant typewriter.

Q: Do you have any special hobbies or collections? Any pets reside in theBlake home?

We have our cat, Eddie. He is pictured in the "spotlight" pages. He is a new edition, we have had him for about eighteen months. Over two years ago our cat Foggie died, gosh we loved that little guy, he was such a character, but Eddie has now wormed his way into our hearts. We had a dog too, Nell, and she died a couple of months before Foggie, poor Foggie he mourned himself away for that old girl.

I don't collect things, only books, which I love. My main hobby is rambling, I go out twice or sometimes three times a month, with a walking group. This is my passion. It is wonderful and does the brain no end of good. However, I guess that is not strictly a hobby, so I don't have hobbies.

Q: What is the one thing you would love to learn how to do, but probably won't have the nerve to?

I always think skiing looks such fun and ice skating too, but I will never do either. I hate the cold to start with and I have terrible balance, but one can dream.

Q: How did you and your husband meet? Who fell in love with the other first? You for your husband, or he for you?

We met on a blind date that a friend arranged, she thought we would be perfect for each other. It was so funny because when I saw John I recognised him. Years and years ago I used to go ballroom dancing and he worked the door as a part time job. I used to go with a friend who really fancied him but I fancied one of the guys in the band, so never gave him a look. Anyway, we got along really well, John has this fantastic sense of humour and really makes me laugh. He did then and he does now, and you know what they say about men who make women laugh...? I guess we both gradually fell for one another, we got along so well and suddenly we were in love. Perhaps he fell for me first, I am not certain.

Q: Congratulations on being married for more than 30 years. What do you feel is the most important thing that has lead to this success? What would tell a new couple that has been married just 30 days?

Marriage is difficult, that is what I would say, and you have to know that to make it a success. Yes, you are starry-eyed lovers, we all have that rush of adrenalin, the heartbeats and the flutters in the tummy, there is no feeling on earth like it. You can't wait for the hours to pass so you can be with that person. However, when you are eventually with them everyday then sometimes that goes away...but if you truly love someone it is replaced by something far deeper and more lasting. Love and respect and shared values. I always believe it does you good not to live in one another's pockets. John used to go sailing and I would take a short break somewhere with a friend or on my own. When we came together it was just like starting over because we had so much to talk about. One more important thing, do keep the romance alive - candlelit dinners, surprises...these help chase away the mundane things that clutter up our lives.

Q: What was the most romantic gift you've ever received? What about the best one you've ever given?

My most romantic gift? Well I go back a couple of years, but not many. John and I went to a Navy dance on Valentine's Day. When we settled at our table, John said he had to go and see the Secretary’s wife. I didn't think anything about it, then I saw him coming back with Jean, and Jean was carrying a huge bouquet of roses. I thought, "Oh how nice someone has thought to give Jean flowers for all her hard work," but when they got to the table, Jean gave the flowers to John and he gave them to me. And I thought he was not bothered about Valentine's Day but he had had Jean get the flowers for him and bring them to the dance. That goes with the previous question, romantic surprises.

My greatest gift is my son - he is someone who is so special and he and his family are lights in my life.

Q: How do you describe Margaret Blake? How does Margaret Blake's husband describe her?

I hope that I am still full of fun and that I can see the funny side of life. That I am generally optimistic. My husband would say I am kind but I can be stubborn and do get myself wound up over things that should not matter.

MORE FUN…

Q: Fall is supposed to be in the air! Hard to believe summer is just about over! What was the "funnest" thing you did this year?

My son and his family surprised me with a trip to Paris in June. It just came out of the blue and it was wonderful to be with them - apart from my lovely daughter in law, - none of them had been to Paris before and it was such fun to share the sites of that lovely city with them. We had such a lot of laughs and it was a fantastic, fun loving five days.

Q: Are you a wristwatch person or a clock person…or neither?

I have to have my watch on - I am always losing my watch as I take it off to see to the dishes, shove it in a pocket, get changed forget where I left it. I am lost without my watch.

Q: Name the one food you hated as a child that you love today?

The food I hated that I now like is cheese.

Q: What is the one article of clothing you wish you had ten of?

I bought a beautiful woolen tan-tweed jacket in a sale, it would have been expensive had it not been on sale, but it is beautiful. Everyone admires it, even after five years, I wish I had ten jackets like that one. It is comfortable, smart and looks good, and you can't get better than that.

Q: And lastly, no interview of a writer would be complete without this question: what is your favorite comfort food?

No contest - chocolate and then more chocolate. Thank you Brooke for your challenging questions!

The pleasure has been ours. Continued success with your writing!