Maria Jane speaks to Literary Harbinger about creative freedom, emotional storytelling, vampire lore, and finding inspiration in everyday life
INTERVIEW
Maria Jane began her fiction career under the pen name Tricia Copeland. A confessed hater of writing until graduate school, she initially entered the world of publishing through scientific papers. ‘It was not until I penned my experience with, and recovery from, an eating disorder that I came to love creative writing,’ says the award-winning author of Perfect Office Pact, beginning her interaction with Literary Harbinger. Fast-forward fifteen years, and Maria has authored more than twenty novels.
Reinventing the Romance Formula
Never one to adhere strictly to convention, Maria conceived her Perfect Romance series with the idea of creating a different kind of romance novel. ‘I challenged myself to create a new format and wrote an alternate-ending story about a co-ed named Chloe traversing her life, choosing different paths along the way,’ she reveals. ‘Each of these decisions leads the main character to a different happily-ever-after.’
While the first instalment experimented with form, the second book, Perfect Always, along with the other standalone entries in the series, follows a more traditional romantic arc. ‘In Perfect Always, we learn Chloe’s final path to happiness as she chooses her perfect landing spot and partner,’ shares the Denver-based author, who holds a Master’s degree in Microbiology.
Crafting Characters and Worlds
The latest addition to the series, Perfect Secrets, introduces readers to Elle, a woman attempting to rebuild her life with a new job in a new city. Enter Tanner, her co-worker and co-owner of the company, for whom she feels an immediate attraction. ‘Their connection grows fast and bright until Elle meets Tanner’s mother. Accusations fly. Old wounds split open. Suddenly, Elle is tumbling through a flood of hidden ties and painful truths, each one cracking the fragile trust between them,’ the author explains.
When it comes to her writing process, Maria, who also does a full-time job as a technical writer, enjoys allowing creativity to unfold organically while still maintaining a structured foundation. She maps out major plot points, develops characters and their backstories, and builds the world before diving into the manuscript. ‘Once these components are in place, I am ready to fill in the blanks between the plot points and generate scenes that create drama between the characters and their worlds,’ she tells us.
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Literary Influences and Vampire Lore
Among contemporary authors, Maria counts Emily Henry as a favourite, with A Million Junes standing out as one of her most memorable reads of the decade. Much like Maria’s own literary tastes, the novel seamlessly blends romance, fantasy, and historical fiction while exploring a Romeo-and-Juliet-style love story haunted by generational curses. She also admits to being fascinated by vampire lore and enjoys exploring the many interpretations of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
As for her writing schedule, Maria says inspiration tends to strike outside regular working hours. ‘My fiction side comes alive in the evenings and on weekends,’ declares the former research scientist. ‘But my characters are always in my head, waiting to create their next lines and speak to me while I am driving, walking the dog, or doing all those mundane chores that round out our days,’ she adds.
Falling Into an Authorial Career
Asked whether becoming an author was a conscious career decision, Maria says she largely ‘fell into’ writing professionally after receiving enthusiastic encouragement from friends and family who had read her first manuscript. ‘I quickly jumped into the realm of fantasy fiction and now intersperse my romances with YA fantasies,’ she says.
When she is not writing, Maria can often be found trail running, hiking, or walking her dog. She also nurtures a love for flowers, gardening, and drying bouquets. Currently, she is immersed in writing the next novel in the Perfect Romance series, tentatively titled My, Not-so-Perfect, Cop. ‘With a backstory created and the beginning chapters already written, I am weaving a love story for Dani and Gareth,’ she shares. ‘I am also percolating ideas for the next book in the series, which will follow an enemies-to-lovers trope. I hope to make writing my next full-time career.’
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‘Do Not Let a Single Opinion Discourage You’
A firm believer in pursuing one’s passion, Maria offers thoughtful advice to aspiring authors. She believes that refining one’s craft and creating work that resonates emotionally with readers can help even niche fan-fiction stories reach broader audiences.
‘Getting feedback from peers, assistance from cover designers and editors, as well as learning marketing and publicity best practices, can help establish a base of readers,’ she stresses. ‘One can get fixated on that one negative review within the hundreds of good ones, so do not let a single opinion discourage you,’ she says, signing off with a smile.
Getting feedback from peers, assistance from cover designers and editors, as well as learning marketing and publicity best practices, can help establish a base of readers.
~ MARIA JANE
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