Emily March: I Learned to Trust My Writing Process

Emily March is the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of over 40 novels, including the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series. Publishers Weekly calls March a “master of delightful banter,” and her heartwarming, emotionally charged stories have been named to Best of the Year lists by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Romance Writers of America.

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports and her recipe for jalapeño relish has made her a tailgating legend. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

In this post, Emily discusses her surprise in identifying with the protagonist in her new novel, Balancing Act, her hope for readers, and more!

Name: Emily March
Literary agent: Meg Ruley & Christina Hogrebe with Jane Rotrosen Agengy
Book title: Balancing Act
Publisher: Forever
Release date: November 28, 2023
Genre/category: Women’s Fiction
Previous titles: The Getaway, The Eternity Springs contemporary romance series.
Elevator pitch: With her 60th birthday looming, Genevieve juggles the relationships in her life, searching for that that sweet spot between holding on and letting go. Balancing Act explores the delicate dance between a mother and her daughter, the bond between sisters, and the influence that men have upon both relationships.

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What prompted you to write this book?

Well, with my 60th birthday looming …

I knew I wanted to write a story about a woman struggling to find her place in a fast- changing world when life throws an unexpected curve or 12. I wanted to write about the relationships that are both her anchor and her wings.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

The idea was bigger than a single book, so I plotted my Lake in the Clouds series. Balancing Act is the second book, after The Getaway was published last year, so I’ve been working on this for probably three years. I am definitely a pantser writer. My stories always change while I’m writing them. That’s the fun part about writing for me. My characters grow and learn as the story progresses, so that invariably changes the story I have planned when I start.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

My first novel was published in 1993, so I’m familiar with the publishing process. In many ways, it’s a totally different animal. Technology, marketing and distribution—that seems to change with every book. But storytelling and editorial are constants, the basics of which aren’t really any different than they were at the beginning of my career. I take comfort in that when change seems to be coming at me like a freight train.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

My writing process has not changed much over time and I’ve learned to trust it. I always struggle at the beginning of a book. In the middle, I always think that what I’m writing is awful and I’ll never make my deadline. By the time I’m writing the last quarter of the book, the words are flying. When my first draft is finished, I discover I’m not such a terrible writer after all. Then I dive into edits and go through the whole process again. After almost 50 books, I don’t seem to be able to change that process even if I’d like to do it differently.

I guess the one surprise I ran across while writing Balancing Act was discovering how much I personally identified with the protagonist. That hasn’t happened with me and a character before. There’s a lot of me in Genevieve.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

First and foremost, I want to entertain my readers. I want to make them laugh, make them cry a tiny bit, and make them sigh with satisfaction when they read the final page. I hope my story will touch their hearts.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

Protect the joy of creation. The business side of publishing can be challenging and overwhelm at times. It’s important to not lose sight of what brought you to write page one, chapter one, of your very first project.

Do that, and you can enjoy a long and satisfying career.

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