Let’s Chat! Marilyn Turk
Welcome, everyone!
Marilyn Turk honors us with a visit this week. She authors historical romantic suspense. If you enjoy stories set in the past, romance, and suspense-filled story line. Marilyn’s your gal.
Marilyn is offering an ebook giveaway of any of her books–winner’s choice. You can’t beat that! Join the conversation below, and you name’s in the hat! (LSU tiger fans, heads up!)
Marilyn Turk Before Writing
I was born and raised in Louisiana, not in the swamp, but close enough to know what a Cajun is and how good food tastes, like example Jambalaya, shrimp creole, crawfish etouffe, gumbo, etc.
I graduated from Louisiana State University (where else?) with a degree in journalism, but don’t let that fool you. Although I had no intention of being a journalist, I wanted to major in advertising and it was in the school of journalism. However, those required journalism courses have helped a little with my writing, such as learning to be on deadline.
I tried my hand in advertising for a few years before I moved to a big city (Atlanta) and went to work for a Fortune 500 company in sales. It was a “good” job that God gave me. During my 25 years with the company, I married and had three sons.
When my company was sold, I was laid off (Reduction in Force, they call it). I eventually had to relocate and ended up in Florida. God’s hand? Divorced with a mortgage and three sons in college, I realized God wanted me to move. Four years later I met and married my current husband. God had forced that move so we would meet.
Marilyn Turk, the Writer
Rebel Light was my first novel, self-published after a contract with a publisher fell through because he was unable to keep his commitment. When my agent didn’t find another publisher for it, I self-published it. The book was to be the first in a four-book series that another editor had suggested. I completed the book, but that editor was no longer with the same publisher. So I wrote the second book and started the third with the intention of self-publishing them, but then my agent said a publisher was looking for a southern gothic story.
More Books for Marilyn Turk
I didn’t know what that was, but I brainstormed a story with my husband and I pitched the story to another editor. The story, The Gilded Curse, is set in 1942 on Jekyll Island, GA, and was published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas in 2016.
Many who read it asked what happened to the characters afterwards. So I thought about it and wrote the sequel, Shadowed by a Spy, also set in 1942 New York. Lighthouse published it in July 2018.
Also, Forget Me Not Romances contracted me for my series. They republished Rebel Light in May 2018 and published Revealing Light in June and Redeeming Light in September. The next in the series is Rekindled Light which will be out at the end of 2018. The series is set in Florida from 1861 to 1883.
As you can tell, they all have the word “light.” When I first began writing, I started a lighthouse blog and posted 
faithfully on it for five years, once a week. My books feature a lighthouse either as the setting or as a mention in the book, kind of like a “Where’s Waldo?” but with lighthouses. Fittingly, my novella, “The Wrong Survivor,” is part of Barbour’s Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides collection that released November 2018.
What’s up with Marilyn Turk now?
I have another book contracted by Forget Me Not. And another book, a split-time novel contracted by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.
Three years ago, God led me to host a small writers conference for our area. The Blue Lake Christian Writers Retreat debuted in 2017. Intended to be a small, quality, affordable conference that was as much a spiritual retreat as a writers conference, it surpassed my exceptions. Response was great. So in 2018, the Blue Lake CWR was held again. The retreat was exactly as I’d hoped. God delivered over and above what I asked, and it blessed all who 
attended, including faculty. The 2019 retreat will be March 27-30. The website for the retreat is http://bluelakecwr.com/
I also wrote a book of devotions called Lighthouse Devotions. I plan to update it and re-release it next year.
How can we find Marilyn Turk?
Blog: http://pathwayheart.com,
~ ~ ~
Lord, we honor You as our only true love. We thank You for revealing Yourself as Love in the face of Jesus. We pray You’ll shine a light on Yourself
through Christian fiction such as Marilyn’s books.
Please bless each word she writes for You.
~ For Jesus’ sake
I’ve not read any of your books but they look good! Thank you for a chance to win one. I love reading about the different books you have written. I like that they have the word light in the titles.
Hi Shonda,
Thanks for your comment! I hope you get to read my books. Let me know how you like them!
I love to meet new authors and your books sounds very intriguing… !
Hi,Tanja! I’m smiling big at seeing you here with us. Thanks for stopping by. You’re entered in the drawing, friend! (Hug your family for me.)
Hi Tanja,
Thanks for your comment! Hope you get to read my books!
Blessings,
Marilyn
Marilyn, Tanja and I “met” via my website contact form–all the way from Switzerland, her home. And then we met face to face at ACFW in DFW. What a delight!
Hi Linda,
Looks like the website is letting me in now. Thank you for having me on your site and thank you to everyone who commented!
Your books sound so intriguing. I married a Louisiana Cajun man myself. Lived there three years before we returned back to Texas. Your mention of Cajun foods makes me want to get busy cooking an etouffe or gumbo. The subject matter of the Germans following a woman to New York captivates my interest level…makes me imagine what the outcome will be. Sounds like you found the purpose God had for you.
May you continue to be blessed with your writing.
Hi Jane! Where else would someone named Theriot be from but Louisiana! Hope you cooked up some good gumbo or etoufee! I look forward to hearing how you liked my books.
Your writing has been quite a journey! I did enjoy your novella in The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides collection.
Hi, Perrianne! It’s great to see you. We’re really blessed by Marilyn’s visit.
Hi Perianne,
So glad you enjoyed The Wrong Survivor in the Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides collection. Hope you get to read some of my other books.
Hey Everybody! Waving here. Thanks for commenting. Sorry the site won’t accept my comments. That’s never happened before! Hope y’all enjoy my books!
Hi, all! Unfortunately, Marilyn has been unable to reply to your comments so far for no reason of her own. It has to do with some “techy” issue between her/me/this site. My site creator/maintainer hasn’t been able to replicate the problem Marilyn is having. So I told her I’d let you know she’s reading your comments and appreciates them and you!
Wow! These books sound intriguing. Thanks for info.
Yes! Marilyn is a great writer. Come by, Cuz!
Hi Susan, Hope you get to read them! Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for the conversation and getting to know you. Would love to read your books!
Hi, Faith. It’s great to see you in our midst this week. You’re entered in the drawing!
I won Rebel Light . I just haven’t started to read it yet. The book about the Gilded Curse and Jekyll Island looks great! Thanks for your story. It was so interesting.
Hi, Paula. Welcome! You’re entered in the drawing 🙂
Hello Linda and Marilyn, I enjoyed reading more about Marilyn Turk’s upcoming books. I have read and reviewed all of her books to date, so I do not need to be included in the giveaway.
Have a blessed week. Keep letting “the light shine for Jesus” as you both write.
Hi, Marilyn. Welcome! You have a blessed weekend.
Wow! What a journey. Thank you for sharing your story and remaining open to the Spirit’s movement and guidance.
Hi, Brandi. Welcome! It’s great to have you in our circle. I hope you’ll return. 🙂