Interview with Sylvia S. Mader, author of A Water Lily Blooms

Inside the Book:

Title: A Water Lily Blooms

Author: Sylvia S. Mader

Publisher: Virtualbookworm.com

Genre: Coming of Age

Format: Ecopy /Paperback

An attractive young woman lies critically injured and comatose in a hospital bed far from home. Images come and go as she struggles to regain consciousness. Is that a tall, dark man beckoning her from a distance? Will she reach him? Or will her life be cut short, denying her a second chance for happiness? How did she get from being a happy, promising young pre-med student to here? And like this?

This coming of age tale follows the struggles of a driven but naive high school graduate. Andrea Bradford leaves her peaceful Martha’s Vineyard home for college, wanting to be a physician — a true professional, just like so many boys in her class. But once at college, she begins suffering the anxieties of homesickness, a blistering schedule, constant disagreements with her mother, and the uncertainty of a possible stage career. Meanwhile, several romances awaken her pent-up sexuality and introduce her to inter-racial realities and even the lure of New York high society.

Episodes of confusion, disappointment, elation, tragedy, and reconciliation all shape Andie, as she grows to become a mature, competent woman by the end of this truly “American” story.

If you were to pen your autobiography, what might the title be?

The title would be: Yes!  Yes, I have overcome obstacles in my life to become a successful biology textbook writer and now, at an advanced age, I have published my first novel.  Life has been good to me.

When not writing, what do you like to do for relaxation and/or fun?

I like to go to the opera; it is so thrilling; the singing and the sets. Days after, I sing snatches of the opera to prolong the thrill. Because I like physical activity, I enjoy going to the gym to work out and have a swim afterwards. But my very favorite activity is to go for a long walk in the woods with my husband; we like communing with nature.

What makes your book stand out from the rest?

 

My novel is meant to inspire. Life is hard but if we ‘keep on keeping on’ it’s possible to be joyful, to achieve goals and find love. Often novels today are written to titillate and/or shock the senses. Instead my novel is meant to share with my readers a high regard for both the natural and man-made world, and experience with them the pleasure and excitement of being alive.

Can you give us the very first page of your book so that we can get a glimpse inside? (Just the first page please)

Please see attachment below.  I scanned the exact page.

If your book was put in the holiday section of the store, what holiday would that be and why?

July 4.  My novel demonstrates freedom. Freedom to be what you want to be; to marry whom you want to marry, and freedom for a woman to have the career she wants to have.  

Would you consider turning your book into a series or has that already been done?

It’s in the works.  The next book describes the travails of the next generation of young people who face a different set of problems from their parents.

When you were young, did you ever see writing as a career or full-time profession?

Not writing books but perhaps as a journalist for a newspaper. My father was a newspaper man but his specialty was circulation not writing. Still, early on I became interested in writing for newspapers. I was on the staff of my high school paper; I wrote short articles for my local newspaper when I was a young housewife; and later I was the faculty advisor for the newspaper at Mass Bay Community College.

Did any of your books get rejected by publishers?

My first biology text titled Inquiry into Life was rejected by Prentice Hall as not being erudite enough. It was published by Wm. C. Brown Co, a family-run publisher in the Midwest but it finally became a McGraw Hill text that is now in its 16th edition.

What is your view on co-authoring books; have you done any?

None of my biology texts were originally co-authored. I like making my own decisions and since writing styles are so different, I believe it would be difficult for any type book to have coauthors.

What’s next for you?

As mentioned above, I have already started my next novel. I like writing novels; it gives you a sense of freedom!

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MEET THE AUTHOR

Sylvia Mader is the author of “Inquiry Into Life, 16th edition;” “Biology, 13th edition” and “Human Biology, 16th edition,” making her one of America’s most successful college textbook authors of the last twenty-five years. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, who taught community college students and wrote most of her textbooks while raising two beautiful children. She lived on Martha’s Vineyard for nearly twenty years, and is now a grandmother, living in Hollywood, Florida. This is her debut novel. She is currently working on a second one.