{addthis off}When you work with books and authors, it's easy to get caught up in wanting great things to happen for the works you've been involved with.

Angel, the first novel by Mary Kingsley falls into that category.  The Editorial Department, specifically founder Renni Browne and editor Shannon Roberts, were happy to be part of the creative process that resulted in Kingsley's novel, but part of the satisfaction that comes with being part of something of artistic value (Renni described the book as "the kind of story that takes you over completely and stays with you long after you finish the last page", for example) is making sure it reaches an audience, which can often be just as challenging as writing the book in the first place.  We live with the story, watching it evolve to the final product and finding an agent, then a publisher, who shares the vision, who, with a quick glimpse, sees what we see, can be a tough road to travel.  So, when an A-list agent (Mel Berger at William Morris Endeavor) chose to represent Mary and Angel, we couldn't have been happier.

We corresponded with Mary via email, to ask a few questions about her book, her experience writing it and what comes next:

TED:  How would you describe Angel?  Who would your book appeal to?

MK:  Angel is the story of an adolescent girl in a southern Appalachian town in the early seventies who wonders why it is that her family fell apart so soon after she was born. Her father left when she was just a baby and her beloved Aunt Patsy had to go live in a home for crazy people because of some disease that Angel's never understood. All she wants is a normal family, but neither her bible thumping grandmother or her distant, preoccupied mother have much to offer in helping her understand the situation.  Things take a turn, however, when her father calls out of the blue one day and announces that he's coming home after all this time. What she hopes is a dream come true turns into something else entirely. This book will appeal to anyone who enjoys a good story.

TED:  How did you decide to write the book?  How was the process for you?

MK:  I wanted to explore a complicated family situation from the point of view of an innocent. There are things happening around Angel that are well beyond her years and experience, which the reader gets to live through her eyes. The book has autobiographical elements, such as time period and setting, but the story is completely fictional. The idea came to me as a whole, and wanted very much to be written, so I had to learn to sit down and be quiet and let it come.

TED:  What else was going on in your life while you were writing Angel?

MK:  When I began writing this story, my "day job" was raising, feeding, transporting and enjoying my three teenagers. As time went on I got better at making the most of the school day, because once the afternoon and evening hit, the writer hat had to come off. Now that they're all college age and beyond, I treat my writing as my job. It's great to be able to work in yoga clothes all day and never look up until it's time to think about dinner.

TED:  How did the Editorial Department fit in with the process?

MK:  In 2007 we moved from Atlanta to Washington, DC. For about a year, all during the process of buying and selling a house, making a long distance move and transitioning from suburbia to city life, Angel simmered on a back burner. A few months after arriving here, I had the amazing good fortune of being introduced to Renni Browne by a mutual friend. When she agreed to help me with the story, I was able to get back to Angel and started making some real progress. Having her feedback, advice and support was a dream come true. Shannon Roberts was involved for a while as well. It was fantastic having the two of them to react and respond as the story took shape. It took about two years of working consistently with them to get it to the point where it is now.

TED:  What's next for you (or is it too early to say)?

MK: I have started a new novel, which is fun and exciting, and has helped me in finishing the story of Angel and letting her go. I feel like I learned so much during the writing of Angel that will help me move forward into new book ideas.

Thanks to Mary for answering our questions.  Of course, we'll keep you updated on what's happening with Angel as it gets closer to reaching bookstore shelves.