Mary Cathereene Brown is a talented author who has written a variety of cozy books. Her beautiful way of writing allows readers to feel like they are in the story, solving mysteries alongside the characters.

Her Missy Porter series currently includes four books about an amateur sleuth who solves mysteries with her cousin. They go on adventures all around the world, visiting amazing sites such as the pyramids in Egypt.

Last year, Mary released a spooky mystery titled, Only the Dark Knows. It follows a group of friends who visit an island off the coast of Ireland. The island is filled with strange occurrences, and the friends set out to uncover its secrets.

I recently completed Book Club Notes for Only the Dark Knows. I loved reading the story and providing all of my thoughts and reactions. Each new page kept me guessing and wanting to know more about the characters. I had serious goosebumps!

Mary and I met when we became pen pals years ago. We wrote letters to one another, and our friendship grew from there. It has been a joy to get to know her and share our love of books and all things seasons. 

Recently, Mary graciously answered some questions about her writing. They are below. I know readers will enjoy getting to know her just as I have. If you haven’t read Only the Dark Knows yet, the following does include a few spoilers.

How did your writing journey begin? Have you always wanted to be an author?

My writing journey began in the early 1990s when a sibling argument got out of hand. I decided to use that anger to write. I sat down and pulled out my brother’s typewriter (yes, I’m that old) and wrote a short story about a bear family. I later wrote another short story, this time a mystery.

I’ve always loved making things up and pretending. In my teen years, I loved writing and putting on skits with my siblings and filming them. If YouTube would have been around then, I’m sure we would have had a channel.

No, I didn’t want to be an author. I wanted to create a natural botanical body shop, like Sally has in Practical Magic. In fact, I didn’t like to read when I was younger. The only exception was the Sweet Valley Twin series by Francine Pascal. I was a huge fan and wrote to her when I was 10 years old. She wrote back and encouraged me to keep reading and possibly write in the future.

What inspired you to write Only the Dark Knows?

Originally, the story was a soft supernatural mystery, but I wanted to write something darker. My brother, Jon, was a huge Stephen King fan, and I wanted to write a story he would think was scary to impress him. I didn’t complete Only the Dark Knows, as it is now, before he passed away, but I’m sure he would have loved it. 

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe also inspired me as I wrote Only the Dark Knows. In my story, the pounding heart that the antagonist hears leads him to confess to a murder. I wanted the guilty to be punished. I wanted it to be tragic, where the guilty person is truly having a pounding in their chest and where an ancient beast is reading their heart, in the end judging it to determine their fate.

You chose Ireland as the main setting for your novel. What led you to select that location?

I have always loved Ireland. I mean, how can you not? It has such rich history, with beautiful scenery. My father visited Ireland on a business trip and brought home pictures that took my breath away. It seemed like the perfect location for a secluded island, where a group of friends could go on vacation.

It is so much fun to get to know the characters you created. Will you share a peek into the process of creating them?

Thank you. I truly appreciate that compliment. I create my characters from little traits from me or people I’ve met or encountered. It can be something as small as a nod or a short conversation with a person in a store. 

I figure out the who, what, and why. Who are they? This includes appearance, attitude, and accent. What were they doing in the store? Look at a person’s cart and you can tell a lot about them. Why were they pleasant at checkout but drove like a maniac in the parking lot?

For Only the Dark Knows, I picked what I thought would be a good number of suspects (friends) in the story. I questioned each one’s backstory and family life to see what made them tick and if they were willing to be a “bad guy” in the story. 

With Ace, I knew I wanted him to be a strong Australian. I knew he would have a sarcastic, playful demeanor like Australian friends I’ve met and observed. He’d do anything for his girlfriend and friends. 

Audrey had to have a big heart (strong but super sweet) so her friends would want to confide in her. I think we all have friends who are like that. They would feel safe telling her anything. 

Sammy popped into my head as the guy everyone should not like. He’s a real jerk but deep down he’s not so bad. 

I needed a love triangle, so that’s where Sammy, Mercedes, and Nathaniel came into play. I wanted readers to like Mercedes but also want to smack her. Most of my beta readers loved Nathaniel. He has all of the goofiness that my family embodies; we’re all kind of dorky. He’s silly and acts like nothing bothers him, but deep down he feels things so deeply that he can barely live with himself. 

Each female character has attributes like my sisters. I knew the dynamic between Monica and Breeze would be complicated because they are sisters in the story.

Do you have a favorite character? If so, why are they your favorite?

While I love all of my characters, Raven is my favorite. He has that sexy long dark hair, Dracula vibe going on, with piercing blue eyes. He is easy to fall for but mysterious. He embodies so many things that I would love to be. He’s a talented photographer and, like an author, sees the world through different lenses. He’s poetic, romantic at heart, and deeply troubled by his past and present. He can’t cook at all but turns his flaws into positives. He deeply loves his friends and would do anything for them (and I mean anything).

I love the way you wove mysterious and spooky elements together in your novel. How did you find that balance?

That was tricky! As I wrote and reread my novel, I wanted to have all of those spooky feels that give you just the right amount of goosebumps, the kind where you are sitting on your couch and can feel someone behind you. You’re nervous and uncomfortable but cozy. I thought back to movies and books that gave me those feeling and tried to incorporate them.

Have you ever had anything mysterious or spooky happen in your life that you took inspiration from?

Yes, too many things! One that stands out was thinking there was a gremlin in my room. I was nine, and I shared a room with my sister. We lived in Massachusetts at the time; things were just cooler and spookier there. 

It was bedtime, and we heard a strange sound like something eating. We listened, looking terrified at each other. Then, we heard it jump down from the dresser and run around the room. I threw the covers over my head and screamed for my mom. She came in and couldn’t find anything, but we were convinced it was a gremlin. (It was probably a mouse or something!) But let me tell you, my heart was thumping so loud that the creature in my book would have totally heard it.

What do you hope readers will take away from reading your novel? 

I hope they will take away a story of found family with deep relationships where you can mess up big time and your true friends and family will give you the benefit of the doubt. Where it’s safe and okay to just be you. Granted, there is no creature there to eat you or something.

What advice would you share with someone who is beginning their writing journey?

Take your time and enjoy the process. Your writing style should be your own, and comparing yourself to others is pointless. Make connections with other writers and support each other. Most importantly, connect with actual readers. Write that book for them, even if it’s just one. And keep going. Don’t give up.

Will you share a little about the other books you have written?

Absolutely. I have a YA cozy supernatural mystery series with four books in it at the moment. I’ll be adding more to the series at a later date. It’s about a young woman, Missy Porter, who sees supernatural people, places, and things. By using her supernatural abilities, she helps solve each case in the short stories. She travels to Sweden, Italy, Egypt, and a mysterious island, which all pertain to the Wonders of the Ancient World.

I have a standalone dual timeline mystery I am revamping that was previously released as Ann Kelly, A Mystery in Time. This title might change. It’s an autumnal story about a writer who has writer’s block. She travels back to her childhood home to help resolve it. After arriving, she hears strange noises: the oven turning itself on, doors opening and closing by themselves, and a stranger’s voice.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Yes, I’m currently writing my prequel to Only the Dark Knows. I’m super excited about it, and I can tell you that you will find out more about the creature, how the island became cursed, and how Ace’s grandfather lost his eye.

To learn more about Mary and her books, please visit her website and follow her on Instagram.