Getting to know Claudia Mair Burney

Claudia Mair Francis is a fascinating woman and brilliant author whose words flow with integrity and directness. With a large family, dealing with illness, writing that stems from her heart and deep faith, Claudia is an author well worth discovering. I was thrilled when asked by TitleTrakk to interview Mair and her response has been so gracious to my little ol' questions :)

Over to you, Mair:~



If you could have chosen your own name, what would it be?

I did choose some of my names. Mair Francis goes right between Claudia Burney. They are in honor of my patron saints, Mary of Egypt and Francis of Assisi.

Your first pet's name?

I think she was a mongrel named Princess. Don't quote me on that. I'm doing well to remember my current pet's name is Peter, affectionately called “Bun Bun.”

Your best friend's name in primary (elementary) school?

Her name was Patricia Robinson. She was sweet, and funny, and told me I had to write, even then. She died 14 years ago of cancer. I still miss her.

Did you have a special toy that went everywhere with you when you were young? Please describe.

Yes, I did. She was an enormous doll named Tammy. She was taller than I was, so I drug her by the hair. Needless to say, she didn't have much hair left. But I loved her, until I believed her to be possessed, at which time I dropped that heifer like a bad habit.

If you were stranded on a desert island what one object would you want with you? (Besides your Bible)

A pimped out, fully loaded Kindle! With solar power. No, make that an iPhone with the same.

What's your favourite ice cream flavour?

Peppermint, but it's seasonal. LOL. Remember that line from The Lovely Bones?

Rel: Ahh....no!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A writer. An artist. God's been good to me.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Italy with my BFF. That's a plan.

Favourite book?

Mariette in Ecstasy, a scrumptious novel about a stigmatic nun by Ron Hansen. Hey, did you read my novel Wounded?

Rel: Not yet but my friend just did and she loved it...like she loves all your books :)

Favourite movie?

It's a Wonderful Life. I cry every time.

Blues, rock, jazz or classical music?

Jazz if I had to choose from your list, but I prefer rhythm and blues or neo soul.

Scrapbooking, knitting, cooking or meditation?

Meditation. I'm heady that way.

Where is the most interesting place you have been?

Swaziland. Oh. My. Gosh! It's incredible, and it felt like home.

Great Barrier Reef, Uluru (Ayers Rock) or Sydney Harbour Bridge?

Great Barrier Reef.

What's your most fervent prayer?

Lord, have mercy.

What is your favourite Bible verse (or "one" of your favourites) and what does it mean to you?

Blessed are the poor in spirit. To me it means I'm completely reliant on Him for everything, and He's good with that.

Besides God, who has influenced you the most?

A lot of people formed the woman I am. I'm a real mixed bag of investments people made into my soul.

What's the bravest thing you've ever done?

Stayed alive when I had no desire to.

What was your most embarrassing moment in High School?

Freshman through senior year.

How did your husband propose?

He didn't. He made a joke about sneaking off and getting married, and I ran with it. I wish I'd have trusted him and his love, or myself, that I was worthy of love. That would have changed everything.

What is the best advice you have received about marriage?

Sometimes, you'll hate it. Sometimes you'll look at the person beside you in bed and wonder how you ever got into this mess. It's then that commitment kicks in. It's not about how you “feel” much of the time. They also told me that loving feeling would return, but I'm grateful they prepared me for the rough days.

You have 7 children (fabulous!) - how do you fit writing around all your other responsibilities?

Ken is kind enough to take on the “responsibilities” while I hole up in our bedroom with imaginary people. Part of this is because along with being a writer, I have a chronic pain disease, which diminishes me considerably. I'm always grateful when I open the door and everybody is still there, and they still love me.

You describe yourself as “the soul-child of many saints” - please share

Did I say that? Ha! It sounds like something I'd say.

The greatest gift liturgical churches gave me was a connection to a vast network of God lovers who have gone on to glory before me. I'd always read that part of the Creed that said, “I believe in the communion of saints,” but I took that to mean other Christians. Living, breathing ones! On earth, not in heaven! Hanging out with Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican Christians introduced me to saints like John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Francis and Clare of Assisi, Mary of Egypt, and more. Their teaching and lives inspire me. Change me. That's what I mean when I say I'm their soul-child.

The Amanda Bell Brown Mysteries

What or whom was your inspiration for Bell?

My great-grandmother. I wanted her name to carry on in this world a little while longer, and to loan her my success since she had so little opportunity.

Describe each of your main characters with one word

Amanda Bell Brown - Resilient

Jazz Brown - Fine!

Your characters have “flaws galore”! Why is it important to you not to gloss over weaknesses?

I have too many to overcome myself. I'd be the biggest liar in Christian fiction if I didn't give my characters the struggles so familiar to me. I serve the broken, people who can admit their woundedness. If you aren't Christ haunted and cracked, you probably won't like my books.

What do you hope readers take away from your stories about Bell and Jazz?

That God loves you even if you are a mess, and whatever fledgling love you have for the people in your life can go a long way. So love!

You are unflinchingly honest in your writing which I love ~ has that made it difficult to get published in the CBA?

Thanks, Rel. I appreciate your support. It was ridiculously easy for me. God showed off! I got one grace after another. I think my voice was needed. God opened the doors; ready or not there I was. Now staying here is another matter. I think it's over for me here, especially now that I'm Catholic. But God knows. I would have never thought I'd be here in the first place.

What is in your writing pipeline? No pressure but a sneak peek would be lovely!

I just finished writing my first non-fiction book about one of those saints I love so much, Teresa of Avila. It's a fun pilgrimage through her amazing teachings on prayer. It's written especially for Protestants who would have had little exposure to her work, or to saints in general. It's a very fun, whimsical book. Paraclete Press is publishing it next Spring or Fall. Next to hit the bookstores is The Exorsistah 2: X Returns. Published by Pocket Books it's due out in the Spring, also. Here's a peek:

Chapter One

I hate demons. A legion of them held my mama captive in her own body a while back. For a long time after that I felt there was nothing I could do. But that particular morning - the morning I turned eighteen - seemed so full of new mercies and possibilities. I, Emme Vaughn had no reason to hide anymore.

It took me two lumbering buses and an expensive cab--complete with ogling driver--to get to Saint Dymphna's Psychiatric Hospital. But I made it. I even dressed the part. Of a post-modern, urban-girl exorcist, that is. I wore all black: skinny jeans, a cute scarf-dress, and glorious stiletto Prada boots. An onyx rosary hung around my neck.

It was seventy-eight degrees outside. September sunshine warmed my shoulders like a kiss from God. All I had to do was strut into that hospital and kick some devil butt.

There was just one problem; my feet refused to cooperate. The imposing brown, brick building towered above me like Goliath over David, and I was terrified. In cases like this, I usually have one of three responses: I plow through with courage, I bolt away, or I blabber to buy myself time.

I chose courage. But I needed to get myself amped up first.

Got your word, Emme?

I looked down at my Bible wrapped in a pair of dark Levi's and tucked in the corner of my duffel bag.

Check.

The jeans would protect the good book from getting knocked around. Not that my bag held much, just everything I owned: a few articles of clothing Francis bought me; a Russian icon from his Godmother, Mother Nicole; my GED paperwork; my Michigan State ID card; a pair of black Timberland boots.

I fingered one of the shiny rosary beads around my neck to calm my nervousness. “Rosary in place,” I muttered, then trailed my fingers to the Saint Benedict Jubilee Cross medal across my chest.

This made me think of Francis, who gave me the medal after a nasty incubus tried to violate me. If I'm ever looking for a reason to pray, the memory of that a lust-crazed demon does it every time.

I continued down my mental checklist, hoping to summon more courage.

Prayed up?

Check.

Kick butt diva boots for whooping devil head, while still looking fly?

My gaze fell to my feet and beheld the butter-soft Puh-rah-dah on my feet.

Check.

Francis gave me those as a birthday present. A group of demons projectile vomited all over the last pair he bought me.

I took a long, deep breath and made sure all the hell-busting gadgets I needed were accounted for. Now it was time to move, only fear paralyzed me.

Time to get your act together, sistah. You're a grown woman now. What happened to your 'tude? These boots aren't made for walking!

The kicks brought Francis to mind yet again.

I should have asked him to come. It would have only taken us an hour to get here in his Camry. We could have listened to music on his iPhone. Chilled. Maybe I'd have let the brotha hold my hand.

I smiled to think of that.

I might have let him smooch me again, too.

That thought made me blush.

Warm feelings aside, my thoughts of Francis were a distraction and did nothing to propel me forward. There I was, standing alone in front of a psychiatric hospital with a million thoughts running through my head. You'd think I'd have sense enough to go in, but no.

I shuffled my feet and glanced at my boots again. The next step was getting harder and harder to take. I glanced around to see if anyone was watching me. An old man sitting on a bench in front of the hospital looked up from his sandwich and smiled at me.

I smiled a small, friendly smile back at him and knew I couldn't stand there any longer. I was beginning to look like someone who needed to be admitted.

There was just one last thing to do before I walked in. I needed to pray.

According to my mama, the Lord's Prayer takes care of everything. It's worship, petition, confession, and even has an exorcism built into it.

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name,” I whispered. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.”

I took a step towards the hospital.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

I took another step.

“And forgive us--”

I couldn't go on. What kind of daughter was I? I hadn't shown my face in three years. The fear of getting caught was only part of the reason I hadn't visited mama more often. I also didn't want to see her looking like she did last time. Standing there, my heart beat wildly as the memories came flooding back. I remembered when the orderly opened the door and I saw an emaciated figure on the bed. Her skin was the color of caramel, just like Mama's--a color I knew so well because I used to envy it. I'm dark-skinned. Kids can be brutal.

I was about tell the orderly he'd brought me into the wrong room when the sickly woman turned her head and looked at me. Her skin looked like it'd tear it was stretched so taut across the bones in her face. But it was the unmistakable mole beneath her left eyelid that led to my undoing. Mama had always called it her beauty mark.

A scream stuck in my throat.

My mama was always beautiful and had long, black curls that fell down her back. But this person - bound by restraints, smelling of urine, and smiling at me with broken teeth - looked like an old, discarded doll.

Mama's glassy eyes fixed on mine, and something vile and haunting inside of her seemed to stare back at me. I knew she was in this condition because of me.

Now just feet from the hospital's entrance, I was doing my best to take another step forward. I shook my head. Tears slipped down my cheek I hadn't realize I'd shed.

I'm sorry, Lord. I'm ready for this. Not at all.

The old man from the bench walked past me, up the steps and through the automatic doors.

I don't know if it was love or guilt urging me on, but I followed the old man in. I had to. Sometimes false bravado and a promise is all a sistah has.

Thanks for having me, Rel. May God grant you peace.

It has been a pleasure and privilege, Mair :) Anytime at all!

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man & Deadly Charm
Character spotlight on Jazz & Bell Brown
Visit Mair's website and blog
Buy Mair's books at Amazon or Koorong

Character Spotlight ~ Claudia Mair Burney's Amanda Bell Brown & Jazz Brown

Today the spotlight shines on..........................Amanda Bell Brown & Jazz Brown


Claudia Mair Burney is courageous, funny and deeply reflective and her writing exposes those traits beautifully! Deadly Charm is the final book in her Amanda Bell Brown mystery series and is well worth discovering. Enjoy this insider's peek into what makes Jazz and Bell tick!

Thanks, Mair:~

Amanda Bell Brown

Brief physical description

Bell is short, a mere five feet one and three quarters of an inch tall. She has what she'd sarcastically call "generous curves". She wears between size ten and twelve, and her weight varies from 140 to 155 lbs. She prefers her African American hair natural, but is known to gild the proverbial lily with the help of braid extensions.

Think Tracie Thoms. She's adorable, but not so incredibly pretty regular gals would want to hurt her.

Strengths and weaknesses

Bell is loyal and courageous, and her heart is wide open. She trusts her instincts, but despite her best intentions, she's a trouble magnet. While she's terribly insecure, once could do worse than have Bell Brown in their life. She'd be willing to die for a friend, a rare and beautiful quality.

Quirk (if any)

Bell is full of quirks. She's razor-tongued, self-deprecating, and full of weaknesses. She eats for comfort, is bullied by her mother and sister, and despite an astute knowledge of human behavior, often lacks insight into her own foibles. But for a person who is still suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, she's done very well for herself.

Your inspiration for the character

My great grandmother inspired Bell. I gave the character her name, and success my great grandmother never had. Unfortunately, poor Bell is wired a lot like Claudia Mair Burney. Heaven help her!

Jazz Brown

Brief physical description

Bell's first impression of Jazz, besides the fact that he was stunning, was that he was tall, but not "too tall." He's five eleven, and rather lean, but not skinny, with a wiry build. His biracial heritage--his mother is African American and father is Irish American--makes it hard to place his race. You can't at first glance if "Mr. United Nations" is black, white, Latino, or all of the above. He wears his brown curly hair in a high top fade, so popular with black men.

Jazz is a pretty man, with a dazzling smile. Think Daniel Sunjata

Strengths and weaknesses

Jazz is a strong, heroic man, the kind that would have no qualms about protecting a woman. He'd definitely take a bullet for his beloved, but would rather not! He hasn't always been a good boy, and was burned by his ex-wife. He really is that unsure about wanting a relationship. His weakness is that being a homicide detective for so long has made him somewhat hard. He drinks too much, curses, and isn't always sensitive, yet he is a man of deep convictions, though it may not always show. I give him a break because he sees horrors daily that most of us don't experience, even in our nightmares. When He decides that he wants Bell once and for all, there isn't much that's going to stop him from having her, including her!

Quirk (if any)

He has a pathological fear of all things Charismatic. He's a Roman Catholic, but knows all the jargon of a good, holiness Evangelical Pentecostal.

Your inspiration for the character

Jazz looks a lot like one of my ex boyfriends, but he acts a lot like several of the good but flawed men I know, including my husband. He's a composite of many interesting people, including some I wish I knew.

Background to the story

A golden opportunity fell right into my lap, when after only a few months of honest blogging about my messy spiritual journey, a publisher wrote to me and asked if I'd write a novel. I had nuthin', so I started making up stuff from my totally lame life.

I had studied psychology, loved forensic and true crime shows, always wanted to write a mystery, but loved romance too. I've also heard I'm funny. I added all those things into a gumbo of a story. It was full of people like the people in my life.

I wrote the book I wished I had to read.

Woo hoo - so much fun, Mair :) Thanks for sharing about Bell & Jazz ~ appreciate it a lot!


On Thursday, I will be spotlighting Eric Wilson's Cal Nichols and I can tell you it is very, very interesting reading. Cal himself will be sharing with us ;-)

Relz Reviewz Extras

Reviews of Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man & Deadly Charm
Visit Mair's website and blog
Buy Mair's books at Amazon or Koorong

Deadly Charm by Claudia Mair Burney

Psychologist and sometimes sleuth, Amanda Bell Brown is back in her third mystery following on from Murder, Mayhem & A Fine Man and Death, Deceit & Some Smooth Jazz.

When the toddler son of preacher Ezekiel Thunder is discovered dead, Bell believes there is more to the tale than the finding of accidental drowning. Suspicious of Ezekiel's flamboyant and suave ways and the flirtatious behaviour of his supposedly grieving young wife, Bell launches her own investigation into the little boy's last moments.

Seeking the assistance of her estranged husband, Jazz and the man who signaled the end of her marriage, Rocky, Bell discovers that life is precious, making peace with God is sometimes a painful journey filled with unexpected surprises and hidden blessings.

Deadly Charm exhibits the unique characteristics of a Claudia Mair Burney book ~ bold, audacious characters, deep spiritual threads and heart wrenching honesty. If sweetness and light is your preferred reading experience, this book isn't for you but if you want a solid story that doesn't shy away from the realities of dysfunctional relationships, alcohol abuse and selfish choices, then look no further. Leavening the seriousness of the tale is Bell's sassy voice, her unconventional friends and family and the joy of a life changing surprise. Reading the preceding books is highly recommended to fully appreciate Bell and Jazz's tumultuous journey and the challenges and blessings God bestows on them. Claudia's writing continues to be a breath of sharp, fresh air in the world of Christian publishing.

As seen at TitleTrakk.com

Relz Reviewz Extras
Review of Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man
Visit Mair's website and blog
Buy Mair's books at Amazon or Koorong

Zora & Nicky by Claudia Mair Burney

Zora's preacher daddy has been blessed with wealth thanks to his faithful congregation response to his prosperity teaching. A far cry from his childhood roots in a poor black community he wants Zora to know he provides her every need. Yet there is an emptiness in Zora's heart that only one man can fill and despite attending church since birth, Zora can't seem to find him.

Nicky Parker's dad preaches the love of God and the supremacy of the white race all in one breath, while Nicky pursues a life of reckless relationships, satisfying his every desire without thought to the consequences. When he turns his life around, Nicky finds support and accountability with an eclectic group of Jesus followers whose love, compassion and empathy show him more of God's love than he has seen in a lifetime of being the son of a preacher.

Zora's appearance at Nicky's Bible study wreaks havoc on Nicky's newly acquired self control and Zora's commitment to remain pure until her marriage to Miles Zekora, the brotha handpicked by her daddy. A cauldron of bubbling internal emotions erupt as Zora and Nicky weigh the cost of a relationship that may have a price to high for them to pay.

Zora &Nicky is a tale of electrifying attraction between two lost souls desperately seeking God's mercy and grace while surrounded by bigotry, misunderstanding and the selfish agendas of their fathers. Claudia Mair Burney writes with such brutal honesty and authenticity that you will feel uncomfortable in places, weep in others and be thankful for the truly Godly, yet imperfect, people in your life. Alternating between the first person voices of Nicky and Zora, and expressing both with exceptional accuracy and clarity, Claudia took me on a journey filled with heartache and hope, pain and humour, magnetic attraction and abrasive interactions. While confronting this is a beautiful story of love, forgiveness and the complexities of human relationships regardless of, and yet because of, faith, colour and environment.

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man

Visit Mair's personal blog and her book blog

Buy Mair's books at Amazon or Koorong