Action Pulp!

By Adam Messer

“When Goodbyes Begin, which is launching into the literary world March 24, 2026, is a family saga. Loosely based on my own family’s story, I started writing it as therapy when my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Honestly, I didn’t expect it to become the real life book that it is today.” – Marissa McFarland.

Marissa McFarland writes from her heart about life, family, and humor.

Please introduce yourself.

Hey! I’m Marissa McFarland, debut author of When Goodbyes Begin. A native of Pennsylvania, I’ve lived in South Carolina for 17 years. When I’m not writing, I chauffeur my two sons around to soccer practices and film sets. 

What genres do you write and why?

I suppose being a genre jumper is one benefit of self publishing. My debut novel, When Goodbyes Begin, which is launching into the literary world March 24, 2026, is a family saga. Loosely based on my own family’s story, I started writing it as therapy when my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Honestly, I didn’t expect it to become the real life book that it is today. My next book, which still lives inside my computer, is an upper middle grade book. This one is near and dear to me. A coming of age story about a group of misfit kids in middle school. My current work in progress is what I refer to as MomCom. This one feels the most like me. I can see myself in the writing. The humor and the more than occasional curse word. It has been the most fun to write of all three. 

What is your earliest memory of reading?

My grandmother would take me down to Waldenbooks at the local mall on the day the latest Babysitter’s Club book was released and then she would take me across from the store inside the mall to Chick Fil A. Ann M. Martin had a gift for dropping any little girl reading her books right into the story and wishing she could be besties with Claudia and Stacy in real life. 

When did you know you wanted to write? How did it happen?

When I was in both high school and college, my English teachers told me I was going into the wrong profession. Nursing. I was told I should be a writer. A writer? No way. So I continued on the path of health care, working as a nurse for about ten years. Jokes on me. I stopped working to raise my kids and started writing a few years later. Short stories first, which were a bit easier to finish with two boys underfoot. 

What’s one of your favorite scenes in one of your books?

There is a moment between father and daughter in the novel that guts me every time I go back through and read it. I won’t give too much away because I don’t want to ruin the moment for my readers, but I suspect once they read that scene they will know exactly which one I am referring to. 

What makes a good character? A bad one?

I don’t think a “good” character necessarily means a “good person.” A good character is one that gets under the skin of the reader. That one character you wonder about three books from now. A bad character is the unforgettable one. The one that the author could probably have cut from the book and no one would have known the difference. 

What moves the story for you?

Constantly pulling the reader into the next chapter. In a novel told from a three-person point of view, that isn’t always easy to accomplish, but leaving the reader wanting more makes them want to flip the page and keep going. What the heck is Ashley is up to and will poor Frank be able to handle it? What is Maria keeping from her children and will the close knit family implode when she finally reveals it? Will Anna ever be able to live her life for herself and find happiness? All of these questions are what will drive my readers to keep reading When Goodbyes Begin. 

What is your favorite book and why?

Oof. This is like asking me which one child is my favorite. It really depends on my mood. Lol. Just kidding. I know this is probably a disturbing response, but I am a huge psychological fiction fan and BA Paris’s Behind Closed Doors is my favorite. I’m sure that was an unexpected answer, especially for those who have read the book. I promise, it is not indicative of anything in my personal life. I don’t need to blink twice. 

What do you want to say to your audience?

Thank you. Thank you for trusting my work and for taking a chance on a debut author. When Goodbyes Begin will make you laugh, but it will also turn you inside out and perhaps empty a box of tissues. It will also make you hungry. Trust me. This novel mentions a LOT of food. They’re Italian. How else would they show their love? Make sure you have your favorite Italian restaurant on speed dial for delivery. 

What advice do you have for new writers?

Don’t give up. Just write. The first draft will be crap. Just get it out on paper and worry about fixing it later. Don’t let the gatekeepers of the literary world stop you from getting your book out there. Being an indie author is considered cool and trendy now. Yay for me! 

Do you have anything else you would like to add?

If you love When Goodbyes Begin, tell a friend. Or even better, buy her a copy. Don’t hesitate to reach out and tell me what you thought of the book. Authors don’t just write for themselves. They write to share their stories with you, the reader. They need that reassurance to continue to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard.  

Website: www.marissamcfarland.com