I’m so excited to feature Molly. She’s a reader & writer of swoonworthy, spicy stories. Not to mention a Chronic & mental illness advocate!
If you’re comfortable, could you share a bit about your disability?
I have Sjogren’s (autoimmune disease), anxiety, and a few more but those are the ones I’ve written about! Feel free to mention them.
Why did you start writing?
I’ve always loved reading and consuming stories, so it felt only natural to start writing my own. I had ideas in my head that just wouldn’t quit, so I had to get them down on paper!
How do you come up with your story ideas?
All of my story ideas start differently—sometimes they start with a character, a trope, or an event idea. From there, I think and dream about that topic and continue building off of it and writing down little notes until I can form a full outline!
How have you found ways to keep doing what you love, even on the harder days when your disability makes it feel impossible?
It’s not easy, and writing is a slow process for me because of fatigue, but I just keep reminding myself that I’ll get there eventually and the final product will be worth it!
Which of your story feels the most like a love letter to your younger self?
In Your Eyes is actually dedicated to my younger self! When I was first diagnosed with Sjogren’s, I couldn’t imagine what my life would end up looking like. It felt like life was over. So, I wrote a book about a character who has my disease and still creates a meaningful life for herself!
Top three characters you’ve written that you would want to date?
This is a tough one. I think I would have to go with Fletcher from More Beautiful Than Before or Caleb from In Your Eyes. They’re both super sweet and caretakers!
What do you hope readers get/feel from your books?
I hope that readers feel seen and understood when they read my stories. I hope my books make them feel less alone!
Go show Mariah some love at @mollymccarthybooks and stay tuned for the next feature!