Million Dollar Book Reviews Interview with Mary Lynn Hansel (A.C. KATT)

First I would like to thank you Mary for taking the time to do this interview and also for giving me the
opportunity to interview you, I am truly honored.

You are a former native New Yorker/New Jersey native who now lives in New Mexico… Do you
ever miss the hustle and bustle of the big city? What made you relocate to New Mexico?

I love New Mexico. I moved here originally because the dry climate was better for my
health, but I’ve fallen in love with the high desert. Albuquerque offers most of the cultural
opportunities that were available in the East and they are more easily accessible.

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I saw that you have an autoimmune disease called Mixed Tissue Disease with (Lupus SLE), I
know that 80% of people who have this disease are woman, it affects people from ages 5 to
80, and the cause seems to be unknown… Can you share with us how this affects your life
on a daily basis? How long have you lived with Mixed Tissue Disease? How do you cope?

I’ve had the disease for eight years, although the last two in New Mexico, have been much
better than the first six.

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I also read that you had a “brush with death” Can you tell us a little about that? How has that
experience changed your life?

The disease caused a cardiac myopathy. I was transferred from a hospital in Hamilton, N J
after two weeks, when I was near death from a complete shutdown of my organsto Newark-
Beth Israel. The doctors at the Newark Beth Israel Cardiac Transplant unit saved my life. I
didn’t need a transplant but the doctor was so diligent that he kept on digging and consulting
specialists until he diagnosed the problem.

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What legacy would you like to leave for your children and your grandchildren?

I’d like to leave them a world without prejudice.

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What made you decide on the pen name AC Katt?

AC was the name of a kitten we had that passed away, we loved him and decided to honor his
memory.

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What steered you in the direction of writing about Gay Erotica in “Shattered Glass” and “A

Matter of Trust”?

I know it is strange for a almost 60 year old grandmother of eight, who is married and straight
to write gay erotica. However, I believe that our gay citizens should have the same rights and
privileges as any other US citizen. Until that happens, I’ll continue to write stories with gay
characters portrayed as the human beings they are and to highlight the harm that bigotry
brings.

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Please give our audience a glimpse of what your newest release “Shattered Glass” is about…

Shattered Glass is about the intertwined lives of the members of a band, but specifically about
the love between Milo and Liam.

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How did the writing of “Shattered Glass” come about?

I acquired a painting of the late Syd Barrett, one of the founding members of the band Pink
Floyd. Syd left Pink Floyd due to a battle with severe depression. The picture was painted
from a photo of Syd in the early days of the band. The picture was evocative. I thought that
it called for a story; not about Syd Barrett; his story played out and has been written, but,
about another young man entering the dangerous world of fame and fortune that is rock n roll.

About a month later, I first heard the song Make a Memory by Bon Jovi. The lyrics clicked in
my head. “Hello again, it’s been awhile…” The lyrics of the song suggested to me, partners, a
lyricist and a composer, who meet after some time apart, they are nervous with each other and
desperately want the relationship that they had before. I added the additional complication of
the men’s homosexuality and the prejudice and hatred that this group of U.S. citizens without
the rights of United States citizens face every day. These thoughts led to Shattered Glass.

I have to honestly say Mary looking at you I wouldn’t have expected you to be the author of gay
erotica books (Smile) Do you get that reaction often?

My children were a bit shocked but have come to expect the unusual from me. My oldest
grandchild (he’s 18), thinks Grandma is cool. Some people wonder how I can write realistically
about something I’ve never experienced. My answer is love is love, just the mechanics are
different.

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Mary tell our audiences were your books can be found and purchased and also how you can be
contacted as well…

I have a website at www.ackatt.com and several blogs – www.ackattsjournal.blogspot.com and

www.ackattsnips.blogspot.com in addition to the blog chronicling the story of my first novel,
The Sarran Plague, which will be reissued by Captiva Press sometime in the future. That blog is
www.thesarrans.com.

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Before you depart please bless us with some inspirational words to help up and coming authors
who are breaking into the literary business…

Write every day. Revise, revise, revise.

It has been such an honor and pleasure interviewing you Mary and Welcome to the Million Dollar
Book Review Family… And a special thank you to Dee Owens: owner of Personalized Marketing