BLOGWORDS – Friday 20 December 2025 – CHAT THURSDAY –MOLLY JO REALY
BLOGWORDS – Friday 20 December 2025 – CHAT THURSDAY –MOLLY JO REALY
CHAT THURSDAY – MOLLY JO REALY
Please give a warm feathered welcome to author and friend, Molly Jo Realy.
rem: Hullo Molly Jo, and welcome. Tell us three random things about yourself.
MOLLY JO: Thanks so much for having me here! Three things? Hmmm. The first that comes to mind is I create nicknames for people. I have poor facial recognition, so if I can mentally create an identifying trait in my mind, there’s a better chance I’ll remember names. The struggle is then trying to remember a person’s true name! (Ask George.) That’s one. Two? I’m an extreme extrovert, but I’m learning to love my peace and quiet. I absolutely love socializing and creating space for others to come together, whether I’m there or not. Three: I’m the kind of person who will probably be mauled to death by a bear or lion because, aww, look how cuddly they are!
rem: Ditto to the “aww, look how cuddly” to lions and bears. More lions than bears for me, though. Any of the large cats, really. What is your favorite quotation and why?
MOLLY JO: Oh, so many. The first that come to mind are my life verse, Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD. “Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope, and a future.” And of course my writing mantra from Isaac Asimov: “I write for the same reason I breathe. Because if I didn’t, I would die.” Both of these speak to trusting who I am fundamentally created to be, and to savor the journey. To not do so leads to, well, not good things. Just this morning during my quiet time with God I was reminded of a moment many years ago. I’d been struggling with life stuff for quite some time, depression and anxiety made it worse. One afternoon I spent a few hours journaling, and wrote a poem. Nothing big. I don’t even remember it now. But I went to choir practice that evening and my worship pastor said, “Something’s different. What happened?” I told him, “I wrote today.” He said, “Don’t ever stop.” In that moment, I recognized my talents and skills from God were not just habits, but a fundamental part of who I am, and who HE created me to be.
rem: Last year during a minor procedure on my back, the doctor (who was wonderful) was chatting with me and asked if I had to choose between painting and writing. Without missing a beat, I said writing! I totally get it. And I hadn’t heard that quote, but now I’m going to have to add it to my list of favorites. When reading, what makes or breaks a story for you? Your fiction pet peeve?
MOLLY JO: Poor edits, of course, and plot holes. I once read a book that had several five-star ratings and I was excited about it. But right there in the first chapter was a detail that two pages later contradicted the narrative. It took me out of the story immediately. Also, I think it ultimately comes down to if the author treats the reader like we’re stupid. Don’t overexplain, but don’t underexplain, either. Make characters real/rounded. We’re all emotive, physical, mental, and spiritual. A flat narration just makes me feel like I’m grading an essay.
rem: Oh yeah, my brain is always in edit mode, and I find myself thinking about how I would have worded something differently. LOL How disappointing to expect a five-star story only to encounter such a glaring mistake. What are you reading right now?
MOLLY JO: Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote, and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. And I’m always looking forward to new reads from those in my inner circle.
rem: I’ve never read (or even watched) Breakfast at Tiffany’s but Rebecca is a Netflix movie, staring Lily James, and I’ve watched it a few times. Tell us a little about your writing journey.
MOLLY JO: I’ve been writing my entire life. In grade school, when other kids were into sports and recess, I was into my notebooks and entertaining family and friends with words. I went to college and university for a degree in journalism with a focus on creative writing. I never completed my studies, but the lessons I learned are some I cling to.
rem: I suspect that with all of us writers, it’s always been there. Just some of us have known it earlier than others. (I fall into the latter category. What genre(s) do you write and why?
MOLLY JO: I cover a lot. Short stories, devotions, novels. But primarily I focus on romantic suspense. I write characters and stories to include flaws. This world, and the people in it, aren’t perfect. I don’t preach. I don’t pretend. I want my readers to find a piece of themselves and trust that growth can happen in the smallest and biggest ways.
rem: I agree 1000%! If a character is too perfect, no one can relate. And even as a Christian, if a character is too preachy, that’s just annoying. Tell us a little about your latest book? What is your current project?
MOLLY JO: Ah, NOLA: Undeaux (pronounced, “undo.”) It’s a rewrite of my debut novel. As I’ve been trying to write the sequel for the last two years, it wasn’t coming together and I realized it’s because I hadn’t set it up well. With my debut novel, I listened to editors and others who spoke their version for my book. NOLA: Undeaux is like the director’s cut, or a remake. It’s the same story, but better. Deeper characters. More internal conflict. More subtleties. More real relationship issues. And a bit more grit. I chose to do this rewrite for my characters, and myself. And it turned out to be something better than I originally imagined. And now … I’m working on the sequel.
rem: Molly, I love that for you! I started NOLA, but got interrupted and never got back to it. Now I’m going to wait for Undeaux to come out! And I’ll finish it, I promise. What is YOUR favorite part about the book or why do you love this book? Why should we read it?
MOLLY JO: I enjoy creating something others can relate to. Whether it’s suspense, a moment of relationship, a scene or environment. Anything a reader can connect to, and that stays with them. There are scenes that made me cry as I wrote and rewrote them. Character interactions that took me by surprise. My favorite part is how God wrote Himself through the subtle pages. How my characters struggle openly (and not so openly). Not everything wraps up neatly. There’s a trigger warning for topics relating to abuse and addiction. That’s why I love this book. It’s real.
rem: Girl! We be twins! I’ve said the same thing myself. And wept, even bawled a couple of times as I’m writing. I believe readers can identify better with real characters, warts and all. What is one take-away from your book(s) that you hope readers identify with?
MOLLY JO: That there’s always hope.
rem: Yes and Amen! One more and then we’ll close. Do you have a life Scripture?
MOLLY JO: In addition to Jeremiah 29:11, I also love Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.” That one was spoken over me through several people in a time of busyness, and from my Godfather. Currently, I’m rereading through the Book of Esther, and learning so much of how we can prepare ourselves for important messages, and build the community around us.
rem: He is always our anchor, and our peace even in the most difficult times. Anything you’d like to add?
MOLLY JO: Three fun facts about me: 1- I love to make my own tea blends. My current obsession is creating a homesteading and apothecary vibe. 2- I’ve never been to New Orleans (but I’m told you can’t tell that from reading my books!). 3- I love encouraging people. Giving them a safe space to talk, learn, grow. I tell everyone to remove the word “aspiring” from their vocabulary. If you have a goal, and you are taking steps to reach it, you are. We don’t aspire to walk or breathe, we just do it. So for all the creative souls out there, own it. Claim it. Be it.
rem: I, too, am an encourager. I know what it’s like to feel a failure, and now I’m on the other side of that darkness, I can’t not offer hope to those who need it. Thank you so much for chatting with us on my blog today!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
COME ALIVE, STAY WILD, and always, SAVOR THE JOURNEY!
“Writing is about grabbing the reader’s attention, and telling the story only you can tell. Let your personality and experiences flow into the characters you write, read, and live.
It’s not what I write that’s unique.
It’s how I write it.”
Molly Jo Realy is an editor and encouragement coach who strives to embolden people to embrace their unique talents to share their stories as only they can.
Her debut novel, NOLA, is a romantic location mystery set in New Orleans, where the setting is as integral to the story as any human character.
The founder of New Inklings Press, she is also the creator of the well-received Book Builder Workbook and several journal/planners.
A Southern hippiechick at heart, Molly Jo is an award-winning author whose writings have been featured in children's magazines, devotional websites, and featured blogs. Her short stories have earned her awards and scholarships from nationally acclaimed writing programs.
Addicted to God, cats, tea, journals, planners, and pens, in no particular order. Follow her on social media for more fun!
Social Media: mollyjorealy
https://www.facebook.com/MollyJoRealy
https://www.facebook.com/groups/972023039531258
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Molly-Jo-Realy/author/B00FV5X7MM
https://www.instagram.com/mollyjorealy/
https://www.pinterest.com/mollyjorealy/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollyjorealy/
#Blogwords, Chat Thursday, Interview, Molly Jo Realy, Jeremiah 29:11, Isaac Asimov, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Rebecca, NOLA: Undeaux, Psalm 46:10, Book of Esther
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