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I’m so excited to share this interview with Mary Kathleen Mehuron. Down on the South Beach Drag is a book that completely caught me off guard in the best way. I found myself staying up way too late, completely wrapped up in Maeve’s world and her messy, lovable group of friends. Even though Maeve and I come from different walks of life, I saw so much of myself in her—the same doubts, the same need to feel understood, and the same search for a place to belong. This story didn’t just pull me in; it stayed with me. I’m honestly calling it my favorite book of the year.
Please tell us a little about yourself and your journey toward becoming an author.
Oh boy. Buckle up, folks, because I’m about to take you on the rollercoaster ride that got me where I am today—a published writer. And spoiler alert: it’s not your usual fairytale!
To start with, I am dyslexic. When I was growing up, educators didn’t really know that much about the condition other than that it was a hindrance to learning. My handwriting was awful. And my spelling? Don’t ask. Luckily, I was good at math and science, so those were the classes I focused on.
My second big obstacle was that as a teen, I was abandoned by my parents in a city that belonged in a crime drama. Having no close friends or family to guide me, I stumbled along as best I could. Though I didn’t graduate from high school in the traditional sense, I sought out coursework I could afford and cobbled a degree equivalency together. Being prepared to start college classes wasn’t a problem, but paying the tuition was. There weren’t as many opportunities back then, so I worked full time at night and tried to earn a college degree by day. It was tough going and took years. But I did it.
Now, the most epic plot twist of all: advances in technology decided to show up fashionably late to aid my endeavors! Enter stage left: my very own computer! Suddenly, keyboarding was my savior, turning my chicken scratch into coherent thoughts. Spell check became my loyal friend, and grammar suggestions? Well, they were like having a wise old grandmother looking over my shoulder saying, “Honey, let’s fix that!”
As strange as it may sound, thanks to these miracle devices, the stories I have always spun in my imagination found their way onto the page. And by now, in my 4th novel, they sound like the voice that I actually speak in. So here I am, a writer passionate about my novels and eternally grateful for even the bumpy road that got me here. I left my career teaching math and now write every day. Good right? A happy ending.
If you had only two sentences to persuade a potential reader to read Down on the South Beach Drag, what would they be?
Have you ever really dared to chase your dreams? Have you really?
What inspired the idea for your book?
I spent the first decade of my life at the Jersey Shore, and even when we moved north, we came back often. The early 70s revealed itself as a colorful time; I was riveted by the people and events in Asbury Park. Sideshow entertainers, arcades, musicians, artists, and alternative lifestyles made up the fabric that was carnival life on the boardwalk. That was inspiration enough.
In a time when I believe the world needs more stories like this one, what message do you hope readers take away from your book?
People who are perceived as being outliers are often the most sane among us. And, by far, the most interesting. And often the most fun.
What was the most rewarding moment during the writing process?
Right now. The early sales numbers are looking great. This novel was a labor of love—who knew it could make money, too. That is very rewarding.
If your book were made into a movie, which actors would play your characters?
I would want all the musicians who created the Shore Sound from New Jersey to be in the movie, even if in bit parts: Southside Johnny, Steven Van Zandt, and, of course, Bruce Springsteen. Them and all the loyal musicians that rode the wave with them. They would be fantastic!
What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page. -Jodi Picoult
What does literary success look like to you?
It looks like what is happening to this author right now. Yippee!
Do you have any other projects in the works at this time? If so, can you offer any hints or teasers for your upcoming work?
I am on the third draft of my 5th novel: Boulder Road in the Kingdom. It is an homage to the late Alfred Hitchcock’s film Rear Window with Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly. Rewatch it just for fun—it’s currently showing on Netflix. Then imagine the story taking place in the wilderness of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont instead of New York City, and in the recent past, on Covid lockdown, if you can wrap your head around that, you can find a link to my website below. Reach out and let me know any interesting ideas you come up with. I love to hear from readers!
Follow Mary Kathleen Mehuron
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