Author Terry McDermid has a New Book, Monday Musings: Book Signing at Always Buying Books on March 14, 2026

Today, I am spotlighting my friend, Author Terry McDermid. Terry recently released a new nonfiction book, Monday Musings. This book is based on a blog she wrote a few years ago, which I very much enjoyed reading each week. She will be having a book signing for Monday Musings at our favorite local bookstore, Always Buying Books in Joplin, Missouri, on March 14, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

When I heard about her new release, I knew I wanted to interview her. I posed some questions to Terry, who was kind enough to agree to this spotlight. She answered with the creative flair for which she is widely known and respected. Take it away Terry!

Thank you, Margarite, for inviting me to share with your readers. I am a mom, a writer, a grandma, a teacher, a traveler, and a reader. I’d say they have no particular order except grandma does go to the front of the line whenever possible.

I started writing when I was in fourth grade when a teacher suggested that a book of mine might one day be in the library after she read one of the stories I wrote for an assignment. At the time, I thought books and stories came from Mount Olympus – I was very into mythology then – and I suddenly had a new purpose. I’ve never looked back, and I’m always writing or thinking or finding ideas.

I first published church school materials, devotionals, short articles, teacher ideas, and short stories. While they helped pay the bills – and I did enjoy writing them - I really wanted to write books about people who cared about each other and connected.

I moved around a lot growing up and no matter where I lived or what was going on, I could find friends in a book. Now, when I look back at my writing and my books, the theme of finding a place to belong, a community seems to come through even if I didn’t originally plan on it.

I was fortunate to find a publisher who liked my writing and I published five books with Avalon Books on finding love. Three of the books were connected by the town I created, which was a fun creative project for me. In all my writing, I enjoy putting together people, situations, and a community so that life isn’t always easy, but the characters know they have support. My Harlequin editor asked for “more peaks and valleys than rolling hills,” and my two books with their Everlasting line broadened my use of family.

Non-fiction and teaching writing classes are also important parts of my writing life. I enjoy finding places or events that would interest people. Helping others find a way to get published or to write their story for their family is a joy. Not just the mechanics of writing but helping them believe that their story is important. I’m very thankful that over my lifetime I’ve had a lot of supporters and encouragers who believed in me, and I want to pass that on.

My current book is based on a blog I wrote for a couple years, focusing on my quirky way of looking at life. All of us look at life a little differently, and we each have our own perspective. My hope was my sharing might encourage others to either look at their own life in a different way or maybe pick up a pen or pencil and write down their own thoughts. Sometimes, I shared about a situation that I’d experienced, letting them know they weren’t alone.

My favorite part about this book is that I could cover so many different areas. I share about events, holidays, nature, grief, love, and travel, along with the other aspects of life’s journey. My next book is a combination of my writing workshop and my life with my husband. The plan is to have that book available by summer.

What would I say to my readers? I would definitely say, “Thank You” so much for reading my books and helping me continue this love that I have with writing. I also would encourage you if you’ve ever had a desire to write, to give it a try. My first ideas came from reading other people’s stories and thinking that I’d like to do that.

Even if you don’t want to write, keep reading!! Don’t ever let reading be pushed out of the way for other things. For me, settling in with a good book is just as important for my health and well-being as how many steps I walk every day.

Oh, and I’d also put a plug in that reviews are important for authors. We share the things that we like in the rest of our lives, so anything you can do to help encourage people to read a book that you like would be much appreciated.

Currently, my earlier books are available on Amazon under Terry Zahniser McDermid. I’m in the process of putting more of them up on Kindle. Monday Musings is available as both paperback and e-book. The paperback is also available at Always Buying Books in Joplin, Missouri. I also always have copies with me if you happen to run across me at some event or just driving through town.

Thank you so much for sharing a little about you and your new book with Ozarks Maven readers, Terry! Best wishes with your new book and upcoming book signing.

If you are in the Joplin area on Saturday, March 14, 2026, I encourage you to stop by and say hello to Terry, take a gander at Monday Musings, and enjoy the cozy vibe of Always Buying Books.

You can order a copy of Monday Musings by clicking the link here: https://amzn.to/47ykmsE

I am an Amazon Associate. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. #ad 

Thank you for reading Ozarks Maven! If you’ve enjoyed my little seeds of wisdom and joy, please join me again next week for more Ozarks Maven.