Interview with MM Deluca

How did you get into writing?

Books have always been a huge part of my life, but I didn’t start writing seriously until my thirties. It began with short fiction, mostly for fun, but everything changed when I was accepted into an advanced creative writing class taught by Pulitzer Prize-winner Carol Shields at the University of Manitoba. She wasn’t just a brilliant teacher—she became a mentor and friend. Her encouragement pushed me to complete my first novel, The Pitman’s Daughter, and after that, there was no turning back.

What does your daily routine look like?

Mornings start with movement—I try to get outside for a walk every day, though in the middle of a Manitoba winter, that’s not always an option. When the temperatures drop to -20°C, my basement gym becomes my best friend.

After breakfast, I settle into my office, where I always turn on my pink flamingo neon light before getting to work. I focus on writing through the morning, then break around lunchtime. If the weather’s good, my husband and I will go golfing in the summer. Evenings are usually spent writing again—unless there’s a Winnipeg Jets game on. Hockey wins every time.

How do your characters challenge you?

They never leave me alone. They linger in my mind, interrupting my day with ideas or refusing to move forward when a scene isn’t working. Some books are harder than others. Recently, I’ve been working on multi-POV stories, and keeping all those distinct voices clear without losing the thread of the story has been a challenge.

What’s your writing space like?

I’m lucky to have a dedicated office on the main floor of my home. My desk faces the door—I like knowing no one can sneak up on me. One wall is lined with bookshelves, another holds notebooks from every project I’ve worked on. Photos of my kids and little mementos from past trips keep me grounded.

Which authors have shaped your writing?

I’ve always been drawn to dark, atmospheric storytelling. Daphne du Maurier, Sarah Waters, and Margaret Atwood have been huge influences in shaping the moody, immersive settings I like to create. Tana French’s cinematic style has also had an impact. On the lighter side, authors like Liane Moriarty and Kate Atkinson have inspired me to incorporate humor, even when exploring darker themes.

Where do you find inspiration?

Poetry is a huge source of inspiration for me. There’s something about listening to T.S. Eliot, Catherine Hunter, or Michael Ondaatje that sets my imagination loose. Music can do the same. And if I’m truly stuck, a long walk usually shakes something loose.

What themes do you keep returning to in your stories?

Travel—whether it’s returning to the past or trying to escape it—seems to creep into almost everything I write. My characters are often carrying secrets, trying to outrun something they’d rather forget.

How do you unwind?

Hockey. If the Winnipeg Jets are playing, I’m watching. Otherwise, I love getting lost in a good TV series—my most recent obsession was Shetland, and I binged all eight seasons.

What’s the hardest part of creating a setting?

Setting is everything. It’s not just a backdrop—it shapes the entire mood of a story. The biggest challenge is making sure the reader is fully immersed, giving them just enough detail to make them feel like they’re stepping into that world without overwhelming them with description. It’s a fine balance.

What are you currently reading?

Right now, I’m reading Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice. It’s the sequel to Moon of the Crusted Snow, a dystopian novel with a unique Indigenous perspective.

What’s the best advice you’d give an aspiring writer?

Ernest Hemingway said it best: “There’s nothing to writing. All you have to do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” Writing should feel personal. If you’re not emotionally invested in your story, it’s unlikely your readers will be. Tap into your deepest fears, your greatest joys—make it real.

Tell us about The Night Side.

Ruby Carlson left Stoneybrook, Montana, at eighteen, determined never to return. She wanted nothing to do with her manipulative mother, Ida—a self-proclaimed psychic who spent her life conning people. She wanted nothing to do with the small town where enemies lurked at every corner.

But now, twenty years later, Ruby has no choice. Her mother is missing, presumed dead. Returning to Stoneybrook to settle Ida’s affairs, Ruby finds herself surrounded by memories she’d rather forget. The official story is that Ida drowned, but Ruby isn’t convinced. The deeper she digs, the more she realizes how little she actually knew about her mother. Lies unravel, secrets surface, and soon, she’s caught in something far more twisted than she ever imagined.

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