Dee Marie Weaves Magic and Emotion into Diverse Literary Worlds

From Arthurian Legends to Hockey Romance

Dee Marie explores her transition from Arthurian legends to contemporary romance, highlighting her journalistic roots, travel inspirations, and the emotional connections her versatile storytelling fosters with readers across ages.

Dee Marie stands as a beacon of literary brilliance, weaving stories that transcend the boundaries of genre to captivate the hearts and minds of readers. An award-winning novelist and distinguished former Editor-in-Chief of an international magazine, Dee Marie masterfully blends the art of storytelling with the meticulous craft of journalism. Her works, such as the renewed Arthurian adventure “Sons of Avalon: Merlin’s Prophecy,” and her latest venture into contemporary romance, “Shots and Shutouts,” demonstrate her remarkable versatility and creative breadth. In “Sons of Avalon,” she offers readers a vivid journey through history enriched by her intimate travels to the legendary sites of Britain, while in “Shots and Shutouts,” she draws us into the emotionally charged world of professional hockey, driven by personal stories of love, loss, and resilience.

Dee Marie captivates with profound storytelling, masterfully blending historical richness and contemporary emotion to move readers across diverse genres.

As showcased in Mosaic Digest magazine, Dee Marie’s ability to connect deeply with readers across generations is testament to her talent and insight. Her narratives resonate with authenticity and emotional depth, a reflection of her journalistic roots that ground her fiction in reality. Dee Marie’s stories are more than just tales; they are a celebration of the human spirit, marked by her unwavering commitment to authenticity and detail. Through her words, she invites us to explore not just the magical realms of Arthurian legend, but the heartfelt struggles and triumphs of contemporary life. Her work continues to inspire, offering readers a chance to find healing and hope in the pages of her beautifully crafted novels.

Your latest novel, Shots and Shutouts, marks a departure from your historical fantasy roots into contemporary sports romance. What inspired you to explore this new genre, and how did your background influence this transition?

Shots and Shutouts was born out of both grief and love. My best friend passed away just four months after being diagnosed with cancer. Her daughter (an avid hockey fan) was devastated. Hoping to bring a small measure of comfort during a painful time, I began writing a story inspired by her favorite team.

I came to love ice hockey after marrying my husband, who played the game. That connection gave me an inside view of the sport’s intensity, emotion, and demands. While Shots and Shutouts is a romance, I wanted the hockey action to feel real, fast-paced, gritty, and most important … authentic.

“Shots and Shutouts was born out of both grief and love.” – Dee Marie

Because my readers range from teens to adults, I chose to keep the romance clean yet emotionally deep. The story blends the struggles of modern dating with the pressure and passion of professional hockey. At its heart, the story is about resilience, trust, and finding healing in unexpected places.

In crafting Sons of Avalon: Merlin’s Prophecy, you blend historical facts with Arthurian legend. Can you share how your travels to historical Arthurian sites in Britain enriched the authenticity of your narrative?

When I began writing Sons of Avalon, my husband surprised me with a trip to Britain. That journey became the foundation of the book’s atmosphere and sense of place. I was honored to receive permission to step inside Stonehenge’s inner circle and touch the stones, to explore Glastonbury, and to write while sitting on a ledge overlooking the entrance to Merlin’s Cave in Tintagel.

The moment I set foot in Cornwall, something shifted. The salt in the air, the rhythm of the waves, the ancient stones … it all felt familiar, as if I had come home. That experience brought a depth to the story that no amount of research could match. I was no longer just writing about legends … I became immersed in the magic of Arthurian tales.

As both a journalist and a novelist, how do your experiences in journalism inform your fiction writing, particularly in developing characters and settings?

My years as a journalist, and later as Editor-in-Chief of an international magazine, taught me the importance of research and an unwavering attention to detail. Journalism also taught me how to listen, how to observe, and how to find the heartbeat of a story.

That instinct carries into my fiction. It helps me craft characters who feel genuine and settings that pull readers in. I believe my commitment to authenticity distinguishes my novels from other books in both genres. Whether I am writing about fifth-century Britain or professional ice hockey, attention to detail has always been my highest priority.

Your works have received accolades such as the Teens Read Too Gold Star Award and recognition from Foreword Magazine. How have these honors impacted your writing career and your connection with readers?

Receiving the Teens Read Too Gold Star Award was an unexpected and meaningful moment in my career. I never set out to write Sons of Avalon as a young adult novel, yet it found a home with teen readers as well as adults. That kind of recognition affirmed something I’ve always believed … a powerful story can cross generations.

What matters the most is my connections with readers. One of my favorite letters was handwritten in pencil by a ten-year-old, who said the book changed the way she looked at history. That stayed with me. Awards are an honor, but the lasting impact comes from knowing my story connected with readers on a deeper level.

Balancing the mystical elements of Sons of Avalon with the modern-day romance in Shots and Shutouts showcases your versatility. What challenges and rewards have you encountered in writing across such diverse genres?

On the surface, the two genres seem unrelated. One is steeped in ancient legend, the other set in the fast-paced world of professional hockey. Yet both stories explore familiar ground: loyalty, loss, personal battles, and the courage to fight for something that matters.

In Sons of Avalon, the bond is forged through prophecy and battle. In Shots and Shutouts, it grows out of friendship, shaped by the pressure and intensity of life on the ice. Shifting between the two required a change in tone and setting, but the emotional truths remained the same.

The greatest reward has been hearing from readers who connected with the characters, whether they were battling fate in ancient Britain or stopping a breakaway in playoff hockey.

Thank you for the opportunity to share a glimpse into my writing journey. Exploring different genres has pushed me in new directions, and I’m grateful for the chance to revisit that process through your thoughtful questions.