Q&A with Mara Purl, author with Haven Books

Mara Purl is a teacher, author and actor who has made Colorado Springs her home during the past 12 years.

She is part of a small, independent publishing company, Haven Books, which has four writers and describes itself as an "artists' collective, a consortium of creative experts."

Purl took time recently to tell CSBJ about herself and her company.

Organization: Haven Books

Position: Author (with Haven Books). Teacher (STAR - Student Theatre And Radio). Actress (formerly on "Days Of Our Lives")

Hometown: Los Angeles

How long have you lived in Colorado Springs: 12 years

Education: Bachelor's degree from Bennington College

A few words about your company: Haven Books is a small, independent press with four authors, six artists, a team of five marketing and public relations experts and about 10 professional associates. It is a member of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, the Publishers Marketing Association and several other publishing organizations. We have offices in Colorado Springs and Los Angeles. We're an artists' collective, a consortium of creative experts who synergistically create opportunities for ourselves and others by working together.

Recent accomplishments: Silver Benjamin Franklin Award for my novel "What the Heart Knows" and a Gold Evvy Award for my non- fiction book (co-written with Erin Gray) "Act Right."

Biggest career break: The BBC licensed and broadcast my radio drama "Milford-Haven USA." The show was the first American radio serial ever broadcast in the United Kingdom, reaching 4.5 million listeners.

The toughest part of your job: The discipline of writing every day, while balancing the creative work with marketing and other business aspects.

Someone you admire: My dad, Raymond Purl, a successful businessman with a great career in New York, Europe, South America, Japan and Hong Kong, while also being an accomplished actor/ director with a degree from Yale Drama School.

About your family: My mother, Marshie Purl, is a ballerina, film actress and drama teacher. My sister, Linda Purl, is an actress and cabaret singer. My husband, Larry Norfleet, is a physician, mountain biker, church and community leader. My step-daughter, Amelia Norfleet Dorn, is an actress, personal safety instructor and business owner. My step-son, Matthew Norfleet, is a family man.

Something else you'd like to accomplish: I recently founded the Reader's Passport program, which is running as a pilot program at the Pikes Peak Library District. The program is free, rewards readers with new books and triggers a book to be sent to the participating nonprofit organization of the reader's choice.

Our national partner is R.R. Bowker, owner of Books In Print. My goal is to establish the program in libraries across the country.

How your business will change in the next decade: Our primary audiences are those who read women's fiction (character, rather than plot-driven), women's non-fiction ("Chick Lit" essays) and self growth (non-religious spiritual/inspirational). These groups of readers used to be "marginal" but will become increasingly mainstream. Although we respect all readers, we will expand and grow in ways that allow us to serve those who want to access life's most dynamic and exciting "secrets," whether through fiction or non- fiction.

What book are you currently reading? "Child Secrets," my new soon- to-be-published book, as my editor and I go over it with a fine- tooth comb. I'm re-reading "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, a stack of books as research for upcoming novels and for fun, listening to "Q Is for Quarry" by Sue Grafton.

What is the one thing you would change about Colorado Springs? Make it the literacy leader with the highest percentage of readers in the country, and build a light rail.

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