Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Lee Painter.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Thank you so much for having me here. I’m Mary Lee Painter, and I write romantic comedies. I reside in Omaha, Nebraska, where I can be found chasing kids, watching Minnesota Wild hockey, and sneaking away to write whenever possible. I graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and somewhere along the way fell in love with writing. My rom-com GPS malfunctioned and re-routed me int the arms of people who don’t exist.
My first rom-com, The Other Fork in the Road was published in 2024, followed by Wild in Minnesota, a hockey romance, published in 2025. Worst Idea Ever, a young adult rom-com, was released in April 2026, and Holiday on the Rocks which is available now. I’m thrilled to announce my latest YA, Second First Great Love, will be published in the beginning of 2028 by Simon & Schuster.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to having my books traditionally published has not been a smooth one. At times it felt like my road map was printed in a different language, and my vehicle was a unicycle with a flat tire.
But I’ve always loved everything about writing. I’d probably be at my laptop 24/7 if things like feeding my family and laundry would take care of themselves. I need a shiny sidekick who mops, folds, and doesn’t judge my caffeine intake.
In the past two years I’ve had four books published and it’s been wonderful, but nobody saw the ten plus years of “not interested”. For over a decade, my writing journey was defined by rejection-from agents who passed on my queries to publishers who said no. It was a long, frustrating road, but each “no” became a lesson. I wrote stories I loved, tossed them out, and started over. I read my favorite authors and worked on trying to do it better. Rejection burns, but there’s nothing like the excitement of starting a new story. We all have our struggles and just going for it one more time, that little extra push, can change everything.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in romantic comedies-stories that blend heartfelt romance with humor, often built around witty banter and have resolutions. I like stories that involve action, storyline pivots, and unexpected revelations that make unforgettable endings.
What’s next?
My plan is to continue writing stories that hopefully grab readers and refuse to give them a break until the last page.
There are several things I’m looking forward to including some projects in the works, and my YA, Second First Great Love, that’s on the way. I’m also excited for the upcoming holiday season. Not only because I love all holiday things, but because I have a romantic comedy, Holiday on the Rocks, that’s available now. This story is really special to me. It involves a couple who was married for one day, seven years ago, with everything imploding before the sun set on their wedding day. Now they’re thrown together at a destination holiday wedding in the snowy Colorado mountains. Her plan is to survive and never see him again, his is to win back the one he let slip away. Nothing like a second chance romance to remind us of unexpected opportunities.
I’m grateful beyond measure for the opportunity to write, and thankful for every person who gives my words a chance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://maryleebooks.net/maryleebooks
- Instagram: @maryleepainterauthor
