07 Sep 2025 Author of the Month: Margaret Ethridge

By Susan L. Peterson

Margaret Ethridge, also known by her pen name as Maggie Wells, knows all about the business of being an author. Although writing is not her full-time profession, she has more than 50 contemporary romance publications to her name.

Ethridge, who comes from a family of readers, never aspired to be an author. She was drawn into the world of writing about 20 years ago when she became involved with online fan fiction. For those not familiar with the term, these are sites that allow users to create stories that feature characters, settings and plots from their favorite TV shows, novels, movies and other media.

In October 2009, she wrote a prologue of a book as a present for a friend’s birthday. She completed the book the next month for November’s National Novel Writing Month, taking on the challenge of writing 50,000 words in 30 days. Thus, her first book, “Contentment,” was completed.

But writing a book and getting it published are two different things. “I learned I knew nothing about publishing,” she said. She credits the Diamond State Romance Authors (DSRA), a nonprofit organization and chapter of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), for providing knowledge and support. She understands the complexity of this business and is willing to share her experiences in publishing with other aspiring authors.

Early on, she knew finding the right agent was essential, so she carefully researched and followed several online until she found the perfect fit for her work. Her agent handles pitching her titles and negotiating contracts, giving Ethridge more time to focus on writing. 

Still, she chooses to self-publish some of her books to maintain greater control over their marketing and promotion. She said that the business of publishing is constantly evolving, and authors need to be able to grow and adapt to the changes.

When asked if she would consider not holding a day job and writing full-time instead, she replied, “I tried it once and it was awful. I’m good for one to two hours.” So, she continues to travel to work daily, then comes home and writes for a few hours. On the weekends, she gets up early and puts in some time. For her, this routine works.

According to her website, her stories spotlight strong, independent heroines and charismatic, sexy heroes who discover love in surprising places. At the same time, she weaves in timely social issues like pay inequality, gender double standards and special challenges faced by women. Sometimes her inspiration comes from local headlines that have made national news.

Although she has written several series (Love Games, K-9’s on Patrol), the Arkansas Special Agents: Cyber Crimes Division Series might be of special interest to readers in the 501 area. Although each is a stand-alone work, they were published in this order: “Ozarks Missing Person,” “Ozarks Double Homicide” and “Ozarks Witness Protection.” These were followed in 2025 by “Shadowing Her Stalker,” “Catching a Hacker” and “Ozarks Conspiracy.” There will be three more Arkansas Special Agents books featuring K-9 heroes coming in 2026.

Settings for her Arkansas-based stories include Eureka Springs, Little Rock, Fayetteville and other familiar towns across the state. Her dialogue is rich with local expressions and references to well-known landmarks, adding a layer of authenticity that makes the stories especially fun to read. Readers comment that the series is heavy on mystery/suspense with just enough romance.

Originally from Bloomington, Ill., Ethridge has been married to her husband, Bill, for 24 years. Like her own work, which features finding love in unexpected places, their story began when her employer sent her to a training program in Virginia, where she encountered a “handsome guy with a drawl.” She knew the moment they met that he was the one. They live in the Landmark area of Little Rock with their dog, Timber, a German shepherd/Lab mix, and have two grown children and four grandsons.

Ethridge’s books may be found online and at local bookstores under the name Maggie Wells. To find out more about her, visit her website at Maggie-wells.com, where she provides insider information on her books and informal posts on Maggie’s Musings.