Maria Murnane, Author and Entrepreneur

Single Entrepreneur Spotlight

Maria Murnane

New York, NY

Author of Perfect on Paper

Founder of Waverly’s Honey Shop

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My business and how I got started:

I’m what you might call an “accidental entrepreneur.” One day I quit my job and ended up living in Argentina for a year playing semi-pro soccer and writing a novel (true story!). It’s a romantic comedy called Perfect on Paper, and as part of the story the main character, Waverly Bryson, comes up with a line of witty greeting cards for women called Honey Notes. Here are two examples:

Front: Ever feel like you don’t know anything at all?
 Inside: Honey, congratulations. At least you finally know that.
Front: Is it worse to be fake or bitchy? 
Inside: Honey, just face it. If you’re asking, you’re probably both.

After Perfect on Paper came out, I couldn’t believe how many readers asked me to sell the Honey Notes in real life, so I decided to give it a try! I also thought it would be fun to create other Honey products, so I built a site called Waverly’s Honey Shop and added Honey Tees and Honey Totes, all featuring witty quotes from Waverly Bryson.

2. Why my product/service is better than the competition:

Honey, there’s only one Waverly Bryson!

3. A typical day for me:

Ha! Impossible to answer. Take today, for example. This morning I’m doing this interview. When I’m done I have a call with my Web developer. Then I’m expecting a shipment of Honey Totes, which I have to package up and then send to the fulfillment center for Waverly’s Honey Shop. In between I’m answering fan email, updating my author Web site ( HYPERLINK “http://www.mariamurnane.com” www.mariamurnane.com), and lining up some speaking engagements with women’s groups who want to hear the crazy story behind how my book and Waverly’s Honey Shop came to be. I also have a yoga class at 4:30, after which I will happily rush back to my computer to keep working, even though today is Friday.

4. What I love most about my business:

See above.

5. I’m cool because:

I don’t need Facebook to remember my friends’ birthdays.

6. If my friends nominated me for an award, it would be “Most Likely to…”:

Play soccer four days a week until I can’t walk anymore.

7. A movie made about my life it would be named:

Just Do It

8. Strangest thing you’d find in my fridge, wallet or closet:

In high school I bought a stuffed animal in the shape of a carrot and put it in my parents’ fridge. It’s still there!

9. Personal qualities I admire most in others:

Sincerity, reliability, sense of humor

10. Three things I hope to accomplish in the next five years:

Ack! I am afraid to answer this because it might come back to haunt me, but here goes:

1) Get Perfect on Paper made into a movie
2) Write another novel that people like as much as the first one
3) Grow Waverly’s Honey Shop into a popular product line that is available not just online, but at a brick-and-mortar store near you! 

Want to connect with Maria? Follow her on her Fan Page and Twitter!