Melissa has been a wonderful writer friend for several years. We "met" at a group blog I used to write for, and then she started coming over to my blog and adding these great, insightful, upbeat comments to my crazy posts. I asked her to beta read one day, which is always a nervewracking thing for me, but I loved her suggestions and insights and, well, I dedicated two books to this "beta reader extraordinaire"! I've also beta read for her, and the woman can do poignant like nobody's business. I'm still sniffling at some of the scenes I've read in her books. While I'm looking for a tissue, please welcome Melissa to Friday Friends!
Of all the characters you've created, which one is your favorite? (Characters, don't fret! She's only answering because I'm twisting her arm!) Why do you love them best? I’d have to say my current favorite character is my hero, Ben, in the upcoming GHOST OF A PROMISE. I loved staying in his POV for the majority of the story and I had way too much fun letting my true alpha hero vent his frustrations during the adjustment to being a ghost. Acceptance is out of the question, of course, because he’s a guy who’s a natural “fixer” of problems and a protector in an often arrogant “I know best” kind of way. But he’s also been that guy whose flaws are forgiven because, well, his good points are pretty darn good. He’s a solid best friend, a caring big brother and, last but certainly not least, he looks damn good in a leather jacket. And can he help it if women melt at his feet if they stare too long into his blue eyes? Of course not! So who could say no to him? Who would want to? I guess that was up to me, the author, to say no to this hero…at least for a while. It was difficult, but I threw a lot of heartache at this guy who found his loved ones suddenly just out of reach, experienced some betrayal that had him question his choices, and had the control taken out of his capable hands. But I was more than ready to say yes to the guy after all that angst.
You know I love Ben already, and can't wait to read more of him! What's your go-to "writing avoidance" technique? (I hope we never run out of these.) Most of my writing avoidance techniques involve some sort of housework that suddenly seems inexplicably appealing. So I DO hope to run out of that one! But it never happens, so I quickly switch to something I can very loosely claim as “research.”
I'd much rather do "research" than houseework! If you were able to go on a writing retreat, where would it be? (My suitcases are really getting a workout here. . .) Hmm. You might want to stow your suitcase because I guess I never did get the logic of a writing retreat being too appealing. Doesn’t that encourage writing avoidance? Don’t four bare walls and no internet sound wonderful?
Eeek! No, that sounds HORRIBLE! *shudders* What's the word you love to use (and abuse and overuse, so you have to take it out of your book during edits)? Devilish grin. I cannot have enough devilish grins. Do I have to take them out?
Absolutely not! I love a good devilish grin! Name the first thing you'll do when you make a million dollars from your books. Go on a trip around the world to find waterfalls. First stop, New Zealand. Now you can repack, Donna!
I'm repacking as we speak! Next is a lightning round we'll call The Tasty Ten, where we get to know you in a speed dating kind of way:
Coffee or tea? Coffee!
Drafting or revising? I’ve never really been able to tell the difference.
Twitter or Facebook? Facebook
Winter or Summer? Summer!
Angel or demon? Angel. Of course, I have to say that since my first heroine was a guardian angel.
Contemporary or historical? Both! I’m a time traveling/paranormal kind of gal.
Morning or evening? These days, morning. With lots of coffee.
Pirate or cowboy? Oh, tough choice. Cowboy.
Pecs or abs? Gotta go with both again. But now that I’ve thought about it a while I might have to change my go-to writing avoidance answer.
Biter or licker? (Hey! I'm talking ice cream cones here!) Licker.
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Author Bio
My favorite things in romance are often ghosts, time travel, historical settings, plots with amnesia, eccentric secondary characters, humor, and romantic suspense. These characteristics describe what I love to read and I'm drawn to include them in my own stories. (So far, not quite all have been in one story, but it's close!) I worked as a legal secretary in Washington, DC for many years before moving back to my small hometown in Northern Minnesota. In recent years, in addition to my writing and my role as a mom to one, I returned to college for a degree in Biology, with an emphasis in Ecology.
Book Blurb
Ben, my ghost in my contemporary GHOST OF A PROMISE was begging for the limelight, but this one is from my regency paranormal book that is available now:
When JUSTIN MONTROSE, a former captain in the British Army and the new fifth Duke of Claymore, is rescued from highwaymen by a mysterious beauty, their meeting sets in motion his search for an angel. As he will discover, the truth of ARIANA’s identity is more than most ordinary men can swallow. Not only is his angel a member of the Order of Guardians, an eclectic group of time travelers, but she has a surprising tie to his world and time. Will that tie, and the growing attraction between them, be enough for her to abandon her calling as a Guardian? If not, does he have a place in her world? He’s not certain, and when his angel needs rescuing herself and loses her memory, he takes his chance and smothers his conscience to rewrite her past. But it’s hard work to maintain a lie - - especially when Ariana has a secret locked in her mind that her former Guardian colleagues are desperate for her to remember.
Excerpt
"I should not have come," she finally said slowly, as if half to herself. "There was no reason for it."
Wryly, Justin reflected she did wonders for his ego. If he wasn’t being beaten to a pulp or suffering from a raging fever, apparently there was no reason to be in his company. If she hadn’t so recently kissed him like he was a favorite dessert he might be mortally wounded.
She swiped at her cheeks, but he couldn’t tell if her tears mixed with the rain. In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to take her back in his arms – if he could get close enough. He’d witnessed her fight and considered himself lucky to be sporting only a sore shin. "Angel, I’m sorry. I truly am. I don’t know what troubles you so, but I want to help. I owe you that much."
"Owe me?"
He winced at her hurt expression, clearly reading how she’d interpreted gratitude as somehow lessening what they’d shared. He hadn’t meant it that way. Hell, he didn’t know what he’d meant. She confused the hell out of him. With one look he felt like he knew every thought and emotion that passed across the sweet contour of her face. Impossible to assume so much when he knew nothing about her life at all.
Buy Links
Blog
Hello! Thanks for having me as a Friday Friend, Donna! I'm honored to be a guest and I love the refresher of how we "met."
Answering the questions was a blast! If I can't stop by until later today, I expect you will have some new marvelous crock pot creation to share and I hope to get the recipe!
Posted by: Melissa | October 18, 2013 at 01:54 AM
Melissa, I'm glad you had fun with the questions! And it was a nice refresher for me, too, remembering how we "met". :)
I think I'm making beef stew today. Or, more precisely, the crockpot has that task. LOL I want to make Eleanor's chicken recipe but don't have all the ingredients yet!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | October 18, 2013 at 08:24 AM
Stopping by to say hi. Lovely interview, ladies!
Posted by: Kate Warren | October 18, 2013 at 04:02 PM
Thanks so much, Kate! I always love when you stop by. :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | October 18, 2013 at 04:18 PM
Hi Melissa ... great to see you in print.
I have lots of questions about ghosts:
Can Ben and ghosts in general experience love and romance. How does a ghost kiss affect the senses. Can ghosts fall for live mortals or is ghost love limited to spirits alone. .....?
Guess I'll have to read your book for the definitive answers LOL!
I'm also fascinated by that crockpot which I assume is some sort of slow cooker. A writer's model of the subconscious mind perhaps. You throw in a few ingredients (ideas) and leave them to stew, then a delicious concoction (plot) emerges. Makes it all seem dead easy! LOL
Oh, most important question of all:
Have you met and kissed a ghost? or is this something that emerged from a crockpot! LOL
Posted by: Quantum | October 18, 2013 at 04:53 PM
LOL, Q -- it's been too long since I've seen you here! Good to see you. :)
And I love that you combined the ghost questions with my crockpot brain. (And yes, "Crockpot" is actually the trade name for a slow cooker.) You described it perfectly -- throw stuff in and a story emerges. Eventually. LOL
Can't wait to hear Melissa's answers to your ghost questions. :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | October 18, 2013 at 05:19 PM
Is it still Friday? LOL
Thanks for stopping by and saying hi, Kate!
Q! Great to see you! You do ask the most challenging questions. Let's see...yes, my ghost Ben (and I suppose ghosts in general) can experience love and romance. I think the idea of a ghost existing is that they can't or don't want to let go of a strong emotion...such as love. Or maybe it's the one left behind that doesn't let go. But to answer your next question on how a ghost kiss affect the senses...well, I have to say you'd have to read my book! LOL
And that's an interesting question as to whether ghosts fall for live mortals or if ghost love is limited to spirits alone...hmm, I would almost think it's the opposite and ghosts want what they can't have.
But who am I to say? I'm just a writer with an active imagination! LOL I also imagine that if I have ever met and kissed a ghost it's a memory lost in my dreams. :)
Thanks for the questions, Q!
Posted by: Melissa | October 18, 2013 at 09:44 PM
Melissa, those ARE some challenging questions, aren't they? But I love your answers. I can't wait to see how the ghost kiss affects the senses. :) I've been looking forward to the rest of that story for a looooong time! If only the ghost could write his own story while you're busy--that would definitely be a "ghost writer". LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | October 19, 2013 at 08:33 AM
Hi, Melissa. Loved the interview and your books sound fab. I'm already hooked on Ben and Justin sounds pretty darn appealing too. My TBR list is expanding! :)
Posted by: Mae Clair | October 19, 2013 at 12:48 PM
Thanks so much, Mae Clair! Describing my hero, Ben, in this interview has really inspired me to get his story out! Ben is rolling his eyes and thinking, well, it's about time! LOL
Posted by: Melissa | October 19, 2013 at 01:22 PM
LOL, Melissa -- there's nothing worse than when the characters start rolling their eyes! I can see why they're impatient, because they don't have anything else to do but that story. LOL We, on the other hand, have tons of things to accomplish. :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | October 20, 2013 at 01:51 PM