Dear Writer: Episode 74

Tell us about how you first started writing, and when you decided to pursue it more seriously and started thinking about getting your book published.

Melissa has always loved reading, but a few years back she had an idea that sprang from the recesses of her mind and motivated her to begin writing, to see what she could do. It wasn’t long before Melissa found her sweet spot as a romance author.

Who are some of your favourite authors/writers/creators that inspire you?

Kate Claybourne, Tessa Bailey, Sierra Simone, and Diana Gabaldon are a few of the authors who inspire Melissa.

What inspires you to write/drives your stories?

A lot of what Melissa reads feeds into what she writes. But also things she watches can inspire characters and she takes a mish-mash of quirks from people she knows or things she sees until she has a new character or plotline.

How do you juggle writing with life/work/your other creative projects?

Melissa says writing has gotten easier now that her kids are in school full-time. She used to squeeze writing in while the kids were napping but now her books are able to be her sole focus. After the kids leave, she starts writing immediately, as she knows if she leaves it to later, her writing will end up getting lost the plethora of things to do.

What is your writing process? Plotter/Pantser?

Melissa says she wishes she were a plotter! In the rest of her life she is a very scheduled person, but she takes a character driven approach and lets the writing flow. She daydreams in between writing and from that forms an idea of the upcoming scenes.

Tell us about your publishing journey.

Her publishing journey has been different than expected. Melissa first pursued traditional publishing, and succeeded in finding a small publisher. She learned a lot through this experience including the editing process. But she also learned that even as a traditional published author, marketing falls squarely in the author’s court. Because of this, she then pursued self-publishing which allowed her more control, but has also cost more, at least initially. She concluded that each definitely has their pros and cons, and is keen on taking a hybrid approach in the future.

Tell us about your new novel, Bewitched by My Best Friend.

It’s a paranormal romance about a witch who can’t control her powers and the boy who loves her. It’s a friends to lovers story with second chances, a little magic, and a pet dragon!

What have your biggest challenges been?

Challenges Melissa identified was editing. She said this is an area which requires some improvement on her part, but she does hire a professional editor for her self-published books. And marketing is always a challenge!

Other projects on the horizon?

Melissa has a series of novellas she is currently working on. Through the Fairy Ring, the first in the series, is already out. Book two is written and in the editing phases, while book three is halfway through being written. She plans to release book two and three together in May.

Where can people find your books?

You can find Melissa’s books on Amazon, but you can also go to Melissa’s website which has all her books and all the places to find them. If you would like to know more about Melissa, you can follow her on Instagram and Goodreads.