WELCOME THIS WEEK'S FEATURED AUTHOR!
Melissa
Keir
melissaakeir@hotmail.com
CONTEST: Comment below, and include your email for a chance to win a beautiful necklace featuring the cover of Three’s A
Crowd.
Contest ends Saturday June 8th at Midnight EST.
ABOUT
Melissa doesn’t believe in down time. She’s always keeping busy. Melissa is a wife and mother, an elementary
school teacher, a book reviewer, an editor for a publishing company as well as
an author. Her home blends two families and is a lot like the Brady Bunch,
without Alice- a large grocery bill, tons of dirty dishes and a mound of
laundry. She loves to write stories that feature “happy endings” and is often
found plotting her next story.
THREE'S A CROWD
For Lissa, the second time at love was a charm but in
marriage, three’s a crowd.Single mother Lissa Vincent found her soul mate in her best friend’s ex-husband. Alex Hunter couldn’t believe his fortune when his ex-wife told him her best friend was available. After divorce, finding love again could be a challenge but it appeared Alex and Lissa had gotten lucky. Yet as they start their lives as newlyweds, Alex and Lissa don’t realize just how difficult it might be to blend a family.
When Alex’s ex new marriage begins to unravel, she sets her sights again on Alex. Does Alex still have feelings for the mother of his child? Will Lissa keep her best friend or lose her husband?
Fairytales promise a happily-ever-after. But what really happens after the after.
EXCERPT
“Hi, honey. I’m home.” I called as I entered the house.
The boys were spending the night with their father but I could see Alex was on
the phone and he quickly waved me toward him. Sitting down next to him on the
couch, I listened patiently, curious as to what was going on.
“Yes, I suppose we can switch days for Joe to come over.
I’m sorry things are that way at your house. Joe’s always welcome here. Just
let me know what I can do to help.” Chloe. Frowning, I listened for more. “Mike
seems like a great guy. If you two are having issues, maybe you can talk to a
counselor or something. Let me know what I can do to help. I’m always willing
to listen. Bye.”
“What’s going on? Your conversation seemed pretty edgy.”
“She and Mike are having issues. She thinks he might be
having an affair. She wants us to get Joe early and maybe keep him a few days
extra so she can spend some time with Mike and try to talk things through. She
doesn’t want to put Joe in the middle. You know how he feels about Mike.”
“I’m sorry to hear it. She mentioned the stress to me at
lunch yesterday but nothing about an affair. I didn’t want to bring it up to
you or share things I shouldn’t. The boys love spending time with him and it’ll
be good for Joe to spend more time with you.”
Alex put his arm around me and kissed me softly. “You’re
wonderful, Lissa. I know this will take more work on your part, but I really
appreciate how you’re willing to do anything for my son.”
“I love Joe, you know that. But honestly, I’m worried
about something. Chloe seems to want to rely on you for support. I don’t want
you to get caught in the middle of their issues. The other day at lunch, she
told me how much she still cares for you and warned me away from you. It was uncomfortable.”
“Lissa, I love you. Not Chloe. You have nothing to worry about.”
Taking my face in his hands, he kissed me deeply and made me forget all of my
worries. “Let me show you how much you mean to me.” Alex picked me up and
carried me to the couch. Undressing me slowly, he worshiped my figure with his
mouth, making me cry out in passion. Then he moved me to our bed and showed me
again, this time with his hard body, just how much he loved me.
What readers are saying about Melissa’s books:
Amazon 5 star review for Second Time’s the Charm- “Such a
sweet and heart warming story. As I read it, and the details unfolded, I was
engrossed to see if that I thought was going to happen, would really happen.” –
Lacey Wolfe, Romance Author.
Barnes and Nobel 5 star review for Protecting His Wolfe- “Great
read. I couldn't put it down. I really liked the characters, especially Betsie
and the Pigg brothers. A love story with suspense and surprise.” – Anonymous
THE INSIDE SCOOP
Q: Thinking back on your first book, is there anything you
would have done differently?
Would I have done anything differently, that’s a tough
question. I really enjoyed the process of writing my first book. I shared the
story with a close friend before I submitted it. I think I would have done more
research on publishing houses. I took the first offer that came my way, which
was with a publishing house that closed before my book was ever published. This
was slightly embarrassing and hurtful at the same time. Yet I persisted and my
story found another home with a different publishing house.
Q: Has your perspective on the writing process changed since
you became published?
Yes. I used to think that writing was this glamorous
career and that everyone who wrote a story would become famous. I was very
naive. Today as a writer and publisher, I see exactly how much money the
companies like Amazon make off each book and it sickens me. Authors work much
harder than I expected and spend a lot of time honing their craft. It is as much
about talent as it is about work.
Q: Is there a word or phrase you catch yourself overusing?
I have to be careful with helping verb use. I tend to
overuse them and have to go back to search and destroy them!
Q: Are you a Swooper (write first, edit later,) a Basher
(edit each sentence as you go,) or both?
I’m a little bit of both. I begin as a swooper, writing
furiously when I first get an idea. Usually after I get a story begun, I turn
into a horrible basher. I go back and edit as the story begins to shape up. I
can pick apart a story to pieces if I let myself. I keep trying to find just
the right word or phrase.
Q: What is the one thing you must have to be able to write?
I must have my laptop. It goes with me everywhere. I’ve
even taken it on my honeymoon. J
Q: How do you feel about the term “Mommy Porn”?
I’m not really fond of that word. I think it belittles the
books we write and the readers who love them. I am a lifelong reader of
romances. I began reading at the age of 12. I wasn’t a mom then, nor did I ever
think I would become a mom. I enjoyed the passion between the characters in my
favorite novels but hid the covers because they made me look like I was reading
trashy novels. Today when people use the word “Mommy Porn” it makes me feel
like I did years ago. There are many romance novels with historic significance
or creative world building…or stories that have changes lives. To call it
“Mommy Porn” demeans its value.
Q: What do you feel are the most important aspects to a good
romance?
Romance is about the relationship between the characters,
your hero and heroine but also between the secondary characters. The
relationship must be one that is “real” with strife and challenges just like
our own relationships are. Even in a science-fiction romance, the aspect of the
romance is the key. The sci-fi helps build the world or showcase the characters
but it is only with the connection between your characters that your story
comes alive.
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