The Amazing Melissa Keir

 Thank you for joining us today, I’m so excited to have you hear and know my readers will enjoy it as well.

 Thanks Charlotte for having me. I’m excited to share my books with your readers as well as a little bit about myself.

 About You:
 Can you tell us a little about you?

I have a blended family like the Brady Bunch without Alice to do any of the work. When we married, we each had two teenagers and so we were a house of hormones! The children are older now and are becoming such amazing adults. I am also an elementary school teacher and have taught all grades from preschool through middle school for the last twenty years. Since I don’t believe in not keeping busy, I work as an editor and assistant for Inkspell Publishing and do book reviews for Sizzling Hot Books. In addition, I have four novellas published and am working on more stories.

 What quality do you most value in yourself?

 I really value my caring nature. I am a huge nurturer. I care for everyone from the children in my class to the neighborhood animals. I believe that it is always important to be kind to others and will often put my own issues aside to help others.

 In addition to writing, what else are you passionate about?

 I am passionate about reading. On average, I read about 200 books a year. Mostly they are books that I am a big fan of the author but I also read books for review. Reading out loud to the students is one of my favorite things to do. I like using different voices and inflection to engage the students.

 What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?

 I am so proud of my teaching certificate. I was a stay-at-home mom with two small children when I went back to school to get my bachelor’s degree. During that time, I faced the death of my mom, my own health scare and the everyday challenges of being a parent, homework, wife, and school. There were times that I wanted to give up but I kept going and was so proud that I finally graduated and obtained my degree.

 What book(s) / author(s) have influenced your life and writing?

 Margaret Atwood has definitely influenced my writing. Her book, “Good Bones and Simple Murders” showed me that I could play with perspectives and provide different looks at ordinary things. Her writing comes from a place of strength and I want to be a writer like her. In the romance genre, my earliest influences were Johanna Lindsey and Jude Deveraux who taught me the importance of happily ever after. I fell in love with romance which allowed me to begin my own journey as a writer.

 About Writing:
 What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine?

I begin with an idea. The idea is outlined in my head. I know the characters and the basic storyline. Then I begin writing. The characters dictate what happens in the story and the details. Sometimes the story doesn’t come out exactly how I thought it would happen. During the school year, I wake up and get ready for work then before I leave for work, I answer all my emails and do my blogging. It is in the evening that I write. I love to sit in bed with my laptop and write while the dogs lay around me.

 What motivates you to write?

 I’m motivated by the people in my head, the characters that bug me and the idea that I can share those stories with others.

 Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

 I think everyone suffers from writer’s block at one time. I was given the recommendation to read instead of write when I was blocked. It helps to read other author’s works. I come back more motivated and excited about my own writing.

 Do you have any advice for other writers?

 My biggest advice to other writers is to keep writing. Each time you write, you improve. I’ve taken classes on writing as well as read everything I can find on being a better writer. When I first started writing, I was with a small publishing house that closed after only a few months. My story had been accepted and begun edits but when the publisher closed, the story reverted back to me. I was devastated. But I didn’t give up. With some encouragement from other author friends, I sent my manuscript out to other publishing houses. One who accepted and then my dream came true. It wasn’t an easy thing. In fact, I was very heartbroken but I didn’t give up. And No Author should EVER give up. If one publishing company says no, keep trying. 

What are your current / future projects?

 Currently I am working on a couple of series books. I have just gotten my third book in The Wilder Sisters series accepted and is slated for a Christmas release. I also am working on the sequel to Protecting His Wolfe, which will tell Marcus’s story. Finally, I am working on two other books that I hope to complete and submit soon.

 About your book:
 Can you tell us a bit about your book?

Protecting His Wolfe is the first in a three book series about the three Pigg brothers, Jonah, Marcus and Luke, who own the Pigg Detective Agency. The story is a twist on the Three Little Pigs fairy tale. Blurb: Betsie Wolfe was a small town girl who left her cozy little life for a job in the big city, but she never expected to become a witness to a murder or face vicious threats. Detective Jonah Pigg was immediately attracted to Betsie’s lavender eyes and small frame huddled in the gray wool blanket when he arrived on the scene of the murder. When threats on her life begin, he takes her into his home under the protection of the three Pigg’s who own the Pigg Agency. It will take all his detective work to keep her safe from the killer. Passion has a way of igniting when people are under stressful situations and lust leads Betsie and Jonah into each other’s arms. But is their relationship only a matter of desire or is it something more?

 What is the message in your book? What are your readers’ reactions to it?

 The message is to stand up for what is right. Most people are willing to do what is right but when it comes down to risking your life for that, it is harder. I think people are inherently good and would not want someone else being killed if they could stop it. Most readers are surprised by the resolution of the conflict. 

What do you think readers will find most notable about this book?

 Most readers have commented on the mystery that surrounds the people behind the drug deal and murder. They also like the twist on the fairy tale.

 Can you suggest one question readers might find interesting to discuss, concerning you, your writing in general, or this book?

 Do you believe that people are inherently interested in protecting others or are they more worried about themselves? I would love to hear thoughts on what the readers would do if they were put in Betsie’s place. 

How can readers help you promote this book?

 I know that word of mouth is the most important part of success in writing. If a reader would love to help me promote this book, then they should let their friends know how much they enjoyed it. I would greatly appreciate it.

Where can readers find you and more about your book(s)? Where can they purchase your book(s)? 

Readers can find out more information on me and my books on my website at: www.melissakeir.com. On my blog, I’ve shared missing scenes from this book and have the book trailer on the Protecting His Wolfe page. My books can be purchased on All Romance Ebooks, Bookstrand, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Here are the buy links for Protecting His Wolfe: 

All Romance ebooks

http://www.bookstrand.com/protecting-his-wolfe 

http://www.amazon.com/Protecting-His-Wolfe-ebook/dp/B008C29YNC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339943518&sr=8-1&keywords=protecting+his+wolfe