Showing posts with label Melissa Keir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Melissa Keir. Show all posts
Friday, March 16, 2012
My Guest! Melissa Keir
Morning Crew! I want ya ta crawl outta yer mangy hammocks and give a warm welcome to me guest, Melissa Keir! I met this lass while wanderin’ the streets a Facebook city, when she popped up to say how much she enjoyed my book! In fact, she reviewed it! (Good review, too…)
We got to chatting and I ended up blathering on her blog and invited her ta come blather with us. She be a newly published author, but she been doing more than writing, as ya’ll see as ya read along!
*****
Melissa – I very much enjoyed your short story, Forever Love, especially the hero arriving with the entire fire department to make it clear his intent to the heroine. When we chatted, you mentioned fire crews areintensely close to each other. Was this scene something you had experience with?
Maureen, thank you for having me and for reading my book. It means a lot to have feedback from other authors, especially ones that I admire. My best friend is married to a firefighter with the city of Detroit.
They are a family in all sense of the word. They share life and death daily with each other. When something unfortunate happens, the whole fire department rallies together to take care of the each other and their families. For my friend’s wedding, the guys all showed up on a fire truck to take her to the wedding.
Tell us how you found yourself taking part in the anthology with Ruby Lioness Press.
The owner of Sizzling Hot Book Reviews is also the part owner of Ruby Lioness Press. When my previous publisher closed, Marissa suggested that we take a look at Ruby Lioness Press. They were just beginning as a publishing house and put a submission call out for second chance stories for their anthology. I knew many of the authors in the anthology and wanted to be a part of a book with them.
What is it like working as a reviewer for Sizzling Hot Books?
I love reading books. Marissa gave me a chance to read books and write my thoughts on the books for fun. I’ve been able to find some wonderful series and fabulous authors to read and even become friends with.
Does it help or hurt with your writing to be looking at other books with a critical eye?
Having read a great deal of other stories I am very careful that my stories never cross the lines into someone else’s story. I love many other authors’ ideas and it can be challenging to think of a new plot or storyline.
I know for a lot of us, once we start writing it’s difficult to separate the writer from simply reading for joy. With you, editing, reviewing and writing, is it difficult to sit down and just enjoy a good read?
I have certain authors that I read for enjoyment that it is no problem to read and let myself go. Most of what I read these days is not for pleasure. I don't have a lot of extra time in my day, so I read more for reviews (which I do love and have found some new favorite authors) and read for editing. For me, it isn't that I can't separate the different types of reading, but having the time to do what I used to take for granted. I would rather earn my keep, than read for pleasure many nights.
And wearing a third hat as an editor? I’m impressed! Writing, reviewing, editing…do you ever wake up uncertain what day it is? Is it difficult to switch gears? Does the editor ever block the writer or the reviewer get too critical with the writer? Does the writer ever send chocolates to the reviewer?
Wearing all the different hats… I am also a full time elementary teacher, can get in the way of just writing. Time is limited. I can’t write in my sleep yet, and I do still need sleep in order to be a human. So all my extra jobs sometimes get in the way.
I write with passion, not that part of my brain that the editing comes from…at least for the first draft. Then after I get the story down, I think it is helpful to have that critical eye. I am able to take a look at my work and make changes that help make my story clearer. Of course, as we all gain experience with writing and editing, our writing gets better and clearer. I wish that someone would send me flowers or chocolate on occasion. Any offers??
I read on your website that you wanted to be a race car driver…what series? Do you follow racing now? Who is your favorite driver?
I don’t follow a particular racing series. I do love the funny car races. Cha Cha Muldowney was an inspiration to me, as the first woman of drag racing. I used to watch her race and loved the idea of going as fast as I could and controlling all that power.
Second chances is a big theme for me, too! Tell us about ‘Second Times the Charm’.
Second Time’s the Charm is a story of a middle-aged divorced woman who finds love where she least expects it. She falls for her best friend’s ex-husband! Divorce can often shred a person’s self-esteem. Lissa’s divorce hit her like a ton of bricks. She didn’t expect it, nor did she expect that her husband would cheat on her. Lissa and her best friend commiserate about the horrible things that their ex’s have done and she develops a picture of Alex that doesn’t fit the guy she meets and falls for.
And what is your next book from Rebel Ink Press? Tell us about it!
My June 3rd release from Rebel Ink Press is titled “Protecting His Wolfe” and tells the tale of a police detective, Mr. Pigg who must protect a witness to a murder when the murderer comes after her. Her last name is Wolfe and she is a secretary for a transportation company. The story has a cleaver play on the fairy tale of “The Three Little Pigs”. I plan on writing three stories in this series, telling the stories of Detective Pigg’s two brothers.
Okay, now the nitty gritty…Who is this pirate ancestor you claim as yours?
My maiden name is Watling. We did some research on our family. Watling is a popular name both in fiction and real life. You’ll find a Belle Watling in Gone With The Wind. There is also a famous actor in England named Watling that is related to my family. Back before San Salvador became the name of that island in the Caribbean, a pirate by the name of George Watling was working the waters around the island. But he was a kind pirate and helped the people who were living under an oppressive rule. The people elected him the governor and renamed the island Watling’s Island for a while. I know that a kind pirate sounds like a strange oxymoron but I like that he was helpful for the people.
Last words?
I love to hear from my readers or people who love books! I have a bunch of keeper books that I’d never part with and have read over and over again. Not to mention that I have a blended family and often write about the stresses and blessings of being a parent. Okay, you found me out… I love to chat!
http://www.melissakeir.com/
www.facebook.com/#!/melissakeir
http://www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorMelissaKeir
www.twitter.com/melissa_keir
Now, keep in mind, Melissa is a teacher so I doubt we’ll be hearing from her until later in the day. I for one, want to know how to get in on an anthology…
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