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ABOUT MELANIE...
Melanie A. Smith is an award-winning, international best-selling author of steamy romance with smart, self-sufficient heroines and strong, swoony book boyfriends with hearts of gold. A former engineer turned stay-at-home mom and author, when Melanie is not lost in the world of books you’ll find her spending time with her husband and son, crafting, or cross-stitching. |
ASK THE AUTHOR
Q: When did you know that you wanted to be an author?
A: I've always been a writer - I wrote my first "romance" picture book when I was six about how I wanted to "make sex" with my cute P.E. teacher, Mr. Brown. But it wasn't until 1994, at the age of about fourteen, that I started winning awards for writing and decided I wanted to author an actual book. I got a decent chunk down, but meandered off into life, though the desire was always in the back of my mind. I wasn't able to actually finish a full novel until nearly twenty-four years later.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you've ever received about writing?
A: There's one piece of advice I've heard about writing that I've also heard in many other contexts. Because it's universally true. When there are so many things to do that it feels like it's overwhelming to even start, make a list, and just do one thing at a time. Even if you only do it for a few minutes a day, doing something will get you closer to your goal every day.
Q: Who are your writing influences?
A: To an extent, I think my writing is influenced by everything I read as I study the various story aspects, though particularly so by other indie authors I've read in my journey this last year and change. But nobody has shaped my writing more than Anne Rice.
Q: Do you ever base book characters on people you know?
A: Definitely, though to varying degrees. I think it’s natural to incorporate elements of people you know, and yourself, for that matter, into characters. The trick is never to admit who they’re based on and always leave people guessing in a “You’re So Vain” kind of way. ;)
Q: If you could have any three literary characters over to your place for game night, who would you invite, what would you play, what would you serve, and why?
A: I simultaneously love and hate this question. I love it because there are so many literary characters I love. But I hate having to choose (haha). I’ll go with Mr. Darcy, Gandalf, and Thursday Next. We’d play Clue, because what else would you play with an aristocratic snob, a wizard, and chronoguard? I’d serve finger sandwiches and tea, naturally, as they’re all British or the brain-child of a Brit. Darcy would hate the whole affair, which would intrigue Thursday, and Gandalf wouldn’t care so long as he had his pipe. And I’d have died and gone to heaven.
Have a question? Submit it through the Contact form!
A: I've always been a writer - I wrote my first "romance" picture book when I was six about how I wanted to "make sex" with my cute P.E. teacher, Mr. Brown. But it wasn't until 1994, at the age of about fourteen, that I started winning awards for writing and decided I wanted to author an actual book. I got a decent chunk down, but meandered off into life, though the desire was always in the back of my mind. I wasn't able to actually finish a full novel until nearly twenty-four years later.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you've ever received about writing?
A: There's one piece of advice I've heard about writing that I've also heard in many other contexts. Because it's universally true. When there are so many things to do that it feels like it's overwhelming to even start, make a list, and just do one thing at a time. Even if you only do it for a few minutes a day, doing something will get you closer to your goal every day.
Q: Who are your writing influences?
A: To an extent, I think my writing is influenced by everything I read as I study the various story aspects, though particularly so by other indie authors I've read in my journey this last year and change. But nobody has shaped my writing more than Anne Rice.
Q: Do you ever base book characters on people you know?
A: Definitely, though to varying degrees. I think it’s natural to incorporate elements of people you know, and yourself, for that matter, into characters. The trick is never to admit who they’re based on and always leave people guessing in a “You’re So Vain” kind of way. ;)
Q: If you could have any three literary characters over to your place for game night, who would you invite, what would you play, what would you serve, and why?
A: I simultaneously love and hate this question. I love it because there are so many literary characters I love. But I hate having to choose (haha). I’ll go with Mr. Darcy, Gandalf, and Thursday Next. We’d play Clue, because what else would you play with an aristocratic snob, a wizard, and chronoguard? I’d serve finger sandwiches and tea, naturally, as they’re all British or the brain-child of a Brit. Darcy would hate the whole affair, which would intrigue Thursday, and Gandalf wouldn’t care so long as he had his pipe. And I’d have died and gone to heaven.
Have a question? Submit it through the Contact form!
