Welcome to Readers Write to Know! I asked you, my readers, what questions they would ask their favorite authors if given the chance, and the authors visiting my blog answered them! This week, I’m so happy to have author Melanie Snitker as my guest. Honestly, after reading her interview, I wish we lived close enough to interact with regularly — someone whose hobbies include target shooting AND baking is my kind of inspirational romance author! Melanie is so graciously giving away either an ebook or a paperback (winner’s choice!) of her latest release FINDING JOY. Read on to see how you can enter to win!
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Hi, Hallee! Thank you so much for the chance to come and chat with you and your readers. My name is Melanie and I write inspirational romance novels. I live in Texas, I’m married to my best friend, and we have two kids ages eleven and six. When I’m not writing, I enjoy photography, learning more about essential oils, target shooting, archery, baking, crocheting, and hanging out with my family and friends.
Tell us about your current release. Finding Joy is the fifth book in my Love’s Compass series. Here’s the blurb for the book:
Sometimes, what looks like a dead end, is really a new beginning.
A horrific accident changed everything for Parker Wilson. Unable to find solid footing in his disrupted life, he returns to his family’s ranch, a place he thought he’d left behind for good. The scars on his face are a daily reminder of all he’s lost, yet his mom still insists he needs to stop hiding and live his life again. The beautiful new employee she hires is the last thing he needs, despite his mom’s best intentions, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make the girl quit and regain the peace and quiet he prefers.
Nothing short of desperation would force Chelsea Blake to work on a local cattle ranch. But if she’s going to avoid her parents’ judgment when they arrive in three weeks, she must turn the temporary job into a permanent one. Between dodging mud, feeding longhorn cattle, and dealing with a handsome boss who keeps giving her the cold shoulder, staying gainfully employed is proving to be a challenge. Chelsea may not be cut out for ranch life, but her determination to succeed is stronger than Parker’s efforts at forcing her to leave.
Unprepared to discover all they have in common, if they set aside their initial dislike, they just might find joy beyond measure.
While all the books in this series stand alone, I do like to bring characters from previous books in so we can get some updates on them. Chelsea’s sister, Laurie, was a main character in the first book of this series, Finding Peace, and she’s a secondary character in Finding Joy.
I’m really excited about the release of Finding Joy and hope my readers enjoy it!
With all those characters in your head screaming to get out, how do you write fast enough to get it all down? I don’t. LOL I have more stories and characters in my head than I have time to write. I have book ideas planned out for the next three years and it feels like new ideas are popping up all the time. I love it, though.
Have you always wanted to write a book? I’ve always enjoyed writing and even made up stories to some of my favorite TV shows when I was a kid. I originally thought I’d write science fiction when I grew up. But in my teens and then in early college, I found I enjoyed reading romance novels. It was frustrating how few clean books there were in that genre and that’s when I decided maybe I could start writing some myself.
Do you have your plotline and character development already laid out before you begin writing a book, or do they develop as you write? I try to have a general idea of what I want the plot to look like and how the characters interact. I find, though, that my characters have minds of their own and no matter how much I try to nail down their personalities, they tend to develop as I write. The same goes with the plot.
A couple books ago, I decided I should be more specific and I plotted everything out down to the chapter. I was sure it would make it easier to write. But I felt boxed in and I found I missed being surprised by where the story took me.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers? You’ll hear a lot that you need to write every day in order to become a successful writer and that just isn’t true. Write when you can. I enjoyed writing most of my life, but it wasn’t until 2014 that I had the opportunity to really focus on it. Before that, I wrote when I had time or the mood struck me. Sometimes it was just a few paragraphs, others it was a couple of chapters. The first book I published, Calming the Storm, took almost fourteen years to complete. It’s still one of my favorite stories.
Write what you love and write when you can. You won’t regret it!
What is your preferred method of writing? (computer, pen & paper, etc.) I write using a laptop and Microsoft Word. Sometimes, I’ll write using Word on my iPad. I also use OneNote to keep track of my books and story ideas.
Do you write your books for your own enjoyment or more for what you think people would want to read? I’m going to say it’s 75% for my own enjoyment, and 25% what I think people (in the genre I write for) would want to read. I know that I don’t connect with the characters in a story if I’m not personally invested in their lives and I think that translates to my readers.
Find Melanie online! Her website, Facebook page, Twitter, Amazon page
Find Melanie’s latest release on Amazon:
Melanie is giving away a copy of Finding Joy!
I’m so grateful for your visit, today.
You would bless me if you added me to your feed reader or subscribed via email.
You can also become a fan on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. I would love to see more of you!
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Thanks for taking the time to share with us. I love hearing more about authors. I also love that you bring characters from previous books into your stories. It always like seeing an old friend (except in cases where the villain comes back).
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Heather! I feel the same way about a series and love to see previous characters come back for updates. It adds to the whole feel of the story!
My 18yo daughter is an aspiring author and tries to write some every day, as that is what she has heard. It is interesting that you say write when you are able. I’m gonna share that with her, as she gets so frustrated some days when the characters don’t come out to play. Lol! This book sounds very good! Thank you for the chance to win.
I found it very frustrating when I focused on whether or not I was writing every day. Because if I missed a day or two, I felt behind. Which only made things worse. By writing when I’m able, it’s so much easier. And if she needs to schedule time, she can set up two days a week where she can take a two-hour period, go to a coffee shop or something, and focus on it during that time. It can be very helpful as well. Yes, it is frustrating when the characters don’t want to come out and play. lol Best of luck to her and I hope she never gives up!
Thank you so much, Hallee, for the chance to come and visit with you today. I had so much fun!
Author
Thank you, Melanie, for being my guest. It was wonderful to get to know you some more!
Thanks for the introduction! Great interview. My favorite genre of course. I’m also writing Christian romance. Currently working on a 3 book series
Hi Sara! Thanks for stopping by. That’s great that you also write Christian romance. Wonderful about your three-book series! 😀
Can’t wait to read this! I wanted to sign up for an ARC of it, but things have been a little hectic around here: closing on a house and moving in the next day, having our 7th child 5 days after moving into our new home, coming home from the hospital to a house full of children with colds along with the sleep deprivation that often comes with having a newborn. As much as I wanted to read and review it, I just did not have the time or the mental capacity to do so right now. 🙁 Hoping to get it and read it soon though once things settle down a bit! 🙂
Hi Julie! Thanks so much for dropping by! Wow, you do have a lot going on. I’m excited for you with your new baby on the way soon and the new house, too. I’m praying all goes smoothly as you make the move and welcome the new member of your precious family. There will be time for reading later. I’ll be thinking about you!