An Interview with Melissa Keir

Welcome to Craving Erotic Romance Blogspot.

Today we’re presenting Author: Melissa Keir

                                               

1) Have you alwas wanted to be an author?

(MK) No. I haven’t always wanted to be a published author although the idea of a writer has been on my mind floating around for a long time. When I was in middle school and high school, I wrote stories and poetry about the students in my class. When my boyfriend joined a fraternity, I arranged for all the girls who were interested to write letters to the guys as a way to connect.

First and foremost, I’ve been a reader and loved reading passionate tales about characters I could identify with. My family and friends loved my insights into life that I wrote and urged me to share them with the world. I thought that would be my first book. But my own desire to write romances kicked in and I wrote my first story which became published just this year.

2) What genre(s) do you write?

(MK) I write contemporary romances. I would love to branch out and write other stories in the future but currently I have a few series running around in my head that are demanding my attention.

3) Have you ever self published?

(MK) No. I’ve never self-published but I also am co-owner of a publishing house and have published other people’s books. I am not ruling out self-publishing because I love that idea, I just haven’t found the time yet.

4) Who or what inspired you to write your first book?

(MK) My mom inspired me to write my first book. She wrote a romance novel when I was a teenager. She never was accepted for publishing but her excitement and determination gave me the idea that I could become an author.

I also couldn’t have done it without the support of two wonderful authors who gave me advice and urged me to write. Liz Crowe and Anne Holly have been so wonderfully helpful and are my “fairy godmothers”. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their “kicks in the pants” and shoulders to cry on.

5) How many hours in a day might you write?

(MK) I am a full time elementary school teacher so my time is limited for writing. I usually try to get some writing in at night and weekends. However, that being said, I’m also working on my work for the publishing house and writing hasn’t been as active as I’d like. :)

6) Are you a plotter or a pantster?

(MK) I am a mixture of both. I like to plan out the story line in my head and will often put pieces on paper. Sometimes I even sit down with a friend and tell them the story first before I begin writing. Most of the time, I do like to let the characters come alive and tell their own stories. They are very chatty some days.

7) Do you ever find yourself slipping away and becoming so immersed in your story it affects how you relate to others?

(MK) Yes, I think I do this when I’m deep into the story, especially if I’m at a crucial part. My poor family understands and comes to expect that if I’m writing, other things will have to pass. I feel sorry for them when I'm in that cranky mood as I try to finish a story. They sometimes tease me that my computer comes with me everywhere. I take my laptop with me to family gatherings and even to the doctor’s office. I try to use whatever time I can in a productive way.

8) The world is ending in an hour, what do you do, and who do you do it with?

      (MK) If the world was ending in an hour, I would spend the time curled up on the couch with my husband and the dogs. I love those times when I can cuddle in his arms and take a nap. I would also want to phone my children to say goodbye.

9) If you were a cheese, what flavor would you be, and why?

      (MK) This is a fun question. I would probably be Hot Pepper Jack cheese. I’m a little spicy and certainly full of zest. Yet I’m something that is a little out of the ordinary.

10) Five things you can take to a desert island, what would they be?

     (MK) I must have internet on this desert island as well as electricity and shipping! Otherwise I won’t go! I need my computer laptop so that I can place orders for books and groceries then have them shipped to my island. I can’t live without my books or my soda! I also would take my dog and my husband. They will keep me happy and my final thing that I would take is an air conditioner for those hot nights. I do love to sleep with a breeze!

11) Please share an excerpt from one of your books that totally spoke to you when you put the words down on paper.

     (MK). This is an excerpt from my story “Second Time’s the Charm”.

Little girls dream of romance and true love from the time they first learn about little boys. I was the little girl who dreamed of Prince Charming coming to take me away to a beautiful fantasy world where we would always be happy. When I met Steve in high school, I thought he was my Prince. We married and had kids. Then the fairy tale ended. That was the day I gave up on love.

     I think that it spoke to me because I grew up on the fairy tales and believed in them. I      thought that marriage was easy and certainly all that Disney portrayed. But reality was     much different. Life has a habit of getting in the way and happiness isn’t guaranteed. In other words, our lives are what we make of it. We just have to write the story.

Thank you for having me here and for stopping by and visiting. I hope you will stop by and visit with me again soon.

Find Melissa Keir on FB (here), twitter (here), and website (here).