Saturday, May 28, 2011

Guest Author Day with Melissa Schroeder/Contest

CONTEST: Comment to be entered in to win a book from Melissa. Contest ends Tuesday May 31st. Winner to be announced here on the blog comments. Please make sure to leave your email address in your comment in case you win.

Hi Melissa…please make yourself at home here at Love Romances & More Reviews.

Hi! Thanks so much for having me!

Q: Please tell us a little about yourself.

Well, I am a military wife, at least for 2 and a half more years, with a couple of military brats and an adopted dog daughter.  Right now, I’m actually in the middle of a move from Virginia to Alabama.

Q: What got you interested in becoming an author? Was it something you always wanted to do or did the writing bug hit you fairly recently?
I think from about the time of my middle school years I wanted to write. I took a few creative writing courses in college.

Q: What comes first for you when you sit down to create a new book: Characters or the storyline?
Characters. I am a very character driven author. They always come to me first.

Q: Who are some of your favourite authors?
This would be very long if I listed everyone. First, I have to give props to Jayne Ann Krentz (and all her names), Nora Roberts, Lori Foster, Linda Howard, Julia Quinn, Christina Dodd, Stephanie Laurens and Julie Garwood. I started reading all these ladies inspired me to write romance.

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your series ‘A Little…”. It is pretty popular with readers. What inspired it?
That one I actually came up with from a title. I thought A Little Harmless Sex would be a cool title. Then, Anna came to mind. From that, came a series, lol. I think the popularity comes from the characters. Each story is very unique. Some are BDSM, some are not, some have suspense. The characters of each book determine the tone of the book. In fact, A Little Harmless Submission will have a lot of suspense in it because the hero is a cop and the heroine is FBI.

Q: Tell us about your characters in your books. Who has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most stubborn?
I think that Anna and Daniel were my easiest pair. They were both so desperately in love with each other but afraid to say it. But, for some reason, their story just came flowing. Toughest character has got to be Evan from A Little Harmless Obsession. People wanted his story and they waited over two years for it. I wanted to make sure that I wrote it just right, but boy, he was tough. He only revealed his secrets to me little by little.

Q: What would we find if we came and looked in your closets?
Well, they are empty at the moment, ha! Usually, just a bunch of clothes I wear only at gunpoint. Shoes, and a lot of bags from conferences. Oh, and my secret stash of toys lol. I always seem to find books there also. Of course, I find them in every nook and cranny in my house when I have to move.

Q: What genre haven’t you tried yet but want to in the future?
I have started one, but only a couple chapters, but I want to finish a historical paranormal.

Q: What is your favorite way to unwind after a day of working, writing and other obligations?
Reading. I am a reader at heart and days without it I feel incomplete.

Q: What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels; do you find them difficult to write?
This depends on the characters. They are never easy and I usually spend more time reworking them than other scenes. I think because there are so many layers.  First, there are the mechanics. When reading over a rough draft, it is kind of funny some of the mistakes in my writing, lol. Then, you have to layer in the feelings, the emotions of whatever character POV you are in. And lastly, you have to make sure there was a reason for it. I don’t like love scenes just to fill in the space. I want it to move the journey forward, or cause conflict, something. There has to be a reason for it or it is gratuitous in my humble opinion.

Q: What do you have coming up next for you? Care to share any details with us?
Been really busy. A Little Harmless Addiction comes out June 7th in digital from Samhain Publishing. I also have a short story that lets you get a peek at May and Evan after marriage called A Little Harmless Surprise. I have a futuristic coming out in September called The Last Detail, also from Samhain. At the moment, I am working on, you guessed it, the next Harmless book, A Little Harmless Submission.

Q: Where can we find you on the web?
I am all over the place, but mainly


Check out Melissa's Latest Release~The Spy Who Loved Her
Once Upon an Accident Book 3
Available HERE from Samhain Publishing

To keep her safe, he will not only have to risk his life, but also his heart.

Lady Anna was once considered the catch of the season. Now, three years after she fell for a man who tried to murder her cousin, she eases her guilt with charity work at an orphanage. Until her mother insists she do her duty.
Attending her cousin’s ball is irritating enough. It’s her one dance with Daniel, the unscrupulous Earl of Bridgerton, that rubs her nerves raw. And oddly leaves her senses on the edge of arousal. 

The ton sees Daniel as a scoundrel. In truth, like centuries of Bridgertons before him, he leads a vast network of spies, protecting England from her worst enemies. His resolve never to marry means the one woman he’s always wanted—Lady Anna—is off limits. Especially now that his father’s murderer is coming after him as well. 

At first, Anna wonders if Daniel was put on this earth just to annoy her. It’s only when she finds him injured that his mask begins to fall away—and so do the barriers between them. But their flaring passion puts her right where Daniel didn’t want her. Next on a killer’s list.
Warning: This book contains spies, musicales, men who think they know everything, women who know they do not, naughty liaisons, matchmaking mamas, and a seduction that will curl your toes.


Check out LR&M Reviews of Melissa's Books:




22 comments:

Cathy M said...

Hi Melissa,

I love your Harmless series and can't wait to read Kai and Jocelyn's story.

And for anyone who enjoys historical romances, you've got to check out The Spy Who Loved Her, such a great trilogy.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

caity_mack at yahoo dot com

Gabrielle Lee said...

Great interview. Always nice to learn things about your favorite author and books. I love your " A little Harmless.." series. Can't wait for the next one.

meingee@yahoo.com

Pommawolf Emeraldwolfeyes said...

Thank you for the wonderful interview!
I learn more about you all the time, and admire your hard work. You have the most intriquing characters that draw the readers to care about them. I love books that I can make an emotional connection to, and I am always just tickled when I read your books.
Hoping your unpacking and settling is going good, and your enjoyoing your holiday weekend too....*S*

Tahnk you!

Darcy

pommawolf @hotmail.com

angelgray@yahoo.com said...

I went to High School with Melissa and knew then that she would be a wonderful writer. I love her books and look forward to reading them.

Darla

Anne Lange said...

Reading is my first love, but I am trying my hand at writing now. I write erotic romance and I'm currently checking out all the fabulous authors in this genre. I have been following Melissa on Twitter and would love to check out one of her books.

anne_lange66@yahoo.ca
http://twitter.com/Anne_Lange

gataluna2002 said...

Melissa;thank you for your Amazing books! I started with "The Hired Hand" and discovered the Harmless books,I was hooked.Good luck on your move.I know how it is I did it for 21years. Reading books got me through the tough times.Thanks again!

holls said...

Thanks for the review. It looks like a great read.
Hollybwright at comcast dot net

shelli said...

melissa is amazing. i have not found a book of hers i havent fallen in love with. my favs are the harmless series though. thank you so much
rodgers.shelli@yahoo.com

Tiss said...

Always love free books. Enjoy your series. Have a great holiday weekend. and Thanks to all who have served and are serving our country!

Pommawolf Emeraldwolfeyes said...

I finished reading A Little Harmless Surprise, and I so adore these characters. The vulnerablity and passion is flet by the reader..and I am ever so thrilled to write a review on this "surprise".

Darcy

pommawolf @hotmail.com

Alexandra said...

I basically "stumbled" across Melissa on Twitter, and now I am eager to get started on her books. I can't even decide where to start, they all sound so good I am amazed I didn't find her before!

Unknown said...

I love Melissa's books. She is pretty amazing too =)

heatherlire@gmail.com

Christina said...

I totally love the Harmless series! I can't wait to read Jodelyn n Kai's story.

I'm from Alabama...anyone know where Melissa is moving to ???

mhay@panhandle.rr.com

Dragon Lady said...

Melissa, thanks for doing this interview! It gave me a new insight.

I have to say, I think, so far anyway, that my fave story(ies) from you are Conquering India and Delilah's Downfall. Any hope of Deliah's brothers story coming soon??

Stacy Wilson
dragn_lady at yahoo dot com

JoAnna said...

I have read the first book in the Harmless series. I loved it. Can't wait to read more of them.

beckerjo at verizon dot net

Anonymous said...

Melissa, I've told you on FB how much I love your Harmless series, I can't wait for the next two. I have already preordered Kai and Jocelyn's story!! These were the first books of your's that I have read, while I wait on the next ones I'll begin reading some of your other work. The other comments have given me some good ideas on where to start. You have the MOST interesting characters!! Thanks for the hours of blissful reading!
Linda

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a great read. Thanks for the giveaway!

jcross719 at yahoo dot com

Janette said...

Melissa as i've said before you are an automatic buy. Your books never fail to entertain and as I agree with you most whole heartedlly about the sex just being thrown in I love the books even more. The emotions and characters and sex all flow in such a true and exciting and natural way. Please don't stop writing anytime soon.
Happy memorial day and please say thank you to your husband. My dad fought in a war overseas and my uncle and aunt and great grandfather too. Janette

Melissa Schroeder said...

I want to thank all of you for coming by. I was having some major problems with my internet. Blogs would just not load for me. But I am settled and will go through and answer any questions I missed. Thanks again to Love Romances for hosting me!

Melissa Schroeder said...

Stacy, I am almost done with Morgan's Mates, which is Cam (you remember Delilah's old boyfriend) and brothers' story. Then I will be doing Delilah's brothers. I hope to get them both turned in before this fall. :)

Melissa Schroeder said...

Darla,
Okay, I know several Darla's from High School. Which one are you? LOL, and thank you. I would have never thought I would write romance until I discovered it in 1999 by accident, but it was the best accident of my life.

Melissa Schroeder said...

Christina,
I am in the Montgomery area! I hope to do some appearances as my print books from Samhain start rolling out, but still have not made any contacts with the local bookstores. I need to start hunting them up for August and Sept releases:)