Author Interview of the Week
This week's interview is with Melissa Collins, author of the The Love Series.
What made you want to be an author?
I have a degree in English Lit and I’ve been an English teacher for the last ten years so reading and writing are in my blood. Honestly, though, one day a few months ago, I said to my husband “I think I want to write a book.” So I did. When I was home on maternity leave for my third son, I started reading romance novels and, pardon the pun, but I fell in love. It really sparked my creativity and Maddy and Reid’s story starting brewing in my head. Writing a book wasn’t something that I always wanted to do, but once I decided I wanted it, I went for it and I’m so happy with the results.
Who has inspired you the most?
I’ve read a lot – shocking, right. But I‘ve been most influenced and inspired by Jasinda Wilder, Ella Fox and Bella Andre. I get lost in their stories. The real inspiration for my writing comes from real life. I want my writing to be realistic and believable so what better place to start than real life.
Can you tell us about some of your earlier days of writing?
My earlier days of writing were only a few months ago – crazy right!? I don’t know how other authors tackle the writing process but I have to start at the beginning and work my way through the story. That means some days I write thousands of words and other I write none, but think about my book non-stop. I can’t write chapter 10 until chapter 9 is written. It works for me though and I didn’t have to toss anything, so I guess I’ll keep the process.
Let Love In was just the beginning. How scary was it releasing your first book?
It was exhilarating and so scary. I had a few beta readers so from their feedback I knew the book was at least decent. Plus, like I said, I read a lot so I know what a New Adult Romance reader will be looking for in a book. I thought Let Love In had those things, so I was excited to see what the public reception would be.
What can readers expect with the release of Let Love Stay on July 31?
I think Let Love Stay is much more emotional than Let Love In. Maddy and Reid so a lot of growing up and you get to mature with them. I love Let Love Stay more than Let Love In and I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on it.
Who is your favorite author?
There are so many amazing authors out there so it’s difficult to pin point it to just one, but I absolutely love Colleen Hoover (who doesn’t, right?).
What has been the best experience so far on your journey as an author?
My best experience has been connecting with other authors. I have a fantastic group of indie authors with whom I am so close and I love sharing my successes and failures with them. We boost each other up and laugh like you wouldn’t believe. I absolutely love hearing from my fans! I love getting messages and tweets about how they’re reacting to the book as they’re reading it. It’s just incredible that readers actually enjoy what I’ve written.
Can you give us some insight on any upcoming projects?
I’m currently working on Let Love Heal which will be book #3 in The Love Series; this will be Melanie’s book. I hope to have a book for each of the characters from Let Love In and Let Love Stay. I’m also working on From the Wreckage which is a standalone contemporary romance.
What advice can you give to any upcoming authors?
Don’t give up. When you hate the chapter you’ve just written, or you think no one else will buy your book, or you hate your cover, just keep writing. You have to have faith in yourself or else no one else will.
What made you want to be an author?
I have a degree in English Lit and I’ve been an English teacher for the last ten years so reading and writing are in my blood. Honestly, though, one day a few months ago, I said to my husband “I think I want to write a book.” So I did. When I was home on maternity leave for my third son, I started reading romance novels and, pardon the pun, but I fell in love. It really sparked my creativity and Maddy and Reid’s story starting brewing in my head. Writing a book wasn’t something that I always wanted to do, but once I decided I wanted it, I went for it and I’m so happy with the results.
Who has inspired you the most?
I’ve read a lot – shocking, right. But I‘ve been most influenced and inspired by Jasinda Wilder, Ella Fox and Bella Andre. I get lost in their stories. The real inspiration for my writing comes from real life. I want my writing to be realistic and believable so what better place to start than real life.
Can you tell us about some of your earlier days of writing?
My earlier days of writing were only a few months ago – crazy right!? I don’t know how other authors tackle the writing process but I have to start at the beginning and work my way through the story. That means some days I write thousands of words and other I write none, but think about my book non-stop. I can’t write chapter 10 until chapter 9 is written. It works for me though and I didn’t have to toss anything, so I guess I’ll keep the process.
Let Love In was just the beginning. How scary was it releasing your first book?
It was exhilarating and so scary. I had a few beta readers so from their feedback I knew the book was at least decent. Plus, like I said, I read a lot so I know what a New Adult Romance reader will be looking for in a book. I thought Let Love In had those things, so I was excited to see what the public reception would be.
What can readers expect with the release of Let Love Stay on July 31?
I think Let Love Stay is much more emotional than Let Love In. Maddy and Reid so a lot of growing up and you get to mature with them. I love Let Love Stay more than Let Love In and I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on it.
Who is your favorite author?
There are so many amazing authors out there so it’s difficult to pin point it to just one, but I absolutely love Colleen Hoover (who doesn’t, right?).
What has been the best experience so far on your journey as an author?
My best experience has been connecting with other authors. I have a fantastic group of indie authors with whom I am so close and I love sharing my successes and failures with them. We boost each other up and laugh like you wouldn’t believe. I absolutely love hearing from my fans! I love getting messages and tweets about how they’re reacting to the book as they’re reading it. It’s just incredible that readers actually enjoy what I’ve written.
Can you give us some insight on any upcoming projects?
I’m currently working on Let Love Heal which will be book #3 in The Love Series; this will be Melanie’s book. I hope to have a book for each of the characters from Let Love In and Let Love Stay. I’m also working on From the Wreckage which is a standalone contemporary romance.
What advice can you give to any upcoming authors?
Don’t give up. When you hate the chapter you’ve just written, or you think no one else will buy your book, or you hate your cover, just keep writing. You have to have faith in yourself or else no one else will.
Thanks so much, Melissa for interviewing with us! Don't forget to follow her on any of her outlets! Want to buy Let Love In and Let Love Stay?
Want some teasers? Read the synopses to both books and excerpts from both! Then click the links below to buy!
Synopsis for Let Love In:
What would happen if you lost everything? If the people who were supposed to love you unconditionally were no longer there for you, how would your world change?
That’s exactly what happened to Madeleine Becker when her parents died when she was ten years old. Ripped from her home and everything that she has ever loved, she is forced to start all over again. The only way for her to move on is to build walls around her heart and keep everyone at a safe distance. Her logic: she can't get hurt if she doesn't fall in love.
That theory is blown to pieces when she meets Reid Connely during her freshman year at college. He is gorgeous and darkly mysterious. He understands Maddy's pain all too well, but sharing his pain would mean breaking down the walls he put up around his own heart. Conflicted between loving Maddy and hiding his dark past, Reid starts to reevaluate his world. Maddy's inner strength, snarky personality and breath taking beauty help Reid to make peace with his past.
Together they find out what happens when they let love in.
Excerpt from Let Love In:
There was a group playing quarters on the island and another group lining up shots on the breakfast bar – so not my scene. I just shrugged my shoulders, opened the door, pulled out a bottle of water and, when I turned around to walk back outside, I face-planted into a wall of solid muscle.
“Hand me one?” His voice was smooth and... gruff at the same time. Red-faced, I turned back around and got him his water, glad for the cool respite that the opened refrigerator door offered.
“Here you go.” I could not peel my eyes away from his mouth as he moved the bottle to his lips. They were perfect - beautiful and full in a completely masculine way. I watched, completely fascinated, as his throat moved, downing the water in three or four large gulps. He wiped his mouth with his forearm and I couldn’t help but let my eyes travel up the rest of his arm to his biceps and shoulders – those were the same as his lips – perfect. Amazingly, gorgeously, utterly, divinely perfect. Muscled and tanned, his arms were mouthwatering.
My knees wobbled. My heart thudded. Thousands of butterflies spread their wings in my belly.
“Thanks…” he stared blankly at my face for a minute and I couldn't help but wondering if he liked what he saw. He cleared his throat and roused me from my little daydream where the gorgeous boy is mesmerized by the maybe-a-little-above-average looking girl. That’s when I realized he was asking for my name.
“Maddy. Sorry, my name’s Maddy." I nearly choked on my tongue to get my freaking name out.
Buy the book here!Amazon-Let Love In
Barnes and Noble-Let Love In
COMING SOON!! LET LOVE STAY!!
Synopsis for Let Love Stay:
If you’re lucky, you’ll fall in love – truly, madly and deeply in love. But what happens when that honest and pure love isn’t enough to erase your fears? What happens when your past rears its ugly head and threatens your future?
Maddy and Reid had that kind of love – the all-encompassing, Earth shattering, once in a lifetime kind of love. Then life happened. Old wounds that were thought to be long healed and scabbed over are ripped opened and they are forced to face the possibility that, maybe, they are not strong enough to fight their demons and embrace the light.
Together, they found out what love is, but now they will each need to heal on their own before they can ever be together again. They must face their fears and beat down their pasts in order to find their way through this crazy uphill battle called love.
They’ve let love in, but now, they need to find out how to Let Love Stay.
Excerpt from Let Love Stay:
I get out of the truck and walk over towards the two of them. Maddy’s back is to me as I approach her and her date, so she doesn’t see me right away. But once the guy sees me, she spins around to look at what has caught his eye.
Her face is shocked and when our eyes lock, my heart skips a beat. There’s a pull between us. As much as I hate to admit it, she owns me. Her eyes are magical. They dance with light and passion and when she looks at me, they are filled with love.
The love and passion that are sparkling in her emerald green eyes evaporate when she realizes the scene that I’ve just stumbled upon. I can only imagine what’s going through her mind, but I’m sure the images of me kicking Logan’s ass are flashing vividly through her mind.
I’m no more than a few feet from them when the guy pushes Maddy behind him to protect her from what he perceives as a threat. He’s not very far from the truth, but she’s not the one who needs protecting.
Menacingly close now, he pipes up. “Who the fuck are you? What do you want?” Okay, I’ll give the prick a little bit of credit for trying to stand up to me, but he has no clue what he’s competing against here.
The caveman in me wants to deck this guy and drag Maddy into a bed – any bed – and claim her, repeatedly, until she understands that she’s mine and no one else’s. I’m going to do that anyway, but hopefully I can refrain from knocking this guy on his ass. I’d like to have the use of my hands tonight.
My eyes never leave Maddy’s, but my words are directed at him. “Me? I’m the boyfriend, asshole.” Maddy’s eyes widen slightly as I say “boyfriend.” Did she really think we ever broke up?
I avert my gaze from Maddy for a minute to stare this douchebag down. “And who the fuck do you think you are?” He falters, not enough that most people would notice, but I’m in predator mode. I see his throat work hard to swallow past the newly formed fear. His pupils dilate slightly and the pulse beating in his neck picks up as adrenaline surges through him. If he thinks he’s going to win this battle, he is wrong – so fucking wrong.
He puffs out his chest as he says, “I’m Maddy’s date for tonight.” He snickers lightly as he says, “You know? She never mentioned a boyfriend when I asked her out. Must not be much of a boyfriend if she doesn’t even mention you.” He swells with pride at his snarky little quip. In the split second he looks away from me to gauge Maddy’s approval, I lay him flat on the ground as I drop my shoulder into his gut and take his legs out from underneath him with one of my own. I freaking love my takedown skills. I didn’t even have to bust up my hands. I’m definitely going to need them in a little bit.
I straddle over him and pull him up by the collar. “Whether she mentioned me or not, she’s mine, so lay the fuck off. Got it?”
Maddy still hasn’t said a word and I haven’t actually spoken directly to her. I’m pretty sure she understands my actions though. Wordlessly, I reach my hand out to her. This is her chance. If she still wants me, then she’ll come with me. This is who I am, who I’ve always been. If she can’t understand that I love her, that I want her more than anything, then it’s not because I haven’t tried as hard as I possibly could to prove it to her.
Hand still outstretched, I look her directly in the eyes, as I try to convey everything that I’m thinking, that I’m feeling. In what feels like an act of God, she understands me and laces her hand in mine.
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