Before I introduce our NEW and OUTSTANDING AUTHOR, let me say a big thank you to Joan Hochstetler who I hosted last month. She is fabulous--thanks Joan!And now, for this month...
I have gotten to know this wonderful new author, whose book A BRIDE FOR KEEPS releases October 1, and I couldn't wait to tell you about her!! Put your hands together for MELISSA JAGEARS!!! Seriously, I think Melissa is a blast (hilarious sense of humor) and her novel is marvelous. You are going to love getting to know her.
Enjoy the interview!!
Tell us about Melissa!
I'm the most unromantic romance author possibly ever. I dislike celebrating holidays, especially Valentines' day.
I never had a boyfriend....I couldn't make myself use the word "boyfriend" with my husband (the only guy I ever dated) because it seemed such a silly word for an almost 30 year old and it was just odd to think I had one. So when he pressed me for exactly what he was to me, I said he could be my "secret boyfriend" if he had to be something, but he couldn't ever call himself that. :P I'm sure that was tons sillier, but I just couldn't say that word with a straight face. Thankfully the word "fiance" took over um....5 months later. (I had to go look up dates, told you I was unromantic.)How long have you been writing? What inspired you to be an author?
I'd occasionally had story ideas pop into my head and I'd write it on a slip of paper and throw it in a box, but I never wrote beyond what was necessary. As an English teacher, I recall being very uncomfortable grading my students' creative writing assignments because I wasn't qualified if I never wrote it myself. (Probably the easiest A's my students received.)
When we had children, we decided I'd stay home. After a year of patty-cake and endless diaper washing, I needed some kind of academic exercise because my brain felt like it was atrophying! So I pulled out that box of ideas and decided to try my hand at writing fiction.
That would be about 4 years ago. I've written 6 novels and 1 novella so far.
What scripture or scripture story give you the most comfort, guidance in your life?Comfort: John 10:29 - "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." Guidance: 1 Timothy 4:6-16, my Bible's heading calls this section "A Good Minister's Discipline."
If you had three wishes what would they be? (they can be serious or frivolous....doesn't matter!)
A housekeeper/cook, a mortgage free home, more talent than I have
What are your top three historical Christian romance books?
Hmmmm, ....I'm a chronic rereader, so in a crazy world where you were never allowed to read a book more than once, the ones I'd be most upset over never being able to reread would be: A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers, To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer, Who Brings Forth the Wind by Lori Wick
Thank you SO much, Melissa! I know readers are going to FLIP about your book, Melissa, and about your novella. Just a word about that novella, ladies-- LOVE BY THE LETTER--is free right now, so click on that link and you can get it ASAP!! Melissa, it was a pleasure to interview you and get to know you better. I can't wait for readers to devour your story and THANK YOU for following your heart and sharing your talents with us. God bless!!
Yes, yes, readers--I know what you're thinking, "So is there gonna be a giveaway?!" Right-o, there is! Leave a comment and your email (you must follow my blog or FB page to be entered) and I will put your hat in the drawing! It's going to be awesome! I'll choose the winner one week from today!
God bless you all and have a wonderful September!
Happy Reading!!!
Fun interview! I got a good laugh out of your "boyfriend" label phobia, only b/c I felt the same way when I was younger. The word just seemed so....I don't know, highschoolish maybe. :)
ReplyDeletelattebooks at hotmail dot com
Yes, very highschoolish, and the guy I was putting that label on was 30 and we definitely weren't in high school. Just didn't feel right. Crazy enough, the word "girlfriend" doesn't bother me as much, but that's probably because girls use "girlfriends" too.
DeleteI love finding new authors! I can't wait to read this book!!
ReplyDeletemarissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com
What a great interview. Melissa, I just laughed at the boyfriend part. Sorry. It was just funny. My daughter would have really liked to have you for a creative writing teacher. She likes to just write stories, but her Eng 101 teacher gives them a topic. She just finished writing an evaluation of herself and fussed the entire time.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Katrina
eppersonkatrina@yahoo.com
She might not like me so much now, since now I know what I'm doing! :) I had a college writing professor that I loved, she was almost always "write whatever you want" I even wrote concrete poems for the assignments. Loved "Margaret" - she wouldn't even let us call her Dr. Whatever-her-last-name-was.
DeleteGreat interview!
ReplyDeleteI was the same way with my 2nd husband. I was 43 and he was a bit older. The "boyfriend" mold didn't quite fit. When pressed I would say he was my gentleman friend. To be so "un"romanatic, you must have good romance in your soul. Can't wait to read Love by the Letter.
ReplyDeletedoretha_stroud@yahoo.com
You know, I wonder what they used before boyfriend? That's a 1909 word. A "Steady" is 1897. Let's see...Beau, suitor, admirer, gentleman caller....hmmmm, not sure I could have made myself use any of those either!
DeleteI totally agree about the "boyfriend" term, Melissa! I've heard several say "man friend," but that feels cheesy too. My bestie and I never say, "like" much either. It's always, "interested in." Haha. Somehow saying you "like" someone at 24 or 25 makes you feel like a preteen again. Not fun.
ReplyDeleteI downloaded Love by the Letter last night! So excited to read it! I have a baby blanket to finish and will love using my Kindle's text-to-speech feature to listen to your novella while I crochet!
Congrats on your new release and your first interview!
Yeah, man friend doesn't make it sound much better. :)
DeleteI always use the movies I've watched before to crochet by. Haven't done that in a long while though! I knit dishcloths when I need to replace one, but that's about as much needlework I've done in several years.
But I bet text-to-speech would be a great thing to crochet to. Thanks for listening!
I am looking forward to reading the novella tonight and the book when it comes out! juliecowles@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interview ladies! I downloaded the free novella and look forward to reading it soon!
ReplyDeleteI follow on FB
pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love re-reading books as well, and To Win Her Heart is one of my favorites :) Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletecolorvibrant[at]gmail[dot]com
I only ever had one boyfriend, the man I married. But the no boyfriend thing? That's even weirder. Wonder what was going through Melissa's secret boyfriend's head when she told him that. :-)
ReplyDelete(No need to include me in the giveaway, thanks!)
He thought I was cute supposedly. Though trying to uphold my "don't tell anyone that" made it awkward when he was asked how serious he was!
DeleteMy daughter-in-law is due in Nov. She also will be a SAHM. She is looking in to starting a business using her experience as a Spanish teacher. So thankful she will be able to stay home, and also use her talents.
ReplyDeleteI read an excerpt from your book, and also got the free novella. Looking forward to reading both.
Martha
josieringer@gmail.com
Martha, the internet is such a grand thing for stay at home moms. I've also taught community college night classes, GED night classes, ESL classes, doing a non-profits financial books, writing novels. I've contemplated teaching very specific online courses to homeschoolers, but got sidetracked by writing. :) But there's small things to do to keep you occupied if you want! Good luck to your girl and congrats on the grandbaby!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read! It comes out on my birthday too!!
ReplyDeletecavinessemail@gmail.com
Happy almost bday!
DeleteGreat interview. I've GOT to find some of her books.
ReplyDeleteWell, you've got the free novella and this one, then you'll have to wait a year for book two, and 2/3 of a year for Book #3, then after that?????
DeleteGlad you'll be getting them. Thanks for stopping by
Thanks for entering me in your giveaway. I would love to win this book to give to my church library.
ReplyDeleteJanet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Melissa, all the best with the release of your debut novel. So very exciting! I want to win your book BAD! :)
ReplyDeleteMelissa is a new author to me and that's great. More fantastic reading. Would love to win her book. Please enter my name in the giveaway. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteBarbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com
Also, I follow your blog and facebook!!
Oh, I am definitely looking forward to reading this book! I've read and greatly enjoyed two out of your three-book list of favorites. Love Lori Wick's and Karen Witemeyer's writings. This book will be good!
ReplyDeleteI am a follower of this blog.
nina4sm/at/gmail/dot/com
I have not had too many "boyfriends" in my life either and still looking for the one. I kind of think it is dorky to call my female friends "girlfriends" too because we are all past being girls. I have always thought of saying male friend, but why not say they are a good friend or close friend because I think as you get to know each other that you become good/close friends. I don't know, the labels we give things sometimes seem inappropriate. But like you I think boyfriend sounds like a high school label, but I am very much a romantic at heart and the labels have nothing to do with that. Thank you for the giveaway - I would enjoy winning this book to read and share with some of my close friends! May God continue to bless your writing! - Lori
ReplyDeletetriplel(at)evertek(dot)net
I don't call my girlfriends, girlfriends either, but for some reason it just doesn't rub me as strangely as boyfriend. So, my hubby was allowed to say "my girlfriend"....maybe I'm just a word dork. I have an aversion to the word pants at one point. I mean, you wear the same thing that a dog does? :)
DeleteThat's funny...can't be called your boyfriend...now I'm really interested in seeing what romance you came up with in your new book!
ReplyDeleteI've downloaded your freebie and can't wait to read it! I am also anxious to read this book so please enter me.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna subscribe to this blog at once!
I feel like I know you, Melissa, from Seekers and am so happy for your writing success!
jacsmi75[at] gmail [dot]com
Seekerville is a great place to hang out! :) Hope you enjoy the novella.
DeleteI am always interested in reading the work of a new author. I have downloaded the novella, but would love to also read A Bride for Keeps. Thank you for offering a copy.
ReplyDeletemay_dayzee@yahoo.com
Thanks for the chance to win this book. I downloaded the free novella earlier in the week. Cute interview! I just signed up to follow your blog. I think it will show up as Britt98.
ReplyDeleteBrittany McEuen
kbmceuen(at)yahoo(dot)com
It does sounds like Melissa has a nice sense of humour :) I enjoyed the interview. And I've been eying her debut for a while so I'd be happy to get the chance to read it.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
g.gclermont AT gmail DOT com
I think most call it dry, but I love to have little bits of funny in my books.
DeleteI downloaded your freebie and can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteI am also anxious to read A Bride for Keeps. Please enter me in the giveaway.
I feel like I know you, Melissa, from Seekers...and want to say congrats on your writing!
jacsmi75[at]gmail[dot]com
PS I don't do FB but trying to subscribe to this blog.
I wanna read this - I read your novella and was thrilled to see Dex and Rachel work things out - can't wait to see what happens to Everett! Thanks for the chance to win it.
ReplyDeletetruckredford(at)Gmail(Dot)com
Glad you liked it, Eliza! Everett's road is a little bumpier. :)
DeleteYour books look Awesome!!! And I know we share favorite Authors in Lori Wick, and Karen Witemeyer! Thanks for the Awesome Giveaway! Please enter me! God Bless!
ReplyDeleterichmond.abigail@gmail.com
This looks so good! I'm so excited to read your book and novella. shopgirl152nykiki(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this interview. Interesting about the boyfriend. I would love to win this book. And, I am a follower of your blog. Please give me an entry.
ReplyDeleteMAXIE mac262(at)me(dot)com