Learning More About Melissa Keir #interview #giveaway

Thank you for joining me on Romance Books 4 Us’ blog today. I’m giving away a RB4U t-shirt to one lucky commenter. Please leave your email address so that I can contact you for your mailing address.

I wanted to share a little bit about myself with you through the RB4U interview. I hope you’ll find some things about me that you didn’t know. *wink*

Interview:

RB4U- Your novel is being made into a TV series/movie. Who’s in your dream cast?

Melissa- For Chalkboard Romance, I love Jennifer Lawrence as Lauren. She’d bring the natural grace as well as sex appeal. I’d love Gerard Butler as Mac. He’d make a cute cowboy reporter.

RB4U- What is the most important thing you do for your career now, as compared to when you first started writing?

Melissa- The most important thing is to keep writing. I have four more stories in various stages of development. And while I’m overwhelmed with the full time day job, writing is what I do to get better and to grow as a writer.

RB4U- How much of yourself is hidden in the characters in the book?

Melissa- I love to include pieces of me in my characters. It helps when I write that I become the main heroine. I fall for the hero each time. It makes my stories more realistic and enjoyable to read.

RB4U-If you could change something about your first book, what would it be?

Melissa- Luckily for me I got to change a lot in my first book. I received the rights back to the book at the end of 2013 and self-published it. The cover was the biggest issue. The story was about a middle age divorcee who didn’t think she’d find love again. The old cover featured a girl in her early 20’s. It was not the right cover for the story. I love the new cover. The character that I envisioned is on there now. I also added more content and changed the story a bit. I believe it’s stronger now.

RB4U-How do you choose names for your characters?

Melissa-I love to choose names for my characters from my students or friends. You never know who’s name will show up in the story. I was on a radio show and the host wanted me to use his name in a story. His first name ended up in Chalkboard Romance.

RB4U-Give one advice tip to an aspiring author.

Melissa- Never give up! Things have a way of messing up, publishing houses close, errors are found, bad reviews happen…but keep writing and never give up your dreams. You will succeed!

RB4U-Have you ever used an incident from your real life into one of your books?

Melissa- In A Christmas Accident, when the hero comes out of the coma, is exactly how it happened when my mom came out of her week long coma. It was a miracle because we had been told that she was going to die. She was on a breathing tube and feeding tube. She felt no pain or sensory stimuli. Only when my father’s priest came in did her situation change.

RB4U-Any part of a book that drives you crazy as you write: beginning, middle, or end?

Melissa-I have a good understanding of the beginning and endings. It’s the middle that always throws me for a loop. I never know where the characters are going to lead me.

Fun Stuff:

RB4U- What is your favorite holiday and why?

Melissa-I love Christmas because it’s a time for family and remembrances.

RB4U- What are two things people might be surprised to know about you?

Melissa- I’m the oldest of five girls who all have names that begin with “M”, sort of like my Wilder Sisters series. I’ve worked as a salesgirl in a stuffed animal store. It was a fun time and we even had some stuffed animals that were selling for thousands of dollars.

RB4U- As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Melissa- I wanted to be a singer on stage. Alas, I can’t really sing but my poor mom used to watch all my shows.

RB4U- Favorite food.

Melissa- Pizza…it’s not just for breakfast anymore!

RB4U- Favorite drink.

Melissa- Soda- coke not pepsi.

RB4U- Hot summer days or chilly winter nights?

Melissa-Hot summer days- I love the longer days and warmer nights. Besides it’s my birthday time!!

RB4U- What is the top thing on your bucket list?

Melissa-I did my first 5k this year which was one thing on my list, now I want to travel and see the west. I love reading about cowboys of the West. I want to see them first hand.

RB4U- If you could have a super power, what would it be?

Melissa- I want to be able to think about something and make it happen. More along the lines of Jeanne from I Dream of Jeanne or Samantha from Bewitched. So if I wanted to travel to Ohio, rather than get in the car, I could just blink myself there.

Latest Book: Chalkboard Romance

Blurb:

Lauren Walsh, a divorcee and elementary teacher, wanted to feel sexy again, after her ex tossed her aside for a younger woman. Her teaching partner and best friend encouraged her to sign up for The Playhouse--a renowned dating agency.

Mac Thomas remained trapped in a marriage to a money grubbing socialite. Forced to stay away from his young son, Mac lost the ability to trust. After the death of his wife, he returned to care for his son but his sister wants more for him. She sets him up with The Playhouse.

Passion ignites but Mac’s a parent of one of Lauren’s students. A teacher and a parent dating could cost Lauren her job and her chance at happiness. Will Mac be able to convince the school and Lauren, that love is the most important thing?

Buy Link: Secret Cravings Store

BIO:

As a writer, Melissa likes to keep current on topics of interest in the world of writing. She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and EPIC and other writing organizations.  She is always interested in improving her writing through classes and seminars. Melissa doesn’t believe in down time. She’s always keeping busy. Melissa is a wife and mother, an elementary school teacher, a book reviewer, an editor for a publishing company as well as an author. Her home blends two families and is a lot like the Brady Bunch, without Alice- a large grocery bill, tons of dirty dishes and a mound of laundry. She loves to write stories that feature happy endings and is often seen plotting her next story.

Connect with me on my website and blog: http://www.melissakeir.com and http://www.melissakeir.com/blog.html

Or on FB: http://www.facebook.com/melissaakeir or http://www.facebook.com/authormelissakeir

Or on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/melissa_keir

I'd love to hear from you about things no one knows about you! What was your strangest job? Don't forget just by commenting, you are entered to win the Romance Books 4 Us t-shirt!