{"id":1353,"date":"2015-11-26T18:37:21","date_gmt":"2015-11-26T23:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lgoconnor.com\/site\/?p=1353"},"modified":"2015-11-26T18:37:21","modified_gmt":"2015-11-26T23:37:21","slug":"november-author-spotlight-bestselling-romantic-suspense-author-melinda-leigh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lgoconnor.com\/site\/november-author-spotlight-bestselling-romantic-suspense-author-melinda-leigh\/","title":{"rendered":"NOVEMBER: Author Spotlight, Bestselling Romantic Suspense Author, Melinda Leigh"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Melinda-Leigh-4638-Color-Lg\"<\/a>Welcome, Everyone! I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving. I'm incredibly excited to have bestselling romantic suspense author, Melinda Leigh<\/strong><\/em>, with me for this month's Creating the WRITE Reality's<\/em> Author Spotlight! I met Melinda a few years ago at the Create Something Magical Conference. She is a fellow member of the Liberty States Writers Group, and one of the most genuinely nice, down-to-earth authors I've met through the group. In addition to that, she also happens to be one the hottest Romantic Suspense authors on Amazon.<\/p>\n

Melinda, I want to start by congratulating you! Tracks of Her Tears<\/em><\/strong> is at #58 in PAID Kindle books, and #1 & #2 in your other categories. My review is below, and I can definitely say: “Well deserved!”<\/p>\n

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So people, it's BLACK FRIDAY, if you're looking for gifts this season, consider Melinda's novella,\u00a0Tracks of her Tears,\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>set a few days before Christmas in a small Oregon town. Or try any of her other novels or novellas (links at the bottom).<\/p>\n

I have some questions for Melinda, so let's get started…<\/p>\n

I love the covers of your Rogue Novella series! How exciting to see this collaboration with Kendra Elliott… Can you tell us a little bit about the series? What inspired you? How did that collaboration \/ packaging come together? Any tips for making something like that work?<\/strong><\/p>\n

[ML] The Rogue Novellas is a romantic suspense series about two sisters who live in the small town of Solitude, Oregon, where keeping a secret can be murder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kendra and I are friends as well as coauthors on the Rogue novellas. We have similar work styles. Each of us knows the other is deadline driven and will get the job done on time. We also found that a detailed outline and writing schedule are an absolutely necessities when writing a joint project.<\/span><\/p>\n

On a Kindle Love Stories video that I saw recently, your dog Bandit is featured. I\u2019m also a mom of a rescue dog, so I\u2019m a huge sucker for canine characters in books. Tell us about Bandit\u2019s literary debut. Also, you mentioned in the video that you were holding a contest to choose another dog to be featured in an upcoming book. Has it come out? Which dog did you choose? Quirks?<\/strong><\/p>\n

[ML] Bandit stars in two of the She Can books, She Can Tell<\/em><\/strong> and She Can Kill<\/em><\/strong>, which releases in December 2015. He is a small dog with a huge personality. He makes me laugh so many times in real life I just had to include him in a book.<\/span><\/p>\n

AnnaBelle the golden retriever in Hour of Need<\/em> <\/strong>and Minutes to Kill<\/em><\/strong> is a character created from the dog-character naming contest. She is loyal and sweet and the best friend of six-year-old Carson Barrett.<\/span><\/p>\n

Given you are an accomplished martial artist, what\u2019s your best advise for writing a fight scene?<\/strong><\/p>\n

[ML] Keep it simple or consult with an expert to make sure your scene is plausible. I often choreograph fight scenes on the mat to ensure the action makes sense. Also, know your character and his\/her capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

What's your process? How long on does it take you to write a full-length novel?<\/strong><\/p>\n

[ML] I need about four months to write a full-length novel. Then I spend another month revising with my editor.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you had all the time in the world, and you could choose another genre, is there a story you are dying to write outside of Romantic Suspense?<\/strong><\/p>\n

[ML] I love romantic suspense, but I could also write straight suspense or some type of humorous fiction, perhaps a romantic comedy. I\u2019ve also considered writing a historical fiction novel. I\u2019m not afraid to tackle a new challenge. (Although there\u2019s no guarantee someone won\u2019t die no matter what I write\u2026)<\/span><\/p>\n

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing new writers today? What do you feel is the biggest challenge you\u2019ve faced as an author?<\/span><\/p>\n

The temptation to self-publish before a book is ready. \u00a0My first book, She Can Run, went through five complete rewrites before it was sold. It would have been far easier to simply self-publish it at any time during that two and a half year process. But the book wouldn\u2019t have been ready, and sales would likely have reflected its immaturity. I finished the original draft for She Can Run<\/em><\/strong> 2007. The book didn\u2019t sell until 2010 and wasn\u2019t published until 2011. Considering how steep my leaving curve was, I\u2019m glad I resisted the temptation.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is your idea of a perfect romance in a novel?<\/strong><\/p>\n

[ML] For me a perfect romance isn\u2019t full of flowery dialogue. Actions speak louder than words. For example, one of the most romantic things my husband has ever done was cook for my sick dog. When my beloved collie was dying, he cooked her pot roasts and chickens and spent six months hand feeding her. We\u2019ve been married for twenty-one years, and he is still my best friend.<\/span><\/p>\n

What do you find to be some of the biggest misconceptions about the romance genre?<\/strong><\/p>\n

[ML] I honestly don\u2019t worry about this at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

What do you love most about being an author?<\/strong><\/p>\n

[ML] I love everything about being an author.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the top three pieces of advice you would give other authors?<\/strong><\/p>\n

[ML] Be patient. Write every day, even when you don\u2019t want to. Read.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s next for you, Melinda?<\/strong><\/p>\n

[ML] I\u2019m finishing edits on the third book in the Scarlet Falls series, Seconds to Live. Then I can\u2019t wait to get started on my next project: the fourth Midnight novel.<\/span><\/p>\n

In my next novel, my heroine is a Romantic Suspense author, and the hero brings her a steaming bowl of homemade Mac \u2018n Cheese as she\u2019s struggling to finish her book. Can you remember the best mac \u2018n cheese you\u2019ve ever had? Recommended recipe?<\/strong><\/p>\n

[ML] My husband does all the cooking. I\u2019m not a fussy eater. I like everything I didn\u2019t have to prepare. (No, you can\u2019t have him.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Favorite dog breed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

[ML] By far, I love mutts. I have two rescue dogs: Bandit, a spaniel-dachshund mix, and Roxy, a pocket pittie we adopted last year.\u00a0 There is nothing better than turning a damaged dog\u2019s life around and giving it a loving home. If you\u2019re thinking about adding a furry friend to your family, please consider a rescue!<\/span><\/p>\n[LG] I already have one \ud83d\ude42 We rescued my whippet Nevada right before Christmas, in 2009. Melinda, thanks so much for stopping by, and have a fabulous holiday season!<\/p>\n

BOOK REVIEW<\/strong><\/p>\n

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