An Interview with Melissa West

The Reading Cafe would like to welcome Melissa West. Before we start the Interview, here is a short biography about Melissa.

Melissa lives in a tiny suburb of Atlanta, GA with her husband and daughter. She pretends to like yoga, actually likes shoes, and could not live without coffee. Her writing heroes include greats like Jane Austen and Madeleine L’Engle.

She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and an M.S. in Graphic Communication, both from Clemson University. Yeah, her blood runs orange.

GRAVITY is her first novel.

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Hi Melissa.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

TRC: Will you please tell us about yourself?

Melissa: Ah, this must be the most difficult question I’m asked as I’m not one to talk about myself. Perhaps it’s because I’m so boring! I could tell you all the basics–I’m married and will soon have two daughters (I’m expecting my 2^nd now). I could tell you about my education, my work, etc. But instead, I’ll tell you the funny quirks that few know. When I was little, I was obsessed with horror movies. Loved them. Watched all of them hundreds of times. But that love turned me into a complete scaredy cat of an adult! I can’t sleep with closet doors open, and I check under my bed every night before crawling into it. And don’t even get me started on ghosts! 🙂

TRC: Congratulations on the upcoming arrival of your second daughter..🙂

TRC: Have you always been interested in writing?

Melissa: Interestingly enough, no. I went to college, received my masters, and began focusing on my career. I’m a very driven person, so I didn’t really have time to think about anything beyond advancing my career. It wasn’t until after I had my daughter that I decided to write a novel. It was actually my father’s idea, and of course, now I’m hooked.

TRC: Is there anything (in general) you find particularly challenging about writing?

Melissa: I think the entire process can be challenging, depending upon the type of writer you are. For me, I struggle with the second leg of the middle of my books. The beginning is easy, the end a breeze, and then I get to the middle and bam, I hit a wall. I have to force myself to write through the wall, and then typically I rewrite that section again and again during edits.

TRC: What is your writing process?  Do you like to write at specific times, in a special place?

Melissa: I prefer to write alone in a quiet room. Where that room is doesn’t matter, though I enjoy writing in my bedroom glider. And I’m a night owl, so I typically write between 9 p.m. and midnight.

TRC: Gravity is your debut novel, can you please describe your reactions when you found out your book was going to be published?

Melissa: As childish as it may sound, I cried. I remember receiving the call at 1 a.m. and then jumping on my husband--who was already in bed--and screaming, “I’m going to be published!” I’ll never forget that day.

TRC: Gravity is part of a series- The Taking. How many books do you plan in this series?  How did you come up with the idea of The Taking?

Melissa: Yes, GRAVITY is the first of a three book series. As for the Taking itself, it came to me in a dream. I had been thinking a lot about my idea of an alien species that entered earth through the trees. I wanted there to be a reason they had to come to earth, and decided it needed to be to “host” to humans. When would they do this hosting? How would it work? I toyed with lots of ideas, and then one night, I had a dream of a boy hovering over a girl, both of them surrounded by light. I woke in the middle of the night and wrote it all down. I knew I had my idea, I had the Taking.

TRC: Would you please tell us the premise behind Gravity?

Melissa: GRAVITY is about a seventeen-year-old military legacy that learns the most popular boy in school is an alien spy, who needs her help to prevent a war between the two species.

LINKS TO PRE-ORDER
Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Book Depository

TRC: Gravity is YA, and Sci-Fi romance.  What drew you to YA and Sci-Fi?  Have you considered writing any other genre?

Melissa: I adore YA, both as a writer and a reader. There is something so pure about that time in our lives. I’m not sure why I first began writing YA, but I knew when I received my first full manuscript request that I had made the right decision. He said that I had a wonderful teen voice. At the time I wasn’t so sure, but since then, both my agent and my editor have commented on my voice, so I would say it was meant to be. As far as other genres, I definitely plan to write in other genres within YA. I’m not sure that I will ever write adult fiction. We shall see. 🙂

TRC: What are you currently working on?

Melissa: I’m revising a YA sci-fi thriller for my agent and then finishing up book 2 in The Taking series.

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas with family and friends.  With whom do you bounce ideas?

Melissa: My father is my first reader. I always say he humors me, which I think is one of the best things a parent can do. He’s honest, but he never laughs, he never judges.

TRC: What books, authors or people in your life have influenced your writing?

Melissa: I adore Libba Bray and feel her writing has for sure influenced mine.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: This is so sad, but french fries. 🙂

Favorite Dessert: Tiramisu

Favorite Author: Jane Austen, Madeleine L’Engle, Libba Bray, among others.

Favorite Novel: Pride and Prejudice

Favorite Movie: The Wizard of Oz

Favorite TV Show: Top Chef

Last Movie that you saw: The Hunger Games

Thank you Melissa, for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with Gravity.  Keep us informed about your next book in your The Taking series, as well as any new books or series that you have planned.

If you want to learn more about Melissa, you can find her at the following links:

Website: http://www.melissawestauthor.com/
Blog: http://m-b-west.blogspot.com/
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

 

Melissa has graciously offered to give a member of The Reading Café a chance to win an e-arc (advanced read copy) of her new release, Gravity.

1.  You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Please post a comment and say hi to Melissa.

4.  Giveaway open Internationally.

5.  Contest runs from October 23rd – October 26th.