Saturday, July 21, 2012

Meet author Melanie Atkins

 When did you first consider yourself a writer?

In high school, I guess, but I didn't know what to do about it. I was really shy, and not many people knew I liked to write. After graduation, I went to college and studied film and English, then got a job as a secretary. Wasn't until many years later, after my divorce, that I rediscovered writing and decided I wanted to write books.
In which genre do you prefer to write and why?

I write romantic suspense featuring hot cops. I love gritty, edge of your seat, high stakes stories when watching movies and TV (I love crime dramas) and reading, and it bleeds over into my writing. Can't help it. I must have inherited a "danger" gene. lol
 
 Can you give us some details about your upcoming release?

On August 1, EMILY'S NIGHTMARE will come out in e-book format at Desert Breeze. In this story, Detective Emily Rawson doesn't want children; she's too focused on her career to give a family the time required. That is, until she falls in love with fellow detective John Cutter, forgets to take precautions, and winds up pregnant. She fights the idea tooth and nail before finally deciding that having a baby is exactly what she wants -- as long as the child is Cutter's. Then tragedy strikes. Will it bring them together or tear them apart?

 Do you belong to any non-writing organizations?

Yes, I belong to the Junior Auxiliary of Byram-Terry, a non-profit service organization in my community that strives to help children. We sponsor summer reading programs at two different libraries, hold an annual Christmas Angel Tree drive, and gear up every summer about this time for a Stuff the Bus school supply drive. In addition to that, we also help out at a children's shelter, hold a free annual Easter egg hunt, provide scholarships to graduates planning to work with children, and do a variety of other service projects to help our community. I've met so many wonderful, caring women in this group, and have made a lot of new friends. I highly recommend that authors get involved in their communities. Not only will you meet potential readers and make new friends, but you'll also help folks. It's a win-win!

 Who are some of your favourite authors?

I love Lisa Gardner, Linda Castillo, John Sanford, Karen Rose, Tess Gerritsen, Jonathan Hayes, Laura Griffin, Linda Howard, Linda Fairstein, Lee Child, and Robin Perrini. All write great suspense and/or thrillers, my favorite types of books.

When you are not writing, what are your hobbies, passions, etc?

I love to travel and do research for my books, play with my granddaughter, go to movies, read, visit coffee shops, and hang out at the gym. Oh, and surf the Internet and play games on my phone!

Do you have any advice for new writers beginning their adventure?

Never give up. Be persistent, and write every single day. The more you write, the better you'll get. Write, write, write!

Melanie Atkins a multi-published author of romantic suspense, a fan of crime dramas, and an avid reader. Writing is more than an escape for her -- it's a way of life. She grew up in the Deep South listening to tall tales and penning stories about her cats. Now she writes gripping stories of love, suspense, and mystery with the help of her furry little feline muses.

Thanks for joining me today, Melanie, and sharing your adventure.

Jean

2 comments:

  1. Hey, Melanie! Sorry to be so late visiting. I love learning new stuff about my peeps. You and Jean make a good team!

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