Sunday, November 20, 2011

Southern-Style Meet & Greet with Melanie Dickerson Plus Giveaway


I've been about to burst at the seams waiting for this week's special guest!!!  Melanie Dickerson firmly planted herself on my favorite author list with her very first book, The Healer's Apprentice, and now, she's got another medieval romance coming out next week, The Merchant's Daughter, that I'm just itching to read.  There's a *very* nice surprise in the interview for those of you that are also fans of Melanie by way of a scoop on her next book, too!

I hope y'all enjoy our Southern-Style Meet & Greet today.  Be sure to grab your glass of tea and sit awhile.  :o)

Welcome, Melanie!
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When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was in 6th or 7th grade. I wrote all through high school, completing two novels, but I quit writing when I started college and only picked it back up fifteen years later.

What genre do you most like to write?

I love romance. What can I say? It’s my favorite thing to read or write. I like writing YA romances, and for now I’m only interested in writing historicals.

What do you hope readers “take away” with them after they read one of your books?

I hope readers will get a vivid picture of God’s love for them and of the way romance is supposed to be. I hope they will feel like they will see the faithfulness of God through the experiences of the characters in my book. I also hope they will feel encouraged and feel that they’ve just read a sigh-worthy love story.

Perfect description...sigh-worthy.  The Healer's Apprentice certainly filled that bill.  :o)

What is your latest book release?

The Merchant’s Daughter is my latest medieval romance and is a Beauty and the Beast story. Here is a little teaser:

An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice.

Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff—a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past.

Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger.

Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.


That cover is gorgeous, Melanie, and I particularly love the reflection of the "beast" in the mirror. 

Are you currently working on another novel, and if so, can you give us a snippet about it?

I just finished the first draft of a Snow White story involving Rose and Wilhelm’s (from The Healer’s Apprentice) second son, Gabe. He learns that his older brother’s betrothed is actually still alive and being persecuted by her evil stepmother. Since his older brother has a broken leg and can’t go rescue her, Gabe goes himself. He and Sophie escape from the duchess, but they have to battle her hired henchman, wild animals, and their own attraction for each other as they ride toward the Cottage of the Seven, the mysterious house where they’ve been told they will find safety.

Squee!!!  I'm loving these fairytale-based stories!  I cannot wait until this one comes out.  :o)

What was the last Christian Fiction book that you read that you couldn’t put down?

Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones. Wow, that was a great page-turner, and a great escape. And I rarely read contemporaries!

Where can readers find you on the web?

www.MelanieDickerson.com 

Please come by and see the terrific trailers Zondervan made for The Merchant’s Daughter, as well as for The Healer’s Apprentice. You also can write to me through my website. I love to hear from readers!

What is your most favorite thing about the South?

My favorite thing about the South is that people tend to be friendlier, more polite, and more laid back. Men are more likely to open the door for you or offer to help you. Personally, I appreciate that!

Iced Tea—sweet or un-sweet?

I usually ask for half and half at a restaurant, since most restaurants make it too sweet for me.

BBQ Pork or BBQ Beef?

It’s hard to go wrong with barbecue! I like both!

Dolly Parton or Elvis Presley?

Elvis!

Historical House—Plantation or Log Cabin?

Plantation

You, you all, or y’all?

Y’all. It’s a hard habit to break.

It certainly is.  :o)

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So, as if the surprise of Melanie's book weren't enough, we've got one more up our sleeves today!  Melanie has agreed to give one copy of her newest book, The Merchant's Daughter, to one special reader.  Won't that be a nice treat just in time for Christmas, too?  :o)

Please fill out the following form to be entered in the contest, and use the comments section on the blog post below for any other thoughts. All entries must be received by 11:59pm Saturday, November 26, and the winner will be chosen on Sunday, 11/27.  Usually the winner is announced on the following week's SSM&G, but there's a little something special in store next week with something called a Birthday Bash, so stay tuned this week for more info about that.  :o)

Contest is open to US residents only, and void where prohibited.  Odds of winning are dependent upon the number of entrants.



20 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Christy!!! Hoping to be able to announce a tentative release date for that Snow White story very soon! I'll let you know. ;-)

    God bless!

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  2. Great interview! I had the pleasure of reviewing this book through NetGalley (I hope you don't mind I still entered the giveaway, though, for a chance at a physical copy!) - and I loved it!

    And now you have no idea how stoked (yes, stoked!) I am for this Snow White story!!! Sounds awesome! :D

    ~Amber Stokes (Had to include my last name with a pun like that in the comment, LOL!)

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  3. Oh, Melanie, yes please!!! I'm eager for any news! :D

    ~Amber

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  4. You are most welcome, Melanie! Can't wait to find out that release date, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. :o)

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  5. Hey, Amber,

    So glad to see you here, and don't worry about entering...sometimes when us book bloggers get e-books that we really love, nothing else will do but getting a physical copy to have for our very own. ;o)

    Glad to know that you're "happy" (er...stoked) about the Snow White story. I've barely been able to contain my excitement for *weeks* now in anticipation of Melanie's interview this week!

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  6. Thank you for doing this interview and for the giveaway.

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
    wrensthoughts.blogspot.com

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  7. Loved the interview, and I would love to read Melanie's new novel. Thanks for this opportunity. :-)

    gwen[dot]gage[at]gmail[dot]com

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  8. Thanks, Christy!

    And sorry about the lame joke... Other people occasionally use it with me, so I thought I might as well use it myself. ;) You know, the whole "Stokes is stoked" think? Yeah...lame. Oh, well! ;)

    That Snow White story sounds so creative and awesome! I think you're going to love this Beauty and the Beast one, too!

    ~Amber

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  9. Oops! *Thing* not *think*! Yeesh...

    ~Amber

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  10. Oh Melanie, I'm hopping up and down in eager anticipation of this book's release. Hope it comes out as quickly in Canada as it does in the states! Great interview, Christy. And I squealed too when I read the blurb about the Snow White story. Glad you're sticking with fairy tale themes, Melanie!

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  11. Hey, Amber! Thanks for being "stoked" about my new book!!! And for your words about The Merchant's Daughter. :-)

    Thanks, wfnren and Gwen, for stopping by and entering!

    Kav, I can't wait for you to read it!!! Thanks so much!!! Have a great week!

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  12. Oh I am so excited about this release -- thanks for the contest!

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  13. When we take our wedding vows it is suppose to be for better or worse. I am not talking about mental or physical abuse. There are some that run to end their marriage at the first sign of trouble. Put God first in your marriage and he will show lead you to a healing of that relationship. Evidently the couple in this book from the author description were bonded by God's will.

    Thanks for the great giveaway/interview.

    Have a Blessed Thanksgiving,
    Patricia aka Mamaw

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  14. I loved Melanie's first, and would adore a copy of this one. Keeping fingers, toes and eyes crossed that I will win! :D

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  15. Great site, awesome giveaway. Thanks for the contest! I want to WIN!

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  16. I loved hearing about the merchant's daughter as well as the new one coming out later, can't wait! Great interview Christy, thanks so much! Cheryl

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  17. The Healer's Apprentice was one of my favorites! I'm a huge fan of fairy tales and I love the way you've given them a new voice.

    Thank you for the great interview, Christy. Thank you for the chance to win Merchant's Daughter as well.

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  18. I ♥ the fairy tale stories! And the cover is gorgeous :o) Can't wait to read this one!!!

    Save the Date was definitely one I couldn't down, either! Cute, cute book :)

    Happy Thanksgiving, Ladies!

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  19. Though I'm definitely not a young adult, I loved The Healer's Apprentice (as did my college age daughter). I'm looking forward to reading The Merchant's Daughter. The book Melanie is working on sounds fantastic as well! I love these new twists on old classic fairy tales.
    Thanks so much for giving away a book.

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I love your comments!! They make me happier than cold sweet tea on a hot summer day! :o)