Melanie D. Snitker

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

I'm a USA Today bestselling author. I'm married to my best friend. My husband and I live in Texas with our two children. Our son has severe special needs including autism, ADHD, and epilepsy. My main interests are writing, reading, and photography.

When and why did you start writing books?

I started writing before I can even remember and finished my first book (science fiction) in high school. However, it hasn't seen the light of day. Ha! I started writing Christian romance in college. I enjoyed reading it, but at the time, it was difficult to find good romance books that were clean and wholesome. I decided at that point that I'd have to start writing them myself.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

I've wanted to be an author since I was a young child. Writing is something that gives me a way to take time for myself, especially with the challenges of being a parent to a child with severe special needs.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

I think Marrying Raven is probably one of my favorite books. I absolutely love Raven's character, and the enemies to lovers plus a second chance at love are just two of my favorite tropes. It was so much fun to write.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

Marrying Emma - This was just really hard to write, and as I got into it, I realized that I had some similar issues going on in my life that Emma had, and I found I was working through some things right along with her. For Emma, she was struggling with why she had to deal with an ongoing and permanent health issue. We were going through a difficult time with our son as well, and I found myself asking similar questions. I remember writing a scene where Emma comes to a realization that is rather freeing for her, and as I wrote it, I cried because those gentle reminders were exactly what I needed, too.

Who is your favourite author and book?

It's almost impossible to narrow that down to just one. But one of my absolute favorites is The Princess by Lori Wick.

What book are you reading right now?

I'm reading Merrying the Cowboy by Crystal Walton

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Story inspiration comes from all around me. For example, I got the inspiration for my novella, Fear the Shadows, from an old, abandoned mansion in our home town and that led to the storyline. I honestly have more story ideas than I ever have time to write.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I read a lot. I also enjoy spending time with friends and family. I enjoy gaming some, photography, and crochet. I also keep two bioactive terrariums with a toad, frogs, and a lizard.

Do you have any new books in the works?

I'm currently working on Frozen in Jeopardy, the second book in my new Danger in Destiny series. It's about a police officer in the K-9 unit. I had so much fun researching this book, and even had the opportunity to go on a ride-along with an officer and his K-9.