Melissa Stevens

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

I've been an avid reader since I was 3, reading everything I could get my hands on. I started reading my dad's novels, mainly Dean Koontz, at 9, and I've never looked back.

When and why did you start writing books?

I started writing in 2009. It started with an email. A challenge to write a 50k story in 30 days. I thought the idea was crazy and threw the email away... but the idea haunted me. I knew it was something I could do. So a little research later I discovered the challenge is called National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short, and I did it. Did I win the first year? yes. Did I publish that book? not for several years and it wasn't my first book published but I did, after much revision and work, publish it.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

I've learned over the years that writing keeps me sane. I'm much easier to live with if I've got something to focus on in my free time.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

My favorite book is Ruger. but I think my favorite character is Jade from Jade's Peace

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

Hardest to write was Sadist. I was half way through it when my father had a heart attack and after 13 days, died. My lead female character was dealing with something similar, her father was recovering from a heart attack. After that I couldn't work on the book for quite a while. I did eventually go back and finish it but Sadist took me two years to write.

Who is your favourite author and book?

You know how hard this question is for a book lover right? I'll narrow it down to a series.... Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

What book are you reading right now?

I'm in the middle of listening to the Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Everywhere. I'm not kidding. I will be having a conversation with someone and they'll say something, or I'll read a book and think that was good but it would have been better if....

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I read. I will listen to TV while my old man watches, I knit occasionally... more often, I'm planning out what I'll write next.

Do you have any new books in the works?

Several. I've got one on pre-order that's done, another I just finished for an Anthology next year. I'm working on a second for an anthology and planning at least 3 more books in the back of my mind.