Hey guys look who’s joining me for my birthday!!!

T:  Good Morning  Melissa Ann thanks for joining me this morning. I hope the coffee is strong enough?

MA: It’s great, lol. My day must start with a cup of coffee … and then perhaps two or three more.

T: I promise for this set of questions I’m going to keep things fun and light (well light for me) so let’s get started.

T: If you could write anywhere where would you be?

MA: Well … if I had a choice and a million dollars it would be by the ocean. I love writing when on vacation in Cuba but since I don’t have that as an option, I write on my tablet in bed with a coffee nearby.

T: How did you meet your best friend?

MA: Well that is a funny story. I have only known David S. Scott since the end of June, but it feels like it’s been a lifetime. I was putting together “This Beautiful Escape” for a fundraiser I was running. I was still looking for some more authors to contribute and David’s posts kept popping up in my timeline. I believe in signs and the whole “everything happens for a reason” so I PM’d him. I mentioned the anthology and he very politely declined. A few days later I messaged him for a different reason. My intent was to keep it short and sweet since I didn’t want to bother him and to my surprise we started to chat and to this day, other than when he was on a cruise, we have messaged every day. You know what is funny? Not only did David contribute to both anthologies … but he also became a large part of this fundraiser.

T: If you could sit down with any author who would it be?

MA: My first choice would be David S. Scott,  but I am pretty sure that is not really what you are expecting for an answer sooo I would have to say Agatha Christie. I LOVE reading her books. She is the reason I enjoy mysteries so much. The classic Who-dun-it.

T: Of all your friends who do you always have read your work?

MA: Well in the past with my other books it was my editor at the time and a few local friends but now it is David S. Scott, since he has graciously agreed to be my editor, and my totally awesome PA Tammy Markowski. Before my book is published, I always offer my street team an ARC. I am grateful for Melissa Ann’s Misfit’s  hard work and dedication.

T: If you could go back in time which time would you go?

MA: Hmmm … I love medieval times and ancient Egypt, but I would rather observe than actually live it, lol.  I am not sure I could live without power, toilets and running water.

T: How did you get involved with Ataxia?

MA: In 2005, I was diagnosed with Episodic Ataxia but I have lived with it all of my life. Ataxia is often misdiagnosed and few people have heard of it. Ataxia affects a person’s ability to walk, talk, see and swallow.  I decided to have the fundraiser to raise awareness and funds towards the research of Ataxia. At this point there is no cure but it is my sincerest hope that one day there will be.

T: What do you love about living in the Great White North?

MA: I love the snow!! I am like a little kid when we have a snow storm. I find it so beautiful and peaceful. The only thing I don’t like is the cold. I sometimes have to wear mitts in the house.

T: How do you juggle family and writing?

MA: Both of my daughters go to school which allows me time to do my author stuff. If I allow myself to become unfocused then I do not accomplish everything on my list. I admit to having shiny ball syndrome. It doesn’t take much for me to get distracted … a squirrel here and there 😛

T: What inspires you to write New Adult Contemporary?

MA: Well … I had never imagined I would, but a midlife crisis changed that. There was some past baggage that kind of decided to rear its ugly head and I felt the only way to deal with it was to write about it. Unbound by His Love was inspired by my past. Although it is considered “fiction” some events are true but only a small part. Michelle, the main character, represents someone that I was in the past, someone I had wish I had become and maybe a little of who I am right now.

T: You’re involved with a few charities; how do you choose them?

MA: I often let my children choose the charity. We try to choose charities that are local. My girls will put part of their allowance away to donate and once they have a significant amount they will choose a charity. They have donated to the Peterborough Humane Society and the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre. They have donated half of their birthday money to the school library and their school Go Green program. They have sold some of their old toys to raise money to donate to the local Toy Drive and they also had a yard sale and donated all the money to “Save My Tail,” a non-profit organization that helps find homes for neglected and/or abused dogs. I also contribute monthly to the World Wildlife Fund. As you can see we love animals.

T: All our stories are our babies, which was the toughest to let go of?

MA: I don’t think I have been able to let go of any yet, lol. A Silent Canvas has one more book to the series and Unbound by His Love will have a spin-off series. Every time I think the story is complete, new ideas pop into my head. Unbound by His Love was more of a therapeutic write, so in a way it was a relief when Michelle’s story was done.

T: What comes next?

MA: I am presently working on two books. “Chasing Eve,” is one of the spin-off novels from the Unbound by His Love series. It is Chase’s s story, the lead singer of Soul’s Refuge II. I am also working on “A Forgotten Key” which the final book in my A Silent Canvas Series.  I always have ideas running through my head. Possibly a future suspense mystery and a paranormal romance.  I would love to write a book with my best friend … but we will see what happens.

T: What do you do for relaxation?

MA: Other than writing of course, I enjoy long baths and reading. I also enjoy long walks but with our Canadian winter it can be a challenge. I have an app called ResQwalk and it records the distance you walk and as you walk you raise money for the animal rescue of your choice. It is a great motivational tool.

T: Well Melissa Ann that’s all I have for you today? Until next time thanks again for joining me, now get back to work and write your next book.

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