Be Mine, Valentine
12 Short Stories of Love
&
Giveaway
Be Mine, Valentine is a book comprised of 12 wonderfully writing short stories. If you enjoy a good love story this is the book for you. I had the pleasure of sitting down and interviewing one of the authors in this book. Please welcome Marissa Dobson. Marissa’s story is called Secret Valentine. Click here to read my review.
Thank you Marissa for taking time out of your busy schedule, to sit down and answer some questions at For the Love of Books.
For the Love of Books: Who is your all time favorite author? You can only pick 1, because I am mean like that.
Marissa Dobson: Now that is really hard. There are so many wonderful authors out there. But I guess I would have to say Nora Roberts. I grew up reading her and I still read every book that comes out. She is a talented author, and never disappoints with her books.
FLB: Okay, got the first hard question out of the way. Tell us a little about your and how you got into writing.
MD: When it comes to me there isn’t much to tell. I am nowhere near as interesting as the characters I write about. I am just your average twenty something housewife with a reading fetish and an active imagination. I am originally from the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, but moved away when I met my husband. I have two furbabies that keep me company while I write, and give me funny looks when I start talking to myself.
FLB: What is your writing routine, atmosphere, music, food, etc?
MD: My writing process differs a little from day to day. It depends on what is going on that day. But mostly I am an afternoon writer. I am not a morning person and my brain isn’t awake enough to be creative. Normally I work in my office at my desk with a large window behind it so I can look outside or feel the warmth of the sun.
As for food by my side while I am writing, I keep a small jar with hard candy in it and when I am stuck on something and not sure how I want to proceed I have a piece and think it over. It helps. However I have to have a drink by my side in the mornings it is coffee by the gallons, and evenings it is tea or ice water.
I try to stop writing when my husband gets home from work between 3 and 5 so we can spend some time together. I do some writings in the evenings if I am on a roll or really behind, but normally that time is saved for reading and doing thing with my husband.
FLB: What advice would you give to someone who wants to try to write a book/story?
MD: Learn your craft. Take classes if you want, or whatever works best. Learn your writing strong points and try to improve your weaknesses. But the best advice I can give you is believe in yourself and just do it. Writing a book isn’t going to happen by itself you need to be 110% committed.
FLB: Tell us about Be Mine, Valentine:
MD: Be Mine is an Anthology with twelve stories from the Turquoise Morning Press authors. My story in it is called Secret Valentine. Here is the blurb…
Ashlyn Brooks moved back to her hometown of Cedar Grove after a messy divorce. After a month of moping around the house, things take a turn when letters from a secret valentine start arriving at her door.
Can Ashlyn figure out who her secret love is in time for Valentine’s Day? If she does, is she willing to put her heart on the line and love again?
FLB: Can you tell us what you are currently working on?
MD: I am working on a sequel novella to Secret Valentine, which I hope to have finished soon. I am also writing a paranormal romance, about tiger shape shifters (sorry no vampires at the moment).
FLB: Finally, as this is my first interview any advice for me on how to make these Q & A’s better in the future or how to improve my reviewing blog?
MD: I thought your Q&A was great. When I do it I try to give half questions about the author’s work and half about the author and general questions. I also like your site. The only thing I can say is to keep followers you always want to make sure you post regularly and make it interesting. Also promote, when you have authors on they will also help get traffic to your site and that is wonderful.
Marissa I thank you so very much for stopping by For the Love of Books today. Marissa has offered to give away a digital copy of Be Mine, Valentine to one of my lucky followers. If you would like to learn more about Marissa please visit her website.
Or at Marissa’s blog
http://www.sizzlinghotbooks.net/
If you would like a chance to win please leave a comment or question for Marissa below. Make sure you leave your email address so that I can contact the winner.
Contest will end on February 13th at Midnight (PST)
Winner will be posted on February 14th
Extra points:
+1 for being a follower of my blog
+1 for following Marissa’s Blog http://www.sizzlinghotbooks.net/
+1 for leaving comment of question
Awesome Kelly!! Great job!!
the sequel? how long will it be, pages? Novella's tend to be short and a lot is lost.
Tommy,
Thank you for stopping by. I am currently working on the sequel now so I am not sure how many pages. I expect it to be on the longer side of a novella. Possibly a full length novel, if I can get my publisher to agree.
Great job Kelly!! Love this and it sounds so awesome!! Love getting inside the world of authors!
Great Job Kelly. She is just so cute, and the shape shifter book, gotta love that!! Can't wait to read.
Great interview!
What a sweet book cover!
Great interview! I love novella's simply b/c they are super quick and happy and I walk away feeling good. Yeah, you can't squeeze as much into them, but hey, sometimes thats okay to. I need to pick this one up!
Hi Marissa
Do you have any full length books?…if not Do you see yourself writing one in the future?
This sounds like a great book…..Thanks for the chance to win Kelly….
Novellas are great quickies
This sounds like a great book and great job on the interview Kelly!
I look forward to adding this book to my wishlist!
Great interview Sis!! Hope I win!
Welcome Sister!! you got a good chance!!
Thank you everyone for stopping by.
Micaela, I don't have any full length novels out at the moment. I am trying to revise my paranormal romance novel to submit to my publisher. But that got side tracked until I finish the sequel to my story in the Valentine's Anthology.
Kelly you did a fantastic job! Love it 🙂
And Marissa can't wait to read!
Are you planning on making your paranormal romance full length?
daniellehurrell@yahoo.com 🙂
Great Job kellie !
great to get to know new authors & I don't mind reading books other then PN & UF, but it's hard to know what to go for so this is very helpfull & very enjoyable.
Thank you Marissa for sharing !! XOXOXO
Hi Marissa – love the storyline and can't wait for your paranormal to be out – tigers are my favourite animal since like forever so to have some shape shifting ones into hot bods – huhmmmm phwoar LOL.
Good interview Kels 😀
Mandie xx
Great job Kelly!!! Hope to see many more of these in the (near) future!!!