The Literary Vixen presents…
Joining us today is Mel Walker! His latest release, A Small Town Christmas released today!
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
It was in elementary school, about third grade. My teacher gave us a writing assignment – she had cut out miscellaneous pictures from magazines. Each student picked a random picture and had to write a story based on the photo. My picture was a guy walking up the cables of a bridge high above traffic and the water. Immediately a story sprang to my mind about a detective chasing bad guys. I nearly missed my bus working on the story and was the last kid out of class that day. I continued writing on the bus ride home and kept at it until I finished the story.
Describe your writing space.
Currently, I’m fortunate that I have a home office. At the start of the pandemic I purchased a standing desk, best move of the year so far. Comfortable chair, a balance board for when I work standing, adjustable light with five different settings and lucky enough to have large windows. I love my writing space.
How many books have you written? Which is your fave?
Written vs. published, LOL. I now have 11 published either standalone or submission as part of collections/anthologies. You can’t ask a writer which is their favorite. They are all special. If I had to choose one which I’m most proud of it would be Ryan’s Kiss just because of the challenges it presented. It really pushed me and I’ve spent a lot of time working with flashbacks. I know a lot of people are not fans, but it is such an essential part of the story that I had to find a way to weave them in seamlessly. I’ve gotten great feedback about the flow of the story and that makes me proud.
Where do you get your inspiration for your books?
I get inspiration from everywhere. Walking down the street, catching a snippet of a conversation at a restaurant, day dreaming, and music plays a large part of my inspiration.
How do you deal with emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?
It’s always an emotional rollercoaster while I’m writing. I probably go through all twelve stages of writing – everything from this is crap to where do I pick up my trophy and everything in between. The hardest part is always when the characters don’t behave and you feel like you’ve lost control.
When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
With a series in order to keep things fresh I remind myself to stay flexible. I’ve realized over time that no matter what I plan I need to allow room for my characters to determine the next step, the next book in a series, etc. For example, in my latest release “Jason’s Hope” a novella based on my Lake Hope series and is part of the Small Town Christmas collection. The story features Amy, a movie director. When I started the Lake Hope series, Amy had been planned to have a small role appearing in “Aaron’s Heart”. Amy’s journey however had a natural intersection with Dana in Book Three, “Jackson’s Love” to the point that fans of the series wanted to see more of her. Hence her new feature status in “Jason’s Hope”.
Are you on social media and can your readers interact with you?
Absolutely – you can find me in all the usual places. *Links down below*
If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
New York Romantic
What advice would you give to other authors?
Follow your heart and inspirations which bring you joy. It comes across in your writing. Never be afraid to ask and challenge yourself to continue to learn and grow. I would also tell them, they rock. Anyone who can get the end of a story is a winner.
What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?
If you like romantic stories filled with smart and focused women that don’t wait for their HEA but chases it down grab one of my books.
Thank you Mel Walker for chatting with me! I will include his information down below. Check out his newest release, A Small Town Christmas today!
~Synopsis~
Enchanted Quill Press are delighted to present the small-town Christmas romance boxset.
This heart-warming collection is filled with bold heroes, spirited heroines and swoon-worthy kisses. All set in a beautiful small-town packed with memorable friends and family.
Christmas cookie-making, ice-skating over a frozen lake, peppermint hot chocolate and all your favorite holiday tropes make this anthology perfect for every Hallmark fan.
Enjoy reading from best-selling authors and discover new ones carefully selected by Enchanted Quill Press to provide the ultimate feel-good holiday boxset this year.
These wholesome stories are included:
Mistletoe Kisses, by Macie St. James
Elf Costumes and other Christmas Disasters by Laynie Bynum
Knight Events, by Sheri Richey
The Christmas Dance, by River Ford
and loads more
There is something for everyone to enjoy. Scroll up and one-click now to start reading.
Mel Walker has been writing fiction most of his adult life. Specializing in Short Stories and Contemporary fiction and Romance Novels. A native New Yorker and life-long frustrated NY Mets fan. He loves to write about ordinary people placed in difficult situations, especially as it relates to their closest relationships.
The Literary Vixen 