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| Melissa Oliver - Author |
Hello
Melissa – It was lovely to connect with you through the Romantic Novelists’
Association and I’m looking forward to reading about your writing experiences. But before you tell us about your debut release, The Rebel Heiress and the Knight, here are a few questions
which will hopefully give your readers and followers an insight into some of
the things that matter to you.
Arabella: Authors can release
books, making them available to readers in various ways…via an agent, or
working directly with a traditional publisher, or they can even go the
self-publishing route. Which method of publishing do you prefer, and why?
Melissa:
I know there are many routes into publishing but as a new author, the support
and backing of a big publisher such as Harlequin Mills and Boon is incredibly
important for me to establish a long-term career as a writer.
Arabella: A slice of Chocolate
Cake, a piece of Fruit, or Burger and Fries?
Melissa: Ooh
that’s hard… It would definitely be out of chocolate cake or fruit. (Not
bothered by the burger and chips as I don’t eat red-meat!) Okay, I’m going to
go with the fruit, only because it would make me feel a little virtuous and
smug. In reality though, I KNOW I’d reach for that cake!
Arabella: Who or what inspired you
to write your debut - The Rebel Heiress and the Knight?
Melissa:
I knew I wanted to write a medieval romance, set against a back-drop of real
historical events- and the spring of 1215 certainly had that.
With
bitter divisions between King John and the Barons; civil unrest and lawlessness-
the country was on the brink of civil war. Strangely enough; Brexit- which
polarised opinions and divided the country recently, actually helped in
understanding the depth of anger and frustration that people must have felt at
that time.
Against
all this, I had this remarkable heroine who had been abused in her first
marriage but decided to use that experience for a force of good. She’s quite
empowering really and yes women like Eleanor Tallany really did exist at
that time. The hero and heroine had sparks of attraction almost from the outset
but they had to overcome standing on opposing lines when it came to the Baron’s
conflict. At the heart of this are two people who are drawn together, despite
their differences and their difficulty to trust. In terms of themes, there’s a nod
to the legend of Robin Hood, which some historians believe, took its
inspiration from the real-life story of Fulk FitzWarin III.
Arabella: If the person of your
dreams, (husband/wife/partner/or superstar), were to take you out for the
night, where would they take you and what would you do?
Melissa:
I would definitely have a date-night with my husband, Jack as he always makes
me laugh and we don’t often get to go out, just the two of us. We’d get dressed
up to go for dinner, then to the theatre and finish with a cocktail or two. I’m
flexible and that can be any which way around.
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| Cocktails... |
Arabella: Currently, what is your
most favourite T.V. programme, and why?
Melissa: I’m
ploughing my way through, The Last Kingdom (series 4) and Medici (season 3) on
Netflix. Both historical, both thrilling- on the edge of your seat kind of T.V.
They both mix real historical events with a fictional narrative to thread
together. (especially in the case of The Last Kingdom- which was adapted from
Bernard Cornwell’s books.)
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| The Last Kingdom |
Arabella: When writing a book or
chapter, which do you concentrate on first: plot, character, or setting?
Melissa: They
all seem to go hand in hand for me. I think characters, initially as I really
like to get to know and understand them. Then plots that weave the intricacies
of the story together with a realistic, tangible world that the characters
inhabit. It has to be said that these are subject to change and tweak once I
sit down at my lap-top to begin writing. I’m a plotter with a massive dollop of
pantser thrown in for good measure!
Arabella: How do you research your
novels and characters?
Melissa:
I like to do character profiles that essentially informs both their internal
and external conflicts. It goes beyond just their physical attributes and gives
me a sense of who my characters are and what it is that they want, in the
context of the world they live in.
For
a more detailed research in the time-line I’m writing, I’d use historical
articles, references and books. For instance, if I had to look at progeny and inheritance
in regard to women, or specific events, I’d have to fact-check information to
make sure I have things as accurate as possible, (which isn’t always easy to
find for the early 13th century.)
Arabella: What advice would you
give to someone who is starting out on their writing journey?
Melissa: Perseverance,
resilience and self-belief are so important, despite the fact most writers
suffer from imposter syndrome, at one time or another. You’ve probably heard
this before but there are very few writers out there who haven’t experienced
rejection so learn from it, appreciate that it’s painful and then pick yourself
up and keep going. There are so many reasons for a rejection- either your work
is the wrong fit for the publisher/ agent or they’ve just signed someone who
has a similar voice/ story to you. Or possibly that you need to keep working on
your craft.
So,
join writers’ group, book club and have your work read and critiqued on schemes
such as the excellent- New Writer’s Scheme run by the RNA. Be patient and
continue to keep learning and honing your writing skills. The important thing
is that if this is what you want to do, then don’t give up!
Thank
you for joining me on Arabella’s Blog and Chit-Chat, Melissa. Your words about ‘continue
to keep learning and honing your writing skills’ hit home. There is
always something new for an author to learn.
Best
wishes for your debut, The Rebel
Heiress and the Knight
Arabella
About Melissa Oliver
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| Melissa Oliver - Author |
Melissa Oliver is from south-west London where she
writes historical romance novels. She lives with her gorgeous husband and
equally gorgeous daughters, who share her passion for decrepit, old castles,
grand palaces and all things historical. When she's not writing she loves to
travel for inspiration, paint, and visit museums & art galleries.'
Social Media
Twitter- @melissaoauthor
Facebook Melissa Oliver @melissaoliverauthor page
Website – coming soon
Book
Blurb The
Rebel Heiress and the Knight
Widow Eleanor of Tallany Castle
knows her people are broken by the taxes demanded by King John. So when she’s
ordered to marry Hugh de Villiers, a knight loyal to the king, she’s
furious—even if he is handsome! As gallant Hugh begins to heal the scars of
Eleanor’s abusive first marriage, she’s even more determined to keep her
secret: she is the outlaw the king wants to send to the gallows!
Buy Links:
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa - Thank you for being a super guest on the blog and for sharing some of your M&B writing secrets.
ReplyDeleteAll the best for your latest release...The Rebel Heiress and the Knight.
Arabella
Great article! I'd definitely reach for the chocolate cake too...And many congratulations, Melissa, on your new book. I look forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for leaving a comment, Jenny.
DeleteHaving piled on too many pounds during the C-19 Lockdown, I'm strenuously resisting the chocolate cake.