Friday, September 3, 2010

Melanie Dickerson ~ Interview + Giveaway!

*You can earn up to 6 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Melanie Dickerson is telling us about her new book, The Healer's Apprentice (Sept 2010). She has offered an autographed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. She will also be stopping by throughout the week to answer your questions! So if you have anything you want to ask her, you can include it in your comment for entering the contest. If you are only leaving a question in the comment and not entering the giveaway please say so.

Welcome, Melanie! Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi, Carman! I am a wife and mother of two girls. I live in north Alabama and love writing stories. When I’m not writing I like to read and watch movies, and occasionally I scrapbook. I spend time with my family, cook, and clean toilets. :) A writer’s life is sooooo glamorous.

Tell us about your salvation experience.
I grew up in church. I had a deep reverence and love for God and for the Bible from a very young age. I can’t actually tell you about a single salvation experience, as I’ve had many of them! I like to renew my vows regularly. :)

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
I used to think I was a disciplined, scheduled writer. I wrote every chance I got, when my kids were in school and every morning in the summer. Now, I seem to have fallen off my disciplined wagon. I have done extensive, editor-requested revisions on three different books in the last year, but I’ve made very little progress on anything new. I started a book and only got about 30 pages into it before I got frustrated with it and quit. I started another book, but it’s been a stop-and-go-and-stop-again sort of progress. :( But I have over 50 pages, so I consider that a very good start! I’m getting more and more attached to the characters, so that’s a good sign. :)

Stubborn, or compliant?
I’m very compliant when it comes to revisions asked for by my agent or editor! I love their feedback and the challenge of implementing new ideas.

Organized or completely chaotic?
Alas, I am not very organized. I don’t do outlines at all and I tend to lose whatever notes I might make. However, I write very linearly. I don’t like to skip around.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
I’m usually calm to the degree that the other people involved are panicky. During a tornado when I was in college, some friends from the upper floor of our apartment building came and beat on my door until I woke up. They were screaming and shaking all over as they jumped into the bathtub with my mattress over their heads. I just stood by calmly telling them I thought the storm was probably over.

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
You’re really making me think hard now, Carman. Let’s see. My best trait might be that I’m friendly and tend to love everyone I meet. One of my worst is that I’m a bit thoughtless—though I don’t mean to be. I’m easily overwhelmed and I forget very easily. …What were we talking about again?

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I took a 15-year break from writing, and in that time I didn’t read fiction. I think I may have only read one novel during that fifteen years. I’m kind of an all-or-nothing kind of person, so if I was going to give up on a novel-writing career I wasn’t going to read novels either.

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in your books?
I’m not sure who I write like. But there is very little kissing in my debut novel, The Healer’s Apprentice, although I think it’s very romantic nonetheless. It’s a young adult (YA) romance, and I recommend it for 6th-graders on up. I strive for lots of realistic romance, but my books are very “clean.”

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I have a second YA medieval romance, based on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, that is being considered by my publisher, Zondervan. I also have an adult romance series set in 1880 Alabama that several publishers are currently considering. And I hope to write more medieval romances based on fairy tales. I LOVE writing them. :)

How can readers get in contact with you?
I’m on Facebook as Melanie Dickerson, on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3408059.Melanie_Dickerson , and you can contact me through my website, http://www.melaniedickerson.com/

Book blurb:
When destiny sleeps, it can only be awakened by true love’s kiss.

In this historical romance based on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, a woodcutter's daughter becomes the town healer's apprentice. Rose's job is to care for the sick and injured in Hagenheim Castle. But she gets sick at the sight of blood and is more suited to making up stories than sewing up wounds. She is determined to overcome her weakness and prove herself a competent healer, or she faces marrying a disgusting old merchant her mother has picked out for her.

Lord Hamlin, the future ruler of the region, is injured and Rose must overcome her squeamishness to save him. He is everything that is noble and good, but loving him is forbidden. He is already betrothed to a mysterious woman in hiding.

With two noble-born brothers vying for her affections, Rose learns that the people of Hagenheim are not always who they seem.

Series info?
I’m hoping to have a “series” of medieval romances based on fairy tales. One of them will probably be an actual sequel to The Healer’s Apprentice. This is all “To Be Announced.”

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?
This is another hard one. But fun to think about. :) Here’s the gorgeous and responsible Wilhelm, Lord Hamlin:
And Rose, my lovely heroine, is well-portrayed by the model on the cover of my book and who acts in the book trailer:




And I don’t want to leave out Lord Rupert, Rose’s other love interest:



Wow, that was fun!!!!!! Mwahahaha!



Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?
At this point, I don’t. But I do have the most amazing trailer in the world that Zondervan had someone make, starring the gorgeous model from the cover of my book:



Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
Follow your dreams! Never give up! God’s plans for you are good, to give you hope and a future. :)

~~~~~
*This giveaway is open to anyone!*

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of The Healer's Apprentice!
TO ENTER:

*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.

*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you would not like to be entered.

*Here are the ways to get entries:

(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.

+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.

Read and leave a comment on one or more of my recent book reviews.
+2 Love, Charleston
+2 Journey to Forgiveness

**You can earn a total of 6 entries if you do all of the above entry options. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries.**

*The contest will run from today (September 3) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (September 9). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 10th, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.

Good luck! Thanks for visiting.

38 comments:

apple blossom said...

I'd love to be included in this book giveaway. thanks

for 6 entries.


+1 commenting
+1 follower/subscriber
+2 commented at Love, Charleston
+2 commented at Journey to Forgiveness.


ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Diane said...

this contest sounds wonderful, I would love to be entered! I am a follower of your blog Carmen and appreciate all you do here featuring these wonderful authors! :O)

estrella8888 at roadrunner dot com

Amanda said...

I'd love to win this, thank you!!!
winnieayala at yahoo dot com

Amanda said...

I follow on GFC
winnieayala at yahoo dot com

Amanda said...

I commented on your Love, Charleston review #1
winnieayala at yahoo dot com

Amanda said...

I commented on your Love, Charleston review #2
winnieayala at yahoo dot com

Amanda said...

I commented on your Journey to Forgiveness review #1
winnieayala at yahoo dot com

Amanda said...

I commented on your Journey to Forgiveness review #2
winnieayala at yahoo dot com

Casey said...

Ohhh, thanks for the extra chances, but first, Melanie, how long did you write before being picked up?

Please enter me Carman!!! :)

+1 I am a follower
+2 commented on Love, Charleston
+2 commented on Journey to Forgivenes

Thanks so much! I believe that is all 6. :)

caseymh18(@)gmail(.)com

Sue said...

Please enter me, this book looks like a great read.

herrins1@harneyesd.k12.or.us

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

I've been anxious to read this book for awhile!! Thank you for the contest!!

+1 comment
+1 follower
+2 comment on Charleston

+4 total

inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

Karen said...

Please include me to win this book.

Thanks

sonflower277(at)gmail(dot)com

Katie Marie said...

I'd love a chance at winning this book! Count me in - it looks wonderful!

legacy1992(at)gmail(dot)com

Katie Marie said...

I am a follower of your blog!

legacy1992(at)gmail(dot)com

Melanie Dickerson said...

Thanks for coming by and leaving comments, everyone!

Casey, I wrote for over six years before getting a "yes" from a publisher, but the first year and a half I was just writing short stories and articles. It took me more than 3 years to find a publisher for this book. :-) So the name of the game is Persistence!

Ann Lee Miller said...

Please enter me!
Ann_Lee_Miller@msn.com

Bakersdozen said...

This book sounds so interesting and I love historical fiction. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

justpeachy36 said...

This book looks like something I would really be interested in.

Please enter me in the giveaway.

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

justpeachy36 said...

I am a GFC follower and I subsribe by e-mail as well.


justpeachy36@yahoo.com

justpeachy36 said...

I commented on Love, Charleston

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

justpeachy36 said...

I commented on Journey to Forgiveness.

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

collettakay said...

This book looks so good!

pepsi324{at}yahoo[dot}com

+2 comment/follower

Virginia said...

I am a follower and I love the title "the Healer's Apprentice", and it's based on the happily ever after of stories from childhood. Fun...want to read it. and on the book about Journey to Forgiveness...it's taking the journey and what life is about. on Healer's apprentice, I like the author's personal interview...she is a calm in the storm. vrush729(at)aol(dot)com

LAMusing said...

Would love to read this. Thanks!
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

LAMusing said...

I follow you on GFC!
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

Norma said...

Count me in!
bingomamanorma(at)gmail(dot)com

Casey said...

Alright, so I cannot even express how excited I am to read this book! I love fairy tales re-told and this one looks excellent :) Can't wait! I would love to win, please enter me in the contest! Thanks :)
randomness.is.awesome@gmail.com

Patsy said...

This book sounds great. Count me in on the giveaway. Looking forward to reading it. Thanks for giving away copy. Carman sent me.
plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Lady DragonKeeper said...

Just wanted to say, great interview and that I'd like to enter this contest!

Besides commenting here (+1), I have:

+1 Subscribed to your blog via e-mail alerts.

+2 Read and commented on "Love, Charleston"

+2 and on "Journey to Forgiveness" So that's a total of 6 entries.

Thank you so much for putting this contest together! I first found out about "The Healer's Apprentice" when I was 'blog hopping' and I saw the cover of "The Healer's Apprentice." I immediately fell in love with the cover art . . . and was intrigued by the summary since I love medieval and Christian fantasy, so I know I'd enjoy this book!

Thanks again!

--Lady DragonKeeper (I hope it's okay that I haven't posted my real name . . . I don't like to do that if at all possible . . .)

jafuchi7 [at] hawaii [dot] edu

Katy said...

Ooh, I would love to win a copy of this one! It looks fabulous!

I am following your blog.

srfbluemama[at]gmail[dot]com

Carole said...

Medieval romances based on fairy tales is a great idea and I look forward to reading The Healer's Apprentice. I am a lover of fiction and can't imagine taking a 15-year break from reading fiction, Melanie!

I hope your romance series set in 1880s Alabama is picked up, Melanie. I live in Georgia and love southern fiction.

Thank you for the chance to win The Healer's Apprentice.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Carole said...

Extra entries:

+1 Follower and subscriber

+2 Commented on Love, Charleston

+2 Commented on Journey to Forgiveness

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Laurean Brooks said...

Carman, thank you for hosting Melanie.

Melanie, your writing techniques sound so much like mine, it's eerie. Starting something and writing three chapters, then setting it aside when another idea strikes. Well...that's me.

Since JOURNEY TO FORGIVENESS was released I've worked on half a dozen new stories, four of which are on the back burners.

I love the sound of this book. Please throw my name in the hat for the drawing.

Laurean Brooks

landtbeth@yahoo.com

Carol M said...

Please enter me!
I subscribe by email.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Kathryn said...

I would love to read this! I'm a big fan of faily tales retold :)

ksmiley2[at]kent[dot]edu

Melanie Dickerson said...

I'm so sorry I haven't been able to stop by and reply to everyone's comments! But I do appreciate you all!

I wanted to let you know that you can read the first chapter of The Healer's Apprentice on the Zondervan website. I will try to post the link.

Melanie Dickerson said...

Oops. The link didn't work. Trying again, this time, the copy and past version.
http://www.zondervan.com/media/samples/pdf/0310721431_samptxt.pdf

Lindsey B. said...

OMG! This book sounds awesome! I would love to be entered for the giveaway please :)
I'm a follower. I believe you already have my email ;) Thanks!