Melissa Maygrove-Author Interview-Sea Monkey Style!

Hi everyone! Today we have an author interview with Melissa Maygrove. Her historical Western comes out in just a few days, and I for one, can't wait. She was brave enough to come over and take the Sea Monkey SAT portion of the interview as well, so this gal's got grit! Please welcome Melissa to Tongue In Cheek.

Native Texan Melissa Maygrove is a wife, mother, nurse, freelance editor, and romance writer. When she's not busy caring for her tiny nursery patients or shuttling teenagers back and forth to after-school activities, she's hunched over her laptop complicating the lives of her imaginary friends and playing matchmaker. Melissa loves books with unpretentious characters and unforgettable romance, and she strives to create those same kinds of stories for her readers.

A.Q. - Thanks for agreeing to answer some interview questions about yourself and your new book, Melissa.

M.M. - Wait. That looks an awful lot like S&M? Yikes! People will think I write bondage. (:P Kidding) Thanks for inviting me! I’m honored to be here.

A.Q. - Lol! So, What is your book about? 

M.M. - Come Back is a western historical romance (Adult / New Adult) about a young woman who gets left behind by a wagon train. She’s rescued by a hunky hero, of course. :)

Left behind by everyone she loves...

Rebecca Garvey had the promise of a California future dreams are made of, until the wagon train her family was traveling with left her behind. Now she’s slowly dying in the wilderness, abandoned and stripped of her self-worth. Once the shock of her desertion turns to embittered despair, she doesn’t want to be found. Then a handsome stranger challenges her convictions and changes her mind.

Headed for Texas, chased by the demons of his past...

Seth Emerson knows exactly what he wants. Working to save for a cattle ranch of his own keeps him busy and keeps his pain buried. Rescuing a stubborn woman from the hills of New Mexico Territory isn’t part of his plan—but she’s exactly what he needs.

Making greater sacrifices than either of them could foresee...

Seth and Rebecca set off on a risky journey and a quest for truth, each healing the other’s love-starved soul along the way. Will they give in to their growing attraction?  Or will they honor their commitments when Seth returns Rebecca to civilization... and her betrothed?

A.Q. - Can you share an interesting behind the scenes tidbit about your story?

M.M. – You’d think after more than two years spent writing this novel I’d have a whole list of behind-the-scenes stories, but this question stumped me. One thing people might find interesting is where the inspiration for the story came from.

I home-schooled my daughter for a few years. As part of one of her history lessons, we read a book about a teenage girl traveling west. It was written in the form of a diary and mentioned various belongings westward travelers would dump to lighten their loads on the trail. I imagined a young, abandoned woman using these things to survive, and the first sketchy plot note for Come Back was born.

A.Q. - What is your favorite part of the story writing process?

M.M. – I love the idea stage, when you can barely jot your thoughts down fast enough, and the research stage is often fun (I did a LOT with this book). But I’d have to say doing the final read-through and seeing a story in its polished, finished form is the best part of all.

A.Q. - Writing can be such an isolated enterprise. Yet, I’m sure there are people who have helped, guided or inspired you along the way to becoming a published author. Could you tell us about one of them and how they helped you?

M.M. – I have been blessed by many talented people during my journey, but the one who’s helped me the most is Carrie Butler. We met by chance when I put an ad online for a CP. She kindly stuck with me through my first WIP, bless her heart (Come Back is my third), and she has grown to be as much a dear friend as a colleague. I wouldn’t be where I am as an author—and I mean writing, techy skills, social media, everything—if it wasn’t for her.

A.Q. - What are you working on now/next?

M.M. – Publishing my debut novel has kept me crazy busy. I haven’t had time to think about much else. I do have a NA dystopian in the works. I also have an idea for a novella (or short novel) featuring two supporting characters in Come Back. Can’t say who they are, though. It’d be a spoiler. ;)

Now for the S.A.T. portion of the interview:

Fill in the blank –

If I were a villain, I would have __chemical mutagens__ for minions to deliver my wrath because __they can silently slip between your DNA__.  (And remember, sea monkeys are already spoken for. Mostly.)

Sea Monkeys are to __kids__ as zombie stinkbugs are to __Beetlejuice__.

A.Q. - Please tell us where we can find out more about you and where we can buy your books.

M.M. – The best place is my website: www.melissamaygrove.com. Everything is there, including links to my social media haunts and my writer’s blog. Come Back is my debut and is set to release May 12^th. Buy links will be added as they become available.

Melissa's Goodreads page

A.Q. - Thanks again for stopping in!

M.M. – Thank you! Now I can say I took the sea monkey SATs over at Ava’s.  :)

A.Q. - And lived to tell the tale!! lol!

Melissa is also having an awesome giveaway! Check out the details here, then stop over at Melissa's blog to enter!

Contest starts May 5^th and ends at midnight on May 19^th.

Winners will be announced May 21st.

The two prizes are:

A $50 gift card to your choice of Amazon or Barnes & Noble (Book Depository for international entrants)

A signed paperback copy of Come Back for winner living in the cont. U.S. or Authorgraph + e-book copy (international entrant)

Good luck!!