Welcome to Author Spotlight! Each week will feature a different author. We’ll get the scoop behind their writing life and dish a little. The authors will also be giving away a copy of their latest book. FUN.
The winner from last week’s Author Spotlight giveaway of Dear Mr Knightley is Terry Petrino! Please email info@suzannewoodsfisher.com with your mailing address.
This week we are featuring Melissa Jagears! To enter to win a copy of her new book A Bride for Keeps (Bethany House), leave a comment on this post.
Tell us a little about your new book . . . this series is all about different ways mail order brides went wrong. This one is how one poor man seemed to fail at the mail order bride business through very little fault of his own, but he’ll get it right eventually!
How can readers find you and your books? My website: www.melissajagears.com
If you could wish one thing for your future, what would it be? A free maid!!!
Best author moment? So far it’s been seeing my cover for the first time. My story totally belonged behind that cover, and it felt unbelievable that my name belonged there, too.
Describe your ideal circumstances to write. Silence, which is very hard to find with 3 kids. And finding the will power not to play on the internet when I check some historical fact online . . . .
Right this moment, what does your office look like? Did you see that I need a maid above? I think that explains things . . . 🙂
If you could write any book–on any topic–and be guaranteed a publishing contract, what topic would it be? (Or genre?) Medievals. Put a castle on a cover and I buy it, but there are so few Christian Medieval Romances available. I might just write them anyway.
Ever had a bad review? How did you handle it? Before being published, I’d determined to throw myself a party for my first one star review—but it had to be a bad review because the reader actually didn’t like the book, not because Amazon messed up an order or something. When I got it, my hubby ordered a cake with one yellow star and four white stars, and we put in 5 candles but only lit one. Then we sang “Happy One Star to you, Happy One Star to you, Happy One Star dear IQ draining, drivel writing author, Happy One Star to you!” (Middle lyrics courtesy of the one star reviewer.) Then I blew out the candle and wished to be a NYT bestseller. 🙂 My crit partner did not find that party fun however, and boycotted it!
How do you solve a grammar dilemma? Google! But I actually love grammar. In college, our grammar class (I was an English major) had trouble with a sentence about an orange peel. Even the professor wasn’t sure what the right answer was. I thought about it after class was over and suddenly realized the answer in the shower two days later. I told my professor the answer at the next class, and he said, “Melissa, I think you need to get a life.” I even kept my college grammar textbook to do again someday . . . for fun!
Are you an introvert? Extrovert? In between? A huge, huge introvert. On my Myers-Briggs personality tests, my biggest percentage is always introversion.
Do you enjoy public speaking as an author? Why or why not? And strangely enough, after my last answer, it’s yes. I like being out with people if I have a purpose. Put me in the role of a teacher or speaker and I know exactly what to do and I’m all right. Tell me to go mingle, and I want to curl up in a ball in the corner.
What are you working on now? Newest release? I’ve turned in Book #2 and starting Book #3 in the series.
[Tweet “Check out @SuzanneWFisher’s interview with @MelissaJagears & enter to win ‘A Bride for Keeps'”]
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Gatood luck with your book. I can remember diagramming sentences in school and grammar can be fun. Language is living and it is fascinating to see the changes in language that develop over time.
Kathleen, I remember the HS diagramming as being a little weird but slightly fun, the college diagramming??? Oh made so much more sense and was so awesomely fun, It was so cool when I covered an entire page full of infrastructure for like a 10 word sentence. I was tutoring/working with a guy in that class at his apartment one day and he was rather slow at it, so I’d wait for him while I scanned the 50 sentences we had to do a week and I’d go “Oh, 23 is awesome!” and he groans, “That means it’s hard and this is going to take forever!”
so exciting to read this “New Writer” interview! I hope that’s me someday!
Your one-star party sounds fun, but I am sorry you got a bad review. A Bride for Keeps sounds like a really good book. I love books about mail-order brides and this one sounds like a new take on it.
Well, I thought it was a fun party, my critique partner did not!!! But that’s all right, my hubby had fun with me. 🙂 And what’s not to love about Mail-Order Bride stories, eh? So fun to put yourself in that situation with your IMAGINATION rather than actually do it!
Oh no, I’m having stories told about me without even realizing it! No, I did not think Melissa’s one star review party was fun, and yes, I boycotted. She’s a fabulous author and no one deserves to be lambasted the way she was, let alone publicly.
I understand people not liking every book they read. I understand that authors sometimes do really stupid things in their books. But I don’t understand being disrespectful, calling names, and publicly accusing someone of making you lose IQ points.
Just call me Mama Bear!
But really, I do admire Melissa for laughing at the review and celebrating. I probably would have cried . . . :-/
Thanks, mama bear. 🙂 And she certainly wasn’t nice, so that deserves cake right?
I really enjoyed Melissa’s novella Love By the Letter! I would love the opportunity to read her first novel.
So glad you enjoyed the Novella. It was my first short story ever and was more fun than I thought to write.
I would love a chance to win this book. Thank you for the opportunity.
I would love to read this book and add it to my book collection!
Congrats on your 1-star review! There’s a sentence I never thought I’d write.
Truly, I think it’s phenomenal (and downright fun) how you handled it and you certainly have my admiration.
Good luck with the other books in your series!
Thanks! My crit partner was miffed that I celebrated that first instead of my first 5 star, so then I did a first 100 non-one star reviews so my first 101 reviews had a party too. But I knew a one star would come if my book got out there enough so why fear it? So I made it something to look forward to. And who doesn’t look forward to German Chocolate cake? 🙂 Well, maybe coconut haters, but I love coconut!
Would love to read your book and to post my review. Don’t worry about a bad review I am sure the great ones out weigh it. But I know how it hurts my daughter is a new author believe me I understand so keep on writing and I will keep on reading.
Yes, often the advice is to not look at reviews, but I’m actually learning some stuff. Like a ton of people refer to wanting the stories of secondary characters, so I know that I should keep trying to sell series of interconnected characters rather than completely stand alones if possible to make the readers who enjoyed my stories the most happy possible.
Of course, if you have a problem with a book, it’s just rather nice if you say it nicely, authors are human people with feelings too! 🙂
Thank you. When I see the the first one star review that states things kindly and politely, maybe I’ll throw a part over that! “There’s hope for one star reviewers. They aren’t all angry-hate filled monsters!”
Okay, maybe all one star reviewers aren’t quite that bad, but some of them are kinda close.
But that quote is not quite as catchy for singing! ;P
Great post and I enjoyed Melissa’s book! Cute interview! Blessings to both of you Suzanne and Melissa!
I loved your “one-star” party! I thought it was great!!! Loved the interview as well. Count me in on this contest please. Would love to read this book.
Judy F
I absolutely love the way she handled her bad review that was awesome!!!
Wish I could have had you there to sing the song with us Nancy. ;P
Looks like a great book! Thanks for the give-away!! chendryx(at)nctv(dot)com
Looks like a must read.
I would love to read this book, it sounds like it would be a really good read.
I’d love to win a copy of your book. Your interview is delightful and I love your goodnatured spirit
Hope you get a copy some way, Vera. Not sure I’m good-natured, but I can definitely choose whether or not to get down in the mouth about things I can’t change!
BTW – I had a friend once (who taught English in a large Chrstian university) who said that he diagrammed portions of Scripture to help him understand it. That is truly getting to the meat of the study.
this is an awesome book! I hope your book is selling well. I am looking forward to the next book when it comes out. I love the way you handled the one star review because I so loved the book and gave it a 5 star review. I am sure this will be a book that I will read more than once! Hope you and your family will have a wonderful Christmas
Thanks for that 5 star Wilani. I’m so honored that you’d reread it; I’m a huge rereader…which comes in handy writing books since you have to read one so often!
Merry Christmas and Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Glad to see new writers. Best wishes with your books. I’d love to win.
It would be interesting to see a medieval romance!
There are just not enough Christian Medieval Romances in this world!
I love your cover! Do you decide what’s going on the cover? Thanks for sharing with us. I would love to read your book.
Sharyl, it is a great cover! They ask me for cover information, what the characters look like and anything else I think pertinent. But they’re the ones that design and decide on the cover.
It’s interesting that you’re in introvert, yet enjoy meeting people–It’s ok to enjoy people, and enjoy your personal space & time! I agree with your desire for a maid…I’d rather sew or read than clean! THANKS for a nice Giveaway!
Oh, only when I have a role to play, Barb. If you asked me if I wanted to go to a party to meet people I’d shake in my boots. But make it a mystery dinner where I have to pretend to be a character and solve a crime, I’m all “let’s get ‘er done!”….after I force myself there….So maybe if I went out into public always pretending to be a spy or something I’d never fear it. 🙂
I love to win books. Thanks for offering a Giveaway!!
Melissa, you did awesome with the way you chose to handle your one-star review. I love stories of mail-order brides. Would love to read this book; and I look forward to reading the entire series. The best to you with the success of your writing career. God bless you! Would love to be a winner!
Can’t wait for the entire series to be out, Mary. How exciting will that be!
This is on my list for wanting to read, I too love mail-order bride stories! I found it interesting that you rate as an introvert on the Myers-Briggs assessment. Just curious, what is your full personality combination? I’m an INFP. 🙂
I love Myers-Briggs, helped me make sense of myself and why no one acted like me. I’m an INTJ, the rarest female personality. And I’m a textbook INTJ….and INTJs are not likely to be romance authors let me tell you, I’ve discovered a few writing INTJ females online but a romance reading/writing one is well, I might be the only one!
Wow, that one-star reviewer was pretty harsh. Good thing you have a great sense of humor about it. On another note, yeah to Christian Medieval romances! I’d love to read some more (loved Michelle Griep’s and enjoyed Tamara Leigh’s books). Will you write one?
She was pretty harsh, wasn’t she? Probably a good thing I was prepared to celebrate it, because if I hadn’t had any plan and that was the first one I got? Might have thrown me into a funk instead of party mode!
I want to write several medievals, but they’re hard sells…. at least at this time. I think I’ll probably stick with the better selling historicals for now, and then when the baby baby gets more independent and I can up my writing schedule I’ll try to sell them along side the others, if not, I might self-publish it, because there just needs to be more!
Totally love the one star party! Loving life and enjoying it all! Great story!
Can’t wait to read this!!!
Sounds like a great piece of fiction with a historical touch!
Enjoyed the interview very much. I admire your
spirit and your great attitude.
I recently downloaded some free mail order
brides book and thoroughly enjoyed them.
Would love to win this book. I will look forward
ro the series.
Wishing you much success!
Mail-order brides are so fun, aren’t they?
Enjoyed this interview. I’ve read Love by the Letter and loved it. Can’t wait to read this one and the rest of the series.
So glad you enjoyed the novella
I would love to win. I am a grammar Nazi, but hate diagramming sentences. Is that possible?
Well, considering I love diagramming but I don’t consider myself a grammar Nazi, I’d say I believe you. 🙂 My ESL kids would catch me saying something grammatically wrong and I’d answer “Yes, I know it’s wrong, but I can tell you exactly why and how to fix it, can you?”
Keeping my fingers crossed! A great author and a great book!!
The title is interesting and picture is good. I would enjoy reading your new book.
Pam
Sounds like a book I could get lost in. Would love to win this book. I’m a sucker for romance.
Sounds like a great book. Would love to read it. Would also love to have a free maid. ha
What’s that old song?
“I’d like to give the world a home and furnish it with love” it so should have been “I’d like to give the world a home and offer free maid service”
Just think, if you hadn’t had the courage to write that book, you’d never have had a one star review! So glad you you did.
Yep, gotta take the hits along with the highs!
ahhh looks like a holiday vacation…to sit back and read!
I SO with Thanksgiving meant read for me, it just ends up being a whirlwind for us. 🙁
I would love to win your book on mail order brides. It’s a really big version of our blind dates, only more permanent! sharon, CA
Yep yep, internet set-up blind dates.
I love the idea of celebrating a bad review (very clever!)
Means I’m a “real” author now!
Great interview. Looking forward to reading your book. Thanks for the chance via your giveaway.
i would love to win this book!!
This book sounds good.
Wonderful reaction to the bad review! I have always loved the saying, “When life gives you lemons…make lemonade!”. I am an avid reader of many authors and would love to read your books as well. I would enjoy receiving a copy of A Bride For Keeps. Thank you for giving us a chance to win one! Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
German Chocolate cake has tons more sugar, and that review needed sprinkled with tons of sugar. 🙂
I just love to win books !! This one looks wonderful Thanks
Thanks for the opportunity to win this book, the cover is beautiful!
This book sounds amazing. It is definitely going on my “to read” list.
Amy, thanks for putting me on the to read list, hope it gets up to the top soon. 🙂
Melissa–
Thanks so much for taking the time for this interview. Really enjoyed learning more about you. Had to smile at your bad review coping method! Warmly, Suzanne
Maybe more authors shall adopt it! Enjoyed the questions and your visitors.
Congratulations Melissa – I would lobe to win a copy of your debut novel 🙂
I’m a librarian and a grammar nerd too. Your book sounds great. I think you should try the Medieval era though. Be different!!! Can I borrow your maid? Happy Thanksgiving!! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
If I get a maid, I’ll let you borrow her/him……once! Can’t let my maid get away. 🙂 I’ll probably get to Medievals sometime, but probably after the infant/toddler stage is done in this house, and the homeschooling gets to a more independent stage.
This sounds like an amazing book! Win or not, I will be purchasing it!! Good luck for your future adventures!
“Win or not, I will be purchasing it!!” Music to my ears. Thanks!
Loved the novella and the excerpt I read from the book. The book is on my Christmas Wish List. But if I win the book I can just put another book in its place. =) Can’t have too many books, right?! Also love the attitude about the negative review.
Well, that’s my motto Tima, but my hubby and father-in-law and anybody else who’s had a hand in moving us to new homes might disagree. I have more boxes of books than probably any other thing when moving!
Great interview! Thank you both for taking the time to enlighten us 🙂
Thank you for the interview! I would love to win a copy of Bride for Keeps.
Would love to win one of your books.
Enjoyed this interview very much! Thank you, ladies!! 🙂
Would lovvvvvvvvvv to win this book!
Would LOVE to be able to win this book. And as for grammar, I was so lucky to have a good teacher for that subject.( not my best subject by far) Dad was not the most help but mom was okay, and for any problem she didn’t know I had to rise to the challenge and fend for myself. I don’t think I did to bad, I passed anyway 🙂
I was definitely on my own with English homework from probably junior high, then I had to help me sister. My mother hates English.
HA! And I love that I replied to a grammar comment with a typo that looks like I don’t know grammar very well!
I just finished reading this book last night! I was so excited when my library got it in! I loved this book and can’t wait for the next book! I would love a chance to win this book to share it with my mom!
So glad you read it and enjoyed it!
I would love to win your book, Melissa. I’m always looking for new authors to try out. I think you should totally write a Christian medieval romance book. I love to read historical romance novels but it’s hard to find Christian ones.
Shaun, I’ve got the website for you! I didn’t realize when I left working at a Christian book store about many of the historicals available. I have them all cataloged at http://inspirationalhistoricalfiction.com/
You can find historicals by decade, main character occupations, historical events, etc. I love browsing there. And they are all Christian (they might not be romances, but you should be able to tell that by the blurb)
great interview!Love to win the book!
I love books about mail order brides. They were a true part of history. Most authors write about them going right. This is great that it you will be showing about how they can sometimes go wrong. Looking forward to reading a book like this.. I also hope I would be lucky enough to win one as well.
Every book in this series has a mail-order bride go wrong, so hopefully you’ll enjoy reading them all!
Interesting that you would write medievals. Those are the ones I stay away from. Now give me a book with a horse on the cover & I go for those westerns every time.
Funny, I love seeing castles! There’s all kinds of readers and writers, eh?
Would love to win a copy. This book has been on my “watch” list for awhile. 🙂
Your book is on my Goodreads “want to read” for sure! It would be faster if I won a copy, but I will eventually read it, regardless. I love mail-order bride stories, for some reason.
I think it’s because mail-order brides were more desperate and made of stronger stuff than we are….not that I want to become one beyond through reading role play!
Looks like a lovely read! Hope to win it.
This sounds like a wonderful book I’d love to read! Beautiful cover too.
I love grammar, too:o)
Yay for grammar lovers!
Love mail-order bride books
Thanks for sharing and the contests! I love celebrating the one star review party story! Way to be positive and celebrate your achievements no matter how big or small!
yes, why not celebrate everything, makes life more fun…..actually, I’m not always that upbeat, but I knew it would come….if only I did that with more things in life!
Love Mail Order Bride stories, can’t wait for this one!
I love the way you let the readers get to know you a little bit through this question and answer session. I’d love to win a copy of your book. Thanks for the chance!
I’m basically an open book, not everyone gets me, but hey, ask me and I’ll tell you.
Looking forward to reading this book, fingers crossed that I may win it.
Don’t forget your toes. ;P
Ooh, I love discovering a new (to me) authors! Looking forward to reading this book no matter how it winds up in my hands!
Tee, I’m new to everybody! Don’t miss my freebie short story: http://www.amazon.com/Love-Letter-Unexpected-Brides-Novella-ebook/dp/B00EVSB3N0/ref=la_B00BCU4VVQ_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385511514&sr=1-2
Can’t wait to read either of her Books… Nice Interview…. Would like to win a copy of her book…
The short story is free!
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Letter-Unexpected-Brides-Novella-ebook/dp/B00EVSB3N0/ref=la_B00BCU4VVQ_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385511514&sr=1-2
I absolutely LOVE mail order bride stories and the ones from a Christian perspective are the best. Would love to win a copy of this book but even if I don’t, I’ll be reading it.
Thanks for reading my stories eventually! 🙂
Very excited about your new book!
I realy love mail order brides, set in the west & have Christian values as well in the books. I also like set in the west with Indians & Christian values.
Wyla, check out my website, here’s the books cataloged as having Native Americans in Christian Historicals.
http://inspirationalhistoricalfiction.com/category/types-of-characters/native-americans
I would love to win this book.
I’m new to your books and writing. After reading your interview I kind of chuckled. I like your one star party, what did that person know giving you a bad review. Your mail order bride sound really good and interesting, love to read it. English in grade school didn’t go over to good for me. I went to a catholic school and the nuns were trouble. I liked the diagramming the sentence it was fun. Now writing a theme paper, I guess that’s what you call it, lol! I was trouble. The nuns keep telling me I didn’t have proper english I don’t talk right. I told them, so my mom doesn’t talk proper english because I talk just like her. The nuns kept sending notes home to my mom. I think it’s funny now but it wasn’t back then. To this day I know I don’t talk right. Congrats on your book and the next one. I hope I win a copy of your book “A Bride for Keeps”, I love stories like this. Thanks!
My mother doesn’t always talk right either, I learned later in life that some of the words I thought were words were words my mom made up!
Sounds like a great story!
Would love to win your book. Thanks for having the contest!!!!
I’m just beginning to read “A Bride for Keeps”. Maybe I can rate it high. That was one person’s review. As others read I’m sure ratings will be better
Fran, rate it however you like. 🙂
I still have some of my college books too to look at again someday. I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who keeps them! 🙂 Your book sounds good–I love mail order bride stories!
Yay, I’m not the only one. One day I’ll get them out…..my homeschooling children may not be pleased. 🙂
If you figure out how to get that free maid, let me know. I could sure use one as well. I spend way to much time on fb and reading instead of housework!
I’ve always been rather intrigued with the mail order bride idea of our past. There were certainly more men in the west than women – but I’ve often wondered why a woman would go for the mail order idea.
Desperation! Modern mail order brides are from poverty stricken countries, so also desperate. I think us Americans, even poor ones, are generally so far from desperation we find it far more inconceivable than the women back then probably did. My guess anyway. 🙂
AMAZING, I would love to read
Would love to win!
Hi Suzanne and melissa. Great to be here. Enjoyed the interview. Melissa I’d have to agree with you on your wish. And, I was an A student in English all thriugh school, but now sometimes I feel I can’t even spell right, must less all of the other things we learned. I sure need something to fix my broken Rememberer. I have been trying really, really hard to win this book. But, no luck yet. Trying again but a whole lot of competition on here. Thanks for a chance tho. Maxie Anderson
Maxie, a lady from my church is running around trying to win it too and hasn’t yet. She came to my signing and bought a copy, but she’s now trying to win for her daughter, so she’s in the same sad state. :^) But somebody’s got to win!
My Meyers Briggs introversion is usually 100%. Congratulations on your new book! I hope to read your work sometime soon. Thanks for the opportunity to win a book!
wow! I don’t think I’ve ever scored 100, high 80s, maybe it has to do with me being all right going out with a “role” to play?
Enjoyed reading about Melissa Jagears. I haven’t read any of her books, so would love to win this one.
All my comments with links are still awaiting moderation, so you can get my short story for free at Amazon or any store that sells ebooks. Type in Love by the Letter. Can’t beat free, right?
I love the story about your 1-star review party!! I enjoyed your short story and I can’t wait to read your first full length book!
Thanks Kelly
I have no doubt that you will do well with your book. Many readers out here who love good stories, things that bless our lives in this very stressful world. I know you address the very things so many of us enjoy. Best wishes to you! Thank you for giving us an opportunity to “see the world” in your book.
I love the one star party idea. Much better than feeling bad about it.
Would love the read this book -I love mail order brides books.
I would love to read a medieval book that had a Christian theme to it. Thank you and God bless.
Would love to read this book. God bless.
This sounds wonderful and would love a chance to read it. Thank you and God Bless
I’ve kept all my grammer books and dictionaries. My 7 yr. old niece takes after me. She asked for a dictionary for Christmas this year.
Aw, how could anyone deny a kiddo a dictionary? Not possible, I say! Once, I sent my daughter to her room for disobedience and she said, “Can I take the dictionary with me?”
How could I not let her take a dictionary! That’s punishment for most. 🙂
Great interview!! Book sounds wonderful!
I would love this book! I think it’s nice to see that she didn’t let the one star get her down. No matter what you do you can’t please everyone! Even the best authors get bad reviews, some people are just plain rude and crazy lol!
Well, Mark Twain had some not nice things to say about Jane Austen, and I like both……
I loved your one-star party. Great sense of humor! I would love to win A Bride For Keeps. Thanks for this great contest. Judy F
Enjoyed your novella and now I’m eager to read the full novel. Like so many others I love that you celebrated your one-star review. I’ll put up with just about anything for cake!
What’s not to love about cake, right?
I would love to win a copy of this book.Thank you for sharing!
I would love to win this book!! I too love books about mail order brides and I’m always looking for a New author!!!!
I am excited to read this book. It sounds great. :))
Exciting. I love to read from new authors. Mail order Brides, it will be interesting. I would love to win a copy of your book: A Bride For Keeps
Would love to win this book. Thanks for the opportunity.
I really like the cover of your book and would love to win it. sharon, CA
would love to win
Pick me, I love reading about mail order brides. It looks like a great book!
I love to read this type of books, please pick me to win.right now the only books I get to read are on my Kindle.
This book sounds like a must read. I hope you are able to write a Christian medieval romance….sounds intriguing!
I especially like your books about the Amish. I hope to one day visit one of their communities. Would also love to win your book!
I think having a party when you received a one star rating was a good response. I would love to read your book!
Got this on my list for me and mom!!
I love the way you celebrated your bad review, Melissa. May your wish come true.
love to read this book
There will always be someone who doesn’t appreciate a good book and rips it apart. That is there opinion and thankfully is not the opinion of the masses. I think this book sound fantastic and I can’t wait to read it. Keep writing because those of us who like to read want a vast variety of books to read.
I really enjoyed the interview. It is nice to learn a little bit about the author of a book you know that you will enjoy. Thank you for the opportunity to enter.
Fun interview! Love the maid request! Melissa’s my kind of gal! I hope she does write a Medieval novel. That’s such a great period of time.
Bride for Keeps sounds fun. I LOVE your one star party, such a great way to treat a negative. It’s sad that some people are so negative and pessimistic and so jealous that they’re set on putting others down. I always wonder, didn’t they have a mother who told them, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”? Oh phooey, now you’re going to get me for the period/quotation marks/question mark 🙂