Across the Beer Bar with Melissa Keir!

Welcome to my beer bar Melissa what can I pour for you to start?Thank you Liz for having me at the bar. I love to visit local breweries. There’s always so much to try! Can I have your Revilo? The idea of a beer with a carmel malt…sounds like a delicious place to start.
You are relatively new to the publishing game. Tell us about your journey to that first acceptance.I started out as an editor for a brand spanking new publishing house. The owner suggested that I write my own story and submit it to her. I spent a few weeks writing my short story to submit to their Second Chance at Love anthology. When I sent the short story to the owner, she wrote back within days that she wanted it. I was over the moon. But that didn’t last long.When my book was in edits, the publishing house closed and the rights reverted back to me. I didn’t know what to do. I was afraid it was a sign that I shouldn’t be an author. But a swift kick in the butt from you, I submitted to one of the places where you had a book published. They accepted the story as a novelette and published it on it’s own. In the meantime, one of the ladies I worked with at the defunct publishing house, went to another publishing house. Since the book I had written was accepted at Rebel Ink Press, I wrote another story that publishing house for their Love, Again anthology.
And how many books have you had published since?Currently I have six books published. They are all short stories which are perfect to read on an ereader or at night before bed.
What is your opinion of the value of "review sites" with regard to sales? How much stock should authors take in various reviewers' opinions (good or bad) of their work?This is a challenging question for me. I used to work with a well-known review site. I loved reading books  and writing reviews of them. My reviews were published on their site and allowed me to meet many wonderful authors. But as a reviewer, I had a strict moral code about my reviews. I always tried to find something that I enjoyed about the books which I reviewed. It was important to be constructive while not trashing a book. After all, it was only one opinion.Some readers place a lot of importance on reviews. I read reviews for different purchases that I make from televisions to books, but I take them with a grain of salt. I read through them and still make my own choice. Sometimes they do sway me, but mostly it comes down to what I want and if the product fits my needs.As an author, I want people to connect with my story. I want to hear that people enjoyed my book. But I’m aware that they won’t appeal to everyone. Authors need to have a thick skin. There are going to be bad reviews.Letting the bad reviews roll off my back is hard. They make me doubt my choices but like the reviews I read before a purchase, I have to weigh it against what I know and believe. I’ve heard from many people that a bad review can also be a good thing. After all bad publicity is still publicity.
Oh look! empty glass--what can I pour next for you?Can I try a Barista? The blending of coffee and beer is a wonderful idea but I don’t know if it will put me to sleep or keep me up! I’m not much of a night owl now with having to wake at 6 am for a full day of teaching 7 and 8 year olds. No one wants a crabby teacher!
Who is the character you created that you love the most and why?That’s a tough question. I love all my characters. They are each special in my heart for various reasons. But the chacter that I’m having the most fun with is Mr. Wilder from my books “Forever Love”,” Beach Desires” and “A Christmas Accident”. He is the father of the Wilder sisters who are five girls who grew up thinking of their dad as a hero. But they left Amherst, Ohio after high school. Each feeling the need to escape the small town. Yet when Dad needed them, each of them return to Amherst. In “Forever Love”, we see Mr. Wilder at his most vulnerable but also readers get to see him enjoying life again after the death of his wife. Love doesn’t end when you are in your sixties and seventies.
If you were to be granted the wish of "writing a book about anything you want, guaranteed to be published big time." what would it be about? what genre?I’d love to publish a contemporary romance or paranormal romance ala JD Robb or Nora Roberts. I love her stories about family and how characters choose to be the people they want to be, not letting the world or their past choose for them. I’d love to tell the story of a family that loves each other yet still has strife and conflict as they search for love and being the best they can be.
Why?Growing up in a family dynamic of five girls, all very close in age, it was a challenge at times. I remember clearly fighting with my sister one minute but also threatening someone who wanted to pick on her. It was the idea of family being the strongest part of my life and how my family made me into the person I am today. I think that other people could really connect with a story like that. Families are flawed yet they are stronger. Think about shows like Dallas-the readers connect to the Ewings, even love to hate them.
Tell us about what's coming up for you...new releases, new contracts, new plans.I have a book currently in edits. It’s the sequel to my first story-“Second Time’s the Charm”. The title is “Three’s a Crowd” and continues the story of Lissa and Alex Hunter who were introduced by her best friend and his ex-wife, Chloe. This time, Chloe’s marriage is falling apart and she turns toward her ex-husband. Will LIssa lose her best friend or her new husband?I also have three books in the works. One is the forth story in the Wilder Sisters series and one is the second book in the Pigg Detective Agency series. I’ve also almost completed a story about a teacher who has a one night stand with one of her student’s father. To keep up with all my latest information and releases, stop by my website at http://www.melissakeir.com

And for a nightcap?Let’s finish up with your award winning Amber Lager. Thanks again for letting me sit across the bar from you. I’m grateful for your friendship and support. And thank you to your readers for allowing me to visit with them for awhile.


Forever Love by Melissa KeirBlurb:Fifteen years ago, Syndie Wilder left her small hometown- Amherst, Ohio- to escape the pain of losing her best friend and boyfriend. Deciding that Chicago offered more for an up and coming jewelry designer, she enjoyed the big city life until she chooses to return and care for her father. Taking care of her father and relocating her internet business, Syndie has no time or desire for romance but fate has a way of playing with best-laid plans.
Thom Johnson broke Syndie’s heart all those years ago and regrets it every day. As a firefighter, Thom sets out to protect Amherst and redeem himself for his bad choices. However, he never has forgotten Syndie and the hurt he caused her.
When a chance meeting happens, can the two former friends allow themselves the chance to become friends again, or will the sparks turn a childhood friendship into a forever love?EXCERPT:Deciding to get out of the house, we headed out for dinner at a popular local restaurant. The Armors Diner was located in an old home that had been converted into a homey place to eat. They had a full menu, containing anything that might tickle your fancy, but they had the best Coney dogs and fries. The Armors was a favorite hangout for the high school crowd, so the walls were covered with photos from all the sports stories covered by the local newspaper. The place was packed, but we found a spot at a small table near the large front window.The Armors held a lot of fond memories from my time in high school. I used to come to the restaurant as much as I could to hang out and visit with my friends. We would always order the large fries and talk about the boys we liked. The restaurant also had its share of sad memories too—mostly surrounding T.J. and our time together. As if just thinking about him caused him to appear, I looked up to find him walking through the door, alone, and heading directly over to our table.“Hi Syn, Mr. Wilder. Do you mind if I join you? This place is packed, and I hate to eat alone.”“Hello Thom. Nice to see you. What have you been up to lately? I haven’t seen you since you dated Syn, here. I must have scared you off good,” Dad replied with a grin.“Mr. Wilder, you didn’t scare me off. Syn decided to run away to the big city and leave this small town behind.” T.J. winked at me, so I stuck my tongue out at him.I felt like an idiot while they spoke about me, and a little shocked that Dad didn’t remember T.J. being at the recent fire. “Hello—I am sitting right here. You shouldn’t talk about me like I’m invisible.” They continued to ignore me, in favor of the conversation. I took the moment to look at T.J. He certainly had grown up. I studied his profile, trying to find a small part of that little boy who was my best friend growing up. His strong jawline and full lips were new to me. His baby fat was gone, but his strong nose was the same. The aquiline had a bump that always looked like he had broken it, which earned him the nickname Rocky. I loved his smile. It was a full grin that lit up his whole face and made his eyes twinkle. I wish I could go back and have a chat with my teenage self. I would share with her just how sexy T.J. was today. Of course, I would probably also have a few words to say to teenage T.J. too. After all, I wasn’t the only one in that relationship.My ears perked up when I heard Dad invite T.J. over for dinner tomorrow night. It will be nice to give Dad something to do, but another evening with T.J…can my heart handle it?The Armors provided a nice dinner among friends. Dad seemed to enjoy talking with T.J. about guns, hunting, and his job at the fire station. Sitting there in the background watching them interact was a treat. Dad was animated, reminding me more of the guy I grew up with than the pale version of himself he had become since my return. He hasn’t been so upbeat in a long time. I don’t think I’ve felt so upbeat in a while, as well. T.J. had many fun stories of life in the station that made us laugh. I was getting reacquainted with the guy I left behind, as he was filling in the missing years.T.J. had been my best friend growing up. We were childhood playmates. Then, in high school, we turned into a couple. He became my boyfriend. We used to spend a lot of time hanging out at the train depot and talking about our future, but that didn’t last. T.J. was looking for a girl who was sexually active, which wasn’t me. He broke up with me and went on to date other girls who were more physical with him. It was hard watching him move on, but I was going to leave our small town for bigger pastures when I graduated, so I didn’t need to be tied down. Now that I was back, though, would we try to make it work?Buy Link:Secret Cravings Store:AmazonB&N
Bio: As a writer, Melissa likes to keep current on topics of interest in the world of writing.  She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and EPIC.  Melissa is always interested in improving her writing through classes and seminars.  She also believes in helping other authors and features authors and their books on her blog.Melissa doesn’t believe in down time.  She’s always keeping busy.  Melissa is a wife and mother, an elementary school teacher, a book reviewer, an editor for a publishing company as well as an author. Her home blends two families and is a lot like the Brady Bunch, without Alice- a large grocery bill, tons of dirty dishes and a mound of laundry. She loves to write stories that feature “happy endings” and is often found plotting her next story.This is what readers are saying about Melissa’s books:Amazon 5 star review for Second Time’s the Charm- “Such a sweet and heart warming story. As I read it, and the details unfolded, I was engrossed to see if that I thought was going to happen, would really happen.” – Lacey Wolfe, Romance Author.Barnes and Nobel 5 star review for Protecting His Wolfe- “Great read. I couldn't put it down. I really liked the characters, especially Betsie and the Pigg brothers. A love story with suspense and surprise.” – Anonymous

Melissa loves hearing from readers!www.melissakeir.comhttp://www.facebook.com/melissaakeirh... (fan page)www.twitter/melissa_keir Leave her a comment on this post and you could win a keyring (as in the photo below). Be sure and leave your email address too!