Q&A with Melinda Dozier

One minute he was perfectly sexy and the next he was perfectly geeky...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Before I introduce you to my very special guest, fellow Wild Rose Press author, Melinda Dozier - who is here to showcase her hot new contemporary romance - Time Out, Valentine - I would like to share this short Valentine's Day quote, which I am sure we can agree no truer or wiser words have ever been written...

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt... Charles M. Schulz

So, let's get down to business.

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to tell us about?

"I have another release on March 9, so I’ve been finishing up edits, reading through the final galley. New York Minute is about a shy accountant, Veronica, who meets rocker Diego in New York City. The two hit it off physically, but have secrets. Will their relationship last only a New York Minute? Add to Goodreads HERE."

What do you like to do when you are not writing?
 

"I’m a huge reader so I’m always reading when I’m not writing. I’m also known to play a few internet games like Candy Crush or Farmville."

Do you use a pen name? If so, how did you come up with it?

"I do write under a pen name, but it is my maiden name, so it’s not very different. I have a video of me explaining my name and why I have a pen name. Want to see? LINK."

Could you ever co author a book with someone? If so, who would you choose, and what would you write? 

"I could co-author with the right person. I have worked together with others on two group projects: Love and Other Games (about 5 different Winter Olympians) and One Lucky Night (a snowy Boston night in a pub). We worked together and integrated our stories and it was so much fun."

And now for the hard hitting questions...

What's the last thing you did that scared the bejeebas out of you?

"I am TERRIFIED of scorpions and I live in the Land of Eternal Spring where Scorpions abound. A few weeks ago, I thought I saw a scorpion crawling on my son. Instead of pretecting him, I ran away screaming at the top of my lungs with my hands in the air. What motherly instincts! It happened to be a wasp, which is also bad, but I feel pretty bad that my son could’ve been stung either way. Bad mama! Bad!"

Tell me the first thing I'd see when I walk in your door? 

"The first would be my sweetie German Shephard, Bella. She’s always waiting at the door for me."

What was the last picture you took with your phone? 

"Ready for it? Here it is… the view I see almost daily! Gorgeous isn’t it?"

"But I also found this while searching and it seems my son found my phone and took a silly picture."

Have you ever used the phrase "back in my time" to someone younger than you?

"Almost daily with my students. I teach eleven/twelve year olds. I always tell them I grew up without Google and that they should know how to open a real dictionary."

Have you ever made your own Ice cream? 

"No, but did you know it takes 12 pounds of milk to make one gallon of ice cream? It’s true."

If you could have a full scholarship to any university what would you choose to study? 

"I’d like to dab into theology. Surprising right?"

What are your 3 favourite internet sites? 

"Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Time suckers, but fun!"

Lexi’s life is one big dump. Or so she thinks. To keep her mind off her latest breakup, she stays busy with work. It’s no big deal, since writing for Time Out Portland Magazine is a blast…except for the one small snag – Grant Reeds. Grant, a shy but sexy computer geek, is new to Time Out, working as the Networking Director for the online magazine. Even though Lexi thinks he doesn’t notice her, he sure as hell does. The owners have a plan for their upcoming Valentine’s Special, pairing up the two to explore romantic date ideas around the city. Soon, Lexi and Grant learn that the old adage, “Opposites Attract,” can ring true.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon, Kobo, B&N, The Wild Rose Press, Goodreads

EXCERPT:

Grant sipped his beer and surveyed the room around them—anywhere but at the siren next to him, with her fancy drink, an umbrella hanging off the side. Overhead lights strobed the room, gleaming in all directions. The DJ announced a new song and a new crowd rushed to the dance floor, leaving them more alone in the back of the room. Thank God.

It was stifling hot. He tugged his collar from his neck and rolled the sleeves of his white button-up. His glasses slid down his nose, forcing him to take them off and put them in his shirt pocket.

Luckily in that part of the room, the music wasn’t so loud that they had to scream to converse. He only raised his voice a fraction to ask her the question he’d been wondering since they set foot in the place. “So, you think this is romantic enough for a Valentine's date?"

She batted her long lashes in his direction and smirked. “There’s low lights.”

“Yeah and loud music, people all around.” To help prove his point, someone bumped him in the back, pushing him closer to Lexi. His hand circled her waist and rested on her hip.

She sipped the drink, moving the umbrella with her other hand, then licked her lips. “It’sthe place to be. All trendy couples find their way here.” She cocked her head. “What would make it more romantic? Kissing?”

A slow smile formed and he faced her. Not a bad idea. “Actually, yeah.” He placed his bottle on the table behind them, cracked his knuckles and stretched his neck.

She laughed nervously, putting her weight on another sexy as hell foot. “What? You’re gonna kiss me? For real?”

“We need romance.” He grabbed her cup and put it next to his bottle. His gaze dropped to her mouth.

“You kissing me won’t—”

He placed his thumb on her lips. “Shhh. Stop talking so we can be romantic.”

 

TIME OUT, VALENTINE trailer

 

AUTHOR BIO:
Melinda is a multi-published contemporary romance author with books from Crimson Romance, Swoon Romance and The Wild Rose Press represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. She lives in Guatemala, Central America with her husband/college sweetheart who brings "mucho amor" to her life. Melinda enjoys being the queen of her household and dreams of being pampered fully by her three boys once they are grown. Melinda's guilty pleasures include reality t.v., traveling, blogging and playing Zynga games.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website, Twitter, Facebook, The Wild Rose Press

 

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