5 Secrets (What No One Knows About My Book)

Our guest author today is Melissa Keir, who is going to share some tidbits about the writing of her book that no one knows--until today.

Melissa Keir has always wanted to be an author when she wasn’t hoping for a career as a race car driver.  Her love of books was instilled by her mother and grandparents who were avid readers. She’d often sneak books away from them so that she could fantasize about those strong alpha males and plucky heroines.  In middle school and high school, Melissa used to write sappy love poems and shared them with her friends and still has those poems today! In college her writing changed to sarcastic musings on life as well as poems with a modern twist on fairy tales and won awards for her writing. You can find many of these musings along with her latest releases on her website and blog. 
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, Mid-Michigan RWA Chapter, and EPIC.  She is always interested in improving her writing through classes and seminars. 

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 seen plotting her next story.

CHALKBOARD ROMANCE

1. Back in the day (and some current) school districts required teachers to sign a morality clause. This would allow schools to fire teachers for simple things such as being seen out at the soda fountain with a single man yet without a chaperone.

Honestly, I’d have been in trouble. I’ve always had more male friends than female ones.

2. I used to own a leather teddy that was only straps. It was the hardest outfit to put on or take off for any adventures. I often had red chafe marks on my back and eventually got rid of it. So I had to write the horrible outfit into the story.

Not a very sexy look either as you try to get in and out of it! Can you say turn off?

3. I originally went to college for nursing because I never wanted children but after my own children came along, I quickly changed my mind. I’ve taught every grade from preschool through middle school for the last six years.

I don’t have a favorite grade level. There’s something about each that you fall in love with.

4. Chalkboards are pretty much non-exhistant in schools these days. White boards replaced chalkboards about fifteen years ago. The white boards use dry erase markers to write with. An eraser is still needed to get rid of the writing, however, simple water will do. The dry erase markers come in a variety of colors which makes writing more interesting. Now technology has taken over with the use of whiteboards and computer softwear will eliminate the dry-erase whiteboards over time.

However, unlike my previous teachers, I don’t end up with chalk dust handprints on my pants, just blue marker ink on my hands and sometimes clothes.

5. I married the father of one of my students. We didn’t date until the school year was over. While my school didn’t have a problem with it, other teachers in the district did. I sat through a horrible confrontation one afternoon that almost had me quit teaching forever.

The story was fiction but our relationship does show that it happens…probably more than we think about. In fact, we’re still married after eight years and he’s my perfect man.

Blurb from CHALKBOARD ROMANCE

Lauren Walsh, a divorcee and elementary teacher, wanted to feel sexy again, after her ex tossed her aside for a younger woman. Her teaching partner and best friend encouraged her to sign up for The Playhouse--a renowned dating agency.

Mac Thomas remained trapped in a marriage to a money grubbing socialite. Forced to stay away from his young son, Mac lost the ability to trust. After the death of his wife, he returned to care for his son but his sister wants more for him. She sets him up with The Playhouse.

Passion ignites but Mac’s a parent of one of Lauren’s students. A teacher and a parent dating could cost Lauren her job and her chance at happiness. Will Mac be able to convince the school and Lauren, that love is the most important thing?

To Buy CHALKBOARD ROMANCE go to:
Secret Cravings Store
All Romance Ebooks
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

You can find Melissa on these links:

http://www.melissakeir.com
http://www.melissakeir.com/blog.html
http://www.facebook.com/melissaakeir
http://www.facebook.com/authormelissakeir
http://www.twitter.com/melissa_keir

Thanks for checking out Melissa and her secrets. If you have any comments or questions Melissa will be around to answer them today.

And don’t forget to check back next Thursday to find out even more author secrets about their book.