A Writing Journey Interview with Author Melony Teague

Here's my first author interview of the year! Check it out...
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​Melony Teague is a freelance writer who believes everyone has a story to tell.  As co-author of As the Ink Flows, she loves to inspire and motivate others through her written words. She writes Contemporary Romance with a dash of humor. Member of ACFW. She has never met a Starbucks she didn’t love and has been known to eat vegetables for breakfast—well, pumpkin pie—same thing. Melony was born in South Africa and now lives in Toronto with her husband, their two teenagers, and two cats.

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A PROMISE TO KEEP BOOK CLUB

Book: A Promise to Keep
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Anaiah Press
Release Date: Jan 21, 2020 (E-book and Print)
ISBN: 978-1-947327-72-6
ASIN: B082TRYKWD

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A Promise. A High School Reunion. And a pact that proves harder to keep.

Research librarian Savannah Sanderson wants nothing more than to escape into her happily-ever-after novels with their larger-than-life fictional heroes. But a promise to her late husband has her attending her dreaded twenty-year high school reunion, drinking ghastly punch, and taking desperate measures just to keep her vow, even if she has to hide behind the décor to do it.

Once a reckless troublemaker, Michael McCann fled town after graduation. Now a professional technical rescuer, he’s back for the reunion, but on his trip down memory lane, he soon comes face to face with unresolved issues, namely Savannah.

Before the night is over, a pact between these two old friends will lead them on an adventure into uncharted emotional territory where Michael must confront his past regrets and find the courage to reveal the truth. But can Savannah fly from her sheltered nest and risk her heart on a real-life hero?

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THE INTERVIEW...
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Who are you and what do you write?

I’m Melony Teague, I’m a South African born Canadian and I write contemporary romance with a dash of humor.

Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you?

I started writing many years ago when I blogged daily, as writing became a habit and I developed the discipline to write, I decided to put the blogging aside and become a writer. My freelance writing career has been going for ten years with many interesting clients. It wasn’t until just over a year ago that I began pitching my fiction work.

How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown?

I took the time to learn as much as I possibly could, to read books, read craft books, and to practice writing. Writing is a skill that you have to work at and put a large measure of discipline and perseverance into. Eventually it pays off.

What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable?

As a freelance writer, my client’s work comes first. Which sometimes leaves me little time for my own work. However, the hardest part is minimizing distractions. I tend to have a thousand tabs open on any given day. When I am on deadline though, I “go dark” and have to turn it all off and just write without distraction. That is hard for me, I tend to want to get up and wander around the house, make tea, do chores. I think I must have attention deficit or something. So I literally have to tough-love myself through each process. In the end the effort is worth it.

Would you go back and change anything?

I think I would have started sooner, but I didn’t know that I wanted to be a writer until I did. I’m not sure how I would have realized it sooner, but if I could, I’d try start earlier. I envy our young writers and all the writing and skill building time they have ahead of them.

Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future?

I’d still like to be enjoying bringing to life characters that I love and making readers happy.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out?

I’d say, pace yourself. This writing life is like a marathon, not a sprint. If you are in it for the long haul, then pace yourself, set goals and achieve the little goals on the way to the big goals. And the post important, enjoy every step. I know it sounds cliché but each part of the journey has its own perks and thrills and downfalls. The other thing I’d say, learn from others, sure, but never compare your journey to someone else’s. We are not all going to follow the same path.

And most importantly... 

Ketchup or Mayo? Depends, I actually like them mixed, on burgers, we call it “pink sauce”.
Night or Day? Night
Inside or Outside? Outside
Dogs or Cats? Cats
Twitter or Facebook? Twitter
Ebook or Paperback? Paperback
Walk or Drive? Drive (I’m always in a hurry, LOL)
Sun or Rain? Sun
Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? Oh no! I can’t answer that one. Too hard. Love both.
Comedy or Drama? Comedy
Chips or Chocolate? Chocolate for sure.


Thank you so much for joining me, Melony, and good luck with your writing!