Melanie Dickerson + GIVEAWAY

By Kelly Bridgewater

About Melanie . . .

Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer’s Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.

Where to connect with Melanie . . . 

Website: http://melaniedickerson.com/

Blog: http://www.melaniewrites.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3408059.Melanie_Dickerson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelanieDickersonBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/melanieauthor

Links to buy the book: http://tnzfiction.com/romance/book/301/the-huntress-of-thornbeck-forest.html
Amazon
Barnes and Nobles
Christianbook

*Click here to read my full review of Melanie Dickerson's The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest.*

From Melanie Dickerson

Author Interview: Melanie Dickerson 

1.)   Tell us a little bit about yourself:  How did you start writing?  What has kept you writing?

I started writing when I was in middle school. I liked making up stories for my friends to read. I stopped writing after high school for fifteen years, then started back when my kids were little. I write because I love it, because it’s my ministry, and because it pays. Otherwise, I’d have to get a real job.

 2.)   The first person who encouraged me to pursue my writing was . . . How old were you when you discovered fairy tales?

I’m not sure, but I’ve always loved them as far back as I can remember. I wrote my first fairy tale retelling when I was about seventeen, I think. It was a short story of Beauty and the Beast.

3.)  How do you decide what fairy tales to mimic for your upcoming releases? As much as I enjoy your writing, The Fairest Beauty did remind me of Snow White, but in The Merchant's Daughter, I had a hard time drawing the connection between Beauty and the Beast (Maybe I just need to read it again. Like that will be hard for me to do :).

I was looking to combine two different stories, and I just played around with several fairy tales and familiar stories, running them through my thoughts, until I hit upon the idea for The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest.

4.) My latest book, The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest, can be described by these 5 adjectives . . .

Romantic, Dangerous, Adventurous, Fun, and Imminent!

From Melanie Dickerson

5.) Where did the idea for combining Swan Lake and Robin Hood come from?

I was thinking about a female Robin Hood, then thought of a forester who would be trying to catch her, and the Swan Lake idea seemed to fit, as there’s a certain scene in Swan Lake that is especially dramatic—I can’t say which one since it would give too much away. It just seemed to be the perfect dramatic scene for my two main characters, the “black moment” when all seems lost.

6.) What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?

I hope they will relate to wanting help the poor but not quite knowing the best way to go about it. Also feeling torn, wanting to do the right thing in a situation but not sure what the right thing is. Also discovering that God’s way is always the best way.

7.) Any upcoming projects to entice us . . .

The Golden Braid is my Rapunzel story, the 6^th book in my Young Adult series, releasing November 17.

A Brief Synospis: 

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man around. And her skills as an artist rival those of any artist she’s met. But for a woman in medieval times, the one skill she most desires is the hardest one to obtain: the ability to read.

After yet another young man asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides they need to move once again, but this time to a larger city. Rapunzel’s heart soars—surely there she can fulfill her dream. But Mother won’t let her close to a man. She claims that no man can be trusted.

After being rescued by a knight on the road to the city, and in turn rescuing him farther down the road, Rapunzel’s opportunity arrives at last. This knight, Sir Gerek, agrees to educate Rapunzel in order to pay back his debt. She just has to put up with his arrogant nature and single-minded focus on riches and prestige.

But this Rapunzel story is unlike any other and the mystery that she uncovers will change everything—except her happily ever after,

8.) Something totally off the topic . . . but how many copies of different versions of fairy tales do you own? Do you have any fan gear, such as phone cases, necklaces, notebooks, t-shirts? What?

I do have a few necklaces and t-shirts. J Not that many books, but I did just buy two more this week, a Hans Christian Anderson collection and a Princess fairy tale collection, both with lots of beautiful pictures. J

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Thank you so much for being my guest today, Melanie! I loved getting to know you better and can't wait to read The Golden Braid. Readers, if you haven't read any of Melanie Dickerson's Fairy Tale Romance Series, you're missing out. They are GREAT books that will appeal to adults and young adults. I have LOVED every single one of them. 

Okay, my reader friends, don't miss this opportunity to get your own copy of The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest. Melanie has generously offered a copy of The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest to one person (limited to U.S. residents only). Leave a comment, mentioning your favorite fairy tale and why. The contest runs until Monday, May 18th at midnight. I will pick a winner on Tuesday, May 19th and announce it here on the blog. Please leave your email address with your comment, so I know who to contact. :)