I’m so excited to have Melissa Marino here today. Her debut, SO TWISTED, came out November 1, 2016. It’s fun, swoony, and a little bit steamy (okay, not just a little bit). Read more about her first novel below.
Callie has found the perfect job. As nanny for a single dad and his adorable daughter, she can pay off her student loans and live in a nice house in the heart of Chicago. There’s just one problem-her new boss. Definitely no dad bod here. Just six-plus feet of raw, sexual energy. Whoever heard of a dad being so hot?
From the sparkle in his daughter’s eyes, Aaron can see that hiring Callie was a good decision. But Callie’s breathtaking smile and long legs have him thinking about his own needs. Aaron knows it’s a bad idea to get involved with the nanny, but it’s been years since anyone has captivated him like Callie.
When living under the same roof proves too tempting to resist, Callie and Aaron discover a mind-blowing passion unlike anything either has experienced. But with a curious child and a nosy family in the mix, their secret, no-strings fling soon turns into a twisted, tangled knot . . .
Amazing, right? I’ve read it, and it’s the perfect read during these turbulent times. Here’s Melissa to tell you more about herself!
Thank you to the Tall Poppy Writers for inviting me to visit today! I’m so excited to share some fun things with you and tell you a little about myself.
If you were a drink (preferably alcoholic), what would you be and why?
I often call myself a ‘Whiskey in a Teacup’ and I feel like this is very appropriate. With whiskey being my drink of choice, it’s also a strong booze with a slow burn kickback. However, if you took that whiskey, and put it in a teacup, there is delicateness in whole delivery. That’s me!
What is your advice for aspiring writers?
I don’t want to go clichéd with my answer, but there is no other way to say it: DON’T GIVE UP. EVER.
Everyone’s road to becoming a published author is full of twists and turns, highs and lows. You will see others go from query to agent to book deal in a matter of a few months. You will see others continue to plug away on different projects, their journey taking them much longer to reach. Don’t compare yourself to others, and put all the doubt that comes your way into the writing instead. Hone your craft. Learn from other writers. Read as much as you can. Just keep writing. Always.
It’s hard. It’s so, so hard. It’s never not hard, published or not. However, the result, whatever that may be for you, is worth every single moment you fought to get there. Believe in yourself because the world is waiting for your words.
What is the best perk of your job?
Pajamas until noon (and sometimes longer!)
What’s the strangest job you’ve ever had?
The strangest job I ever had was prior to becoming a full-time writer, I was an aesthetician. Yes. I was a bikini-waxer for a living. I was working during the huge turn into the “Brazilian Bikini” wax movement and let’s just say I saw a lot, like a lot, of…well, bikini lines and beyond.
And people always ask me if it was weird or gross, but no, it wasn’t. It was one of the best jobs I ever had. Women trusted me with something very intimate and because of that, they often told me some things they couldn’t confide in anyone else with. They trusted me with deep secrets and thoughts they had no one else to turn to with. It sounds strange, but I helped women with something others considered strictly cosmetic when in actuality, I did so much more than that.
What are you reading right now?
I am so, so lucky to have gotten my hands on an ARC of THE SIMPLICITY OF CIDER by Amy E. Reichert, one of the Tall Poppy Writers (and one of my nearest and dearest friends).
This book is beyond delightful. It takes place on an orchard in Door County, Wisconsin and like everything Amy writes, you are completely submerged into the environment. There is family tradition, tragedy, and even some swoony love things happening. I can’t wait to finish and for this book to be out in the world for everyone.
Melissa Marino is a full-time writer and part-time Storm Trooper collector. When she’s not writing, you can find her watching Friends reruns, mastering her cupcake frosting swirl and hunting for the perfect red lipstick. Melissa lives in Chicago with her husband, son and very opinionated dachshund.
Thanks for being here!