Interview & Giveaway with Melissa Marr

1. When did you first start writing, and was there something in particular that inspired you?

I was in 6th grade having violent nightmares; Sister Elaine gave me a notebook and sent me to the library. That was the first time I’d ever considered writing. Many years later, in 2002/03, I started writing because my husband was deployed, and I had insomnia. I first began submitting short stories in 2003, and I’d allowed myself 3 years to teach part-time and try writing. I’d decided to return to full-time teaching in August 2006—but then I sold Wicked Lovely in March 2006.


2. What first attracted you to your genre when it comes to writing?

I just write. I don’t write in one set genre. MY books have been classified romance (WL won the RWA Rita in 2008), fantasy, and horror (Graveminder won Goodreads’ Best Horror Novel in 2011). I have YA, adult (Graveminder; 2011), and children’s (The Blackwell Pages, co-authored with Kelley Armstrong; 2013) novels; I have edited two anthologies with Kelley (Enthralled, 2011; Shards & Ashes, 2013); and I have a collection of my own short fiction (Faery Tales & Nightmares, 2012).


3. In regards to your own characters, who is your favorite and why?

That depends on the month. Right now, I am particularly fond of Aya and Mallory (Carnival of Souls; 4 Sept 2012) because their fun to write. Donia and Irial were my most frequent faves in the WL series. I guess I just fall in love easily and often where characters are concerned.


4. What other genres (besides your own) do you enjoy reading?

I read all over the store: romance, fantasy, mystery, classic lit, poetry, critical theory, and nonfiction (folklore, archaeology, history, gender studies, music history, mortuary history, parenting, etc). I read picturebooks, middlegrade, YA, and adult. The only genres I don’t read are self-help, hard SF, erotica, and politics.


5. If you could not be a writer, what would you be?
In the real world, I’d happily return to teaching university. If I had to pick an all new career, I’d pursue a PhD in folklore studies or archaeology. If it were a fantasy world where one didn’t get arrested for such things, I’d like to be an assassin. I don’t currently own any guns, but I have at various points in my life, and I find weapons strangely soothing. If I could make a career out of, umm, enforcing justice for a fee, I think I’d find that satisfying.


6. As a reader I know how difficult it can be to name a ‘favorite’ book, would you mind listing your top three? (Past or present authors)

I can’t list only three books, but I can list authors: William Faulkner is my favourite dead author, and Neil Gaiman is my favourite living author. So by default, I can say that their novels & short stories are my top picks.


7. What are some must haves when you sit down to write?

Music, caffeine (black tea, coffee, or Mountain Dew depending on my mood), and water. Beyond that, I only need either a pen/paper (if I’m outside) or my computer (if I’m inside).



Melissa's Latest Release:

Gaveminder:
Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville. While growing up, Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual at every funeral: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words, "Sleep well, and stay where I put you."

Now Maylene is gone and Bek must return to the hometown—and the man—she abandoned a decade ago, only to discover that Maylene's death was not natural . . . and there was good reason for her odd traditions. In Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected—and beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D. From this dark place the deceased will return if their graves are not properly minded. And only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk.

You can read my review of Graveminder HERE.

Find Melissa:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:

Melissa has kindly offered a signed paperback copy of Graveminder.

Rules for entry:

- Open to US addresses only.
- Must be 13 years of age or older.
- Giveaway ends April 22, 2012 12AM EST.
- Leave a comment and fill out the FORM below, entries in the comment section will not be counted.