-->Melanie Bennett Jacobson is an avid reader, amateur cook, and champion shopper. She lives in Southern California with her husband and children and a series of doomed houseplants, and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in writing for children and young adults.
Connect with the Author here:
When a new job brings a grown-up Max back to Baton Rouge, Lila is less than thrilled with his reappearance, especially since everyone seems intent on throwing her together with this old adversary. Yet fight as she may, Lila soon realizes resistance is futile—their connection is undeniable. Max embodies everything she wants in a man—except perhaps the most important thing her life is rooted in the city she loves, but his dreams are bigger than Baton Rouge. With such mismatched visions of the future, Max and Lila are faced with a life-altering decision: jeopardize their aspirations or risk losing love.
Q & A with the Author:
Tell
us about things you enjoy — what you do for fun or personal satisfaction
besides writing?
I like to cook, shop, and go to the movies. I like traveling and
museums. I'm not really the outdoorsy type unless it's a pretty garden or a
chaise by the ocean.
When
did you first realize you were an author?
Before I could read, I would stand by my dad's typewriter and dictate
stories to him. So I knew pretty young.
Have
you done anything writing-related, but besides actually writing your books,
that seemed to get a lot of positive response? Something that encouraged you?
Yes. I wrote for my high school newspaper and got some acclaim for
articles there. I also won college scholarships through essay contests. I think
the most encouraging thing was when I was ten, I wrote a poem about my
grandfather's rose garden. Everyone made a huge deal out of it. My mom painted
a mirrored frame and put the poem inside of it. It hung in their fancy guest
bedroom for years. That was pretty encouraging.
What
is the thing you struggle with the most while writing? And how do you defeat
it?
Procrastination. I use lockout apps to keep myself off of Facebook.
What
is the “message” of your writing? (For example, is your purpose to encourage
old-fashioned values, encourage romance, or do you have different purposes in
different books?)
In my LDS book, my main point is to show that it's fun to be mid-20s and
dating in the Church, not a burden. With my non-LDS stuff, it's to show romance
built on something real, not temporary lust.
What
are your thoughts/feelings on ebook vs. print book?
I always think I love print books more but then when I'm reading them I
miss the features of Kindle. But when I'm on my Kindle, I miss the feeling and
smell of ebooks. So I'm either impossible to please or happy either way. I'm
not sure.
How
many books do you have out? Are you planning a specific number
altogether, either in this series or separately?
I have nine out. Sometimes my stories connect with side characters
showing up as main characters in other stories. That won't happen with Southern
Charmed. I told the story I wanted to tell.
Are
your characters/stories/scenes, etc. based on anything in real life?
A lot of snippets of my husband's life show up in my books, like his
background in surfing or his college band. In this book, more of my life
than usual showed up because this is set in Baton Rouge, where I grew up, so I
threw in favorite sites and places.
What
are your future projects?
I'm working on a young adult novel next about a girl who takes a road
trip with her best friend and a cute boy to discover her identity.
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