Melanie is a multi-published author of romantic suspense, an editor for an online publishing company, and an avid reader. Writing is more than an escape for her - it's a way of life. She grew up in the Deep South listening to tall tales and penning stories about her cats. Now she writes gripping stories of love, suspense, and mystery with the help of her furry little feline muses.Melanie is an active member of Romance Writers of America, the Magnolia State Romance Writers (MSRW), the Published Author Network (PAN), the Published Author Special Interest Chapter (PASIC), the Electronically Published Internet Connection (EPIC), Sisters in Crime (SinC), the Public Safety Writers Association (PSWA), the Red Dog Writers, Southern Writers, the Mississippi Authors' Guild and the Byram Writers' Group. She currently serves as Past-President of MSRW.
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MARKED FOR MURDER - Keller County Cops Book One by Melanie Atkins
Detective Jonah McKee is forced to juggle caring for his rowdy three year-old son and protecting a beautiful amnesia victim who was targeted by a vicious serial murderer...or was she? Brooke Wilson finally remembers her own name - and the name of the man trying to kill her - and the terrifying memory sends her on the run again.
Jonah is forced to hide his son and go with her in order to protect her, and along the way they fall in love.
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FLASH BANG by Melanie Atkins
When Allie Robbins broke his heart, Noah Sterling couldn't leave Magnolia Springs fast enough. He joined the military, then the FBI. Ten years later, a domestic terrorism case forces him to return, only to discover that Allie is now a widowed mother with one young son - and that she's suspected of aiding the group responsible for setting area churches ablaze. Allie can't believe her eyes. Noah is back in Magnolia Springs, and he's asking questions. She's not worried about the investigation, because she's innocent. But she's willing to do anything to keep him from asking the one question that could destroy her life - a question about her son.
Then the boy is kidnapped, and she must reveal the truth in order to save him by turning to the one man she can trust - and the only one who can take her son away. Noah. His father.
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WIN - Leave Melanie a question today at her Cyber Launch Party, and your name goes in the hat for a free ebook or your choice from Melanie's Backlist! Please leave your email address so we can contact you if you are today's winner - Good Luck!
Wow - Melanie! Super congrats on your two new books, they both sound fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI love romantic suspense and you are a queen at romantic suspense!
MARKED FOR MURDER kicks off a new series for you, can you tell us about this new series and how the books will be connected?
Wishing you the very best with both of these new releases and I hope they both hit the bestseller lists!
Enjoy your party!
Thanks! Just noticed a mistake in my bio... actually I'm the current president of MSRW. Must've been wishful thinking when I wrote 'past-president'. lol
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on having two releases, Melanie. I was in the mood for some suspense/mystery today.
ReplyDeleteChildren play a role in both books. Is that a theme in most of your work or just coincidence? If a theme, why?
acm05atjuno.com
Congrats on the new releases! Do you plan out your books, or are you more of a "seat of the pants" type of writer?
ReplyDeleteAnd, if you outline, how on earth do you get your characters to cooperate??
Ann
Anne -- depends on the book whether I include children or not. These two just happen to have them as an important part of their plots.
ReplyDeleteCitronix -- Guess you'd say I'm more of a "seat of my pants" kind of writing. I develop a basic plot in my head, develop my characters, and then take off writing, letting my characters take the lead. Makes for some interesting plot twists.
very cool covers--for sure!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on having two new books! Both sound equally fantastic!
ReplyDeleteYou said 'you develop my (your) characters,and then take off writing'; Do you let them evolve as your writing progresses or are they already fully evolved when you start? I find my characters have a basic sketch of who they are, but I get to 'meet' them as I write, as they evolve.
Congrats on your new releases. Captivating covers on them. I do enjoy reading a good mystery!
ReplyDeleteskpetal at hotmail dot com
Congratulations on your two new books! They both sound great.
ReplyDeleteMy question for Melanie- do you have a set word count for the day that you have to accomplish or do you just write until you run out of inspiration or drive for the day? Do you listen to music while you write and if you do what kind of music?
maria63303(at)gmail(dot)com
You know, Melanie seems like such a sweet person. Her books will keep a reader on the edge of her seat. You just keep on keepin' on! My kind of writer.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, how do you get into your villains' heads and where are the party snacks?
ReplyDeleteMelanie, congrats on your releases! I enjoy your books very much. Do you do a lot of research in your writing? Do you visit local police stations or read up on crime fightening techniques?
ReplyDeleteSmiles
Steph
Annette -- Thanks!
ReplyDeleteUrsula -- my characters are pretty much developed when I start writing, but they do evolve somewhat -- and sometimes, they surprise me and change in unexpected ways. I love that.
Jean -- Thanks!
Maria -- No set word count. I just write when I can. Lately, life has been interfering, but I'm doing what I can to get the words down. Sometimes with music, sometimes with the TV on... right now, I'm on the back porch listening to tree trimmers whack up the trees behind my property. Such lovely background noise. lol
Mary -- You crack me up. I "seem" like a nice person. Does that mean I'm not? lol I get into my villains' heads by doing research and talking to cops and ex-cops. And also, one or two people I've met who've been in jail. Their insights helped me tremendously.
As for the party snacks... they're in my frig, waiting for a party. Ha ha ha!
Steph -- Thanks. Yes, I do a lot of research. I've been to two local civilian police academies, and I've attended Forensic University sponsored by Sisters in Crime and Lee Lofland's Writers' Police Academy. I also consult with cops and ex-cops (except my ex-husband. lol I leave him out of the equation.)
Congratulations on your new releases!
ReplyDeleteRomantic suspense is one of my favourite genres. Do You write any other genres?
chey127 at hotmail dot com
Hi Chey -- No, just romantic suspense. Sometimes with a little more than romance, like in my upcoming WCP release, BLOOD RITE, but always suspense.
ReplyDeleteHi, Melanie.
ReplyDeleteYou're a new author for me but not for long. Your books sound great and I look forward in reading them.
Do the same characters make repeat appearances in your series? Do characters cross over into other series?
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
Melanie, I think authors have the greatest job in the world, living vicariously through their characters. Sounds like yours are giving you loads of fun - or at the very least, loads of suspense.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the double-release. Hope they amount in great sales - I'm downloading mine today.
-Kathleen
Tracey D -- Yes, characters do reappear in my series. I introduce a new hero and heroine in every book (usually in the book before it), then they come back later in the series. I love doing that. It lets me keep up with what's happened in their lives. Marriages, babies born, new jobs, etc. So much fun!
ReplyDeleteKathleen -- thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy them.
I do love a good romantic suspense books but I am sorry to say I have not read yours yet. I can't wait to read these. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletelead[at]hotsheet[dot]com
Virginia -- thank you! Hope you enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteBoth books sound good. How do you choose the suspence part of the book? Do the characters set the mood of the story or do you have a list of crime/mystery story lines you'd like to do?
ReplyDeleteI read the prior comments and I don't think anyone else asked my question! Yay! Who are some of your favorite authors? I am always looking for new authors to read.
ReplyDeletejepebATverizonDOTnet
Congratulations on your new releases. Do you ever plan on writing your characters one way and they insist on being written another way?
ReplyDeletesstrode@scrtc.com
Wow! Two books at one time and I want them BOTH already! I love romantic suspense. How long did it take you to write each book? Do the ideas flow easily for you or did you have a harder time with one than the other?
ReplyDeleteVal
lastnerve2000@gmail.com