Featured Interview With Melissa Wright
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was raised in the Midwest, and now live in New England with my husband – my high school sweetheart – and four cats. I am a linguist, data analyst, and avid reader. I am also frequently locked onto my PS5, where I play anything from Fortnite to Far Cry to Assassin's Creed. I've also started learning how to embroider.
Recently, I have started making sourdough (my starter is name Sourah Jessica Parker), which is just a lovely hobby, as the reward is carbs. There's nothing better.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was about three when I knew I adored books – both writing and reading. I would write and illustrate my own stories and make my parents staple the pages together so I could flip through the pages. The first book I remember really loving is The Twits by Roald Dahl – I read it probably 100 times when I was young. I would climb the large tree in my back yard and read while lounging against the trunk.
I wrote stories on the family computer from a very young age. Probably as young as six. I dabbled in everything from first-person POVs about getting lost while on an errand with their parent and having to navigate their way back home to Star Wars-inspired epic fantasies.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite genres are fantasy, romantasy, and contemporary romance. I also love reading essays and classics. My favorite authors include Cyril Connolly, Oscar Wilde, Helen Hoang, Terry Brooks, Julie Olivia, and Melissa Grace.
My writing is often inspired by the seemingly "small" characters – those who are never the center of attention, whose anxiety may get the better of them, and who often are seen (even by themselves) as the side character. I love writing about people who others may overlook so I can watch them grow into the main character.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is called "Of Pies and Men," and it is my debut novel. It is a cozy contemporary romance that takes place in a small town, Ford Shore, that is full of quirky characters and coffee shops. It has a love triangle, fierce female friendship, and protagonist often uses baking as a coping mechanism.
The main character, Stewy, tends to hide behind her baking recipes and stories she writes, but by being forced to make a decision on who she wants to be with (which is a very hard choice, as there is no "lesser" option), she has to take ownership of her own story.
Stewy is surrounded by people she cares about – her friends Poppy and Jess are her two best girl friends who encourage her to make the most of life and what it throws at her. I really enjoyed being able to write strong women who support each other and who will be there for each other and alongside each other through the ups and downs of life. These women are die hard friends, and I had so much fun writing about their relationships with Stewy.
The two men in the love triangle, Garner and Liam, each bring complementary and loveable traits to the table. Liam wears his heart on his sleeve and thinks second. Garner thinks things through and processes how he feels later. I have really loved hearing which team people choose as they read the story.
Because I love the characters so much, the book took me more time to edit than it did to write. I continually re-thought how I wanted someone to say something or when they should say it. I wanted Stewy's decision on how her love life ended up to be really difficult, but I may have made it too difficult on the poor girl at times, and there were a few scenes that had to be removed to ensure readers could understand why she made some of her decisions. I read the book many, many times in order to make sure each character – even the side characters – got the attention they deserved and that the story did them justice.
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