September 16, 2025 • 61 mins
In this episode we're joined by male romance author, Mel Walker. He talks about how he started writing love stories and transitioned to romance. Join us as he discusses his contemporary, small town, not quite sweet romances.
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(00:01):
Hello and welcome to the Author Spotlight with Kenya Gorey-Bell and myself, Monee Boyce.
Today we have with us award-winning author Mel Walker.
Yay!
Mel, would you please, um, you know, tell us about yourself?
Share some things with the audience.
Sure, thank you.
First of all, thank you for having me on.
Wonderful to be here tonight.
(00:21):
I'm super excited.
So I am author Mel Walker.
I am what I describe or actually found out is called the Redbird, the male romance author.
So I write contemporary small town fiction romance that is not sweet, but far from sexy.
It's probably on the heat scale right in the middle, around 3 or so.
(00:48):
I love it.
So, okay, so obviously I think probably a lot of the listeners would want to know, how didyou, as a guy, like when you decided you were going to start writing, was it always
romance?
Or what got you into deciding to write romance?
I always tended toward the genre.
When I first started writing, it was more what's called love stories.
(01:09):
And I learned the difference between romance and love stories.
I always loved the romantic element.
But when I started writing, it wasn't always with the happily ever after.
Sometimes it had the tragic end, et cetera.
So it was, oh yeah, yeah.
So that's where I started.
And I, you know, found out that those are the love stories.
And I did write my fair of romances in there as well, happily ever after.
(01:32):
But then as I got older and you get more experience with the world and see what's going onout there, you're like, wow, I really need my happily ever after.
So I've been writing romance ever since.
But from a young age, I always gravitated toward, I like the interconnectivity betweenpeople and their relationships.
And romance gives you all of that in terms of all the conflicts, the different viewpoints,and then how to remediate and come together.
(02:01):
That's, I love that.
So how did you transition from just being like a hobbyist and to say, okay, I'm going tonow be a published or self-published writer or did you try for Tread first?
Yeah, it was a journey.
So I've been right, actually, I went back and looked.
(02:24):
I spent right since like third grade elementary school.
And it's just a journey you go through.
And then to your point in terms of as I got married, had kids, and the kids finally wereself-dependent like the late high school years.
That's when I'm like, oh, I finally now have time to really focus in on this.
Because I've always rode on the side between working and raising the family.
(02:47):
And so I was like, let me get serious about this.
And so I started really digging into the craft.
I went to a local conference here in New York, the Writers Digest Conference here, reallygot into all of the professional in terms of industries pieces of what you need to do to
really become an author.
Really got involved with a lot of the industry people.
(03:09):
I joined NaNoWriMo, the National Novel Writers Month organization, went to a bunch ofwrite-ins there.
And New York, the community is so robust.
And there was a ton of published authors, a lot of them are RWA members, et cetera, andreally just chatted them up and talked with them about what does it take to get to that
next level.
And that's, you know, I just, it's like, okay, now's the time, I have no more excuses.
(03:33):
The kids are off, they're independent, you got the time, go, go for it.
No, that's good.
So coming into this, you know, I know that you said you went to conferences and thingslike that.
I know with all of us being Black authors, we know sometimes the, I guess you could sayresistance or opposition to getting into this.
(03:55):
As a male author in a predominantly female written genre, have you had any negativeexperiences or, you know, I guess incidents of
people feeling like you should not be here or, you know, anything like that.
It's very interesting in terms of that question, because that was some of my assumptionsgoing in, was just being a black man in America, you always have your defenses up whenever
(04:23):
you enter a room.
But I've been welcomed with open arms in the community.
People were actually happy to see a male romance author.
And like I said, when I entered, I didn't know it was a thing.
I just went in, I'm an author.
I just assumed.
half the room would be one, half the room would be the other.
And I was surprised in terms of finding out that, you know, in romance, it's 95% femaleauthors, which is wonderful.
(04:50):
And like I said, the community's been so open and embracing and I've had such wonderfulconnections and experiences.
But you haven't had any negative, I mean I have to say, even coming in myself, because Ithink, let's see, because I first, I hadn't even written anything when I went to my first
RWA conference in 2018.
(05:12):
I just went, I didn't know anybody.
And I have to say people were very welcoming, which I wasn't, coming from the film worldinto this.
I was already kind of jaded like, what is this gonna be?
And like you said, people were super like, oh my God, I know this author, let me introduceyou.
And it was so like, so I loved that you had a great experience and continue obviously tohave great experiences in this world.
(05:37):
It just continues and it just grows.
And I love the community because people are so supportive of one another.
But it is a large group of people.
So it has its pockets of corners and it has its pockets of problematic behavior.
But overall the experience has been wonderful.
Oh great.
So what I love like the one little thing I would add is like you're actually like turnedbeing a double minority, a man and a black person in this environment.
(06:10):
And it's just been wonderful to see you grow because I think we've been friends sincemaybe your first or second book.
And then, and we have, and I've just watched you
grow and grow and your name get bigger and bigger in this community.
And I was just talking to my best friend, Naima, and she was like, Oh, you're talking toMel Walker.
(06:32):
I love him.
And that is what.
And, you know, sometimes people like you in this business, people, you will get thatlittle, oh, Mel Walker.
But no, it's like always.
Oh, Mel Walker.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Yes.
Say hi to Naomi.
She's got a book coming out tomorrow, right?
(06:53):
Yes.
we'll be back.
because we talked to her on the 21st.
Yeah, so we talked to her the day after tomorrow, and then she and I are gonna do a livefor both of our books on Friday.
Y'all got this, it will be live.
Y'all know how it get when we go live.
Oh, geez, you know how it's wild over there.
(07:15):
Like this is way more, cause when I decided to wanted to do a podcast, you know I saidthis every week morning.
I said that.
sorry.
When I decided to do a podcast, I said, we need a straight person who's going to keep mein line.
(07:38):
We need a professional.
But I have just loved watching you navigate this industry.
Tell us some of the things.
that lessons you've learned that have, now that you have got, how many books?
(07:59):
So many books now under your belt.
You got me baby.
Like yeah, cause so many beautiful stories.
And so, you know, mostly closed door, right?
And then, and then tell us why that choice too.
(08:22):
Sure.
So in terms of the closed door, one, it's a comfort level, but also I think from aemotional standpoint, I like to focus in on the relationship and the emotions between the
people.
Physical intimacy is great and I read a ton of it.
And there's a ton of authors that do it 10 times better than I could ever do it.
(08:44):
So I was like, I'm not even going to go there.
Hahahaha
But yeah, that's what attracts me.
And that's what I enjoy writing.
And that really is the choice there.
And then in terms of your other question, in terms of lessons learned, I have 20 booksout, but I still feel like I'm at the start of my journey with so much more to learn.
(09:06):
I try to go eyes wide open.
I think one of the key lessons is really just lead with curiosity as you come acrossthings.
Don't go in with blinders or any set
decision in terms of where you think things are going to be or how things are going to be.
Go in wide open with your eyes, lead with curiosity, listen, learn, adapt.
(09:28):
And everything you come across isn't for you.
Pick the pieces that work for you.
Mold it to your personality and the way you run your business.
Take it, build it, and go.
I think that's some good advice.
One of the things that I am curious about, like I know one of the focuses we were gonnafocus on your Lake Hope series that you have, but one of the things I am curious about is,
(09:55):
I kind of love that you kind of, in terms of the relationships that you build, I noticedthat you kind of run the gamut.
You'll write what we consider black love.
You've written a couple that's white, interracial couples.
How do you make the choice of what ethnicity or background your characters are going tohave?
(10:16):
Yeah, I love this question.
Because people are always asking me, and that was actually one question I got at aconference in Vegas.
They wanted to know why my covers are so different and why I had to look.
And I was like, first of all, love's universal.
It goes across the gamut.
And me, particularly, it's really driven by the characters.
(10:36):
So when I'm thinking of the stories and I started developing the characters, they speak tome and they tell me who they are.
And that's what comes down on the page.
I don't go in with pre-
determined notions that, okay, this next story is interracial.
It's like, I started dealing into the background.
I was like, you know what?
This is a black character.
I love writing my black love stories.
Those give me the biggest joy.
(10:59):
But it's, like I said, love is just universal.
And I let the characters talk and tell this story, et cetera.
And also part of it is, and you mentioned Lake Hope, is like, where is it occurring?
So my Lake Hope series is five books.
It's in Indiana.
It's gotta run the camera.
There's gonna be white couples in Indiana.
Yeah.
(11:22):
No, but that's true.
I mean, I love that though, because you do sometimes see like, and not that anything's badwith doing a series and it's all like interracial couples or it's all, but I love the kind
of diversity in the worlds that you build.
Thank you.
I try.
I try and I'm still learning.
Thank you.
What I love about your books is that like, like I read Dr.
(11:45):
Fix it and what is it?
Ryan's Kiss.
I want to say Ryan's Hope.
In the Lake Hope series and I was just like thinking like you really come away from yourbooks not feeling like you have missed.
(12:10):
anything.
Like some people are hesitant to say to read Closed Door because they think they're gonnamiss the spice.
But what you pack is so full of emotion and tell such a great story that you do not missthat part.
That's why when I when people like it takes a lot for me to read the from one end of thespectrum like when they have the many partners the Y2's.
(12:39):
Mm-hmm.
you gotta be an exceptional writer for me to read Why Choose?
Because I just, it's very hard for me to buy into it, right?
Because my resume would be unalive and everybody, it would turn into a tragedy.
It would be like, wait a minute, we're not doing this.
Everybody go.
So, and then to bring on the opposite side of the spectrum, you have to be so talented towrite a story that has
(13:09):
has a packed full of emotion.
And then I'm not talking about bombard like trying to make, you know how people try tomanipulate you with tears, not that, but just a beautifully well woven story.
The way that you do it, and maybe a couple of other people do it.
And it's very talented closed door writers out there.
(13:30):
And I just appreciate the attention that you give to your craft in that.
And so why is that important to you?
To give so much attention and build a story the way that you do.
Yeah, thank you for that.
First of all, that's a great compliment.
Thank you for that.
(13:51):
Yeah, for me, like I said, when I start my plotting, I always start with the characters.
And to your point, I try to get their emotions on the page based on their background,based on the journey they're taking.
I think that's vital, because then when those moments happen, it has that extra punch toit.
Because you'll know when they say certain words, you know.
(14:14):
understand what that means to that character at that moment, because of the journey theyjust came on, they just completed.
So I think that emotion punch is what really hits you in the heart.
So I like just pulling those heartstrings a little.
And you mentioned in terms of, you know, you don't even miss the sex part.
(14:35):
One of the reviews I got, and this was on a TikTok one, it had me a little rolling.
This person was...
Reviewing the book and they like it is so good.
So good and I got to the end and then that it was like two days Later, I realized therewas no sex
What?
That's what happens.
I was just like, it's not a bait and switch because you never, it is not like you misleadpeople, but it's just like, you're like, I didn't even realize.
(15:05):
I think the very first book of yours, I was like, wait a minute, it was nothing.
They didn't.
I was like, oh, they did, but it wasn't in, you know, it wasn't on page, it was closeddoor.
And I was like, that, that's crafting, that's writing.
That's right.
Cause listen, if I ain't writing it, you know something missing.
You're going to be like, this is not going right.
(15:28):
I'm out.
You know, I have to say as somebody who's written like all over it, because before Istarted writing under my own name, I was a ghostwriter.
So I've written the, you know, reverse harems, I've written closed door, likeinspirational.
And I do have to say like, it is definitely like, for myself, I do write like spicyromance.
(15:49):
But I have to say when I was ghostwriting, it was definitely a lot more
of really getting into the characters to make sure that you had that emotional pullbecause, you know, like we can all agree a lot of people pick up these books because they
want the sex scenes.
You know, and so when you are, you know, when you were writing like Small Town or ClosedDoor and that kind of thing, definitely you have to have the emotional pull there.
(16:16):
And like she said, you write like such...
beautiful, you know, characters.
Like for me, one of my favorites on the Lake Hope was Dana and Jackson.
You know, but I also liked Aaron's Hope as well.
And I think that one resonated with me because he was somebody that was a traveler and hadbeen out doing his own thing.
And that has kind of been my own life.
(16:37):
So I could definitely, that one kind of resonated with me quite a bit.
So.
Cool.
Not just you, everybody seems to love Jackson and Dana.
Yes.
Yeah, that was a little...
But why Indiana?
Like what made you...
(16:57):
true, cuz you're from New York, so I am curious about that.
Hehehehe
yes, I am a native New Yorker.
So.
Indian?
What kind of research did you visit or what happened?
How did that come about?
you guys are the first ones that are gonna hear this story, okay?
So you're getting exclusive here.
So I was like, okay, I need the small town in middle America.
(17:21):
I took a dart and I threw it at the man.
I don't know what I did.
And that's where it landed.
So I actually have been to Indiana a few times.
So I was familiar with it.
I went during my high school years, actually went to look at Indiana University as apossible school as well.
(17:41):
So I've been out there a few times, loved the area out there.
And I also was a big biker on the steel bike all the time.
And so they have the big bike race there in Indiana as well.
And there was a movie, Quicksilver back in the day.
I really, yeah, kept, uh, kept it making.
Yeah, so that's based there too.
So I was like, you know what?
(18:02):
This makes perfect sense.
The Dart said it.
I have some background here.
And I just made up a fictional town in that state.
And so that's how the backstory is.
And I've never told that story before.
That dart set walls, that's amazing.
Yes.
Yeah, hey, I need it in middle America.
(18:23):
So.
Yeah.
Middle America.
Well I guess it doesn't get any more middle America than Indiana.
Yes.
Indiana is I think maybe this Mac in the middle of America because and then why is it areyou drawn to like small town stories?
Um, I am, I am.
(18:44):
Um, it's very strange because I am a native New Yorker, um, still live in New York, lovethe big city, but I try to describe it to everybody.
I was like, it doesn't, I don't know what everyone else's experience is, but to me, NewYork's not a big city.
It's a bunch of small towns all pushed together, um, cause you can walk a mile in anydirection and you're in a totally different community with a different vibe, a different
(19:08):
feel, different social constructs, everything.
So it's all different small towns.
I tell everybody I grew up in New York, but I feel like I grew up in small towns.
Mm-hmm.
they like that, because you're kind of right with the different boroughs and likedifferent things like that, they all do have their own vibe.
I've heard that before too, that they're all like...
(19:33):
So, how do...
Like we were just talking about release days and all of that stuff.
How do you celebrate yourself?
Either release days or small wins or big wins?
What...
Because I saw you were like a keynote speaker at like RWA here recently.
(19:54):
And you I don't know if you're headlining the Ingerskunn this year or not, but How do youcelebrate yourself?
Um, I, I'm very simple.
Like last, last week, um, I actually took the day off because it was my birthday andrelease day off at the same time.
Um, and so I said, you know, let's just take the day, enjoy it.
(20:18):
Um, and I took myself out to the diner for breakfast and just chilled.
I, you know, was did my social media posts and then my wife and I just had a nice chilleddinner, um, and we just kicked back and relaxed.
Okay.
Very, very simple in terms of celebrating.
And yeah, I've done a bunch of different events and going out and it's always, mycelebrations are always like nice and quiet.
(20:42):
I just enjoy the quiet.
I'm the opposite.
Ha ha.
We've had so much to do here and so my husband's like, what are we doing?
I said, prime rib.
So, as soon as, and then he'll take me out on a lunch date, like a date day, cause likewe're like hyper vigilant cause we still have small kids, even though like we're a hundred
(21:10):
years old and we don't let people keep them.
We only go out when they're at school.
And so we have to wait till they're in school and then go do something fabulous.
And it's always a big production.
So, I see so many writers, and Mel, you can answer if you're extrovert or introvert, butso many people, all the work we do, and especially being self-published or indie, so much
(21:43):
falls on you.
Mm-hmm.
and you are also a small business owner and we're just head down, always working.
So I'm always trying to encourage other writers to celebrate themselves because it's justlike, cause anytime I hear somebody saying, oh, I'm burning it, I burn out or whatever,
I'm like, cause you didn't take that day.
You didn't take that one little day.
(22:04):
At least you're doing it.
You're not, you know, going all crazy, yeah, you're doing it at the right time.
it the way that you want to do it, but I try to always encourage people to celebratethemselves.
Yeah, I totally agree.
And it's a lesson learned.
I wasn't always like that.
Back in early releases, I was just cranking, cranking.
(22:25):
Like you said, you get heads down and you just crank.
But yeah, you have to pause and take time and appreciate the journey.
Yeah.
Yes, I think that's definitely key.
Take time and appreciate the journey.
I think that's a great lesson for all authors.
Yes.
One of the things, because I know earlier you said that you love writing Black Love, sotalk a little bit about your Spring Hills 10-year high school reunion series, since that
(22:55):
one seems to celebrate Black Love.
I'd love to hear how that idea came to fruition.
So that was just like almost every idea just came out of nowhere.
It just kind of hit you.
So my favorite trope is second chance.
I've done a bunch of second chances and I was like, you know what, I'm going to do a wholeseries of second chances and what better way to do second chances than high school
(23:22):
reunion.
And so that's how, that's what started it.
And once again, the characters.
spoke to me.
And so it turned into, you know, Black Love Book One, Black Love Book Two.
But there are some, some shoot offs from there.
I have some novellas in that same world that aren't Black Love.
The next book in the series is going to be interracial as well.
(23:45):
So it's, it's kind of special.
But the Black Love ones I just love just because when I write those, I look back in termsof my life and
all of the black love that was surrounding me growing up, my uncles, my aunts, my parents,et cetera.
And I get to celebrate and showcase some of that, which there's just not enough out thereof that celebration.
(24:11):
I love that.
And of course, I'm sure celebrate your own marriage.
I know it's like I've been so fortunate to have the chance like you and I have met acouple of times and I've also gotten a chance to meet your wife.
She's such a lovely woman.
And you guys are so cute together.
Yeah, she's incredible.
She's my rock.
(24:32):
And Kenyall will appreciate that.
The things that they have to do to support an author is just incredible.
It's a lot, it's a lot.
But so when do you find is the best time for you to get your muse out, to get words outand all of that?
(24:57):
Um, it's so it depends on where I'm at in the book.
So if I'm brainstorming and outlining, I'd like to be moving.
Um, I like to be walking, listening to music, bike riding, something like that, just to beactive and let my mind just work.
Um, then when I actually ready to write, um, I'm a morning person.
(25:19):
So when I started cranking through, it's usually five in the morning, um, up early.
Um, when the whole world is quiet.
I get no distractions, nobody's texting me.
Nothing to distract me.
Yeah, yeah.
Cause I...
I'm not even gonna say I wish I could do that, because I don't think that I wanna be upthat early.
(25:43):
I am such a night person, yeah.
I love though that, I mean, I commend people that can do early, I'm usually that personthat's been a night person, like that writes at night or whatever, so whenever I hear
somebody, I think you are probably the earliest though that I've heard like 5 a.m.
I wasn't expecting you to say that, I was like, oof.
(26:05):
It hurt.
Yeah, I guess the world is quiet then.
Like I said, I got that squirrel mentality.
If I'm writing midday and my son calls or I get a text and this happens, I getinterrupted, I'm off track and I can't, it takes a while to get back.
And then I always applaud the evening writers.
You guys are amazing, but I'm beat up by the end of the day, my brain's like, blah, blah.
(26:27):
What's a sentence?
That's what I'm saying.
Yeah, because I am like the I have been able to fix my life to around my night writing andme and Moni actually met writing at night.
(26:51):
Yeah, so and I think we used to go from like 10 to two at one point.
So, um, but yeah.
Hehehehehehe
If you see me at 5 a.m., something really serious has happened.
I would say for myself, know that my body has been snatched.
You're like, Moni's been invaded by the body snatchers.
(27:13):
I can't laugh!
Or you've had a really good evening session and you're still going.
That's no no, but honestly, I'm so like so going back to what we were talking aboutearlier with the burnout I like this last i'd say like year almost two I didn't write
because I was severely burned out from doing exactly that I would literally work a nine tofive job Come home and then write sometimes until five or six o'clock in the morning Get
(27:41):
like two or three hours of sleep And rinse and repeat and I did that for a long time
until Louie and Louie had started to catch up with me.
What really clinched it was, it's funny now, well maybe not funny, but I fell down thesteps.
My spatial awareness was so gone at one point that I fell down the steps, like, and Iended up cutting my hand open because I tried to stop myself, but that's when I knew that
(28:10):
there was a problem because I was just like, I was sure that step was there, but...
Yeah.
And so I literally just had to like kind of just step back and take like a break to takecare of myself.
So that's why when you said self-care earlier, I was like, yes, I was like, take care ofyourself because it's easy to try to juggle your job, your family, the writing.
(28:30):
And at some point, you try to do too much and I was doing way too much.
And so I was just like, let me have a seat and like, get my life on track, find somebalance.
I'm like, I think you're still doing too much.
Every time I talk to you, you doing something new.
I'm like, what?
(28:53):
The drone thing?
Look, she's doing drones.
She's doing everything.
I'm like, what?
What can I say?
I'm an entrepreneur that I've been one my whole life, so I'm always like doing differentthings.
And I love that for you.
I'm like, I learned really early.
(29:13):
Cause I think because I'm just like one of these people who's just like innately clumsy,that I'm not a multitasker.
And that's why in I can't, you know, do many things.
I can do many things very well, but only one at a time.
I start deviating.
(29:34):
Like if I start like,
Messing with the kids and I'm cooking I will have totally forgot.
I left food on the thing You notice food is burning right?
No, you left these clothes in the dryer You know you did you left this water running andthis thing, you know, you so we already know what our limits are so I stick to one little
(29:58):
thing I
Complete the test my husband complete the test, you know, he used to be military completeyour test complete And I you know, he keeps me on track with complete the test Otherwise
my life would be in shambles That's why when I'm writing I'm doing nothing but writingthat's why when you see the social media is nothing like it's the marketing and we could
(30:23):
talk about that to mail cuz um, like what are you doing with that and stuff because
I have to be very, very much on task.
So, but I'm not, you know, I'm really goofy.
I'm really.
I have to get you a t-shirt.
This is complete the task.
(30:43):
Thank you.
I expected in the mail.
I see you my address.
Never tell me you're gonna give me something.
Okay, so and then another thing, Moni, did you know and Mel talk about this because I lovewhen you talk about this, that he's a Swiftie.
He's a big Taylor Swift fan.
(31:05):
You are?
I didn't know that!
Like, yeah, do tell!
Yes, yes.
Yeah.
Huge, huge Swifty from like early days.
My wife and I went to the Reputation Tour when he was here back in the day.
This last tour, we didn't even attempt to try to get tickets.
(31:26):
It was ridiculous.
But we did see it when I was in the theater.
So but yeah, I heard her music's incredible.
I think the way she runs her business is inspiring.
It's just, you know, she's just great in terms of just a role model overall in terms ofbeing a creative artist.
(31:46):
There's just so many lessons you can pick up from watching.
that though.
But no, you're right, like her music is actually really, you know, at first I was, Iwouldn't, I was never like a hater, but it was just kind of like, okay, Taylor Swift.
And then I think for me, it was Shake It Off was the one that I got super into first.
(32:08):
And then from there, I started listening to some more of her music and like a lot of herstuff now, I just, I definitely really enjoy, especially like the lyrics.
Like I really am always interested in her lyrics because she writes some really greatlyrics.
yeah.
And it's layered with emotion.
A lot of it.
because I think there's one right now, was it?
I mean, I think it's like a couple of albums old, but Elicit Affair, I think that's thename of it.
(32:31):
Yeah, that like the lyrics are just so amazing to that song.
Like I always find myself coming back to that.
Yeah, oh yeah, like she's a storyteller.
Yeah, no, and that's what I think I love, her music definitely always tells a story.
Yeah, and then she's a Sagittarius like me, so that's what won me over.
(32:54):
Because she is such a Sagittarius.
She is really deep into her Sagittariusness.
And I'm just like, this girl, she just cause, she's just fantastic because my friend Susanis one of her fans, big fans, and she goes to all the concerts and stuff.
And she says, if they don't like you being yourself, be yourself even more.
(33:20):
And I was like, that is the most vegetarian thing you could ever say.
Her birthday's on the 13th, my birthday's on the 11th, and my daughter's birthday's on the9th.
So my daughter's a Taylor Swift fan, but she's also like a Blackpink fan, this one ofthese girl years.
(33:41):
And I'd be like.
What are they even saying?
And she was like, but she loves them and they sing that how you like me that or whateverHow you like me now?
Whatever.
So
You have to do the dance moves when you sing it.
Yeah.
I was...
I'm not good.
Look, listen, listen.
I'm like, but I just like, so has Taylor been amused for you in any of your books?
(34:09):
Um, no, actually not.
Actually not.
write to any music or have playlists that you create for your books or anything like that?
I do.
I do listen to lots of different artists.
I do have playlists.
A lot of country music, actually, on my playlists.
And I've been like, I was just about to say I've been streaming it all day.
(34:33):
I've been playing it all day.
I show my wife the TikTok dances.
I think it's amazing.
It's incredible.
I love it.
So where is it?
Listen, I am writing, right now I'm writing Candy Shop, right, and I'm supposed to be,fingers crossed, starting tonight.
And so when Beyonce dropped this, the first couple of songs, and then the other one islike kind of a fast beat song.
(35:01):
I said she did that cause she knew I was finna write this book.
Ehh!
Just me.
is about me.
And I was like, cause I want, cause this girl is the girl who goes to like the, you know,the hole in the wall.
We call it, some people call them juke joints.
I actually live down here in the South, but we call, a lot of them are shacks, right?
(35:25):
And they, we call them like the shack by the track is the shack.
The shag private track
in the town, in the small town of Shelby Love, which is actually like the town my family'sfrom and Chris family is from the next town.
And so combining them is how I created like Shelby Love, but it's the shack everybody goesto in the little town.
(35:51):
And it's the shack by the track and that's where all the craziness happens.
And the girl, I was like,
That's like it has country R&B, like they play everything.
It just be like, whatever.
Cause all the people, the Cowboys come in, the white Cowboys, the black Cowboys, all theCowboys come in with that, you know, the big buckle belts and the tight, they be looking
(36:15):
cute, you know?
And the girls had a daisy do cutoffs and the high boots and everything.
And it's just a good time.
And so when Beyonce came out with that, I was like, yeah, that's exactly right.
Hehe
No, I'm not.
It does, it sounds like it's perfect for a candy shop, yes.
(36:36):
I know you write Closed Door, I know you've been reading my books, but listen, Candy is acharacter.
She's been in all of them.
She's that wild girl, you know.
So it's going to be fun.
But yes.
I love that!
Well, it's a little bit more refining candy.
(36:59):
Look, she's gone.
She she might set somebody truck on fire.
That's all I'm saying.
She might.
I'm seeing this in the Buster Windows after card check.
Yes, yes, she's the special tires girl.
Which is what stubborn girls are.
So do you have a different playlist for every book?
(37:20):
Do you create a new one or you just have one you just keep adding to?
Yeah, it depends on the book, but most of the books have different playlists.
I'll put them up on Spotify and I'll Yeah
for me, I think partly it's coming from film, and so I'm always like, they have to have asoundtrack.
Yeah, yes, yes.
(37:41):
And it helps sets the mood as you're writing the scenes.
Yeah.
Yeah, because it's like sometimes I have different ones I write to versus what the actualsoundtrack is.
yeah, absolutely.
I did the same.
Yeah, I'll listen to like, yeah, like when I'm writing, I'll do like some of theinstrumental, like cafe type music, like that.
But then when I'm like editing and the vibe for the chapters, I'll put in a specific tune.
(38:08):
Like I do chill beats sometimes like when I'm ramping up to like when I'm doing settingand you know, the building the story, but you know, the love scenes, then as you can tell,
I got a seven hour playlist.
I think it's seven hours, I looked the other day, I think it's like seven hours.
(38:32):
And then whoever that person is.
playlist is seven hours?
Playlist is seven hours for the, well, are there that many love songs Kenya?
Yes, there are, Monique.
There are that many love songs.
Listen, that's where the magic is happening.
That's where the, and it's not called love singing.
(38:53):
It's called a three-letter word, S-E-X.
And so it is 100% that's all, it's like.
adults here, kidney.
You can say sex.
Hahahaha!
Unless you're trying to be quiet because you've got kids around.
No, they're not, they're, look, they know the drill now.
It's like so many songs on here.
(39:14):
It's like maybe a hundred and some songs on here, maybe over a hundred.
But I looked at it and it was like seven hours.
So it's everything from Prince to the new songs, all every tailor.
I just can't do some of the new music.
There was that one, I think it was Drake and somebody else, and I was just like, there isnothing left to the imagination.
(39:35):
I'm just like, that's it.
I wouldn't even say it's me being in my 40s now.
Even if I was younger, I wouldn't have been into that.
You know, like the new version of Cuff It with Beyonce, then The Wildest Dreams.
It depends on like, sometimes you want the more romantic music and then sometimes youwon't take.
(39:59):
Mmhmm.
Hahaha.
Sometimes you rotate, you know, you gotta get it.
Because you know, if you going into the BDSM, then you gotta get some really, you gotta gothere.
You know, you gotta go.
You gotta have it.
They got one for every song.
And then some one writer, Sienna Snow, tried to get me into something like electronica,but I was like, this is a lot, this is a lot.
(40:28):
I'd say so there's a 9 inch nail song that I think would work for your- I can't think ofthe name of the song, I'll think about it to you later, but there's a 9 inch nail song
that would work for your playlist.
Yeah, probably so, but you know, cause I do have, it's a variety, I got country, rock,everything.
I feel married to the playlist.
(40:50):
Like if I make a playlist for like toxic, I feel like I have to write to their playlist.
I didn't know y'all was sneaking off writing other stuff.
I was like.
sorry.
no, I know, because some of that is just for my own, like, what feels like my writing orwhatever.
So, like you said, sometimes for me it's like music compositions or something like thatfrom like a movie or just, you know, different things like that.
(41:19):
Because sometimes it alternates for me because sometimes it's like listening to musicthat's just instrumental.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
it's because sometimes I can't write to like the lyric as I am hearing other lyrics.
Sometimes I prefer just Playlists that I've created that are just instrumental but andthen sometimes like I don't have a problem like if I keep it on like rotation of other
(41:43):
things that
Yeah.
Yeah, my process is very similar.
I go through the same.
I'm very mood driven and sometimes I'm listening to soundtracks of movies and then othertimes it's Billy Joel.
So, oh yeah.
Right?
I'm like, I love Billy Joel!
You and I have so- We have to swap playlists later.
(42:04):
I know, like, one of my friends used to be like, Moni, why is your playlist so white?
I was like, I love Billy Joel!
Shut up!
I love Phil Collins!
Yes!
And I love like that Maren Morris, you know her, she's so good.
Songs was on one of my playlists for a book that I did like a couple of years ago, thatwas it, the um, the- I'm- I'm terrible with titles of songs, like I'd have to hear it and
(42:29):
be like, that one!
Hehe
Yeah.
well, when I was writing, when I was writing Toxic, that song she wrote, I think it's herand Hoser, the, the...
Okay, listen, how come I'm writing the...
Every time it comes on, we, and I'm live on TikTok, like, because I sprint live on there.
(42:50):
And how come I'll just stop and start stopping?
and starts sobbing as though she says, that song makes you cry.
Yes, and I was sobbing.
And people were like, are you OK?
Hahaha
Listen, I'm already you know, I'm very easy to cry like we mean whenever we meet in reallife.
(43:12):
Just be prepared I will cry just Like oh my god, I met you in real life, right?
When I'm here Sarah McClain, I had a full breakdown and not even had me She had to comecuddle me because I was crying
Let's go sleep.
(43:32):
so hard y'all.
It was like and I know Sarah was like this woman is insane.
And then when we met on live just like this I cried and I cried in on like when Bethanyand I and we had already no this before we were writing together I cried when I met her on
(43:54):
live and Theodore Taylor.
I'm a crier.
Now the song came on and it just touches my heart because when you've been married a longtime, you're like the bones are good.
EHEH
No.
Woohoo!
I'm gonna go to bed.
(44:17):
I was like, are you okay?
Are you crying?
I was like, it's fine, it's fine.
I'm just crying.
Tell me more about you sprinting live on Tiktok.
Because, okay, because I would be rhyming with people.
I ain't gonna say no names.
And they don't keep rhyming with me.
(44:41):
And then, now I'm talking about you Mona, I'm talking about other people, because we have.
I know!
I'm trying to figure out who you're talking about!
What's wrong with me?
No, and then so I get lonely I'm an extrovert so I like the little connection Yeah, so wedo it live from like 830 or 9 to 11 and Then if I'm finished And then if I'm not finished
(45:07):
I keep on writing more and then Cuz you know then I got to come out these clothes, honey.
I got the right neck
HELLO
And that's another shirt.
Keep calm and right naked is going to be the shirt I wear at the women's conference.
(45:27):
Because that's what's really happening.
Because that's the only reason why I shed it down.
Is because I got, once I get rid of the white.
We didn't make it.
And so we go.
Ha ha ha.
You have to switch platforms for that version.
So.
I'm sorry!
(45:49):
That's the OnlyFans version.
the holy fan-versus-
So, but yeah, so I started, I was like, okay, let's try this live.
And I was trying to build my following, but what really happened is that we just got asmall group of people as always who come back because we don't talk.
(46:15):
If you go to TikTok and you see a lot of people on the live, they're not really writing,they're chatting.
but we do business, we serious business.
So we're using the Pomodoro method, 25 minutes sprint, five minute break, same thing we'vebeen doing for the last seven years or whatever, however long we've been doing it since
2018.
(46:37):
And I'll be on live doing it.
So y'all come on with me, you'll be on, you come on with me.
sprint at all now?
Or like, are you strictly like, I gotta write solo or do you ever join sprints or thingslike that?
I do join sprints occasionally, but with my schedule, it hardly ever works out, so I'll doit myself.
(46:58):
Yeah, five in the morning, I'll just get by myself.
But yeah, it's interesting, I do use the Pomodoro as well.
And they have the Pomodoro playlist that's instrumental.
I'll go on YouTube and pull one of those down.
And I actually prefer, yeah, yeah.
And I actually prefer the 50 minutes, 50 and 10, in terms of, so that's the one I use.
(47:20):
So you do 50 minutes and a minute break.
Now see if I had that much time, I would start talking and not stop.
I guess.
Because when we do the five minutes, I'd just be like, okay, the time, okay, gotta stoptalking and get back to work.
Cause that's...
So...
(47:41):
Yeah, 10 gives me enough time to stand up, stretch, do some stuff and get back to it.
that's...
because I've done some too, even where it's like you graduate from one, like, so it's likeyou might start out at like 10 minutes, then you take a break.
Next time you're at 15 and so on and that kind of...
So I've done kind of like all over the place.
Like, I'm pretty comfortable with any amount of time.
(48:02):
It doesn't really matter.
But for me, as being an extrovert, sprinting really helps like keep me...
I don't know, there's something about it that kind of fuels my creativity because I'msurrounded by other people that are kind of working towards the same thing.
Yeah.
Um, so that's one of the reasons I do like it when I get a chance to sprint with otherpeople.
Yeah, back in the day, there was a tool I used for NaNoWriMo called Write or Die.
(48:28):
And I don't know if it's still around.
Yeah, and so you type in it, and then if you stop for too long, your screen flashes.
And then if you still haven't typed, it starts deleting your words.
So, yes, yes.
So it's write or die, you have to keep writing.
You lose everything.
(48:50):
I feel like I want to use it just to see like that, um, that happen.
Yeah, yeah, but I haven't used that in years, but that was, I used to use that and it'slike, yeah, that'll keep you at the keyboard.
hehehe
That's scary!
Can you get the words back though?
I'm like...
Oh, no, no.
lose them.
I feel like the next scary movie, right or die.
(49:12):
No.
writing a note.
You have a great, you have that great theater announcer voice.
That's scary.
Yeah, no way.
No, I'd get distracted and then that'll be it.
So yeah.
So wait, let's go back to something that I know we kind of like, what I love about this iswe wanted it to be like loose and just us having a conversation.
(49:39):
But I did want to hear more about like how you market your books or what is it, have yougotten it down to like a science for yourself?
Like you have like a checklist or do you kind of, you know, okay, I did this last time,maybe I'm going to try something different.
Like what do you do for your marketing?
Yeah, I wish I had a great answer here.
(50:00):
So this is, yeah, this is definitely an area that I'm still looking to learn from.
I've been spending a lot of time on the craft part and not enough in the marketing.
And in terms of marketing, I spent time in it, learning all the elements, but in terms ofgetting down a process that works, that's repeatable, I'm still not there yet.
And it varies by release as well.
(50:20):
So, you know, I have these,
Soft releases, this last release I called the soft release, meaning not a ton of marketingbehind it, but that was intentional.
It's a novella, it was part of a anthology previously.
So it was, my fan fans already had owned it.
It has been revised a little, but it was like, okay, let me get this out there for therest of the world, et cetera.
(50:43):
And then, you know, my next release will be the full blown marketing plan.
So that will be, you know, working with the PR companies to reach out to the...
the books, the grammars and the, and the, all of the different book talkers, et cetera,get it out there to them.
Um, full blown in terms of, you know, putting the teasers out there, getting on podcastsand shows like this, um, building up my newsletter beforehand, running promos beforehand.
(51:10):
Prior book in the series, we'll put a freebie like the week before that will be leadinginto the, this book in terms of release.
So there's certain things I will do, but I'm far from.
comfortable in mastering this area.
So ears wide open.
already have a really good foundation.
I mean, you obviously already know like the things that, you know what I'm saying, you'resupposed to be doing.
(51:31):
And I think for some authors, that's half the battle of like knowing, you know, what aresome of the things that they should be doing in terms of getting ready for a release.
Yeah, yeah, the other component in there is just setting up swaps.
So I've been doing swaps with other authors, trying to time my swap around my releasedate.
(51:53):
I do use story origin.
Yeah, yeah, it's very good.
need to get more into doing the swaps and stuff, but I am just like, and remember how, youknow, people like, oh, can I be in your group and stuff like that and do all that?
Then I'd be like, the day, I'm like, forget it.
(52:16):
I'm like, listen, if you want to post it in your group, post it in your group, I'm tired.
Cause I-
I am.
I get to like, like you said, that burnout stage, that's like you written the book, you'vedone the edits, you've like, you've done like so much of the groundwork of the, and I
really looked at like, what was the return for me doing groups?
(52:40):
Like the group thing is like, I let anybody come to my group, but I don't really askanymore to be in groups.
And I do the, so that, cause what you said, Mel, about
knowing what works for you and what you need to let go.
And it's something, and that's what marketing is, is ever evolving.
(53:01):
And that's why I tell everybody now, like the best return on investment for me lately hasbeen like just TikTok, constantly engaging and slowly building your community.
Like some people, and this is another thing that race plays into.
as well is the algorithm on TikTok and who gets views and who gets what is pushed out andeverything like that.
(53:29):
And just cultivating that following in that community has been integral in me finding likemarketing and find my books in being successful lately, you know, and just really sitting
down.
buckling down, getting with people who know what they're doing.
(53:49):
And I still don't feel like, because the algorithm seems like it changes every three daysand like you could have something that hits and then the next week it only gets like 15
views or something.
So you just have to keep, you know, just really and I think it's like trained on the mindsof younger people, you know, in that fast pace, fast news, really quick delivery.
(54:16):
Yeah.
You just got to really be, because what it was last year is not what it is this year.
So you just got to keep working that.
But like Mel said, you just got to take what works and then leave.
Facebook is great for community, but Facebook is like a dinosaur for marketing for me, Ithink.
(54:37):
So it's so hard.
It's so hard, it's the hardest thing.
Yeah, the marketing is so hard.
And like you said, you put a lot of energy and effort in it.
And what works this time may not work next time.
We have to constantly evolve it.
So it's a lot of energy and effort.
And it's something I think a lot of readers don't see.
(54:58):
They think we just write the book and we're done.
And there's so much work after.
Oh yeah, so much work.
yourself?
Like, what is going to be the male walker legacy in romance writing?
Ooh, I love that.
(55:20):
So I have a book.
I've been working in my head for like three years.
I don't know when I'm going to write it.
Probably sometime next year, hopefully.
Fingers crossed.
But I'm a huge baseball fan.
And I've wanted to do a sports romance forever.
Yeah, and there's a baseball story that's been with me for a while.
(55:41):
I've been turning it over and turning it over and turning it over.
And it's one of those stories.
that you know you're gonna write, but you're trying to time it for, to make sure that yourskill level is up to the level where you want it to deliver.
And so that's why I'm working up toward being ready to write that book.
(56:01):
And that's what I continue to push.
Well, I can't wait to hear more about that.
Me too.
So now, on that topic, I know 2024 is still pretty early.
I've seen that you have quite a few releases due later this year.
Tell us a little bit more about what you have coming out later this year.
(56:21):
Yes, so my next release is going to be April 30th.
It's called Want You Back.
It's supposedly the last book in the Spring Hills 10-year Ice Cube reunion.
I just started it to my editor last week and I may not be the last book in the series.
There are some characters already talking to me.
(56:44):
But yeah, I'm excited for that and then I have two releases coming out one in summer onein the fall.
And next in series, from two series I've been writing in, one Summer in Seasides, which isa small town out in Oregon where a music festival takes place.
So I've been writing about this three-person family band called Blue Her Collar.
(57:08):
And so book one and two was the story of the first two members of the family.
Book three will be the third member.
The Black Sheep of the Family gets his story this year.
Okay.
And then the doctor of Eastport General.
There I've written the Dr.
No and Dr.
Fix-It.
So I have Dr.
(57:29):
Charmer coming out this fall.
And so the ER doctor that's been the thorn in every woman's side throughout the seriesgets his story.
oooo
Oh, I forgot.
You don't have to check that out.
And there'll be a couple of surprise releases because I can never, you know, I'll go inevery year with the plan to do a set number of books and always almost double it in terms
(57:57):
of actual releases.
Yes.
That was me.
So do you tend to jump around in your, or like write multiple things at one time or do youlike, I'm going to finish this one then move on to the next one.
Yeah, I used to jump around all the time and he used to drive me crazy.
And now I've learned to, what I'll do is I'll start outlining and plotting one while I'mworking on the other, but I won't write two at the same time.
(58:25):
And so I'll wait till I get to the end of one, send it to the other, and then pick up thenext one and off to the races there.
But that's, it's every evolving process like everything else.
Hehehehehehe
So are you doing any cons this year?
Yeah, so I actually just signed up for AnchorsCon again.
(58:45):
I'll be going out to that one.
I'm doing a couple of signings as well.
So I'll do Romanticon, which is here in Connecticut.
I can drive to that one.
I'm doing the Brown Book Series has their conference down in DC in December.
I'll be going to that one and I just got picked to be a signing author at Steamy Lit Con.
(59:10):
which I'm excited about, yes.
I see you there.
I see you stimulated.
Mm-hmm.
Oh, nice, nice.
I'll try not to cry when I see you.
Ha ha ha.
I'm definitely gonna cry.
So we all have to get together.
Like, there's so many people going there.
It's gonna be so fun.
Yeah, I saw all the posts last year and I was like, oh my God, it's a whole conferencejust for steamy romance, etc.
(59:34):
And then they, and then somebody reached out and was like, Mel, they have closed doorromance there too.
I was like, really?
When they say their goal is to be diverse, so not just, you know, it's across the board.
So it's gonna be fantastic.
Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.
Yeah, I'm excited for that.
(59:55):
No.
Okay, so we are coming to the end.
We would love for you to share with the audience where they can find you online, on socialmedia, where should they go to look for you.
Sure.
My website is auth You can also find me most active on Instagram, authormeltwalker, onTikTok, trying to learn that platform as well.
(01:00:21):
Those are the best places to find me on my website.
You'll have a link to my link tree, also on Amazon, almost all my books are in KindleUnlimited.
If you go to the website, you also have a link there for some free reads.
So I have a couple of freebies there that you can sign up to my newsletter and check outmy writing
Awesome
Well, we really appreciate you sitting down with us today.
(01:00:43):
It's been so much fun getting a chance to talk with you.
Thank you for having me.
This was so much fun.
I really enjoyed this.
This was a blast.
We are so glad, yes, thank you again for agreeing to come and be a part of this.
We really appreciate it.
And we look forward to seeing all the new releases that you have planned for 2024.
(01:01:04):
Thank you so much for having me.
Thank you.
I'm gonna go.
Thank you.
Hello and welcome to the Author Spotlight with Kenya Gorey-Bell and myself, Monee Boyce.
Today we have with us award-winning author Mel Walker.
Yay!
Mel, would you please, um, you know, tell us about yourself?
Share some things with the audience.
Sure, thank you.
First of all, thank you for having me on.
Wonderful to be here tonight.
(00:21):
I'm super excited.
So I am author Mel Walker.
I am what I describe or actually found out is called the Redbird, the male romance author.
So I write contemporary small town fiction romance that is not sweet, but far from sexy.
It's probably on the heat scale right in the middle, around 3 or so.
(00:48):
I love it.
So, okay, so obviously I think probably a lot of the listeners would want to know, how didyou, as a guy, like when you decided you were going to start writing, was it always
romance?
Or what got you into deciding to write romance?
I always tended toward the genre.
When I first started writing, it was more what's called love stories.
(01:09):
And I learned the difference between romance and love stories.
I always loved the romantic element.
But when I started writing, it wasn't always with the happily ever after.
Sometimes it had the tragic end, et cetera.
So it was, oh yeah, yeah.
So that's where I started.
And I, you know, found out that those are the love stories.
And I did write my fair of romances in there as well, happily ever after.
(01:32):
But then as I got older and you get more experience with the world and see what's going onout there, you're like, wow, I really need my happily ever after.
So I've been writing romance ever since.
But from a young age, I always gravitated toward, I like the interconnectivity betweenpeople and their relationships.
And romance gives you all of that in terms of all the conflicts, the different viewpoints,and then how to remediate and come together.
(02:01):
That's, I love that.
So how did you transition from just being like a hobbyist and to say, okay, I'm going tonow be a published or self-published writer or did you try for Tread first?
Yeah, it was a journey.
So I've been right, actually, I went back and looked.
(02:24):
I spent right since like third grade elementary school.
And it's just a journey you go through.
And then to your point in terms of as I got married, had kids, and the kids finally wereself-dependent like the late high school years.
That's when I'm like, oh, I finally now have time to really focus in on this.
Because I've always rode on the side between working and raising the family.
(02:47):
And so I was like, let me get serious about this.
And so I started really digging into the craft.
I went to a local conference here in New York, the Writers Digest Conference here, reallygot into all of the professional in terms of industries pieces of what you need to do to
really become an author.
Really got involved with a lot of the industry people.
(03:09):
I joined NaNoWriMo, the National Novel Writers Month organization, went to a bunch ofwrite-ins there.
And New York, the community is so robust.
And there was a ton of published authors, a lot of them are RWA members, et cetera, andreally just chatted them up and talked with them about what does it take to get to that
next level.
And that's, you know, I just, it's like, okay, now's the time, I have no more excuses.
(03:33):
The kids are off, they're independent, you got the time, go, go for it.
No, that's good.
So coming into this, you know, I know that you said you went to conferences and thingslike that.
I know with all of us being Black authors, we know sometimes the, I guess you could sayresistance or opposition to getting into this.
(03:55):
As a male author in a predominantly female written genre, have you had any negativeexperiences or, you know, I guess incidents of
people feeling like you should not be here or, you know, anything like that.
It's very interesting in terms of that question, because that was some of my assumptionsgoing in, was just being a black man in America, you always have your defenses up whenever
(04:23):
you enter a room.
But I've been welcomed with open arms in the community.
People were actually happy to see a male romance author.
And like I said, when I entered, I didn't know it was a thing.
I just went in, I'm an author.
I just assumed.
half the room would be one, half the room would be the other.
And I was surprised in terms of finding out that, you know, in romance, it's 95% femaleauthors, which is wonderful.
(04:50):
And like I said, the community's been so open and embracing and I've had such wonderfulconnections and experiences.
But you haven't had any negative, I mean I have to say, even coming in myself, because Ithink, let's see, because I first, I hadn't even written anything when I went to my first
RWA conference in 2018.
(05:12):
I just went, I didn't know anybody.
And I have to say people were very welcoming, which I wasn't, coming from the film worldinto this.
I was already kind of jaded like, what is this gonna be?
And like you said, people were super like, oh my God, I know this author, let me introduceyou.
And it was so like, so I loved that you had a great experience and continue obviously tohave great experiences in this world.
(05:37):
It just continues and it just grows.
And I love the community because people are so supportive of one another.
But it is a large group of people.
So it has its pockets of corners and it has its pockets of problematic behavior.
But overall the experience has been wonderful.
Oh great.
So what I love like the one little thing I would add is like you're actually like turnedbeing a double minority, a man and a black person in this environment.
(06:10):
And it's just been wonderful to see you grow because I think we've been friends sincemaybe your first or second book.
And then, and we have, and I've just watched you
grow and grow and your name get bigger and bigger in this community.
And I was just talking to my best friend, Naima, and she was like, Oh, you're talking toMel Walker.
(06:32):
I love him.
And that is what.
And, you know, sometimes people like you in this business, people, you will get thatlittle, oh, Mel Walker.
But no, it's like always.
Oh, Mel Walker.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Yes.
Say hi to Naomi.
She's got a book coming out tomorrow, right?
(06:53):
Yes.
we'll be back.
because we talked to her on the 21st.
Yeah, so we talked to her the day after tomorrow, and then she and I are gonna do a livefor both of our books on Friday.
Y'all got this, it will be live.
Y'all know how it get when we go live.
Oh, geez, you know how it's wild over there.
(07:15):
Like this is way more, cause when I decided to wanted to do a podcast, you know I saidthis every week morning.
I said that.
sorry.
When I decided to do a podcast, I said, we need a straight person who's going to keep mein line.
(07:38):
We need a professional.
But I have just loved watching you navigate this industry.
Tell us some of the things.
that lessons you've learned that have, now that you have got, how many books?
(07:59):
So many books now under your belt.
You got me baby.
Like yeah, cause so many beautiful stories.
And so, you know, mostly closed door, right?
And then, and then tell us why that choice too.
(08:22):
Sure.
So in terms of the closed door, one, it's a comfort level, but also I think from aemotional standpoint, I like to focus in on the relationship and the emotions between the
people.
Physical intimacy is great and I read a ton of it.
And there's a ton of authors that do it 10 times better than I could ever do it.
(08:44):
So I was like, I'm not even going to go there.
Hahahaha
But yeah, that's what attracts me.
And that's what I enjoy writing.
And that really is the choice there.
And then in terms of your other question, in terms of lessons learned, I have 20 booksout, but I still feel like I'm at the start of my journey with so much more to learn.
(09:06):
I try to go eyes wide open.
I think one of the key lessons is really just lead with curiosity as you come acrossthings.
Don't go in with blinders or any set
decision in terms of where you think things are going to be or how things are going to be.
Go in wide open with your eyes, lead with curiosity, listen, learn, adapt.
(09:28):
And everything you come across isn't for you.
Pick the pieces that work for you.
Mold it to your personality and the way you run your business.
Take it, build it, and go.
I think that's some good advice.
One of the things that I am curious about, like I know one of the focuses we were gonnafocus on your Lake Hope series that you have, but one of the things I am curious about is,
(09:55):
I kind of love that you kind of, in terms of the relationships that you build, I noticedthat you kind of run the gamut.
You'll write what we consider black love.
You've written a couple that's white, interracial couples.
How do you make the choice of what ethnicity or background your characters are going tohave?
(10:16):
Yeah, I love this question.
Because people are always asking me, and that was actually one question I got at aconference in Vegas.
They wanted to know why my covers are so different and why I had to look.
And I was like, first of all, love's universal.
It goes across the gamut.
And me, particularly, it's really driven by the characters.
(10:36):
So when I'm thinking of the stories and I started developing the characters, they speak tome and they tell me who they are.
And that's what comes down on the page.
I don't go in with pre-
determined notions that, okay, this next story is interracial.
It's like, I started dealing into the background.
I was like, you know what?
This is a black character.
I love writing my black love stories.
Those give me the biggest joy.
(10:59):
But it's, like I said, love is just universal.
And I let the characters talk and tell this story, et cetera.
And also part of it is, and you mentioned Lake Hope, is like, where is it occurring?
So my Lake Hope series is five books.
It's in Indiana.
It's gotta run the camera.
There's gonna be white couples in Indiana.
Yeah.
(11:22):
No, but that's true.
I mean, I love that though, because you do sometimes see like, and not that anything's badwith doing a series and it's all like interracial couples or it's all, but I love the kind
of diversity in the worlds that you build.
Thank you.
I try.
I try and I'm still learning.
Thank you.
What I love about your books is that like, like I read Dr.
(11:45):
Fix it and what is it?
Ryan's Kiss.
I want to say Ryan's Hope.
In the Lake Hope series and I was just like thinking like you really come away from yourbooks not feeling like you have missed.
(12:10):
anything.
Like some people are hesitant to say to read Closed Door because they think they're gonnamiss the spice.
But what you pack is so full of emotion and tell such a great story that you do not missthat part.
That's why when I when people like it takes a lot for me to read the from one end of thespectrum like when they have the many partners the Y2's.
(12:39):
Mm-hmm.
you gotta be an exceptional writer for me to read Why Choose?
Because I just, it's very hard for me to buy into it, right?
Because my resume would be unalive and everybody, it would turn into a tragedy.
It would be like, wait a minute, we're not doing this.
Everybody go.
So, and then to bring on the opposite side of the spectrum, you have to be so talented towrite a story that has
(13:09):
has a packed full of emotion.
And then I'm not talking about bombard like trying to make, you know how people try tomanipulate you with tears, not that, but just a beautifully well woven story.
The way that you do it, and maybe a couple of other people do it.
And it's very talented closed door writers out there.
(13:30):
And I just appreciate the attention that you give to your craft in that.
And so why is that important to you?
To give so much attention and build a story the way that you do.
Yeah, thank you for that.
First of all, that's a great compliment.
Thank you for that.
(13:51):
Yeah, for me, like I said, when I start my plotting, I always start with the characters.
And to your point, I try to get their emotions on the page based on their background,based on the journey they're taking.
I think that's vital, because then when those moments happen, it has that extra punch toit.
Because you'll know when they say certain words, you know.
(14:14):
understand what that means to that character at that moment, because of the journey theyjust came on, they just completed.
So I think that emotion punch is what really hits you in the heart.
So I like just pulling those heartstrings a little.
And you mentioned in terms of, you know, you don't even miss the sex part.
(14:35):
One of the reviews I got, and this was on a TikTok one, it had me a little rolling.
This person was...
Reviewing the book and they like it is so good.
So good and I got to the end and then that it was like two days Later, I realized therewas no sex
What?
That's what happens.
I was just like, it's not a bait and switch because you never, it is not like you misleadpeople, but it's just like, you're like, I didn't even realize.
(15:05):
I think the very first book of yours, I was like, wait a minute, it was nothing.
They didn't.
I was like, oh, they did, but it wasn't in, you know, it wasn't on page, it was closeddoor.
And I was like, that, that's crafting, that's writing.
That's right.
Cause listen, if I ain't writing it, you know something missing.
You're going to be like, this is not going right.
(15:28):
I'm out.
You know, I have to say as somebody who's written like all over it, because before Istarted writing under my own name, I was a ghostwriter.
So I've written the, you know, reverse harems, I've written closed door, likeinspirational.
And I do have to say like, it is definitely like, for myself, I do write like spicyromance.
(15:49):
But I have to say when I was ghostwriting, it was definitely a lot more
of really getting into the characters to make sure that you had that emotional pullbecause, you know, like we can all agree a lot of people pick up these books because they
want the sex scenes.
You know, and so when you are, you know, when you were writing like Small Town or ClosedDoor and that kind of thing, definitely you have to have the emotional pull there.
(16:16):
And like she said, you write like such...
beautiful, you know, characters.
Like for me, one of my favorites on the Lake Hope was Dana and Jackson.
You know, but I also liked Aaron's Hope as well.
And I think that one resonated with me because he was somebody that was a traveler and hadbeen out doing his own thing.
And that has kind of been my own life.
(16:37):
So I could definitely, that one kind of resonated with me quite a bit.
So.
Cool.
Not just you, everybody seems to love Jackson and Dana.
Yes.
Yeah, that was a little...
But why Indiana?
Like what made you...
(16:57):
true, cuz you're from New York, so I am curious about that.
Hehehehe
yes, I am a native New Yorker.
So.
Indian?
What kind of research did you visit or what happened?
How did that come about?
you guys are the first ones that are gonna hear this story, okay?
So you're getting exclusive here.
So I was like, okay, I need the small town in middle America.
(17:21):
I took a dart and I threw it at the man.
I don't know what I did.
And that's where it landed.
So I actually have been to Indiana a few times.
So I was familiar with it.
I went during my high school years, actually went to look at Indiana University as apossible school as well.
(17:41):
So I've been out there a few times, loved the area out there.
And I also was a big biker on the steel bike all the time.
And so they have the big bike race there in Indiana as well.
And there was a movie, Quicksilver back in the day.
I really, yeah, kept, uh, kept it making.
Yeah, so that's based there too.
So I was like, you know what?
(18:02):
This makes perfect sense.
The Dart said it.
I have some background here.
And I just made up a fictional town in that state.
And so that's how the backstory is.
And I've never told that story before.
That dart set walls, that's amazing.
Yes.
Yeah, hey, I need it in middle America.
(18:23):
So.
Yeah.
Middle America.
Well I guess it doesn't get any more middle America than Indiana.
Yes.
Indiana is I think maybe this Mac in the middle of America because and then why is it areyou drawn to like small town stories?
Um, I am, I am.
(18:44):
Um, it's very strange because I am a native New Yorker, um, still live in New York, lovethe big city, but I try to describe it to everybody.
I was like, it doesn't, I don't know what everyone else's experience is, but to me, NewYork's not a big city.
It's a bunch of small towns all pushed together, um, cause you can walk a mile in anydirection and you're in a totally different community with a different vibe, a different
(19:08):
feel, different social constructs, everything.
So it's all different small towns.
I tell everybody I grew up in New York, but I feel like I grew up in small towns.
Mm-hmm.
they like that, because you're kind of right with the different boroughs and likedifferent things like that, they all do have their own vibe.
I've heard that before too, that they're all like...
(19:33):
So, how do...
Like we were just talking about release days and all of that stuff.
How do you celebrate yourself?
Either release days or small wins or big wins?
What...
Because I saw you were like a keynote speaker at like RWA here recently.
(19:54):
And you I don't know if you're headlining the Ingerskunn this year or not, but How do youcelebrate yourself?
Um, I, I'm very simple.
Like last, last week, um, I actually took the day off because it was my birthday andrelease day off at the same time.
Um, and so I said, you know, let's just take the day, enjoy it.
(20:18):
Um, and I took myself out to the diner for breakfast and just chilled.
I, you know, was did my social media posts and then my wife and I just had a nice chilleddinner, um, and we just kicked back and relaxed.
Okay.
Very, very simple in terms of celebrating.
And yeah, I've done a bunch of different events and going out and it's always, mycelebrations are always like nice and quiet.
(20:42):
I just enjoy the quiet.
I'm the opposite.
Ha ha.
We've had so much to do here and so my husband's like, what are we doing?
I said, prime rib.
So, as soon as, and then he'll take me out on a lunch date, like a date day, cause likewe're like hyper vigilant cause we still have small kids, even though like we're a hundred
(21:10):
years old and we don't let people keep them.
We only go out when they're at school.
And so we have to wait till they're in school and then go do something fabulous.
And it's always a big production.
So, I see so many writers, and Mel, you can answer if you're extrovert or introvert, butso many people, all the work we do, and especially being self-published or indie, so much
(21:43):
falls on you.
Mm-hmm.
and you are also a small business owner and we're just head down, always working.
So I'm always trying to encourage other writers to celebrate themselves because it's justlike, cause anytime I hear somebody saying, oh, I'm burning it, I burn out or whatever,
I'm like, cause you didn't take that day.
You didn't take that one little day.
(22:04):
At least you're doing it.
You're not, you know, going all crazy, yeah, you're doing it at the right time.
it the way that you want to do it, but I try to always encourage people to celebratethemselves.
Yeah, I totally agree.
And it's a lesson learned.
I wasn't always like that.
Back in early releases, I was just cranking, cranking.
(22:25):
Like you said, you get heads down and you just crank.
But yeah, you have to pause and take time and appreciate the journey.
Yeah.
Yes, I think that's definitely key.
Take time and appreciate the journey.
I think that's a great lesson for all authors.
Yes.
One of the things, because I know earlier you said that you love writing Black Love, sotalk a little bit about your Spring Hills 10-year high school reunion series, since that
(22:55):
one seems to celebrate Black Love.
I'd love to hear how that idea came to fruition.
So that was just like almost every idea just came out of nowhere.
It just kind of hit you.
So my favorite trope is second chance.
I've done a bunch of second chances and I was like, you know what, I'm going to do a wholeseries of second chances and what better way to do second chances than high school
(23:22):
reunion.
And so that's how, that's what started it.
And once again, the characters.
spoke to me.
And so it turned into, you know, Black Love Book One, Black Love Book Two.
But there are some, some shoot offs from there.
I have some novellas in that same world that aren't Black Love.
The next book in the series is going to be interracial as well.
(23:45):
So it's, it's kind of special.
But the Black Love ones I just love just because when I write those, I look back in termsof my life and
all of the black love that was surrounding me growing up, my uncles, my aunts, my parents,et cetera.
And I get to celebrate and showcase some of that, which there's just not enough out thereof that celebration.
(24:11):
I love that.
And of course, I'm sure celebrate your own marriage.
I know it's like I've been so fortunate to have the chance like you and I have met acouple of times and I've also gotten a chance to meet your wife.
She's such a lovely woman.
And you guys are so cute together.
Yeah, she's incredible.
She's my rock.
(24:32):
And Kenyall will appreciate that.
The things that they have to do to support an author is just incredible.
It's a lot, it's a lot.
But so when do you find is the best time for you to get your muse out, to get words outand all of that?
(24:57):
Um, it's so it depends on where I'm at in the book.
So if I'm brainstorming and outlining, I'd like to be moving.
Um, I like to be walking, listening to music, bike riding, something like that, just to beactive and let my mind just work.
Um, then when I actually ready to write, um, I'm a morning person.
(25:19):
So when I started cranking through, it's usually five in the morning, um, up early.
Um, when the whole world is quiet.
I get no distractions, nobody's texting me.
Nothing to distract me.
Yeah, yeah.
Cause I...
I'm not even gonna say I wish I could do that, because I don't think that I wanna be upthat early.
(25:43):
I am such a night person, yeah.
I love though that, I mean, I commend people that can do early, I'm usually that personthat's been a night person, like that writes at night or whatever, so whenever I hear
somebody, I think you are probably the earliest though that I've heard like 5 a.m.
I wasn't expecting you to say that, I was like, oof.
(26:05):
It hurt.
Yeah, I guess the world is quiet then.
Like I said, I got that squirrel mentality.
If I'm writing midday and my son calls or I get a text and this happens, I getinterrupted, I'm off track and I can't, it takes a while to get back.
And then I always applaud the evening writers.
You guys are amazing, but I'm beat up by the end of the day, my brain's like, blah, blah.
(26:27):
What's a sentence?
That's what I'm saying.
Yeah, because I am like the I have been able to fix my life to around my night writing andme and Moni actually met writing at night.
(26:51):
Yeah, so and I think we used to go from like 10 to two at one point.
So, um, but yeah.
Hehehehehehe
If you see me at 5 a.m., something really serious has happened.
I would say for myself, know that my body has been snatched.
You're like, Moni's been invaded by the body snatchers.
(27:13):
I can't laugh!
Or you've had a really good evening session and you're still going.
That's no no, but honestly, I'm so like so going back to what we were talking aboutearlier with the burnout I like this last i'd say like year almost two I didn't write
because I was severely burned out from doing exactly that I would literally work a nine tofive job Come home and then write sometimes until five or six o'clock in the morning Get
(27:41):
like two or three hours of sleep And rinse and repeat and I did that for a long time
until Louie and Louie had started to catch up with me.
What really clinched it was, it's funny now, well maybe not funny, but I fell down thesteps.
My spatial awareness was so gone at one point that I fell down the steps, like, and Iended up cutting my hand open because I tried to stop myself, but that's when I knew that
(28:10):
there was a problem because I was just like, I was sure that step was there, but...
Yeah.
And so I literally just had to like kind of just step back and take like a break to takecare of myself.
So that's why when you said self-care earlier, I was like, yes, I was like, take care ofyourself because it's easy to try to juggle your job, your family, the writing.
(28:30):
And at some point, you try to do too much and I was doing way too much.
And so I was just like, let me have a seat and like, get my life on track, find somebalance.
I'm like, I think you're still doing too much.
Every time I talk to you, you doing something new.
I'm like, what?
(28:53):
The drone thing?
Look, she's doing drones.
She's doing everything.
I'm like, what?
What can I say?
I'm an entrepreneur that I've been one my whole life, so I'm always like doing differentthings.
And I love that for you.
I'm like, I learned really early.
(29:13):
Cause I think because I'm just like one of these people who's just like innately clumsy,that I'm not a multitasker.
And that's why in I can't, you know, do many things.
I can do many things very well, but only one at a time.
I start deviating.
(29:34):
Like if I start like,
Messing with the kids and I'm cooking I will have totally forgot.
I left food on the thing You notice food is burning right?
No, you left these clothes in the dryer You know you did you left this water running andthis thing, you know, you so we already know what our limits are so I stick to one little
(29:58):
thing I
Complete the test my husband complete the test, you know, he used to be military completeyour test complete And I you know, he keeps me on track with complete the test Otherwise
my life would be in shambles That's why when I'm writing I'm doing nothing but writingthat's why when you see the social media is nothing like it's the marketing and we could
(30:23):
talk about that to mail cuz um, like what are you doing with that and stuff because
I have to be very, very much on task.
So, but I'm not, you know, I'm really goofy.
I'm really.
I have to get you a t-shirt.
This is complete the task.
(30:43):
Thank you.
I expected in the mail.
I see you my address.
Never tell me you're gonna give me something.
Okay, so and then another thing, Moni, did you know and Mel talk about this because I lovewhen you talk about this, that he's a Swiftie.
He's a big Taylor Swift fan.
(31:05):
You are?
I didn't know that!
Like, yeah, do tell!
Yes, yes.
Yeah.
Huge, huge Swifty from like early days.
My wife and I went to the Reputation Tour when he was here back in the day.
This last tour, we didn't even attempt to try to get tickets.
(31:26):
It was ridiculous.
But we did see it when I was in the theater.
So but yeah, I heard her music's incredible.
I think the way she runs her business is inspiring.
It's just, you know, she's just great in terms of just a role model overall in terms ofbeing a creative artist.
(31:46):
There's just so many lessons you can pick up from watching.
that though.
But no, you're right, like her music is actually really, you know, at first I was, Iwouldn't, I was never like a hater, but it was just kind of like, okay, Taylor Swift.
And then I think for me, it was Shake It Off was the one that I got super into first.
(32:08):
And then from there, I started listening to some more of her music and like a lot of herstuff now, I just, I definitely really enjoy, especially like the lyrics.
Like I really am always interested in her lyrics because she writes some really greatlyrics.
yeah.
And it's layered with emotion.
A lot of it.
because I think there's one right now, was it?
I mean, I think it's like a couple of albums old, but Elicit Affair, I think that's thename of it.
(32:31):
Yeah, that like the lyrics are just so amazing to that song.
Like I always find myself coming back to that.
Yeah, oh yeah, like she's a storyteller.
Yeah, no, and that's what I think I love, her music definitely always tells a story.
Yeah, and then she's a Sagittarius like me, so that's what won me over.
(32:54):
Because she is such a Sagittarius.
She is really deep into her Sagittariusness.
And I'm just like, this girl, she just cause, she's just fantastic because my friend Susanis one of her fans, big fans, and she goes to all the concerts and stuff.
And she says, if they don't like you being yourself, be yourself even more.
(33:20):
And I was like, that is the most vegetarian thing you could ever say.
Her birthday's on the 13th, my birthday's on the 11th, and my daughter's birthday's on the9th.
So my daughter's a Taylor Swift fan, but she's also like a Blackpink fan, this one ofthese girl years.
(33:41):
And I'd be like.
What are they even saying?
And she was like, but she loves them and they sing that how you like me that or whateverHow you like me now?
Whatever.
So
You have to do the dance moves when you sing it.
Yeah.
I was...
I'm not good.
Look, listen, listen.
I'm like, but I just like, so has Taylor been amused for you in any of your books?
(34:09):
Um, no, actually not.
Actually not.
write to any music or have playlists that you create for your books or anything like that?
I do.
I do listen to lots of different artists.
I do have playlists.
A lot of country music, actually, on my playlists.
And I've been like, I was just about to say I've been streaming it all day.
(34:33):
I've been playing it all day.
I show my wife the TikTok dances.
I think it's amazing.
It's incredible.
I love it.
So where is it?
Listen, I am writing, right now I'm writing Candy Shop, right, and I'm supposed to be,fingers crossed, starting tonight.
And so when Beyonce dropped this, the first couple of songs, and then the other one islike kind of a fast beat song.
(35:01):
I said she did that cause she knew I was finna write this book.
Ehh!
Just me.
is about me.
And I was like, cause I want, cause this girl is the girl who goes to like the, you know,the hole in the wall.
We call it, some people call them juke joints.
I actually live down here in the South, but we call, a lot of them are shacks, right?
(35:25):
And they, we call them like the shack by the track is the shack.
The shag private track
in the town, in the small town of Shelby Love, which is actually like the town my family'sfrom and Chris family is from the next town.
And so combining them is how I created like Shelby Love, but it's the shack everybody goesto in the little town.
(35:51):
And it's the shack by the track and that's where all the craziness happens.
And the girl, I was like,
That's like it has country R&B, like they play everything.
It just be like, whatever.
Cause all the people, the Cowboys come in, the white Cowboys, the black Cowboys, all theCowboys come in with that, you know, the big buckle belts and the tight, they be looking
(36:15):
cute, you know?
And the girls had a daisy do cutoffs and the high boots and everything.
And it's just a good time.
And so when Beyonce came out with that, I was like, yeah, that's exactly right.
Hehe
No, I'm not.
It does, it sounds like it's perfect for a candy shop, yes.
(36:36):
I know you write Closed Door, I know you've been reading my books, but listen, Candy is acharacter.
She's been in all of them.
She's that wild girl, you know.
So it's going to be fun.
But yes.
I love that!
Well, it's a little bit more refining candy.
(36:59):
Look, she's gone.
She she might set somebody truck on fire.
That's all I'm saying.
She might.
I'm seeing this in the Buster Windows after card check.
Yes, yes, she's the special tires girl.
Which is what stubborn girls are.
So do you have a different playlist for every book?
(37:20):
Do you create a new one or you just have one you just keep adding to?
Yeah, it depends on the book, but most of the books have different playlists.
I'll put them up on Spotify and I'll Yeah
for me, I think partly it's coming from film, and so I'm always like, they have to have asoundtrack.
Yeah, yes, yes.
(37:41):
And it helps sets the mood as you're writing the scenes.
Yeah.
Yeah, because it's like sometimes I have different ones I write to versus what the actualsoundtrack is.
yeah, absolutely.
I did the same.
Yeah, I'll listen to like, yeah, like when I'm writing, I'll do like some of theinstrumental, like cafe type music, like that.
But then when I'm like editing and the vibe for the chapters, I'll put in a specific tune.
(38:08):
Like I do chill beats sometimes like when I'm ramping up to like when I'm doing settingand you know, the building the story, but you know, the love scenes, then as you can tell,
I got a seven hour playlist.
I think it's seven hours, I looked the other day, I think it's like seven hours.
(38:32):
And then whoever that person is.
playlist is seven hours?
Playlist is seven hours for the, well, are there that many love songs Kenya?
Yes, there are, Monique.
There are that many love songs.
Listen, that's where the magic is happening.
That's where the, and it's not called love singing.
(38:53):
It's called a three-letter word, S-E-X.
And so it is 100% that's all, it's like.
adults here, kidney.
You can say sex.
Hahahaha!
Unless you're trying to be quiet because you've got kids around.
No, they're not, they're, look, they know the drill now.
It's like so many songs on here.
(39:14):
It's like maybe a hundred and some songs on here, maybe over a hundred.
But I looked at it and it was like seven hours.
So it's everything from Prince to the new songs, all every tailor.
I just can't do some of the new music.
There was that one, I think it was Drake and somebody else, and I was just like, there isnothing left to the imagination.
(39:35):
I'm just like, that's it.
I wouldn't even say it's me being in my 40s now.
Even if I was younger, I wouldn't have been into that.
You know, like the new version of Cuff It with Beyonce, then The Wildest Dreams.
It depends on like, sometimes you want the more romantic music and then sometimes youwon't take.
(39:59):
Mmhmm.
Hahaha.
Sometimes you rotate, you know, you gotta get it.
Because you know, if you going into the BDSM, then you gotta get some really, you gotta gothere.
You know, you gotta go.
You gotta have it.
They got one for every song.
And then some one writer, Sienna Snow, tried to get me into something like electronica,but I was like, this is a lot, this is a lot.
(40:28):
I'd say so there's a 9 inch nail song that I think would work for your- I can't think ofthe name of the song, I'll think about it to you later, but there's a 9 inch nail song
that would work for your playlist.
Yeah, probably so, but you know, cause I do have, it's a variety, I got country, rock,everything.
I feel married to the playlist.
(40:50):
Like if I make a playlist for like toxic, I feel like I have to write to their playlist.
I didn't know y'all was sneaking off writing other stuff.
I was like.
sorry.
no, I know, because some of that is just for my own, like, what feels like my writing orwhatever.
So, like you said, sometimes for me it's like music compositions or something like thatfrom like a movie or just, you know, different things like that.
(41:19):
Because sometimes it alternates for me because sometimes it's like listening to musicthat's just instrumental.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
it's because sometimes I can't write to like the lyric as I am hearing other lyrics.
Sometimes I prefer just Playlists that I've created that are just instrumental but andthen sometimes like I don't have a problem like if I keep it on like rotation of other
(41:43):
things that
Yeah.
Yeah, my process is very similar.
I go through the same.
I'm very mood driven and sometimes I'm listening to soundtracks of movies and then othertimes it's Billy Joel.
So, oh yeah.
Right?
I'm like, I love Billy Joel!
You and I have so- We have to swap playlists later.
(42:04):
I know, like, one of my friends used to be like, Moni, why is your playlist so white?
I was like, I love Billy Joel!
Shut up!
I love Phil Collins!
Yes!
And I love like that Maren Morris, you know her, she's so good.
Songs was on one of my playlists for a book that I did like a couple of years ago, thatwas it, the um, the- I'm- I'm terrible with titles of songs, like I'd have to hear it and
(42:29):
be like, that one!
Hehe
Yeah.
well, when I was writing, when I was writing Toxic, that song she wrote, I think it's herand Hoser, the, the...
Okay, listen, how come I'm writing the...
Every time it comes on, we, and I'm live on TikTok, like, because I sprint live on there.
(42:50):
And how come I'll just stop and start stopping?
and starts sobbing as though she says, that song makes you cry.
Yes, and I was sobbing.
And people were like, are you OK?
Hahaha
Listen, I'm already you know, I'm very easy to cry like we mean whenever we meet in reallife.
(43:12):
Just be prepared I will cry just Like oh my god, I met you in real life, right?
When I'm here Sarah McClain, I had a full breakdown and not even had me She had to comecuddle me because I was crying
Let's go sleep.
(43:32):
so hard y'all.
It was like and I know Sarah was like this woman is insane.
And then when we met on live just like this I cried and I cried in on like when Bethanyand I and we had already no this before we were writing together I cried when I met her on
(43:54):
live and Theodore Taylor.
I'm a crier.
Now the song came on and it just touches my heart because when you've been married a longtime, you're like the bones are good.
EHEH
No.
Woohoo!
I'm gonna go to bed.
(44:17):
I was like, are you okay?
Are you crying?
I was like, it's fine, it's fine.
I'm just crying.
Tell me more about you sprinting live on Tiktok.
Because, okay, because I would be rhyming with people.
I ain't gonna say no names.
And they don't keep rhyming with me.
(44:41):
And then, now I'm talking about you Mona, I'm talking about other people, because we have.
I know!
I'm trying to figure out who you're talking about!
What's wrong with me?
No, and then so I get lonely I'm an extrovert so I like the little connection Yeah, so wedo it live from like 830 or 9 to 11 and Then if I'm finished And then if I'm not finished
(45:07):
I keep on writing more and then Cuz you know then I got to come out these clothes, honey.
I got the right neck
HELLO
And that's another shirt.
Keep calm and right naked is going to be the shirt I wear at the women's conference.
(45:27):
Because that's what's really happening.
Because that's the only reason why I shed it down.
Is because I got, once I get rid of the white.
We didn't make it.
And so we go.
Ha ha ha.
You have to switch platforms for that version.
So.
I'm sorry!
(45:49):
That's the OnlyFans version.
the holy fan-versus-
So, but yeah, so I started, I was like, okay, let's try this live.
And I was trying to build my following, but what really happened is that we just got asmall group of people as always who come back because we don't talk.
(46:15):
If you go to TikTok and you see a lot of people on the live, they're not really writing,they're chatting.
but we do business, we serious business.
So we're using the Pomodoro method, 25 minutes sprint, five minute break, same thing we'vebeen doing for the last seven years or whatever, however long we've been doing it since
2018.
(46:37):
And I'll be on live doing it.
So y'all come on with me, you'll be on, you come on with me.
sprint at all now?
Or like, are you strictly like, I gotta write solo or do you ever join sprints or thingslike that?
I do join sprints occasionally, but with my schedule, it hardly ever works out, so I'll doit myself.
(46:58):
Yeah, five in the morning, I'll just get by myself.
But yeah, it's interesting, I do use the Pomodoro as well.
And they have the Pomodoro playlist that's instrumental.
I'll go on YouTube and pull one of those down.
And I actually prefer, yeah, yeah.
And I actually prefer the 50 minutes, 50 and 10, in terms of, so that's the one I use.
(47:20):
So you do 50 minutes and a minute break.
Now see if I had that much time, I would start talking and not stop.
I guess.
Because when we do the five minutes, I'd just be like, okay, the time, okay, gotta stoptalking and get back to work.
Cause that's...
So...
(47:41):
Yeah, 10 gives me enough time to stand up, stretch, do some stuff and get back to it.
that's...
because I've done some too, even where it's like you graduate from one, like, so it's likeyou might start out at like 10 minutes, then you take a break.
Next time you're at 15 and so on and that kind of...
So I've done kind of like all over the place.
Like, I'm pretty comfortable with any amount of time.
(48:02):
It doesn't really matter.
But for me, as being an extrovert, sprinting really helps like keep me...
I don't know, there's something about it that kind of fuels my creativity because I'msurrounded by other people that are kind of working towards the same thing.
Yeah.
Um, so that's one of the reasons I do like it when I get a chance to sprint with otherpeople.
Yeah, back in the day, there was a tool I used for NaNoWriMo called Write or Die.
(48:28):
And I don't know if it's still around.
Yeah, and so you type in it, and then if you stop for too long, your screen flashes.
And then if you still haven't typed, it starts deleting your words.
So, yes, yes.
So it's write or die, you have to keep writing.
You lose everything.
(48:50):
I feel like I want to use it just to see like that, um, that happen.
Yeah, yeah, but I haven't used that in years, but that was, I used to use that and it'slike, yeah, that'll keep you at the keyboard.
hehehe
That's scary!
Can you get the words back though?
I'm like...
Oh, no, no.
lose them.
I feel like the next scary movie, right or die.
(49:12):
No.
writing a note.
You have a great, you have that great theater announcer voice.
That's scary.
Yeah, no way.
No, I'd get distracted and then that'll be it.
So yeah.
So wait, let's go back to something that I know we kind of like, what I love about this iswe wanted it to be like loose and just us having a conversation.
(49:39):
But I did want to hear more about like how you market your books or what is it, have yougotten it down to like a science for yourself?
Like you have like a checklist or do you kind of, you know, okay, I did this last time,maybe I'm going to try something different.
Like what do you do for your marketing?
Yeah, I wish I had a great answer here.
(50:00):
So this is, yeah, this is definitely an area that I'm still looking to learn from.
I've been spending a lot of time on the craft part and not enough in the marketing.
And in terms of marketing, I spent time in it, learning all the elements, but in terms ofgetting down a process that works, that's repeatable, I'm still not there yet.
And it varies by release as well.
(50:20):
So, you know, I have these,
Soft releases, this last release I called the soft release, meaning not a ton of marketingbehind it, but that was intentional.
It's a novella, it was part of a anthology previously.
So it was, my fan fans already had owned it.
It has been revised a little, but it was like, okay, let me get this out there for therest of the world, et cetera.
(50:43):
And then, you know, my next release will be the full blown marketing plan.
So that will be, you know, working with the PR companies to reach out to the...
the books, the grammars and the, and the, all of the different book talkers, et cetera,get it out there to them.
Um, full blown in terms of, you know, putting the teasers out there, getting on podcastsand shows like this, um, building up my newsletter beforehand, running promos beforehand.
(51:10):
Prior book in the series, we'll put a freebie like the week before that will be leadinginto the, this book in terms of release.
So there's certain things I will do, but I'm far from.
comfortable in mastering this area.
So ears wide open.
already have a really good foundation.
I mean, you obviously already know like the things that, you know what I'm saying, you'resupposed to be doing.
(51:31):
And I think for some authors, that's half the battle of like knowing, you know, what aresome of the things that they should be doing in terms of getting ready for a release.
Yeah, yeah, the other component in there is just setting up swaps.
So I've been doing swaps with other authors, trying to time my swap around my releasedate.
(51:53):
I do use story origin.
Yeah, yeah, it's very good.
need to get more into doing the swaps and stuff, but I am just like, and remember how, youknow, people like, oh, can I be in your group and stuff like that and do all that?
Then I'd be like, the day, I'm like, forget it.
(52:16):
I'm like, listen, if you want to post it in your group, post it in your group, I'm tired.
Cause I-
I am.
I get to like, like you said, that burnout stage, that's like you written the book, you'vedone the edits, you've like, you've done like so much of the groundwork of the, and I
really looked at like, what was the return for me doing groups?
(52:40):
Like the group thing is like, I let anybody come to my group, but I don't really askanymore to be in groups.
And I do the, so that, cause what you said, Mel, about
knowing what works for you and what you need to let go.
And it's something, and that's what marketing is, is ever evolving.
(53:01):
And that's why I tell everybody now, like the best return on investment for me lately hasbeen like just TikTok, constantly engaging and slowly building your community.
Like some people, and this is another thing that race plays into.
as well is the algorithm on TikTok and who gets views and who gets what is pushed out andeverything like that.
(53:29):
And just cultivating that following in that community has been integral in me finding likemarketing and find my books in being successful lately, you know, and just really sitting
down.
buckling down, getting with people who know what they're doing.
(53:49):
And I still don't feel like, because the algorithm seems like it changes every three daysand like you could have something that hits and then the next week it only gets like 15
views or something.
So you just have to keep, you know, just really and I think it's like trained on the mindsof younger people, you know, in that fast pace, fast news, really quick delivery.
(54:16):
Yeah.
You just got to really be, because what it was last year is not what it is this year.
So you just got to keep working that.
But like Mel said, you just got to take what works and then leave.
Facebook is great for community, but Facebook is like a dinosaur for marketing for me, Ithink.
(54:37):
So it's so hard.
It's so hard, it's the hardest thing.
Yeah, the marketing is so hard.
And like you said, you put a lot of energy and effort in it.
And what works this time may not work next time.
We have to constantly evolve it.
So it's a lot of energy and effort.
And it's something I think a lot of readers don't see.
(54:58):
They think we just write the book and we're done.
And there's so much work after.
Oh yeah, so much work.
yourself?
Like, what is going to be the male walker legacy in romance writing?
Ooh, I love that.
(55:20):
So I have a book.
I've been working in my head for like three years.
I don't know when I'm going to write it.
Probably sometime next year, hopefully.
Fingers crossed.
But I'm a huge baseball fan.
And I've wanted to do a sports romance forever.
Yeah, and there's a baseball story that's been with me for a while.
(55:41):
I've been turning it over and turning it over and turning it over.
And it's one of those stories.
that you know you're gonna write, but you're trying to time it for, to make sure that yourskill level is up to the level where you want it to deliver.
And so that's why I'm working up toward being ready to write that book.
(56:01):
And that's what I continue to push.
Well, I can't wait to hear more about that.
Me too.
So now, on that topic, I know 2024 is still pretty early.
I've seen that you have quite a few releases due later this year.
Tell us a little bit more about what you have coming out later this year.
(56:21):
Yes, so my next release is going to be April 30th.
It's called Want You Back.
It's supposedly the last book in the Spring Hills 10-year Ice Cube reunion.
I just started it to my editor last week and I may not be the last book in the series.
There are some characters already talking to me.
(56:44):
But yeah, I'm excited for that and then I have two releases coming out one in summer onein the fall.
And next in series, from two series I've been writing in, one Summer in Seasides, which isa small town out in Oregon where a music festival takes place.
So I've been writing about this three-person family band called Blue Her Collar.
(57:08):
And so book one and two was the story of the first two members of the family.
Book three will be the third member.
The Black Sheep of the Family gets his story this year.
Okay.
And then the doctor of Eastport General.
There I've written the Dr.
No and Dr.
Fix-It.
So I have Dr.
(57:29):
Charmer coming out this fall.
And so the ER doctor that's been the thorn in every woman's side throughout the seriesgets his story.
oooo
Oh, I forgot.
You don't have to check that out.
And there'll be a couple of surprise releases because I can never, you know, I'll go inevery year with the plan to do a set number of books and always almost double it in terms
(57:57):
of actual releases.
Yes.
That was me.
So do you tend to jump around in your, or like write multiple things at one time or do youlike, I'm going to finish this one then move on to the next one.
Yeah, I used to jump around all the time and he used to drive me crazy.
And now I've learned to, what I'll do is I'll start outlining and plotting one while I'mworking on the other, but I won't write two at the same time.
(58:25):
And so I'll wait till I get to the end of one, send it to the other, and then pick up thenext one and off to the races there.
But that's, it's every evolving process like everything else.
Hehehehehehe
So are you doing any cons this year?
Yeah, so I actually just signed up for AnchorsCon again.
(58:45):
I'll be going out to that one.
I'm doing a couple of signings as well.
So I'll do Romanticon, which is here in Connecticut.
I can drive to that one.
I'm doing the Brown Book Series has their conference down in DC in December.
I'll be going to that one and I just got picked to be a signing author at Steamy Lit Con.
(59:10):
which I'm excited about, yes.
I see you there.
I see you stimulated.
Mm-hmm.
Oh, nice, nice.
I'll try not to cry when I see you.
Ha ha ha.
I'm definitely gonna cry.
So we all have to get together.
Like, there's so many people going there.
It's gonna be so fun.
Yeah, I saw all the posts last year and I was like, oh my God, it's a whole conferencejust for steamy romance, etc.
(59:34):
And then they, and then somebody reached out and was like, Mel, they have closed doorromance there too.
I was like, really?
When they say their goal is to be diverse, so not just, you know, it's across the board.
So it's gonna be fantastic.
Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.
Yeah, I'm excited for that.
(59:55):
No.
Okay, so we are coming to the end.
We would love for you to share with the audience where they can find you online, on socialmedia, where should they go to look for you.
Sure.
My website is auth You can also find me most active on Instagram, authormeltwalker, onTikTok, trying to learn that platform as well.
(01:00:21):
Those are the best places to find me on my website.
You'll have a link to my link tree, also on Amazon, almost all my books are in KindleUnlimited.
If you go to the website, you also have a link there for some free reads.
So I have a couple of freebies there that you can sign up to my newsletter and check outmy writing
Awesome
Well, we really appreciate you sitting down with us today.
(01:00:43):
It's been so much fun getting a chance to talk with you.
Thank you for having me.
This was so much fun.
I really enjoyed this.
This was a blast.
We are so glad, yes, thank you again for agreeing to come and be a part of this.
We really appreciate it.
And we look forward to seeing all the new releases that you have planned for 2024.
(01:01:04):
Thank you so much for having me.
Thank you.
I'm gonna go.
Thank you.
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