Giveaway and Author Interview: The Healer's Apprentice

I have been SO excited for this interview and hope you enjoy it as well. So please help me welcome debut author, Melanie Dickerson to the blog!!

Welcome to Writing for Christ! Thank you for being with us today.


Hi, Casey! I’m so happy to be on your blog today! Thanks for inviting me!
Tell us a little about yourself!

Bio:

Melanie Dickerson is an award-winning author who earned her bachelor's degree in special education from The University of Alabama. She has taught in Georgia, Tennessee, Germany and the Eastern European country of Ukraine.


She now spends her time writing and taking care of her husband and two daughters near Huntsville, Alabama. Visit her on the web at http://www.melaniedickerson.com/

1: How long did you write before you were published?

I wrote a lot when I was a kid, and I finished two novels by the time I graduated high school. But then I stopped writing for about 15 years and finally started back 7 years ago. At first I was only writing short stories, but I’ve been writing novels for 5 or 6 years and my first book is coming out in four days. (Yippee!)

2: When you held that first book in your hands, what was your first thought?

So far, Casey, I’ve only held the Advance Reader Copy. As I write this, I’m still waiting to get my author copies of the book that will be in bookstores. But it’s a wonderful feeling. That’s what all authors say, and I thought that was how I would feel, but honestly? It scared me half to death. It kind of turned my stomach and made the nervous butterflies knock themselves out. LOL! Sorry, but it’s true! I’m calmed down enough now that I think I might be able to open it up and read a little bit of it. My daughter, who had already read the manuscript, picked it up when she got home from school and didn’t give it back to me until she finished reading it again. (She says my book is “yummy.” My favorite compliment so far.) Now it’s been sitting on the end table for several days and I just glance at it kind of nervously when I walk by. I think what I’m really nervous about is that I forgot to mention someone in my acknowledgments, or that the letter to the reader in the back sounds stupid.

3: What are you working on now?

Marketing! And I have just finished some revisions on my second medieval YA romance, tentatively titled The Beholder. It’s a Beauty and the Beast story. I hope to also write a Snow White story.

4: Where can readers find out more about your books?

On my website, http://www.melaniedickerson.com/  you can find out all about The Healer’s Apprentice and some hints about future books.

5: What message(s) do you want to be clear to your readers?

God works out all things according to his good purpose for our lives if we love Him and try to follow Him. In The Healer’s Apprentice, the main characters struggle and strive to control their future, but in the end they realize God had a perfect plan for them all along.

6: What are two things that people wouldn't normally know about you as a writer and or person?

I grew up in L.A. – Lower Alabama, that is – about thirty miles from Monroeville where Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, grew up. I also shared the same last name as Harper Lee. I was Melanie Lee until I married my husband. Secondly, my father was named after a famous author, Zane Grey. I think that’s kind of cool, since I turned out to be a writer!

Thank you for being with us today. Any final words for readers?

Thanks so much for having me, Casey. I just want everyone to know that God loves you. That seems to be the theme that runs through all my books. God loves you. Bad things happen, but God loves you. Your life may not be perfect, but God loves you. He’s helped you at times and in ways you don’t even realize. So follow your dreams, but let God lead you!

Casey here again: I hope you take a few minutes to watch this book trailer for The Healer's Apprentice. It is incrediable!!



And now readers, here is your chance to enter to win Melanie's debut novel! (which also happens to be an ACFW book club selection.)

Leave a comment with your email address. IF I DRAW YOUR NAME AND THERE IS NO EMAIL ADDRESS YOU WILL NOT WIN!

For extra entries:
~be a follower
~be an email subscriber

And a NEW one:
~Follow Melanie's blog HERE

Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items of said prize.
Thanks for coming by to enter!

Contest ends on September 11th.