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Melanie Toye

From the Authors of 8 Slices of Cake

March 21, 2013 1 Comment

FINAL COVER IMAGE

Interview with the authors “8 Slices of Cake”

Where inspired co-writing “8 Slices of Cake?”

Monica: I was thrilled to be asked by author Melanie Toye to contribute to “8 Slices of Cake,” and I was excited to try writing fiction for a change.

Lisa: Some idiot in this group I belong to suckered me into it. They decided it was a great idea. I go along with any idea someone has, because you never know who might turn out to be a genius.

Brenda: As far as I know this was all Melanie Toye’s idea. I just went along for the ride.

Yvonne: The idea was the brain-child of Melanie Toye. She cooked up the co-writing idea and then, through brainstorming, the setting of the book and the title came about.

Meadow: I was inspired to join the project by my mother, Paige Bleu, who was already involved in writing it with her other friends.

Melanie: As creator of our author promotion group, I wanted to bring together our different writing genre’s and style and came up with the idea that we all write a short story together. The writers were keen and ideas bubbled with excitement from everyone, on what the theme of the stories should focus on and that’s how 8 Slices of Cake was created. It may have been my idea but without the effort from everyone, 8 Slices of Cake wouldn’t be as awesome as it is now.

Paige: My chapter was inspired by a combination of things including personal experience, friends stories and some fiction.

Tell us about the book:

Monica: “8 Slices of Cake” is a romance anthology. The short stories all revolve around the same wedding. The characters all know or know of groom Michael and bride Ava, and they all experience — or cope with — adventures in love. Michael and Ava serve a fancy 8-tier wedding cake at the reception, and each short story references one of the flavors.

Paula: It’s a viewpoint story from different guests at the same wedding.

Lisa: It’s about a wedding from different authors. Some things are the same and other trivial items are different allowing each story to have a flavor of its own. Then each author chose a cake flavor to feature.

Brenda: 8 Slices of Cake is an Anthology created by 8 girls from all around the world. Australia, Chicago, Ireland etc. This book is was published just in time for Valentine ’s Day. There are 8 short stories. The common thread is a wedding and an 8 tiered cake. That is where the title comes from. Each story has its own cake recipe. Every writer had picked their favorite cake. The two things we all share in common is the love of writing and of course, cake. Each story is in our own unique style. 8 Slices of Cake will make for a fun read about marriage, divorce, romance, dating, failed relationships, and maybe even finding everlasting love.

Meadow: The book is a story about love of all shades, portraying a wedding from different points of view.

Paige: The book, in my opinion, is a fabulous way of merging different points of view, writing styles, and the personalities of 8 unique woman with one common thread and story.

Yvonne: 8 Slices of Cake is a romantic eBook. We each wrote a short story about two or more characters attending Ava and Michael’s wedding, at which there would be an 8-tiered cake. Each author chose her favourite cake for her characters and included a recipe for the cake. Californian author, Brenda Perlin, created the name, and Southern Belle author, Lisa Day, created the cover image. Along with Melanie, Lisa and Brenda, the other 5 stories are written by Yvonne McEvaddy from Ireland, Paula Mills from the U.K., Paige Bleu and her daughter Meadow Bleu from Washington and Monica Lee from Illinois.

In the collection, as well as the bride and groom, you will meet Melissa who is plagued by a bad memory of a wedding, Lisa, a woman who dislikes weddings, Lilly the best friend of the groom, who wishes she were more, Brooklyn a woman who found her way out of a bad marriage, Chantelle and Olivia who go to the wedding as single girls and find love and possibilities where they were not expecting to find them, the unavailable Beth, lovable uncle Rufus and two of the women in his life, Hope and Georgia.

       We are comparing this book to the movie “Love Actually,” as there are 8 individual stories linked by the wedding of Ava and Michael and of course the 8-tiered cake.

How do you know each other?

Melanie: Most of us met through LinkedIn and then we came together through the Author Promotion Group. I met Paula Mills, taking our children to the library and immediately we bonded and discovered we both loved to write.

Lisa: Most of us met through Linkedin. Then we moved to Facebook while there, eight of us seemed to have a similar outlook about branding and marketing ideas. So we formed a small second group to prefect our ideas.

Paula: I literally bumped into Melanie Toye one day. We bonded over our passion of writing and a refreshing and honest conversation about how scared we were to be first time mums.

Brenda: I personally met everyone in an author group on Facebook sometime last year. It has been a great experience. I love these girls and they just happen to be super talented.

Yvonne: We made initial contact on LinkedIn and became great friends through the author promotion group that Mel Toye set up on Facebook.

Paige: We are involved in some online networking groups like Linkedin. We have become a close group and thought it would be a fun experience to do something together. And it was!

Monica: The eight authors, most of them independent, became acquainted through social media.

Meadow: The glorious world of social networking!

Describe the writing/editing/publishing process:

Lisa: Some of us used pen and paper. Some used the computer. I being the oldest used chisel and rock. When finished we compared the rough drafts and pulled some events from others stories into our final drafts. Then we all dumped them into Ms Mel Toye’s lap to straighten out.

Paula: For me, I argue a lot in my head. The creative V the attention to detail freak. I spin my ideas, bulk it out with the narrative and add the scenes later. I can see it all in my head and I take myself to the moment, each scene and character. Editing, I try and leave until the end. But I never do. Ten spaces forward and eight back. Don’t look to my method for inspiration – It’s cruel.

Monica: For “Habits to Break,” my offering in “8 Slices of Cake,” I brainstormed my theme first, and settled on a story about good habits and bad habits, and how they affect ones lives and loves. Hope is a young divorcee, modelled roughly after a younger me. Aunt Georgia is a recent widow, and I tried to imbue her with the wisdom I hope I have someday. The man they have in common? Uncle Rufus, a thrice-married smoker who enthusiastically embraces life and all its ups and downs. After I wrote the first draft, I ran it by a couple of beta readers: my husband, my mother and my sister, who suggested some small improvements in description and clarification. The creativity came from describing what heretofore existed only in my mind.

Paige: The writing process reminded me of a ’round robin’ writing circle. A lot of passing each others stories back and forth to make sure that even though they were all different, there was some consistency in the story.

Brenda: Writing the story was a bit of a challenge for me because I am not used to writing fiction. I had to stretch a bit as a writer. When in doubt, I go to John Emil Augustine who wrote ‘Love Seen From Hell’. He is brilliant and always helps me out. Also, Yvonne McEvaddy gave me some really good advice. If you are not open to criticism you won’t grow as a writer or as a person. The entire process seemed to go down as smoothly as a fresh piece of red velvet cake!!!

Melanie: We had one month to write, edit and publish to release 8 Slices of Cake in times for Valentine’s Day. Everyone was really excited and didn’t waste time in getting it altogether. Some of the writers edited another writers work and then I proof-read all of them and structured them into a position that fit within the entire story. Our recipe writer pulled out at the last minute, but everyone pitched in to source their own cakes recipes and images to add something special and unique to 8 Slices of Cake. We self-published onto Smashwords, which was an easy process as everyone had the formatting guidelines to follow for submission of their story.

Yvonne: We each agreed to write a short story centered on two characters attending the wedding, to first self-edit, and then edit someone else’s story. We then sent all of the stories to Mel for publishing.

Meadow: Writing is the fun part, editing can be as well… publishing? I’d ask one of the more experienced ladies about that.

What was the most difficult part of creating “8 Slices of Cake?”

Lisa: It’s Cake man. Ever try to write about cake and not crave it.

Melanie: For me it was preparing the table of contents. I don’t know why but the linking and formatting just didn’t seem to work, once it was published. I tried numerous times. Then took the time to really read the instructions after the tenth time and it worked!

Paula: Not being able to scene set and having no idea, where I was.

Yvonne: I had immense fun in the creation of the book. I think Mel had the most difficult part, which was collaborating and publishing the whole thing.

Brenda: Writing about an 8 tiered cake without getting to eat any.

Meadow: Coordination.

Monica: All the stories share the same reception, but each of us writes only a sliver about it. It all had to fit together logically, and in the end, I think it does.

Paige: For my chapter, being that I was the ‘Bride & Groom’, the challenge was trying to include a little piece of each of the 7 other authors details. I needed them all to be represented for continuity.

Chocolate or vanilla?

Lisa: YES. Chocolate and vanilla will be just fine. Thank you.

Paula: Chocolate.

Brenda: Without question, chocolate!

Yvonne: Chocolate, without a doubt, unless being served with chocolate fudge cake, and then its vanilla.

Melanie: Chocolate! I love chocolate. Yvonne chose chocolate for her favour of cake, so I chose my next favourite – Caramel Indulgence.

Meadow: Personally, I’m a chocolate girl.

Monica: Vanilla. Top quality, high-fat vanilla.

Paige: Oh definitely chocolate. Hands down…I’m a chocolate girl!

Are any of the stories in this anthology based on reality?

Meadow: Not that I’m aware of.

Melanie: My story of Olivia and Chantelle is 100% fiction. But I do feel every woman reading 8 Slices of Cake would be able to connect with at least one character’s story amongst these 8 short stories.

Lisa: Actually yes, But I’ll never tell. Well. I really would be if I was threatened and then there’s that nasty gag order in place.

Paula: For me, it’s always a moment in time, a feeling, a reaction; I do draw upon that experience, in everything I do. Elements. I cannot write with passion without my elements.

Paige: Parts of my chapter were…but I’ll never tell which!!

Yvonne: Chocolate Heaven is a work of fiction, although I did draw on my own experience of missing my dad at weddings.

Brenda: I don’t know about any of the other stories but a good portion of my story, Red Velvet was from real life. I just had to add lib a bit.

Monica: My story is completely fictional. Little parts are based on my personal experience. After I read everyone else’s, I wondered if I should have written a science fiction bit, but it’s probably good I didn’t.

If this book were a movie, who would play the parts?

Melanie: Eva Mendes would play Chantelle, coming across as a snob with wealth yet really underneath it, she just wants to be loved. Olivia the woman who is easy to be walked over and believes in the fairy tale of romance, would be played by Taylor Swift.

Paula: Ryan Gosling is Tom I am sure.

Lisa: What a silly question. Why actors and actresses of course.

Brenda: For my story, Brooklyn should be played by Sandra Bullock and without a doubt Bo should be played by Richard Gere. Gerard could be played by John Travolta.

Yvonne: Anna Kendrick would play Melissa, and Zac Efron would play David.

Monica: Jennifer Lawrence plays Hope, Harrison Ford plays Rufus and Sela Ward plays Georgia.

Meadow: I’d like to see fresh new actors play the parts. Who wants their story to be tainted by preconceived notions?

Paige: Hard to say for each character, there are way too many. Ava, the bride, would probably be played by Drew Barrymore or Blake Lively.

How did you all agree on the title?

Yvonne: Hmm, not sure, I think when we agreed on setting the book at a wedding we just got talking about wedding cakes and our favourite flavours.

Paula: I am very diplomatic and went with the idea given to me.

Lisa: Brenda Perlin the big baby, threatened to leave the group if we didn’t use her Idea. Of course, after she paid me five dollars it was easy to vote for her.

Paige: We tossed ideas around, discussed, joked, then took votes. All of the ladies in this project were so amazing, it was really easy to find compromises. Everyone was open and willing to contribute ideas.

Melanie: Once we decided it was to be a wedding theme, we were all throwing in ideas and it was Brenda’s that made the cut!

Brenda: We racked our brains.

Meadow: Magically

Monica: I love the title! It says “sweet,” “short stories” and “slice of life” all at the same time.

What is the most memorable wedding you’ve been to?

Melanie: Can I say my own!! The beach wedding was absolutely perfect. Nothing unplanned went haywire! Just a beautiful day, filled with love.

Paula: Mine.

Lisa: My first one. My second one. My third one and my last one.

Paige: My oldest sisters. They were wed in a backyard wearing matching T-shirts, then we had a barbeque. It was really comfortable and fun.

Brenda: I would have to say my own. I was such a silly bride.

While I was greeting all the guests I realized I should have been locked away in a room so I wouldn’t see my future husband until I was walking down the aisle. While the ceremony was taking place I felt like I was doing stand up. I thought I needed to entertain everyone there. During dinner, I must have eaten close to ten rolls. I am the only bride I know that actually ate her entire meal.

Yvonne: My own. I have a kaleidoscope of memories from that day, and all of them involve smiling and dancing. It was a recession-friendly wedding, before the Celtic Tiger drove everyone and everything mad. We were young and in love and kept everything simple, because the important thing was us getting to spend the rest of our lives together, and as long as we got to do that, we were living a fairytale.

Meadow: Hmmm, haven’t been to many.

Monica: When the former CEO of a company I used to work for got married, she had the wedding in a convention center, she wore three dresses throughout the afternoon and evening, guests were served two entrees (fish AND steak), and I left feeling like I had been one to receive the gift, instead of the couple. It was an extravagant experience.

Can you give us any tips to co-writing?

Paula: Don’t think about it too much, use your creative energy to spur yourself on and worry about the detail at the end and don’t panic about the other writers being better than you!

Melanie: Be organized from the get go, be clear. One big email instead of several small ones is best. Find a fun group of writers that you have respect for and enjoy their writing style before you start.

Lisa: Keep a bottle of wine handy. Yes cheap wine is Ok too.

Meadow: Check your email and make sure to get back to your partners ASAP. I wasn’t too good at that.

Brenda: Stay true to yourself and don’t let yourself get intimidated or doubt your talent.

Monica: Be flexible. It’s fiction after all.

Paige: Communication is key. It is also vitally important to have one person be in charge so there is no confusion. We were incredibly lucky to have Mel Toye as our ‘fearless leader’. She was completely amazing, kept everyone organized and on task, and did a tremendous amount of extra work. She made the whole process painless and fun.

Do you have plans for another collaboration?

Paula: Yes, another one is on the cards. I hope.

Lisa: How would I know I just do as they tell me. Its better like…let the old lady know so she embarrasses us.

Meadow: Hmmm, maybe.

Yvonne: Nothing definite, but watch this space.

Monica: I’m always open to opportunities.

Paige: I definitely hope we do. We’ve tossed the idea around. It really was fun.

Brenda: That is up to Melanie. She is full of ideas. With her I am inclined to say “yes.”

Melanie: You will just have to wait and see. 😉

**Additional Comments:  As you can tell from the above answers, we are all different people, living different lives, with different outlooks on life. And this is what has created such unique and interesting stories that combine 8 Slices of Cake. It is a must read.

**ABOUT THE AUTHORS**

Meadow Bleu:  Meadow Bleu is an Indie-Author, currently working on publishing her first collection of poetry-‘Swallow the Sun’, due to be released by fall of 2013, in which she attempts to shine a light on the more dismal side of life, not popularly addressed in poetry. With an off-beat rhythm and a drop of her soul in each word she writes, Meadow reflects emotion rather than events, giving her work a unique feel. As a college student raised under the wing of her mother Paige Bleu, also an author, Meadow is stepping up to share her love of literature with the rest of the world.

**Contact:  Facebook

***

PassionKillerYvonne McEvaddy:  Yvonne McEvaddy lives and works in co. Galway, Ireland. She is the author of two novels, Passion Killer, available on smashwords.com, amazon.com, and amazon.co.uk, and Shadows of the Dead, available on amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. She is currently working on her third novel, Thief of Hearts. Yvonne has been longlisted in the Over the Edge New Writer of the Year competition.

Yvonne has been dabbling in the written word since early childhood, having decided at the age of 5, when she read her first Enid Blyton book, that she wanted to be a writer. Her summer holidays were often spent writing adventures in the remaining pages of her school copybooks. When not writing she was daydreaming about her books being available in her local bookstores, a dream which has recently come true.

She was first published under her maiden name, Yvonne Gaughan, at the age of 17 when she won a Western Health Board competition to have her essay published in 100 Natural Highs.

Also as Yvonne Gaughan, in college she was a member of the Mystic Poets’ Society and had two poems published in their collaboration, Mystic Spirits.

Yvonne McEvaddy is a member of the Javawriters, who have recently published Infusions, a collaboration of their work.

She took part in the first ever short story compiled by tweets, along with well known crime writers Val McDermid, Mark Billingham and Martyn Waites. The story is entitled First Stop: Revenge and can be found at:  https://twitter.com/eastcoaststory.

**Contact:  Blog   Website   Facebook   Twitter   Book Trailer for Passion Killer   Book Trailer for Shadows of the Dead

***

PrintMelanie Toye:  Melanie Toye is chasing her dreams in becoming an International Best Selling Author. Melanie is also a freelance writer and Mother who loves to inspire everyone to chase their dreams in life. Melanie loves to share her art of writing and creating stories to all those who love to read. Melanie lives in Australia with her husband, son and two dogs.

Books by Melanie include a fictional women’s read, ‘Entice Me’. Entice Me is a journey that explores life changing events that forces each woman to rediscover themselves and what they are seeking from life. Meltdowns, break-ups, love and laughter make Entice Me into an entertaining read. Entice Me can be purchased from Smashwords here https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/234817.

Other e-books written by Melanie include:

‘Kids, write your own stories’ which hosts 26 Creative Writing Activities for ages 8 +. Let your child create a story where anything can happen. This e-book is purely to inspire and excite children to take a step out of the technicalities and rules of writing. As they write freely letting their imagination guide them. Kids, write your own stories can be purchased from Smashwords here https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/256231.

‘Annabelle’s Angels’ is a sweet a sweet story about a young girl who can see angels. A great story that will show your child how magical a world can be, when one believes in the power of angels. Annabelle’s Angels can be purchased from Smashwords here https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/255635.

‘Activities for Babies’ is another classic example of Melanie’s creativity in the home. With a young son of her own, Melanie created an e-book for babies aged 6 months +. The activities included use items around the home that will surely give your baby a giggle and a new platform for exploration and learning. http://www.amazon.com/Activities-Babies-When-enough-ebook/dp/B00961P0XG

The next big novel release by Melanie is Destiny Lane, a fantasy novel that will take readers on a journey of living in a world where the mind creates what you want at the moment you want it. Let your imagination fly.

Make sure you become a fan of M-Toye on Facebook to read more about what great reads she is working on and recommend these great reads to all of your friends and social clubs. http://www.facebook.com/pages/M-Toye/146863872056871?fref=ts

 **Contact:  Blog   Email: Melanie.toye@hotmail.com   Facebook   Twitter   Book Trailer for Entice Me

***

newcoverBrenda Perlin:  I live in Orange County, California. I have spent most of my working life in the physical fitness arena. I love the gratification that comes with helping people achieve their fitness goals and I love the fulfillment that comes with having a healthy body.

I moved from the Los Angeles area where I was raised to Orange County in the Spring of 2005. During that time I was a housewife with a couple of dogs. Now I am not. Instead I am writing my adventures for all to read.

**Contact:  Blog   Website   Email: homewreckerthebook@gmail.com   Facebook   Twitter   Book Trailer

***

Paula Mills:  Born and raised in the depths of quintessential English countryside, I decided at nineteen, to lumber a backpack and off I stomped; as far from the rapeseed fields of home as I could get . I headed to the Australian Outback and talked myself up into a job as a Jillaroo on a remote Sheep Station. I learnt two things. Firstly the harsh reality of a sometimes cruel and dust ridden landscape. Secondly, there is nothing quite like a cold beer and true mate ship, to get you through. I fell in love with the red dirt and on returning to the UK, I left a piece of my own heart behind. Ten years later, the fate boomerang threw me back down under, and Australia is now my home; with my gorgeous husband and daughter. I write for the love of writing, I love (and I am proud to be known as) a Chick Lit writer and reader. Like the rest of my peers, I fit in the have to do list, the want to do list, and the wish I had the time for me list , in between raising a happy family and all the little trip hazard stuff life throws at us.

**Contact:  Blog   Facebook   Twitter

***

WolfkeepersWomanLisa Day:  Lisa Day hails from the southern part of the United States. She went from Northern flower the Southern belle years ago and swears she will never go north of the Mason-Dixon line again. She hates cold weather.

She was always an avid reader went the mood hit. At times years would go by and she’d not touch a book. Then she would bring home bags full and read at times three books a day for months. However it wasn’t until she retired that she found an interest in writing. Her stories can be intense and yet there must be a happy ever ending.

**Contact:  Blog   Blog #2   Website   Facebook   Twitter

***

???????????????????????Monica Lee:  Monica Lee, a personal historian, blogger and writer, has been a daily newspaper reporter and marketing executive. “8 Slices of Cake” is her first foray into romantic fiction, though she’s lived romantic (and unromantic) reality. She is the author of“The Percussionist’s Wife: A Memoir of Sex, Crime & Betrayal,” the true story of her first marriage to a man accused of a sex crime with one of his drum line students. She’s now working on a prequel which fictionalizes her coming of age in a small Minnesota town in the early ‘80s. She lives in northern Illinois with her second husband, the love of her life.

**Contact:  Blog   Website   Facebook   Twitter

***

safe_image2Paige Bleu:  Paige Bleu is an Indie-Author, currently working on publishing and promoting her supernatural, fantasy series-‘The Ameryn Chronicles’. Volume 1-‘Finding Summerland’-became available in July 2012. This is the first officially published work of Paige’s, who was a ghost writer previously, as well as many other things! Paige is on her own journey of self discovery…learning the ropes of marketing, social networking, and self publishing simultaneously. She shares the experience with followers through blogging…candidly dishing over the perils of juggling work, life, and her passion for writing. Her style is unconventional and unique, reflecting her own eclectic, ‘free bird’ personality.

Right now Paige is working on the second installment of the ‘Ameryn’ series, ‘LivEternal’. Future projects include another young adult, paranormal series, as well as a few short stories and memoirs. Beyond that could be anything…that’s the beauty of being an Indie-Author…you never know what might come next!

**Contact:  Blog   Website   Email: paigebleu@gmail.com   Facebook   Twitter   Book Trailer

***

Click HERE to see this interview in more in the online magazine, Imagine This, which is brought to you by Melanie Toye!

Filed Under: 8 Slices of Cake Tagged With: 8 Slices of Cake, Books, Brenda Perlin, Cake, Lisa Day, Meadow Bleu, Melanie Toye, Monica Lee, Paige Bleu, Paula Mills, Weddings, Writing, Yvonne McEvaddy

Chick Lit becomes Chick Flick

December 21, 2012 1 Comment

MEDIA RELEASE:  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Call out for movie producers…

Big ticket movie producers you will not want to miss the opportunity to fund the next big chick flick film from novel, Entice Me. Women will flock to the movie doors as they see the cast list in this incredible masterpiece.

Entice Me is the next chick lit novel to hit the e-reading devices and leave the readers wanting more. With a light, entertaining read, know that Entice Me pushes the boundaries of chick lit and provides not only the romantic hotness that we all know and love through various relationships and flings. It explores the realms of the work life and career struggles placed on women who want the high-powered positions and those who just want to break-free from the daily grind. As well as the emotional and physical havoc a stressful and challenging work environment can play. And a novel wouldn’t be fabulous without the superficial, scheming and stunning woman that will plot at every chance she gets to destroy any one who gets in her way.

Entice Me not only has a great story line and dramatic events that will have you guessing throughout but the fiction novel also includes a message entwined to chase the life you always dreamed of. You will be left feeling you can conquer anything after reading Entice Me.

Possible actor choices to play in this chick flick movie include:

Piper Perabo, a great choice to play Miranda who is a recruitment consultant forced to create more balance in her life.

Crystal Lucy would suit the anxiety stricken Louise and Grace, a free spirit who aims to help Miranda find balance in her life would be well played by Emma Stone.

For the male leads:

The upcoming Dean Geyer and his chiselled body and romantic aroma would be the perfect match to play Mr Perfect.

Maximilian Befort a young German actor who speaks fluent in English and French and has got that European demeanour that matches French lover Grant would be ideal.

George Clooney, the hottest man on the planet would suit well to play the character, Ray, who is a secret romantic / workaholic / typical male who hides his emotions.

Jake Gyllenhaal would star as Mike the lovable but unpredictable husband who is lost in his unstable surroundings.

And the actor who would play the crazy woman who is a nasty piece of work will have to endure a serious audition process to be the best meanest and materialistic woman that hosts a façade of sweetness.

With a great cast and plot you will not want to miss this soon to be fabulous chick flick movie. Movie producers send your bid to author Melanie Toye at melanie.toye@hotmail.com.

Print**Click HERE to watch a trailer of “Entice Me!”

**Read a free sample of “Entice Me!”

Amazon

Smashwords

**Contact Melanie at any of the below links!:

Email: melanie.toye@gmail.com

Facebook

Filed Under: Melanie Toye Tagged With: Books, Chick-Lit, Entice Me, Melanie Toye, Writing

Melanie Toye

September 28, 2012 2 Comments

About author & freelance writer, Melanie Toye:  Melanie Toye aims to inspire people through writing and help motivate readers to chase their own dreams. The love for writing has always co-existed in Melanie’s life through writing letters, creating play scripts to her found dream career as a story-teller. With an inspirational blog, frequent freelance writing gigs and Melanie’s first novel release, Entice Me, she is on her way to achieving her dream career as a writer. As well as spurring on all those around her to chase their own dreams.

Interview with Melanie

People would describe you as…?  Positive, go getter, gentle

Describe what the writing/editing/publishing was like for you:  Lengthy. Entice Me was first demolished when my computer crashed. Starting from scratch I rewrote Entice Me better than the original. Then I spent one and half years applying to publishers. Discovered self-publishing and all fell into place once I decided to travel down this path.

Where did you get the idea for your book, Entice Me?  Mainly I want to convey how easy it is for people to get stuck in their daily unfulfilling lives without taking the time to follow their true hearts desires. I have spoken to many people who don’t like their jobs, yet they have been working there for decades. I wondered why they just didn’t change paths. I wanted to provide a message through Entice Me to chase your dreams and follow your own path.

Take us through your typical day:  Three days a week, I am at home looking after my young son and spending any free time writing. A typical day looks like this, my young son wakes me up. I cook breakfast for us, then clean the kitchen, put a load of washing on. Go outside with my son to play with our gorgeous German Shepherd dogs. We then might go to the park or go out somewhere. Morning tea time arrives and we sit outside and eat in the shade. I love the outdoors it refreshes me and my spirit. We play games, maybe paint or draw. Then around midday my son has a two hour nap. This is when I strap myself to the computer and write, type and social network and promote my work. When my son wakes up, we play or go to the park in the afternoon then I cook dinner for when my husband returns home. We spend the evening together. My son goes to sleep at a time I would call late. I spend a little more time with my hubby. Then back to the computer for my writing, typing and promoting as well as brainstorming. This usually lasts till about midnight when I decide to go to bed. It seems uncanny that now I have less time to write, yet before I had a child I would spend about the same time or even less time than I do now writing. For me, working within a time frame each day motivates me to get what I need done.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?  Good question. I have always loved to write and write stories but I never thought of it as my dream career or any type of career for me really. One day I started writing down characters and their personalities and then the locations. How they were connected with each other and words they spoke. Then scene’s built from that and I couldn’t stop writing. After a few years of writing Entice Me and now with a blog and freelance writing for businesses I have realised this is my dream career.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?  If so, what are they?  Wow, absolutely. Do you want to know all of them? Hmm … my guilty pleasures would include secretly divulging in chocolate while no one is looking, ice cream while watching a romantic chick flick, reading in bed while everyone is asleep, getting dressed up all girly when going out and eating peanut butter from the jar by the spoonful.

What author(s) would you like to meet?  Janet Evanovich, Stephen King, Marian Keyes, Esther Hicks, Robert Kiyosaki and Stephenie Meyer. Can you imagine the mix of these authors all attending a dinner event together? Interesting conversations would be said I can assure you.

Who inspires you?  There is an endless list … but really it comes down to people going out there and making their dreams come true. It pushes me to keep going and inspires me to never give up.

What’s your favorite word?  Right now … Entice Why? Every sentence I use I want to use entice as a word. For example, ‘for an enticing read, read Entice Me.’ A bit much perhaps? But I just cannot get the word out of my head.

Facebook or Twitter?  Facebook, I feel it’s more personable. Though my husband recently told me, ‘Facebook is old.’ Sigh.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?  To not worry about what others may think.

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects?  Sure, I have a couple of non-fiction eBooks that I am working on to help other writers in non-costly ways to promote their novels as well as other topics. I am also in the midst of writing my second novel, which is fantasy themed, about a woman who lives two lives. The hardest part is choosing which book to work on first.

Additional comments by Melanie:  For anyone wanting to chase their dreams, an important point is to find what will motivate you to really dedicate your time and energy to go for it.

Guest Post, “How to Daydream”

Thank you Chick Lit Goddess for the invitation to guest post here. My name is Melanie Toye, author of chick lit fiction novel, Entice Me. I am a dream chaser and I will not give up until I achieve my destination and then I will create even bigger goals. So what about me? I hear you ask. You know dreaming is pretty easy, but for some it can be a daunting process. Let’s make it real simple.

Go outside, wait, print or write down the next steps first then go outside with your instructions. I love the outdoors, because it makes you focus in the moment, rather than taking in all the technology inside.

Once outside, lay down on a towel. Look up. See the beautiful sky and the trees close by. Breathe. Close your eyes holding the image of the glorious sky. Give thanks to yourself for taking the time out of your day to experience this moment. Feel the excitement of this new venture. Breathe.

Take a moment and think about what you really love to do in your spare time. Do you enjoying releasing your stress with a paintbrush and paint to your heart’s content? Do you find your passion is by creating new ideas when cooking meals for the family? Hold what you love to do in your mind. Then think about if you spent your whole day doing what you loved, how would that make you feel? What would your day look like? Who would you meet? Would this be a direction you would like to head towards?

Now open your eyes. Are you smiling? Life doesn’t have to be stressful or dramatic. Life can be enjoyed at every turn, if you let it. The more you listen to your inner voice the more your body and mind will be attuned your true heart’s desires. When opportunities arise you will sway automatically to what will get you closer to your destiny.

If I can give you a little magic to spur on your imagination then imagine what you can do when you give yourself the power to recreate your life to live how you want to live.

“Entice Me” by Melanie Toye

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Filed Under: Melanie Toye Tagged With: Books, Chick-Lit, Entice Me, Guest Interview, Guest Post, Melanie Toye

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