My guest today is one of my favorite authors, Melanie D. Snitker. I have read and reread her inspirational Love’s Compass series. Melanie joins me today to talk about the first book in the series, Finding Peace.

Melanie, let’s start by telling us a little bit about yourself.

Hi, everyone! My name is Melanie D. Snitker, and I live with my family in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. I’m blessed to have been married to my husband, and best friend, for over twenty years. We have a son who is almost fifteen, and a nine-year-old daughter. We share our home with two dogs, a guinea pig, and a number of cold-blooded critters.

I love to write inspirational and sweet romance novels. I usually have more characters begging for their stories to be written than actual time to write them.

In my spare time, I enjoy photography, computer gaming, and I keep two bioactive terrariums complete with anoles and tree frogs.

What is Finding Peace about?

Finding Peace is an inspirational romance and the first book in the complete six-book Love’s Compass series. Police Officer Kentucky “Tuck” Chandler is determined to protect Laurie Blake and find out who keeps breaking into her photography studio – assuming she lets him! As the case unfolds and the mystery deepens, another question arises. Will the past get in the way of their future?

What was the catalyst for your interest in writing?

I loved to write stories since I was a child making up new episodes for Rescue Rangers or Star Trek: The Next Generation. I used to think I’d write science fiction stories. My mom introduced me to romance novels when I was in high school. I remember devouring Lori Wick’s books among many others. I quickly discovered, however, that finding clean romance books wasn’t always easy. That’s when I decided to write them myself. I vowed to write the kind of books that I wouldn’t hesitate to let my mom, grandma, or daughter read. When I published my first book in 2014, it was truly a dream come true!  

Do you have a day job? If so, how do you find time in your day to write?

Our kids are my day job. Our son has severe autism as well as epilepsy, and sometimes it’s a challenge to simply navigate the autism waters, especially while distance learning at the same time. I also homeschool our daughter. It’s rarely easy to find times to write, and I am most successful when writing in the early morning or the evenings after the kids have gone to bed. 

Do you reward yourself when a book is finished? If so, what is your favorite treat?

I do – and I usually reward myself with a new season of a favorite show to binge watch. LOL I find that if I do watch a show while trying to write, it definitely takes away a lot of that free writing time. So having that incentive to look forward to is definitely a motivator.

How did you come up with the names of your hero and/or heroine?

Kentucky “Tuck” Chandler’s name is definitely different. When I originally started to plan out the Love’s Compass series, I was going to have a set of five siblings, all of whom were named after different States in the USA, including Kentucky, Arizona, and Dakota. I ended up changing my mind, but liked Tuck’s name so much, he got to keep his.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m definitely more of a pantser. However, I tend to get bogged down in the editing round because of it. So I’m trying to transition to being more of a hybrid (if there is such a thing). I jump right in and write several scenes I already have formed in my head. Then, once I know the characters a little, I try to plot out a general list of possible scenes so I don’t get lost in the process. The scenes, however, are only described by four or five words, that way the characters can kind of guide me as I write. If I have everything plotted out perfectly, I find I miss those curveballs that my characters like to throw my way.

Do you experience writer’s block? What do you do to get through it?

The biggest cause of writer’s block for me is to not have regular writing time. Thanks to all of the challenges 2020 has brought along with it, writer’s block has been more of a problem now than it ever was before. The best thing I can do to get through it is to set a specific time aside and make myself write without stopping. That way I’m not second-guessing myself and wasting the precious time that I have! Also, shorter, but frequent, blocks of time are the most effective.

What’s next for you as an author?

I’m hoping to have a Christmas novella to add to the Sage Valley Ranch series this year. I’m also looking forward to writing Marrying Emma, the fifth book in the Brides of Clearwater series. There is a new series planned for 2021 that I’m especially excited about. It will take place in Kitner, Texas, where the Love’s Compass books are centered and will include some of those characters.

Where can readers find you online?

My website is www.melaniedsnitker.com. I’d love to see people stop by!

You can join my newsletter and receive a free book just for signing up at www.melaniedsnitker.com/newsletter.html.

I’m also active on Facebook with my author page at https://www.facebook.com/melaniedsnitker and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/melaniedsnitker/.

Sale Links for Finding Peace: 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R8KKV86

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1496549578

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/finding-peace-26

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finding-peace-melanie-d-snitker/1120994024?ean=2940163174072

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Melanie_D_Snitker_Finding_Peace?id=4zHKDwAAQBAJ

Today’s Rescues:

Puff and Tigger

These two kittens had a rather fiery beginning. For months, we had a stray long-haired black female cat hanging around our garage and other cats. We tried to catch her to take her in to get spayed, but she ended up pregnant last spring. We knew she was close to giving birth but hadn’t seen signs of the kittens yet.

Unfortunately, a neighbor found the kittens when she started a bonfire. The mother cat had hidden her babies in the boxes that were meant to be burned. The neighbor heard the crying and immediately doused the fire. Two of the kittens were singed. One died from the injuries, and another had a bald spot. The other two were unharmed.

With the neighbor’s help, we reunited the three living kittens with the mother and kept them in our bathroom until they were weaned. We let the mother cat go back outside, as clinics were closed for spaying/neutering at that time. We posted photos on Facebook for free kittens. Only one person responded, and adopted the kitten with the bald spot. That left us with two.

We named them Tigger and Puff. We gave them lots of love and attention as we fostered and continued looking for homes for them. Tigger is a cuddler. Puff is a little mischievous. They like to play-fight together and chase each other through the house.

At four months, we took them to a clinic for spaying/neutering. Shortly after, a family member saw some photos of the kittens and decided to adopt both of them. Since the family is going on vacation this month, we will hold onto the kittens for them until they return. For these last few weeks with them, I am making sure to get all of my snuggles in and take some precious photos to remember them by.

The home they are going to will be a safe and loving place for them. I’m glad they are going together. They will bond well with their new family, and we hope they will have a long and healthy future.

Stories about our rescued cats.

In 2016, these two kittens were born to a feral mother cat. She showed up at our garage with them when they were about four weeks old. We had a bucket tipped over on its side near the steps, and they crawled inside.

We decided to bring them into the house and tame them. We named them Anna and Elsa, after the Frozen characters. They were scared of us at first and hissed and spit when we tried to hold them. After a few weeks, they warmed up to us.

It was hard to tell them apart at first. As they grew older, they developed their own personalities. Elsa is very adventurous and you never know where you will find her.

Anna is queen of the household cats. She likes to rest on the desk while I’m working at the computer, not caring if she is in the way.

They have lived with us for 4 years now. We can’t imagine what our lives would be like without them.

I’m excited to take this moment to introduce you to the Anaiah Press StayCay Subscription Boxes.

Anaiah Press has teamed up with Salty Sisters Gourmet Popcorn to bring you a fun staycation experience. Each box includes two great Anaiah Press books (selected by our staff based on your reading preference), two delicious flavors of Salty Sisters popcorn, and one–two bonus items to help complete your staycation. You’ll get a new box every three months! 

You can choose from 4 different customizations based on your reading preferences: 

All Romance: sweet contemporary, historical romance, and romantic suspense books

Sweet Romance: sweet contemporary and historical romance books

Young Adult: YA romance novels

All Adult and YA Romance: an assortment from all of our romance categories for adults and teens.

You can learn more about it here: https://www.anaiahpress.com/staycay

Watch a video about it here: https://bit.ly/2Yr9gCp