Interview With Melanie Dobson, Plus Giveaway, Day Two

We rejoin author Melanie Dobson on day two of her interview. Yesterday, Melanie talked about her family and life writing at home. Today, she will talk about her current project and the business of writing.

Melanie has graciously agreed to give away one copy of Love Finds You in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. To be eligible for the drawing, leave a comment on today’s blog. The winner will be announced Thursday. Open to U.S. residents only.

What project are you working on right now?

I just contracted for a historical romance novel titled Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan, so I’m off to Michigan this month to begin the research. I’m also writing a mystery novel for Guidepost’s new The Secrets of Mary’s Bookshop series.

What’s the best thing about working from home?

The flexibility in my schedule. I can volunteer in the kids’ classrooms each week and be home when they have vacation days. I do my best to work around their school schedule. I’m also nearby if they get sick or something else happens at school.

What’s the worst thing about working from home?

The flexibility in my schedule! When I’m not volunteering at school, I have to be diligent about writing during school hours. I’d rather go out to lunch with a friend or exercise. When I’m on deadline, I’d rather do just about anything except write. I have to push myself to stay in my chair and persevere. Sometimes I work all night before deadline day.

What keeps you home instead of having an outside career?

My kids! Sometimes I miss the camaraderie of being in an office and the travel I used to do for conventions and events. But it’s definitely worth it to me to work at home while my kids are young. I love picking them up from school and having some unrushed time with them in the afternoons. And I love being able to take off most of the summer and holidays as well.

Do you have a schedule and always work at the same time every day, or is your work time random and haphazard?

My schedule is pretty consistent during the school year. I usually write at a coffee shop while the kids are in school. I have an office at home, but I find myself getting easily distracted with laundry etc. so it’s better for me to write at the library or a coffee shop. When the girls are out of school, my schedule is more erratic. I’m sending email from my phone while they are in swim lessons or at the park. There’s a lot of juggling involved some days, but I’m grateful I can be with them instead of away at an office.

Any other words of wisdom you would like to share that you haven’t mentioned in the questions above?

It was a pretty big adjustment for me to go from being in the “corporate world” to working at home. Looking back, I’m incredibly glad I made the choice to pursue a career I could do from home.

Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

The best place is on my website at http://www.melaniedobson.com/.

Also, Melanie told me that her publisher is giving away Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa, free on the Kindle this week.

Love Finds You in Nazareth, Pennsylvania

Christian and Susanna Boehler had never spoken when they were chosen by lot to marry in a Moravian community in Germany. But in 1754, they travel to Pennsylvania with a dozen other newly married couples to establish the settlement of Nazareth and share their faith with the surrounding Indian nations. Just as Susanna’s heart begins to warm toward her husband, she learns that he had asked to marry another woman—and that he loves her still. As war rages between the British and French Indians and their young marriage faces hardship, will Susanna and Christian remain strangers in marriage, or will their hearts finally be united in love?