Monday Author Meetup: M. A. Comley

I am thrilled to have Publishers Weekly and Amazon Top 20 bestselling author in 2013, M. A. Comley as my guest today.

About the author:

Mel says,

I am a British author. I moved to France around eleven years ago, to retire early, what a joke that was. I’ve been fortunate to turn my hobby into a successful career.

I share my home with two crazy dogs that like nothing better than to drag their masterful leader (that’s me) around the village.

I hope you enjoy reading my books, especially the Justice series, Cruel Justice, Impeding Justice, Final Justice, Foul Justice, Guaranteed Justice and the newest addition Ultimate Justice. Virtual Justice is due out sometime in October 2013.

How did you begin writing?

I originally upped sticks and moved to France from England in 2002 with the intention of taking early retirement. I renovated our first home here, decorated 23 rooms in six months and became bored. I decided to enroll in a home-study course for creative writing and the rest, as they say, is history. I’ve now completed 11 novels in the past nine years.

Talent obviously triumphed! What’s your best time of day to write? On average, how many hours a day do you write?

I mostly tend to write first thing in the morning. Recently, we’ve been renovating yet another farmhouse and my schedule has involved writing in the morning, putting on my scruffs and renovating in the afternoons and evenings. Oh and I have over an acre of garden to tend to as well. Next year, I hope to concentrate more on the garden and the writing side of things, of course.

That’s one big garden! Are you self-published? If so, what made you choose this route?

I’ve been self-published since October 2010, and to be honest, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I write what I want without any form of restrictions from a publishing house who tend to adhere to old methods and genres. I believe Indie writers offer readers more, much more value for money.

I totally agree. Are you a plotter or a pantser? Why?

I plan my books out methodically. Then every evening I sit down and plan my next day’s writing. That way I know in which direction the characters are going. I find the routine makes it far easier to sit down to write for three to fours hours at a time.

I’m a planner too, need to try your nightly method. Do you see yourself in some of your characters?

Sshhh… Don’t tell everyone but the main character in my best-selling Justice series is really me. I’m feisty, just ask my ex-husband, and extremely head-strong. But on the other hand I can be the most kind and generous person living.

I love feisty heroines! What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing your books?

I suppose that once you’ve created a successful character there really are no bounds as to what you can do with her. I always push Lorne Simpkins to the limit, after all, real life is never easy, is it? Lorne has a lot more books in her and my readers are demanding more and more great storylines.

Me too! Lorne is a star! I know the answer, but for our readers, are your books professionally edited?

Yes, my books are always edited by Red Adept Publishing. I did change at one point but really didn’t gel with the editor. Stefanie, my editor, understands my character so well. That’s a really important part of this process I think.

Thanks for inviting me to take part in this little Q&A session, Lyn. It’s been fun.

Thank you, Mel. It’s been my pleasure. I hope you’ll come back soon. Now please tell us about a couple of your books.

Glad to. This one is Cruel Justice, the first book in my popular Justice series.

Book Blurb:

The body of a wealthy widow, missing a vital part, is discovered decomposing in Chelling Forest. Then a second victim is found. Detective Inspector Lorne Simpkins and her partner, DS Pete Childs are assigned the case. Before they can discover the identity of the killer they must make a connection between the two victims.

After a third murder, Lorne receives a grisly surprise. Clearly, a vicious serial killer is on a rampage…and Lorne has become the killer’s fixation.

Lorne can’t allow her failing marriage or her new boss–a man with whom she
shares a sensuous secret–keep her from focusing on her job. She must catch the
macabre murderer, or risk becoming the next victim.

Now here a bit about Sole Intention.

Book Blurb:

Former police officers Ellen Brazil and Brian Lynx have joined forces to start a successful missing persons investigation firm which has just been contracted to find the wife of bodybuilder Will Endersbe. Ellen discovers that a number of women with similar features and hair colour have also vanished in the Worcester area. Ellen and Brian suspect a serial kidnapper is to blame, and without a body, the police are happy to leave the case in their hands to solve.

Hoping the women are still alive, Ellen digs for clues and races to find the women, despite her troubled private life and a meddlesome stepfather with a violent secret.

 

M. A. Comley’s author page

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