Blog Tour: Melt by Natalie Anderson (International Giveaway!)

Entangled Publishing is presenting this blog tour.

You can find out more by clicking HERE.
You can read my review by clicking HERE.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour!

Today's features: 

Melt by Natalie Anderson and an international ebook giveaway (enter by filling out form at end of post).

Melt by USA Today bestselling author, Natalie Anderson
An Entangled Publishing Ever After, available as an eBook for $2.99
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/melt/
http://www.natalie-anderson.com/

It is my pleasure to bring you an interview with 

Natalie Anderson!

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I was writing stories right from when I learned to hold a pencil. I think I wanted to write from the time I realised there were such things as books! I always had a big imaginary world going on – to be able to get those stories and dreams down onto paper in some form… and then make a career from that? Yeah, I wanted to do that as soon as I knew people could. But then it was a matter of self-belief and giving myself the time. I went through a phase in my late teens and twenties when I didn’t write much fiction. That finally happened when I had young children and was up all night – my imagination came in VERY useful when I had a son who NEVER slept. I was so much better for me to spend that time inventing plots in my head rather than wishing I was asleep.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

I did a Masters in Library & Information Studies after my BA (I always wanted to work with books, even if I didn’t think I could write them at that stage!) – and worked in corporate libraries, banks and legal libraries for a few years – temping in London and Scotland before coming home to New Zealand and having the children – and went straight into writing in the middle of having those kids. I was extremely fortunate to sell my first submission.

? How long does it take you to write a book?

It varies – for my category romances for Harlequin Mills & Boon it’s anything from two to five months. Shorter stories take a little less – although not always!

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I asked my husband – he reckons it’s my lying in bed and writing in my PJs all day. But that’s not a quirk. That’s normal. Right?

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

Inspiration is all around – I talk to people, watch people, am a total newshound and read papers and magazines cover to cover. Then it all seems to coalesce inside and come out in a story idea (or three).

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

Characters and scenes seem to just pop into my head and give me a taste of their journey – the fun part is then trying to figure out the rest of their stories. Generally I don’t sit there and think ‘I’ll write a reunion story’ – it all seems to come when I start investigating those characters. But I guess I do have an overarching theme – romance of course, with some fun and flirt and very contemporary settings. That’s the atmosphere I enjoy building J

? What books have most influenced your life?

Every single Georgette Heyer – I loved her books as a teen and think she really got me into romance – as did all my grandmother’s Mills & Boons. Plus Agatha Christie. I did a BA in English and studied all these supposed ‘greats’ but honestly, it’s the genre fiction writers who really influenced me the most and THEY are great!!!

? What are you reading right now?

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick – I was madly trying to finish it before taking my eldest to the movie but didn’t quite get there – now I’m doing a compare and contrast with the film J

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I’ve got four young children (twins aged 5, a 7 year old and a 9 year old) and a wonderful, project-driven husband. When I’m not writing, I’m with them. It’s a madhouse, but it’s a marvelous one.

? What is your favorite comfort food?

Probably pizza – I make the dough in my bread-maker and then add a special sauce (I confess it’s a bought one) and then sliced fresh veggies topped with a layer of shredded spinach. I’m vegan so it’s a cheese free version – but it’s so good, I have one and immediately want another!

? What do you think makes a good story?

Great characters – who have great spark and dialogue and interaction with each other and who do believable, well-motivated but surprising things! And I really need a great resolution – I love satisfying, happy endings!!!

Fun random questions: 

• dogs or cats?

Oh so hard. Push to shove? I *think * I have to say dogs. I like birds so cats lose a point in that regard.

• Coffee or tea?

I don’t drink either of the usual variety – I’ve recently discovered peppermint tea which is fab. I confess I get caffeine from those awful energy sodas that rot your insides.

• Dark or milk chocolate?

Dark, peppermint filled. Bliss.

• Rocks or flowers?

Flowers – for the beauty and the scent – so cliché of me! But they ARE beautiful.

• Night or day?

Tied equal!

• Favorite color?

Red. Though I’m big on green spaces – we just painted my son’s bedroom Kermit the Frog green – it looks amazing!

• Crayons or markers?

Maybe crayons have the edge cos the permanent markers don’t smell so good.

• Pens or pencils?

Pens, only because of the sharpening thing. I’m  lazy that way.

More About Natalie Anderson:

USA TODAY bestseller Natalie Anderson writes fun, frisky, feels-good contemporary romance for Harlequin and Entangled. With twenty books published, she’s also been a Romantic Times Award nominee & a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).

She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her husband, four children and what feels like a million ducks.

Find out more at her website www.natalie-anderson.com

On Twitter @authornataliea

On Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/authornataliea
International Giveaway: prize is an ecopy of Melt by Natalie Anderson.  Giveaway ends 1/23/12.  Rules: Must be 18+ and fill out this form.