The Reading Habits
of
Melissa Tagg
*******
Are you a re-reader? Why, or why not? And if you are, what are some of the books you have read over and over?
Absolutely! In fact, I just finished a run of re-reading every Lori Benton book…even her latest, which is just releasing this month. I scored an early copy from her super kind publicist and read it back in January and have already read it a second time. I’ve reread Christy by Catherine Marshall about a million times. I could reread Susan May Warren’s Sons of Thunder once a year and never get tired of it. The list goes on…
I think the reason I reread so often is because I read for the experience…not just the ending. So it doesn’t matter to me if I already know how a book ends. If I love and feel connected to the characters and setting, I can’t help wanting to revisit. Too, my reading time is more limited these days, so sometimes—possibly purely out of laziness—I prefer to pick up a book I already know I love than wade through the first pages of several books trying to find something I connect with.
When is your optimal time to read – do you prefer to read in one long block, or do you also read for five minutes here or there when you can?
I definitely prefer long blocks! In fact, my favourite time to read is almost the same time every day—right around 9:30 p.m. That’s when I tend to start winding down for the night. In fact, I’m pretty habitual about it—book, bubble bath, bedtime.
I’d love your thoughts on novellas. Are you thumbs up or down? Or does it depend?!
Writing them: totally thumbs up! I LOVE writing them. Reading them: Uhhhh. I don’t really read them. LOL! And I don’t know why I don’t. I will say, I did read Julianne Donaldson’s Heir to Edenbrooke novella and really enjoyed it. (Oh goodness, speaking of her, I reread both of her books recently too after only reading them for the first time last summer! See? Total re-reader.)
Are you faithful to a genre, an author, or simply quality writing?
Is it cheating to say all three? Lately, I read almost exclusively historical. I live contemporary life, I write about contemporary life…so when I’m reading, I prefer to escape to a different time period. Then, within that genre, I definitely have my author faves.
Which factors most influence your selection of a book?
The first chapter or two, definitely. If I’m not into the book early in the first act, I’ll put it down. And I hope that doesn’t sound snotty, but again, with limited reading time, I tend to need to be hooked quickly. Which is why I love Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature. I’m not too swayed or un-swayed by covers, actually, or even back cover blurbs.
Melissa’s TBR
(The photo: That’s my Kindle on the top since I do probably 75% of my reading with it. And let’s get honest: Will I really make it all the way through that massive John Adams bio? Umm… 🙂 )
Your fiction pet peeve?
Perfect characters! AHHH. I can’t keep reading if the characters are perfect. I just can’t! I also get easily frustrated if an entire plot is based upon simple misunderstanding…you know, when you’re reading and thinking, “Um, guys, if you’d just talk to each other, you could easily sort this out!” That annoys me. 🙂
What book have you read this year that you could not put down, and why?
Can I say two, pretty please?? Lori Benton’s new book, A Flight of Arrows, is gorgeous and stirring and heart-wrenching in the best possible way. I. LOVE. IT. (As is evidenced by the fact that I’ve already read it twice in a three-month period!) I really just can’t say enough about how much I love her books.
And then, I finally read the first of Julianna Deering’s Drew Farthering mysteries a few weeks ago…and promptly read the next three within the same week. I can’t believe it took me so long to pick them up, but once I started, I couldn’t stop. The voice, the setting and time period, the absolutely charming characters…I’m in love. (Particularly, with Drew… 🙂 )
How do you mark your spot – folded page corner, bookmark, dollar bill, whatever is at hand?
Well, if I’m reading on my kindle, it marks the spot for me. But if I’m reading a paperback (nobody throw anything please) more often than not I fold the page corner. I really do. I’m glad to finally get that out in the open…it’s a confession I’ve carried with me for a long time.
Whose debut novel impressed you more than you anticipated?
Am I going to sound like a broken record if I say Lori Benton’s Burning Sky? I’d heard a lot about this book for a long time, but for whatever reason, just hadn’t picked it up. I think perhaps because I’d marked it “women’s fiction” in my brain and (confession!) that’s generally not a genre go-to for me. But once I started reading, I realized it was unlike anything else I’d read. Oh my goodness, I loved it.
When reading, what makes or breaks a story for you?
Sympathetic but flawed characters! I just love to fall in love with characters…and to me, that’s what makes or breaks the book. Of course, if you pair those awesome characters with a perfectly paced plot and fabulous writing, even better!
What are some of your favourite CF reads from around 10 years ago, or further back?
Oh, this is a fun question! I LOVE some older series by Michael Phillips and Judith Pella. The Russians, for instance. Oh my goodness, I’ve read that series over and over. Also, The Stonewycke trilogies. LOVE. And Michael Phillips “Secret of the Rose” series…so, so good!
Snack/drink of choice while reading?
Coffee for morning reading, tea for nighttime reading. As for snacking, ice cream and M&Ms for sure. Or if I’m feeling super healthy, carrots and grapes.
What book cover has really caught your eye?
Jenny B Jones’ new YA cover, I’ll Be Yours, is possibly the most adorable cover I’ve seen in ages. I love it. I also love all of Katherine Reay’s covers!
Which author makes it easy to turn off your internal editor?
I so badly want to answer Lori Benton AGAIN but for the sake of variety, I’m going to say Sarah M. Eden. I ploughed through a bunch of her books last year and there was just something about them…they were soooo easy to fall into. My internal editor couldn’t have piped up if she wanted to.
What book do you wish you had written? Why?
You know, I honestly can’t think of an answer for this. And I think the reason is, the books I love more than any others are so perfect as is…and so tied to their authors’ voices. And I just know if I’d written them, they’d feel nothing like they do now.
EXCEPT WAIT! I know my answer: Little Women. I wish I’d written Little Women because then I could make Jo marry Laurie like she should’ve!! Hehehe…
Thanks Melissa!
Don’t miss meeting Logan in Melissa’s latest novel…
Maple Valley became Amelia Bentley’s haven after her heart and her dreams of a family were shattered, but her new life as a newspaper editor is shaken when the paper is bought out by a chain that plans to incorporate it into a regional paper.
After his biggest campaign success yet, speechwriter Logan Walker is approached to work on a presidential campaign. But he already lost his wife three years ago, and saying yes to the job means he’ll see his young daughter even less. When Logan hears of a special election campaign in his hometown, helping out sounds like the perfect way to occupy himself while deciding what to do.
When Amelia hears Logan is back in town, she begs him to lend his previous experience in the newspaper world to help turn her paper’s numbers around in time. They may butt heads more than they expected, but a lead on a story that could help save the paper is just the start of the sparks that fly in the office and in their hearts
Relz Reviewz Extras
Reviews of From the Start and Made to Last
Melissa’s Pop Quiz
Character Spotlight on Miranda & Matthew
Melissa’s Author Alert
Visit Melissa’s website
Buy from Amazon: Like Never Before or Koorong
April 12, 2016 at 2:45 pm
Loved this interview! I love Melissa’s books and writing voice. I’m so excited for Logan and Amelie’s story!
Hmm, secret book crush… I feel like I’ve had a few so this is a difficult question! Off the top of my head, Jace Jacobsen or Max Sharpe from Susan May Warren’s Christensen series! I mean, who doesn’t love hockey players? 😉 haha
Great interview!
April 13, 2016 at 2:41 am
Kim, I’m so excited that you’re excited for Logan’s story. And I have to tell you, I love Jace and Max as well. Susie writes great heroes!
April 12, 2016 at 10:42 pm
You expressed what I like (but did not know it!) in liking “sympathetic but flawed characters”! Thank you!
Janice
April 13, 2016 at 2:42 am
You’re welcome!I loooove a good, flawed character. 😀
April 12, 2016 at 11:39 pm
Well I have had a crush for a long time now on Dee Henderson’s U.S. Marshall Marcus O’Malley in The Guardian.
April 13, 2016 at 2:42 am
OOOH! He IS a good hero. Man, I love that series!
April 13, 2016 at 12:04 am
Hands down, the Scarlet Pimpernel. Mr. Darcy cuts a nice figure, but he’s not out there risking his life to save people from the guillotine AND maintaining a positive outlook on life in the meantime.
April 13, 2016 at 2:43 am
Oh my goodness, should I admit that I honestly don’t know if I ever read the Scarlet Pimpernel? I mean, I’m gonna guess I read it in a high school English class, but I seriously don’t remember it at all. I should probably rectify that, huh.
April 13, 2016 at 12:05 am
I love to read and pass the habit along to my girls 🙂 Secret crush…. I love the archer brothers 🙂
April 13, 2016 at 12:37 am
Mr. Darcy, of course, and please don’t hate me, Edward from Twilight. Also the men of Tamara Leigh’s historicals.
April 13, 2016 at 12:57 am
I have lost count of how many times I have read Christy by Catherine Marshall. I always use a bookmark.
April 13, 2016 at 2:43 am
Love, love, love that book! I will never get tired of it.
April 13, 2016 at 1:14 am
Great post! Not gonna lie. I have always sort of had a crush on Gilbert Blythe. Haha. I read Anne of Green Gables a lot as a youth and teen and just kind of fell in love with him!
April 13, 2016 at 2:43 am
Oh yes! Gilbert is adorable.
April 13, 2016 at 1:32 am
Melissa, Congrats on the new book! I’m so excited to read it!
April 13, 2016 at 2:44 am
Thanks, Ashley!
April 13, 2016 at 1:35 am
Quinn from Dee Henderson’s O’Malley series. He’s a cowboy through and through and a US Marshall to boot.
April 13, 2016 at 2:44 am
Second O’Malley mention! <3
April 13, 2016 at 2:05 am
Samuel Yates from Running Barefoot by Amy Harmon. There is a scene where he washes Josie’s hair. I love it!
April 13, 2016 at 2:51 am
I loved this interview. So fun! I reread “The Thorn Birds” and Thomas Hardy novels. Now I feel guilty, reading Melissa’s sweet picks. LOL
April 13, 2016 at 3:13 am
Oh my gosh I love this interview. This author. Wow. And that Little Women comment? LOVE it. My favorite novel ever.
As far as a secret fictional crush of mine…I’d have to say that’d be Brice from Roseanna White’s Ladies of the Manor series. He was a secondary character in the first book, The Lost Heiress and is the hero in book two, The Reluctant Duchess. SO freaking charming but with a deep, abiding, breathtaking faith and huge heart.
April 13, 2016 at 3:34 am
I love this interview! Thanks for sharing all your deepest secrets! 🙂 I have too many book crushes to count. Recently it was Reese Mitchell in A Twist of Faith by Pepper Basham. I haven’t read Like Never Before yet. It’s on my TBR list. If I get lucky and win a copy, Logan will probably be my next one. 😀
April 13, 2016 at 3:36 am
As mentioned by someone else, Quinn is wonderful! I also really like Paul from Dee Henderson’s Full Disclosure. Well, to tell the truth, I am probably half in love with most of her male lead characters -lol!
April 13, 2016 at 4:11 am
Loved the interview! I’m a re-reader, too! I have a collection of kindle books marked as favorite and go back and read them again. I also can’t stand it when characters in books have one big, long misunderstanding or repeated misunderstandings because the don’t communicate. That just wears me out and makes me want to scream.
So a book crush. Hmm. I probably have several, but can’t think of a specific one at the moment. I love male characters that are strong and confident and work to treat the women in their lives with respect. It melts my heart when a guy’s desire is to show his leading lady what a treasure she is to him and to the Lord. 🙂
April 13, 2016 at 4:55 am
There are so many book crushes for me! A recent is probably Marcus from Francine River’s the Mark of the Lion series.
April 13, 2016 at 5:17 am
I’ve always had a little bit of a crush on Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables and Almanzo Wilder from the Little House books.
April 13, 2016 at 6:05 am
Great interview! On bookmarks, I love the magnetic ones that don’t fall out!
I think I end up with a crush on some character in nearly every book I read. If there isn’t a male character worth that, I probably won’t finish the book!
April 13, 2016 at 7:52 am
Rafe Kincaid of Mary Connealy’s Out of Control certainly caught my eye (take a look at the cover and you’ll know what I mean). I also really liked Carl (A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund) and I can’t forget Collin from Julie Lessman’s The Daughters of Boston series. Most books I read have a strong hero unless it’s in the women’s fiction genre. I read Lori Benton’s The Wood’s Edge and can hardly wait to read A Flight of Arrows to finish the story. I’ve read Melissa’s blog for awhile but haven’t yet read her books, though they are all on my “want to read” list.
April 13, 2016 at 11:29 pm
A Flight of Arrows…I could just gush forever!!
April 13, 2016 at 9:07 am
Love hearing more about Melissa. Her response about novellas definitely made me smile!
What’s not to love about Rhett in Gone with the Wind?
April 13, 2016 at 11:44 am
What a fun & informative interview with Melissa! I enjoy her writing style so much, and look forward to reading about Logan & Amelia.
Fictional crush. Hm. It’s very tough to choose just one. I can narrow it down to three. 🙂 I also just finished A Flight of Arrows, and Two Hawks is still quite vivid in my mind. Also, Ray from Rachel McMillan’s A Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder. He was dreamy and fun. The last one…I’m not supposed to be talking about him *yet*, but I must mention a certain, um, lion trainer whose story is not released yet, but who was a truly swoon-worthy male lead. *sigh*
Thank you for the chance to win this!
Kerry
April 13, 2016 at 11:28 pm
Ray!! I love Rachel’s book so much!
April 13, 2016 at 2:36 pm
I cannot compete with Melissa’s level of book crushing! I do tend to “fall for” the quiet, rough around the edges, hardworking type though 😉
Thanks for the giveaway, ladies!
April 13, 2016 at 11:28 pm
HAHAHA! Um, I will admit: It’s pretty hard to compete with my level of book crushing. I go slightly, ahem, overboard. LOL!
April 13, 2016 at 9:04 pm
My all time favorite boy crush is Peeta from the Hunger Games!
April 13, 2016 at 10:38 pm
Ooo? My book boyfriend? I’d have to say that Collin from Julie Lessman’s A Passion Most Pure has always been one that I’ve been more than a little in love with. 😉 I have a thing for the “bad boy” in fiction. Not so much in real life. Haha!
April 14, 2016 at 12:20 am
I loved reading your interview and am excited to read one of your books for the first time! As for a secret book crush, recently that would be Paul from Dee Henderson’s Full Disclosure.
April 14, 2016 at 3:11 am
Every book I read I have a secret crush and I read alot.
April 14, 2016 at 5:40 am
When I was teen it was Brady Stoner in the Austin-Stoner Files.
April 14, 2016 at 10:41 pm
I’ve got a copy of LNB and absolutely adored it!!
And I loved this interview! So fun to read. 🙂
April 14, 2016 at 11:34 pm
I can’t help it. I will always love Rhett Butler. He saw all of Scarlett’s faults but he still loved her. And Melissa, I used to feel like I needed to complete every book that I started to read but I also realized that there are “too many books and so little time”!
April 15, 2016 at 10:16 am
I’m not sure that I have a secret book crush, guess I just don’t look at fictional characters like that!
Burning Sky by Lori Benton is one of my very favorite books in recent years, great taste Melissa.
April 15, 2016 at 12:35 pm
everret from melissa jaegers book ” A Bride for Keeps”…. P.S. Your new book cover is COMPLETELY adorable!!!
April 17, 2016 at 1:20 am
Fabulous interview with Melissa. I swoon over Nathan Everstone from The Everstone Chronicles by Dawn Crandall.
April 18, 2016 at 11:45 am
shhh…mr darcy 😉