Why Did Melody Delgado Decide to Write?

Why did you decide to become a writer? I started out by wanting to chronicle real life events, so one of my first published memoirs was a short story about learning to cook from my mother. Once some of my short stories got published, I got bitten by the writing bug and just had to move on to writing novels.
 
Do you have authors who inspired you to write? If so, whom? I grew up reading LITTLE WOMEN and the ANNE OF GREEN GABLES stories. They were so real and full of heart with real-life family relationships.
 
What genre(s) do you write and what made you choose it(them)? I feel like I’ve found my niche in funny MG, historical YA and historical romance. My stories are about families, relationships, and the main characters having to overcome obstacles, and sometimes deal with difficult people, to try to fulfill their hopes and dreams. So, while fictitious, my stories tend to mimic real-life. 
 
What kinds of classes, workshops, organizations, groups helped you learn the craft of writing? I took college level writing courses when I was first starting out. I’ve also depended upon countless critique partners to help me hone my craft. Reading books about writing hasn’t hurt either.
 
Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how often do you meet? I’ve been in several online critique groups where each person submits a chapter a month.
 
Tell us about your first break into print experience. I entered a contest in a magazine and my short story was one of the finalists so it was published in the magazine and I got a small payment. I think I photo-copied the check and I still have a copy of the magazine from back in 2000. 
 
What’s one tip you’d share with other writers? You must be in it for the long haul and be patient with yourself as you make mistakes and grow as a writer. Very few authors got where they are quickly. It is a process. Sometimes a very slow process. It’s like becoming a trained athlete or musician.
 
Please share your most recent book title and the opening line.
 
Oops-a-Daisy, my humorous MG, was just released on September 5th.
 
“Okay, so I was standing in the middle of a television studio about to shoot my first commercial.  Woohoo!”
 
 
BIO: Melody Delgado has been a published writer since 2000. Her recent novel, ROYALLY ENTITLED, won a 2017 Readers’ Favorite award in the category of Historical Christian Romance. It is the first book in the Brides of Brevalia series. Her humorous middle-grade novel for children 8-12, is the first in the series called The De La Cruz diaries. She lives in Florida with her husband and children where she enjoys taking long walks along the beach.
 
Melody’s website is http://www.melodydelgado.com and you can find her on twitter at https://twitter.com/Melody_Delgado_

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