Author Interview: Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker

Books:

• Violet on the Runway
• Violet by Design
• Violet in Private
• Lovestruck Summer
• Small Town Sinners

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Buy the Book

Girl opens eyes.

Small Town Sinners is something totally different for you, how have your readers been reacting?

So far so good, though I admit to being nervous about it! That said, I think imagining that readers want the same thing from you again and again can be limiting, so I’m glad that people seem to be happy to see something different from me.

You tackle a lot of series issues in Small Town Sinners, were you ever afraid or apprehensive to do it? Why or why not?

Yes, it’s definitely scary to write about religion because it’s such a personal subject. I worried that people would think I was being judgmental or not critical enough or too sensitive or too brash… really I worried a lot. But it was a story I wanted to tell after having visited a few Hell Houses and seeing how much they meant to people.

What other projects besides writing have you been working on? You’re a Readergirlz and I Heart Daily… any others you can tell us about?

I also run beforeyouwerehot.com, and of course I’ve got two more books going. Oh, and a baby girl due August 5th! So life feels like a juggling act right now but it’s full of really fun things, so I’m lucky!

What books are in your summer reading pile?

Tara Altebrando’s DREAMLAND SOCIAL CLUB, Lisa Schroeder’s THE DAY BEFORE, Jo Knowles’s PEARL, Dana Reinhardt’s THE SUMMER I LEARNED TO FLY, Nova Ren Suma’s IMAGINARY GIRLS, Sarah Mlynowski’s 10 THINGS WE DID (AND PROBABLY SHOULDN’T HAVE)… and a ton of others. The pile is HIGH but full of awesome.

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

Release Date: July 19, 2011
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 288
Format: Advance Reader Copy
Source: Teen Author Carnival
Interest: Author
Challenge: None
Buy the Book: Amazon

Lacey Anne Byer is a perennial good girl and lifelong member of the House of Enlightenment, the Evangelical church in her small town. With her driver’s license in hand and the chance to try out for a lead role in Hell House, her church’s annual haunted house of sin, Lacey’s junior year is looking promising. But when a cute new stranger comes to town, something begins to stir inside her. Ty Davis doesn’t know the sweet, shy Lacey Anne Byer everyone else does. With Ty, Lacey could reinvent herself. As her feelings for Ty make Lacey test her boundaries, events surrounding Hell House make her question her religion.

Melissa Walker, I have one word for you… WOW.

Normally Small Town Sinners is not the type of book I would go for. Had it not been Melissa Walker, an author that I absolutely adore, I’m not sure I would have picked this book up. And I would have been upset with myself later!

I’m not an overly religious person. I’ve struggled with my faith throughout my teen years and into my adulthood… it’s still something that I struggle with now. I usually avoid reading books about it for that very reason. And I’ll admit that I was a little apprehensive with those first few pages of Small Town Sinners… but there is something about Lacey that will keep you turning the pages.

I loved this book. Absolutely did not put it down, totally invested in these characters… where did my afternoon go, kind of love for this book. It’s about Lacey and her faith, what she believes in, and her struggles with that, but it’s also about so much more. I never felt like the book was preaching to me. It was a masterfully crafted balance of those gray areas. I commend Walker for tackling those issues in such a serious manner. Making it really matter to the characters and not just portraying the stereotypical religious girl.

I can’t say enough good things about this book. Once of the best contemporary novels I’ve read this year.

Author Tales: Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker is the author for this Thursday’s Author Tales! She is the author of the Violet Series, which includes: Violet on the Runway, Violet by Design and Violet in Private. Violet in Private will be released on August 5, 2008! I love this series and if you haven’t read it yet, I recommend that you do!

Melissa had an different idea for her Author Tales appearance. Instead of doing a regular blog or interview, Melissa has done a Vlog! I hope you like it, I think it is really cool! And don’t forget to sign up for the Monthly Contest by leaving a comment! Tonight July 31st at midnight is the deadline!!
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Thanks to the Story Siren for having me! It was a hot and sweaty late July Day in Brooklyn, and I had to drink and iced coffee and hit the bookstore (tough life, I know). Here’s what I bought! Love, Melissa

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Thanks Melissa for a super cool VLOG post! You have some great books to read!

For more information about Melissa and her books you can visit the following links:
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/melissacwalker
Blog: http://www.melissacwalker.com/blog/
Website: http://www.melissacwalker.com/about.html

Violet in Private

Violet in Private by Melissa Walker

Release Date: August 5, 2008
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA), Berkley Jam
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 210
Other Titles in the Series: Violet on the Runway & Violet by Design

Violet is back! She’s headed of to her freshman year at Vassar, and she is hoping to leave the modeling world behind once and for all. If only it was that easy. College life is great and she has unbelievably awesome new friends. But her phone is going off the hook constantly with calls from Angela her agent. Even though Violet may be done with modeling the modeling world isn’t done with her, she’s still under contract.

She still supports her healthy model lingo and she continues to get a bad wrap from her “extra pounds.” Violet writes an article for the school paper declaring her views and lands herself an internship at Teen Fashionista, working under Roger’s new girlfriend Chloe. Did I mention that Violet finally realized that she is in love with Roger. Makes things a tad bit uncomfortable to say the least.

Now that Violet is done modeling, she has to figure out who she is without it, all while staying true to her self image– despite the constant ridicule. Can she sort through her boy angst and leave the model drama behind for good!?

Could it be possible for this series to get better as it goes along? I feel like I have a new best friend after I’ve spent all this time with dear Violet. I have to say that this was my favorite book of the series. I really hope that the series doesn’t end here. Although, I did talk to Melissa and she says it is……. unless the publisher asks for another. I’m devastated to say the least.

I think Violet became the person I always thought she was in this novel. Everyone has their insecurities, but I think that Violet finally came to terms with hers. I continue to love Walker’s writing, it just floats of the page it’s such a beautiful story. Could it be possible that she impressed me more?! Violet’s character is so realistically portrayed, I couldn’t help but feel her emotions as she felt them through the story. And that isn’t something that happens to me every time I read a book. I absolutely recommend this series. And don’t let the fact that it is about modeling and fashion turn you away. The story is about so much more than that.

Violet By Design

Violet By Design by Melissa Walker

Release Date: March 2008
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA), Berkley Jam
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 205
Other Titles in the Series: Violet on the Runway

Summary:

Violet thought she was going to leave the modeling world behind, but when she gets a chance to model in Brazil– how can she say no? Her one modeling gig lands her as the face for the new and upcoming designer Paulo, did I mention he is hot! But things in Brazil don’t exactly work out as Violet planned and she jets home spending her days eating ice cream and vegging on the couch.

That of course lands Violet in some trouble when she shows up in Spain five pounds heavier. Violet, however, has her own thoughts about models and their weight. And when those thoughts become public it just might ruin her modeling career. Can Violet survive the pressure to be thin and stay true to herself, and for once figure out exactly what it is that she wants before it’s too late?

I loved Melissa Walker’s debut novel Violet on the Runway and the sequel is just as good or even better. I loved the fact that Walker chooses to shed light on body image and what healthy should be. It’s nice to see that such a perfectly portrayed world, has it’s flaws. Violet continues to grow and to find herself. I loved seeing most of the characters returning for the second book and I can’t wait to read more about them in Violet In Private. They are all intriguing in their own way and very relatable. I was so engrossed in the story I read the book in one setting! Oh, Roger. I must know what happens next!