1. Welcome Missy. Can you tell us a little about
yourself?
I'm a southern girl who grew up in
the country. I spent my formative years wanting to see the world only to
discover as an adult that there's no place like home. Besides writing and books
I love genealogy, movies, tennis and family. I don't know what else would
interest your readers. I think Dean Martin surpassed Frank Sinatra in both
talent and charisma. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I've had the same
best friend since I was fourteen years old.
2. Can you tell us about
your current Short Story releases and where we may find them?
I've self-published three short
stories:
Abandon - An unexpected encounter
with a rock star gives a divorcee a new perspective.
Fool's Journey - Maks had but one
goal on his mind. Steal a rock and return it to a dying boy. What he didn't
count on was a mysterious beauty insisting she tag along.
Miltonia Butterflies - Young Paz
explores a garden and encounters a unique flower. In order to share her
discovery with her mother, she must overcome a few obstacles.
3. Can you tell us a
little about your next Women's Fiction?
The Widows of Wyatt Abney revolves
around two women, Yancy and Beth. As teenagers they lost a great love when
Wyatt Abney died. Twenty-five years later they meet again and they throw their
families into turmoil; along the way they discover whether they’ve truly moved
on or merely moved forward.
4. What inspired you to
write this Women's Fiction novel instead of your Short Stories?
I've always loved to write stories,
but some ideas won't fit into the short format; it takes longer to get the
story told. The characters of The Widows of Wyatt Abney have been rattling
around my brain for a long time. After practicing the art of storytelling in
the form of short stories, I felt I was ready to write a novel. It's been a
satisfying experience so far.
5. On your Missy Writes
blog, you mentioned your experience in pitching your novel for the first time.
Can you tell us more?
I was sorely unprepared to pitch
during the Ozark Writers Conference, but at the last minute decided it would be
a good experience. The actual pitch was a disaster. I let the agent overwhelm
me when I should have been better prepared and took control. It taught me a
great deal. Next time, I'll be able to describe my book in a few sentences and
defend my choice of genre.
6. What is one thing that
your readers may not know about you and should?
I'm passionate about helping other
writers. Sometimes my writing suffers because I put others first. I'm learning
to balance.
7. What is one thing that
has contributed to your success as an author?
I don't know that I'm really
classified as a success though I wouldn't say I'm a failure either. What has
helped me most is the ability to focus on writing alone. I don't have the
emotional stamina to work full-time and write. Writers who do both have my
highest respect. Because I'm disabled by chronic migraines and a severe
depressive disorder I'm unable to work outside the home. Losing multiple jobs
because I'm not dependable hit me hard. I've realized, despite my frequent
pain, this is the best situation for me to focus on what I love. If I'm unable
to write because of pain, the only person I'm letting down is myself.
8. Your web page says you
are a Creator of Tension Filled Emotional Journeys. What part of the emotional
journey of 'Missy' ends up in your novel or short stories?
It's different for each story. Even
the characters that I can't really relate to feed off my emotions. It wasn't
until I had finished writing Abandon that I realized my inability to have
children drove Greta's journey. There's a little bit of me in all my stories,
some more than others.
Melissa
"Missy" Frye
Follow my writing journey at Missy Writes or visit my website for more ways to connect with me online.
Visit my TEAM USO page and make a tax-deductible donation that will support our troops, lift
their spirits, and honor their service.
