Author interview with Melissa R. Collings

Q: When did you first catch the writing bug? What drove you to persist?
A: I’m originally a surgical Physician Associate (medical provider). I worked 50-60 hours per week doing spine surgery, rounding on hospital patients, and seeing patients in the clinic. I enjoyed my job, but when my husband and I were expecting our first child, I decided to take a long hiatus from medical work and stay home to raise our daughter. I’d worked since I was very young, so this was a steep adjustment for me. I needed something for myself, so I turned to a psychological suspense novel I’d started before college.

Back then, I’d been working as a receptionist and had a lot of down time. I had an idea for a book and started writing it to fill my time. I didn’t think anything would come of it. But when I was at home with a newborn, I picked that novel up again, and I discovered a whole new world.

I LOVED writing and creating. I’m an artist at heart, and I saw writing as another form of artistry.

BUT I was nervous. I wasn’t formally trained in writing novels and didn’t know if I was any good. It took me months to admit to anyone that I was working on a novel. Then, I gave my first book to my husband and asked him to be honest. I needed to know if I could do this.

He ripped my book to shreds (figuratively), and I wanted to let the whole thing go, but then he said, “There’s something here. You just need to fix it. And don’t you dare stop writing.”

To this day, he’s my biggest supporter, and it was because of his honesty, followed by his solid encouragement that I went back to my fictional worlds. And as I edited and edited and edited, I got better. I started to understand the power of words, and I was positively thrilled at the idea of evoking emotion in my readers. I was in love.

That’s when I knew…this writing thing was for me.

Q: What is your approach to incorporating elements of diversity and inclusion in your writing?
A: I’m biracial. And I grew up wanting to downplay that. I wanted everyone to think I was white because life was easier. In writing The False Flat, my first novel, I watched my main character, who was very comfortable in her biracial skin, and I realized…I’m okay with it too. And now, I’m able to provide a POV that others can relate to or experience for the first time. This is dear to me.

Q: Do you have your own circle of writer friends? If so, what other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
A: Of course. I think it’s so important to surround yourself with people who are doing what you’re doing and what you want to be doing. They understand like no one else, and they help keep you on track.

Q: How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
A: Going through a developmental edit, then a copy edit, then a proof-read, then a cold read, and my book being evaluated by a sensitivity reader was an eye-opener. I had no idea that there were so many rules and regulations. I now try to incorporate what those professionals pointed out during the publishing process so that my writing is enhanced.

Q: What was the best money you ever spent on your writing career?
A: The writing conference where I met my agent. Anytime you get to practice pitching with a professional, it’s a good thing. For me, it worked out tremendously well!

Q: If you are a traditionally published author, what did you do with your first advance?
A: I invested back into my career as an author. I used the money to create promo materials and help spread the word. No regrets!

Q: Do you have an all-time favorite writer, or does your favorite change over time? Who is your favorite writer today?
A: I love Jane Austen; I grew up reading her work. So, Jane Austen holds a dear place in my heart, but I love good writing, so I’m open to multiple authors, but I’m currently fan-girling over Abby Jimenez.

Q: How many unpublished and/or half-finished books have you written?
A: 5! And I’m reeeaaalllyy hoping some of them make it to the shelf!

Q: What kind of music or sounds do you like to listen to as you write, or do you prefer complete silence?
A: Silence is golden for me. Occasionally I’ll play instrumental music or enjoy the background clatter of a coffee shop. But my favorite is silence. However, it’s not really silent. I usually write to the melody of birdsong outside my office window or the daily sounds of my family moving about the house.

Q: How do you select names for your characters?
A: This is SO hard for me. I always want something unique. I mentally collect names I like as I meet people. But I also search names by meaning. I love double meaning, hidden meaning, and metaphors. Sometimes the characters name themselves, popping into my head out of nowhere. And other times, I agonize until one seems right. But the characters need names for me to really get to know them.

Q: Do you read your book reviews? How do you handle those reviews, whether good or bad?
A: I started reading all of them, but quickly realized that it was best for my mental health to only read the 4- & 5-star reviews. Sometimes you can learn from negative reviews, but in my experience, I only find myself getting irritated or arguing with the reviewer in my head, so, for me, it is best to focus on the positive!

Q: What have you written that you found to be the most fun to write?
A: In The False Flat, I wrote a scene where someone accidentally ate a marshmallow that was laced with LSD, and the resulting fun scene cracked me up! I had a blast writing it. (a curious note: I have never done drugs and never will.)

Q: How long (on average) does it take you to write a book?
A: I don’t feel like I have an average. I’ve had books take me a year and books take me a month.

Q: How did you become involved in the subject or theme of your book?
A: I was writing a short story blog where people would give me nonfiction snippets of their lives and I’d turn them into short stories. Well, my father-in-law told me this story about a couple who rode in his cycling group. The man was the kindest he knew and really changed this woman’s life for the better. I’d been reading and writing suspense/thrillers, so I took this love story on as a challenge. The characters kept talking, and it ended up being the book that got me my agent and a publishing deal!

Q: What is the biggest thing that people THINK they know about your subject/genre, that isn’t true?
A: Romance typically follows a formula, and the more I read and write, the more I realize that romance isn’t limited in the way we try to make it. I think there’s nuance to every genre. And every story is a love story, but love comes with hope, happiness, and pain. I love for my characters and my readers to ride a gamut of emotions.

Q: What are some day jobs that you have held? If any of them impacted your writing, share an example.
A: My medical career has been mostly spine surgery with a splash of functional medicine (preventative and/or natural approaches to medicine).

Q: What makes your book stand out from the crowd?
A: It straddles Women’s Fiction and Romance genres, has a biracial protagonist with a unique personality, and it’s a rollercoaster of emotions: laughing one minute, crying the next.

Q: How do you find or make time to write?
A: I believe that you find a way to do what you love if you love it enough. I love writing, so I make sure I make time for it. Some days that means scheduling it around other things, other days it means letting the writing take over and letting other things wait, and some days it means sneaking it in, even if it’s only fifteen minutes.

Connect with the author

• Go behind-the-scenes of Collings’ author journey & be the first to know about upcoming events and giveaways by signing up for her newsletter.
• If you do sign up for the newsletter, you get a free novelette: Just Desserts, a heartwarming tale of betrayal, doubt, and sheet cake.
• Connect with Collings on Instagram and Facebook.
• Book clubs: download the Book Club Kit to go with The False Flat for additional discussion questions, recipes, playlists, and hosting extras.
• You can purchase and/or request The False Flat at any bookstore, library or on Amazon. Signed copies are sold at Parnassus Books (unless they’re out, but you can request a signed copy and Collings will physically go to the store and sign it for you — can’t beat that!)

Now available in print and on Kindle!