Friday, February 5, 2016

Interview with E. Mellyberry, I WON'T BREAK

 
Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
I Won’t Break is a part of A Broken Love Story series. My Lea, its prequel, was published last 2014. The story follows two overseas students, Andrew and Lea, who came to America to study. One mistake changed everything between these two, and it haunted them from the moment it happened to the moment they were separated and met again five years later. The series, as opposed to a regular romantic fairy tale, starts with this heart-shattering incident. Andrew and Lea’s journey to overcome their fear and hatred is hard and full of self-doubt. But out of this bitterness comes hope and love. In a nutshell, I Won’t Break is a rollercoaster read about second chances, forgiveness, and self-acceptance.

Do you have a favorite character?
I love writing Andrew because he’s such a complex individual. He’s a hero, but not exactly a Prince Charming. He’s a villain, but not a heartless demon. He’s loveable; he’s scary. Andrew is a flawed man; he is real. It’s amazing to watch his character grows. I, too, grow along with him. The experience of writing him is surreal and I cherish every moment of it.

If you used a graphic designer, how involved were you during the creative process of your cover?
I was quite involved in designing the cover, especially during the brainstorming process. I explained my vision and preferences, then my designer gave me feedback on what was doable and what was not. Open communication is the key here. Once we agreed on the concept, I trust my designer to visualize it. 

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?
When I write, I prefer silence. I’m easily distracted, so I always turn off my phones and internet when I’m down at my writing cave.

Do you outline your story or just go where the muse takes you?
Well, I’m kinda both. Story ideas usually come to me in the form of scenes. I capture those scenes first, then develop them into a plot. Not all scenes are useable in my rough plot though. I take the ones I want and sorta ‘glue’ them together. I’m not sure if that’s the correct way of outlining, but it works for me J

Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
Yes and Yes! I always do. As matter of fact, I work with more than just one editor. I work with a content editor, a copy editor, and a proofreader. I cannot stress hard enough how important it is to have qualified editors in your team. Writers write for themselves, a saying says, but editors work for the readers. No writer should edit their own work. We need fresh minds to review our draft before it goes to publishing.

What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?
I learn everything. I learn that writing is a lonely job, but publishing a book is a team effort. Everyone I meet in the book industry is my teacher. There’s no self-publishing school in the real world, but working with each of the players (editors, designers, formatters, marketers, bloggers, other authors) is the same thing. It’s like going to a school specialized for writing and publishing.

Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?
Yes. Book Depository and other ebook retailers such as Kobo, iBook, Scribd, Page Fondry, Oyster, and Barnes & Noble.

Besides writing, do you have any other passions?
Travelling! Every time I visit a new place, it automatically becomes a potential setting for my next book.

What’s next for you?
I can’t imagine myself without writing, so what’s next for me always involves writing. Currently I’m writing two novels, FLY (a YA Contemporary) and LOVE, THE SECOND TIME (a New Adult Contemporary). I’m planning to release them sometimes in 2017 J. Wish me luck!

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Book & Author Details:
I Won’t Break by E. Mellyberry
(A Broken Love Story, #2)
Publication date: February 2nd 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis:
Lea and Andrew’s story continues in this sequel to My Lea. From the city of San Francisco, the tale journeys on to the other part of the world: Jakarta, Bali, and Tokyo.
It’s been five years since Andrew walked out of his apartment and left Lea in America. Five long years without any single contact. Andrew is now a twenty-eight-year-old man who just inherited his father’s business empire and is about to marry the granddaughter of the wealthiest man in Singapore.

At twenty-four, Lea is in the early process of sorting out her life and career back in her home country.
When Andrew’s father passed away, they are reunited again for the first time since America.
Like it or not, they are forced to revisit their past and deal with their unfinished business. For most people, love is the answer to everything. But Lea and Andrew’s love is far from ordinary. Theirs is tainted by sin and guilt. And anger. Lots of anger.

What happened five years ago that made Andrew leave?
What happened after Twin Peaks?
What happened to their baby?

Told in both past and present events, I Won’t Break tests the limit of love when faced with grief and heartbreak, discovers the true power of forgiveness, and explores the meaning of second chances.
I Won’t Break is the sequel to My Lea (A Broken Love Story series) and cannot be read as a standalone.
Due to mature theme and content, this book is not suitable for readers under 18.


Purchase:

Book 1:

AUTHOR BIO:
Melly is a full-time mom, wife, and fangirl. She used to work in a school and she’s very passionate about education. She has been writing children’s books since 2011 under the name mellyberry. She loves reading all kinds of books in her spare time, mostly MG, YA, NA, contemporary, paranormal, and fantasy. She avoids horror and sci-fi as much as she can.

Melly was born in Indonesia and grew up in a multi-language environment. When she talks to people, she could accidentally string words from different languages into one sentence. When she does that, simply reminds her to speak properly.

Her ideal vacation always involves a beach; usually it’s the Nusa Dua beach, Bali. She spent a few years in USA to complete her Master degree. It was during that time that she’d fallen madly in love with San Francisco and the Bay Area. According to her, San Francisco is no doubt the most romantic city in the world.

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