Melissa Hanson: Does She Have Voices Helping Her Write? And a Giveaway

Yesterday I posted my thoughts on this wonderful book. You can read them here. Today, I have Melissa here answering the question I like to ask authors. Let's see what she has to say about 'voices'.

When you are done reading that, be sure to enter the giveaway for 2 e-books (Kindle, Nook or e-pub) that Melissa has generously offered to send to two lucky people.

Thank you, Melissa!

So Melissa ~ I have heard other authors say that they 'hear voices in their head' and that is how they write their books: the characters are telling their stories. Not being a writer myself, that concept has always intrigued me.

When some people hear voices, we get them medical attention, others end up becoming writers. Does this happen to you? How do you come up with your stories?

For me I guess the question is a little more complex, for the past 20 years my chosen career has been architecture. While I was in high school I loved writing and for awhile that's where I was headed. I wanted to write books, and go into journalism or something along those lines. Then a small little sidetrack into the world of architecture and for the most part my writing got set aside. I had always loved reading and that was something I never gave up.

At the end of summer in 2010 I had just finished a set of books which I flew through in less than a week, by the time I finished the last page I just had this burning urge to write again. I couldn't get it out of my mind, it was there taunting me when I was driving, at work, laying in bed. I tossed ideas around in my head for a few weeks and then one evening sitting on the couch watching tv I grabbed some paper and before I knew it the prologue was there on the paper. A couple days later I had a rough draft for an ending and from that moment on it was something I knew had to be written.

I spent almost every weekend for the next 6 months writing, not during the day, but usually in the middle of the night when the house was quiet, one chapter after the next unfolded. I would sometimes formulate a rough outline ideas for what might come next, but for the most part all I can say is that it was an experience. I would sit at my computer and the story just unfolded I don't know where it came from for the most part. The images would come into my head, the words poured from inside through to my fingers as they flew across the keyboard. 

Sometimes though I'd sit and write, then delete, write and then delete, but most of the story just came easily. I remember sitting thinking, what is the character feeling right at this moment? What do they see, hear, smell...and the words just came. I remember thinking on several occasions, am I crazy?? Is the story any good? The few people I let read as I wrote were all encouraging, but I always wondered deep inside were they just being nice because they didn't want to hurt my feelings. But I kept at it, and when I was done I went into editing, and had someone do my copy writing for me. But I designed everything, the cover, the text, the fonts, the format, everything. I guess it is the designer in me that just wanted total control. Seeing it out there and having others enjoy it and be touched has been one of the most exciting things for me.

I know I will write again. I have some other ideas, if it's continuing Bailey and Collin's story, or a spin off with one of the other characters, or something totally different is left to be seen. I guess it will probably just hit me and I'll know when it's right.

Thanks Melissa. I sure hope you write another story. 
I would love to read it!

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