Episode 178 features M.R. Joseph which is the pen name that Melissa Redkar writes under.
Melissa Redcar, who writes under the pen name M.R. Joseph, discussed her journey into writing, which began with reading independent authors like E.L. James and her desire to create a comforting personal space through writing. She explained how she developed her pen name, combining her first initial with her father's first name, Joseph, whom she honored by using his name after his passing. Melissa shared her experience of writing her first book, inspired by high school reunions, and how her husband's encouragement and support were crucial in her writing journey.
She discussed her journey as an author, including her success on Amazon's Best Sellers List and her extensive book signing tours across the United States. She shared that her characters are based on real-life experiences and people she knows, such as her husband and friends. Melissa also explained her writing process, which involves structuring characters but not plotting the entire story in advance. She mentioned her two children and her favorite character, a 40-year-old woman in one of her books who embodies her own experiences as a working mom and writer.
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