Author Interview: Micalea Smeltzer

Today I am interviewing Micalea Smelzer, author of the Outsider Series and most recently, the Second Chances Series. 

What inspired you to write?

I’ve been making up stories since before I could write. I would draw scribbles on a piece of paper and then tell whoever would listen, the story in my head. So, I really don’t know what inspired me. Writing has always been a part of my life.

2. Why did you decide to self-publish? Tell us about your journey, were you nervous? How did you find an artist for your covers? (which are all so gorgeous, btw)!

I made the leap to self-publish after I got really sick and nearly died. (I’m fine now! I promise!) Before I got sick I was pursuing traditional publishing and had never thought about self-publishing. When I was in the hospital I was completely distraught by the fact that I was dying and I was never going to live my dream. Once I got better, my dad suggested self-publishing and I basically told him to take a hike, lol. But that planted the seed, I started researching (I mean, A LOT of researching) what self-publishing was all about and decided to take the leap. I haven’t looked back and it’s been the greatest experience of my life. I have no regrets with self-publishing. I was definitely nervous in the beginning, and I still get nervous with each new book released, but I love the freedom I have with self-publishing. For example, I get to pick my covers. ;)

I stumbled across Regina Wamba of Mae I Design last August. I had designed my previous covers and so Regina was the first cover designer I ever contacted. I had no idea what to expect. She replied back and I immediately knew she was the perfect cover artist for me. She’s kind and extremely talented. Plus, she wants to make sure you get the cover you want and she won’t settle for less.


3. Undeniable is the second book in the Second Chances Series, with Unraveling being the first. What inspired you to write this series?

I got the idea for Unraveling, last spring/summer (2012). I kept thinking about a girl, who had been through something tragic, and didn’t like to be touched, and began to wonder, how would she fall in love? It took off from there. I didn’t have the time to write Unraveling until February of this year, but it has been one of my favorite books to write.

Originally, Unraveling was meant to be a standalone. But Regina posted the picture that is now the Undeniable cover, to her facebook page, and I thought it looked so similar to the Unraveling cover that it got me thinking. From there, Karlie was born, because Jared didn’t have a sister at first, and I knew it would be her story.

I think my favorite thing about writing this series has been the theme of: Even though you’re broken, it doesn’t mean you’re irreparable.

4. Unraveling and Undeniable are New Adult books. Did you intentionally write New Adult, or did it just happen? And while we’re on that topic, gives us an idea of why you think New Adult is an important category in literature.

I would say it just happened that way. Back when I got the idea for Unraveling, “New Adult”, hadn’t even been coined yet.

I think New Adult is an important category because it bridges the gap between the YA and Adult genre. I’m college-aged and while I still read YA books sometimes, I occasionally want some extra steaminess, but I don’t want to read about people that are my parent’s age, lol. I want to read about characters MY age that are going through the same things that I am.

5. What’s your next project?

My next project is another New Adult Contemporary Romance titled Finding Olivia. I am SOOOOOO excited about this book. I love all my books, but this one is my favorite (so far). Here’s the blurb:

How far would you go to find yourself?

That’s the question that’s been haunting Olivia Owens for years.

All Olivia has ever wanted to do is live and make mistakes, but her preacher father has made that impossible. She believes that her years at college will be her ticket into the real world and her chance to be wild and spontaneous.

But she’s never been able to do it on her own.

At the start of her sophomore year, she only has four things crossed off her Live List, but that’s all about to change thanks to a chance encounter with Trace Wentworth. She’s about to learn that there’s more to this reformed bad boy than just his looks and panty dropping smile.

Trace can’t explain what it is that draws him to Olivia.

All he knows is that he wants to get to know the girl with the sad smile but sparkle in her eyes.

When she tells him about her list, he knows that this is his chance to get to know Olivia Owens. Trace is determined to show Olivia that she can do all the things she’s ever wanted to do. So, he begins to help her cross things off her list, even the more outlandish requests.

What happens along the way is more than what Olivia or Trace ever expected.

Love, laughs, and a list.

That’s the name of the game when you’re Finding Olivia.

Not-so serious questions:

1. Were you good at English in school?

English was one of my best subjects, even if I did hate writing essays. ;)

2. Do you buy books based on their covers?

I would say that I pick up books based on their covers, but I don’t buy them based on that. If a book has an awesome cover, but doesn’t sound like something I’d be interested in, I won’t buy it.

3. What was your favorite childhood book?

My favorite childhood book was Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen. I read it in middle school and it cemented my love for reading.

4. Tell us about your puppies! (Had to, I love shih tzus!)

I have three hairy, four-legged, children named Benvolio (Bennie), Balthazar (Zar), and Tucker. All three are shih tzus and I love them to death. They’re the best.

Order Undeniable! 

http://www.amazon.com/Undeniable-Second-Chances-ebook/
dp/B00DP6478C/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1372783
301&sr=1-1&keywords=micalea+smeltzer

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