Guest Post: Melissa Pearl Author of Golden Blood

I am so happy to have Melissa Pearl here on Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf today!!

My Writing Cave

by Melissa Pearl

When I think of the word cave, I imagine a dark, cozy place. My writing cave is not like that. I love to have plenty of space and light... which is why I set up my desk in our ridiculously large bedroom (if you knew how small our lounge was, you'd understand why I used the word ridiculous).

I spend my writing hours up in my room, which is the only quiet space in the house sometimes. I need quiet. I can't write with music distracting me. I like to step into the world of my characters and silence helps me do that. I often say the dialogue aloud when I'm writing or editing, so somewhere private is essential as well :)

When I was a kid, my parents found this old post office desk, which they hauled home, sanded down and revarnished. It was originally my brother's, but when he moved overseas, I inherited it and I love it. I want to keep forever.

My desk faces a wall covered with pictures of family and friends. On my right, I have a wall covered in poetry that inspires me, plus my writing goals are usually up there - although they're not right now. Must print my 2012 ones out - it's only March, right? I also read the brilliant idea of pasting up images of the characters in my WIP the other day. I really love this idea. So, once I get myself organized, there will also be pictures of actors and models who capture the essence of the characters I'm working on. 

Being a mother of a kindy kid and a baby, gives me very limited writing time. When bub goes down for his nap, I literally run upstairs and start working. I then get a second opportunity for his afternoon nap and I probably work two or three evenings a week. I also get two hours on a Sunday morning. That's one of my favourite times of the week :)

When I am intensely writing I find it really helpful to have a big chunk of time. My husband, very generously, gives me the odd weekend where I can hide away and write my little fingers raw. It is amazing how much you can get through when you have uninterrupted time. I'm not trying to boast in any way here, but I seriously think if I could have 7 - 10 days of uninterrupted writing, I could pump out a novel in that time.

However, I am very glad for my life, my children and all the other distractions, because I think if they didn't exist I would have square eyes, be skeletally skinny (I forget to eat when I'm writing) and have no semblance of a life. Balance is a beautiful thing.

The Book:

 Golden Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy #1)
 by Melissa Pearl 

Gemma Hart never knows when her father is going to whisk her back in time. Her toes start tingling and she has a few minutes to find a secret haven where she can disintegrate and appear in another time and place. While “across the line,” her training and skills are put to the test as she completes a mission that will change history for the lucky few her father has selected.

Gemma’s parents are adamant that secrecy is paramount to her family’s safety. If people knew what they were capable of, they could be “used and abused”, as her mother always says. Afraid she might accidentally utter the truth and break the ancient oath of her people, Gemma spends her school days as a loner. Only one thing can throw her sheltered life askew… Harrison Granger.

Harrison never expected to talk to the strange Hart girl, but after a brief encounter he can’t stop thinking about her. He begins a campaign to chisel away her icy veneer and is met with unexpected consequences. As he slowly wins this girl over, he enters a surreal world that has him fighting to keep his newfound love and his life.

 The Author:

I used to be a full time teacher (11-13 year olds) then I became a full time mother. During that time I also found my passion for writing. Over the last ten years I have been studying the craft and putting myself out there.

My first trilogy is being self-published through Smashwords & Amazon.

Golden Blood was released in November 2011 and has been getting great reviews, along with Black Blood (Bk #2), which came out in December 2011. Pure Blood (Bk #3) is due for release in February 2012.

It has been a totally thrilling ride and I can't wait to keep putting my stuff out there.

I live in New Zealand with my husband and two sons, but we are moving to China in August, as my husband has scored a great job working at an international school in Suzhou. It's going to be a busy and exciting year :)

Find Melissa:  Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Find Golden Blood: Goodreads | Amazon | Smashwords 

Check out the rest of the tour