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May 31, 2012

Get to Know: Melissa Ohnoutka & Target of Betrayal

How did you get from your day job to writing romance?  My day job was raising two baby girls under the age of three at the time, so it was a ploy to save my sanity. J Still waiting to see if it worked!

What are your three favorite books of all time?  Rebecca By Daphne du Maurier, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Morning, afternoon, or evening person? Afternoon


Music--with or without? What kind? Definitely with and it depends on the scene. I love the sound tracks from Pirates of the Caribbean and Inception.

First or third POV? Third

How's tricks? Do you juggle multiple projects? I am my worst enemy. LOL I have several projects going at once or I’m not a happy camper.

What's harder: beginning, middle, or the end? End – I write complex stories and tying up all the ends can be quite a struggle at times.

Revisions: Love 'em or hate 'em? Not my favorite part, but the end result makes it all worth it.

How did you come up with that title?  Best advice anybody every gave you? Target of Betrayal was the second one for this story. It just snuck up on me when I reached the end.

And the best advice…”Write a great story and then start the next one.”

Fill in this blank: My ideal fictional hero would think me gorgeous no matter…what silly words came out of my mouth. I tend to mix letters and entire words around when talking too fast and the end result is quite comical according to my kids. Example: gigabyte + Ram = gigaBam. J

What's your favorite dessert? Homemade Apple Pie



Target of Betrayal:

Kathleen Landon thought her life would finally get back to normal after the bizarre death of her husband. But a "chance" meeting with an old boyfriend throws her and her family on a dangerous and emotional journey full of secrets and betrayal. Her husband's death wasn't an accident, but an attempt to cover up a horrendous crime spree being operated by a traitor inside the FBI. Now she and her children are running from a cold-blooded killer. Can she trust the U.S. Marshal sworn to protect them? Or is he using her as bait to capture her husband's killer?

David Thomas worked for the FBI for over ten years before storming out of the office of his superior and telling him where to stick his accusations. Now David has joined the U.S. Marshal's Special Operations Division. He is working to expose an informant hiding in the FBI ranks. David is the perfect man for the job. A man riddled with guilt. His decision cost a friend his life and David is determined to protect the family left behind. What he doesn't count on— is falling in love.




Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/target-of-betrayal-melissa-ohnoutka/1107046935?ean=2940013241138&itm=1

35 comments:

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Melissa! Love having you at the PP and learning more about you and your book. It sounds awesome. And Rebecca is one of my all-time favs!!!3

Melissa said...

Thanks so much for letting me visit, Vicki! :) I always love reading the posts here on Plotting Princess. A good friend actually got me the DVD version of Rebecca. So cool! :)

Unknown said...

I can see "gigabam' in the dictionary one day! Perfect description!

Melissa said...

LOL Thanks, Will! So far I've only said this one around family. :) Can you see the face on the poor guy at Best Buy as he tries to figure it out? ack!

Anonymous said...

I want a "Gigabam"!!!!

That was a neat peek into your life as an author. I also struggle with tying up all the loose ends of a plot with twists and turns...always feel like I'm forgetting something! Ha-

Cynthia D'Alba said...

Hi Melissa! Cute interview. I love someone who can make-up words. I don't have that skill and it is a skill! But at least I know who to turn to when I need a fake word that sounds real. :)

Nancy Kay Bowden said...

Melissa, thank you for reminding me that this revision will be worthwhile. Guess what I'm doing right now? Fun interview--great distraction--now back to work for me!

Anonymous said...

I'm a huge fan of Melissa's works!! Loved TARGET OF BETRAYAL!! Great interview...and mix those words, girl, we always need new words!!

Pamela Hearon said...

Hi Melissa! I, too, am a Daphne du Maurier fan. Making up words is a great talent for a writer to have. Target of Betrayal is on my TBR list!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Wow, so nice to have lots of your fanfriends visit, Melissa. And I have to say I LOVE your photo. Very glamorous.

Melissa said...

LOL Stacey! I'll get you one, promise! :) And good luck with those ends, girl. ;)

Melissa said...

Hey Cyndi! Thanks so much! :) Anytime you need a new word, just give me a call. LOL

Melissa said...

Nancy, so glad I could help. LOL Best of luck with those revisions! I know you'll make that story shine! :)

Melissa said...

Thank you, Tess! Supply and demand...hmmm. Does that work with words too? LOL So glad you enjoyed Target of Betrayal! :)

Melissa said...

Pam, thanks so much! I'm loving all this support! :) Must tell my kids I'm doing the world a favor here by making up these words. LOL Hope you enjoy Target of Betrayal. :)

Melissa said...

Glamorous....gosh, thanks, Vicki! Now I'm blushing. LOL Again, I'm honored to be your guest. :)

Pamela Stone said...

Hi Melissa. I laughed about your funny words. I do the same thing and not always intentionally. Sometimes I get giggles and sometimes I get puzzled looks. Either way, I can't stop, so it is what it is. Hopefully it's endearing. Ha!

Unknown said...

Absolutely love these types of interviews! One of those, just sit back and be entertained type and yours certainly did that.

Melissa, you are too cute and very clever. Your book also sounds fabulous.

Loretta Wheeler said...

Hi, there Missy!:) Great learning a few extra tidbits about you:) I love Rebecca and Jurassic Park too...John grabs his head everytime the movie version of Jurassic Park comes on...he knows I'm always going to opt to watch it:) lol...What "is" that? Can't get enough of a good thing?:)
I loved the part about you making up words. I don't do that, but I do type dyslexic...only type, I don't read that way or write that way...another what "is" it? I've quit trying to understand the whole thing, I just know to listen to spell check when it goes crazy:)
And, back to you speaking in Melissa language, heck that's what make writer's who we are...we're creative (thank God:) and it keeps conversations flowing, along with laughter for some of us!
Lo

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

I only listen to movie soundtracks on the rare occasions I write in public and need music to block stuff out. I love the POTC soundtrack, but hadn't thought about Inception! I'll check it out!

LOVE Gigabam! LOL

Anonymous said...

Great Q&A! I love finding out new things about friends I adore!

So are you the one that came up with words like beardo, manscaping, and e-clap? LOL! Yes...those are real words...

Jenn!

Melissa said...

So glad to hear I'm not alone, Pamela! :) The funny looks are the worst! I'm still trying to figure out what I actually said while trying to order Boar's Head Honey Glazed Turkey the other day. LOL The expression on the poor lady's face who was helping me said it all. Major error....I just smiled although I was dying inside!

Melissa said...

That's so sweet, Karen! Thank you! :) I like interviews like this as well. You never know what you'll learn about someone you thought you knew. LOL

Melissa said...

"Can't get enough of a good thing?" I think that says it perfectly, LO! :) And hey! Laughter sure does make the world a better place, right?

Melissa said...

Hi Natalie! :) The Inception track is perfect for action and those really eerie scenes. I like soundtracks because they usually don't have words to distract me. LOL

Kathy Ivan said...

Hi Melissa

Welcome to the Plotting Princesses. What a great interview. I make up words too, but not nearly as cleverly as yours!

I never write to music, since I work with headphones on all dayy long. For me the quieter it is the more productive I am.

The book sounds wonderful.

Melissa said...

Hey there, Jenn! Aww...now I'm gonna get all emotional. LOL Love ya too, girl! No, I can't take credit for those words, but I like them! How about fudgebucket, awallago (a while ago), dingers (those who leave negative reviews. lol)

Melissa said...

Thanks, Kathy! Peace and quiet...now that does sound nice. Sure wish I could figure out how to find it around here! LOL I keep telling myself that one day sooner than I like, it will be way too quiet and I'll be wishing someone would say, "Mom!" :)

KeriFord said...

Great interview, Melissa! Homemade apple pie? we are def. friends!

liztalley said...

Homemade apple pie? I'm with Keri, you can bring some over to Louisiana any time. LOL

Congrats and nice interview :)

Melissa said...

Thanks, Keri! :) I've been wanting some hot apple pie all day now. LOL

Melissa said...

One thing about apple pie...it travels well, Liz! :) I'll have to whip one up next time I head to the Nola Stars Conference. LOL Thanks, girl!

Kathleen Baldwin said...

Hi Melissa!

That's cute how you mix letters and words around. Love it!!! That might be fun for you to incorporate into a character in one of your books.

The main antagonist in my first series always got her metaphors twisted up. It turned out to be a fun character element.

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