When I was a little girl, I lived in a 1930s-era house, complete with keyholes big enough to look through, heavy doorknobs, and leaded glass. One day, I found a key—I can’t remember where I’d found it. It was an old-fashioned key—heavy, corroded metal. A thick stem and chunky teeth. I asked my mother what it was to, and she said she didn’t know. I pondered. I asked her again what it was to. She still didn’t know. There was something about that key that was elusive, even a little frustrating. What did it lock? And what was the purpose of the locking? Did this key keep people out? Or did it lock people in? Was it to a box, filled with secrets and keepsakes? And what made those things worthy of protection? The key seemed to have a story, but its lips were sealed. Amazingly enough, I found myself writing about keys when I started working on my new book, A PROMISE OF SAFEKEEPING. The hero, Will, is an antiques dealer—a picker. And he’s fascinated by the stories that antiques tell (and don’t tell). Here’s the story: Nine years ago, Lauren Matthews prosecuted the case of a lifetime. But…

Can you believe that tomorrow is the first day of the new year? I can… even though 2011 went really fast for me. So here comes 2012. What’s coming up during the next year? Well, I’m not much of prognosticator but there are a few things I’m fairly sure of. Number one? I’ll be writing! Plus, I’ll have a few books published. The first of my new books will be HOUNDS ABOUND, the third Pet Rescue Mystery from Berkley Prime Crime. It will be an April release. My first Harlequin Romantic Suspense book, UNDERCOVER SOLDIER, will be a July release. And my fifth Harlequin Nocturne novel, the fourth in my Alpha Force miniseries about a covert military unit of shapeshifters, will also be published this year, although its title and publication date have not yet been confirmed. Busy? Yes! Especially since I’m working on the next Pet Rescue Mystery, OODLES OF POODLES, and on new ideas for the other series. Number two? I’ll be enjoying the pet rescue volunteering I do. It started out as research for my Pet Rescue Mysteries, and I found I really enjoy it. I’m a dog adoption counselor for Pet Orphans of Southern California, which…

We all have them, those unexpected gifts that in one way or another change our lives for the better. Like the long-eared, yet-to-be-housebroken puppy Santa left under the tree that swiftly became our dearest confidant and taught us what it meant to care for another soul, or the shiny ten-speed bike that gave us our first taste of freedom.  My kids might argue that it’s the IPod Touch, putting the world (for better or worse) at their fingertips.  But the gift that surprises me again and again didn’t arrive on Christmas.  It was the result of a frantic phone call in the spring of 2006, when my best friend Jane rang to tell me they were moving to London.  I supposed it was bound to happen when one marries an Englishman, and the thought of adding more distance to our already long-distance friendship was staggering.  However, it was her next sentence that would live to have a lasting impact.  “I want you to have my piano,” she said, “that is, if you still want it.” I did, and made my husband drive 350 miles to get it! The piano in question was an old, abused and neglected baby grand Jane…

I’ve been inundated this week by everyone in my household making lists, cleaning up and decluttering and last dash attempts at completing projects. Ah the world of people who write. I never realized that it’s so important to make lists of what you’ve read or films you’ve watched or tv shows viewed, but apparently that’s an all consuming task that seems to me becomes a chore. I don’t read for list making, so I have no idea nor do I want to know, the number of books I read in 2011 or 2010 or plan to read in 2012. You must understand, I’ve never looked on reading as something approaching a homework assignment. I read for pleasure, for conversation, for thinking and pondering. Ah, pondering, I love to PONDER. My Christmas gift this year was AMERICAN NATIONS. Yes, a heavy, non-fiction, thought provoking, and ultimately depressing tome on why Americans including Canadians and citizens of Mexico are not part of a “melting pot” but maintain nationalities very similar to the fractious Europeans. As I said, depressing in the end. But along the read, very thought provoking. I’d suppose if I had to keep a list or make a roster of…

Who do you think Mozart really was? In MOZART’S LAST ARIA, my new historical crime novel about the great composer’s death, I counter the idea that he was a buffoon who somehow wrote sublime music. That perception turns out to have been based on snobbish appraisals by Viennese aristocrats who thought Mozart ill-bred. But it was cemented in the public imagination by Amadeus , Peter Shaffer’s stage play which was directed so successfully for the cinema by Milos Forman in 1984. Mozart was far more complex, intelligent and liberal than he has been given credit for. For a crime novel set in an autocratic police state, all of those elements of his character are very useful — because they put him in such danger. So I based the novel around the investigation by his older sister Nannerl into the risks Wolfgang took. Ultimately she (and we) gets a much deeper understanding of Mozart and his music than previous fictional portrayals allowed us. To be sure, Wolfgang was excitable and silly after musical performances. But The Rolling Stones have been known to drop television sets out of tenth-floor hotel rooms to let off steam and they’re no Mozart. Wolfgang’s letters and…

A lot of authors do various things to flesh-out their characters — character interviews, bios, sketches, photo clippings (of celebs, or clothes / shoes that they think their characters might wear), etc. Of course, some authors don’t do anything because their characters come to life fully fleshed-out the first time.) I did character interviews of all the major supporting characters for THE LAST SLAYER. It was a bit of a frustrating and bemusing experience to say the least, as it was the first time I’d done interviews for secondary characters. Depending on how the interview goes, I can figure out a lot about a character. For example, Toshi, the subservient dragon, babbled a lot, and about 50% of what he said was about how he might have done something wrong and lots of “I beg your pardon”. He also occasionally went into TMI territory, though from time to time he told me he couldn’t tell me something because his lord forbade him. (Rolls eyes… *I* created his lord!) Alexandros the Incubus King made me laugh with his super ego. I have no idea how the man’s head can fit through doors. He was mostly interested in talking about how he…

I love this time of year! All the hustle and bustle, the glittering decorations, sparkling lights, and of course, the food. Christmas is just two days away and is a birthday party like no other. Amidst all the shopping and wrapping and cooking, I remind myself to pause and reflect on the meaning of Christmas. The birth of Jesus Christ changed the world and Christmas is the perfect time to reflect on his life, and our own lives. Jesus taught many lessons and to me, it is the qualities that he embodied that inspire. First and foremost, Jesus embodied faith and love, an unwavering faith in his connection to God, an unwavering love for God. It was his faith that enabled him to manifest miracles. He life teaches us to have faith in God, faith in life, and faith in each other. He reminds us to love and be loving. He embodied compassion, wisdom, humility, and integrity, all qualities to strive for in our day-to-day lives. He also was capable of heartfelt forgiveness; who among us cannot strive to learn that lesson? When I look back on this year, one of my most satisfying accomplishments was the publication of my…

This blog was the first thing I had to do today. The very first thing, well right after coffee. Actually, that’s not true. Before I even get coffee, before I get out of bed, I turn on my iPad and check my email. I have a desperate need to make sure that nothing important has come in between the hours of midnight and 7 am…er, 7:59 am. But my alarm goes off at 7. Anyway, without even moving off my pillow, I turn on the iPad, check my email, delete the junk (I get a lot of junk), and deal with anything vitally important. It’s rare, but it does happen. Usually one of my in-college daughters desperately needs me to proof one of their papers. But that didn’t happen today, thank God, and so I then immediately got up, got my coffee, and wrote this blog. Hahahahahaha! Okay, seriously, who actually believed that? No, rather than get out of bed, I go on-line shopping. Shopping is way better than working. Or even getting out of bed! Nothing of interest today 🙁 so then I played an ap game called Sherlock, a Game of Logic. I’m not that logical a person,…

I sat down to write an article, and I thought…what’s more fun, a serious article about writing or an acrostic that can tell the story all on its own? Well, we’re going for the (extended) acrostic. What does every author strive to do? Hook the readers! And what does it take to hook the readers? Here’s your answer: Always remembering that you write to excite the reader Gladly giving up your “me time” for writing time Read as much as you write, to keep your authoring skills honed Evaluating every word that hits the published page for its merit Actively seeking out new plots and subplots so your readers don’t get bored Talking with readers (hopefully often), to keep abreast of what they want in a story Pushing your creativity beyond the limits as you see them Leaving no plot unturned Opening new worlds for your readers, pushing them past their comfort levels Treating each new manuscript as if it is not worthy of your readers’ eyes until it is refined, polished, and perfect   * * * Melissa Foster is the award-winning author of three International bestselling novels, MEGAN’S WAY, CHASING AMANDA, and COME BACK TO ME. She has…

In this evolving and competitive industry, writers must adapt quickly, as well as continuously search for new ways to reach new readers. So now that I’m releasing LIARS, CHEATERS & THIEVES, a sixth novel featuring Detective Jackson, I’ve decided to re-brand my series. By that I mean, I now list SECRETS TO DIE FOR as the primary book, so that it’s the first title in my list of novels. Why this radical change? The first book on my Jackson list used to be THE SEX CLUB, a title I’ve come to believe turns away as many readers as it draws in. The story has served me well, will always be one of my favorites, and I’ll continue to sell it. When I only had a few books on the market, it was an important part of my work. The Sex Club Detective Jackson #1 October 2007 Secrets To Die For Detective Jackson #2 October 2009 Thrilled to Death Detective Jackson #3 September 2010 Passions Of The Dead Detective Jackson #4 January 2011 Dying For Justice Detective Jackson #5 May 2011 LIARS, CHEATERS & THIEVES Detective Jackson #6 December 2011 But now that I’m about to launch my tenth book, and…