tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post6606214504706352348..comments2023-09-19T07:39:21.818-07:00Comments on Harlequin Romance Authors: Spotlight in Six - Melissa McCloneLiz Fieldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10464889663853976327noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post-43605476576188488052008-11-16T10:26:00.000-08:002008-11-16T10:26:00.000-08:00Thanks catslady, Amy, Shirley and Michelle!And I r...Thanks catslady, Amy, Shirley and Michelle!<BR/><BR/>And I really love the cover, too. It comes from a scene in the book that I just love!Melissa McClonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16715664439441831529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post-78942858704739942712008-11-14T05:07:00.000-08:002008-11-14T05:07:00.000-08:00I'm with you on the beach, Melissa! I would much r...I'm with you on the beach, Melissa! I would much rather be stranded somewhere sunny than ANYWHERE cold. ;-)<BR/><BR/>Great interview! I love the cover of that book, too. It just makes me feel SO Christmas-y!!<BR/><BR/>ShirleyShirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10395507850821188923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post-48331526349993589442008-11-13T13:22:00.000-08:002008-11-13T13:22:00.000-08:00It sounds as if you had fun writing this book, Mel...It sounds as if you had fun writing this book, Melissa - though perhaps it was scary fun some of the time. <BR/><BR/>I'm loving the sound of your hero.<BR/><BR/>And I love your cover!Michelle Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12586192358963827660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post-16485204883177227992008-11-13T12:34:00.000-08:002008-11-13T12:34:00.000-08:00Great interview, Melissa. Thanks for stopping by!T...Great interview, Melissa. Thanks for stopping by!<BR/><BR/>That Esquire article was great.<BR/><BR/>I'm with Liz on climbing...Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08504919254472519754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post-37409597672572236932008-11-13T12:21:00.000-08:002008-11-13T12:21:00.000-08:00Wonderful intereview, Melissa.Wonderful intereview, Melissa.catsladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06375770995988927860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post-37415346689803143272008-11-13T08:50:00.000-08:002008-11-13T08:50:00.000-08:00Thank Myrna! I hear you on taking the gentlest sl...Thank Myrna! I hear you on taking the gentlest slope down. The most scared I was during one climb wasn't the actual climbing part but the hike to it. Once I get a rope on me I feel a lot safer!!!Melissa McClonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16715664439441831529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post-64048315000480243532008-11-13T08:48:00.000-08:002008-11-13T08:48:00.000-08:00Linda - I found the climbers and mountain rescuers...Linda - I found the climbers and mountain rescuers on line. I stumbled across a climbing forum while following the news story. I was very intimidated, but knew I needed help with the book so pm'd a couple of people. One of the first was the sister of one of guys in the Esquire spread. She got us connected and he's become a great friend who ended up helping me with three books, including SOS Marry Me of The Wedding Planners since I have a search and rescue team find the hero and heroine. I'd email him questions then he would call me and we'd talk about the book/climbing/him. Then he set up a dinner with other rescuers so I could get a feel for the group dynamics, since my hero is part of a team of four when he goes out on a mission.<BR/><BR/>One climber I PM'd turned out to be this 28 year old hottie. He's nicknamed the Climbing Cutie on my blog. He's the one who really got me climbing and I have climbed with him. He's who I turn to for guy talk/thinking when my heroes turn into girly men. He really helped me with SOS Marry Me's Kane Wiley. I also turn to him when I want to know about dating these days.<BR/><BR/>The research was mainly just me taking a chance by asking a question via private messages or email and seeing if people would help. Some said no or never replied, but many did, and some wonderful friendships have blossomed from that. I would have loved to climb Mount Hood myself, but when I was writing the book it isn't a very good time to climb. One of these days!<BR/><BR/>I also approached climbers at climbing events. I'm normally shy but have no fear when it comes to researching one of my books. I met the wife of a rescuer at a PMR fundraiser. <BR/><BR/>At a slide show presentation, I also met a climber who really opened himself up to me about climbing and accidents and a whole lot of other things. He'd lost a close friend and climbing partner some months before in Alaska. He was the one giving the slide show and when I saw him just knew I had to talk to him about the book. He was more than happy to help, but catching him in between his climbing trips was interesting. Thank goodness for the Internet! He turned out to be a wealth of information and made me rethink my hero a little.<BR/><BR/>Pretty much all my outdoor climbing partners have come from the climbing forum I stumbled across. It's been awesome the way they've helped this newbie scared of heights! <BR/><BR/>Thanks Rottie_Mom. I hear you on the height thing! But climbing is helping with that. Though I cannot look down. Made that mistake. Never again!!!Melissa McClonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16715664439441831529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post-42907906162093522512008-11-13T08:27:00.000-08:002008-11-13T08:27:00.000-08:00Melissa, I really admire you for climbing mountain...Melissa, I really admire you for climbing mountains when you have a fear of heights. I've hiked for years, and while I may take the more difficult route up a mountain, I always look for the most gentle slope possible on the way down!Myrna Mackenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15313509459687203044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post-57313375939818366152008-11-13T08:18:00.000-08:002008-11-13T08:18:00.000-08:00Great interview. Must say Im afraid of height and...Great interview. Must say Im afraid of height and dont think I could climb lol. I love a good Christmas romance at this time of the year and will be checking your book out at Borders tomorrow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post-3202526651318420892008-11-13T07:54:00.000-08:002008-11-13T07:54:00.000-08:00Love that cover, Melissa. It's gorgeous, right alo...Love that cover, Melissa. It's gorgeous, right along with the title and the subject matter. And I'm fascinated that you took up climbing. Tell us a bit about how you found these climbers who helped you research the story and how you actually researched. Did you go climbing with them?<BR/><BR/>This asked by a person who gets dizzy changing a light bulb! lolLinda Goodnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03180677262384855235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post-1808247527059229752008-11-13T07:38:00.000-08:002008-11-13T07:38:00.000-08:00Exactly Liz. It's that pure focus and with my bus...Exactly Liz. It's that pure focus and with my busy life I haven't found that any where else but climbing. Glad you enjoyed the link, Liz. I still have the magazine. My hubby brought it home for me and said, "Here, I think you might need this!" Gotta love a man who knows exactly what his writer wife needs!<BR/><BR/>Thanks Dru. On deadline, I'm pretty much on autopilot with life (doing what needs to be done and that's about it) and just thinking/writing about the book that last week or so. One day I dream of finishing early and taking a week off then reading the complete. Of course, my writing process is laughing its head off at the moment ;) I do celebrate when I finish a book. Usually dinner out (Thai food), chocolate and a well-deserved nap!<BR/><BR/>Thanks Sarita. I enjoy hiking, too, and have spent many early mornings circling a lake that's a short walk away from my house. It really does help!Melissa McClonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16715664439441831529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post-1609134457817261512008-11-13T03:41:00.000-08:002008-11-13T03:41:00.000-08:00Lovely interview. I understand about getting outdo...Lovely interview. <BR/><BR/>I understand about getting outdoors to relax. That's what I do, too. A walk in the forest is a great way to clear the head and unwind.Sarita Leonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09236262575377618259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post-28848796149247533472008-11-13T02:57:00.000-08:002008-11-13T02:57:00.000-08:00Great interview. How do you cope when you're on d...Great interview. How do you cope when you're on deadline? Do you celebrate when you finish your book?Druhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978384022143035332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050796.post-66914747268207409592008-11-13T00:24:00.000-08:002008-11-13T00:24:00.000-08:00Climbing? Yikes. I'm of the school that thinks: ...Climbing? Yikes. I'm of the school that thinks: "To write a novel about mountaineering you need only climb one mountain. Part way..." But I can see how it would take you away from everything but the moment. Pure focus. Exactly what a writer needs most.<BR/><BR/>But thanks for sharing the Esquire article. :)Liz Fieldinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10464889663853976327noreply@blogger.com