Interview with Author Melinda Metz
Author of Fox Crossing
Publish date: November 24, 2020 by Kensington Publishing Corp.
Thank you so much Kensington Publishing Corp. for this amazing opportunity. I am so glad I could interview Melinda and learn so much about her. I hope you will love it as much as I did. Let’s get started!
Q. How did you get the idea for writing Fox Crossing? How did you research for this book?
A: My editor, Gary Goldstein, wanted a story about a fox. I’m honestly not sure exactly how I decided to do a story about a fox bringing good luck to anyone who sees it. The idea just surfaced in my brain. A few years ago, I visited the town of Damascus, Virginia (and broke my wrist riding a bike on the Creeper Trail!). The town is along the route of the Appalachian trail, and it hosts a Trail Days festival every year. I liked the idea of a town on the trail, a small town that also had a lot of new people coming through, and decided to put Fox Crossing right before a stretch of the trail called the Hundred-Mile Wilderness in Maine.
I planned to go to Maine and visit the town of Monson, which is located in the spot I put the fictional town of Fox Crossing, but a family illness prevented the trip. I still hope to get there.
I read a lot of blogs by people who had hiked the trail.
Q. How do you usually plan and research for your books?
A: I write a chapter-by-chapter outline before I start writing, then I research as I go. When I hit a spot where I need more detail, I dive into the research (which sometimes turns into procrastination.)
Q: What part of this book was the most fun and hardest to write?
A: I had fun with the flirty scenes between Nick and Annie. The beginnings of books are usually the hardest for me, because there is so much to set up. In this one, I needed to introduce the town, and the characters, and the Fox, without using lumps of exposition.
Q: Which character do you love the most in this book?
A: It’s always hard to choose, but I think Banana is my favorite, partly because I used a few pieces of my Dad to create his character, including the stories Banana would tell about his (fictional) mule, Bucky.
Q: What is it like working with a writing partner?
A: I didn’t write this book with a partner, but I often write with Laura J. Burns, and I missed her on this one. It’s great to have someone to bounce ideas off of. Writing can get lonely and frustrating, and writing with a partner makes most those things easier. Also, when Laura and I write together, we end up editing each other’s sections, and that, I think, makes our books stronger.
Q: Describe your writing space and a typical writing day.
A: I usually write at a coffee shop, and I do most of my writing on weekends, because I have a full-time job working in the children’s room of a library. I put in long days on my days off, but I don’t usually try to write after work.
Q: What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
A: Read a lot! Reading has taught me so much about writing. Try not to worry about getting published or finding an agent until you feel that you’ve written the best book you can possibly write.
Q: Can you list some of your favorite authors and books at the moment?
A: Lately I’ve been reading a ton of psychological suspense and thrillers. Some of my favorites: Saint X by Alexis Schaikin, Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson, The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn, and Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips. I’ve also been reading some (mostly) light-hearted contemporary romance, and enjoyed: Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center, The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harris, and Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes. I was blown away by Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton, and deeply moved the The Overstory by Richard Powers.
Q: Can you explain your writing process in detail?
A: I procrastinate a lot, and I think some of that time is me figuring out the story in the back of my mind. And some of it is just putting off writing, because writing is hard! I always write an outline. I start with the big things I know will happen. Like in Fox Crossing, I knew Annie would rescue Nick on the trail, I knew Banana’s estranged granddaughter would come to stay with him, and I knew Nick would start a business that threatened Annie’s. When I have four or five big events, then I go back and fill in what happens in between them. I usually stick to the outline pretty closely when I write, but there are always a few new things that I add in as I get to know the characters better. One of the big things I try to figure out before I start is the personalities of the romantic leads, and why I think they should be together, and what it is that keeps them apart (for a while).
Q: During COVID-19, when we all are dealing with this new normal, what brings you joy, and what are you doing to relax and decompress?
A: I do zoom meetings with my awesome personal trainer, Dave Radin from Precision Fitness. (He can zoom with you from anywhere. I feel I must give him a plug!) That definitely helps me stay sane.
I also watched every episode of Family, a 70s TV show I loved when I was a teen. I’ve now moved on to rewatching The West Wing. My attention span has been short during Covid-19, and it’s been hard for me to watch new shows.
Virtual book group has also been essential.
Q: Would you like to share something about yourself with readers that they don’t know?
A: I was in a synchronized swimming how in high school called Twilight of the Gods.
Thank you so much for your time and this opportunity. I wish you luck with all your future projects and ventures.
Thank you! And thank you for your interest in Fox Crossing!
Book Synopsis (Goodreads):
The charming village of Fox Crossing, Maine (founded 1805) is the last bit of civilization before the 100-mile wilderness, the wildest and arguably most beautiful stretch of the Appalachian Trail. The little town has something else to offer as well... something rare, something that a few even call magic. It has The Fox. Crossing paths with a black cat is said to bring bad luck. But crossing paths with The Fox is a whole other story...
SOME SAY THE FOX IS GOOD LUCK
In the mountain village of Fox Crossing, Maine, everyone knows the story of The Fox. According to local legend, one of the town's founders crossed paths with a curious-looking fox with a distinctive white ear and paw. The unusual fox sighting not only inspired the town's name, it sparked a fantastical piece of folklore that's been passed down for generations. Some people say that whoever sees The Fox will be rewarded with good fortune, love, and happiness. Others say it's just a silly folk tale...
WHAT DOES THE FOX SAY?
Annie Hatherley doesn't believe The Fox legend--even though it was her great-great-great-grandmother who spotted the critter centuries ago. But now it's part of Annie's legacy, along with her family business, Hatherley's Outfitters. For years, Annie's been selling gear to hikers on the Appalachian Trail. But she's never seen The Fox--until now. Out of nowhere, this little white-eared vixen leads her to Nick Ferrone, a woefully unprepared hiker who needs her help. The Shoo Fly Bakery owner also spots the sly creature--who takes him to a homeless dog that needs his love. Annie can't deny that something magical is happening--because she's starting to fall for a certain foxy hiker named Nick...
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