1--What is the title of your latest release?
LOOKING FOR LEROY
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Two women head to Sonoma in a camp-trailer in search of a long-lost beau whose family owns a vineyard—but the only clue to finding him is that his first name is Leroy.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I drove through Sonoma wine country once on my way back to Oregon from San Francisco—and the landscape of rolling green vineyards was beautiful. We’ve wanted to return for a longer visit in our motorhome, but in the past few years they’ve been ravaged by fire—and then there was Covid. So I decided to create a family-owned vineyard that had suffered some fire damage and was trying to recover and visit vicariously.
4--Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
Absolutely! I have great empathy for Brynna. She’s had some hard knocks in life but keeps bouncing back. As a teacher of younger children, she has a tender heart. But her tender heart sets her up for some heartbreak too.
5--What are three words that describe your hero?
Kind, resilient, hard worker.
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I actually learned a lot about vineyards and winemaking, which I found very interesting.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I mostly wait until I’m finished with the book. I might tweak a little here and there, but I like the process to flow as smooth and fast as possible.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
To be honest, I’m not big foodie. But I do love a good fish taco—or a really well-made bowl of soup. And I always prefer savory to sweet.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
Ha! At the moment, we are in transition (living in ADUs above our garage while we build a house) so my office is temporarily wedged into a book storage room behind the garage. It’s more like a dungeon warehouse than an office. I can’t wait to get out! My new office will be inside our house (I used to have separate studio) but I’m looking forward to being inside for a change. I’m designing it now. A very large desk with a storage cabinet on one end, and a wall of bookshelves. Comfortable chair and pleasant décor. It also has its own exterior door so I can step out for some fresh air when needed.
10--Who is an author you admire?
A lot of my friends are authors, so I could make quite a list. But one I especially admire is Robin Jones Gunn. She’s not only an admirable author, but an admirable person as well.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
I think a lot of books have affected me—it’s hard to read a good novel without being changed at least a little.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)
Oh my goodness, that was so long ago! But I do remember being thrilled—over the moon! I was working at an international adoption agency when my editor called me at work. Of course, I ran around telling all my employee friends and we celebrated. The same editor became a good friend and as she moved from publisher to publisher, I went with her. We worked together until she retired a couple of years ago.
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
Probably women’s contemporary fiction. I like stories about everyday life and human relationships told in impactful and memorable ways.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
That’s a hard question because I love different movies for different moods. It could be anything from The Sound of Music to All About Eve to Overboard – how’s that for a mix?
15--What is your favorite season?
I love autumn. Something about the crispness of the air (especially after our last long hot summer) and putting on sweaters and boots or sitting by a bonfire—makes me happy!
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Quite honestly, I like it best when no one pays much attention to it. I’ve had a few surprise parties that were overwhelming. A lovely quiet dinner with my husband is just fine. We’re not big on birthdays.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
We just watched Atlantic Crossing and really enjoyed it.
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Well, I already mentioned fish tacos. But in general, I like almost anything Italian—most combinations of pasta and cheese and you got me.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
Lately, we’ve been building a house so there’s not much free time. Then, due to Covid shut-downs, options were limited . . . so we’ve watched a lot of old movies. I also like to garden and play with home décor and a little crafting. What I’d like to be doing more of is touring the USA in our motorhome!
20--What can readers expect from you next?
Well, I do have a new movie coming. I adapted one of my own novels (The Happy Camper) into a screenplay, and it goes into production in late 2021 and releases in 2022. As a result, I’m currently adapting LOOKING FOR LEROY.
A Novel
It's official: Brynna Phillips is done with men. They only break your heart. But just when she makes this declaration, her friend Jan convinces Brynna to join her on a camping vacation in Sonoma Wine Country. As they wind their way toward their destination, spanking-new mini camper in tow, Brynna recalls her teenage camp romance with a boy named Leroy. How can it have been nearly 30 years ago? All she remembers is that Leroy was a genuinely good guy and that his family owned a vineyard--in Sonoma. She doesn't even remember his last name. Jan insists they look for him, and the search begins.
Beyond the slim chance they'd ever be able to find him are questions that have haunted Brynna for decades, including What is the point of digging up the past? and Can Leroy ever forgive me for losing touch?
Bestselling author Melody Carlson invites you on a trip to rediscover the carefree days of youth and, just maybe, to get a second chance at love.
Romance Historical | Christian | Romance Comedy [Revell, On Sale: March 1, 2022, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780800739751 / eISBN: 9781493434237]
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with combined sales of more than six million. She is the author of several books, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, Christmas at Harrington’s, The Christmas Cat, The Christmas Joy Ride, and The Christmas Angel Project. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon.
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