Melissa Tagg is a former reporter, current nonprofit grant-writer and total Iowa girl. She’s also a multi-published novelist. Her latest book, Like Never Before, was named by Publisher’s Weekly to their spring 2016 “Religion and Spirituality” Top 10 list. Upcoming books include Keep Holding On (Sept 2016) and a sequel to last year’s One Enchanted Christmas, releasing in late 2016. Melissa has taught at multiple national writing conferences, as well as retreats and workshops. When she’s not writing, she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever–not that she’s biased–watching old movies, and daydreaming about her next book. Melissa loves connecting with readers at www.melissatagg.com and on Facebook and Instagram.
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Welcome back to the blog, Melissa. I’m so happy to have you here today. Congratulations on your recent release, Like Never Before. Such a cute story!!
Many readers enjoy picking their favorite quotes from novels. Do YOU have a particular favorite quote/scene from “Like Never Before”? Can you share a little bit of it with us? 🙂
I have several favorite scenes…and let’s face it, I basically love everything that comes out of Logan’s mouth. LOL! But probably one of the more personally meaningful scenes for me is the scene where Logan and Amelia are visiting the Smithsonian to check out Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart’s planes. Logan says a couple different lines in this scene that I love…
“I just think one person seeing you for who you really are is better than 150,000 who’ve got it wrong.”
“When you really let people see you, Amelia—all of you, not just the snow-obsessed reporter—it’s impossible to look away.”
Totally “awwww” sort of lines. But there’s something deeper going on when they’re talking here…Amelia, without really even realizing it, is revealing a desire to Logan—a desire to be seen and known and recognized. And he picks up on that and says exactly what she needs to hear. And just love that! It makes me want to be a person who listens deeply and speaks purposely.
What do you love most about your hero and your heroine in this story? (We know how much you love Logan!!) 😉
Haha, wait, how do you know I love Logan? Lol!
Amelia—I love how much she loves Maple Valley. Maple Valley is a made up town but after writing two full-length novels (and I’m almost done with a third) plus two novellas that take place there, it’s become soooo real to me. And so Amelia’s love for the place—the way she just adores its charm and quirk—it very much connects with me. I also love that she’s a reporter.
Logan—Ummm, everything?!?! What I love most is probably what I mentioned above. Logan is a listener. He’s such a wordsmith, a writer, and yet, he’s not loud or overbearing or obsessed with his own words. He listens to other people and sees them for who they really are. And I just adore that about him.
I’ve heard you love watching old movies. I do too!! 🙂 What are a few of your favorites?
So many! Some of my very favorites are His Girl Friday, Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, What’s Up Doc?, Roman Holiday, It Happened One Night, My Man Godfrey, Mr & Mrs Smith…I could go on and on.
You’ve taught several workshops at several writing conferences and retreats. What is one of your favorite topics?
I really love talking about dreams and calling and finding our identity in Christ. But when it comes to writing specifically, my favorite topics are dialogue and emotional layering. I also want to say humor—because I love talking about it—and yet, I really think humor is one of the hardest things to write…so I haven’t figured out quite how to teach or speak about it. But someday!
What’s something your readers would be surprised to know about you?
Honestly, I think readers might be surprised to learn that writing stories is actually pretty hard for me! I think perhaps sometimes I come across as the super giddy, excitable, happy-go-lucky writer who is always gushing about her characters and stories…and that’s very authentic because I do ADORE my made-up people. But I also struggle a lot with actually crafting a whole plot…with sitting down and making myself write after a long day of work…with figuring out how to balance my fictional world with my real life. Writing, for me, can get emotional and vulnerable and at times, very bang-my-head-against-the-wall-ish. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing with us today, Melissa! Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?
I can definitely share that my next book will be Beckett Walker’s story! It’s called Keep Holding On and features not only Beckett, but also a heroine named Kit Danby…and the both of them have hugely attached themselves to my heart.
I can’t wait to read it! Have a great summer!
GIVEAWAY!!
Melissa has graciously offered to give away a copy of Like Never Before to one lucky reader! Enter below and it could be YOU!
Thanks for entering! Contest is open for US residents only. Contest ends July 5, 2016. The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!
Thanks for such an awesome giveaway! I’ve hear so many good things about this book! One of my most favorite old movies is The Princess Bride!
So glad you could join us, Irene! Hope you get the chance to read this book soon. 😉
I love movies based on books even though they never really get it right. Bless your heart, Melissa, I want to give you a big ‘ol hug for your emotional, vulnerable, nearly dangerous writer moods. I love your style, your characters, and your facebook gushing over Logan. I’d be really excited to win the giveaway and I’d have to give you another hug for if that happens! 🙂
Hi Beth! Thank you for sharing those sweet words. I hope you get to read Melissa’s latest book (and hug her) real soon. 😉 Good luck!
One of my old favorites…An Affair to Remember.
I haven’t seen that one yet, but I’ve heard about it a lot. I’ve been meaning to watch it for awhile now. 😉 Thanks for sharing, Melanie!
Love old movies. Roman Holiday would be one of my many favorites. I love The Shop Around the Corner, Fountainhead, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Gentleman’s Agreement, and so many more! 🙂
Ahh, you mentioned so many on my list to watch, Rach. 🙂 So glad you stopped by!
It’s A Wonderful Life is one of my favorites!
Yes, I love that movie. I watch it every year! 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway, Joanne!
Fantastic interview! Loved it. And I love “Like Never Before” – so sweet!
So glad to hear you enjoyed it, Raechel. We appreciate you joining us!
I love the Abbott and Costello movies! We’ve recently been re-watching them!
I remember watching those growing up with my grandma a lot! 🙂 Have a great weekend, Sierra!
White Christmas!
That’s one of my favorites too, Joan! 😉
I love old movies. Some of the best acting I have ever seen are in old black and white movies. My favorite is hard to choose but I think it would be Rebecca 1940’s by Alfred Hitchcock.
I love the old black and white movies! I’ve not seen the movie you mentioned, though, Amanda. I’ll have to look that up!
It is full of mystery and suspense 🙂
The Sound of Music! My poor family has had to watch that movie a million times! LOL
Haha! I always love watching that one too, Candice. 🙂 My hubby, though, doesn’t agree with me. 😉
I like It’s Wonderful Life!
Thank you!
Becky
Yes! Love love that one. Thanks for visiting, Becky!
Sounds like a good story. Thanks for the chance to win.
It’s so much fun, Kim. Hope you get to read it soon. 🙂
That’s easy! I LOVE Singin’ in the Rain! Gene Kelly was so swoon-worthy in it, and Debbie Reynolds was adorable! Even Donald O’Connor was hilarious!
Ahhh, yes, I grew up watching that and LOVED their dancing!! And yes, I still remember laughing over Donald O’Connor every time. 😀 I’m so glad my grandma introduced me to Gene Kelly’s movies from an early age. 😉
My favorite movie is It;s A Wonderful Life. The characters are realistic.
Joan
They sure are and they’re so relatable too. Thanks for joining us, Joan.
The Sound of Music is one of my favorite
Such a good movie! 🙂
One of my favorite old movies is Gone with the Wind.
Hi Kay! 🙂 I think that’s a lot of people’s favorites. 😉
I loved Casablanca ♡ And many, many more! I love all the old John Wayne movies and Elvis Movies, thank you ♡
I agree, Linda. Those movies are such fun!
Hey Melissa,
Just finished Amelia & Logan’s story and I LOVED it!! Something about a single dad just warms your heart!
Can’t wait for Beckett’s story!
Cheers,
Sue
I agree with you, Susan. How could we NOT love Logan, right? 😉 So glad you stopped by!
I like old movies too. My all time favorite is Arsenic and Old Lace with Cary Grant. No matter how many times I watch it, I always enjoy it.
I haven’t seen that one, Pam. Sounds like another good one!
I absolutely love old movies!! I think I’m going to have to choose Sabrina with Audrey Hepburn as my all time favorite!
I watched that one recently. It was so cute! Thanks for visiting, Abby!
Oh, I love classic movies. A few of my favorites are The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934), Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949), All Through The Night (1941), and The Lady Vanishes (1938).
I haven’t read Like Never Before yet, I’m planning to read it this weekend. 🙂
Thanks for the movie suggestions, Amanda. Those are new to me. 😉 And happy reading this weekend!! 🙂
My favorite old movie is “Gone With the Wind”.
A classic, for sure! 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Dianne.
I guess the only “old” movies I really love watching are westerns…lol! Around Christmas time, I love all the older ones; It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, George C. Scott A Christmas Carol, Miracle on 34th Street, and any others I can catch. Even though I’ve watched them hundreds of times, they never get old!!
Wonderful author interview! I have one of Melissa’s books on my shelf, but have all of them on my huge TBR list (it gets longer everyday I think!). Thanks for the chance to win a copy of “Like Never Before”.
Hi Trixi! It’s great to see you here. You mentioned some of my FAVORITE Christmas movies. I’m just like you, I watch them every year and never get sick of them. 🙂 Good luck in the drawing. Happy Reading on that long list of yours. 😉
I love The Bishop’s Wife.
Savanna, thank you for the wonderful interview with Melissa. 🙂
I don’t think I’ve seen that one, but I’ve heard of it. Isn’t it similar to The Preacher’s Wife? I’ll have to check it out. 😉 I’m glad you enjoyed the interview, Caryl. Good luck in the giveaway!
Anne of Green Gables! Just LOVED watching that when I was young and still enjoy watching it now!
Oh, YES! I love that movie so much. Just talking about it here makes me want to go watch it again. 😉 Thanks for visiting, Wenona!
Sound of Music would definitely be one of my favorites. Love Melissa’s books. Thanks for the giveaway.
Aren’t Melissa’s books fun? 🙂 Thanks for joining us, Melissa. Good luck in the drawing. (P.S. I love the Sound of Music too!)
“Holiday Inn” (to watch at Christmas Time) & not so old, a Disney film, “Snow Dogs!”
Ahhh, I love Holiday Inn. I’ve always wanted to stay at a place like that. 😉 “Snow Dogs” is a new one to me, though. I’ll have to look that up. Thanks for stopping by, Barb!
I may or may not have a thing for musicals but West Side Story is my all time favorite. Let’s keep the American Dream alive right?
Happy 4th,
Thanks for visiting, Brenda. I’ve always enjoyed musicals myself. 😉 Hope you have a great 4th too!!