The sound of the ocean,
the crash of the waves as they kick up against the sand and rocks—these
are the only sounds Megan Greene wants to hear. She wants to leave the
rest of the world behind, and find some peace.
The offer of a
private house on the beach, set in a small town in Maine, is perfect.
Time to think—to be by herself. It’s all she wants. It’s the escape she
needs.
Until she stumbles across the painting that seems to echo her own chaotic mindset.
Until she meets the unfriendly artist behind the stormy painting and discovers his secrets.
All
Zachary Adams wants is to be left alone. His canvases, and the
unending scope of the ocean and sand, are his life. They direct him—fill
his hours. Bring him focus.
Until she enters his life.
She dredges up memories of the past—the haunting images he has hidden for years; the fears he has never shared.
A story he keeps buried below the surface.
Can she make him see what he is missing? Can he trust her enough to believe?
Together they embark on a journey where their pasts collide and threaten to tear them apart.
Will their fragile bond hold or wash away with the ebbing tide?
****INTERVIEW****
Beneath the Scars
is a hauntingly beautiful tale. A lot of emotions are in play here. How do you,
the writer, get in the zone for a story like that?
I listened to a lot of music when I wasn’t
writing. I can’t play music while I write but I draw from the emotions I feel
when I listen to the music in between. Often when I am writing I get up and
walk around imagining what is happening and how I would feel if I was in the
situation. My husband has learned there are times best to simply leave me
alone. I went to a few dark places putting myself in a spot where I could
relate to Zachary. Megan’s pain was a little easier to identify with—who hasn’t
had their heart broken ?
From your first
published book, Into the Storm, to now, what would you say you've learned about
the publication world?
It’s tough. I am not very good at
self-promotion and it is something I need to get better at. You have to wear so
many different hats, and I’m sure, like most writers, I would really rather
just be left to create the worlds I live in for a short time and let someone
else do all the rest. The way the industry has changed, that is really no longer possible. It’s a huge learning
curve, one I am still dealing with daily!
What's your
biggest strength as a writer?
I write with emotion—I draw on past
experiences and feelings I’ve dealt with in my life. I love creating the scenes around the
characters and helping the reader see them as they move through the story. I
want them to experience the feelings of that unexpected intense love, the joy
and pain…all of it.
Cast your
characters for me? Say they are going on the big screen, who would be your
ideal cast?
Henry Cavill as
Zachary. His eyes speak to me and his broad shoulders and height are the perfect fit for how I pictured him. Alexis Bledel
as Megan. She has that pretty girl next door look I imagined Megan to
have. I picture Ryan Gosling as Jared
and Anne Hathaway as Karen.
Where would you like to see your writing take you?
I’d like to be able to do nothing but write. I
would love to be in the position of writing more, attending meet-ups getting to
know other authors I admire. Maybe one day!
I know you are a music guru so this might be hard. But, what soundtrack would
Beneath the Scars have? Give me at least 5 songs.
Secondhand Serenade figures huge in this one.
His haunting words and great melodies played a lot throughout this book.
Never too Late – Secondhand Seranade.
Stranger – Secondhand Seranade
Alone in this Bed – Framing Hanley
The Mess I’ve made-Parachute
and a song called Once by Air Supply – all
instrumental. Haunting and pretty and was so perfect for the underlying feeling
to the book
I'm going to go out on a limb and say, after reading this book, that you're a
dog lover, am I right and if so do you have any of your own?
LOL! No, actually I don’t. I have a cat. I love
dogs and their beautiful personalities. I think they bring out the very best in
their masters and they are fun to write. They say so much with no words. Huffs
and whines, head butting and eye rolls. All my cat does is sleep and eat. Not
much to add to the scene unless she rolls over.
What or who inspires you?
Music inspires me. Great words. A book that
melts away the hours.
In people? Kindness and generosity of spirit. We
are on earth for such a short time—we should treat each other well.
Can you tell us about any future work?
I’m working on the next book. A girl next door
story. And I have another idea floating around for the one after. It’s a little
more…angsty.
What have you learned about being a writer?
It’s something I can’t not be anymore.(And if my editor saw that line, she’d smack
me.) My day isn’t complete until I
write. If the voices in my head are silent it bothers me. I am constantly
creating, scribbling on pieces of paper, thinking of scenarios and making up
stories about the smallest thing. I have
to write. Every day.
BUY LINK!!!!
GET ON AMAZON
MY REVIEW: 5 STARS
*sigh* Megan and Zach.
Wounded hearts. This books was a fantastical journey through a love that
is rarely seen. I could feel all of Zach's pain throughout the story
and Megan's determination to heal the unseen scars. One look at Zach and
you know there's a story there. A painful one and Megan's strength and
the power of her love for him transforms Zach.
Zach, in his all
consuming darkness holds on to the light that Megan brings to his life.
In return he helps her heal her own wounds.
The tug of war the
two have was choreographed brilliantly by Melanie Moreland and I was
enthralled! This is how you write a love story.
Melanie owned me
early on and never did that falter. She has written a story that will
make you soar through every emotion there is!
Outstanding!
***GIVEAWAY***
One lucky person will win a free copy of Beneath the Scars by Melanie Moreland! Enter below. Contest ends Sunday October 19th!
Goodluck to all and remember to REVIEW!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
