Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Military Brat to Wife to Writer

I will be honest with you. I never really planned on writing military romance. I am a military brat and a military wife, so I don't see much that is romantic about the military. Don't get me wrong. I love to read military romance, but trying to make it romantic myself, I wasn't sure I could do that. I was worried it would end up in a rant about how every time something goes majorly wrong, DH is on TDY.

I had written former military folks here and there, but never active duty. There is a different feel to an AD hero or heroine. Your life is not your own, therefore the life of those you love is not their own either. So, I had avoided it. Then, a couple of authors, Alyssa Brooks and Karen Monroe, came to me with an idea. Triplets who were military brats who swore never to marry military. That I could get behind because I was so that girl once upon a time. Operation Love was a blast to write with two other authors and I started to see there was a part of me that might want to write military romances.  Not enough but it was a start.

Flash forward from 2005 to 2011. I was writing A Little Harmless Submission and Malachi Dupree popped up. He had been mentioned in a few books but he had never been on the "page" so to speak. Since I had started my own publishing at that point, I knew there was a place for him and his friends in a book. A Little Harmless Military Romance was born.

Infatuation released November 2011. It was odd that people loved them so much. Or, at least, it was to me, but many of the emails and comments from readers told me that people wanted more of them. I had not really planned five right off the bat, but the lure of showing people the real behind the scenes lives was a little too much to resist. With our active duty military life winding down (SEPTEMBER!!!!!!!), I feel more comfortable writing military romance. Later this year Craving and Relentless will release, and this May, I decided to pay an homage to our military lives by releasing The Santinis.

After twenty years a military wife - not to mention my years a military
dependent - I wanted to write about a family who gave their lives for their country. Each book will feature a place we lived during the last twenty years.  Understand, at least from my point of view, that when you agree to go into the military, you are giving over your life. For two to thirty years...your life is not your own. And for military brats, four brothers, to do that is amazing. You know the problems that go along with the commitment. Knowing that, all four brothers went into the military. So, you know that men like that are not going to love easily. I wanted to explore their dynamic as brothers and in their relationships with women. I wanted to give them their happily ever afters because, people who serve in that capacity definitely deserve it.





14 comments:

  1. I'm a military wife and agree every time something major goes wrong he is no where around. Lol Glad to know it isn't just me.

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    1. Always! I keep joking I am going to write a book of essays about being a military wife called If it's broken, he must be TDY. That or It it's raining, it must be moving day, lol

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  2. Sounds like you give a lot for your country, too! lol! Thanks for all that you do!!!

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    1. Thanks, Tracey. We have actually been really lucky. He has only missed one kid's bday and never missed an anniversary, although he did spend a birthday in Saudi. We have been so lucky compared to so many who spend so much time deployed.

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  3. I was a military brat for the first 12 years of my life. I didn't move a ton, just from Louisiana to San Jose. I grew to know Moffett Field pretty good. I wasn't a fan of my father because of personal reasons, but I did love his military friends, and then I moved to Fernley NV with my mom, and my neighbor was in the Air Force too. I remember in June 2003 going to the base with her at like 3 am, because she was going to take me to the airport afterwards, and she was signing orders and shipping out all of these gorgeous pilots. (Of course my teenage self was all interested) But I do remember the pride I felt as they walked out to their plane and I got to say good luck while in an area not many civilians get to see. Thank you for being a military wife, and thank you to your husband and your family for serving.

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    1. I did not know you were a military brat! There is something about being involved in the military on an intimate level that makes you feel special. At least most of the time. Other times the question is "why me?" But, I was always very proud of my father and now of Les.

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  4. I did the Army wife thing for a few years and I actually enjoyed it a lot. It taught me an independence that nothing else had. My husband was 3rd generation military too so I always had his parents to help when I had questions. It's definitely not the life for everyone but it has its perks... aka a man in uniform that you get all to yourself. ;)

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    1. I think it did prepare me a bit. I already knew things and had an idea of what to expect. But I will say it was different being the wife rather than the daughter. So many things you have to deal with as the spouse.

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  5. I respect military families so much because of all they go through when a loved one is AD.

    I love your books

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  6. Hi, Mel! My mom and all her siblings grew up as army brats on bases all across Canada. I've heard many stories over the years, let me tell you. I think that must be where my love of military heroes comes from. Looking forward to the new books!

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  7. Awesome blog but then you knew I would like it... maybe.
    I have always had a fascination with the military and at one point it was all I wanted to do with my life. I have so much respect for not just the men and women who serve in uniform but for the family who serve as well. Thank you for taking us all on a wonderful journey each time we read one of your books.

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  8. Great story, Melissa. I too have a lot of compassion and thanks for all the military heroes, AND their families. It is so heartwarming that there are fans who love military romance. And so honored to be able to share this blog with you, too. So nice the stories of the family's sacrifice is now coming out. Needs to be told.

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  9. Loved reading this post. It gives us readers a little bit of the personal side of the authors we love so much. Thank you for being here!

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