ALL ABOUT MELISSA

Truly a woman for the new millennium, I first appeared in print with DEVIL'S FIRE in 2000.

I'd published in other genres (that's another story--and another website!) but breaking into erotica--bringing on the body heat for all to see and read--took more, well--juice than I needed for my previous books! Readers believe you are your characters when you write any kind of fiction, so now my husband's friends think they know all my deep, cheap secrets--and they believe he's one lucky stud.

(heh. was there ever a question, really?)

Who knew that DEVIL’S FIRE would spark a whole new persona, with a signature outfit, for when I speak at conferences and do autographings?  I was prepping for my first signing as Melissa when the manager’s assistant (way ahead of her time--and me) said the two magic words:

WEAR LEATHER

So I whipped up a black leather mini and a lace jacket, wore it with kick-ass heels and a black cami, and I was a hit! Over the next year or two I found my gloves and revamped a veiled hat from an antique store. Bought my little beaded boa from a mark-down box at the mall. I call it my kitty...as in, “wanna stroke my kitty?” Gets ‘em every time! ; 0

Along with four books for the Black Lace line, I’ve published a couple of serialized novels at WickedVelvet.com--all with a historical voice I called “Victoria Holt writing as Fanny Hill.” I’ve now moved into Kensington’s Aphrodisia line with a fresh (and yeah, I get feisty!) contemporary voice, featuring bad girls and boys very much into real-time pleasures and the technology that goes with them.

When I’m not writing, I love to travel (can you say “cruise ship”?), cook, crochet, speak at conferences, and yes...watch dirty movies. I live in the Midwest--the buckle of the Bible Belt, matter of fact--but I spend most of my time in imaginary situations and places.

Wanna know more? Check out the rest of my site--and if you send a message from my Guest Book, you’ll get news about my upcoming stories, too!