**Author Spotlight Interview ~ Divine Vices ~ Melissa Parkin**

I'm thrilled to have Melissa Parkin, author of Divine Vices, on the blog today! Divine Vices is a Young Adult Paranormal Romance and it sounds fantastic. Enjoy my interview with Melissa!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

In the simplest of terms, I’m an avid reader, a proud Whovian, and a movie aficionado with a mild Dr. Pepper addiction.

What do you do when you're not writing?

Binge reading! I’m a total bookaholic. When I don’t have a paperback or my Kindle in hand, you’ll most likely find me perusing every book synopsis on every shelf at Barnes & Noble. If I could, I’d live there. Unfortunately, they won’t let me. I also love photography, watching movies, listening to music, and letting my imagination run amuck.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either while growing up or as an adult?

I actually didn’t read much as a kid. Most of the books I did read were the ones selected for the school curriculum, and I admittedly never really enjoyed any of them. Then the one day, I was in the public library and stumbled across Chuck Palahniuk’s “Fight Club”. I knew about the movie, but I hadn’t watched it yet (I was only thirteen at the time). Figuring I’d give the book a shot, I checked it out and, in consequence, I had my mind blown! Every line in the book is quotable. Its blend of genres, tongue-in-cheek commentary, and dark humor is extraordinary, and it was the first time that I realized a book could honestly bring that kind of enjoyment to a reader. It infected me with the Reading Bug, and I’ve been happily afflicted by it since. Reading is such a big part of my life, and I have that book and author to thank.

How did Divine Vices come about?

I can’t say I remember that pivotal moment where I was like, “Yes, I have to write that!” All my previous writings were realistic short story mysteries and suspense thrillers, so the idea of a paranormal-themed young adult romance seemed to have come out of left field for me. Once my leading man, Jackson Matthews, introduced himself to my mind’s eye though, I knew I had to take on the task of putting him down on paper. I’ve never had so much fun writing for a character as much as I have with him.

Why are readers going to love Divine Vices?

There’s a little bit of everything in it for everyone. It’s a paranormal romance, yes, but there are a lot of layers lurking under the categorization. Expect plenty of humor, banter, thrills, scares, and lots of chemistry. And for any reader hankering for a sexy bad boy, rest assured, there’s ample satisfaction to be had here.

Is anything in the book based on real life experiences or is it all purely imagination? 

If my folks are reading this, then…no! Absolutely none of it ever happened to me in real life! *cough* In actuality, yes, some scenes are most definitely based on personal experiences, with Jack particularly in mind.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

Probably Chapter 9: Beautiful Dangerous. This is a prime example of reality clashing with fiction. One of the things that I loved most about this chapter was seeing Cassie and Jack square off and having them find worthy adversaries in one another.

What project are you working on now?

I’m currently working on the sequel to Divine Vices, which will be out in the fall.

Thanks, Melissa!

***

Danger seldom leaves its victims unscathed in the ways of seduction, and this lesson is one that sixteen-year-old Cassie Foster now knows all too well.

Nine months following the traumatic accident that claimed the life of her mother and sister, this high school junior has at last found a fresh start in the quiet town of New Haven, Maine. In the company of her best friends, Ian and Gwen, she's bracing the usual turmoil of adolescense and taking all in stride...until the new transfer student, Jackson Matthews, comes walking into her life. He's arrogant, sarcastic, roguish, devastatingly sexy, and the very last thing Cassie wants to entertain. But when circumstances drive these two together, she finds herself a bit too close for comfort as their bond intensifies. Plagued by unexplainable events, a sudden string of disappearances, and even a cult-related murder, Cassie begins to fear for her life. Is it all just a coincidence that these happenings began when this Casanova strolled into town, or has she in fact fallen for a real lady-killer, or worse?

True solace for this Chicagoland native is no further than a minute's walk away from her, right to the keyboard. Having always been blessed/cursed with an overactive imagination, she's constantly encouraging her predisposition with late night writing fits fueled by her mild Dr. Pepper addiction. A connoisseur of music, movies, and literature, Melissa is always finding inspiration in everything around her. When she's not diving into the depths of her mind's eye, you will undoubtedly find her with a book, a camera, her iPod, or a can of Dr. Pepper in hand.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads Author Page