Online for Authors Episode 9-17-24

​Skates and Pirouettes: Unexpected Love on the Ice with Author Melissa C Diaferia

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Melissa C Diaferia, author of the book Sugar Plum and the Right Winger. Melissa is a talented independent romance author from Toronto, Ontario. Along with her passion for makeup artistry and nail design, Melissa enjoys writing as another creative outlet for her ideas and passions. Here, she is known to focus on her Italian heritage, musicality, sports, and her love for romance-based plots. Melissa also enjoys giving back to others in her community as she volunteers at her local church to further spread the love and joy she has in her heart.

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I just had the most delightful chat with Melissa C. Diaferia, a talented independent romance author from Toronto. Melissa is making waves with her latest novel, Sugar Plum and the Right-Winger, the first book in her Toronto Blues series.

In Sugar Plum and the Right-Winger, Melissa pairs an unlikely duo - Bea, a graceful ballerina, and Teo, a rugged Toronto Blues hockey player. I loved how Melissa brought together two extremely athletic characters from very different sports worlds. The book is a quick, clean romance read that includes a fun song list featuring tunes from Hamilton and artists like Elvis and Michael Bublé. Heads up though - the Toronto Blues is a fictional hockey team Melissa created for her series, not to be confused with the real-life Toronto Maple Leafs!

During our chat, Melissa shared her writing journey, from scribbling stories in kindergarten to now crafting compelling characters as a young author. She opened up about the challenges of sharing her work on platforms like Wattpad and the importance of fostering creativity in young writers. Melissa's advice? Focus on getting all your ideas out, even the "bad" ones, to make room for the great ones to shine through.

As a "pantser" style writer, Melissa enjoys the discovery process of letting her stories and characters guide her, rather than outlining every plot point in advance. She's excited to continue the Toronto Blues series and has plans to explore other genres in the future, like a fictionalized family memoir based on her Italian grandparents' incredible love story.

If you want to keep the book discussion going, hop on over to the Novels and Latte Book Club on Facebook. As a member, you'll have a chance to win a digital copy of Sugar Plum and the Right-Winger. And be sure to connect with Melissa her website to stay updated on her writing adventures and upcoming releases.

Major thanks to Melissa for being my guest and sharing her contagious enthusiasm for storytelling. I hope our conversation inspires you to chase your own writing dreams, no matter your age or background. Remember, every author starts somewhere - the key is to just keep writing!

Purchase Sugar Plum and the Right Winger:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3ShIqbT
Ebook: https://amzn.to/3YcqmDz

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.