It is with great pride and pleasure that I introduce you to a debut author who received her very first contract for the outstanding A Mate's Healing Touch which is an upcoming release from the Black Hills Wolves. I can honestly say when I read her book, I was blown away. She loves all of these characters as much as we do! Without further ado, please welcome Merryn Dexter.
My First Experience
of Writing
Although my first published work (I cannot believe that I
can write those words!) will be an upcoming story in the Black Hills Wolves
series, I started writing a long time ago. When I was in my late twenties I was
going through a pretty unhappy time in my life. I was living with someone who
was not good for me, I was unhappy at work and feeling pretty isolated from my
family and friends. Like many of us, my escape was into books.
A particular favorite series of mine was The Wheel of Time
by Robert Jordan. There is a character in the series called Lan Mandragoran. He
is still one of my favorite Alpha males of all time. A soldier, a man burdened
by his heritage as the Lost King of the Malkier. Remote, brooding, just needing
the right woman to crack his heart open. Lan had it all going on in spades.
I wasn’t a great user of the Internet back then, but one day
I decided to Google and see if anyone else loved these books as much as I did.
It was one of the best things I ever did as I found a wonderful community of
like-minded people from all over the world. They had discussion boards, chat
rooms on IRC, we used ICQ to chat to each other (I know, I’m showing my age
LOL). Best of all, you could create characters that would fit into the world
and have your own adventures.
You could become an Aiel – a mystical warrior;
you could join the White Tower and train to use the One Power; or you could
become a lunatic warrior member of The Band of the Red Hand who bashed Trollocs
heads in with a morning star and rode an equal crazy horse called Dovienya.
(Guess which one I chose!)
I became Lilliandra – Lilli to her friends (and I can
happily say that there are some people who I am still friends with 17 years
later who call me Lilli). I rode my crazy horse into battle, I killed monsters,
I fell in love, I went crazy and turned to the Dark Side – there was nothing I
couldn’t do with a little bit of imagination and some time at my keyboard.
Being Lilli saved me. Writing saved me. Escaping the
unhappiness of real life, I was able to talk to people and be myself again.
Those friends help me realize what I wanted from life and gave me the courage
to change what wasn’t working for me in the real world.
In 2001, I got on a plane and flew to the U.S. to meet a load
of strangers, people just like me who sat behind a screen and had adventures. I
met my friends and had a wonderful time and when I got home I started a new job
which introduced me to the man who became my husband. We have been married for
ten years and my life has changed exponentially.
Reading is a skill, a gift, a portal into worlds I never
dreamed of. Now I have the chance to be that portal, to help others step away
from the harshness of the real world and dream, and rest and revive themselves.
It is the most amazing thing in the world.
I’d love to hear what books or series are special to you. Do
you have a particular book or character that inspired you, or spoke to you? It
can be as light or as heavy as you want, I’m always on the lookout for new
adventures!
Cheers! Merryn
You can find me online at the following places. I’d love to
hear from you, I mostly talk about books (and beer!) but I’ll happily chat
about anything you like.
One lucky commentator will win a copy of
Reluctant Mate by Chandra Ryan and
Diamond Moon by Celia Breslin. Don't forget to check out
Taryn Kincaid's blog for more blog hunt goodness!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
