Dragon Soul Press had the opportunity to interview Melissa Filla, an author of RomComs.

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1) Introduce yourself. 

Hello my name is Melissa Filla and Im from Midwest Illinois.  I am an avid reader, sports fan (GO CUBBIES and BEARS) a professional auntie to so many nieces and nephews, and love to laugh.  I am a huge supporter of mental health awareness since I am a child who lost her veteran dad to suicide, so I participate in as many programs as possible. My friends and family make my life brighter and fuller.

2) What prompted you to begin writing?

I have always had an active imagination and my inner monologue is always keeping my storylines going so when I said something to my co-author and bestie Jaime Russell she told me let’s start writing and the rest is history.

3) Do you have a favorite story or poem you’ve written? What’s it about?

It’s like asking my favorite child, but I have to say I have three.  A Fresh Start because it was my first and was my most therapeutic since it was loosely based on my own DV struggles.  Suck it Colton Simmons because it was the first book I wrote by myself and I included my best friend Jessica by having her on the cover.  Three- Praying Mantis.  The reason why is because Jaime had me out of my RomCom comfort zone and I was writing unaliving scenes, of course some dad jokes sprinkled in.

4) How many projects do you have planned over the next few years? Tell us about one.

Currently I/we have 12 projects going.  One of them is another book from the Femme fatale Series that we release for BRAE each year.  It’s my first rockstar romance and we are having fun writing it.

5) What is your writing process like?

I have ADHD so my writing process would probably make other authors cringe lol.  I have many google docs open with notes, but we have one main “Story Bible” that Jaime and I write for each story.  I plan what I write, but I also let the characters “talk” to me.  Wolf’s Whisper was going to be a 30K book and turned into over 50K because the characters would not stop talking to me about their story. 

6) Where do you draw inspiration from?

I get my inspiration from real life and from the cover photo.  Vetting the Biker I had seen the photo first and was talking to the model Julie on the cover.  I literally though of the whole story line just from the photo.  Like I said wild imagination. I also include everyday stories and conversations in my stories, plus our characters are sometimes based off real people in our lives.  Not the story but more mannerisms.

7) Who is your favorite author / what is your favorite book?

This is such a hard question I have so many.  I have to say that I love Cee Bowerman, Mirrah McGee, Avelyn Paige, Lola Wright, KD Michaels, BB Blaque, and so many more.  I hate choosing because I have books and authors for each mood.  My favorite book though that I can reread over and over honestly is any from Cee Bowerman.  I love RomCom and MC, so some of her books make me laugh so damn hard.

8) What is one goal you have for your writing future?

I want to finish my It Series that is all novellas.  I have about 6 stories left in the series. 

9) What do you hope readers enjoy most from your work?

I hope they connect to the characters the way I do and the way I connect to authors I love reading. To know that is the greatest gift because that tells me I have succeeded as an author.

10) Where can readers learn more about you?

Readers can find me here and please add me on Facebook, Facebook group, Instagram, BookBub, and TikTok. I love new friends!