Congrats to Violet C, contest winner!
The Debutante Ball is delighted to welcome Melissa Senate…if you don’t love her already, you will by the end of this post!
Melissa Senate is the author of 10 novels, including her debut, See Jane Date (made into a cute TV movie), two for teens, and her new book, The Love Goddess’ Cooking School. A former romance novel editor and YA editor (she met both Fabio and the Olsen twins along the way), Melissa now writes on the lovely coast of Maine, where she lives with her son and his toys.
Stay tuned after the interview for more details on The Love Goddess’ Cooking School and how you can enter to win a copy!
Melissa Senate Takes the Deb Interview!
Talk about one book that made an impact on you.
I could name so many, from my beloved Anne of Green Gables to Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, but if I had to pick ONE, it has to be A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. It’s a beautiful book about dignity and dreaming and determination in the face of adversity. I love it so much that I worked a little discussion about it into a scene in my debut novel.
Who is one of your favorite (fictional or non-fictional) characters?
I just love Charlotte, from Charlotte’s Web. That is one wise, selfless spider. Oddly (or maybe not so oddly), whenever I see a spider, I don’t freak out.
Talk about one thing that’s making you happy right now.
At the moment, I’m drinking a cup of slightly sweet Earl Gray tea while reading Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine To The World Of Food And Those Who Cook by Anthony Bourdain. Tea, a great book that I can’t put down, my two black cats curled up at my feet, my son at a rock-climbing birthday party…that’s happiness.
Where do you love to be?
My two favorite things are being with my wonderful 8 year old son and reading. Now that he’s reading chapter books, we sometimes sit shoulder-to-shoulder on the sofa, each reading our own book, and sometimes, he’ll laugh at a line and share it with me or ask me what something means or say, “Did you know…”. That’s bliss for me.
What is your advice for aspiring writers?
Read, read, read, of course. Widely. In and out of your genre. Read literary fiction. Read chick lit. Read mysteries and thrillers. Read YA. Read historical fiction. Read memoirs. Read all kind of non-fiction. Read. And one more thing: Trust yourself. Your gut knows more than anyone else what is true for you.
See, what did we tell you? She’s lovely. And the book is even lovelier!
In The Love Goddess’ Cooking School, an Italian cooking class—with decades-old recipes calling for wishes and memories as ingredients—changes the lives of its heartbroken new teacher, Holly Maguire, and her four students: a separated single father, a grieving woman, a serial dater, and a 12-year old girl. Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt calls it “tender, charming, and seasoned with a pinch of old-world magic.” And More magazine named it a food-themed book “to eat up!”
Want to enter to win a copy for your very own? We know you do, and Melissa has graciously agreed to give away a copy to one lucky Deb Ball reader! Just leave a comment below to enter…the winner will be announced in our November 28th News Flash!
Can’t get enough Melissa? We know! Neither can we!
Check out The Love Goddess’ Cooking School on Amazon!
I love books that incorporate foodie topics, so this sounds perfect for me!
Thank you for taking care of MUCH of my Christmas shopping list! Italian cooking? Check. Fantastic writing voice I already know, adore and trust? Check. Gorgeous cover so sister doesn’t turn up nose at first glance? CHECK. And you don’t kill spiders? Perfect. I like spiders – of course I live in New England so the largest I ever see might be the size of a quarter if they are on steroids. GREAT interview – happy holidays and buon appetito! KIM
Sitting with her son reading on the sofa does sound wonderful! No need to enter me, I have the book.
I’m absolutely dying to read this, and even more after Melissa’s interview here!
Thanks so much for these wonderful comments, everyone! Kim, I feel like we go back to the dawn of time–or at least 2001-ish! You’re right about the spiders in NE–teeny, which might account for my lack of fear.
Beth and Jen, I would LOVE to send you both a copy of The Love Goddess’ Cooking School. Your blogs are always part of my morning! I’ll get in touch and thanks!
Okay – I clearly need to read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. You’re like the third person in a week to mention it.
I’m so glad you came by, Melissa – The Love Goddess’ Cooking School is sitting patiently on my Kindle, waiting for Thanksgiving weekend! (Perfect time to read a book about food, no?)
I have SO been stalking “The Love Goddess’ Cooking School” contests – I NEED this book! Melissa seems such a genuine person, I follow her on FB and love her interviews. Debutante Ball does such a nice job and has introduced me to several writers I’ve not been familar with previously – Good job!
Oh, wow! This book sounds FABULOUS! I loved “The Solomon Sisters Wise Up” so much I read it several times, so your newest book goes on my must-read list immediately. Thanks so much for visiting us at The Ball!
Tawna
Melissa, you are an absolute sweetheart. I have your bool already, but if I didn’t I would be scrambling for this giveaway! Congratulations. xo
Eleanor, you MUST read A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. It’s everything in one beautiful novel. I think it’s the first book that ever made me cry. And thanks so much for having Love Goddess on your Kindle! It will go well with turkey and all the trimmings! Thank you so much for everything!! ♥
Jane, how nice! Thank you so much. You know how to make an author smile!
Tawna, I’m now so nostalgic for the days when I wrote The Solomon Sisters–I was living a very different life with a newborn in New York City. That book is so special to me. I hope you like Love Goddess to!
And thanks Rebecca! You are the best! I’m so excited for my guest appearance on your blog next week!
Loved the interview! I am really looking forward to reading this book, it looks excellent. And I will also have to check out A Tree Grows In Brooklynn 🙂
I love Melissa’s YAs so I’m going to have to check this out. Plus we share a love of hot tea and a good book
Sounds like a great book. I’ve been reading great reviews.
I loved The Secret of Joy and am now reading The Solomon Sisters Wise Up. I can’t wait to read her new book!
Delicious! And I love your advice to aspiring writers — I feel like too many people only read in a very narrow range, and you can learn so much from roaming free through the fields of possibility. Plus, it’s fun.
(And of course, congrats on the book!)
Your book sounds divine! I can’t wait to read it!
I’ve been an avid fan of Melissa Senate since I stumbled upon See Jane Date shortly after it was published. She is one of my all-time favorite authors and having a signed copy would incredibly meaningful to me!
Adore you Melissa! So fun to have you here at The Ball! xoxo
No need to enter me as I was lucky enough to win a copy of this already. I just wanted to say what a great interview this was, and how much I enjoyed the book! It was such a great book, and I devoured it in only 24 bours 🙂
Ooops….24 hours….
Thanks so much, Jonita! And thank you, everyone! It is FREEZING this Sunday morning in Maine (26 shivering degrees) and I am warmed up by just reading these wonderful comments. Eileen–such a treat to see your name–I’m a big fan of yours! And Jael, can not WAIT for your Kitchen Daughter!
Thanks again, everyone! Love The Debutante Ball!
Love Judy Blume, LOVE Anthony Bourdain, and now absolutely loving you, Melissa! The book sounds gorgeous, and I can’t wait to pick up a copy… though I have a feeling I’ll want an espresso and cannoli along the way…
Thanks for coming to the ball!
Awww, thanks, Elise! You know, you just made me realize I never ONCE mentioned cannoli in the novel. How can that be???
I remember watching the movie See Jane Date and loving it. I tried tracking down the book, but so far no success. I would love to enter for the giveaway.
I’d love to win!! This books sounds amazing.
*book*
i would love to read melissa’s latest masterpiec…thanks for the opportunity 🙂