Good day friends! I am so excited to have a guest on my blog today… my friend and upcoming author, Melissa Tagg! Melissa writes in a way that is laugh-out-loud funny and does her book not have one of the CUTEST covers ever?!
Melissa is a former newspaper reporter and total Iowa girl. Her first novel, Made to Last, releases from Bethany House in September 2013. In addition to her homeless ministry day job, Melissa is also the marketing/events coordinator for My BookTherapy. Melissa blogs regularly and loves connecting with readers at www.melissatagg.com.
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There’s this guy… 🙂
His name is Matthew Knox. While he’d be the first one to acknowledge his flaws and failures, he is attractive in about 101 ways.
I should know. I created him.
Figuring out this guy at the center of my debut novel, Made to Last, was a pretty fun process. From the beginning, I knew he was a journalist-turned-magazine-blogger out to revive his wobbly career by uncovering my celebrity heroine’s secrets. (I also knew he had dimples and wit as many a good hero does. Haha!)
But playing nosy reporter with a mistake-filled past couldn’t be the whole story. The author in me knew Matthew needed a noble cause or motivation driving his ambition. The girl in me knew there was more to this guy than meets the eye—because isn’t there always in the great guys? 🙂
Enter Matthew’s nine-year-old niece. She’s in need of special surgery—one insurance isn’t inclined to cover. Matthew’s brother and sister-in-law are near the end of their rope financially. So while kitschy celebrity reporting is so not his thing, Matthew knows it’s a quick and easy way to boost his cash flow. As he sees it, it’s worth temporarily trading his journalistic integrity to help this little girl he loves so much.
Matthew’s love for his niece and his desire to help her, those are the whys behind his what. It makes all the difference in his character and in the way the heroine of the story sees him. Suddenly he’s not just a reporter out to spill her secrets. He’s a man with a huge heart trying to make up for an iffy past by playing hero in his niece’s life.
And this is where I stopped and had one of probably a dozen life lessons that came along with the writing of Made to Last:
When I get to know the motivations, the special causes, the values that drive a friend or family member forward…that’s when we’ve connected at a deeper level. Sometimes a person will freely offer that inside peek of his or her heart—which is quite the gift.
But probably more often than not, getting those glimpses of another’s vulnerable places means time and patience and intentional interest on my part. It means investing in that person. It means being willing to be vulnerable myself. It means really listening…both to what the other person is saying, but also what they’re not.
Which is exactly how my heroine starts to discover (and, yes, fall for) the sweet and layered guy that is Matthew Knox. And which is exactly how I want to interact with the people in my life.
Here’s the extra cool thing: When I take the time to see past the surface whats in the people around me to the whys on their heart…then I’ve learned to see people a little more like Christ does.
What’s one why behind your what—the motivation or value or special cause behind your career, goal or dream? How does uncovering someone else’s motivation change how you see their actions?
Aw, I love Matthew! He’s so sweet. 🙂
The why behind my what probably sounds cliche or boring, but it’s true: I write because I want my life to make a difference. I want to use the talents God gave me for His glory, and this is a very clear way to do that. Sometimes, I forget my why and lose sight of it, but when I focus on it, my what is oh-so clear.
And yes, understanding people’s motivations helps us to understand their actions — even when we don’t agree with said actions. But it helps us to know how to pray for people too.
I love Matthew, too. 🙂 And I don’t think your “why” sounds boring at all. I sometimes think God built a desire to make a difference and lead a life of purpose in us…and your purpose, to bring glory to Him, is awesome!
Oh, yes, Lindsay! So true. I just love hearing that it’s your compass of sorts on this writing journey. So much purpose to all this and so much good can be done through writing. Waving to you and to Melissa and so excited to say see you both SOON!
Sounds like a great story and what an inviting cover! People are so multi-faceted and when I read a book that draws me in to the characters it is because the author manages the fine art of developing the layers of that character. It also sounds like a fun read – love that!
I so agree with you about people being multi-faceted…my favorite characters are the ones with layers, too. I love it when I feel like I’m getting to know an intriguing character as I’m reading. 🙂
Isn’t it so inviting! Just love their big grins <3 I loved this peek into Melissa's Matthew. So glad you did too!
I love this behind the scene glimpse Melissa! Words restore hope… that’s why I write. I want others to feel hope and know that they can make a difference in a way no one else can. God in his depth of love does that for each of us. 🙂
“Words restore hope.” I love that, Lisa. Love it!
I can’t agree more, that is so beautiful!
Growing up, I never had the benefit of knowing my grandparents. Now that I am a grandparent (Grammy) I want to make sure that my grandchildren not only know me, but are influenced by my life. I have Bibles and journals that I am keeping for each grandchild. Bibles with my own handwritten notes in them and journals that I write in each month, telling each grandchild what wonders they are to me. In each journal entry, I include a personal prayer for each child. I try to live my life in a way that shows them God, but these two extras help me to leave behind a legacy for my grandchildren. In little over a month, I will have two new grandbabies….I am already keeping journals for them. Now, I need to get two more Grandmother’s Bibles for them.
This book sounds great! It is on my TBR list! God bless.
As someone who has grown up with two of the most wonderful grandparents, Debbie, I have to say how much I admire your desire to make an impact in the lives of your grandchildren. Those journals are going to be such a treasure to them!
That is so beautiful, Debbie. What a special gift for each of them! I so agree with Melissa, so admirable how you are doing that for them.
One of the reasons I’m so excited to read Made to Last is because I know the author behind the novel (you)! And that makes the story all the more appealing. I know your heart, your sense of humor, your quirky love of Diet Coke with Lime.
One of the whys behind my what?
I write because I believe there’s more to romance than the fairy tales tell us … because, well, I’ve done this whole happily ever after thing for a few years now and I’ve seen what it takes to fall in love, stay in love … and it’s not a Disney soundtrack and a fade-into-the-sunset kiss.
LOL, I’m drinking a Diet Coke with Lime as I’m reading these comments. 🙂 I have to say the same about you, Beth. Reading your awesome books is all the richer an experience because I’m blessed to actually know you!
And I love your reason for writing.
Wow, Beth, so well said! “I’ve seen what it takes to fall in love.” oh my, ain’t that the truth! It’s really a journey and a profound.
Great post! I can’t wait to get to know Matthew better when I read Made To Last. So in real life, I want my husband and I to raise our boys to be Godly men who care about others and glorify their Savior with their words and actions. Not a lofty goal, right? Baby steps, day by day, we’ll get there. In my writing life, I feel tremendous joy when I write well and I think that’s because I’m using the gifts God gave me. Of course I want to be published and sell my novel someday. But ultimately, at my final curtain call, I want to hear Him say well done, good and faithful servant.
I love your comment, Heidi, and especially that last part about the final curtain call. It’s amazing to think about that “someday” and what it’s going to be like to actually hear God’s voice…it makes the desire to live life well all the stronger!
Good afternoon, Heidi! Those are beautiful aspirations for your family and it’s so neat to see you put those front and center. What a blessing!
Oh, Melissa, it really does… that desire to life live well stronger. <3
Hi, Melissa!
Enjoyed your post & would love to read your book! So many times – we end to judge a person by his outward appearance & demeanor, before getting to know what is inside.
Thank you for your involvement in the homeless ministry – that is what it is all about, reaching out to others in God’s name. I am retired, & my only goal is to be the person He would have me be, live my life so that others can see Him in me, & reach out to them in His name.
SO glad to meet you through Joanne – love her books & blog!
Bonnie, thrilled that you got to meet Melissa today! She’s a dear and you are too which makes it all the more special. 🙂
Thank you, Joanne, you are SO kind!
Bonnie, I LOVE what you said about your goal being to be the person God would have you to be…so that other see Him in you. That’s just the best life goal ever, isn’t it?
So glad to meet you through Joanne, too. 🙂
The why behind my what is that I want to tell people’s stories, point people to Christ in hard times, and help people remember they’re not alone!
I can’t wait to finish reading MtL!
I love your “whys”, Laurie. Especially the part about helping people remember they’re not alone. If there’s anything my day job has drilled into me, it’s that loneliness is so, so prevalent in our culture…so many of the individuals and families who end up in our homeless ministry feel forgotten, abandoned and just horribly, horribly lonely. And all kinds of things may have gotten them to that place–results of their own choices or not–but what matters is that they’re there…they’re here…and they need to know they’re not alone and there is an answer and his name is Jesus.
Thanks for sharing this book. It sounds like one I would love to read. On the to-read list! 🙂
So happy to see Melissa on your blog, Joanne! You two ladies are so sweet.
The why behind my day job: I tutor kids because I love seeing them learn and progress and gain confidence in their abilities and themselves. Uplifting children is such a blessing, and I’m glad God’s given me such a challenge and gift for it.
Blessings,
Andrea
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