Please introduce yourself and your book(s)
Hello and thank you so much for having me! My name is Melissa Cummins. I have been writing Paranormal Romance for the last five years. Writing is something that has always been very near and dear to my heart. I love writing characters who fall in love and grow in love together.
Tell us about the characters and relationships in your stories
In my book Night Shade, Daniella is someone who is extremely ambitious and works very hard, due to her fears and past trauma. Those fears make her strive to stay logical, not lead with emotion, and it makes it easier for her to shove her feelings down for everyone, including the love of her life, her best friend, Gregori. Greg is a leader. He has a good head on his shoulder’s and everyone looks to him for guidance and support, but due to this he never really lets himself go. He doesn’t spend time on himself or take a moment to really be free.
What I love about the relationship between Daniella and Greg is that they both bring out the best in one another. Greg provides Daniella with a safe space for her to revile in her feelings, and know that someone will still be there for her. Daniella makes Greg feel comfortable enough to share his secrets and burdens with her. Daniella also works hard to ease those burdens for Greg and make him see that while he bares a lot of responsibility, he can, in fact, also think of himself and his wants.
What lessons could readers learn about real-world relationships from your novel(s)?
The first is that a partner, whether a love partner or friend partner, should always try to raise you up. They should be someone you can confide in, celebrate with, cry with. Someone who even if they do not understand what is going on in that moment, is willing to.
The second is that relationships are a partnership. What you give should also be what you get. Now those things may look different from person to person, and that’s okay, but there should always be a constant effort to strengthen, build, and raise the relationship between the two of you.
Loving someone is not the end all nor be all of a relationship. There is a journey beyond that, which partners share. On that journey they will get to know one another and have the opportunity to grow their love between one another. Sometimes, that will be difficult. Sometimes they will have to fight, push, or pull to help their partner or themselves grow, but that’s okay. The road of which partners walk on is the road of choice, and as long as they continue to choose one another each day, their journey will always continue.
What real-life relationship experiences, observations or insights have influenced your writing?
Definitely my relationship with my husband. Matter of fact, I struggled to write male characters before I met him. I do not base my male characters on him, but when I read them over, I do notice small similarities.
I’m certain every experience I’ve had will influence a character in the future, but I think that’s what makes writing so magical. I have the ability to create and shape realities that readers will enjoy, and if my writing helps someone make it through a difficult time, or inspires them to vocalize their feelings, then I’ve done something truly amazing.
Are there any relationship themes or topics you want to cover in future releases?
Yes! My next release will deal heavily with trauma in a very real world way and how important and impactful therapy can be in those situations.