Melissa Face joins us this week to chat about her essay collection on parenting, I Love You More Than Coffee
Author Name: Melissa Face
Book Title: I Love You More Than Coffee: Essays on Parenthood
Book Genre: Nonfiction
Release Date: September 1, 2020
Publisher: Mascot Books
Welcome, Melissa! Please tell us a bit about I Love You More Than Coffee: Essays on Parenthood.
I still think my cover copy does it best: Are you trying to balance raising a family with maintaining your own identity? Have you ever been so exhausted that you showed up to a meeting carrying your baby’s diaper bag instead of your briefcase?
What sparked the idea for this book?
My daughter actually asked me if I liked her more than candy, cookies, and finally coffee! We had a good laugh and then I thought, “I love that! What a fun idea for a title!”
How long does it usually take for you to write a book? Did you do any research?
Mine is an essay collection and the essays in it were written over an eight-year period. The book itself, though, took about two years from concept to publication.
What drew you to creative non-fiction, especially about parenting?
It started purely as a means of company and coping – writing has always been my way of sorting out my experiences.
What’s your favorite part about writing/being an author? What do you find challenging?
My first answer is the actual writing. I absolutely love that quiet and introspective time that I create for myself whenever possible. I enjoy using a new pen or marker in a brand new notebook or journal. I absolutely love to hand write, and I enjoy typing. And more recently, I have loved the networking opportunities and community that I have had with other authors. My biggest challenge is that I write nonfiction, so I am often putting it all out there. I have to balance my intent of being honest with protecting my children’s private moments.
If you were speaking to someone who hasn’t read your writing before, why should they want to read I Love You More Than Coffee?
New readers will appreciate that it is helpful without being preachy and that there is something relatable for everyone, whether or not you are a parent. While my book is literally about parenting, the overall messages certainly apply to life in general.
What about the writing/editing/publishing process has been the most surprising to you so far?
The number of times that I read my book when I was in the final phases and the fact that I wrote my own cover copy. I always thought “someone else” did that. As it turns out, I was the “someone else!”
Any words of wisdom you give your pre-published writer self (or to a new writer)? Create time to write; don’t wait for time to become available.
What are your interests outside of writing and reading?
I love traveling with my husband and children; we always have the best time on our weekend getaways and we are good at packing a lot of fun into a short period of time. I also love twinning with my daughter, and I intend to do so until she grows tired of matching me.
Are you working on a new project? Please tell us about it.
Yes! I am working on a follow-up to my collection that will allow moms to contribute their own parenting stories.
Where can readers find you?
https://www.facebook.com/MelissaFaceWrites
https://www.instagram.com/melissafacewrites/?hl=en
Thank you, Melissa! I Love You More Than Coffee: Essays on Parenthood is OUT NOW.
I Love You More Than Coffee: Essays on Parenthood
Are you trying to balance raising a family with maintaining your own identity? Have you ever been so exhausted that you showed up to a meeting carrying your baby’s diaper bag instead of your briefcase? In her debut collection, I Love You More Than Coffee, Melissa Face writes about the emotions we all experience as parents: anticipation, joy, fear, guilt, and worry. Whether you are a new or seasoned parent, you will find common ground in Melissa’s heartfelt, humorous, and authentic stories of her life with two young children. If you love coffee a lot and your kids (a little) more, this book is for you. Fill your mug with your favorite brew and settle in with I Love You More Than Coffee.