The Truth Lies at the Edge with Melissa Roos

Wendy & Rich 0:01
Coming to you from the Freedom Federal Credit Union Studios Hartford County Living Presence Conversations with Rich Bennett. 

Rich Bennett 0:28
Have you ever picked up a book and suddenly realized, you've lost track of time? Left out loud, stayed up way too late, or felt that pool where you have to know what happens next. That feeling doesn't happen by accident. My guest today, Melissa Ruse, understands that magic better than most. She's a mystery romance author whose stories are filled with emotional depth, layered suspense, and settings that feel just as alive as the characters themselves. She describes writing as revealing a secret one page at a time. And once you hear her talk about storytelling, you'll understand exactly why her readers keep coming back for more. So today, we're diving into her journey from growing up a true country girl in Iowa to discover her voice as a writer to what it really takes to keep readers guessing while still satisfying them emotionally. So if you love books, storytelling, or the art of a great mystery, you're in the right place. So let's get into it. How are you doing, Melissa? 

Melissa Roos 1:40
I'm great. How are you? 

Rich Bennett 1:42
I am doing good. So, look, before we actually talk about your books, I want to talk about what actually pulled you into storytelling in the first place. 

Melissa Roos 1:53
Well, Rich, I love to read. I have, you know, since a young age. And even my grandmother, like when I was young and we'd spend the night at my grandmothers, she would just make up a story off the top of her head, 

Rich Bennett 2:06
Look at that. 

Melissa Roos 2:06
and, you know, tell us a story, tell us a sleep. So that kind of, how it started. And then from there, I just love to read all kinds of books. So I love how they pull you in from the very first page, you know, how you can't wait to see what's going to happen. I love 

Rich Bennett 2:22
Right. 

Melissa Roos 2:22
the fact that when they make you cry or happy or laugh, it's just a whole thing thrills me. 

Rich Bennett 2:28
So back in high school, were you writing for the newspaper, the school paper or anything? 

Melissa Roos 2:34
No, I wasn't I was very shy. So I wrote for class and that was it. So I did not 

Rich Bennett 2:39
really. All right. Now, if you don't mind me asking those of you listening, let's put out her first book in 2020. Five years ago. No, wait a minute. Six years ago. God, I keep forgetting we're in 2026. Six years ago. So when you were going to school, what was your, what was it that you wanted to do? 

Melissa Roos 2:59
Well, 

Rich Bennett 2:59
I, what was your career choice? 

Melissa Roos 3:01
I secretly always wanted to be an author, but I didn't know how to go about that. And I didn't really want anybody to read my stuff either. So being shy and not wanting anybody to read it doesn't do very well with being an author. So 

Rich Bennett 3:14
Right. 

Melissa Roos 3:15
I went to college for architecture and interior design. 

Rich Bennett 3:19
Oh, wow. 

Melissa Roos 3:21
So I ended up with a degree in interior design. 

Rich Bennett 3:23
Now, are you still doing that? 

Melissa Roos 3:25
No, not not for quite a while. 

Rich Bennett 3:28
So you're actually just an author? Pernor, then. 

Melissa Roos 3:32
Yeah, kind of. 

Rich Bennett 3:33
I love. All right. Now, you hear you are saying that you're shy. You're on a podcast. You've been writing your books for six years. You be going to all these book fairs, book signings and everything. How did you break that bubble of being so shy? 

Melissa Roos 3:49
Well, I am still shy, but I just, I have to be, I have to be an extrovert. That's very injured. Right. So I just 

Rich Bennett 3:57
of, 

Melissa Roos 3:57
kind 

Rich Bennett 3:57
but are you getting more comfortable at 

Melissa Roos 3:59
I 

Rich Bennett 3:59
it? 

Melissa Roos 3:59
am. Yes. It's getting better. And I love to meet people. So it's fine. 

Rich Bennett 4:03
Right. That's good. All right. So when you were growing up in Iowa, how did that actually shape? You know, your view of the world and everything because, and here you are living in, well, you moved to Maryland. And now you're in Pennsylvania. That's kind of a big switch, 

Melissa Roos 4:20
hmm. 

Rich Bennett 4:20
isn't 

Melissa Roos 4:21
It is. Yes. Um, you know, in Iowa, I felt like I was very isolated. I mean, 

Rich Bennett 4:27
it? 

Melissa Roos 4:28
we 

Rich Bennett 4:28
Mm 

Melissa Roos 4:28
live seven miles from town. And so you didn't go to town. 

Rich Bennett 4:31
Wow. 

Melissa Roos 4:32
Unless you needed something. So, you know, there we were in the country, but going to Iowa State from, I graduated in a high school. My senior class was 66 kids. 

Rich Bennett 4:45
66. 

Melissa Roos 4:45
Yep. So I mean, the classes before and after us were a little bit bigger, but my actually graduating class was 66. So we were pretty limited and pretty isolated with a lot of things, but we still, we, you know, I'm still friends with all my high school friends now and [BLANK_AUDIO] It's, it was a great experience. 

Rich Bennett 5:05
So, and then after school, you went to Iowa State? 

Melissa Roos 5:08
Yep, mm-hmm, in Ames. 

Rich Bennett 5:09
Then, I'm sure there was a lot more people in your graduate and class then. 

Melissa Roos 5:14
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 5:14
Was it that like culture shock? 

Melissa Roos 5:16
It was, but you know what, I kind of wanted to be a number, at least that's what I-- 

Rich Bennett 5:20
Right. 

Melissa Roos 5:20
I'd go from everybody knowing me to being a number. But it really wasn't like that at Iowa State. There was, you know, I still saw people I knew. I got into, you know, groups that I loved being with, and so, yeah, it was a lot of fun there too. 

Rich Bennett 5:35
So you're growing up in this, well, not even a small town, you were seven miles from town. 

Melissa Roos 5:40
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 5:40
Why am I- Why am I picturing the movie footloose in my head? 

Melissa Roos 5:43
Oh, not quite like that, but 

Rich Bennett 5:46
Okay. 

Melissa Roos 5:46
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 5:47
[laughter] But all right, so with mysteries, I love mysteries. So why do you think like small towns and close-knit communities make perfect settings for mystery? 

Melissa Roos 6:00
Well, I mean, gossip flies fast at a 

Rich Bennett 6:03
Uh-huh. 

Melissa Roos 6:03
small town, and you know what, there are little mysteries behind the scenes. You think you know people, but sometimes you don't. So there's always little little secrets, little things you find out through the great vine that, you know, you maybe didn't know before. 

Rich Bennett 6:18
Hey, now, have you taken some of these and actually turned them into your stories? 

Melissa Roos 6:23
I mean, there's always a little relative bit of truth in some of my stories, so yeah. 

Rich Bennett 6:30
I see, I tell everybody because you said six books. 

Melissa Roos 6:33
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 6:33
Start with the first book, what are the titles of your books, and these are all romantic mystery, 

Melissa Roos 6:38
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 6:38
right? 

Melissa Roos 6:39
So the first one is titled "You Can Hide", and that one actually takes place in my hometown of Hampton, Iowa. 

Rich Bennett 6:47
Okay. 

Melissa Roos 6:48
So I started with what I knew, and from there, then I did in the "Shadow of the Black Moon", and that is based in Ocean City, Maryland. 

Rich Bennett 6:59
Okay. 

Melissa Roos 7:00
Yeah, because I mean, I've obviously lived in Maryland, and my family, we still go to Ocean City, Maryland almost every year. So we love it there. Then my third book is titled Cherry Hollow, and that takes place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 

Rich Bennett 7:15
Okay. 

Melissa Roos 7:16
You could see a theme here, right? So my fourth book is also titled "The Further I Fall", and that's based in Pennsylvania as well. My fifth book is "Tennessee Wishes", and that's just from I have a daughter who lives in Nashville, so, you 

Rich Bennett 7:35
Oh, 

Melissa Roos 7:35
know. 

Rich Bennett 7:36
okay. I was gonna say, wait a minute, that's a big switch there. 

Melissa Roos 7:39
Yeah, so, and then the one that just came out is called the "Truth Lies at the Edge", and the inspiration from that came out just last year from a trip to the Grand Canyon. 

Rich Bennett 7:52
Wait a minute. You think you have a daughter that lives in Nashville? 

Melissa Roos 7:55
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 7:57
Is she going to college here? 

Melissa Roos 8:00
I mean, she's -- no, she's graduated, so. 

Rich Bennett 8:04
You seem awfully young to have a daughter -- she's already graduated from college? 

Melissa Roos 8:08
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 8:10
You seem awfully young to have a daughter who's already graduated from college. 

Melissa Roos 8:13
Oh, wow. Thank you. 

Rich Bennett 8:15
I -- I take it, she's in the music down there. 

Melissa Roos 8:17
No, she's not. Nope. 

Rich Bennett 8:19
Really? 

Melissa Roos 8:19
She just loved Nashville, so she decided to go. 

Rich Bennett 8:23
Wow! All right, so, your first book -- how long did it actually take you to write that? From the idea in your head to getting it published? 

Melissa Roos 8:33
So, the first one you can hide, it took me two years. Just because 

Rich Bennett 8:37
Okay. 

Melissa Roos 8:37
I really didn't know what I was doing, and I did go with a traditional publisher for that, so. 

Rich Bennett 8:42
Okay. So, when you see you didn't know what you were doing, did you -- afterwards, did you take a class? Or -- 

Melissa Roos 8:50
Just with the whole -- I didn't have any connections. I 

Rich Bennett 8:53
Right. 

Melissa Roos 8:53
didn't really have any idea what the publishing world was about or anything like that. I didn't know how to start and finish a book. I had a book before that that I had started, like, right out of college. And 

Rich Bennett 9:04
Right. 

Melissa Roos 9:05
I'd been writing it, and I had three computers crash on it, and I ended up the third time. I printed it 

Rich Bennett 9:12
Wow. 

Melissa Roos 9:12
all out on 8 ½ by 11 pages, our paper, and now it's sitting in a box, 225 pages, in a box. And so, I was just like, "Oh, I have to put that aside," and I started the new one. So, that was a whole process of, you know, how many years? A lot of years. I won't even say how many years. But then I got this idea for you can hide. And so, I decided I'm going to start this one, and then I put it out in two years. So, 

Rich Bennett 9:37
all right. So, the one that you put in the box, any plans on finishing that? 

Melissa Roos 9:44
I would love to. I think the story is still good. I'm sure the writing is not. But 

Rich Bennett 9:51
-- 

Melissa Roos 9:51
I just 

Rich Bennett 9:51
Can 

Melissa Roos 9:51
have to 

Rich Bennett 9:52
I always go back and change it? 

Melissa Roos 9:53
Right. So, and I have to sit through the pages because the pages are not in order. They're just thrown in. 

Rich Bennett 9:59
All right. So, and this still blows my mind six books in five years. So, that first one took you a couple years. What about the ones after that? 

Melissa Roos 10:10
So, I got faster. 

Rich Bennett 10:11
Because these are novels, these are not novellas, these are full novels. 

Melissa Roos 10:15
Yes. So, the first one, like I said, took two then eleven months, and then nine months. And then I've been doing this year. I put out two. So, Tennessee wishes, and the truth lies at the edge. Those took me about three and a half months each. So... 

Rich Bennett 10:32
Holy, I am! Which time do you spend a day writing? 

Melissa Roos 10:35
Ah, it just depends. I mean, I have two part-time jobs. So, I just, whenever I get the inspiration, I can sit down for an hour and write as fast as I can. Otherwise, some days I don't get to it all other days 

Rich Bennett 10:47
I put... Right. 

Melissa Roos 10:47
For hours. So, it just depends. 

Rich Bennett 10:50
Wow! That's amazing! Did you ever think that you would put out that many books in that short of a time? 

Melissa Roos 10:55
No. I didn't. I honestly thought maybe just the one getting the one out was going to be it. I hoped for more, but you know, at the time I was just like, wow, I actually finished this and I didn't think I would, especially with the other one in the box. So... 

Rich Bennett 11:11
I take it you keep a journal next to your bed, don't 

Melissa Roos 11:14
you? I do, yes. 

Rich Bennett 11:15
I was going to say, because I bet when you're sleeping, you probably have all these ideas that you're dreaming of and you just wake up and write them 

Melissa Roos 11:24
Yep, I have a paper by the bed. I have paper in my purse, I have paper in the car, I have paper everywhere, and I write on my hand in church if I need to. 

Rich Bennett 11:33
down. 

Melissa Roos 11:33
The kids are 

Rich Bennett 11:33
Wow! 

Melissa Roos 11:34
handing me pens. So, yep... 

Rich Bennett 11:36
All right, now here's a scary question for you, Melissa, especially since all these computers crashed. Are you still writing on a computer? Are you writing on paper? 

Melissa Roos 11:46
Um, I'm mostly writing on the computer, I do write notes 

Rich Bennett 11:49
the 

Melissa Roos 11:49
on 

Rich Bennett 11:49
paper, 

Melissa Roos 11:50
but, um, no, everything's on the laptop, so... 

Rich Bennett 11:53
All right, tell me you're saving it in several different places. 

Melissa Roos 11:55
I do, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 11:56
Okay. 

I know a lot of people find it easier to write on the computer, but it can get upsetting, I mean, some people that... Well, a lot of your authors from way back then you didn't have the cloud to save too. 

Melissa Roos 12:13
Great. 

Rich Bennett 12:14
So, and a lot of them didn't even know bad external hard drives. And once that computer crashed, you were like, "Yes." What do I do? But the fact that printed yours out after, how many crashes? 

Melissa Roos 12:25
Three? 

Rich Bennett 12:30
Do you print these out when you first... I mean, now when you're writing, do you print them out when you're finished? 

Melissa Roos 12:35
I 

Rich Bennett 12:35
Like 

Melissa Roos 12:36
don't. 

Rich Bennett 12:36
the new paint... Wow! That... 

Melissa Roos 12:42
a lot of trust 

Rich Bennett 12:43
It's 

Melissa Roos 12:43
in technology. 

Rich Bennett 12:44
Well, granted they have gotten a lot better. The computer seems to be less and longer. They just start slow and down quicker 

Melissa Roos 12:55
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 12:55
it seems like. All right, so with being an author now, an authorpreneur, as I like to say, and releasing the six books... Here you are. You're doing the book fairs, the shows, the signings. Working two-part time job. When do you find time for Melissa? 

Melissa Roos 13:16
Well, I mean, I feel like the writing is for me, you know? I 

Rich Bennett 13:19
Right. 

Melissa Roos 13:19
do it for me, so. 

Rich Bennett 13:21
All right, so what's been the biggest as an author? What's been the biggest challenge? Obviously not the writing. 

Melissa Roos 13:28
No, I think the marketing, that's hard for me, and especially, you know, just putting myself out there for different things. I enjoy going to the book fairs, 

Rich Bennett 13:38
Right. 

Melissa Roos 13:38
but the first, like, initial contact with the first person that comes by, that's probably the hardest for me. I get better as the day goes on. Talking to people and warming up and explaining my books, but the first time that somebody stops to talk to me, that I have an issue, like I can't even think about what my book is even about. Like, will they ask me, "Oh, I don't even know, because I'm flustered," so that's where my shyness still comes out, but as the day goes on, then I get better, and I get more in a groove, that kind of thing. So those are kind of my challenges, the marketing, and that initial contact. 

Rich Bennett 14:08
Yeah, I can see how that could be, and it's weird because when you're doing it in person, I'm the same way. If I go to, like, group events. It's going to take me a while before I open up and talk to somebody. If they come up to me, I have no problem with 

Melissa Roos 14:24
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 14:24
it. Although, like if we're shopping or anywhere else, I'll talk to a total stranger. It's just like for events, though, you know? 

Melissa Roos 14:34
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 14:34
I don't know why I, I don't know. Maybe I'm just weird like that. 

Melissa Roos 14:39
Maybe you're shy, too. 

Rich Bennett 14:40
Oh yeah, definitely. I'm growing up. I know I was shy. Oh yeah, I, and that's still it. If there's people there, I know I'm fine. yeah. I don't know. Now, my wife and my daughter will tell you, they're like, 'no, Dad, you're not shy.' You'll go up and talk to other strangers. Now, I'll just say hi and ask them how they're doing it for conversation starts. Then it starts, you know. 

Melissa Roos 15:05
Great. 

There's so it's stuff in process, not necessarily finished product. 

Rich Bennett 15:25
Oh, soon like advanced copy reading. 

Melissa Roos 15:27
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 15:28
Uh-huh. Uh oh. 

Melissa Roos 15:29
'cause I'm in a couple groups, so, you know, we exchange and we read each other's stuff and give critiques of that kind of stuff. So I don't get to just go buy a book like I used to. 

Rich Bennett 15:39
Right. Actually, I'm glad you brought that up. They'll explain to, especially aspiring authors or even authors that don't do this. How important it is to, you know, it like this as an author yourself to send out there's advanced copy readings. 

Melissa Roos 15:56
Oh, it's very important because the thing is you have the story in your head and, you know, you think you're clever and you put out all these little trails of breadcrumbs for the readers to follow. And you think, oh, I did a really great job. And then you have somebody read it and they're like, well, how did you get from point A to point B and you're like, oh, I didn't put that in, you know, but to me, 

Rich Bennett 16:17
right. 

Melissa Roos 16:17
Sense where you have to have that feedback in order to realize, you know, you missed a spot or this doesn't connect that kind of thing. So it's very important. 

Rich Bennett 16:29
Because I know not only that plus with those when you ask for feedback, you can put those in the beginning of the book. 

Melissa Roos 16:35
Yes, you could. 

Rich Bennett 16:36
And I see a lot of people missing, missing the boat with that something else I noticed that you have done with the true lives at the edge or the truth lies at the edge. And I'm not sure if you did this or if you're other books, but it's just smart and it's good marketing. And I think more authors need to do this. You create a trailer. Now is this the first book that you've done that for? Did you do for the other ones as well? 

Melissa Roos 17:01
I did it for all of them except for my very first one. I don't have 

Rich Bennett 17:04
Okay. 

Melissa Roos 17:04
one. But yes, I actually enjoy that. I think it's a lot of fun. So it's just a different way to set the mood of the book. 

Rich Bennett 17:11
All right. So now here's the here's the tricky question. So you're fine with doing the trailers. 

Melissa Roos 17:16
Now 

Rich Bennett 17:18
you are your brand. 

Melissa Roos 17:20
Great. 

Rich Bennett 17:21
So how often have you done videos, even if they're short videos, just of yourself talking about the book. You're listening to the conversations with Rich Bennett. We'll be right back. 

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Melissa Roos 18:41
Oh, no, I don't do that. I don't do that. I like Instagram because it's pretty and I can make my... 

Rich Bennett 18:47
(laughter) 

Melissa Roos 18:48
It's all pretty but no, I don't really want to be. I have very few pictures of myself holding the book or whatever. 

Rich Bennett 18:54
Oh, my 

Melissa Roos 18:55
so. 

Rich Bennett 18:55
list 

Melissa Roos 18:55
And then I have two very beautiful daughters and I use their hands. If it's the book, I use their hands or whatever. So, no, I'm not 

Rich Bennett 19:03
all. 

Melissa Roos 19:04
usually in the 

Rich Bennett 19:04
(laughter) 

Melissa Roos 19:05
picture at 

Rich Bennett 19:05
Well there you go. Use them for your marketing and then create the videos for you. 

Melissa Roos 19:10
Yep. 

Rich Bennett 19:11
Now, actually, in speaking of videos, but I want to switch over to audio here. Are your books actually in audio form as well? 

Melissa Roos 19:22
No, I only have one. I tried just the AI version 

Rich Bennett 19:28
Right. 

Melissa Roos 19:28
for... Freed AI version. So, I tried that and I do make some sales from that. I don't love that just because it's AI. I'd rather have a real person do it. 

Rich Bennett 19:38
Right. 

Melissa Roos 19:38
But so far I haven't been able to do that. 

Rich Bennett 19:41
And yeah, I do know, especially if you're doing a novel, it can be expensive. 

Melissa Roos 19:47
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 19:48
To do the audio form because you have to... Either you have to have somebody that can do all the different voices... or a few different people. however, just an idea, and I ran this across somebody else, when we were recording in person, it just popped in my head. The people that you meet, just sit around the table, almost, you were watch how when somebody tries to have, for a TV, a TV show or a movie, they'd sit down and do the live readings. 

Melissa Roos 20:23
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 20:25
Do that with your book. Almost like printing a script and have a narrator for the other parts. And just bring in friends. It would be a lot...well, yeah, it would be cheap because you wouldn't have to pay him. 

Melissa Roos 20:37
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 20:38
Just say here, I'll give you a free book. 

Melissa Roos 20:40
Pay them a pizza and beer or something, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 20:42
Pizza and beer always works or even bacon and bourbon, that always works for everybody. At least it works for me. 

Melissa Roos 20:50
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 20:51
Yes. 

Melissa Roos 20:52
I'll keep that in mind. 

Rich Bennett 20:53
Yeah, oh yeah! I wouldn't mind doing that. Although, well, that would be a strange death far. 

Melissa Roos 21:00
No. 

Rich Bennett 21:01
I could drive up there, maybe, or see you at the show, we'd just say, okay, let's go do it. 

Melissa Roos 21:06
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 21:07
I wouldn't even think actually keeps your readers coming back for 

Melissa Roos 21:13
more. I think, well, I try to really paint a picture with my words. Obviously, since I was in design, I love the colors, I love the texture, I love to do that. So, I put all of that into my book. I also feel like my characters are realistic. I mean, they all have their flaws. None of them are perfect. Maybe some people might see them as more perfect than I paint them out to me. I think they have flaws. So, I think that's, you know, what brings them back. And I don't feel like any of my storylines are really far fetched. 

Rich Bennett 21:49
that 

Melissa Roos 21:49
I think 

Rich Bennett 21:49
it 

Melissa Roos 21:50
happened to about anybody, so. 

Rich Bennett 21:52
How do you come up with the characters? 

Melissa Roos 21:56
It depends on the situation. 

I usually always have a strong female presence in it, obviously, because I'm a woman writer. And I just like that. I like a strong female presence in the characters, but then the other ones, I like the side characters as well. Like, in Tennessee, wishes, I have a mom. And that was my first reel, you know, when you say jump into that kind of a thing. You know, because usually you think as the writer is the main character, but to 

Rich Bennett 22:27
Right. 

Melissa Roos 22:27
me. With Tennessee wishes, I was more the mom, because I moved my daughter to Tennessee. Like, 

Rich Bennett 22:34
Yeah. 

Melissa Roos 22:34
and I had those feelings of, what do I do? Like, I left her here with nobody. Like, you know, expectations and fears, and so I thought I really put that into her. And I had a lot of comments of that, how real she felt, that kind of thing. 

Rich Bennett 22:51
Wow. All right. So with your book covers, because I'm looking at your books and I love the covers. 

Melissa Roos 22:56
Oh, thank you. 

Rich Bennett 22:57
And, you know, the old saying is that you don't judge a book by its cover or whatever. But I think the covers make a big difference. It pulls the people in. Who actually designed the covers? 

Melissa Roos 23:10
So, I have best friend from college. She works for American greetings. 

Rich Bennett 23:16
Oh, come 

Melissa Roos 23:17
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 23:17
on. 

Melissa Roos 23:17
So between her and I, she's a graphic designer and she's fabulous. So between her and I, we work on it together and we come up with those. I have the idea generally and she can tweak it and finesse it and make it look pretty, so. 

Rich Bennett 23:30
Now, does she help you with the book trailers as well? 

Melissa Roos 23:33
No, no, she's more than the covers and stuff, but no, I do the trailers myself. 

Rich Bennett 23:39
And since the second book to now are these all self-published? 

Melissa Roos 23:45
Yes. So everything self-published is stuff where you can hide. Now, I did acquire the book back. You can hide. 

Rich Bennett 23:52
Okay. 

Melissa Roos 23:52
I 

Rich Bennett 23:52
Good. 

Melissa Roos 23:52
do have it. So they're all mine now. 

Rich Bennett 23:54
I assume which is amazing that the first book went through a publisher because a lot of times that's unheard of. Because it can take forever to find a publisher. And apparently, it seems like you like self-publishing better. 

Melissa Roos 24:08
I do. 

Rich Bennett 24:10
Why is that? 

Melissa Roos 24:11
Well, nothing against the publisher. It was a small, you know, publisher, but. And again, I needed, I needed that because I didn't, like 

Rich Bennett 24:19
Yeah. 

Melissa Roos 24:19
I said, I didn't know anything. But I just felt like I had more control with the indie. There was a little things I wanted to change here and there and. They were just, no, we've done enough. That's good. And I just like, if I find a mistake, I want to be able to change it. Or if I want to go a different route on trying to advertise it or whatever, I just. I have control. So. 

Rich Bennett 24:45
Well, I think that's where a lot of people get confused too, because even though even if you go through a publisher, the publisher's not going to help market it. 

Melissa Roos 24:54
No, they don't. 

Rich Bennett 24:55
You still got to do the marketing and everything. And I think that's where a lot of authors get confused. 

Melissa Roos 25:01
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 25:02
Yeah, which is not good, it's they need to put this stuff out of front, but unfortunately they don't. Alright, so I'm gonna put you on the spot here now, you ready for this Melissa? 

Melissa Roos 25:14
Maybe. We'll see. 

Rich Bennett 25:16
Out of the books you've written. What's been your favorite and why? 

Melissa Roos 25:22
Oh, that's a hard question because I... 

Rich Bennett 25:24
Just, just remember, books don't have feelings, so you're not gonna break their heart. 

Melissa Roos 25:28
I know, but I like them all for different... 

Rich Bennett 25:31
Okay. 

Melissa Roos 25:33
And it was based in my hometown, but, um, like, I really do love the last one that I wrote, because I think it's completely different. Um, it 

Rich Bennett 25:43
Is 

Melissa Roos 25:43
bounces. 

Rich Bennett 25:43
that the truth lies at the 

Melissa Roos 25:45
Yes, 

Rich Bennett 25:45
edge? 

Melissa Roos 25:45
uh-huh. 

Rich Bennett 25:45
Okay. 

Melissa Roos 25:46
It bounces from New York City to the Grand Canyon, and I literally, the whole novel pretty much just poured into me at the edge of the Grand Canyon, so I just... 

Rich Bennett 25:56
Wow. 

Melissa Roos 25:56
I went to the Grand Canyon in March and, um, Tennessee was just came out the end of April, and from then on I just wrote, and December 9th was when the truth lies at the edge came out, so it just... It came to me in a rush at the Grand Canyon, and there it was, so... 

Rich Bennett 26:16
Okay, this is, I'm gonna ask this scary question here, I'm, um, how many words do you type a minute? 

Melissa Roos 26:23
Yeah, well I don't really know. 

Rich Bennett 26:25
I mean, that's pretty damn quick, for you to turn that other book around 

Melissa Roos 26:33
already. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 26:35
Yeah. Wow. Alright, so, with... Even though you're writing, uh, Romantic Mystery, or would that be Mystery Romance? 

Melissa Roos 26:42
It's 

Rich Bennett 26:43
Romance. 

Melissa Roos 26:43
Mystery Romance, but 

Rich Bennett 26:44
Mystery 

Melissa Roos 26:44
it's 

Rich Bennett 26:44
Romance. 

Melissa Roos 26:45
okay. Either way, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 26:47
Any, any plans on jumping out of that, genre, a writing something else, even if it's one book? 

Melissa Roos 26:54
Um, not really, other than a 

Rich Bennett 26:55
Okay. 

Melissa Roos 26:56
children's book, that would be the only thing. I would love to write a children's book, but I just don't really have the story yet, but I love the, I love the colors, I love the pictures of a children's book. I love the catchy little stories, but I just don't really have that in me quite yet, so I don't know if I'll get there or not, but that is one thing I would love to do. 

Rich Bennett 27:15
I, I think you could actually pull that off. I think the hardest part about writing a children's book is... Well, number one, you gotta realize that it's not as many words as a novel. 

Melissa Roos 27:28
Great. 

Rich Bennett 27:29
Um, and the illustration part, which you can find illustrators. And, but I think the, the main thing with a children's book is, and I've seen, I've had a lot of children's authors on, and the ones that I think are the best are the ones that their books not only teach the children, but adults learn something from them as 

Melissa Roos 27:54
Yes, 

Rich Bennett 27:54
well. See, 

Melissa Roos 27:55
yep. 

Rich Bennett 27:55
and you already have that. I've got the perfect children's book for you already. 

Melissa Roos 28:00
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 28:01
It could go along with Tennessee Whiskey. 

Melissa Roos 28:04
Oh. 

Rich Bennett 28:04
About a little girl that just loves Tennessee, and how her mother wants to take her there. 

Melissa Roos 28:12
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 28:13
Just just an idea, I don't know if it work or not. Like, no. All right, so it actually keeps you going though. As a writer, because I know you love the right, but deep down what really just keeps that drive going. 

Melissa Roos 28:27
Well, the feedback. Um, the 

Rich Bennett 28:29
Uh-huh. 

Melissa Roos 28:29
feedback. People reading it, because first of all, I mean, and I even say it like on my website, like it's revealing secrets, one page at a time, and I do feel like that. Like, so when I know somebody's reading it, I'm just like, oh, where are you at? Like, what, what can we talk about? Like, I just love that. Do they, do they pick up on this? Or do they enjoy it as much as I did writing it? Do they catch that little, you know, quirky thing that I said? Or, you know, I just love that kind of feedback back and forth between people who read Whether it's somebody I know, like a family member, friend 

Rich Bennett 29:00
Right. 

Melissa Roos 29:00
or- Danger, I just love hearing the feedback. 

Rich Bennett 29:04
So with- and you mentioned writer's group earlier. How many different writer's groups? Because I know you get feedback there, at least most of them, I would think have that little critique part too. 

Melissa Roos 29:14
Mm-hmm. 

Rich Bennett 29:15
So how many different writer's groups? 

Melissa Roos 29:17
So I'm in three. So I'm in one that's just a mystery. And we meet like once a month and we critique, we, you know, do it on send each other back and forth. And then we read parts of what we like to each other when we meet together. Then I'm on an online group and I just started that one. And then I'm also in just a one-on-one with one of my good friends, that's a writer as well. And we read chapters to each other. So she doesn't see it at all. I just read it to her and she reads it to me. And she gives me instant feedback right then. So- 

Rich Bennett 29:53
Ooh, I like that idea. 

Melissa Roos 29:55
Yeah, because it's nice because you're reading and she's just visualizing it in her head the entire time and then she's like, oh, I don't that doesn't work or oh, that's really cute or she. 

Rich Bennett 30:05
Yeah. 

Melissa Roos 30:05
And you can see her expression she laughs or you know whatever. So it's just instant feedback with that one. So it's really good. 

Rich Bennett 30:12
Now and this is probably stupid question because I'm sure you already are. Are you working on your next book already? 

Melissa Roos 30:19
Yeah, I have two. I'm working on 

Rich Bennett 30:22
two. 

Melissa Roos 30:22
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 30:25
Yeah. Are you going to win? When are you going to take a break for yourself? 

Melissa Roos 30:29
I mean, I took a break over Christmas, so I didn't write 

Rich Bennett 30:32
No, 

Melissa Roos 30:32
it. 

Rich Bennett 30:32
you didn't. You probably went that's probably when you went to New York City to the Gregnobs. Oh, there's another good. Okay. I know during Christmas time you probably had to have a thought going on in your head about another book too, didn't you? 

Melissa Roos 30:46
Oh, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 30:48
Yeah. All right. What does Santa do? 

Melissa Roos 30:50
Well, actually, Santa 

Rich Bennett 30:52
is. 

Melissa Roos 30:53
Marie, so. 

Rich Bennett 30:56
Not yet. 

Melissa Roos 30:56
Not yet. 

Rich Bennett 30:57
God. All right. So what is the next big thing for Melissa? 

Melissa Roos 31:03
As far as books you mean or 

Rich Bennett 31:06
anything? 

Melissa Roos 31:06
Well, so this is one of my big ones here because like I said before, this is only my third podcast, so I'm very excited about this. 

Rich Bennett 31:15
Oh, you're going to get on several 

Melissa Roos 31:16
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 31:16
more. 

Melissa Roos 31:18
There are a couple events coming up in March. So. And then I have, see I have the one in August and Bel Air, so. Yeah. And I have a little book store in Bethany Beach that I like to go to, so I'm hoping to get back in there this summer. So 

Rich Bennett 31:39
what store is that? 

Melissa Roos 31:40
It's Bethany Beach Books and Delaware. 

Rich Bennett 31:42
Okay. Yeah. I have had a lot of people talk about that. And do a lot with independent authors, don't 

Melissa Roos 31:48
Nice. Do. So that was on my bucket list last year, and I got to go in there and have a signing. So I'm hoping to get back there 

Rich Bennett 31:54
they? 

Melissa Roos 31:54
this year. 

Rich Bennett 31:56
So. Nice. All right. So, Melissa. First of all, tell everybody where they can find your books. What's the website? 

Melissa Roos 32:05
So it's, it's my name. It's Melissa Ruiz author. 

Rich Bennett 32:09
R. O. O. S. 

Melissa Roos 32:11
Yes. Like kind of like rooster. Just. 

Rich Bennett 32:14
Oh, I never even thought about that. 

Melissa Roos 32:17
So that's how you can pronounce it. Like rooster. What the TR on the end. So. Yeah. So you can get my books online there. Or I mean, obviously, I'm on online with Amazon or Barnes and Noble Walmart. That kind of thing. But I'm in Bethany Beach Books and Delaware. I have some uncovered maker books in ANOLA. I do events. I have some books in shenanigans in e-town, Pennsylvania. So. A few little local stores. 

Rich Bennett 32:46
So if somebody wants to purchase an autographed copy online. 

Melissa Roos 32:51
They could go directly to my website. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 32:53
Directly to your website. Okay. Smart. Smart. All right. So is there anything you would like to add before I get to my last question? 

Melissa Roos 33:02
Um, not really. It's just that, um, you know, I enjoy what I do. And so I hope it comes through in my writing. 

Rich Bennett 33:10
Oh, I'm sure I'm sure it will. Indeed. I want to eat because with this what I've just meat in the authors because I got a lot of them coming on from the book fair. But what I want to do is keep the door open anytime you want to come on and talk about the books individually. Because it's something that I noticed a lot of authors do. They'll only talk about the newest release coming up. But I think you still got to talk about all the all the books. So anytime you want to come back on, let me know. And we'll set it up to where if you want to just focus on one book each time 

Melissa Roos 33:49
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 33:49
that that way it's like an info-mercial. Okay. All right. So pick a number between one and 100. 

Melissa Roos 33:58
33. 

Rich Bennett 33:59
Why 33? 

Melissa Roos 34:00
That was my high school basketball number. 

Rich Bennett 34:03
Okay. 

All right. This is 

this is a good question. 

Melissa Roos 34:11
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 34:12
This is, uh, wow. All right. So what's a small change that you've made that has had a surprisingly big impact? 

Melissa Roos 34:26
I would say Letting people read my work earlier in the process. Originally when I wrote my first book, I was afraid actually to let anybody read it. So that has helped me a lot. Letting someone give feedback right at the first draft like in the rough 

Rich Bennett 34:47
wow. 

Melissa Roos 34:48
stages. 

Rich Bennett 34:50
Yeah, especially being shy. I could see how that would 

Melissa Roos 34:52
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 34:52
be. 

Melissa Roos 34:53
I was terrified to let anybody read it. But now I'm like, okay, here. Read it. Tell me what you think. 

Rich Bennett 34:58
Wow. Well, I want to thank you, those of you listening, make sure you go to MelissaRusArthur.com. Purchase her books, not just books. And when you do, after you read them, make sure you go to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, wherever you can leave reviews, leave a full review, and then purchase copies for other people, because I know you're going to love the book, and you don't want to pass it on, because a lot of people like to read the books again. And now on your that, Melissa would enjoy it if you bought more copies for other people, just passed them along as well. It just makes sense. Melissa, I want to thank you so much, and like I said, the door is open, and I'll talk to you once we finish here, I've got some ideas for you. 

Melissa Roos 35:45
Well, thank you so much, Rach. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for having me. 

Rich Bennett 35:49
It was an honor, in all honesty. It was. I don't even read Mystery Romance, but just looking at your covers and hearing about how you did, I'm ready to. 

Melissa Roos 36:02
Oh, good. 

Rich Bennett 36:03
I think you might be the next norra robber. 

Melissa Roos 36:07
Oh well, I'm on the shelf next to her a lot of times, because of Robert's and Roos, so that's our part. 

Rich Bennett 36:14
Well, 

Melissa Roos 36:15
I 

Rich Bennett 36:15
you 

Melissa Roos 36:15
can't 

Rich Bennett 36:15
know, 

Melissa Roos 36:16
compare. I don't take. 

Rich Bennett 36:17
Here's what we need to do, nor if you're listening, you need to get Melissa's books in your store in Boonsboro. 

Rich Bennett 36:23
Thank you for listening to the conversations with Rich Bennett. I hope you enjoyed today's episode and learned something from it as I did. If you'd like to hear more conversations like this, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, I'd love it if you could leave a review. It helps us reach more listeners and share more incredible stories. Don't forget to connect with us on social media or visit our website at conversationswithrich Bennett.com for updates, giveaways and more. Until next time, take care. Be kind and keep the conversations going. You know, it takes a lot to put a podcast together. together, And my sponsors help add a lot, but I also have some supporters that actually help me when it comes to the editing software, the hosting, and so forth. There's a lot that goes into putting this together. So I want to thank them. And if you can, please, please visit their websites, visit their businesses, support them however you can. So please, visit the following Full full circle boards. Nobody does charcuterie like full circle boards. Visit them at fullcircleboards.com, Sincerely, Sincerely sincerely, soldier photography. Live in the moment, they'll capture it. Visit them at sincerely soyer.com, the Jopitan Lions Club serving the community since 1965, visit them at jopatownlinesclub. org. And don't forget the E at the end of Jopatown because they're extraordinary.