If y’all haven’t heard yet, there’s a new debut author on the block by the name of Melissa Ferguson 🙂 I happen to have met her earlier this year while attending CFRR just outside of DC, and I waited quite impatiently for my chance to read it. (Yes, I DID get an early copy but I still had to wait for it so it counts haha). And guess what?? It’s out on the shelves now! So You can get your hands on your copy now too and you don’t even have to wait!
As soon as I finished reading this one I knew it was one I wanted to do an author interview for. This was a book that makes you laugh, cry, and think all on repeat. If you’d like to see my full review for the book you can view it HERE.
About the Author:
Melissa Ferguson lives in Bristol, Tennessee, where she is an assistant professor at King University and pens books that make her laugh and grow. She used to have hobbies like running and backpacking the Appalachian Trail outside her door. Now she and her husband are outnumbered, and her hobbies include diaper changes, chasing toddlers in parking lots, and admiring the Appalachian Trail out her minivan window while singing “Winnie the Pooh.” She survives by Jesus, rom coms, and roughly two espresso shots a day. The Dating Charade is her debut novel.
She’d love you to find her and join in on her journey at melissaferguson.com.
About the Book:
Just when you think you’ve met your match . . . the charade begins.
Cassie Everson is an expert at escaping bad first dates. And, after years of meeting, greeting, and running from the men who try to woo her, Cassie is almost ready to retire her hopes for a husband—and children—altogether.
But fate has other plans, and Cassie’s online dating profile catches the eye of firefighter Jett Bentley. In Jett’s memory, Cassie Everson is the unreachable girl-of-legend from their high school days. Nervously, he messages her, setting off a chain of events that forces a reluctant Cassie back into the dating game.
No one is more surprised than Cassie when her first date with Jett is a knockout. But when they both go home and find three children dropped in their laps—each—they independently decide to do the right and mature thing: hide the kids from each other while sorting it all out. What could go wrong?
Melissa Ferguson’s hilarious and warmhearted debut reminds us that love can come in very small packages—and that sometimes our best-laid plans aren’t nearly as rewarding and fun as the surprises that come our way.
Author Interview
B: Hi Melissa, thanks so much for taking the time to hang out on my blog today!
If you don’t mind I’d like to start out with a few questions just for fun:
What’s something quirky about you that most people don’t know?
M: Quirky? Hm. I don’t own a microwave. That’s right. I, mom of three toddlers, got rid of it a few months ago and am blissfully enjoying the free counter space.
B: Ya know, you’re not the first person I’ve heard of recently who has made that change. Kudos!
What’s something fun that you’ve always wanted to do but is currently sitting on your bucket list?
M: I want to have another trip to NYC! I bring it up to my husband about every three weeks—and watch You’ve Got Mail or play Blossom Dearie’s I’ll Take Manhattan on repeat–but right now life is super busy.
B: Good luck with that 🤣
Are you more productive at night or in the morning? Do you think it’s possible to change and get used to another schedule?
M: Morning for sure! But, like, not crack of dawn morning. Like, it’s 10am “Kids! Go play with that toy for a minute!” morning.
B: Haha That’s got to be fun to juggle!
What’s your favorite season?
M: Fall!
B: What are some of your favorite holiday traditions that you did while growing up?
M: I don’t think I have anything really out of the ordinary. I do have particularly fond memories of doing a sleepover with my childhood best friend every holiday—weeknight or not.
B: Now that sounds fun!
OK Now for the good stuff:
How does it feel now that your debut book baby is now officially out on the shelves??
M: Well, I’m writing this Nov 25 and it’s not on the shelves until Dec 3, BUT seeing it officially on the display area at the front of my Barnes & Noble was surreal! I am getting to a spot where every other day something new and fun and exciting happens and that’s been a blast. Frankly, I’m just having so much fun.
B: Yeah sorry folks, did the interview before posting 😉
It was evident from reading that foster care holds a special place in your heart. Are you willing to share a bit more about this?
M: Yeah, God actually taught our family about fostering through this book. We were looking pretty seriously into international/domestic adoption at the time, with zero intention for getting into fostering. But as I wrote this story, the six kids come into the adults’ lives through the foster system (kinship in one case, work in another), and while the chapters unfolded, God honestly changed our hearts about fostering—especially being supportive of fostering with the intent of reunification. There was even one day while I was writing this story with no contract in sight and sat back, thinking, “Man. I what if God is going to use this book to help change the world for fostering?” And my immediate, startling thought came back, “Or what if God is using this book to change you.” After about 10 months, we are finally approved to foster. We are just waiting now for “the call.”
B: This melts my heart right here <3
What was the most challenging for you in writing The Dating Charade?
M: Ha, I hate to say it, and I’m getting better, but the hardest was the kiss. I read like 5 articles, 15 classic literary kiss scenes, and had two editors and multiple author friends help me get the kiss where it wasn’t a pitiful, “He pecked her. And now moving on.” 😉
B: 🤣🤣
Do you have a favorite character and/or one that you feel you relate to the most?
M: Oh! Favorite character! Fun question. I’d say my favorite character is Bree. She’s the carefree, humorous best friend of Cassie and I love her support, loyalty, and friendship with Cassie throughout the story.
B: I have to agree I liked Bree a lot
What’s something that you hope readers take away from this novel?
M: I hope readers end up having smiled (and laughed a few times) throughout this book, but I also hope the world of foster care is opened up a bit more, and, even for some, a desire to get involved.
B: I hope so too. And I definitely laughed a few times while reading this 🙂
Can you tease about what’s up next for you?
M: The Cul-de-sac War is coming out next fall and it’s the story of Bree, Cassie’s bestie, as she moves to my area (Abingdon, VA!) to try her hand on stage in a totally classic rom/com way.
B: Thanks so much for hanging out with my blog today and sharing with us! Can’t wait to read your next release 🙂
Great interview. I enjoyed it! I’m also enjoying the novel. I’m at the 60% finished mark. 😀
Oh cool I can’t wait to see your review!