Melissa Pimentel grew up in a small town in Massachusetts in a house without cable and therefore much of her childhood was spent watching 1970s British comedy on PBS.At twenty-two, she made the move to London to do an MA in Modern Literature at University College London. She has lived there happily for ten years, though she still adamantly refuses to eat a scotch egg. Before meeting her fiancé, she spent much of her time trawling the London dating scene for clean, non-sociopathic sexual partners and blogging about it, which became the inspiration for her first novel.
These days, she spends much of her time reading in the various pubs of Stoke Newington and engaging in a long-standing emotional feud with their disgruntled cat, Welles. She works in publishing and is also the author of Love by the Book.
It's amazing to get to feature you today! Readers, here's a bit about the book, which just hit shelves this week:Melissa Pimentel delivers smart, funny, and modern retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion, where a young woman comes face-to-face with a lost love, proving that the one that got away is sometimes the one you get back.
Ruby and Ethan were perfect for each other. Until the day they suddenly weren't.
Ten years later, Ruby's single, having spent the last decade focusing on her demanding career and hectic life in Manhattan. There's barely time for a trip to England for her little sister's wedding. And there's certainly not time to think about seeing Ethan there for the first time in years.
But as the family frantically prepare for the big day, Ruby can't help but wonder if she made the right choice all those years ago? Because there's nothing like a wedding for stirring up the past...
Buy the book from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Books-a-Million | iTunes | Kobo | Google Play | Publisher
Describe The One That Got Away in six words.
Are second chances at love possible?
How did you arrive at writing romance?
I’ve always loved rom-coms—I spent my childhood watching old Katherine Hepburn/Cary Grant films—and honestly think there are few things more satisfying that a well-played happy ending. I guess I wanted to try creating a few of my own!
What was your inspiration for the book?
Persuasion has always been my favorite Jane Austen novel, and one that I think is often overlooked in favor of Pride and Prejudice and Emma. There’s such a subtlety and gentility about it—it’s a real slow-burner—and Anne is one of my favorite fictional heroines. I thought it would be fun to try to bring it into the modern world!
How do you react to a negative or harsh review to your books?
I wish I could say I didn’t read them or that I just shake them off, Taylor-style, but... sadly not! I’m a dweller by nature, so bad reviews are one of the things I can find myself dwelling on. Usually a long run or a thick slice of cake are enough to push it out of my mind, though!
Blog babes, click "Read more" to find out Jamie's random favorites, her best personal advice, and what she considers an occupational hazard of being a writer. We're also hosting a giveaway for a finished copy of The One That Got Away, so you don't want to miss that either!
