Melissa Oliver
Author Interview - Melissa Oliver
Author of Her Banished Knight’s Redemption
“Her Banished Knight’s Redemption is the second book of the Notorious Knights series and is set in 1218. It features Sir William (Will) Geraint – the gorgeous best friend of Hugh de Villiers (the hero from The Rebel Heiress and the Knight, Book #1 of the series) – and Lady Isabel de Clancey.
Will is quite embittered and different from the affable, easy going knight we first meet in the previous book and is now living in exile in France as a sword-for-hire. He goes on quite a journey in this book as he escorts lost heiress Lady Isabel back to England, where they’re forced to work together to uncover the secrets of their past. There’s a medieval treasure hunt to keep them busy on their quest and it even features the infamous Knights Templars.”
Author Interview - Melissa Oliver
Author I draw inspiration from: There are so many amazing authors who I admire but I love how Mary Balogh manages to pack in so much emotion and heighten the tension in key moments. I also love the intensity between Lara Temple’s characters and the light dusting of humor in Virginia Heath’s books. Both fellow Harlequin Historical Romance authors.
Author Interview - Melissa Oliver
Favorite place to read a book: Curled up on the sofa or tucked up in bed.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: I’d say that it might be an idea to get stuck with Hermione Granger, as she might have a spell or two to get us out of there.
Author Interview - Melissa Oliver
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: It’s been such a long time now that I can’t pin to a specific time but definitely since I was a teenager. Needless to say, I did other things in my life before coming back to my first love, mainly because I was riddled with self-doubt. Thankfully it all turned out well in the end.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: I’ve always loved the tangible feeling of having a book in my hands but I also do love my kindle so I’d say ebooks too.
The last book I read: The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey. So utterly mesmerizing.
Author Interview - Melissa Oliver
Pen & paper or computer: Both. I like to sit at my laptop and get stuck into my writing but I always carry a notebook everywhere I go. You never know when inspiration, or snippets of dialogue might strike!
Book character I think I’d be best friends with: I’ve always loved Elisabeth Bennett as she’s pragmatic, intelligent and not afraid to laugh at herself.
Author Interview - Melissa Oliver
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a: A museum guide, preferably at the Victoria and Albert museum in London.
Favorite decade in fashion history: I’m not sure about it being my favorite but I’m definitely game to try on in the high Victorian dresses of the 1880’s with the laced-up corsets and ridiculously huge bustles. I want to see how easy it was to breathe in those contraptions. Other than that, I love the elegance of the 1930’s bias cut dresses and the flapper dresses from the roaring 1920’s.
Place I’d most like to travel: The stunning rose city of Petra, Jordan. I would love to roam around the majestic ruins and get a feel of what life might have been like in its heyday.
My signature drink: Earl grey tea, which I drink too much of. I’m also partial to a nice glass of chilled white wine or vodka martini every now and again.
Favorite artist: Gustav Klimt – The Kiss might be one of the most recognizable paintings in the world and for me, it is also the most evocative.
Number one on my bucket list: To travel the world, and to swim with dolphins.
Anything else you'd like to add: Her Banished Knight’s Redemption is Book #2 of the Notorious Knights series for Harlequin Historical and Book #3, The Return of Her Lost Knight, will be out in late June 2021. I’m currently working on the fourth installment in the series and I cannot wait to start writing it!
Find more from the author:
Twitter- https://twitter.com/melissaoauthor
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/melissaoliverauthor
Author Bio: Melissa Oliver is from south-west London where she writes historical romance novels. She lives with her lovely husband and daughters, who share her passion for decrepit, old castles, palaces and all things historical. Melissa was the winner of The Romantic Novelists’ Association's Joan Hessayon Award for new writers in 2020, with her debut The Rebel Heiress and the Knight. When she's not writing she loves to travel for inspiration, paint, and visit museums & art galleries.
