"Q&A With Marissa Monteilh"

August 26, 2017

Book: Better Than She Can

Author: Marissa Monteilh

Photo Courtesy of Marissa Monteilh

Author: Marissa Monteilh

Author Bio:

Back in elementary school, Marissa was always the first in line when the bookmobile would arrive. In middle school, her teacher singled her out as a gifted writer, which Marissa recalls as a defining moment in her life. She is now living her passion as a full-time author.

Originally self-published in 2000, the following year Harper Collins offered Marissa a three-book contract, and she has not looked back. She has also been published by Kensington Books, Hachette Book Group, and Blackstone Audio, Inc.

In 2015, Marissa was named one of Conversations Magazine's 25 Women Changing the World, and she was recently voted the 2015 Female Author of the Year at the 2nd Annual GANSPA Award Show. Five of her titles have been African American Literary Award Show nominees, and she received the Pink Diamond Book Club Award in 2010. Also in 2010, she was voted amongst the Women of Influence in Publishing by Written Magazine. Her titles have debuted as top-ten best sellers on Black Expressions and also voted Best Reads. Since 2009, Marissa has been a regular monthly contributor to the Novel Spaces blog site, an eclectic group of authors bound by writing. (Sources: http://www.marissamonteilh.com)

1. In your book, "Better Than She Can", you play with the idea of infidelity, what made you use this theme and what is your goal with telling this story?

I went with the theme of infidelity, specifically a side-chick who would go after a married man, to show the mind of a woman who goes for who she wants, in spite of whether the man is available or not. Also, the controversy of whose fault it is, the side or the husband, was something I wanted to explore. The character, Loreal Reynolds, feels she can treat Jarvis Benjamin better than his wife can, and that thought process alone was worth exploring.

2. Does this book play into your personal life or is it just an idea that you have seen played out before?

My overall platform, even aside from writing novels, is relationships. In particular, helping women who are going through tough breakups. In most cases, the women I talk to say that the relationship ended because he cheated. That's how the idea came about. Though yes, I have had a past relationship wherein my ex was seeing someone who knew we were together, yet she still continued seeing him. This title is about any woman who believes that a cheating husband or boyfriend is the wife or girlfriend's problem. Sometimes, what goes around, comes around.

3. A lot of your books play with the concept of relationships and love, why are these theme so much fun for you to play with in your stories?

All of my titles revolve around relationships in some way, whether father/daughter, brother/sister, mother/daughter-in-law, husband/wife - types of relational friction that I can explore. Love is why we're here on this earth. We're here to love and be loved. The subject of love gets people going. I enjoy exploring the drama of love.

4. Where did the title, “Better Than She Can” come from?

One day I was listening to Mary J. Blige's song, "I Can Love You," and though I'd heard it a million times, that day, I really "listened" and I heard and saw a story that was very similar to a concept I'd outlined on my desktop, so I went home and starting writing it with that song in mind. It was the perfect motivation!

5. Which book did you have the most fun writing/ Which book was the most challenging to write?

"Better Than She Can" was probably the most fun to write because it flowed so easily, and so quickly. The toughest book to write was L.A. Husband & Wives, as I wrote it as three books in one - Book 1, Book 2, and Book 3, one book for each of the three couples in the story. It was a great idea at first, but it was extremely difficult to get just the right mix of each couple's drama, and then move on to the next, yet tie them all in as one story.

6. What is the best advice you have for getting through writer’s block?

The best advice I have regarding writer's block is to step away and give myself a minute. I think sometimes we force ourselves and try to push through it. Nowadays, because I outline, I don't experience writer's block. With an outline, I know where I'm going with the characters, or at least I think I know, that is until they surprise even me, which is a good thing.

7. Do you plan on writing more books in the future?

No, I do not plan on writing more books. After penning more than two dozen titles over twenty years, effective October 1, 2017, I'm retiring so that I can free up my schedule so that I can take on more ghostwriting projects.

8. What is the best book you have read in 2017 thus far?

So far this year, the best book I read was The Lover, by Nia Forrester. It unfolds so well, it's unpredictable, and the author goes there. The writing was well organized and brave.

Thank you for the honor of this interview. Appreciate it!