Where romance readers and writers come together.
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Melissa Alvarez/Ariana Dupre
Female
North Palm Beach, United States - Share
- Blog Posts (4)
- Discussions
- Events
- Groups
- Photos (3)
- Photo Albums
- Videos (1)
Profile Information
- Where did you hear about Romance Book Junction? (Please be as specific as possible. Name names, if you don't mind.)
- Carla Arpin sent me an invitation.
- Are you a reader or a writer?
- Reader, Writer
- What sub-genres do you read and/or write
- I write paranormal romantic suspense as Ariana Dupre, nonfiction as Melissa Alvarez (my real name) and children's picture books and young adult novels as Jara Jordan. I read anything I can get my hands on.
- Tell us a little about you:
- see website at http://melissaa.com
Melissa Alvarez, is an award winning author, graphic artist and website designer who obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Tech. She has always been an entrepreneur and owned several successful businesses with her husband. Melissa became involved in the publishing industry in 2000. She formed New Age Dimensions to self-publish her first book, The Phoenix’s Guide To Self-Renewal, which was released in January 2001. It quickly landed in Amazon.com’s Top 1000 where it stayed until it went out of print. At the time, Melissa was manufacturing the 416-page book in her home and eventually couldn’t keep up with the demand. Melissa says, “The learning process that went with the publication of this book was phenomenal. I jumped into the industry in an unconventional way but it was fun and worthwhile.”
Between March of 2004 and February of 2006, Melissa, founder and CEO, operated New Age Dimensions as a small press. The company had 40 authors and over 70 titles released. During this time Melissa designed the book covers, created the print book layouts and ebook files, designed and maintained websites for the company as well as some of the authors. Melissa had the final decision on contracted books. The company won awards for website design and the books published received numerous five star reviews and won many awards including EPPIE’S, the Oscars of ePublishing.
Because of the industry contacts made when Melissa worked as The Guide To Romance Fiction at About.com, she decided to release her first paranormal romantic suspense novel, Night Visions, under the pen name Ariana Dupré. She wanted the book to stand on its own, to receive good or bad reviews because of the writing, not because she knew a lot of people in the romance industry or because she owned the publishing company. Melissa didn't want her jobs, past or present, to affect the reviews in any way (good or bad). So she kept Ariana's real identity a secret until enough reviews came in that she knew the book had indeed earned success on its own. Night Visions became a multiple award winning title that is currently published by Cerridwen Press along with her latest titles, Paradise Designs in Beneath A Christmas Moon and Talgorian Prophecy.
In the past, Melissa has been a regular columnist for Suite Magazine, a writing correspondent for The American Kennel Club, a contest judge, a free lance editor, and she is considered a publishing expert and is listed on a Writer’s Digest Top 100 website as such and has appeared on radio shows in the same capacity. As an internationally renowned clairvoyant advisor, with experience in many different areas of metaphysics and as a paranormal romantic suspense author, Melissa wrote an article about the emergence of the psychic fiction genre for Romantic Times BOOKclub Magazine. She has also been published in The Writer's Net Anthology of Prose, Paranormal Experiences Volume One, New Age Dimensions Holiday Extravaganza, and was quoted Book Marketing A-Z by Francine Silverman, How To Operate A Successful Pizza & Sub Restaurant by Shri Henkel, Successful Meetings by Shri Henkel and Book Promo 101 by Nikki Leigh.
Melissa is the founder of International Paranormal Fiction Month, a member of Romance Writer’s of America including the following chapters: PASIC, RWA Online, Kiss Of Death, Futuristic, Fantasy & Paranormal, and From The Heart. She is also a Publishing Expert at Moonspinners Ask the Experts (Writer's Digest Top 100 Website) and a Spirituality & Publishing Expert at BookPromotionNewsletter.com. She is also listed in the top ten psychics on bestpsychics.com.
Melissa hosts three radio shows on Blog Talk Radio. They are:
The Reader's Round Table - interviews with authors and those involved in metaphysics. One free psychic reading live each week. Show is on hiatus until the Fall.
Celtic Seers - This is a show hosted by Celtic Seers Sally Painter and Melissa Alvarez that will start in September 2008. Discussions include all things paranormal and metaphysical.
Friesian Ink Radio - this show discusses horses, training, showing and other horse related topics.
Melissa can speak or write about the following topics:
• The publishing industry – how to get started, self publishing, owning a small press, critiquing, manuscript formatting, romance fiction, the submission process, looking at both sides of the industry as a publisher and author, ebooks, psychic fiction, and many other topics.
• Metaphysics – clairvoyance, past lives & past life readings, ghosts & hauntings, developing your psychic abilities, spiritual awakenings, spirit guides, empathic abilities, psychometry, telepathy, divination, life paths and lessons, connecting with your higher self, unlocking latent abilities, meditation on the go, crystals, chakras, tarot, pendulums, third eye activation, karma, soul quests, palmistry, elemental spirits, protecting with white light and much more.
Melissa is also the owner of three horse related web sites: http://FriesianInk.com, http://EquineBarnSupply.com and http://TopHatFriesians.com. Melissa and her husband are breeders of Friesian horses.
- What country do you live in:
- USA
- What state or province do you live in:
- FL
- If you are a writer, what is your website address (no competing networks allowed):
- http://melissaa.com
The Reader's Round Table is on hiatus.
Smiles,
Melissa/Ariana
http://melissaa.com
http://apsychichaven.com
Melissa Alvarez/Ariana Dupre's Photos
Melissa Alvarez/Ariana Dupre's Videos
Melissa Alvarez/Ariana Dupre's Blog
Two new contracts, two books coming out in print and more!
I can finally announce that I've signed two new contracts with The Lotus Circle for two titles in their To Go series. The first book is Handwriting Analysis To Go and the second is Color Power To Go. I'll have more information about these when I have a release date. And I just found out that the anthology I'm in with fellow authors Eden Robins and Karen McCullough titled, Beneath A Christmas Moon, will be going to print sometime this summer. Talgorian Prophecy, my paranormal romantic suspense t… Continue
Posted on July 8th, 2008 at 11:49am —
Do you like horses?
I haven't been around as much as I used too and now I can tell you why. I just handed in a nonfiction manuscript (Yea!) and one of our other businesses has been expanded. If you love horses, then check out our new website and community. My husband and I have created a place for owners of the top twenty-five breeds winning in dressage today to list their horses for sale, sell their equine related products and services and join an equine community just like this one! We are breeders of Friesian h… Continue
Posted on April 7th, 2008 at 8:00am — 2 Comments
New Reviews for Talgorian Prophecy
This has been a wonderful week for reviews. I just found out about this one from Simply Romance Reviews for Talgorian Prophecy. Thank you Lynda! SRR GRADE: A What would you do if you were a famous psychic and your son was just kidnapped by a ruthless serial killer? Go the police? I think not, especially when they don’t believe a word you say. You head off to find him, and that’s just what Megan Cassidy does in Talgorian Prophecy. No one believes she can find her son but she knows she can, h… Continue
Posted on March 21st, 2008 at 10:30pm —
New Review for Beneath A Christmas Moon
I just found out about this review and am so happy that it received 5 Hearts. Thanks Melinda! I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. Score (1-5) Hearts: 5 - Lifetime keeper! "Beneath a Christmas Moon is an enchanting tales of heroes that have not had good luck lately and women that will not go away to be with their man. Three great stories that all have such a great story line it is hard not to like each one. They are all paranormal yet each one is different from the typical shape shifting and vamp… Continue
Posted on March 18th, 2008 at 10:07pm —
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Comment Wall (35 comments)
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Mrs. Holloway
Thank you adding me to your circle of friends. I'm looking forward to getting to know you.
DeeDee
Geeze it has been forever :-) Hope all is well with you and the family.
Billie Jo
Smiles,
Melissa
Thanks for the invite. I'm truly honored. After reading your bio, I think I have a new hero. :) You've done some amazing things, and I admire your hard work and all your acheivements. I look forward to getting to know you better.
Many blessings,
Bren
Hugs,
Micole
Mary
Your profile is awsome. Thanks for inviting me into your friendship circle.
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