EAST LONGMEADOW – A Western Massachusetts native and a writer hailing from Albany, NY, recently teamed up to write their own novel, but the story of how the piece came together is unique. The pair bonded through several carpooling sessions to Boston, and eventually came up with the idea for their book, “Chasing Prince Charming.” The two authors will be coming together at the East Longmeadow Public Library on Oct. 26 to celebrate their novel.

Melva Michaelian of Springfield and Anna Carrasco Bowling, a resident of Albany, NY ­– formerly of Enfield – met at a writing group known as East Longmeadow Poets and Writers. The group would write to prompts for a set amount of time, and then those who chose to could read aloud for feedback. Bowling told Reminder Publishing she “fell in love with Melva’s voice immediately,” and Michaelian noted that the writing group was where she “became acquainted with Anna’s remarkable way with a plot and the characters that sprang from her very vivid imagination.”

Mutual admiration for writing abilities aside, the pair became good friends. The two eventually traveled to a romance writer’s conference and bunked together. Michaelian explained that both she and Bowling are early risers, so as they waited for the rest of their group to attend the breakfast that they arrived early for, they noted that the conference they were attending would make a good backdrop for a romance story.

“We started chatting about how varied the romance landscape was, not just contemporary and historical, but paranormal, inspirational, erotic, etc. and what interesting workshops the conference offered,” Bowling explained. “Wouldn’t anybody who thought romance novels were easy or all the same be in for a big surprise? I recall giving each other the ‘ooh, story there’ look, and immediately the next question was, ‘who would the absolute worst person for someone in that position to fall in love with be?’”

Michaelian and Bowling were not rookies to the writing scene when they began this novel together. Bowling is currently a freelancer and an editor, but as she noted, she doesn’t “remember not writing.” She wrote and edited fan fiction for many years prior to submitting her first historical romance novel.

As for Michaelian, she began writing in grade school. For over 30 years she taught English at Holyoke High School, and eventually became the English Department Chair. She later taught literature and writing at Springfield College as well as Elms College. When she was teaching, she started penning essays as demonstrations, which rekindled her desire to write. Eventually, Michaelian wrote two books with a friend and colleague, Lori Morin.

“We had both written multiple novels on our own, or with another partner, and been critique partners and fans for double digit years before we conceived, “Chasing Prince Charming.” Since we wrote in different genres/subgenres, we had never seriously thought about writing together,” Bowling stated, until they had sat down at the conference breakfast and threw around their romance novel ideas.

“Chasing Prince Charming” introduces the reader to writer Meg Crawford, who is trying to “get back on the commercial fiction horse.”

Michaelian explains the books plot, “When [Crawford’s] sophisticated novels have run their course, she makes a very reluctant deal with a desperate Dominic Stewart, who needs to save his family’s publishing business. He needs a romance author to finish his late mother’s last novel; she needs a publisher to get her career back on track, but she hates romance. Neither believes in happily ever after in real life, but can life imitate fiction in this humorous jaunt through the adventures of these dueling tale spinners?”

Bowling noted that the writing process was “a lot of fun,” and that before they named their book, they called it “the beach ball,” because the two authors were tossing ideas back and forth.

“We worked very well as we traveled to and from a couple of those initial romance conferences, and much of the book evolved as we navigated the highways and traffic jams between these events,” Michaelian explained.

Though the two lived many miles apart geographically, they were able to rely on technology to help get their project to completion. When they weren’t able to meet, the two would have Skype sessions.

“That beach ball gets quite a workout with each session, but so far, it’s never run out of air,” Michaelian said.

The two authors have nothing but positive things to say about one another, each commending the other for being accommodating and creative. Bowling and Michaelian are both in the midst of their second book, and the third is “almost complete in their heads.”

“Chasing Prince Charming” can be purchased by e-book and paperback on Amazon, or by attending their Oct. 26 event at the East Longmeadow Public Library at 11 a.m.