Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Mar
Melanie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in Monterrey, Mexico. My mother and I came to the USA when I was quite young, and I was lucky to know basic English when we arrived. However, although I live in a predominantly Hispanic community, not having flawless English affected my friendships as I began my young life here. I struggled to communicate with peers, struggled to navigate the cultural differences—the one place I found solace in, was in books.
I began reading, in English, in middle school. I distinctly remember my first choice was “The Tale of Emily Windsnap,” a middle grade novel about a mermaid. From there, I fell in love with fantasy. Magic, angst, impossible things…I became engrossed in the world of fiction.
In high school, I continued in the arts, as I have always been drawn to the emotional and evocative. I wrote a pretty popular fanfiction (no I will not say for what because I have nightmares about the thing still), then slowly dwindled away from the joys of reading and writing. I grew up, went to college, lived sorrows…you know, the typical young adult experience.
Then, at 25, I got pregnant. Not accidentally, as my fiancé and I had discussed a family for a while prior. Although my daughter is the light of my life, being a first time mother was hard. So hard, lonely, exhausting—even with all the amazing support I was getting, postpartum depression sank its claws deeply into me. My daughter was and still is a very clingy child, and that drove me insane the first few months after having her. I needed something, anything to feel like a human being again.
So, I asked myself what brought me the most joy before, when I was younger.
Immediately the answer was reading.
So, I read. The long hours I held her and fed her were broken up by reading on my e-reader. I can wholeheartedly say reading saved my life during that period of first time motherhood.
Then, still couch bound and running out of books to read, I decided to just write. Little things at first, fan fictions or poems.
Then Of Stars and Lightning came to mind. Not entirely, of course. But I had a few very specific scenes I quite literally could not contain in my mind, and from those slowly came the rest of it. Before I knew it, I had written a whole book.
I tried querying that version, without much success. It was missing something, though I couldn’t figure out what exactly. An agent that had requested my full manuscript reached out for a call, and although she ultimately passed on it, she gave me invaluable advice that made me completely scrap that version.
I re wrote the book, which is now the published version, in four months.
I was incredibly lucky to have signed with an Indie publisher, Conquest Publishing a few weeks after having that agent call. Conquest accepted my first draft unagented, but I knew I was unhappy with the story the way it was.
They signed me anyway and told me, “Show us what you got.”
And I did.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Honestly, I can’t complain. In generally, the road to traditional publication is full of turbulence. It’s competitive, you need an agent to submit to presses—you get heavily judged on the one thing you thought you were good at.
I was so lucky to have found Conquest, who accepted my writing for what it was and gave me the freedom to explore my talent without unneeded criticisms and difficulties.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Fantasy author, primarily Romantic Fantasy. As of right now, Of Stars and Lightning is my only published book, but it is the first in a 5 book series.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
That I don’t outline my works. I’m a total pantser, I just sit and write and hope for the best. I don’t even know what’s going to happen in my books half the time!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Melaniemarbooks.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/sosawnin
- Twitter: https://X.com/sosawnin
Image Credits
Rafael Sepulveda
Ana Perez
985 photography
Russ Harrington
