The Musings of a 30 Something Novelist

If you are in the Greater Atlanta Area on Saturday, October 26th, come by Ebb and Flow Yoga Studio in Loganville, GA for a book signing, reading, and Q&A. I will be signing copies of all three of my books from the trilogy and answering all your burning questions! Books will be available for purchase while supplies last. You can always pre-purchase books wherever books are sold. Also, check out my recent interview in the Gwinnett Daily Post! P.S. Currently working on my fourth novel. It is quite different from my trilogy, but I hope to finish soon and get into your hands! Check out the full online article!

Tiger Lily: Book 3 in the Forget Me Not Trilogy is available for purchase wherever books are sold!!!! Go get it now! :)  Tiger Lily, Book Three in the Forget Me Not Trilogy It’s been one year since the last battle. One year since Dena’s death. One year since Elsu’s betrayal. One year since Adeline Jasley’s whole world changed and transformed into something terrifying - something she didn’t recognize.  As the Chosen attempt to recover from the events of the past year, Adeline and Cole struggle to connect with one another. Mistrust, lies, and suspicion threaten not only the tribe, but Adeline and Cole’s relationship.  As the smoke clears and a new normal begins to take root, will there be another fight around the bend? Will Adeline and Cole work together in the light of old enemies? Or will it tear them apart? Buy Yours Now: Amazon (US)  |  Amazon (UK)  |  Barnes & Noble (coming soon)  |  Smashw...

Contact: Melissa Newman                                                                                         August 2019   publisher@martinsisterspublishing.com Gwinnett County Teacher lands publishing contract for third novel This war is far from over. This war is only the beginning. Four months after her father died, Allison Blanchard, who was then a freshman in high school, began to be nagged by a small voice inside her head that just wouldn’t stop talking. Blanchard began to write every day for three months until a ...

One of the many questions I am asked as a young writer and novelist is how did I come up with my story and characters. It’s a very good question and one I have answered before but feel the need to revisit.  Many of you know that I am not only a writer but also a high school English teacher. I have the extreme honor and privilege of teaching two creative writing focused American Literature classes next year so I’m already thinking about the kinds of things my students will want to know. What they will ask and what they will want to gain from my experiences in order to better their own writing and hopefully publish it. My first novel,  Forget Me Not , was published in 2012, but was written when I was fifteen years old in 2008. Earlier that same year, my father passed away from cancer. While I have always been a writer before my father was ill, as soon as he passed, I dove into it. Similar to how I think an alcoholic might drink their way through bottles upon bottles o...

This is a post I wrote several years ago, but I think it is still very relevant. Especially as I have been meeting new people who have discovered my books and want the inside scoop behind writing and publishing. There is a lot that goes into it, but here is the main thing I have learned from my years of experience. A long time ago, back in college, I had attended a reading of another author (who shall remain nameless). As I was sitting in the audience, I realized something that I think people need to know, especially writers and aspiring authors. It's a big one. A huge secret that people in the literary world don't tell. Being published will not fix you or all your problems. Being published will not make you happy. I think for many writers (and I'm putting myself into this category) believe that once they land  that  book deal, they will feel fulfilled, appreciated, and most of all  happy . Wrong. So wrong. Being published is great - a huge blessing, but ...

Balancing Life as a Writer One of my most frequently asked questions now that I am twenty-five, married, a full-time high school English teacher, a cheerleading coach, and writer, is how in the world do I balance it all? Well, it isn’t easy. But, if writing is something you are passionate about, that you cannot live without, then you find a way to make it work for you, your life, and your schedule. For me, I have to be extremely organized and intentional with carving out time for writing. I find I am a better wife, teacher, and coach, when I make sure I give myself the time I need to write and be creative on my own.  You may be reading this, thinking, but how do I logically make this happen in my life? Whether you are a teacher or accountant or lawyer, hopefully, I can give you some tips on how to manage your time and still write creatively.  1.      Create a schedule that works for you and your goals. This may seem obvious,...