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Posted on October 30, 2024 at 8:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek
Today we're interviewing contemporary fiction author Melody Carlson, one of the most prolific novelists of our time.
With around three hundred books published and sales close to eight million, Carlson primarily writes fiction, mostly for women and teens. She has won numerous honors and awards, including The Rita, Gold Medallion, Carol Award and Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement award.
Carlson makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband.
SADYE: How did you come to see yourself as a writer, and what inspired you to seek publication?
MELODY: I always loved to write, but because it came easily to me, I never thought it was anything special. I assumed a "real" writer was someone else, someone more intelligent and gifted.
But I finally reached a place where I was compelled to write seriously. I joined a writers’ critique group and, through their encouragement, sought publication.
Although I sold a few stories, it took a lot of rejections before I contracted my first books. And then it just seemed to take off.
SADYE: Which of your characters would you most and least like to trade places with?
MELODY: In my latest release — Welcome to the Honey B & B — part of me would trade places with Honey, since I like that she’s a farm wife and lives in a region where she can grow a lovely garden (where I live it’s a challenge!) and I think she has more patience than I do.
But I wouldn’t enjoy trading places with her husband, CT, because he has early onset dementia (just like my husband) and I know it’s a hard road to travel.
SADYE: What have been the most surprising, rewarding, and challenging parts of your writing career?
MELODY: I’m always surprised to win an award. But the most rewarding part of writing comes from the wonderful letters I get from readers — those touch, encourage and amaze me like nothing else in my career.
My biggest challenge (much to my publishers’ dismay) is probably doing promotional activities (like social media) for my books.
SADYE: What message or theme would you like readers to take away from your work?
MELODY: From my current release, Welcome to the Honey B & B, I hope readers will come away with a better understanding of early onset dementia and how it impacts a family.
But also I’d like them to feel encouraged and hopeful about life, and perhaps understand how we all need an extra portion of grace when dealing with sticky family situations.
SADYE: What experience in your past or general aspect of your life has most affected your writing?
MELODY: Well, it’s hard to say this, but being part of a family with multiple mental health issues has probably made me the writer I am today.
It’s not that I’m glad so many family members have suffered (and are suffering), but I know it changes me and makes me write about things differently than I would be doing if I had a "normal" life — not that I believe there is such a thing as normal. At least, not in my world.
But I believe that God’s plans are better than ours — and I trust that He knows what He’s doing.
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Learn more about Melody Carlson on her Amazon page, where her books can also be purchased, and like her page on Facebook.
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Categories: Author Interview