My newest chat is with Melody, who is YA author and screenwriter and so much more. She’s a native of Los Angeles and lives in Georgia with her husband and two children. She’s pursuing her dreams with passion and creativity that I admire. I am inspired by her writing and vision, and I predict her books will become films someday.
Introducing Melody…
What do you love about your life right now?
I love that I’m finally stepping into who I really am. For so long, I was playing small, second-guessing everything, worried about failing or people judging me. But lately, I’ve been leaning into my creativity again, writing, filming, making stuff I actually care about. It feels good to not hold back as much. I’m still figuring a lot out, but I’m moving. I’m not stuck. And even when things feel messy or uncertain, I’m doing things that feel aligned. My kids are watching me chase something I care about, and that means a lot to me. Life isn’t perfect, but it feels more mine lately, and I’m really loving that.
Was there a particular book or author who inspired you to become an author?
No, there’s not an author who inspired me, but definitely filmmakers. Ever since I was 10, I’ve always wanted to be a filmmaker. I grew up watching directors like Quentin Tarantino, Catherine Hardwicke, Sofia Coppola, and John Hughes. Their work made me feel like I was stepping into a whole new world or seeing myself in their characters. Writing books came later. It was another way for me to tell the stories I’ve always had in my head. But honestly, writing has also been really therapeutic for me. It’s helped me express things I’ve held in or didn’t even realize I needed to let out. It’s been a safe space for all the stuff I didn’t know how to say out loud. It also became a way for me to get better at writing in general. The more I wrote, the more I learned how to structure scenes, build tension, and develop characters. It pushed me to grow as a storyteller, and that’s helped me in all areas of my creative work, especially film.
Your first book, The Tragic + Divine is a YA book and the main character Alexis has trust issues with angels and then Milo comes onto the scene and changes things for her. Share with me what was your inspiration for writing it?
Alexis has major trust issues with angels, and for good reason. In her world, angels appeared during the Y2K hysteria, and although society accepted them, not everyone believed in their claims of divinity and perfection. Her own sister ran off with one and completely disappeared, so that left a scar. She grew up guarded, with this belief that angels were dangerous and couldn’t be trusted. Then Milo shows up. Mysterious, cocky, and honestly kind of impossible to read. And of course, she doesn’t trust him either. But he slowly chips away at her walls in a way that shakes her. The story really plays with that tension.
What happens when the person you’re most drawn to is the one you were taught to fear? The inspiration for all of it came from that Y2K era. I was so fascinated by the idea of the world ending, but instead of everything crashing, something supernatural happens instead. What if angels revealed themselves that night? That was the seed of the story. Originally, Milo was just a teenage boy pretending to be a human who ended up being her guardian angel. But over the years, the story evolved into something darker, and more layered. If you read it, you’ll definitely notice it has a cinematic feel because that’s how my brain works. So many movies influenced the vibe and aesthetic of the book. The Lost Boys was a big one, especially for how the angels look (dark, edgy, and a little dangerous). But also Queen of the Damned, Blood and Chocolate, The Covenant, Interview with the Vampire. I wanted the book to feel like you’re watching a dark, beautiful movie unfold in your head. It’s been a journey, for sure, but I’m so proud of where it ended up.
One of your reviewers said about your first book, The Tragic + Divine: “Fantastic read! This isn’t your typical supernatural book. The author had me craving more! I’m excited to see what’s next.” How does that make you feel as the author?
It means everything. Hearing stuff like that just makes all the late nights, doubts, and overthinking totally worth it. I poured so much of myself into The Tragic + Divine, so to know that someone connected with it and is craving more? That’s wild in the best way. It reminds me why I started writing in the first place; to tell stories that make people feel something and want more.
Your second book Saints and Sinners (The Tragic + Divine Book 2) was just released in March. Congrats! How long did it take you to write it?
Thank you! Saints + Sinners actually took me five years to write. I was on track to finish it around March 2020, but then the pandemic hit. The world got really scary, and I just couldn’t focus. So I stopped writing for a while and spent that time with my family instead. At one point, the book was under a small publishing company, but it didn’t work out. And honestly, I think that was a blessing. The story needed more time to grow, and so did I. After things settled down, I started juggling a few other creative projects (two other books—that are almost done—a screenplay, a short film, videography & photography jobs), so my attention was all over the place. But Saints + Sinners always stayed in the back of my mind. I knew I had to finish it, and even though it took a while, I’m really proud of how it turned out. With that said, I’m not sleeping on the third one. Ashes of Eden is already in the works and will be out January 2026. I’m not taking years to write this one. I’m locked in.
That’s impressive. I look forward to hearing more about your third book. I imagine, with creating the characters and writing the books, that there are challenges and joys. Share with me the joys and challenges of an author.
Yes, there are definitely both. One of the biggest joys for me is getting completely lost in the story, when I’m in the zone and everything’s just flowing, it feels like magic. Creating characters that feel real, building a world from scratch, and then seeing readers connect with it? That’s the best feeling ever. But it’s not always easy. The biggest challenge is probably self-doubt. You start questioning if the story’s good enough, if people will care, or if you’re even a “real” writer. And then there’s the pressure of finishing, editing, promoting, it can get overwhelming, especially when you’re doing it all yourself as an Indie author. But at the end of the day, I love it. Even when it’s hard, writing has been healing for me. It’s how I express things I’ve buried or didn’t know how to say. So yeah, plenty of challenges, but the joy makes it all worth it.
Is there a particular software you used to write your books?
I use Mac Pages to write and format everything. It’s straightforward and works for me. I don’t need anything fancy. I also use Grammarly for editing, which helps catch all the little things I might miss when I’m in the writing zone. One thing I really love about Pages is that it has a “speak” function, so I can have the book read back to me. Hearing it out loud helps me catch awkward phrasing or anything that doesn’t flow right. It’s honestly been a game-changer for my editing process.
Besides being an author, you’re also a videographer, director and filmmaker, which are a few creative hats for you. Do you have a favorite?
Yes, I do wear a few creative hats, but at my core, I’m a storyteller first, filmmaker second. Videography and photography are what I do to help my husband pay the bills (lol). I’m grateful for that, but my real passion is in storytelling. Whether it’s through books, film, or even a short video, I love building a world, creating characters, and pulling people into an emotional experience.
“And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” Even if you haven’t read his book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, I bet you know this quote. This quote is powerful and inspiring for me. What do you think of this quote from his book? Do you agree with it?
Yeah, I know that quote, and I used to think it meant the universe was something outside of me, moving things around to help me get what I want. But over time, I’ve realized I am the universe. I’m the one creating my reality, with my thoughts, my energy, my choices. When I want something and I move with intention toward it, the world around me starts to shift because I’m the one shifting. It’s not about waiting for signs or hoping something shows up. It’s about aligning with what feels true, taking action from that place, and trusting that everything I need is already within me. I’ve also learned that it only really flows when it’s coming from truth, not ego. When I’m chasing something out of fear, comparison, or trying to prove myself, everything feels heavy and forced. But when I move from a grounded, intuitive place, it feels like everything opens up. The universe isn’t something outside of me. It’s me.
I love your thoughts on that! Now, Melody, this is one of my favorite parts of the interview. Tell me three fun facts about you.
- I make candles inspired by the characters in my book.
- I’m a professional videographer and photographer.
- I wrote my first screenplay when I was 10. It was about baseball…which is hilarious because I can’t stand baseball. No idea what I was thinking.
I love ending the chat with a quote. Do you have a favorite quote or saying that has inspired and motivated you in your life?
I like Einstein’s quote: “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” That one has always stuck with me because of most of what I’ve done in life didn’t come from logic. It came from a gut feeling, or a moment of obsession I couldn’t shake off.
Thank you for reading my chat with Melody. Follow her on social links which are listed below, along with her books.