Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi. I’m Melanie Mole. I’m a little different in some respects because of a wacky sense of humour. But I like to think that I’m a kind and supportive person who is, and always will be, totally into books, writing, and everything to do with those. I literally live and breathe books. They are like oxygen for my soul.
I live in a small market town in England. I grew up here, although I have lived in several other counties at other times during my life. Where I live now is surrounded by lush green countryside and I am so lucky to be able to live in an area like this. It is a place where people will often stop and chat to you or give you a smile and a wave, and I like that.
I am one of four children, and have two of my own. During childhood our house was often filled with people. One of my brothers liked to play his punk music really loud, and there always seemed to be a reason for my family to throw a party or have some sort of social gathering at our house, and so I craved peace and quiet. I would often go out and walk our dogs in the country lanes near our home. They became a place of solitude for me where I could finally hear myself think.
Like a lot of writers I have always been an introvert. I don’t like loud noisy places or people as they make me feel uneasy. Having said that I like small gatherings of people I know, or feel comfortable with. But that would be an occasional thing for me. I am a loner despite being a twin.
I like to see the good in people, and will do until they prove me otherwise. I am an optimist at heart and am thankful for the little things in life like rain for the plants, and small gestures that can really make a difference to someone’s day.
The books I have written are called ‘Simply Does It’ (See more about this below), and ‘Man + Woman = Trouble’ which is a humorous look at relationships, where I show the reader how not to do it, with lessons from my own disastrous experiences. I have made every mistake possible in my relationships, and this book was written with an aim to help other in their relationships so that they don’t get to the point of disaster.
I have also had a short story published in ‘Once Upon A Broken Dream:A Creativia Anthology’. We were all given a phrase to include in our stories, but could do this in any way that we chose. The result is a great mix of totally different stories in one book. This was my first try at writing fiction, and I was happy with the end result. I have decided that my story will be the prelude to a series relating to a fictional place called Buttercup Bay. I already have the outlines for several stories in this series. So watch this space!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My new book is called ‘Simply Does It’. It is about living more simply with a view to being able to write more.
I have spent my whole adult life trying to find a way to fit it all in, so that I can feel good about more days than not. By that, I mean getting everything done which needs to be done on an average day. That means looking after family, doing chores, working and everything else which needs doing like so many of us It also means trying to fit some writing into my schedule. I would think that most writers who don’t have the luxury of being able to write full time, would often like more time, and less stress, in order to be able to do that.
During the first two decades of me trying to find the time to write without much success, I had become resigned to the fact that this was what a writer’s life was all about. That it would always be difficult, and so I would just have to live with it if I wanted to write.
I had tried every way that I could think of to fit it all in, and to be less stressed about it. But it got to the point I couldn’t see a way out. I thought that being a writer was just one of those high stressed vocations which was a ‘take it or leave it’ type of thing. So, you either put up with it, or just didn’t write.
But, now I know that I was wrong. I know that there is an answer. In the past year I have exceeded my wildest dreams in relation to my writing because I have increased my writing output by over 800% now. Yes, that’s right. I did say 800%! The the first part of that journey is in my new book Simply Does It.
Like most of us my story is a long one. I literally spent years writing my first book Man + Woman = Trouble (which will be available on Amazon next week as I have revamped it a little). Then I suffered loss, like we all do at times. But because of my diagnosed Depression I spiralled into the darkest and most gloomy place imaginable. I couldn’t get out of it. Nobody seemed to care, and nothing seemed to help. On the rare days when I was aware of what I was doing I knew that I couldn’t write enough. But what I really needed to do was to get back on track in search of what would now only make me better, but also make my life so much better generally too. I didn’t know it at the time, but writing was the answer in its most simple form.
The great news is that anyone can increase your writing output, whilst still retaining its quality, perhaps by 800% in a year like I did, and maybe even more! I did this whilst being a full time, live in carer for a relative. Anybody who has done this will know that there are constant interruptions both day and night when you are a live in carer, and that it is also physically and mentally exhausting. So, even if you have a job which seems to take everything out of you, you can still do it if you choose to do it like I did.
So, in a nutshell, my own needs inspired it. The need to be able to write, and to live a much stressed life. I am so fortunate to have found the answer!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if you would call them unusual, but I often get up about 3-4 a.m. and write. Then I sleep in the afternoon to be refreshed for more writing in the evening. I can only do this sometimes because of my other responsibilities, but life feels right like this.
I am strongly into doing what suits you. Nobody can really tell you what you should be doing as a writer because the creative process doesn’t really run well on rules. So I will continue to do what I need to do despite how strange it may seem to anyone else.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The person who has influenced me the most in relation to my writing is the author Julia Cameron.
In my view she is like a writing goddess and guru all rolled into one. Because she continues to offer brilliant advice, to encourage, and to show us the way, and has done for several decades now.
She is really honest about what motivates her, what problems she has faced, and the difficulties that we probably all have in relation to our writing. I read each of her books at least once a year. My favourite one is ‘The Artist’s Way’. But this is closely followed by both ‘The Right to Write’, and ‘The Sound of Paper’. Julia’s books feature heavily on my reading list. Each time I read them I see something that I missed the last that time I read them. They are my guiding light for my writing.
What are you working on now?
At the moment I am just finishing another book called Write Yourself Happy. Despite being an optimist at heart I am diagnosed with Depression. So this book looks at how I did actually write myself happy through one of the darkest times of my life. I actually still use the same techniques to write now.
I hope that it will inspire others to keep going through the bad times, and to come out the other side a stronger, wiser and more determined person. If it helps even just one person then I will be pleased. You don’t need to have Depression to benefit from the book. It is aimed at anyone who needs a gentle push in the right direction in relation to their writing.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I would have to say that my website and my Twitter account are the best way that I have found to promote my book. But I also guest post on other websites too, and this definitely raises my profile.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
The best piece of advice that I could give to new authors is to research well before you even start to write. I’m not saying not to write a little, but I mean before you begin to write seriously, because this can save you a lot of time and heartache.
At the start of my writing life, if I had known some of the things that I now know, I would have started my writing career so differently. Little things, like to start your author website and social media profiles as early as possible could have made all the difference.
Plus, if I knew some of the tricks that I have learned along the way at the start of my journey, (many of which I discuss in my books), I would have written many more books before now.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up. It is the advice which kept me going for years. I truly believe that it is the best advice that I have ever received. If I was brave enough to have it tattooed on my forehead, backwards, so that I could see it the right way round in the mirror each morning, I would. It really is that important. To see it first things in the morning when I was my face, and last thing at night when I bathe. It sets the tone for each day, and soothes the soul before bed each night. So I’m never giving up, and neither should you.
What are you reading now?
At the moment I am reading Julia Cameron’s ‘The Sound of Paper’ for the fifth time. It still inspires me every time that I read it. I plan to keep on reading at least once a year because I like it so much.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am just finishing another book called ‘Write Yourself Happy’. Despite being an optimist at heart I am diagnosed with Depression. So this book looks at how I did actually write myself happy through one of the darkest times of my life. It is a positive story which I hope will help to inspire other writers.
Then after that, I am will finish another book called ‘The Simple Writer Experiment’. I am half way through writing it at the moment. At this stage I don’t want to give too much away about it. But I think that it will really be my best yet in terms of offering advice and sharing solutions to many of the problems that writers face. So I am really excited about it.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The first would be ‘The Measure of a Man’ by Sidney Poitier. If you want inspiration on not giving up then this is the book for you. It looks at Mr. Poitier’s journey to America with barely a cent to his name. It is both uplifting and moving. A great book to get you thinking.
The second book would be ‘Secrets at the Maple Syrup Farm’ by Rebecca Rasisin. I love all of Rebecca’s books because they have great story lines that keep me interested throughout the whole book. Her writing is so easy to read. I could see me still wanting to read her books when I am 100!
The third book would be ‘Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting: The Astonishing Power of Feelings’ by Lynn Grabhorn. It is an amazing book about the difference your feelings, and the energy that they bring with them, can make to your life. I learned so much from it. It is also a book which I read again and again.
The fourth would definitely have to be anything by Julia Cameron.
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