Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m kind of a nerd. I love sci-fi, dungeons and dragons, and enjoy the good side romance story.
I work a day job as an architectural drafter and my personal life belongs, primarily, to my beautiful family. I am fascinated by psychology and the way the mind works. I picked up writing as a personal outlet to work through the stresses of my life. It ended up being more cathartic than I knew it would be. People tell me my character conversations and conflicts feel so real. That may be due to the conversations being a mixture of exactly how I imagine them going in my head and how they actually end up playing out. Just about everyone has experienced that awkwardness after saying something dumb to that person they fancy and then scolding themselves silently, or even going so far as saying, “Oh, man! I should have said this other thing instead! That would have been clever!” My dialog is based on my experience of real conversations from the mind of an anxious person who never really quite knows how to respond. Also, my observations of how others interact so seemingly seamlessly.
Right now I only have one published novel. However, I have contributed to an anthology that will be launching in a few months. I also started a small indie publishing company to help self-publishing authors through the process of getting their book on the market.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of my latest published book is “Extension”. I was inspired by a music video where a mystical/alien being falls in love with a robot, and it morphed into its own thing from there.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I’m not sure. What’s unusual to one person may be commonplace to another. What’s important is having confidence in the process that works for you.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Orson Scott Card is my major influencer. I found my storyline format follows his a fair bit with a good portion of the beginning of the story being character building before the action starts kicking up.
What are you working on now?
I’m contributing to an anthology that will be released later in the year 2021. The date is tentative right now.
I’m also working on the sequel I have working titled “Fracture” to my first publication Extension.
Another project I have started outlining is a paranormal romance novel called Vesper’s Grasp.
The last project I have started outlining doesn’t have a title yet but it’s a space drama.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I focus a lot on the reedsy marketing emails that send out marketing suggestions as well as kindlepreneur.com. Really, researching your novel and target audience are the most effective ways to know how to promote your books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do it. You can do it and the feeling of holding your book in your hand is one that is hard to top. You can’t please everyone so write the book you want to read.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Love yourself and be comfortable and confident in who you are and what you can accomplish.
What are you reading now?
Black Recluse by Anna Bowman. It’s a steampunk science fiction romance(maybe?) I smell a romance brewing but I am only three chapters in so, we’ll see 🙂
What’s next for you as a writer?
Writing more books and self-publishing.
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?
3-4 books…so, books within a series are all counted individually? Dang it. Okay. I’d probably bring along Cosmos by Carl Sagan, Birthright (the 2nd book in the Descendant series) by Nichole Giles, Homebody by Orson Scott Card, and The Kraken Project by Douglas Preston.
Author Websites and Profiles
Melody Kepler Website
Melody Kepler Amazon Profile
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