Children and Young Adult Author | Official Website
Author: Ellwyn
I live with my loving husband, two children and dog in Philadelphia, PA. I discovered my passion for writing in second grade when I had to write a book report for school. I was so excited to write the report, until my mother told me that I had to write about someone else's book and not my own story. I became indignant and decided that once I finished the book report I would most certainly write my own original story. I have been writing ever since!
My self-published book Chris Kringle's Cops was a Finalist in The Reader's Favorite Book Contest for 2016. I am so happy to share this story with you.
My picture book Kamyla Chung and the Creepy Crawlies was given a 5 Star rating by Reader's Favorite Book Reviews in 2017.
Melanie S.
Pronia has many things to be proud of in her life. Besides being an
award-winning author, her oldest son is in the United States Marines and her
youngest is interested in a career in Forensic Science.
An
adventurer at heart, Melanie loves her life and doesn’t want to waste a minute.
She enjoys traveling, trying new foods, visiting cemeteries, and brewing her
own wine and beer. Salute!
Melanie lives in Florida with her husband and fellow novelist, John Maycumber.
Now that I’ve introduced you to Melanie, let’s get to know her a little better.
Hello,
Melanie, and welcome to Angel Kiss Publications. Thank you for agreeing to do
this interview.
Thank you for having me.
Photo courtesy of: Melanie S. Pronia
A BIG Congratulations on winning The Author’s Show 2018 Top Female Authors.
Thank you.
Can you
tell us about your writing journey and how you came to win the award for The
Author’s Show?
I started writing a lot of poetry when I was 14, then wrote my first novel when I was 17.
Photo courtesy of: Melanie S. Pronia
What
inspired you to be a writer?
My third
grade teacher, Mrs. Harrison, was an aspiring writing and shared her stories
with our class. I loved her and them.
Is
writing your full-time profession?
Oh, how I
wish, but no, not yet.
How
long have you been writing?
Since I could hold a pencil.
Photo courtesy of: Melanie S. Pronia
How
many books have you written?
I have six published books.
Which genres do you write?
Paranormal,
Psychological Drama, Horror, Non-fiction and True Crime.
What do
you find most challenging writing for these genres?
I like for my writing to be honest and accurate.
Photo courtesy of: Melanie S. Pronia
What
are you working on now?
I am
writing the sequel to, Descent, which is the novel that won the Top
Female Authors Contest. I am also working on a non-fiction called, At
Death’s Door and a fiction series titled, Witch Way.
Where
do you find inspiration for your characters?
Many places, a creepy looking man on a street corner, my friends with some layers added and removed and people I am not entirely fond of as antagonists. I also get a lot of inspiration from my dreams.
Photo courtesy of: Melanie S. Pronia
What
has been your most rewarding experience since publishing your work?
Winning
the Grand Prize in the Top Female Authors contest!
What
advice would you give to authors just starting out?
Write,
write and write some more. Cut down on TV time and try to write something at
least four times a week.
Is
there anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?
I do extensive research for my books, both fiction and non-fiction.
Photo courtesy of: Melanie S. Pronia
What
message are you sharing in your books?
That there
is no normal.
What
are your favorite books?
The
Earth Children Series by
Jean M. Auel, and Cat Magic by Whitley Strieber.
What are
your favorite movies, TV shows?
For movies, I prefer intelligent thrillers and coming of age stories. For TV shows, The Handmaid’s Tale, Six Feet Under, and Dexter.
Photo courtesy of: Melanie S. Pronia
When
you’re not writing where can we find you?
I love to
be outside exploring Nature or historic sights. I enjoy antiquing, thrift
shops, and socializing with friends.
Derek Keeling is a man of many
words. So many in fact, that he started writing as a teenager and hasn’t
stopped. He turned this love of words into an award-winning journalistic
career. His writing has also been featured in numerous books, magazines, blogs,
websites and more.
Now that I’ve introduced you to Derek let’s get to know him a littler better.
Hello, Derek, and welcome. Thank you for agreeing to do
this interview.
Thank you for having me.
What inspired you to be a writer?
It actually began years ago, when I was a young teen. I had to take summer school for a class to receive my Certificate of Initial Mastery. For some reason, I had failed the English test and had the option of either taking summer school or being held back. During that class I learned how to craft a story and created a short story called, Matchbox Zombies.
The teacher thought it was such great writing that she had me
stand up in front of the entire class and read it, of which I was the only one
to do so. The class was enthralled by my story. That single seed of writing is
what has bloomed my passion for it to this day. For note, I did end up passing
and receiving my Certificate of Initial Mastery.
Is writing your full-time profession?
I am thankful to have been able to
have writing as my full-time profession for quite some time. I am currently the
content writer and social media coordinator for a prominent senior living
company.
Before that I was the editor for a
newspaper in South Dakota. Even further back I wrote for a magazine and an
online music review website. It’s been quite the blessing to have been able to
take my love of writing and make it into a career.
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing in a serious capacity for 18 years, since I was 14 years old. There have been stints where I focused on music and other things, but I would always write. Even if it was just in a journal or song lyrics.
Can you tell us about your experiences as a journalist?
Being a journalist was a really
great experience. I began as the featured writer and photographer, but soon
after was promoted to editor-in-chief.
I worked for a weekly newspaper, so
it was a little more laid back than your typical daily newspaper. I am thankful
for a really great run as editor. I won an award for best featured article in
South Dakota in 2015. All in all, it was a great experience.
How has being a journalist influenced your work?
Being a journalist has a weird way of pointing out your shortcomings as a writer. It really helped me hone my craft and brought out my innate ability to research. That has really helped in my writing a lot.
How many books have you written?
Technically, I have written a total
of three books. The first one I ever wrote was a very short collection of poems
and photographs. It is however, unavailable anymore.
The second book, or what I refer to
as my first book, or novel rather, is a book I wrote and published in 2010-2011
called The Umbras. You can find it on Amazon.
My current novel, and that of which
I am most proud, will be officially available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
and select book stores on March 2, 2019.
It’s called, Nomad’s Island.
This book was written between 2016 and 2018 and is my most accomplished work to
date. I have never been more proud of an inanimate object.
Which genre do you write?
This may sound a bit pretentious,
but I don’t like to constrict my writing down to a single genre. However, I
have come up with a term that seems to be sufficient with readers and does tend
to lend itself quite well to my style. I am a “twist-writer”.
Meaning, my books attempt to have a
very intense twist within them that catches the reader off-guard. The Umbras
had a twist that people still comment about to this day. Nomad’s Island
has a couple of really big twists that may just blow reader’s minds.
I like to have the freedom to dabble with mystery, suspense, thriller, horror, action, adventure, romance, or whatever else hits my inspiration. I honestly am not sure I could ever tie myself down into a single category. I like to write the story that I would want to read and that inspires me.
What do you find most challenging writing for these genre?
Because I do not limit
myself to a single genre, I find nothing challenging about it. I mean, there
are lots of challenges in their own right, but I have never been wanting to
write a story but couldn’t because I am only a romance author. I think that
kind of categorization could really limit an author’s ability to tell a great
story.
What are you working on now?
At the current moment I am in the
process of getting ready to write a two, maybe three part book series. There’s
always a lot of planning involved, so it’ll be a while before the pen hits the
paper, so to speak.
I have been working heavily on
marketing and promoting my upcoming novel, Nomad’s Island. That is a lot
of work itself. Thankfully, with my background, marketing is easier than it
would be without it.
Where do you find inspiration for your characters?
That’s a great question. I would
have to say my family, friends, and the ether. Sometimes I just create a
character and they tend to develop a personality of their own, sometimes they
are reflected from people close to me.
In the case of Nomad’s Island,
the main character is named Damon. He is actually mimicked after a younger
version of myself. I wanted to do what Damon wanted to do years ago, which is
travel to an island and live off the land.
Unfortunately, my experience failed
within a week. His, while also failed, lasted for a considerably longer time.
However, Damon’s experience on Nomad’s Island was not really all that
pleasant.
What has been your most rewarding experience since publishing your work?
Hearing or reading about people talking about my book. Seeing the shear excitement people get. I was surprised by how many people can’t wait to read Nomad’s Island. That is such a cool feeling. As with any author, I hope it lives up to the hype.
What advice would you give to authors or journalists just starting out?
They’ll hear it all the time, but
it’s honestly the best advice: keep writing. The more you write and practice
your skills, the better you’ll get.
Write for fun, write for free,
write professionally, and learn everything you can about writing. I’m still
learning and I’ve been doing this for many years.
When writing a novel, stick with
it. As long as you’re moving forward, you’ll get to the end eventually. Edits,
drafts, and other things will all happen soon enough. Just get your story on
paper.
Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?
First off, thank you! When you read
my story it helps to fulfill a dream of mine and I am deeply thankful. I love
writing and I am always trying to improve my abilities and broaden the worlds
which I create.
I welcome feedback from anyone that
reads my stories. As of recent, I have been inspired by a new person, my
daughter, Daphne. She is almost two years old and is full of life and spunk.
It’s amazing what a tiny little
human will do to you. Between my wife and my daughter, I am rich in love and
life. They are my inspirations to keep moving forward with my writing.
What message are you sharing in your books?
With Nomad’s Island I am
trying to convey the message of adventure and the power of the human mind and its
will to survive. There are tons of stories of human survival that baffle me.
With Nomad’s Island, I tried
to add in another angle, however. Another human stalking the lone survivor from
the jungle’s edge. I find it best summed up with this saying: what was lost,
has been found.
What are your favorite books/authors?
I’ve always been a fan of adventure
books. Nomad’s Island has some roots in old pirate books and their ilk.
Specifically, The Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James
Norman Hall has been a favorite of mine for many years.
A kid’s classic, A Ghost in the
Noonday Sun by Sid Fleischman is a short, amazing book that has such a cool
storyline. I’ve also enjoyed more recent novels, like Into the Wild and The
Final Frontiersman.
Both amazing stories of survival
and adventure. Being a journalist, I also found a weird home with Gonzo
journalist, Hunter S. Thompson. His writing is so fluid, natural, and raw.
What are your favorite movies, TV shows?
There are also a lot of shows that I
enjoy. A decent amount of research was done for Nomad’s Island by
watching Survivorman.
I’m really into older TV shows,
like Cheers, Frasier, Newsradio, and Married With Children.
However, I do enjoy a lot off cooking shows, like the Great British BakingShow, Chopped, Good Eats, etc.
When you’re not writing where can we find you?
Probably sleeping. Ha! No, but
considering I write from 8-5 p.m. and then write on my free time, too, chances
are I’d be sleeping. But, I also like to enjoy relaxing at the beach, eating at
a restaurant, or enjoying a latte at a local coffeehouse.
When I started The Kamyla Chung Series I drew on my experiences as a public school teacher. During my tenure I witnessed the difficult situations many children live in and the violent outbursts that brought into my classroom.
I hope that Kamyla
Chung and the Classroom Bully will be a stimulus for heartfelt, meaningful
conversations between parents and their children and teachers and their
students.
To cure school
violence, we must address the mental health of students and offer consistent
and viable support to those who are struggling. Books that approach the subject
gently are one tool educators and counselors can use to accomplish this.
Awards are a great way to earn the recognition required to spread a book’s message. Will you please help me get my message to those who need it by voting for Kamyla Chungand the Classroom Bully in The Author Academy Awards.
Jenny S. Burke enjoys the wild side of life but only if she can experience it through nature. As a former marine biologist, she has an ocean of experience to fish from for her adventure stories.
A multi-award winner, Jenny’s novel, Dragon Lightning, was featured on TV twice. She has also published five marine research papers, been nominated for the Georgia Author of the Year Award and done a host of radio and blog interviews.
Jenny has
earned degrees in Math, Science, Marine Science and Education.
Now that I’ve introduced you to Jenny let’s get to know her a little better.
Hello, Jenny, and welcome. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview.
Ellwyn, thank you so much for the opportunity to be part of your blog!
Why did you
become a marine biologist?
I grew up
land-locked. When I was eight, I saw a short movie on the sea and decided to
become a marine biologist.
I took math and
science courses, improved my writing, became a certified diver, and more,
always working toward my goal.
I love the sea!
This love became a unique undersea world in my Dragon Dreamer books.
Where did
you work?
I’ve worked in
several Florida cities, including the Florida Keys.
What did you
do there?
I worked off of boats, studying life on the coral reefs and also in the dark abyss.
Do you have
a favorite animal? If so, which one is it and why?
Of sea life,
the octopus is my favorite. Octopuses are at least as smart and clever as
humans.
They’re
fast-thinking and have amazing abilities; some types can shape-shift in the
blink of an eye to perfectly camouflage or to mimic another type of sea life.
An octopus who was grabbed by a shark put her arms in his gills so he couldn’t breathe. He let her go.
How has your
experience as a marine biologist influenced your writing?
My experiences
at sea and fascination with the natural world are part of my Dragon Dreamer
Series.
My characters
experience the sea storm that nearly killed me, and the three terrifying
waterspouts that surrounded my boat. They enjoy the glowing sea life and watch
the sun melt into the sea.
From The
Dragon Dreamer: “Black clouds rolled silently overhead, devouring stars in
the darkening night sky. A sudden barrage of lightning crackled above. Startled
by the noise, Arak spun in the air. Again the lightning flashed! In the
blinding light he clearly saw the monstrous black claw of the storm. His body
shook as powerful waves of thunder rolled through him. His heart beat with the
new rhythm.
The young
dragon veered left, toward the weaker side of a storm. But this storm was huge.
There was no escape.”
What
inspired you to become a writer?
My marvelous
third grade teacher started a poetry club, and I joined. She published
anthologies with our poems.
I continued to write poems for years, for fun; I love playing with words. But I never planned to write a novel until one grew in my mind.
Which genres
do you write?
I write science
fantasy adventure and I’m working on a children’s book. I also have an
educational Crystal Series that uses the angles of natural crystals, and
a coloring book with the fantasy snowflakes my dragons grow in the winter
clouds.
What do you
find most challenging writing for this genre?
I take longer
than I’d like to write a proper novel that satisfies me.
What are you
working on now?
I’m writing stand-alone books 3 and 4 of the Dragon Dreamer Series. I’m drawing more fantasy flakes as illustrations and for a second coloring book.
How many
books have you written?
There are two
crystal books (Crystal Geometry and Crystal Colors) with cartoons
and science/math/art educational activities.
The first
novels of my science fantasy series are The Dragon Dreamer and Dragon
Lightning.
There are hand-drawn mandalas in Fantasy Snowflakes Coloring Book. This coloring book includes information on natural snowflake growth and math-science-art connections.
What has
been your most rewarding experience since publishing your work?
I love meeting
readers and writers in person and online. A good review is satisfying. A few
times, readers have added my books to lists on Goodreads. Knowing someone
enjoys your work helps justify all the effort.
What advice
would you give to authors just starting out?
Just start
writing! As you write, study what you like in your favorite books and apply
this. Learn the basics of a novel. Get feedback from readers and writers. Start
a website and join Goodreads.
What message
are you sharing in your books?
The Dragon
Dreamer books are first a science fantasy adventure story written to
entertain.
Beyond this, there
are messages about the priceless gift of friendship, the benefits of combining
different abilities, using your wits to solve problems, persevering despite
mounting problems, and environmental connections.
When you not
writing where can we find you?
I love wild
spaces on land or sea.
What are
your favorite books/authors?
Too many to
list them all! I love the evolving poems in The Lord of the Rings, the
beautiful message in The Velveteen Rabbit (I still cry when he becomes
Real), Dune, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, The Forgotten Beasts
of Eld, and many more. I also love many books by Indie authors.
What are
your favorite TV shows/movies?
I love the many
Star Trek Series, Dr. Who (especially Doctor #10), Psych, The
Big BangTheory, and JAG.
Is there anything
else you’d like your readers to know about you?
I love to
paint, draw, and make jewelry. I painted the covers for my books.
John Coon
lives for adventure whether it be through writing or hiking through his
favorite mountainside. John is a sports journalist who has turned his pen to
fiction novels. His first novel, Pandora Reborn, debuted in 2018.
A native
of Utah, John finds peace in nature and believes “life without creativity
and imagination is hollow.”
Now that I’ve introduced you to John let’s get to know him a little better.
Hello, John, welcome to Angel Kiss Publications. Thank you for agreeing to do thisinterview.
Thank you
for having me.
What
inspired you to be a writer?
I’ve loved
creating stories ever since I was a kid. I always had an active imagination.
When I was in elementary school, for example, I daydreamed about being an actor
starring in my own movies.
I had movie
titles figured out and knew what each movie was about. Some characters and fictional worlds I’ve
created as an adult author can trace their roots back to this early time in my
life.
Is
writing your full-time profession?
Only if
you include journalism into the mix. Reporting on pro sports and college sports
remains my day job at the moment.
Fiction writing is a part-time pursuit for now. I hope to change that in the not-too-distant future.
My first
novel was published in June 2018, but I’ve been writing for three decades. I
started writing my earliest stories when I was 12 years old. My parents owned
an old manual typewriter and had set it up on a table in the back of the
kitchen.
An older
sister of mine wrote some short stories, and I decided one day I could write
stories too. I grabbed some orange typing paper and started typing up stories
on the typewriter.
Those
early stories were about a litter of mischievous kittens based on some pet cats
our family owned at the time. I eventually wrote nine connected stories about
the kittens by the time I got into high school. Since that time, I have
continued to write fiction and poetry.
Can you
tell us about your experiences as a sports reporter?
When
someone finds out I work as a sports reporter, their reaction is something
like: “That must be so exciting getting paid to watch sports! You have a
dream job.”
It
surprises them when I reply it’s like any other job. Some days you enjoy it.
Other days you can’t stand it. I’ve had tons of fun experiences in my 15 years
of writing about sports.
I’ve
ridden in a race car at 160 miles per hour. I’ve been able to witness athletes
set world records. I’ve covered March Madness (the NCAA men’s basketball
tournament) on several occasions.
I’ve also
endured more stressful deadlines and sleepless nights than I care to remember.
It can take a toll. Covering sports such as football or basketball creates a
demanding day-to-day schedule, especially with social media basically demanding
fresh content around the clock.
How has
being a sports reporter influenced your work?
Being a
reporter has helped me strengthen my observation skills. I see how people act,
talk, and react in a wide variety of situations. I see how different personalities
mesh with one another.
It has proven useful in crafting characters and dialogue that feel drawn from the real world. One of my primary goals in creating stories is to build a world populated with characters and settings that feel authentic. What I’ve observed and learned as a reporter helps me to better achieve such a goal.
How
many books have you written?
I’ve
published one novel so far and I’m currently working on my second one. Pandora
Reborn, my debut novel, was released in June 2018.
Which genres
do you write?
I write in
multiple genres because I have ideas for stories and characters I want to
develop that fit into different genres. Sometimes, I blend multiple genres
within the same story.
Pandora
Reborn is primarily a
young adult horror story that also blends elements from fantasy, mystery, and
thriller genres. My upcoming novel will primarily be a science fiction
thriller, but could also include a few horror elements because of the
characters and the setting.
Honestly,
it’s fun to not limit yourself to a single genre as a writer. It allows more
flexibility and creativity in telling the story you want told.
What do
you find most challenging writing for these genres?
For me,
the one challenge in every story is making sure it feels authentic. I want to
make these fictional worlds feel real, even when fantastic elements are
involved.
Every
fictional world is the real world to the characters who live in it. For that
reason, I want their actions, reactions, and interactions to feel true to life.
Nothing
bothers me more in genre fiction than plot armor. Forcing characters to say and
do things simply because the plot tells them that’s what they’re supposed to
do. It makes for uninteresting stories.
Drama and
suspense build organically when characters feel like real people. You become
emotionally invested in their journey and their fate ultimately matters to you.
What
are you working on now?
I’m
currently writing my second novel, the aforementioned science fiction thriller.
I plan to publish it later this spring.
The story
will follow four college students who are confronted with the results of alien
genetic experimentation after being trapped in an isolated Texas town during a
spring break road trip. It’s a re-imagining of a short story I wrote in
college.
I expanded
the narrative and added some characters and subplots to help flesh it out to
novel length. Beyond that story, I have other science fiction novels in the
works and a pair of sequels to Pandora Reborn in development.
Where do
you find inspiration for your characters?
My
characters are a melting pot of various personalities I’ve encountered and
interacted with throughout my life. Like I mentioned earlier, I always pay
attention to how other people act, interact, and react in situations, so my
characters feel like real people.
Still, I
don’t intentionally base any character on a single individual for obvious
reasons. Many people would not react favorably to encountering a fictionalized
version of themselves within a story.
What
has been your most rewarding experience since publishing your work?
Honestly,
it has been a thrill to see so many people enjoy Pandora Reborn. I’ve
received more favorable reviews and positive feedback than I ever anticipated.
I love seeing other people embrace characters and stories that kicked around in
my head for years. It has given me tons
of confidence while working on my second novel.
What
advice would you give to authors just starting out?
Find your
own voice. I often see advice to new authors that tells them to mimic what
popular authors are doing or tells them to figure out which genre sells and
dive in head first. That’s terrible advice, in my opinion.
The best
thing you can do as an author is be true to yourself. Tell a story you want to
tell. Then take plenty of time to craft it so that it is told in the best way
possible. You will find an audience eventually and they will appreciate
something that is authentic and well-written.
What
readers don’t appreciate are slapdash by-the-numbers stories that are
transparently designed to make a quick buck.
Is
there anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?
I’m the
type of person who tries to make the world around me a better place. Life is so
much better when we all choose to be good people.
We can
bring happiness into our lives and other people’s lives by being kind, honest,
and caring. I strive to live each day with this philosophy guiding me.
What
message are you sharing in your books?
It really
depends on the book. I don’t set out to impose a specific message on a novel.
It just evolves organically as the story unfolds.
With Pandora
Reborn, for example, a key message that emerges is the danger of being
isolated. You look at all the major characters and they are all isolated to one
degree or another when the story begins.
Ron Olson
illustrates this perfectly. He is in a new town cut off from his old friends
and his dad. Ron wants nothing to do with Deer Falls. As the story progresses,
he learns in a real way that he can’t live isolated.
He is
forced to find allies when a terrifying ancient witch begins wreaking havoc. It
also forces Ron to repair his relationship with his mother to ensure her
survival. The overall message, in a way, is that life’s battles are not meant
to be fought alone and cannot be won alone.
What
are your favorite books/authors?
Growing
up, my favorite authors were Jack London, C.S. Lewis, H.G. Wells, Jules Verne,
and Edgar Allan Poe. I love the way they could build a world and make each
character feel so real and alive — even in the most extreme or fantastic
circumstances.
As an adult, I have also enjoyed fiction from authors like Michael Crichton, Stephen King, John Grisham, and Phillip K. Dick. My all-time favorite books are The Chroniclesof Narnia. I’ve read every book in that series cover to cover multiple times.
What
are your favorite movies, TV shows?
I have
always loved Raiders of the Lost Ark. It’s the perfect adventure movie with so
many fun, iconic moments and memorable characters.
The
original Star Wars trilogy ranks among my all-time favorites as well. My
brother and I watched Star Wars so much as kids, we had memorized the
dialogue from A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return
of the Jedi word-for-word at one point.
The Simpsons is my no. 1 favorite TV show. Anyone who is around me long enough will hear me start dropping random quotes from episodes of The Simpsons into conversations. Sometimes, on Twitter, I’ll tweet out a quote of the day when I’m catching a first-run episode or a rerun.
When
you’re not writing where can we find you?
If I’m not
in front of my laptop, I’m most likely on a mountain conquering a new hiking
trail or off finding something fun or interesting to capture in a photograph.
I grew up
in a rural part of Utah, so I love the outdoors. I feel at peace when I can get
away from the noise and lights of the city.
Do you
have a website/Facebook page, etc?
My main
author website can be found at johncoon.net. I have a blog up there where I
share my experiences, offer useful writing tips, and spotlight books I’ve
enjoyed from other indie authors.
Readers
can also connect with me in the following places:
