There Once Were Stars
Melanie McFarlane
Published by: Month9Books
Publication date: April 26th 2016
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult
Peace. Love. Order. Dome. That’s the motto that the Order has given the residents of Dome 1618 to live by. Natalia Greyes is a resident of Dome 1618, a covered city protected from the deadly radiation that has poisoned the world outside for four generations. Nat never questioned the Order, until one day she sees a stranger on the outside of the dome. Now Nat wants answers. Is there life outside the dome and if so, what has the Order been hiding from everyone?
1. What does your writing process look like? Do you know the whole story when you start? Or do you just start writing and go with it (seat of the pants writing)? If you plan it out, how do you do that? Outline, note cards, post-it notes, etc.?
I totally write like a pantser. I’m trying to teach myself to be a better plotter, and maybe that will come one day when I don’t have so many ideas fighting each other to get out of my head!
2. How do you come up with your ideas for your stories?
From the world around me. I’m always trying to look for stories in people, places, events, and objects. Once you really start looking, you realize there are so many stories out there!
3. How long have you been writing?
I started writing in high school, but then took a long hiatus of fifteen years. I even slowed way down in my reading. Life just got away from me. But I found it again five years ago and have not stopped.
4. What tips do you have for aspiring writers?
Never stop learning or writing. Whether it’s one tiny lesson, or an entire book of them, every little bit you absorb will make you a better writer. Join your local writer’s guild, go to conferences, and take a continuing education class at a university. Every step you take helps you improve. Fellow writer’s aren’t your competition (tell me one person who reads only one author). Use the resources out there as a source of support – a good group treated right will return the favour.
Some fun questions:
5. If you had to pick one of these dystopian book worlds to live in, which would you pick, and why?
Some fun questions:
5. If you had to pick one of these dystopian book worlds to live in, which would you pick, and why?
Hunger Games, Divergent, Uglies-(Scott Westerfeld), Legend - Marie Lu, The Giver
Hunger Games is definitely my favourite, but it’s too messed up to live there. I’m just starting Legend now. I haven’t read Uglies, and The Giver is just too screwed (they kill babies!), so I’ll take Divergent.
Hunger Games is definitely my favourite, but it’s too messed up to live there. I’m just starting Legend now. I haven’t read Uglies, and The Giver is just too screwed (they kill babies!), so I’ll take Divergent.
6. Favorites:
Books/authors/genres
Hunger Games/Suzanne Collines/Dystopian Forever!!
Books/authors/genres
Hunger Games/Suzanne Collines/Dystopian Forever!!
Movies/TV Shows
Pride & Prejudice/Supernatural
Pride & Prejudice/Supernatural
Music
Radiohead
Radiohead
Food/writing snack
Burgers
Burgers
Social Media Site
Instagram
Author Bio:
Melanie McFarlane is a passionate writer of other-wordly adventures, a little excitable, and a little quirky. Whether it’s uncovering the corruption of the future, or traveling to other worlds to save the universe, she jumps in with both hands on her keyboard. Though she can be found obsessing over zombies and orcs from time to time, Melanie focuses her powers on writing young adult stories to keep the rest of the world up reading all night.
She lives with her husband and two daughters in the Land of Living Skies.
