"Hi, I am Melissa Roberts! I am a newly published author who writes stories such as dark romance, horror, fantasies, in a novella style of book. I like to tell my readers that I write big stories, with fewer chapters that anyone could pick up and enjoy. Be it that your traveling, sitting still, I set out with the big intention to write books that make people feel something. Good, Bad, and all the stuff in-between...

"I often say you could love or hate my writing, but as long as you felt something reading my work, that will remain the thing that matters most to me. I recently published my first book 'Crimson Snow' back in March of 2026 and it's now July of 2026 and I'm suddenly being interviewed by my best friend Emma. To say I have been able to accomplish my dream in more ways then one these days, still feels very surreal... Even now."

"My writing style is a form of 'free-form writing.' Which means I do not schedule myself as typical writers might. Most authors might take two or so hours of out their day depending on their stamina, determination, or willpower to see themselves through. We must factor in many things as well health wise as well with 'How much!' or 'How little...' an author might put themselves through in a sitting. Eye strain is no joke people! Whoever honed that phrase 'Words don't hurt!' clearly never had to consume them as their daily job intake. I prefer to let the story come to me and allow my body and mind to tell me when I've had enough. Which is not always the healthy choice by any means...

"Typically, I could spend hours with work that is needing to be edited, or hours just writing down new content. So it truly can differ depending on what type of author you ask and what health issues they might have. In the last year and a half of pulling seven books from my head to the pages I have had to get reading glasses and distance glasses. I have back problems from sitting in a chair that fell apart underneath me.

"If I can give any words of care of wisdom to this question above to future authors about this question I am being asked. No schedule, is better then risking your health for one you cannot reasonably keep up with, even if its one you set for just you."

"'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I read it in my teen years and it's become a book I love to revisit when I have time. 'Write A Must-Read' by AJ Harper, this book helped convince me to begin my author journey highly recommend to anyone doubting themselves about writing their stories down. 'Black Bird' by Kanoko Sakurakoji, this was one of my first manga I read as a teenager and I forced my mom to buy me all 18 copies available in Powells, and she reluctantly obligated my request..."

"Letting others in to help me with it. On the one hand I am self published much of this entire process from creation, to editing, to finally hitting that publish button. Has been reliant on me to see through. Nobody else is going to tell my stories for me, it's a journey I decided to undertake alone...

"Until, my mom intervened, what she is known for doing when her kid is struggling to make all the ends meet.

"I had to learn to allow her to help in places that frustrated me to the bitter end.

"I had to learn to be patient with her learning on the fly just as much as I was.

"I had to learn...to work with my mother!

"Something I wasn't sure I was ready or willing to do because it meant letting more people into my creative process, more hands in the pot with a say in how I do it, more people telling me what to do but not hearing how I wanted to do it...

"It took us so much time to get to where we are now where we can work together and she can help me and even then...I still am not the easiest to work with or engage with and even I know it.

"Truly letting someone help remains the hardest part for me and probably will for a long time because this work does mean so much to me."

"Honestly? Being told by my readers what they thought of my writing...

"I often make the joke that 'I probably suck, and if you don't tell me that how can I ever improve my craft? How can I ever have any shred of hope to become better...or worse even. If you don't tell me how much I am terrible?'

"There is a running joke in my family's home that when dinner is being eaten whoever was in charge of cooking that night asks the rest of the family 'So does it suck?' And we will often joke and reply with stuff like 'Ohh it's simply dreadful how could you possibly expect me to eat this?' Or 'Just awful, it sucks so much!' as we continue to shove our faces with the meal we are clearly enjoying, or not failing to consume.

"We like to say in our house 'How do I know it's good? If you don't tell me I suck.'

"So I truly do apply this same concept to my writing and this work I love so much.

"I don't tell stories to seek a profit, heck if that was the case I wouldn't be the starving author I am now.

"I tell these stories to make people feel something, and then tell me what I made you feel. I want to know how bad or good or in between you all think I am. Hearing from the audience and the people around me who take the time to even read my stories and tell me how much I suck. Truly makes all the long nights crying in my bedroom asking myself 'Who will care to read the nobody that is me.' Feels like fullfilment, and what more could I ask for then that?"

"Don't be so hard on yourself because you will get what your seeking in more ways then one.

"I spent many nights and some days crying in front of my desk wondering just how much all of this will one day pay off.

"What I should have been doing was praising myself for what I was accomplishing in that moment."

"So as of July 12th 2026 as I write this now. Me and my artist partner Andrea Christine Bratton, have already begun production on the artwork for book two!

"The future is looking bright as I plan to publish my second book in the near future and begin the marketing process for my first two books. My hope and goal is to expand my reading audience while behind the scenes continuing to polish and perfect my other books in the works behind book 2. We are far from done with this first series, and the future has much ahead for me and my artist!"

"I love to watch TV and movies, even when I'm not writing stories, I love to engage with them on the big screen as well.

"Spend time with my cats Momo and Marley, cozy days cuddled up with a cat in your lap like a bond villain just feels like satisfaction.

"I chat with my significant other often.

"I like the occasional video gaming session, these days I am trying to convince myself to beat honor mode baulder's gate 3 and have not been successful."

"I am competitive. Rings are my favorite jewelry piece to wear. I played World of Warcraft."