Meet Melissa Algood | Author & Indie Publisher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Algood and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use the more you have.”
I get a lot of my inspiration when it comes to the craft of writing from Maya Angelou probably because she was just as open and emotional about the process as she was in her work.

And I think about this particular quote when it’s time to sit down and finish the no-so-fun stuff which drains me. Creating the narrative, connecting with the characters, and seeing the interested reader is easy compared to the cycle of editing and rewriting – but it’s arguably more important than anything else an author does.
I make it a habit to sit in front of the computer every morning, while I don’t always meet my goal, I make it a ritual like prayer before a feast. Doing so makes it at least as important as anything else I do in my day. And Maya Angelou was right the more I write the more I have to write.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
To date, I’ve published 10 titles. I’ve found each a struggle at times, but in the end, I’m proud of each for what they brought into my life.

The book I’m the proudest of is ‘Everything That Counts’ which is a classic coming-of-age tale of a high school senior, Blake, who’s always been a ‘geek’ and wants to be ‘cool’ by the time he graduates. While it’s set in my hometown of Annapolis back in 2003, it’s one of the few pieces that’s based on a real person. I’d recommended ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ for the real Blake, and after reading the book he felt as if he’d never have a love like that. I told him to not worry too much, after all, he was only twelve, but he inspired me to create the fictional Blake and his BFF Sophie as we talked about who he hoped to share his future with – ‘a redheaded ballerina who loves science as much as me’. While the real Blake moved away before I was finished with the book I hope that when anyone reads it they learn that loving yourself is more important than anything else.

The book I’m most excited about is the one I’m currently writing, which is the third book in my Enhanced Being series which I believe is my best work. The Enhanced Being Series is set in a reimaged Baltimore in 2020 and the series follows a group of superpowered twenty-somethings as they try to take down their malevolent creator. There’s a large cast, most of which have their own POV chapters so you can literally get into the head of each of them. You’ll follow as they fall in and out of love, fight each other, and contemplate what it means to be free after they’ve spent their formative years treated as science experiments. The series begins with ‘The Girl in the Fog’ which is where you meet Talitha a telepath who’s been on the run for over two years until she literally runs into a guy in a bar, Carl, who agrees to help her get back in touch with her mentor. The second book ‘The Boy with the Glow’ delves deeper into Carl who’s more than he seems. The third book ‘The Girl with the Mean Punch’ centers around Nina, a girl with super strength who is dealing with the repercussions of a rescue mission gone wrong and I’m planning on publishing it in the winter of 2025.

I think what sets my books apart from others is that I have an aptitude for witty banter, bloody fight scenes, and steamy romance, and I love to turn a classic troupe on its head. For instance, I wrote a romantic thriller series in which the girl saves the day, and I think that’s a common thread in all my books. Even meek Sophie in ‘Everything That Counts’ stands up for herself when needed because I personally prefer a story in which the princess gets herself out of the locked tower rather than waiting for a prince to rescue her. I hope when readers finish my books they appreciate the heart-pumping ride and find themselves relating to even the most sci-fi of characters.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a friend visiting the area I’d recommend several indie bookstores that are so supportive of the local authors in the city. Beginning with the newest one, which is women and black-owned, LitJava in Pearland. They have lots of events for solo readers and families and while reading you can sip on one of their great coffees and snack on a pastry.

Second I’d take them to another favorite Murder By The Book which has the best thriller and mystery recommendations, a friendly staff, and was very kind to host a reading for me when I released my collection of short stories, ‘Everyone Dies: Tales from a Morbid Author’.

Finally, we’d hit up Copperfield Books, which is outside of the city, but has been so supportive of the indie author community that you know you’ll be supporting the community twice over when you shop there. They have cute bookish gifts, a used book section, and several times a year they gather together indie authors for a massive book signing which is great for readers and writers alike.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve had the pleasure of working with many writers and publishers in the Houston area over the past decade so it’s hard to pinpoint specific people, but I’d have to say that the critique circle I’m a member of has been integral to my growth as a writer. While the participants have rotated in and out through the years David Welling, Carla Conrad, Bill Mays, and my fellow creatives at Writespace have been paramount in any success I’ve had.

Website: https://www.melissaalgood.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melalgoodauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/melalgood

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melalgoodauthor

Other: I’m also on Goodreads and Storygraph as Melissa Algood

Image Credits
Myself or Israel Lira (my husband)