This month, I had the pleasure of interviewing up and coming fantasy author Melinda Terranova. I’ve been following Melinda for a couple of years on social media whilst she wrote her debut novel Bequeathed and have found her writing posts inspiring. Now that her debut novel is finally completed, I thought it would be nice to find out a little bit more about her and how she writes.
• 1) Hello Mel! Congratulations on the release of your book Bequeathed. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Hi, thanks for having me! I live on the sunny Gold Coast in Australia. I have a husband, two boys and two furbabies (a chihuahua named Buffy and a great dane named Rey). I’m a registered nurse by trade but I would rather write for a living, fingers crossed it happens one day soon. I love to read, my favourite genres include fantasy, romance and chick lit. In my spare time I’m usually driving my kids to various sporting commitments or going to the beach.
2) I’m currently on chapter four of your fantasy debut novel Bequeathed. Without giving too much away, what is your book about? What inspired you to write it?
In a nutshell, Bequeathed is about eighteen year old Katalina, who suffers from nightmares in which she bathes in the blood of young girls. She visits family in Rome where she discovers her family’s grim past. The secret curse. Throw in some witches, hunters and gorgeous vampires and you have violent secrets and crossed alliances that intertwine wickedly. The inspiration for the Bequeathed came from a dream that I had, when I woke I googled the meaning and it all started from there.
3) What makes this particular genre you are involved in so special?
I feel like readers want to be transferred to other worlds, worlds that could be possible in real life but at the same time not. Paranormal fantasy genres allow readers to escape the mundane everyday life and live through the characters in the book they are reading.
4) When did it dawn upon you that you wanted to be a writer?
After that dream I had many years ago. I started the old fashioned way, jotting down ideas on paper and slowly built a world that I wanted to write about.
5) Bequeathed is set predominately in Rome. Have you been to Rome before? How important is research to you when writing a book?
I have been to Rome. I am in love with Rome, it is steeped in so much history and did I mention the food! Research is very important. All the locations and buildings etc, in Bequeathed are real places in Rome, Craco and Venice. The dates in Bequeathed are all correct, but I have twisted the events to seem more sinister and to help my storyline. I put in many hours of research, matching dates and locations so that the events in Bequeathed could have really occurred in history. I have also visited a lot of the places I write about, this helped me build the story locations.
6) How hard was it to sit down and actually start writing Bequeathed?
Not hard at all. Once I had some ideas jotted down, the story wrote itself. It played out in my mind like a movie.
7) Did you have a set schedule for writing this book, or are you one of those who write only when they feel inspired?
I didn’t have a set schedule. Bequeathed took me nearly three years from start to finish. I do hope that I have the next book in the series finished by the end of the year.
8) What works best for you: Typewriters, fountain pen, dictate, computer or longhand?
I like to type on my laptop, I can take it anywhere and be able to write if inspiration hits. I also use my phone to jot points and ideas in, to later transfer to my laptop. I found writing everything down on paper became too messy and jumbled.
9) Have you ever experienced “Writer’s Block”? How long do they usually last?
Oh yes. Sometimes for days or weeks. I usually read a book in another genre to what I am writing and hope my writer’s block passes.
10) Do you think writers have a normal life like others?
I have a normal mundane life. School drop off and pick up, work, kids sport, grocery shopping, cleaning. All very boring really.
11) Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?
I read every day. I love to read, it would have to be my favourite past time. My favourite book at the moment is The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw. My favourite authors are Tarryn Fisher and Colleen Hoover.
12) Do you recall the first ever book/novel you read?
Charlotte’s Web. I was 7 years old and my mum bought it for me at the book fair in primary school. I still have it today.
13) Which book inspired you to begin writing?
The Vampire Diaries series, Twilight series and Sookie Stackhouse books. I love vampire books.
14) What is the most important thing about a book in your opinion?
The front cover.
15) Now that you are a published author, what advice you would like to give to aspiring writers?
To sit down and write, get those words down on paper and leave the editing until the end. Write the messiest first draft and once you’ve achieved that give yourself a huge pat on the back. It is a hard slog to get that first draft done, so be proud of yourself. If you can, write a little each day. Set aside an hour to write or world build. Also, having character profiles before you begin to write, helps flesh out your character’s mannerisms and unique voice.
Hi, thanks for having me! I live on the sunny Gold Coast in Australia. I have a husband, two boys and two furbabies (a chihuahua named Buffy and a great dane named Rey). I’m a registered nurse by trade but I would rather write for a living, fingers crossed it happens one day soon. I love to read, my favourite genres include fantasy, romance and chick lit. In my spare time I’m usually driving my kids to various sporting commitments or going to the beach.
2) I’m currently on chapter four of your fantasy debut novel Bequeathed. Without giving too much away, what is your book about? What inspired you to write it?
In a nutshell, Bequeathed is about eighteen year old Katalina, who suffers from nightmares in which she bathes in the blood of young girls. She visits family in Rome where she discovers her family’s grim past. The secret curse. Throw in some witches, hunters and gorgeous vampires and you have violent secrets and crossed alliances that intertwine wickedly. The inspiration for the Bequeathed came from a dream that I had, when I woke I googled the meaning and it all started from there.
3) What makes this particular genre you are involved in so special?
I feel like readers want to be transferred to other worlds, worlds that could be possible in real life but at the same time not. Paranormal fantasy genres allow readers to escape the mundane everyday life and live through the characters in the book they are reading.
4) When did it dawn upon you that you wanted to be a writer?
After that dream I had many years ago. I started the old fashioned way, jotting down ideas on paper and slowly built a world that I wanted to write about.
5) Bequeathed is set predominately in Rome. Have you been to Rome before? How important is research to you when writing a book?
I have been to Rome. I am in love with Rome, it is steeped in so much history and did I mention the food! Research is very important. All the locations and buildings etc, in Bequeathed are real places in Rome, Craco and Venice. The dates in Bequeathed are all correct, but I have twisted the events to seem more sinister and to help my storyline. I put in many hours of research, matching dates and locations so that the events in Bequeathed could have really occurred in history. I have also visited a lot of the places I write about, this helped me build the story locations.
6) How hard was it to sit down and actually start writing Bequeathed?
Not hard at all. Once I had some ideas jotted down, the story wrote itself. It played out in my mind like a movie.
7) Did you have a set schedule for writing this book, or are you one of those who write only when they feel inspired?
I didn’t have a set schedule. Bequeathed took me nearly three years from start to finish. I do hope that I have the next book in the series finished by the end of the year.
8) What works best for you: Typewriters, fountain pen, dictate, computer or longhand?
I like to type on my laptop, I can take it anywhere and be able to write if inspiration hits. I also use my phone to jot points and ideas in, to later transfer to my laptop. I found writing everything down on paper became too messy and jumbled.
9) Have you ever experienced “Writer’s Block”? How long do they usually last?
Oh yes. Sometimes for days or weeks. I usually read a book in another genre to what I am writing and hope my writer’s block passes.
10) Do you think writers have a normal life like others?
I have a normal mundane life. School drop off and pick up, work, kids sport, grocery shopping, cleaning. All very boring really.
11) Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?
I read every day. I love to read, it would have to be my favourite past time. My favourite book at the moment is The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw. My favourite authors are Tarryn Fisher and Colleen Hoover.
12) Do you recall the first ever book/novel you read?
Charlotte’s Web. I was 7 years old and my mum bought it for me at the book fair in primary school. I still have it today.
13) Which book inspired you to begin writing?
The Vampire Diaries series, Twilight series and Sookie Stackhouse books. I love vampire books.
14) What is the most important thing about a book in your opinion?
The front cover.
15) Now that you are a published author, what advice you would like to give to aspiring writers?
To sit down and write, get those words down on paper and leave the editing until the end. Write the messiest first draft and once you’ve achieved that give yourself a huge pat on the back. It is a hard slog to get that first draft done, so be proud of yourself. If you can, write a little each day. Set aside an hour to write or world build. Also, having character profiles before you begin to write, helps flesh out your character’s mannerisms and unique voice.
📚Bequeathed is available to purchase July 10th from Amazon & Amazon Kindle
Great interview! It doesn’t particularly sound like my kind of book, but I appreciate learning about the author and the book itself
I had never heard of this book until now! I’ll be going to grab it soon so I can read it. Terranova’s interview answers were what really intrigued me to be interested in this book. I’m not normally interested in this genre.
Very interesting! I like the genre of the book, especially. And Rome! What a wonderful setting!
I would like to say, that as a writer myself, I very firmly do not believe in Writers’ Block as a concept. It’s possible to become “tapped out” or to not have ideas, but you can always write, even if it’s just “I’m stuck I’m stuck I’m stuck” over and over again on the page!
Great interview! I love the names of Melinda’s dogs! (great Diane’s are fabulous. I’m so jealous… Although, the health issues they always have is so sad. ☹️)
I love the synopsis of the book! Interesting that her inspiration came from a a dream! (if that dream was actually bathing in the blood of young girls, then I’d be curious to know what google thought the meaning was! 😂🤔).