A Novel Affair: A National Novel Writing Month Event

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Melanie
Join me on Saturday, November 15 at 1 pm for A Novel Affair: A National Novel Writing Month Event at the Greater Tried Stone Baptist Church, 1363 Otis Place NW, Washington, DC (a short walk from Columbia Heights Metro; 52 and 54 bus lines).
I will be part of a panel discussion with fellow novelists Kia Dupree, LaToya Hankins and Cheryl Head, where we will talk about about our novels and the writing process.  This is a great event, especially for writers looking for inspiration to complete their own projects.
Many thanks to Gamma Xi Phi, the professional fraternity for artists (www.gammaxiphi.org), for inviting me to participate. I’m looking forward to it, and hope to see you there.

 

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Story Published Online

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Melanie

It’s always exciting to get a story published. Many thanks to Memphis Vaughan, editor of TimBookTu, for selecting my short story, “New Clothes,” to be included in the site’s Summer Quarter. I hope you enjoy it.

http://www.timbooktu.com/hatter/newcloth.htm

 

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On the Radio

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Melanie

In January, Yvonne Battle-Felton interviewed me for her weekly radio show “The Writing Life,”

FMwhere she talks to some notable figures in writing today.

I met Yvonne several years ago when we were both studying at Johns Hopkins, and was excited when she got back in touch and invited me to join her on her show, which airs in the UK. It was a pleasure to chat with her and share some writing tips.

Listen to the show.

 

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Thank You for a Thank You!

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Melanie

Trinity_cardI was so thrilled recently to receive a thank you card from Ms. Wendy Thorbjornsen and her class at Trinity University for having visited them last month. It was such a cool surprise in the mail.

Each student signed their name and added a message of gratitude.

I love talking to young people about writing and it’s such a great feeling to know that my work has touched someone else enough that they take the time to send a card. That doesn’t happen much in this world of technology. Thanks for making my day!

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A Writers Retreat in Paradise

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Melanie

I just had the most amazing experience at a writers retreat in the Bahamas. There’s no better daily commute than a ferry to a private island and a morning doing writing exercises in a coconut grove. If there is a heaven, that’s where I was for a week at the Salt Cay Writers Retreat. Read more.

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A Visit with Trinity

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Melanie

Thanks again to PEN/Faulkner for inviting me to speak with students at Trinity University in Washington, DC. As always I love getting the chance to talk to young people about writing!

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Afterward, PEN/Faulkner posted an interview with me on their site.

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Hurston/Wright Foundation Doing Great Work!

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Melanie

Last month, I spent a week with the Hurston/Wright Foundation, leading a workshop for teens on the campus of Howard University. Hurston/Wright has been offering a Teen Workshop every year since 1996 and I was honored to be a part of it this year. I had nine enthusiastic students from eighth through eleventh grade from schools around the DC-metropolitan area. We studied fiction writing, poetry, plays, memoirs and personal essays. It was a fantastic experience, and to see and hear the teens read their work during the closing ceremony at the end of the week was incredibly satisfying.

My hat goes off to full-time teachers, because preparing for and then leading the workshop for five days was a lot of work! Well worth it, though.

Many thanks to Hurston/Wright for inviting me to participate and for all the work this organization does to promote and encourage writing in the African American community. Please visit their website and consider sending a donation. The work they do is important in not only educating and encouraging young writers, but also in preserving and sharing the work of black writers for generations to come.

 

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Great Visit to Richard Wright PCS

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Melanie

I had a wonderful visit on Monday morning (April 15) to the Richard Wright Public Charter School in DC. Thank you to Ms. Harris and her two classes for such a warm welcome and interesting Q&A sessions about my novel. Lots of discussion about alcohol and sex! But as I said to the kids (who were 15 and 16), while I didn’t write this for teenagers, I believe this age group is mature and thoughtful enough to understand that the characters’ use of alcohol and sex were misguided ways of coping with (or escaping from) their problems. I felt honored to be welcomed so warmly and to have the kids listen so attentively, asking some great probing questions — I could tell this was a journalism school.

A big thanks to Ariel Martino and the PEN/Faulkner Foundation for arranging the visit as part of their Writers in Schools program. One of the students (Jordan) gave me this picture she had drawn as I talked. Isn’t it fabulous!

 

 

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New Book Released for Seniors

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Melanie

I’m excited to share the release of “Health and Fitness for Seniors” – I had the pleasure of working with Newlie Hewson, who turned 90 this year, in helping to edit his book. He has created a comprehensive guide to help seniors live longer, healthier and productive lives. He truly is a testament to having done just that through physical fitness and healthy eating.

It’s a great gift for seniors who want to get fit, and features color pictures throughout and larger type. Take a look! It’s available nationwide on Amazon.com and you can download a copy to your Kindle (if you have one).

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Last Reading of the Year

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Melanie

Had a wonderful time at the Rendezvous on the Bridge literary event earlier this month at the Washington Printmakers Gallery in Silver Spring, Md. What a wonderful gallery – definitely worth a visit, and it was a great location for the reading. The event was sponsored by the Patuxent Arts Bridge and hosted by Resa Moran and Sid Gold. Thanks for the invite to read my work, Sid!

My good friend Randall Myers brought his camera along and took some great pictures. You can find them on flickr.

Thank you to all who came out to support the event. Hope to see you at more events next year!

 

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