I usually know the start, some key points, and the end. I have tried to outline, but it never follows what I put down. I think using our own experiences can help make the characters more real to our readers, and help bring them to life.ĭo you outline your books or just start writing? It many way it was cathartic, although while writing it, I admit, my emotions ran very high at times. I used many of my own painful childhood memories in the story to create Kourtney’s past and the way she dealt with the world. My last book, Over the Fence, was extremely personal for me. I think we all use our own experiences within our work-draw from our own emotions. How much of yourself, your personality or your experiences, is in your books? Some get discarded, but if they won’t go away and keep poking at me, I know I have to write them. It’s like a small nugget in my brain, and they grow.

The one after hit me when I saw a woman at the bus stop late one snowy evening. My next book was inspired by something I saw on the internet. I started thinking what if I hadn’t met that person and they were only a voice…and the whole story unfolded. Over the Fence happened because of a conversation I had with my neighbor-over the fence. I have been known (often) to go to bed, and get up at 2am and write all night when something hits me-especially if a scene I’ve been struggling with suddenly becomes clear. I keep a notebook with me and scribble during the day if they start “talking” to me at work. Often my characters are waiting as soon as I open my eyes, so I get my coffee, sit down and let them talk. I tend to write almost every morning after I get up. Parts of the year it is only two days a week, while other parts can be six of seven days. I work part-time, in a very flexible schedule. I am definitely a night owl.ĭo you write full-time? If so, what is your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write? I read constantly when not writing-I tend to have 3 or 4 books on the go all the time, and I often sit up all night reading when a book captures my attention. I find Ontario rather hilly, and my ears pop all the time which makes my husband laugh and call me “flatlander.” I work at the local University handling all the ticketing for their sports teams.

I grew up in Manitoba which is in the middle of the prairies-very flat. Her latest book, Over the Fence, came out at the end of July. Today I welcome author Melanie Moreland to my blog.

Over the fence melanie moreland