A warm welcome to Melody Dempsey.

Just to let everyone know Kelly Harmon was the lucky winner of David Fingerman best comment award. Well done , Kelly.



Good morning everyone. Here’s a bit about about Melody.

Hi Margaret. It’s lovely to be here.
I was born in Chelsea Massachusetts. My father was in the Military at that time. When I was four, we moved to my father’s home town in Lynchburg, Virginia. I was raised there until I left at age eighteen. I then moved to a town fifty miles away. I now live in Vinton Virginia, a small suburb near the Blue Ridge Mountains. I am married and have two beautiful daughters. I also have five “Furry babies.” Three dogs and two cats.

Hello Melody, Tell me about your writing forte.

I write fiction because it is my favorite genre of reading whether it is Fictional Romance, Mystery, Science Fiction, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thrillers, or Suspense. I find that writing Fiction has so many advantages to the many different plots that can be born from the imagination of the writer. The plots can range from fun to the bizarre because it does not need to stay within the realms of reality, although life itself can be very bizarre!
Don't get me wrong. I love real life stories. I especially enjoy Human Interest stories. I find that I am not a discriminate reader. I like books of any genre, but I prefer Fiction.



Can you tell me what age group is your work geared toward?

Right now, with my first publication, The Forest Portal is geared towards the older teen and young adult. I do, however, feel that any age group above the age of thirteen years old would enjoy this book. I say above the age of thirteen because of the rating I have placed on my book. PG-13.

First of all congratulations on your publication. Did you have an age for your book fixed in your mind before you started it?

No, not at first. I enjoy writing in the Sci/Fi/Fantasy and Mystery genre and I was writing for anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction, however; as the story continued, I started to think about putting my book out there as being geared towards teens and young adults. Actually, I was ask that in my TV interviews with two TV stations locally and I did say that The Forest Portal is geared towards the older teen/young adult, but anyone who enjoys Science Fiction/Fantasy books would most likely enjoy this book.

TV stations! Well, it sounds like your getting good publicity for your book. I'll have to interview you another day about that! So tell me, In general, which genre would you say your work falls into and why?

The only genre that I have written in so far is in the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre. I do know that I would probably not fair so well in the Action Genre as it would not be a subject that would interest me as a writer.

I love sci Fi and fantasy myself, although I’m a romance writer lol What other genre pulls you?

Well, I would have to say Mystery and Suspense. I am hoping to start on a suspense novel in the near future. I’m planning on writing a sequel to my current book first, which I’m hoping to co-write with my youngest daughter. That promises to have some very dark twist, but I don’t want to say too much. Lol!

I’ll certainly be looking out for that collaboration. So let’s get to the best part. Your book. Tell me about it.

This novel tells the story of 3 teens who embark on an amazing journey through time. They start in present day, June, 2008. They end up, quite by accident in the year 1908, in the month of June. While they have the ability to come back to their own time at will, they cannot resist the temptation of going back in time as they probe deeper and deeper into the past. Through their continued probing and interference, the teens not only create chaos in their own lives, but in the lives of those they touch in the past.


How fascinating. Did you have to do a lot of research concerning 1908?

No, not a whole lot, but the research I felt I had to do was a bit time consuming, but I had a great time doing it and I found the information very interesting and somewhat fascinating. You know, I tried to imagine, from what I read in my research, how it would feel to actually live in that time period. It really helped me to see how the buildings looked, the clothing, and the furniture. The rest, well, that was just pure imagination!

I’m like that too lol I always put myself in the time frame I’m writing in. It really does help. I always like to ask this question. It pins you down a little lol. Who is your favourite character in your book. Why is that?

I would have to say that Cameron Maine, the oldest of the three teens is my
favourite character. Cameron can be a little complex at times. He prefers honesty
to deceit, but because the three are trying to maintain their secret, they are
constantly deceiving their families by lying to them and they also deceive those
they touch in the past with their lies as well. Cameron tries to maintain the safety of the other two teens, his sister Collette and their friend Taden, but each of the three teens suffer consequences as the story unfolds.

I'm intrigued. Spill the beans. Did you base Cameron on anyone you know?

No. Cameron was strictly “born” from my very vivid imagination.

I believe you, thousands might not!!!! I had scriptwriters who influenced my early work. What writers would you say have influenced your work? Why? Have you got a favourite book in the genre?

I enjoy reading Mary Higgins Clark, Tine Wainscot and Stephen King.
I like the way these Authors breathe life into their characters, describe the
characters surroundings and feelings so that the reader can see these
surroundings and feel what the character is feeling. My first influence to write came from a sense of loneliness as a child, although I
had three sisters and two brothers, but they did not seem to have any intellectual
interest. I would often sit and write stories as a child, as they sent me to places and on adventures that filled some long afternoons. In my teenage years, since my
mother decided that I deserved to be grounded for a month at a time, (God forbid if I left a particle of dust on a coffee table), during my summer vacations, I would use the time to write. I remember one summer when I was around fifteen, I wrote an actual manuscript.

A writers life can be a lonely one at any age. Its seems at the moment horror and erotica are selling well. Do you think that you’ll be interested to write in either genre at some point?

No, I would not want to write actual horror. I like some of Stephen King’s writing because of the suspense element that he has in his work. I would enjoy writing suspense and Mystery novels, but not erotica.

My writing process borders on manic most of the time. Can you tell me what yours is like? I research things to death. Do you do a lot of background research? Do you plot every detail or do the characters move the story in new directions.


When I start to write, I find my writing process to flow pretty easily. I put together the idea of the story I want to create and it’s great how the words just seem to keep coming. Now, it isn’t like that throughout the entire story. I will either go back and change something with a new idea or there are times when I will work out an entire sequence before putting it on paper, or on the computer. lol!
I did some research on how life was in Florida, around 1908. The main reason for my research on 1908 Florida was for scenery purposes. I want my readers to be able to “see” my characters environment. I find that I like my characters to move the story along. In The Forest Portal, there are a lot of twist in the plot and my characters, of course, are the reason for these twist. The teens never know what is going to happen or how things are going to turn out until it actually happens. This, I feel, keeps the reader in suspense.

We are kindred souls,Melody lol I like to set the scene too. It’s nice to get a visual as you read. Do you have any advice for young or beginning writers?

First, find something you would actually enjoy writing about. Try to remember
that constructive criticism will make you a stronger, more successful writer. Don’t be afraid to take advice from professionals, i.e. teachers and other writers. Enlist the support of you family members and/or friends. Doing research for you’re your writing is important and it will help with the creative process as well.

I agree with the researching. You can never do too much of that! So now we need to know how we can get your book. Who is your publisher and where are your books available? Are there e-books and hard copies available?

My publisher is Publish America. http://publishamerica.com/
Information on my book can be found at the following website:
http://www.publishamerica.net/product87237.html
The Forest Portal can be purchased at the following websites:
http://www.publishamerica.net/product87237.html
http://www.amazon.com/Forest-Portal-Melody-Dempsey/dp/1448979005/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270356678&sr=1-1

My book is not available in e-book at this time

What is your website and/or blog where readers can learn more? Can they friend you on Facebook or other sites?

My website: www.authormelodydempsey.com
Blog: http://melodydempsey.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=2


Here's an excerpt to whet your appetite.


Collette woke as the sun peeked through the mini blinds. After
dressing in a pair of faded jeans and a tank top with spaghetti straps, she
went to Cam’s room.
“Cam,” she said as she knocked on his bedroom door.
There was no answer. She knocked again. The door came slightly
open. She walked in. Cam was nowhere in sight. Collette closed the door
and went downstairs. She went into the kitchen.
“Cam?” No answer. She went over to the back door.
“The woods” she said out loud to herself.
There was a knock at the front door. Collette looked towards the
living room.
‘Who the hell is that at 8:00 in the morning,’ she thought to herself.
She opened the door.
“Taden, hi. Gosh, you’re here early this morning!” she said. He
smiled.
“Yeah, well I left right after mom and dad left for work. I’m pissed off
at the both of them. Boy, were they ever mad at me when I got home. I
got balled out, then they grounded me for a damn week!” he replied,
looking frustrated.
Collette looked at him.
“Yeah, well you got off easier than us. We’re grounded for two weeks
and got balled out on top of that!”
Taden went over to sit on the sofa. He rubbed the side of his face.
“Well…I guess we pretty much worried our parents. Hell, if I were
them, I’d ground us too!” he said, with a slight grin.
Collette sighed…”Yeah, guess your right.”
Taden looked towards the stairs that led up to the second floor.
“Hey, is Cam still asleep?”
Collette shook her head.
“No, when I woke up he was gone. I was getting ready to go and try
to find him when you knocked on the door.”
“Were you going to the woods?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she answered, as look of concern swept over her face.
Taden smiled. “Let’s go!”
The two raced towards the woods. Taden looked at Collette.
“I’ll just bet you that he’s stepped through those trees.”
She smiled. “That’s exactly what he did.”
The two looked questioningly at each other.
Taden asked, “Are you going through?”
Collette looked hesitant, feeling the very edge of her nerves quiver.
“I…I don’t know,” she answered, her voice laced with uncertainty.
Taden glanced at the trees. “I’ll go then.”
Collette grabbed his arm. “No Taden, you’re in enough trouble as it
is. You had better go home,” she demanded, giving him a sharp look.
Taden jerked his arm away from her, anger filling his eyes.
“Look, you and Cam are in deep crap too. Deeper than what I am!
Now I want to help you find him,” he snapped, a look of frustration
etched on his face.
Collette snapped back.
“NO, I’ll take care of this! We’ve gotten you into enough trouble! I
mean it Taden,” she growled, shooting a him a determined look.
Taden grabbed Collette and held her tight to him, her face only an inch
from his. She looked surprised. He looked intently into her eyes, his still
filled with anger.
“Look, I’m not gong to let you go through by yourself!! We’ll just get
in trouble together, ok?”
“Ok” Collette answered softly, a look of surprise filled her face.
Taden loosened his grip a little, still looking into her eyes; the anger
quickly leaving them as a look of warmth and desire flooded in. He gently
touched her face.
“I couldn’t take it if something happened to you Collette,” he said
softly, then he gently kissed her, pressing her closer to him.
Collette put her arms around his neck. She started to run her fingers
through his hair. She felt herself liquidate as he pressed her body closer
to his; kissing her with more passion. Collette could feel his strong body
getting more intense. She started to try to loosen his hold on her, afraid
she may completely let her guard down. Taden pulled her closer to him.

“Taden, no!” she cried, as she pulled away from him. The sultry look
on Taden’s face was quickly replaced with a look of embarrassment.
“Collette, God, I’m sorry. I don’t know…” He wished the ground
would open up and swallow him.
Collette gazed at him, still feeling the heat of his kiss on her lips.
Taden was tall and well built from doing work on his aunt’s farm from
time to time. He was an excellent horseback rider.
“It’s ok Taden. I got carried away too,” she said, trying to avoid
looking at him too hard.
She noticed that he was aroused, but she didn’t want him to know that
she knew. Taden sighed and sat on the ground. He rubbed his hands
through his thick dark brown hair. Collette sat down opposite him.
Taden found himself melting back into the memory of Collette’s soft,
sweet tasting lips; the feel of her sensuous slender curves under his hands
as he caressed her delicate body. Collette reveled in the memory of
Taden’s sensuous, strong arms holding her; his kisses gently smothering
her lips. After a few moments of silence, Taden spoke up. “Well, we had
better go and find Cam.”
Collette agreed. They both got up and stood in front of the two trees.
Taden took Collette’s hand. “Ready,” he asked, giving her a slight smile.
“Yeah,” she replied

Well, thats it from melody. Please leave her a comment, she'll be so glad to hear from you.