Melanie Sue Bowles
Author Interview - Melanie Sue Bowles
Author of Little Pearl - a stand-alone sequel to Liberty Biscuit
The setting is a rural farm outside of Savannah. The family is mixed race, but that does not define the story. While wandering one day in the woods she loves, 15 y/o Kip finds an old fence post bearing odd marks that appear to be symbols from a time long ago. Her discovery leads her to once again uncover a family secret and stories as yet untold. What she learns tests her cherished relationship with her grandfather. There are peach biscuits, horses, and a bedraggled little donkey who adds his own style of shenanigans and hi-jinks.
Author Interview - Melanie Sue Bowles
Author I draw inspiration from:
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings I absolutely loved Cross Creek
Author Interview - Melanie Sue Bowles | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
Anywhere...!
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
Cleo Woodbine from The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock. Cleo would take me on a fascinating journey of discovering the natural world in and around Cumberland Island.
Author Interview - Melanie Sue Bowles | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
After reading The Little House series as a young girl.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
I'm a physical book person. I don't have an e-reader, I need to hold the book in my hands. And I can't listen to audiobooks simply because I've discovered I don't pay attention.
The last book I read:
The last book I read is an older title. A Lesson Before Dying by Earnest J. Gaines. It was thought-provoking and sobering, and very moving.
Author Interview - Melanie Sue Bowles | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
I do all my writing on the computer. I have a strong tendency to edit as I go. I will literally rewrite one paragraph over and over before moving on (weird, I know, but this process has worked for all five of my published titles). If I tried to do that with pen and paper, it would become very tedious and waste a whole bunch of ink.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Wilbur the pig in Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. Because he's a pig! What's not to love? I used to have pet pigs here at our horse sanctuary, Proud Spirit. Sadly, they've all passed of old age, but the are truly fabulous critters. Smart and a lot of fun.
Author Interview - Melanie Sue Bowles | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
I earned my living as a firefighter/medic (the first female to make it through the rigorous training of the academy I attended). Being the only woman - until more came along - was at times a challenge, yet also very rewarding. There are, of course, 100s of women in the fire service now. And the actual job itself - saving lives, fighting fires - is also very rewarding. It was/is a terrific career.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
The 60s and 70s, the clothes were colorful and fun.
Place I’d most like to travel:
Ireland... The terrain and the flora and the fauna seem magical. I'd also love listening to the locals talking - what a great accent. And, drink a real Guinness.
My signature drink:
Ginger tea, and Guinness beer (only after my work is done).
Favorite artist:
Absolutely impossible for me to answer. There are just too many inspiring authors, musicians, and visual artists, and so on to pin it down to one.
Number one on my bucket list:
My "pie-in-the-sky" bucket list dream is to see Dolly Parton holding copies of my two new books: Liberty Biscuit and Little Pearl.
Anything else you'd like to add:
What a fun interview! Thank you so much.
Find more from the author:
FB: melanie sue bowles
Insta: melanie sue bowles
About Melanie Sue Bowles:
Author Interview with Melanie Sue Bowles
Melanie Sue Bowles is the founder of Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary. In operation for over 30 years, this is one of the most successful, longest existing facilities for at-risk horses in the United States. She is also the author of three nonfiction books about the sanctuary. Most recently, she has written two novels for kids/young adults - or as she prefers to say, for ages 8 to 108.
