Hi!

I'm Meli and welcome to my profile :D

1.) Last five books you have read:

Memoirs of a Geisha- I highly recommend this book. It is so beautifully written and so engaging. It shows at what lengths someone will go to obtain what they want, even if they have to suffer. I could not put it down. The wording was poetic, and the premise of the story was so tragic, but Sayuri found the silver lining in the life she was living. Amazing. 5/5

The Legend of Drizzt- This book falls under the category of fantasy. You follow the life of a drow, dark elf, in a matriarchy. The best thing about this book is that it describes the world so vividly. Even though the story takes place in the Underdark, the gound underneath, it depicts the world with such clarity. You can see how beautiful the darkness can be through the infrared vision of the drow. The fighting sequences are well executed. The problem that I found reading this, is that it can be very repetitive. The storyline is solid, and the characters are unforgettable. 4/5

Son of Neptune- I love children books or young adult books. They have such childish humor that is so adorable. But what I love most about this book, and the Percy Jackson series as well, is that they are entertaining while at the same time full of information. I had just finished a Latin translation course, where we learned history and how the Romans lived and thought. The book depicts the Romans perfectly, more concerned with warfare than anything else. The characters are pretty decent too. 4/5

Venom in her Veins- I loved this story. As I roam across the fantasy section, I find that there is usually not so many heroine main characters, which makes this refreshing. This book takes place mostly in a jungle and the Underdark. The thing that captivated me about this book was the fact that you learn early on the character is born from an evil race of snake people, but adopted by humans. Inherently, she should be bad and evil, but she isn’t but she is curious and adventurous. Since you know what she is, you always have this tension building up of whether when the time comes if she will turn against her family or if she will stand by her family. The interesting twist in the story is figuring out what her family does for a living. A must read. 5/5

Gods Behaving Badly- I am currently reading this lovely novel. It is comedic and interesting. It takes place in London where the Olympian gods are losing their powers and they have to learn to blend in with society. You have things like Ares planning terrorist attacks, Aprhodite running a sex phone line, Apollo turning girls into trees. Basically, imagine cramming the gods into a small place and making them coexist peacefully. It’s not going to happen. So far loving it.

2.) Titles of stories that I am working on:

Rosy Heavens- This was a story that followed a unicorn who wanted to go exploring the world. Caelippa with her friend, Xenippos cross into the Boundary Lands which holds dangers they’ve never encountered before. This story is under construction

.A Stolen Apple- This story follows Neaphridine, who can do magic. It shows her daily routines in her kingdom’s capital. The capital is full of corrupt nobles and politicians, but she is mainly focused in her studies until Lord Malficior causes problems for her. I do not want to give out the plot but you will not be disappointed. This story will be expanded in the future into, hopefully, a book. Can find this one on fictionpress under same pen name.

Hushed Whispers- This was mainly fanfiction for Percy Jackson and the Olympians. It followed around 40 years after the war at the end of the series. It is about the prophecy that the Oracle gives at the end of the series. On hiatus since Riordan wrote something that is canon.

Death of Spring- This is my retelling of the rape of Persephone. This is my main project right now. Persephone starts as being Kore, a fiery, curious girl, whose mother forbids her to attend any celebrations on Olympus. Being the curious spirit she is, she goes anyway and meets the Lord of the Underworld, Hades. Things unfold from there. The story is full of other myths . But in the midst of the story, an ancient power has risen that threatens the balance of Olympus.

3.Fill out the questionnaire (which will show up on your member profile page)

a. Name- Meli101
b. Hobbies- I love to write, read, spend time contemplating what I should draw instead of drawing, translating Greek and Latin (preferably Greek because it is just so much better, belly dancing, and doing yoga. Oh, and baking cupcakes!
c. Style of Writing- I don’t feel like I have set style of writing because I feel like my writing adapts itself to what I am trying to write so that it flows. I do try to use imagery, and not be so straight forward like I used to be in my older writing. I do like to work on character development. I hate flat characters that stay static unless it fits the story. I also love, what I call, the spider web plot. There are a bunch of different threads, or plots, that contribute to the whole work.
d. Favorite Genre to Read/Write- I think it is the classicists in me, but I love reading tragedy, and you’ll never find me writing something that cheerful. My characters usually suffer. That isn’t to say that I don’t like to write comedy or a joke here or there, or that my characters don’t get the life they deserve.
e. If you could spend a day with one author it would be: J.R.R Tolkein, he is amazing.
f. Favorite book- I don’t have a favorite book, but Gone with the Wind and The Hobbit come pretty close.
g. What inspires you to write? For me, it is freedom. It allows you to voice your opinion in a subtle way that can affect people’s lives. With school going on and everything, it can be hectic and feel like everything will collapse and nothing matters, but writing just is so liberating.
h. Describe your ideal environment to read/write- I love to read on coaches, figuring out all sorts of weird positions. I prefer a nice comfy chair and table for writing though.
i. how do you overcome writer's block? I usually just let it sit, and do homework and randomly it will hit me.
j. Any advice you'd like to provide to motivate/inspire others- Write and read. It is the best way to improve your writing and your thought process. It is food for the brain and it can be so fun and liberating. You have no idea how you will bond with others over reading and writing.
k. fun fact about yourself- I am an exercise addict. My goal is to be super flexible because I secretly hope I will be recruited for a movie and I will have to be the super awesome superhero who is super flexible.
l. quirk you have while writing/reading- If I am writing down fresh ideas, my face starts scrunching up as if I am mad,
m. motto- Do everything to your best ability while still having fun.
n. favorite quote-Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great" -Mark Twain
o. other unique talents we don't know about you- I have been belly dancing for a year and a half now.
p. leftie-rightie: rightie
q. pen or pencil: A very inky pen
r. pen & paper or keyboard & computer- I prefer paper to write down ideas and a general outline, but a computer to flesh out the story.
s. you would never read: Twilight, never again. Horrible. Sorry if I offend you, I have read it and never again.
t. pet peeve: When people review your work, and all they have to say is things about grammar. Grammar is easy to fix, but I want feedback on how the story is. That isn’t to say that you should not point out grammatical errors.
u. your lucky number-4
v. your most prized possession- I have Pegasus ring I bought at Comic Con

Good Summer Reads: So this list is based on a few of my favorite books. Hope you'll pick them up and enjoy them like I did. Wicked, Gone with the Wind, The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Count of Monte Cristo, Dracula, Hunchback of Notredame, Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, The Gemma Doyle Trilogy, Pride and Prejudice, Of Mice and Men, Ender's Game, The Hobbit, The Book Theif, 1984, Obasan, Mythology, My Sister's Keeper, Interview with a Vampire, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Midsummer's Night Dream, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass, To Kill a Mockingbird, Kite Runner, The Three Musketeers, Sense and Sensiblity, Arabian Nights, Grimm's Fairy Tales, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Peter Pan and those are all that I can think of right now.

Random Quotes:

"You've always thrown everything you could at me! Well I can take it! And now I can give it back! Come on! Strike me! You've never held back before!" -Prince Zuko

"You rise with the moon. I rise with the sun." -Prince Zuko

"It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them" -Mark Twain

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great" -Mark Twain

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do." -Confucius

"All that is gold does not glitter; not all those who wander are lost"- J.R.R Tolkien

"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December"- J.M. Barrie

I love reviews because they are your way of letting me know what I am doing right and what I need to improve on as a writer and I love that some of you favorite my stories, but I would really appreciate it if you reviewed. And please no "PLEASE UPDATE!" because that doesn't help me as a writer at all. I would rather that you tell me what was good, what was bad, and your thoughts o the various things happening in my stories. Thank you :D

Also, for my DoS followers, I started a new story for HP. Please check it out and let me know what you think so far!

I also have Tumblr for those of you who want to follow me and get updates and weird things popping up on your wall about me:http://melims101.tumblr.com/

Oh! Check me out on fictionpress.com under the same pen name. I would love some feedback on my Stolen Apple story :) THanks!