mamelby

@mamelby.bsky.social

2834 Followers 5014 Following

Autist atheist author. Bitter bigender bisexual. Feminist fujoshi. Polyamorous perimenopausal former-physicist. Scandi-American pseudo-intellectual "she". @triplebbooks.bsky.social https://mamelby.wordpress.com Binge watch skeeting at #crowtitsfujo

A short story that refused to stay short Inbox Summarize this email David Archie <davidarchie6624@gmail.com> 10:53 AM (12 hours ago) to me Listen Most queer romance thrillers keep the danger external, a stalker, a conspiracy, a villain outside the relationship. Bad Memory keeps circling back to something stranger and more internal, arguments, hookups, hacking, real crimes, and a mystery involving gummy bears that somehow matters to the plot. Nik can't trust his own memory of the events that traumatize him, which means the reader is solving the mystery alongside a narrator who might be an unreliable witness to his own life. What distinguishes your writing from other queer romantic suspense is the range you bring to it. You hold master's degrees in physics and music and taught science in college, and your fiction carries that same instinct to interrogate a system from the inside, whether that system is a relationship, a memory, or a set of assumptions about neurodivergence, mental health, or gender that most romance doesn't examine this directly. There are readers who want queer romance that doesn't shy away from real psychological mess, hacking and crime alongside the hookups and arguments, and who are specifically drawn to thriller elements that complicate rather than simply threaten the central relationship. Purple and Blue Brigade is exactly that combination, but a book that started as an accidental short story doesn't always find its way to readers who'd genuinely love the chaos. My name is David Archie. I connect authors whose genre-blending is intentional with the readers who are specifically looking for romance that refuses to stay in its lane. The authors I work with often discover their strangest, most specific detail, in this case, gummy bears, is exactly what readers end up quoting back to them. What convinced you a short story needed to become a novel instead of staying contained? David Archie The gummy bears matter more than you'd think
Table and chairs, blue and pink table cloth, two books, one on each side, painted canvases behind the books displayed. Pride flags, fake sunflowers, mad fiction award
Figuring It Out Itch IO bundle Queer Neurodivergent disabled 17 items for 17 USD A collage of various thumbnails.
Same mask, another angle, says "Episode 36" at the top.
Another picture of the mask from a different angle.
Young person with white hair, wearing a white and blue cloak, with a golden forehead decoration, wearing a highly stylized mask with a gray cloth base, clear filigree panels and pearl strings.
I gave Nik the remote so he could pick the next show. “What the fuck, Nik?” I asked halfway through the first episode. “I’ve been meaning to watch this one for a long time.” “It’s about a guy who falls in love with someone wanted for murder.” “It’s topical and the actors are hot.” Sometimes Nik’s sense of humor was weird as hell. It was a cringe TV series that involved me reading all the dialog because I don’t know Thai. This was our attempt at normalcy. “Wait, wait.” I paused the show. “So, they’re being pursued by the mob and the cops, one of them faked shooting the other one off a cliff to confuse the police, and they’re cooking for each other and interior decorating?” “I mean, what better time to buy house plants?” Nik joked. “This is straight girl porn, isn’t it?” “I believe so. Look, he’s wearing an apron and making an omelet. I’m hungry now.” “Do you want me to make you an omelet?” I asked. “Because I’m not sure I can stomach any more of this.” “You’re such a hater.”
Luo Yunxi in Hanfu on set fake-playing a black end-blown double flute with a silver feather accent with a blue-green stone in the middle.
Light purple background with: Characters figuring out their [following contains: rainbow flag, brain emoji, wheelchair emoji] Queer/ Neurodivergent/ Disabled selves. July 12th to 31st. Itch.io. Figuring it out Bundle: 17 books for $17. Covers bordering text: This Is How Immortals Die, Nic Hidalgo. Bad Memory, M.A. Melby. Dragon's Soul, J.F.R. Coates. A Designer Magick, Stefanie Carter. Lucifer's Favour, Tessa Hastjarjanto. Countering the Hands of Crime (Sythe Series #2), Elise Carlson. Bleeding Gold, Niranjan. The Baptism is Long but the Song is Everlasting, Rob MacWolf. Our Simulated Selves, Nikki Null. Rin in Time Immemorial, L’Poni. Giving in to Gravity, Avery Bridge. A Life in Too Many Margins, S. E. Thomson. What Lies Within, Issy Waldrom. A Demon to Save Me (Found Humanity #1), H.S. Kallinger. Blood of the Gods, Wren L. Rivers. The Protector and the Annihilation, Naila Moonsi. Structural Integrity & Structural Strain, Tabitha O'Connell.
Figuring It Out Itch.io Bundle July 12-31 Queer Neurodivergent Disabled 17 items for 16 USD Collage of thumbnails
A table with a label "M. A. Melby Queer Fiction" with copies of Bad Memory and Best Forgotten displayed, some fake sunflowers, an inclusive pride flag, a bi pride flag, and a minnesota state flag w/ a disability pride flag colors on it, a couple gift bags, and a wire sculpture "Mad Fiction Award".
Young man holding many scrolls in his hands near a bookcase ladder with sun hitting dust particles coming off of them.
Disability Category: (Choose all that apply) Choose not to identify Physical/chronic health condition Mental or psychiatric impairment Vision-related disability Hearing-related disability Learning disability Cognitive/intellectual disability Physical/Mobility Impairment
The shushirito showing the carrots, rice, shredded imitation crabmeat, and cucumber with the sauces open as well.
Foil wrapped half burrito looking thing packaged with wasabi and an orange sauce in front of a keyboard.
First panel: gray cartoon head meme guy with a "proud liberal" label saying "You have to vote blue no matter who. Do you want Republicans to win?" Second panel: Cartoon person with Anarcho-communist flag label saying "Okay, I voted for some socialists running as Democrats." Third panel: Gray head guy looking expressionless Fourth panel: Gray head guy looking angry saying, "No, not like that, you fucking tankie."
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Picture of the end of the movie Damsel with the ship and the dragon traveling off into the sunset. HEA The end
Picture of monochromatic flowers on a graphic for my bookmarks Step infinity: be nice The author community is actually pretty awesome most of the time
Picture of three screen shots of emails. Avoid scams. Step null: avoid vultures & scammers Not everyone who is trying to sell you something is a scammer, but every vulture & scammer is trying to sell you something and they will prey on your ego and your dreams. I have gotten several of these types of emails – be safe out there!
Picture of the k-pop boy band Seventeen "Our Chapter" Step seventeen: be an author Professional associations – awards – bad puns
Picture of Ouroboros from the Loki TV series holding his books. Step sixteen: sales Do not become a writer to get rich Do not become a writer to get rich Do not become a writer to get rich but don’t sell yourself short
Picture of the "pain box" scene in Dune 1984 Step Fifteen: ratings & reviews You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have… NEVER COMPLAIN. You will be eviscerated. Authors should not invade the “review space”.
Step Fourteen: Promotion Picture of Triple B Books graphic Graphics and Imprint branding Picture of announcement card for Best Forgotten Cards and Bookmarks stuff to hand out Picture of Local author Festival announcement Author events selling books in person Picture of graphic for Queer Your Bookshelf Online promos niche cross promotion …AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND BOOK REIVEW SITES AND INTERVIEWS AND WEBSITES AND NEWSLETTERS AND ADS…AND…AND…
Picture of the Midwest Indie Bookstore Roadmap Step Thirteen: book signing & Launch party Buy 10 to 20 author copies and several nice pens
Screen shot of the Smashwords listing of Best Forgotten Step twelve: Platforms & publication KDP: Kindle direct (Amazon) Most authors sell most of their books through Amazon Giving Amazon limited exclusive rights allows you to do certain promotions – such as your work being included in the “Unlimited” membership Allows free edits and revisions that must be approved Can order author copies Draft 2 Digital A “one stop shop” to publish to a LARGE number of platforms including libraries Edits and revisions are limited (not free) Can order author copies. Itch IO Niche Ability to bundle No printing capability
Screenshot of BL Songbird @blsongbird.bsky.social review post about Best Forgotten Step eleven: arcs Provide advance reader copies to reviewers Find reviewers in your genre Read their ARC policy Set up a publication date and pre-order on your platforms Plan to provide ARCs about 3 weeks before publication They may (or may not) write a review You do not have a say about what they say Thank them and link to their review
Picture of a screenshot of Itch Io tags within the dashboard Step ten: Genre – comps - tags genre Do not screw this up – you will be punished If it doesn’t hit the beats, it is not the thing (ex. HEA) Comps (Comparisons) Be able to list similar books It’s like [this] if [this was different]… It’s like if [this] and [this] had a baby… If you liked [this], this book is for you. My work is inspired by [this type of thing]. Tags (see also #) Be honest with content warning tags There is often a limit Use common genre-specific tags (ex. slow burn) Take this seriously Ask your beta readers for advice!
A picture of the Eye of Sauron. profreding Step mine: Proofreadin g Do not skipE this step Do not do it your self Concider firing someone Upload you’re clover and manuscript Order a pint proof copy
Picture of full paper-back cover of Bad Memory and a picture of the e-book cover of Best Forgotten Step Eight: Book cover Do not use Gen AI – do not steal art I opted to do my own – if you hire someone, hire a *book cover artist*.
Picture of the thumb-nail view of a page layout for a book - consisting of several pages side-by-side in a grid. Step seven: Formatting Paperback format – DOC to PDF Set page size and left/right margins Front matter – Title, Copyright & Disclaimer, CN, Table of Contents (Must use headings to auto-generate page numbers for Table of Contents.) End matter – Acknowledgements, Bio, Teaser Left/right headers – Title, Author Footer – Page numbers Ebook Format - EPUB Scrivener can compile to EPUB Consider Calibre Software to compile Word Docs (Must use headings to auto-generate links to the appropriate pages)
Picture of the blurb on the back of Bad Memory Step six: CN – blurb - bio Content note Not required but appreciated. Think about who the target audience is and isn’t. Be upfront. Blurb Hook the reader in Something familiar Something unique Do not be too afraid of “spoilers” Biography Short and sweet Something relatable Something weird Get a nice headshot Psst: Find tons of examples at the bookstore!
Picture of Gao Tu from Desire: The Series Step five: Beta reads Reader feedback on an entire novel or other long-form work that is revised but not yet ready for publication. Not proofreading or editing – do not treat it that way. Usually unpaid or an exchange. Sensitivity readers should be paid. Advice. Find as many as possible (not everyone will get to it). Provide specific questions to help illicit helpful feedback. Enforce a deadline.
Picture of the beast from Lord of the Rings famous "You shall not pass" scene. Step Four and a half Stop put a fork in it
Icon and screenshot of a Word document with navigation bar showing, Icon and screenshot of a Scrivener project showing the scene descriptions Step four: Write & rewrite Use the bells and whistles and formatting tools and revision history and… WIP = Work in Progress
Picture of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" conspiracy meme Step three: Develop ideas & research Goals & logistics Who are you writing it for? Why are you writing it? When are you writing it? Where are you writing it? What are you going to call it? Planner World building Setting Character profiles Timeline Outline Pantser We’ll fix it in post! Let’s go!!!!
Picture of the lead singer of the Ting Tings with the words "Hell Stacey Her Jane Mary Jo Lisa" Step Two: Name Yourself You will be writing it a lot so make it good
Picture of the classroom at Crumarti High School (live action) Step one: Gain skill books/tutorials Grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. POV, Voice, Tense, etc. Common Advice Show don’t tell, Write what you know, etc. Avoid common pitfalls like overused words. Storytelling, Genre Standards, & Beats Narrative Arcs, Heroes’ Quest, etc. Writing Classes Colleges Continuing Education Online Courses Peer Critique Local Writers’ Groups Online Critique Exchanges (Discord) Critique Partners Note: Learn how to give and take critique. You will need those skills.
A picture of Garth Marenghi with his finger gesturing upward I’m one of the few people who’ve written more books than they’ve read. Step zero read
Picture from Ghost in the Shell - typing robot hands Several steps Not necessarily in this order, mostly all at once. Gain skill Name yourself Develop ideas & research Write & Rewrite Beta reads CN, Blurb, & biography Print & ebook formatting Book cover Proofread Genre, Comps, & tags Advance reader copies Platforms & Publication Book signing & launch party Promotion Ratings & Reviews Sales Be an author
Picture of gold-plated latinum Simple steps Be an author profit
Picture of the silhouette of people celebrating with their arms raised. Why self-publish? Pros: You are in control. Cons: You are in control.
Art from the cover of Best Forgotten. A little bit about me I wrote primarily poetry and shorts before I had a LOT of time on my hands for some reason *cough* and accidentally wrote a novel. OOPS! So, I thought I better figure out how to publish novels – and there was a HUGE learning curve.​ I currently have two self-published BL novels: Bad Memory (2022) and Best Forgotten (2025) with a few sci-fi/fantasy novels in the works.
A picture of piles of books The novel art of self publishing M.A. Melby
Catherine Taylor <cat.flametreepublishing@aol.com> May 12, 2026, 10:17 PM (12 days ago) to me Listen Hello M. A. Melby, I hope you’re having a great week. My name is Catherine Taylor, and I am a Senior Editor at Flame Tree Publishing. I recently spent some time looking into your work, specifically Best Forgotten: Volume Two: Purple and Blue Brigade, and I was impressed by the unique narrative voice and the clear vision you have for your storytelling. I would be very interested to learn more about your current and forthcoming projects, as well as whether you are represented by a literary agent. If you do have representation, I would be pleased to continue any discussion through your agent. If not, I would be happy to outline how the process typically works, should there be interest in taking the conversation further. Subject to reviewing additional material, there may be scope for a broader discussion regarding potential fit within Flame Tree Publishing’s adult fiction and culturally focused publishing programme. If this is of interest, I would be delighted to hear from you. With appreciation, Catherine Taylor Senior Editor Flame Tree Publishing
Coiled black wire around a red translucent disk perched on a dusty-black box with golden lettering on the front that says "mad fiction award - mamelby"
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Two actors in costumes from a costume drama. One has his arms crossed and is looking out into space and the other one is scrolling on his phone. They appear to be on set with crew behind them.
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Best Forgotten: Volume Two: Purple and Blue Brigade M.A. Melby 439 pages • digital • 1 edition fiction lgbtqia+ romance thriller Who's It For? Personalized Powered by AI (Beta) A moody, character‑driven romance thriller for readers who crave intense emotional turbulence, lingering guilt, and the unsettling pull of hidden desires.
Hi M. A. Melby, I recently spent time reviewing Best Forgotten: Volume Two: Purple and Blue Brigade, and what stands out immediately is its unapologetic emotional intensity. Nik’s unraveling, marked by guilt, paranoia, and fractured memory, creates a volatile psychological core, while Jaimes’ determination to remain loyal despite confusion and hurt adds a layer of aching vulnerability. The shifting dynamics involving Caleb complicate the emotional terrain even further, grounding the thriller elements in deeply personal stakes. The novel blends queer romance, psychological suspense, family drama, psychotropics, polyamory, and explicit sexuality into a narrative that explores trauma-related mental illness, unhealthy attachment patterns, estrangement, and the fragile line between love and self-destruction. That fusion gives the book a distinct edge in a marketplace where boundary-pushing LGBTQ+ fiction continues to grow. In today’s competitive queer romance and LGBTQ+ psychological thriller landscape, discoverability is everything. With refined keyword alignment and strategic category expansion, there is a clear opportunity to position Best Forgotten more prominently among readers actively searching for dark queer romance, polyamorous relationship fiction, trauma-centered LGBTQ+ narratives, and emotionally raw psychological thrillers.
‪hanzo‬ ‪@eduardohanzo.bsky.social‬ · 3h this entire genre is rooted in homophobia and misogyny. they what romance without having to see women and all these couples follow almost laughable gender roles and stereotypes. i think a little scrutiny is ok. a good idea even.
Two picture of Katie Couric, one where she is younger and in good lighting and the other where she looks more red, older, and is wearing glasses. Text: This is Katie Couric. This is Katie after Liberal Facsism [sic]. Don't be a Katie.
BTS members at a press conference all sitting on one side of a table in various poses in front of a dark wooden backdrop.
Marian Elaine Melby Aanerud Dude - We still have the Virginia Battle Flag brought home by the Minnesota First. The war already happened and we won, so like, maybe don't be so smug. We're not a huge fan of state-sanctioned violence. Many of the Norwegian and German immigrants that settled here aren't REALLY that far removed from when our relatives fought the Nazi occupation of Norway or were part of the resistance in Germany. We aren't big fans of racist lies - and we know *from experience* and *from knowing history* how this sort of thing generally goes down. Okay? Which is why so many of us are standing up to it now before it gets even worse. When the federal government consolidates power, attempts to dismantle checks-and-balances, and essentially declares that their rich buddies and personal armies are *above the law* - there's a problem. And the problem isn't that the guy who works at the taco truck down the street over-stayed his visa - it's secret police going door-to-door without judicial warrants, brutalizing and detaining people in an apparent attempt at ethnic cleansing. I mean, if you still think this is about deporting the "worst-of-the-worst" or even about enforcing immigration law - you are naïve as hell. If you actually care about this country and our Constitution - you might want to take a step back and consider whether or not you want to fight for a free country or be a f'ing tool.
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WhiteElk1268 I'm sure they will bus in thousands from outside the state. Eric Goldman WhiteElk1268 Bus in thousands of closed businesses?