Featured Interview With Author Jim Melvin
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up on the shores of western Florida and spent much of my childhood swimming in shark-infested waters long before the movie "Jaws" put a scare into everyone. At the time, I was too skinny to attract a bull shark's attention. About ten other boys my age lived on my same street, and we hung out morning, noon and night playing the usual sports that young boys love — football, baseball, "kill the carrier," etc. — but as a group we also played fantastical games that contained magic, monsters and superheroes. It was in this setting that my imagination was born and nurtured.
I lived in western Florida until about 20 years ago. My wife and I now live in the mountains in Upstate South Carolina.
I have owned many dogs and cats during my life, but I currently have just one gray cat who rules our 15 acres with an iron paw.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I began writing "books" in second grade and would read them in front of my class. But I lit up for real in high school during the early days of Stephen King. I wrote my first book when I was 20 and was signed by an agent. But the book didn't sell. I didn't care because it's the second, third, or fourth book that usually hits it big, right? As it turned out, I became a journalist at a large newspaper. And 25 years later, there was no second, third, or fourth book. In my mid-40s, I finally got revved up again and wrote a six-book epic fantasy called The Death Wizard Chronicles. Since then, I have written several other books, including Dark Circles, my teen fantasy adventure series.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I'm sure that most authors would say that there are too many to mention, and the same is true for me. But I have always been a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien and Stephen King.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Do You Believe in Monsters? is book 2 of my teen fantasy adventure series titled Dark Circles. Book 1 is titled Do You Believe in Magic?
Do You Believe in Monsters" is a full-blown launch into a fantasy realm loaded with magic, monsters, courageous acts, and a dash of sweet romance. When Charlie Magus enters a fantastical world hidden deep in the forest, his life is turned upside down.
The timid 13-year-old transforms into a powerful wizard wielding formidable magic.
In the real world, life goes on as usual. But in the fantasy world, a war is brewing that will dwarf all others. Charlie’s newfound powers stand between victory and defeat.
But in which world does he truly belong?
Dark Circles is an adventure of epic scope. Only those with a hero's heart will dare to stand at Charlie’s side as he battles an army of monsters led by an evil being of immense power.
I began writing book 1 in February 2024 and published it in May 2024. I finished book 2 in early October and published it at the end of that month. Book 3 will debut in February 2024.
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