We’re delighted to be able to feature Melissa Karibian on the blog today! Melissa’s debut novel, A Song of Silver and Gold, is out on this very day, so you get double the fun: you can read this interview and then dive straight in. What more could you want?
Don’t forget, too, that you can follow Melissa on twitter.
Have you always known you wanted to be a writer? How old were you when you wrote your first story?
Ever since I was little, I have always been enchanted by stories. Whether in books or movies, I loved diving into new worlds. My family helped nurture that side of me, whether it be movie nights or trips to the library. I don’t think I realized I wanted to be a writer until I was in high school, when the world was captivated by the rise of dystopian YA novels. It was then, when I also got obsessively into reading, that I wanted to write a story of my own. My English teacher praising my writing in high school also really helped me believe in myself, even now when the imposter syndrome threatens to overwhelm me.
I was fifteen when I wrote my first story. It was during my first NaNoWriMo event with my friends, Alex and Michaela. Throughout the month, we met up to write and exchanged gifts once we “won”. I haven’t looked at that story since and I’m sure I’ll turn red in the face at how my writing has changed and evolved in the subsequent years.
What are your favourite genres to read and write, and are there any genres or tropes you wouldn’t write?
I love to read Fantasy, whether YA or Adult, contemporary, high, or historical (the list of subgenres could go on forever!). To enter totally new worlds where the impossible is possible, it’s a great way to escape the troubles of reality for just a little bit. Given that, I also primarily write in the Fantasy genre as well. My debut novel is YA Fantasy and a lot of my current projects fall within that genre, too. I don’t shy away from reading other genres, especially if it is categorized as queer. I would say my next top genres to read are science fiction and contemporary.
I don’t want to completely write off genres that I wouldn’t touch. I used to think I only wanted to write in Fantasy, but one of my current projects could be classified as horror and another as science fiction – it all depends on what I’m feeling the moment my fingers hit the keyboard.
When you close your eyes and imagine an apple, what do you see? An actual apple, a sketch of one, a blackness? Do you think that impacts your writing process?
It varies, in a weird way. Usually its blackness, but sometimes an actual apple from a memory pops up, a bright red one sitting on the kitchen table of my childhood home. Because of that, I think my writing process is definitely impacted by it. The hardest part of drafting for me is creating visualization. I often get prompted by beta readers and my editor to describe more, visualize more. They’re the second pairs of eyes that I need in order to help me create worlds from my thoughts that readers can easily imagine.
Which three authors would you say influenced your writing the most?
This is a tough one! My favorite authors are constantly changing as I read more and more books. From all of them, I learn something new about my own writing. Two authors really stand out and come to mind as influencers while I wrote A Song of Silver and Gold.
I remember reading These Violent Delights when it came out in 2020, right when I was editing drafts of A Song of Silver and Gold to send out to my first round of beta readers. The prose and visualization that Chloe Gong created inspired me to work even harder on my manuscript. I had never read something so atmospheric and rich in detail. I absolutely fell in love with her writing style from the very first page.
Leigh Bardugo definitely had an influence on my writing as well. Her ability to craft such distinct characters with their own backgrounds that made them seem alive on the page was something I aspired to work on. If I could capture just a fraction of the banter and angst she’s written, I’d be a happy writer.
When you’re building your world, what do you focus on? How do you try to make it come to life?
I first focus on the structure of the world. Is it one big plot of land? Multiple islands/kingdoms? What does it look like if you were to study a satellite image of it from space? Then, I’ll try and get a feel for culture. I like to draw from real-life cultures, especially ones from my family (Hispanic and Armenian). Otherwise, I tend to look at buildings and structures of cities/towns and from there, I build my setting.
From there, the smaller details of the world come to play, like food and clothing. What the people celebrate and how they speak. If I were to guess a year or an era from our world and apply it to my own, what would it be? Is that clear from the beginning? I usually can’t start drafting until I have an outline of the plot and the world.
What projects are you currently working on? Can you share any details yet?
Right now, I’m working on the sequel to A Song of Silver and Gold. It is a duology and I intend to have it mostly polished on my end by the time my debut releases. Other than that, there are scattered projects that my mind won’t shut up about, so I’ll usually outline the bare bones of the story and occasionally visit when the creativity hits.
Three images that capture the aesthetic of your book?
Three songs you would put in your book’s soundtrack?
I should probably have sea shanties but:
Maneater – Nelly Furtado
Sabotage – Beastie Boys
I am not a woman, I’m a god – Halsey
What would be your dream project?
To write a story for Marvel, something along the lines of Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl. Writing a Marvel book based on my favorite characters would be an absolute dream. I grew up on Marvel and would love to add to the universe’s stories.
I think other than that, my dream project would be the ability to finish a draft of any of the WIPs I’m working on. From haunted houses, to fantastical worlds based on Armenian culture, to stories based on Ecuadorian/Lat-Am folklore. There are endless stories to tell that I hope I get around to completing one day!
Which of your characters would you most want to fight a zombie apocalypse with?
They’re all ruthless, so it’s hard to choose. I would say maybe Aqeara (main character, siren warrior) if her siren song can work on zombies. Otherwise, Ruff (first mate to the captain) would be my top pick. He would be serious, cunning, and loyal. I have no doubt that he would strategize a way to fight against a hoard of zombies while also making sure I’m safe.
You’re stuck on a desert island and you’re allowed only three (LGBT) books. What are you taking?
Oh gosh this is impossible to just pick three!
A Clash of Steel by C.B. Lee
Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell
The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake
You can collaborate on anything with anyone in the LGBT community: who would it be and why?
If I could somehow collaborate with Halsey on something – anything – I think I would pass out! She’s written a poetry book before, so if she ever wants to dip into novel writing or have someone write a short story based on her album, I’m here for it!
Halsey was the first openly bisexual celebrity that I discovered when I was coming to terms with my own sexuality. It had been a struggle, but listening to her music and seeing her just truly be herself was something that I definitely needed at the time – and still do!
But honestly, I’m always down to meet new people in the LGBT community so working through a collaboration together with anyone would still be an adventure!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melissa Karibian grew up obsessed with reading.
What she wished for more than anything was to be able to see herself in the worlds she immersed herself in. Now, she aims to add to the growing collection of sapphic stories out there so that hopefully others can see themselves in her characters.
Melissa was born and raised in New York, where she grew up with both Hispanic and Armenian culture. She studied at Stony Brook University where she got her degree in Psychology. She is currently studying Behavioral Neuroscience at the graduate level. Her writing tends to contrast her studies, filled with fantastical worlds and of course, women with swords.
When she’s not writing, Melissa loves to read young adult fantasy and any genre with queer characters. She also enjoys watching all kinds of movies, ranging from rom coms to Disney movies to action and horror (somehow, her top three comfort films are “Coraline”, “Captain America: the Winter Soldier”, and “17 Dresses”).
Melissa continues to live in New York with a threatening, growing tower of to-be-read books.
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