Melanie Nilles's Blog
July 9, 2024
About the blog
I still have my blog at manilles.blogspot.com with updates on my book progress, including the latest book (#17) in the Starfire Angels: Forgotten Worlds series.
I've also been sharing some faith-related videos that I come across, but mostly, I've been not blogging as much. I've been stepping away from the online chatter. It's relaxing to step away, but I still enjoy hearing from people and will answer all emails and comments.
Feel free to reach out to me through my website contact form at https://www.melanienilles.com/contact/, leave a comment on my blog, or ask a question here on my Goodreads profile.
Thanks for reading!
I've also been sharing some faith-related videos that I come across, but mostly, I've been not blogging as much. I've been stepping away from the online chatter. It's relaxing to step away, but I still enjoy hearing from people and will answer all emails and comments.
Feel free to reach out to me through my website contact form at https://www.melanienilles.com/contact/, leave a comment on my blog, or ask a question here on my Goodreads profile.
Thanks for reading!
February 14, 2024
My real blog
The real blog can be found at manilles.blogspot.com. Goodreads won't let me link it to this account again, since it's linked to my other pen name.
Lots has changed in the Forgotten Worlds series. I'm getting ready to publish Book 16 now.
Be sure to visit the blog or my website at melanienilles.com.
Lots has changed in the Forgotten Worlds series. I'm getting ready to publish Book 16 now.
Be sure to visit the blog or my website at melanienilles.com.
December 28, 2022
More Forgotten Worlds
I haven't logged in here in a while, but since Ferious, four more books have been added to the Starfire Angels: Forgotten Worlds series:
Books 14 and 15 are waiting for final edits while I write Book 16.
If you want to learn when a new book in the series becomes available, I have started sending out emails for those. You can sign up at my website here-- https://melanienilles.com/contact/.
Books 14 and 15 are waiting for final edits while I write Book 16.
If you want to learn when a new book in the series becomes available, I have started sending out emails for those. You can sign up at my website here-- https://melanienilles.com/contact/.
June 26, 2021
Catching up
It's been a while since I posted to this blog. My regular blog is kept up to date at manilles.blogspot.com.
NOW AVAILABLE
As an update, I am currently writing Book 12 of the Starfire Angels: Forgotten Worlds series, which will bring it to about the midpoint of the planned series. Yes, this will be a loooong series. I'm enjoying it and have a large series arc planned with room for adding things and changing things. I've had some surprises already. Each story is its own complete story but also part of the overall series arc.
I just released Book 9, FERIOUS, last month and anticipate the publication of Book 10, DRAGON AND FURY, around October. Book 11 is hanging in the sidelines in between edits of Book 10 and writing Book 12. I'll talk more about that in time for its publication in early 2022. I like to have two books written ahead of what I publish, although it can invite some problems with trying not to reveal too much about the upcoming plot.
All the books can be found on my website at melanienilles.com. Cover reveals are all available on my website and also on my blog, where I have a Forgotten Worlds series page.
NOW AVAILABLE
As an update, I am currently writing Book 12 of the Starfire Angels: Forgotten Worlds series, which will bring it to about the midpoint of the planned series. Yes, this will be a loooong series. I'm enjoying it and have a large series arc planned with room for adding things and changing things. I've had some surprises already. Each story is its own complete story but also part of the overall series arc.
I just released Book 9, FERIOUS, last month and anticipate the publication of Book 10, DRAGON AND FURY, around October. Book 11 is hanging in the sidelines in between edits of Book 10 and writing Book 12. I'll talk more about that in time for its publication in early 2022. I like to have two books written ahead of what I publish, although it can invite some problems with trying not to reveal too much about the upcoming plot.
All the books can be found on my website at melanienilles.com. Cover reveals are all available on my website and also on my blog, where I have a Forgotten Worlds series page.
April 5, 2020
cover reveal -- REMNANTS
I've reached 38K words on REMNANTS, or very nearly done with the first draft. I've been writing at a good pace for the last two weeks, between 500-1000 words/day. At this rate, I should be done by Easter. I've selected the cover image for it and made a slight modification to the original, as I did with the #3 (Vault of the Celestials) cover image:
Please visit melanienilles.com for this and more.
Please visit melanienilles.com for this and more.
January 22, 2020
About the Forgotten Worlds series length
I can see that pre-orders have slowed for book 5 of the Starfire Angels: Forgotten Worlds series. I can only guess as to why, since I feel that IN DARKNESS, LIGHT is a very strong story and a key part of the series.
One of those guesses is that people are worried that the series will go on indefinitely.
Rest assured, that is most definitely NOT the case. I have a whole arc planned for the series with room to spare. I just ask that you have patience and stick with it.
I am planning on four books per year for the next several years, for an expected total of around 24 books, give or take a few. Yes, that's a lot of books, but they are short novels. Each has its own plot that wraps up in each book but that also contributes to the overall arc of the series in at least some small way.
My plan is to allow room for some meandering and lighter stories early in the series while continuing on the main story. Throughout the series, the characters will have room to develop in ways I can't even predict. The closer I get to the end, the tighter and more focused the stories will become in the main plot of the series. I have it outlined so that I know what points I need to hit for it to all come together in a nice wrap up at the end.
So, if this is your reason for not continuing, please be assured that this isn't going to be an always meandering, never-ending quest. I have a plan. It will come to a satisfying conclusion.
Stick with it. The best is yet to come!
One of those guesses is that people are worried that the series will go on indefinitely.
Rest assured, that is most definitely NOT the case. I have a whole arc planned for the series with room to spare. I just ask that you have patience and stick with it.
I am planning on four books per year for the next several years, for an expected total of around 24 books, give or take a few. Yes, that's a lot of books, but they are short novels. Each has its own plot that wraps up in each book but that also contributes to the overall arc of the series in at least some small way.
My plan is to allow room for some meandering and lighter stories early in the series while continuing on the main story. Throughout the series, the characters will have room to develop in ways I can't even predict. The closer I get to the end, the tighter and more focused the stories will become in the main plot of the series. I have it outlined so that I know what points I need to hit for it to all come together in a nice wrap up at the end.
So, if this is your reason for not continuing, please be assured that this isn't going to be an always meandering, never-ending quest. I have a plan. It will come to a satisfying conclusion.
Stick with it. The best is yet to come!
November 8, 2019
Giveaway approved
Enter to win now at https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/299983-a-new-beginning . You could win one of a hundred Amazon copies of A NEW BEGINNING. This space opera will lead you on a journey full of action, intrigue, aliens, new worlds, and wonder. Set in a new realm of the Starfire Angels universe, Forgotten Worlds follows the adventures of Nyalin in her quest to stop the crossing of a creature from another dimension that seeks to destroy the universe as we know it.
November 7, 2019
Forgotten Worlds update
If you haven't been following my blogspot blog or MeWe page, you've been missing out. I don't share everything on this Goodreads profile, and I'm not on any other social media. The more I use it, the more I like MeWe; and my page there is growing. Thank you to those who have followed me there.
In the news of my writing, I am working on Starfire Angels: Forgotten Worlds #6, which doesn't yet have a permanent title. The first half flew by, but then I had some difficulties as I transitioned the action. I had some snarls but believe those have been smoothed out and can get back on track with the first draft.
In the meantime, Books 1-3 are available now with Book 4 coming on December 19th. Book 5 will be available in late winter/early spring 2020. Be sure to follow my author profile or head over to your favorite ebook retailer to pre-order IN DARKNESS, LIGHT today so you don't miss the next adventure in this series. Please note that this series is under my M.A. Nilles pen name and is only available as ebooks.
For those who may not realize, these are not long novels but short novels, about half the length of most SF novels. They do qualify as novels under SFWA standards, and yes, I am a member of SFWA and use their word length guidelines to determine the categories of my works. I love this length. I love writing episodes in a longer story arc rather than long, complex books in a shorter series. I have so many ideas for this, and with the format of the series, I can hit every one of those! That's why I am planning to write these books for the next few years and have at least a dozen more on queue to write, if all goes well.
And I'm offering a giveaway here on Goodreads for the first book but am awaiting approval. Watch for it--A NEW BEGINNING.
In the news of my writing, I am working on Starfire Angels: Forgotten Worlds #6, which doesn't yet have a permanent title. The first half flew by, but then I had some difficulties as I transitioned the action. I had some snarls but believe those have been smoothed out and can get back on track with the first draft.
In the meantime, Books 1-3 are available now with Book 4 coming on December 19th. Book 5 will be available in late winter/early spring 2020. Be sure to follow my author profile or head over to your favorite ebook retailer to pre-order IN DARKNESS, LIGHT today so you don't miss the next adventure in this series. Please note that this series is under my M.A. Nilles pen name and is only available as ebooks.
For those who may not realize, these are not long novels but short novels, about half the length of most SF novels. They do qualify as novels under SFWA standards, and yes, I am a member of SFWA and use their word length guidelines to determine the categories of my works. I love this length. I love writing episodes in a longer story arc rather than long, complex books in a shorter series. I have so many ideas for this, and with the format of the series, I can hit every one of those! That's why I am planning to write these books for the next few years and have at least a dozen more on queue to write, if all goes well.
And I'm offering a giveaway here on Goodreads for the first book but am awaiting approval. Watch for it--A NEW BEGINNING.
August 30, 2019
New Social Media
I've decided to experiment with MeWe.
As I posted on my regular blog:
I like that they aren't data harvesters like Facebook and Twitter. They don't sell personal data. What they sell are in-app extras, like stickers and custom emojis and even a small fee for their pages.
Pros:
No ads
No selling your data
Did I mention NO ADS?!
NO FILTERING!! You get to see all the group and page posts that are posted.
And Privacy
Cons:
You have to register to view pages. As I said under the "Pros", privacy.
It was because of big tech using my data, ads, and filtering content that I quit other social media sites. They really pissed me off.
I've been on MeWe for a while now, but I'm finally expanding into a page. Connect with me on MeWe at https://mewe.com/p/melanienillesauthor. I'm trialing it to see if it's worthwhile. I hope you'll join me and help me make a go of this. I only wish that I had done this before quitting Facebook so I could notify everyone there to follow me.
As I posted on my regular blog:
I like that they aren't data harvesters like Facebook and Twitter. They don't sell personal data. What they sell are in-app extras, like stickers and custom emojis and even a small fee for their pages.
Pros:
No ads
No selling your data
Did I mention NO ADS?!
NO FILTERING!! You get to see all the group and page posts that are posted.
And Privacy
Cons:
You have to register to view pages. As I said under the "Pros", privacy.
It was because of big tech using my data, ads, and filtering content that I quit other social media sites. They really pissed me off.
I've been on MeWe for a while now, but I'm finally expanding into a page. Connect with me on MeWe at https://mewe.com/p/melanienillesauthor. I'm trialing it to see if it's worthwhile. I hope you'll join me and help me make a go of this. I only wish that I had done this before quitting Facebook so I could notify everyone there to follow me.
August 16, 2019
Writing Update
This isn't my main blog and since I de-linked it, I can't relink the RSS feed. That's one thing I wish Goodreads would change. You can find more at my blog.
So, for an update, here's what's been going on with the Starfire Angels: Forgotten Worlds:
A NEW BEGINNING (#1) is available for 99c
THE RULE OF YONDER (#2) is available for $2.99
VAULT OF THE CELESTIALS (#3) will be released on September 12, 2019. It can be pre-ordered for $2.99
IN DARKNESS, LIGHT (#4) is written and not yet available for pre-order. That will be available around Christmas for $2.99.
(untitled) #5 is about 3/4 written and will be available in March 2020.
Overview: This series is set in a new area of the Starfire Angels universe with a cast of characters of various backgrounds and species. The format is that of short novels with the intent of feeling like a tv series. Each book stands alone in its own plot yet builds on the previous with an overarching plot that grows with the series. I have at least a dozen books planned at various stages of outlines.
For purchase details, please visit melanienilles.com.
So, for an update, here's what's been going on with the Starfire Angels: Forgotten Worlds:
A NEW BEGINNING (#1) is available for 99c
THE RULE OF YONDER (#2) is available for $2.99
VAULT OF THE CELESTIALS (#3) will be released on September 12, 2019. It can be pre-ordered for $2.99
IN DARKNESS, LIGHT (#4) is written and not yet available for pre-order. That will be available around Christmas for $2.99.
(untitled) #5 is about 3/4 written and will be available in March 2020.
Overview: This series is set in a new area of the Starfire Angels universe with a cast of characters of various backgrounds and species. The format is that of short novels with the intent of feeling like a tv series. Each book stands alone in its own plot yet builds on the previous with an overarching plot that grows with the series. I have at least a dozen books planned at various stages of outlines.
For purchase details, please visit melanienilles.com.
