Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Jul 1

And lastly - I am living my dream job. No complaints here. But it is financially difficult sometimes, and the future is uncertain. It's a freelance job like any other. So please write the books! Just don't assume they will grow a magic money tree (although I hope yours do!) 4/4

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Jul 1

All this just to say - not all authors are rich. It is possible to carve a living, but you need multiple income streams. It's hard until you have multiple books. It's also harder if you're the sole earner (my wage would not cover the running of our 2 bedroom terraced house). 3/4

1

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Jul 1

Some facts:
My income increased 22.21% from 2024.
I am still sat *comfortably* in the lowest tax bracket.
My PLR went up four-fold since 2024.
I went from 1 book to 3 books released by 2025.
My day job hours decreased in 2025, affecting my pay.
2/4

1

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Jul 1

It's the most magical time of the year - tax time! Here are the % of income streams for my writing in the last financial year:
ALCS - 0.41%
PLR - 0.23%
Appearance Fees - 1.42%
Editing Fees - 5.35%
Mentoring - 25.96%
Advances - 34.04%
Writementor Day Job - 32.59%
More below 🧵1/4

1 1 2

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Jun 6

There was a gap in the middle there but we got here eventually! Grab a ticket for @NYALitFest and start your author journey - watch me go from babby reader to full time author!
📅: 19th July 2025
💰: only £3!
📍: UCLan Preston Campus
🎟️: www.lancashire.ac.uk/events/listi...

2

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · May 19

Oh this is so nice to see! My first book baby - I hope she enjoys reading!

1

Reposted by Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW!

storywrangler.bsky.social @storywrangler.bsky.social · May 18

My niece’s nightstand. @melliver.bsky.social’s book I bought her in lieu of an Easter egg, and @ellemcnicoll.bsky.social’s book was bought buy her mum*

I’m so proud.

*I took her to the launch where my not so inner nerd was horrifyingly present

On a dusky blue nightstand two books are piled. One is Melissa Wellivers book My Love Life and The Apocalypse; the other is Elle McNichol’s book Some Like It Cold.
Beside the book is a pair of reading glasses sitting neatly in a tray, and behind it all a digital alarm clock.

2 2 4

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · May 15

Are you an author with a finished manuscript, struggling to hook an agent’s attention? I am a published author offering editing services with 100+ happy clients. This summer I am offering 15% off ALL my services with code TOTHEDEATH - just quote when you email!

melissawelliver.com/editorial-se...

2

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · May 7

You say my website's had a makeover? And that I'm offering 10% off ALL my editorial services to anyone that tells me the name of my March 2026 book in the email for booking? I wonder where you might find that out... 😉
melissawelliver.com

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · May 2

TY mate!

1

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · May 2

TY lovely!

1

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Apr 30

TY Liz!!

1

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Apr 30

THE NEWS IS OUT! I have THREE new dystopian romance books coming with the ineffable Hachette! The first, TO THE DEATH, is The Last of Us meets The Hunger Games and will be coming at you 2026, with a sequel in 2027!
🔗: amzn.eu/d/hHXyZtd

3 4 10

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Apr 10

My German publisher are putting on a vote for a SPREDGE on Soulmates and Other Ways to Die! 🇩🇪

If you’d like to vote, click below! The options:
Love is a Choice 💜
OR
Is Love a Choice? 💛

Would love those who have read it to vote for what fits best!

www.instagram.com/p/DIOoqxaq7E...

1 1

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Apr 1

You know, I’ve decided to give up on dystopian fiction.

It’s just not popular in the wonderful, peaceful, perfect world we live in 🤷🏻‍♀️

Think I’ll write some contemporary uplit instead, from now on.

2

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Mar 7

This was popular so extending over the weekend until Sunday! Happy world book WEEK, everyone!

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Mar 6

📕HAPPY WORLD BOOK DAY, ASPIRING AUTHORS!📕
Are you a writer of Children's stories, looking to publish your book? Today only, I am offering 10% off ALL my editing services. Just quote "World Book Day" using my contact form when you email to book in!
melissawelliver.com/editorial-se...

Melissa Welliver Author

melissawelliver.com

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Mar 6

📕HAPPY WORLD BOOK DAY, ASPIRING AUTHORS!📕
Are you a writer of Children's stories, looking to publish your book? Today only, I am offering 10% off ALL my editing services. Just quote "World Book Day" using my contact form when you email to book in!
melissawelliver.com/editorial-se...

Melissa Welliver Author

melissawelliver.com

5 6

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Mar 6

Happy #WorldBookDay! Make sure to buy a book from an author you love - and it’s double stamps at @waterstones.bsky.social today so do take advantage! If you or a teen in your life love dystopian, I have THREE books for them to check out!
❤️ 🧡 💜: www.waterstones.com/author/melis...

Melissa Welliver books and biography | Waterstones

Explore books by Melissa Welliver with our selection at Waterstones.com. Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.

www.waterstones.com

2

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Feb 28

Saw something really exciting today. And spoke to an amazing team about the exciting thing. And I am bursting to talk about it but trust me when I say THE WAIT WILL BE WORTH IT

a man in a plaid shirt and tie is saying `` ohh , chills . literally chills . ''

ALT: a man in a plaid shirt and tie is saying `` ohh , chills . literally chills . ''

media.tenor.com

4

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Feb 28

New Friday, new episode! This week we’re talking all about that difficult second novel and post publication blues!

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

S4.E7 - The Second Novel and Post-Publication Blues

Podcast Episode · The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes · 28/02/2025 · 1h 17m

podcasts.apple.com

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Feb 22

Ah thanks mate! Need to get better at checking in on here - I hope sharing our experience will help someone else!

1

Reposted by Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW!

Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · Feb 21

I already shared this but now tagging Melissa by quoting her! A GREAT episode and even tho I've been published since 2019 I still learned new things about how advances/contracts/royalties worked! I am always so appreciative when people will share advance info! Too much silence in this industry!

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Feb 7

I have a new podcast episode out today and it’s all about SIGNING YOUR FIRST BOOK DEAL! Have a listen if you’re interested!
(somehow today I talk about hotdogs and it’s NOT a euphemism for spicy books 👀)
spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/45D1...
apple podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

S4.E4 - Signing a Book Deal

The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes · Episode

open.spotify.com

1 3 7

Reposted by Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW!

Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · Feb 21

Authors/intrested observers! If you want a peek behind the scenes of the money in publishing, here's an episode discussing publishing advances and royalties #Booksky #KidLitUK open.spotify.com/episode/47KZ...

S4.E6 - Getting Paid as an Author after Publication

The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes · Episode

open.spotify.com

3 9 26

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Feb 14

#HappyValentinesDay It’s love day and I wrote TWO dystomance books and guess what they are both ON SALE on the bad place today so go grab a LOVE-ly bargain:
❤️My Love Life and the Apocalypse: amzn.eu/d/1IjSMIu
🧡Soulmates and Other Ways to Die: amzn.eu/d/6OX0hs5

2

Melissa Welliver - TO THE DEATH available to pre-order NOW! @melliver.bsky.social · Feb 7

I have a new podcast episode out today and it’s all about SIGNING YOUR FIRST BOOK DEAL! Have a listen if you’re interested!
(somehow today I talk about hotdogs and it’s NOT a euphemism for spicy books 👀)
spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/45D1...
apple podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

S4.E4 - Signing a Book Deal

The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes · Episode

open.spotify.com

3 3