Melissa Lee
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storiesmelissalee.bsky.social
Melissa Lee
@storiesmelissalee.bsky.social
The writing team behind Melissa Lee invites you to join them on their literary journey.
Ms. Lee’s most recent travel bookshelf with a couple of titles from In Bloom Bookery in Temecula, CA. Romance readers in particular will love this store and its staff.

What’s your favorite indie bookshop?

#romancebooks #romancereader #indiebookstore #independentbookstore #bookish #booksky
January 14, 2026 at 4:48 PM
#todayilearned it’s the first full moon of 2026, also known as the Wolf Moon. In honor of the wolf pack in our novel, thought it would be fun to share a bit of Wolf Moon history.

Illustration credit: Imstudio1989 on pixabay.com

#wolfmoon #wolves #wildlife #til #didyouknow #booksky
January 3, 2026 at 4:43 PM
What’s your fave novel or series with a cool magic system? Ms. Melissa liked Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson. It’s an ode to art and creativity and a race to save two worlds from ruin.

#fantasybooks #fantasyreader #dualworlds #magicsystem #bookish #booksky #readersofbluesky
December 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Great writing note. Definitely appreciate a story with varying levels of tone and intensity.
Writing advice often consists of principles like: keep up the forward momentum, make your point efficiently, get in and get out of a scene.

Yes, and...don't forget your characters experience happiness, too, which helps with story richness and believability. Insight from @lesleykrueger.bsky.social.
Please Allow Your Characters Moments of Happiness | Jane Friedman
When a story barrels from one conflict to the next, hitting pause for a well-placed glimmer of light can benefit both characters and readers.
janefriedman.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Happy birthday to the marvelous Jane Austen. In her honor, wanted to share this lovely quote from Pride and Prejudice.

What's your fave Austen quote?

Photo credit: Albertfotofilms on pixabay.com

#janeausten #prideandprejudice #quotes #quoteoftheday #booksky #readerscommunity #bookish
December 16, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Happy St. Nicholas Day to all who celebrate. Ms. Lee’s family traditions include St. Nicholas leaving oranges, small gifts, and, of course, books in and around family members’ shoes.

Do you have any St. Nicholas Day traditions?

#stnicholasday #bookishgifts #holidayspirit #sinterklaas #booksky
December 6, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Working on a scene where our shifters in animal form need to communicate, so #todayilearned a lot about the sounds foxes make. Relying on body language and animal noises has really brought home how integral dialogue can be to a narrative.

#foxes #redfox #wildlife #til #didyouknow #booksky
December 4, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Today is #nationalillustrationday, so shout out to illustrators everywhere.

Like these whimsical sketches from Arthur Rackham, known for how he envisioned many of our folktales.

Comment below with your favorite illustrator or folktale.

#folklore #folktales #illustration #artcommunity #booksky
November 28, 2025 at 5:38 PM
What’s your favorite cozy fantasy romance? Ms. Lee just read and enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna.

Music credit: Oscar Merlo

#fantasyromance #cozyromance #fantasyreader #fantasybooklover #booksky #readersofbluesky #bookish #bookcommunity
November 26, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Ms. Lee explores using facts to enhance our fantasy worldbuilding: www.storiesbymelissalee.com/post/using-f.... What worldbuilding elements help you create or feel fully immersed in a story?

Photo: BrandeePember, pixabay.com

#amwriting #writingprocess #writingcommunity #fantasy #booksky
November 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
It's I Love to Write Day. Celebrate by writing something–whether it’s the next chapter in your manuscript or the first sentence of the story you’ve always wanted to compose.

Photo by Pexels at pixabay.com

#amwriting #writerslife #writingprocess #creativewriting #writingcommunity #booksky
November 15, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Love being able to use our #wordoftheday in our manuscript: Crepuscular

“As a fox, her vision was best in the crepuscular hours of dawn and dusk. In bright light, it was easy to overlook things.”

Photo credit: Dan-Reyes on pixabay.com

#animals #nature #words #amwriting #writingcommunity #booksky
November 5, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Ms. Lee enjoyed reading Holly Black's The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, a creepy "what if" about cultish fandoms, reality TV, and vampire infection.

Music: Oscar Merlo
Photo: Pixxel_Worx, pixabay.com

#bookish #booklife #bookcommunity #readerlife #readingcommunity #reading #readersofbluesky #booksky
October 31, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Love exploring local independent bookstores when visiting new places. Here’s Ms. Lee’s most recent travel bookshelf with a couple of titles from Turtle Town Books & Gifts in Nisswa, MN: www.turtletownnisswa.com.

#bookish #booklife #bookcommunity #readerlife #reading #readersofbluesky #booksky
October 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Enjoyed the originally posted NYPL article on gothic horror and then went down the rabbit hole of gothic romance: www.nypl.org/blog/2018/10.... Faves on this list were Jane Eyre, Rebecca, and Nine Coaches Waiting. Will have to try some of the newer titles recommended. --M
October 23, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Ms. Melissa shares her thoughts on developing both a likeable team and a believable cast of suspects in our romance/mystery mash-up: www.storiesbymelissalee.com/post/likeabl...

Photo by: karosieben at pixabay.com

#amwriting #writerslife #writingprocess #creativewriting #writingcommunity #booksky
October 16, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Been writing scenes featuring wild spaces and wanted to share that Saturday, September 27, is National Public Lands Day. Entrance fees to national parks are being waived-- www.nps.gov/findapark

#deathvalley #nationalparks #nationalparkphotography #landscapephotography #naturephotography #booksky
September 26, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Our novel features magical shifters, so we’ve spent time researching forest animals. Here’s a shout out for National Fox Day. These creatures play an key role in our environment, folklore, and manuscript.

Photo by: ambquinn at pixabay.com

#naturephotography #wildlifephotography #fox #booksky
September 17, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Love our #wordoftheday : Diaphanous

The butterfly's diaphanous wings seemed to catch the sunlight as it balanced on a cluster of flowers.

Photo credit: nvd9612 on pixabay.com

#botanical #nature #booksky
August 21, 2025 at 9:32 PM
For those who find literary inspiration in wild spaces, just a reminder that entrance fees to national parks are being waived on August 4th in celebration of Great American Outdoors Day.

#nationalparks #nationalparkphotography #shenandoah #landscapephotography #travel #naturephotography #booksky
August 3, 2025 at 3:55 PM
What do we do with sentences we don’t need now but might want to use later? Ms. Lee shares some thoughts on using a "dump list": www.storiesbymelissalee.com/post/benefit...

Photo by: StockSnap at pixabay.com

#amwriting #writerslife #writingprocess #creativewriting #writingcommunity #booksky
August 1, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Just had a conversation about newsletter sign-up ideas, so loved seeing this article in the feed.
July 26, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Always wonderful to encounter a quote from a favorite writer out in the wild.

Thanks @fig_ojai.

#readingcommunity #readerscommunity #readers #poetrylovers #poetry #poetrycommunity
#booksky #readersofbluesky #poetryonbluesky
July 24, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Delighted by this random happiness of reading decal. It was on a window overlooking the tarmac at the Guadalajara International Airport. 📚💚

#readingcommunity #readerscommunity #readers #readerlife #readmorebooks #readersofbluesky #booksky
July 15, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Are the events and characters in our manuscript evolving realistically? Ms. Melissa shares some thoughts on using timelines to help with continuity:
www.storiesbymelissalee.com/post/timelin....

#amwriting #writerslife #writingprocess #creativewriting #writingcommunity #booksky
July 10, 2025 at 9:03 PM