Spotlight on Decagon Key Author: Melissa Rose Rogers
Just next month Night Foundry Publishing will be releasing an Anthology called The Decagon Key. This anthology contains 12 authors, including myself, who submitted a short story based on their own book's universe. The twist...a key misplaced by the Grim Reaper travels through each of the short stories leaving destruction in its wake.
One of the authors, Melissa Rose Rodgers, is being interviewed on my site for her spot in the anthology. Let's see what she had to say.
What inspired your first book?
My first book was contemporary fiction, and it doesn’t fit who I am or the rest of my books. It was more an expression of grief. My first fantasy book was heavily inspired by Spice and Wolf and The Hero and the Crown. I would compare it to the style of The Curse of Chalion with a tone more like Assassin’s Apprentice.
What can your readers expect from you in the future?
The next book I plan on drafting is an epic fantasy inspired by Basque myths. It is separate from Threads of Fate, The Flow of Curses, and Deeper Than Blood.
Tell us a little about your story in The Decagon Key.
This story is the prequel to the antagonist in the second Threads of Fate book. Smitten with a lesser prince, a young woman would do anything to win his affection.
Where does your story in The Decagon Key take place in your story's universe?
This takes place about twenty years before the first Threads of Fate book, in a little town not touched on in the book.
What genres can you see your writing exploring and why?
Epic fantasy, supernatural, contemporary fantasy, and weird slipstream stuff that doesn’t fit in anywhere.
Is there anything else you would like to share with readers?
Yes-I often have people tell me that they wish they could be writers, too. Everyone’s journey looks different, but if you are interested, then I hope you will pursue it. For years I wrote without sharing my work. Then I had critique partners and beta readers. I went to workshops and took classes. I read books and articles about writing. I listened to good advice and bad advice, helpful and poisonous. There are free resources to help you learn to write—look online, or try digital resources from your library. Writing with thoughtful analysis is, I believe, how we improve as writers. Kayla Hicks, also in The Decagon Key, has created a great guide about pursuing writing, and I look forward to finishing it.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Haters gonna hate. Rejections will always suck, but it’s a numbers game. Keep trying.
Who is your favorite character that you have created and why?
Threads of Fate’s Baronet Dietfried Kiel of Klose, the Lord Commander of Eyas’s naval fleet. Why? Because he’s a hopeless romantic and a good guy, but people dislike him for no good reason (jealousy, prejudice). In a world where it’s hard to be noble, where it’s easy for a man to lose his title, he works hard to be admirable.
With an aloof father and too many brothers, he has parallels to Prince Hans in Frozen, but he’s a resolute soldier. So all you MatPat fans out there who agree with the theory that Hans was not really a bad guy, I think you’ll like Dietfried.
What is your worst nightmare and does the Night Foundry know about it?
It must. My worst nightmare is being separated from my husband and daughters by some catastrophe. This is a common theme in my nightmares, and I wrote about it in a (currently unpublished) story called, “We’ll Fix You Right Up”.
What’s your favorite genre to write?
I don’t know. I call myself a speculative fiction writer because fantasy or sci-fi or horror are too narrow by themselves. My published short stories range from near-future sci-fi to post-apocalyptic to dark historical fantasy.
What google search scares you the most if your laptop was seized by the police/FBI or Interpol and it is discovered?
Probably some of the post-apocalyptic stuff. 😅
What is the hardest scene you have ever written?
I think the hardest scene was the climax of The Flow of Curses because I was so emotionally invested in the character. That book gave me nightmares while I was writing it and there were a few times I creeped myself out as well.
What’s the best piece of writing you have ever done?
My short story “Fur of White, Frosty Night” in Bear Creek Gazette was nominated for Best of the Net 2021, so that’s objectively my best piece.
I’m really proud of “Fragile” in 96th of October, an abstract written by plant-based scientists about human zoo specimens.
Where can readers get more of you?
On my website, there are links to my published short stories, and many of them are available to read online for free.
Melissa is a talented writer that I have had the pleasure of reading a few of her stories and I assure you, you will not be disappointed. Be sure to keep an eye out for The Decagon Key in September where you can read Melissa Rose Rodgers The Faceless Witch.
Here is where you can check out more of her stuff!