Interview with Melanie Reynard

Photo credit Brian Whar

Tell me about your books.

Following the Future World Prize shortlisting, I was contracted to write for the popular children’s series The Magical Unicorn Society and wrote eight short stories for their 5^th book, The Dark Heart Unicorns edition in 2024. The book is filled with beautiful illustrations, fact pages and a quiz for readers aged 8 upwards.

I’ve since written for their upcoming The Blazing Book of Dragons, which is published on 10^th September 2026. It’s a slightly larger format, but contains more amazing illustrations and eight more stories inspired by dragon mythology from all over the world. Including signature fact pages, the text includes graphics and stand-out words, which make it easier for younger readers to follow along. It’s aimed at 7+ years, but I’m certain its suitable for dragon lovers of all ages.

When and how did you start writing?

I wrote stories as a child, or tried too. Fairy stories and fantasy captured my imagination so I made up my own stories. I tried to write seriously in my teens and early twenties, but became discouraged when my dreams of getting published came to naught. It wasn’t so easy in the 1990’s and early Noughties to get accessible guidance on how to write the perfect query letter and hone writing craft.

I came back to writing shortly before Covid, when I tried a reasonably priced Faber course on beginning to write fiction. I then went on to do the Faber Academy Writing a Novel course during the second lockdown in 2021. That’s when I started writing my first epic fantasy novel. The experience was invaluable and the writing cohort I became a part of are now friend’s for life.

I love that writing information is more widely available these days and much of it is freely accessible to under-privileged writers, to help gain insight into publishing.

Though I’m yet to have a full-length novel published, I do feel my writing has improved vastly and I’ve learnt so much from the writing community in the last six years.

What inspires you to write?

Good question. I have always been fascinated with history and science, but also the environment, and I have passionate views about humanity, what we are doing to ourselves and our planet. Looking at the news today, there’s a lot going on in our world that we have little or no control over, so by writing fantasy, I find I can explore some of the things I care passionately about, while also trying to make sense of some of the injustices I see.

What advice about being a writer have you been given that really helped you? 

To read widely and often. I have immersed myself in the fantasy genre. It’s very diverse, but I’m a bit given to reading historical fiction and thrillers as well, even though my reading time is limited and I wish I could read more.

I think by reading widely you underpin your craft and see how other writers really experiment with form and bring storytelling to life.

What have been your greatest obstacles to overcome when writing?

For me, my biggest obstacle is lack of time. Time is precious and creatively; I don’t have much to spare. I work parttime and have two children, so there’s a lot to juggle. I try to carve out pockets of time, at lunchtime when I’m at work and in the evenings and at weekends, but sometimes I’m tired or something comes up.

I have an accountability group with some writer friends whereby we pledge to write 100 words minimum a day. I’ve found this has been really helpful and we cheer each other on. I often find that I end up writing more than 100 words too, but it doesn’t feel so onerous and, if I’ve had a hard day, this feel comfortably achievable.

What’s the best thing someone has said about your writing?

I think hearing that a grandparent bought The Dark Heart Unicorns for their granddaughter, and them saying she loved it was really great. That means a target reader was satisfied. I think, as writers, that’s the best goal we could wish for!

What do you consider your greatest writing accomplishment?

Writing a 112k word novel is a massive achievement, but writing a second book proved I can do it again, if not better!

Has a book really touched you? Made you rethink your views on life? If so, what was it?

I’m such a terrible mood reader and I’m afraid whenever anyone asks me about my favourite books, it tends to be ones that I’ve either read more than once (and a long time ago) or books that I’ve read very recently.

This year, I read and loved A Dance of Lies by Brittany Arena, which is a fantasy with romance and it has chronic illness rep and court intrigue which had me hooked! I can’t wait to read the sequel. I’m currently reading The Bone Door by Frances White which is a fantasy horror with dark humour and I love the dialogue and the complex type setting – it is a visual feast for the eyes.

Books that I have read more than once, and are firm favourites, include Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery (a classic), Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (the quintessential enemies to lovers) and Northern Lights by Philip Pullman (filled with rich world building).

What would you do if you didn’t write?

I would draw, but in fact I already do this when I have time. I’d love to improve my skills one day if time allows.

What is your ultimate dream as a writer?

I would like to publish full length novels for adults and young adults, but grow a solid fantasy and science fiction readership.

In more practical terms, I just hope I can keep coming up with interesting ideas and find ways to get them published. But in fantastical terms, I think if people are making fan art of my characters, that would be a huge success to me.

Biography 

Melanie Reynard is a Lancashire-born writer of science fiction and fantasy.By day, she dabbles in the mysterious arts of planting design and social media for a landscaping company; by night, she conjures fantastical realms with words.She lives in Greater London with her family and a neurotic cat.

https://linktr.ee/meljrey