Today we’d like to introduce you to Melodi Bac.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Melodi. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My journey as a writer began when I was only seven. I started making up fantasy stories verbally and telling them to my classmates and my mom. Honestly, I don’t know where my imagination comes from but I didn’t have the easiest childhood. Between my family issues and school, I found the comfort I was looking for in writing.
I was thirteen when I started to write my first novel. I started writing as a hobby. When I finished my first book “Taboo”, my mom read it and loved it. My parents, immediately, applied to publishers on my behalf. After tons of rejections, a publisher signed me. My first novel was published when I was sixteen. I was the youngest novelist in Turkey. Of course, being young came with a price. No one took me seriously. But I was just getting started. So I ended up writing another book, “Taboo II: Crista”. The second book got good reviews from Turkey’s critics. The authorities called me “Turkey’s J.K. Rowling”. It was flattering and gave me the courage to move on to my new series which I am still working on.
After my second novel, a big publisher named Destek Media wanted to sign me. I was thrilled, so I simply said yes to the perfect offer. Despite the good reactions I was getting, a lot of people still didn’t take me seriously because of my age. I didn’t give up and published two more books; “Return of the Unca” and “The Hundredth Generation”. By the age of twenty, I had four published books. At that point, people started to recognize me as a writer. Meanwhile, I was studying Architecture at Istanbul Bilgi University. However, I was not satisfied with my major. My parents always encouraged me to do what I desire in life. I had bigger dreams than becoming a writer. I wanted the whole world to hear my voice, and architecture was not the right path for me to pursue my dreams. So I dropped out and studied Film & Television at the same university. I finished my studies as a valedictorian but wanted to continue my education. Therefore, I applied to the UCLA extension Screenwriting program. My goal is to adapt my books and let everyone live in my fantasy and science-fiction worlds.
It was scary to move to LA. I had never been to America before I moved here. I guess living in a foreign country and competing with native speakers is never going to get easy. But I am here to reach my goals and I have no intention to stop until I achieve what I came here for.
I am currently still studying at UCLA, adapting my books. A publisher named “Muptela Publishment” bought the “Unca Series” a year ago and republished my third and fourth books. My fifth novel “The Ash” is recently been published in Turkey and got good reactions.
As I move on in my career, I am really glad where things are. I am not in a rush to pursue my dreams, just enjoying the journey. I am currently in touch with a few production companies for my adaptations and also translating my books to English. Ultimately, I will reach my goals one day, even though I know I am at the begging of my journey.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely has not been smooth. In my first novel, people thought I am just a cute sixteen-years-old girl who envies to become a writer. In my second novel, people still thought it was cute. After I was signed by one of the biggest publishers in Turkey, they acknowledged I was not just a little cute girl with two novels.
Turkey’s readers have some prejudgement for Turkish fantasy novelist’s. So it was really hard for me to convince them to read my books. I found the solution by using English names for my characters. I am still struggling with reaching more readers but I am aware that this challenge is part of being a writer.
Another challenge was being a writer and studying at the same time. While my peers played games I was in my room writing my book, but I have no complains because it got me where I am today.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
As I said earlier, I am a novelist and a newly screenwriter from Turkey. I work as a freelancer. It is not always easy to find motivation but I try to create in my mind, even the times I am not writing. Sometimes I get the feeling that I’m spending too much time in the worlds I created. But I love what I do. And the reason my Publisher signed me is that they see the potential in my works. I guess ambition and dedication set me apart from others. I don’t know how to give up. I take risks to achieve my dreams and never stop until I get what I want.
What were you like growing up?
To be honest, I was not an optimistic person. I didn’t have an easy childhood. The things I’ve gone through in my personal life brought me down many times. It was hard dealing with those emotions, but I guess it’s the cost of being a writer. For me, art was the only thing that was worth standing up for. Not only writing but also drawing, singing and playing an instrument helped me a lot during those years.
Now when I look back, I appreciate everything I lived. They made me who I am today. I am an optimist now and I love enjoying life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://melodibac.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melodibac/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melodibackitaplari/
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