Winner of the 2014 Moorman Prize for Prose
Over the years, I've written in a variety of genres. Author of the sci-fi novel Raven, the historical non-fiction novel Home Front and the mystery novella Hotel Toledo, I was the winner of the 2014 Moorman Prize for Prose. My poems and short stories have appeared in numerous print and online publications, including three poems anthologized in First Water: Best of Pirene's Fountain. I was an editor of Japanese short-form poetry for three online journals, and have published the chapbook in a bottle of ink that includes haiku, tanka, haibun, and a primer for writing short-form poetry in the Japanese tradition. In 2016, I was the editor of the annual literary magazine Watershed. In 2018, the city in which I live honored me with their "Excellence in Literary Arts" award.
In addition to my author and editor hats, I am a cover artist and children's book illustrator.
2022 New Releases
A young-adult chapter book with discussion questions.
"Looking for something he believes belongs to his mother, twelve-year-old Josh Milton breaks into Old Man Binkley’s garage. As the old man befriends the young boy, Josh becomes intrigued by the stories Mr. Binkley brings to life with the help of things he has hidden away in boxes—stories of people and places around the world. Curious, Josh returns each weekend until one of the boxes reveals a secret that shakes his trust in his own family. Should he run, or should he stay and face his mother who he now knows has lied to him his entire life?"
From Imperium Publishing, Boxes is available at The Nook, Barnes&Noble and other online book retailers.
A beautiful work, with smaller stories woven into a large story. “Boxes” takes the topic of generational trauma and views it through the lens of a young boy trying to understand himself and his place in his family and the world at large. It’s gentle, tender, and a little bit heart breaking for those of us who have portions of ourselves stored in our own boxes. Lynn Meador, author of Dragon Breath
THE LONG-AWAITED SEQUEL TO HOTEL TOLEDO IS OUT!! The publisher kindly allowed the prequel to be included under the same cover, so if you have not purchased or read the novella, no worries. You can read the complete two-part novel in one book.
From Glass Lyre Press, Behind the Mask is available at Barnes&Noble and other online book retailers.
Hotel Toledo Part One
In a derelict hotel in small-town Iowa, Mrs. Warner hides from a past she dare not reveal. When one tenant murders another, she is forced to confront her own story. She first confesses anonymously to a stranger, but soon seeks solace in a new friend who will carry her secret to the grave. Through the spirit and compassion of another, Warner realizes her own path to freedom must lead to a confrontation with her past.
Behind the Mask Part Two
Becca Mills has been on the run for five years, hiding from the husband who assaulted her and thinks she is dead. With her own life in shambles, and having discovered that her self-inflicted exile brought David no repercussions, she seeks revenge by reviving suspicion against him and following him when he moves to another state. But she fears her cat and mouse game has turned deadly for real this time. Unable to tell the world she is still alive, Becca must uncover the truth before she becomes a casualty for the second time.
A stunning debut. Hotel Toledo is passionate, heartfelt and rich with the kind of detail that makes a novel sing. Just a lovely piece of work. I'm putting Melinda Hipple's name on my must-read list. Ande Parks, author of Capote in Kansas and Ciudad
This author blends family drama and many of her own unique experiences into this thrilling and emotional story. Reading Behind the Mask felt like I was living the story. Niki Manbeck, Imperium Publishing
2021 New Release
As the head of Odyssey Central bids farewell, five separate colonies brave a decades-long journey into deep space. Soon separated by light-years, each crew faces challenges posed not just by the rigors of space but by connections made before the Day of Leaving. One crewmember's pre-flight effort to improve the biorecycling systems mutates into a nightmare, while another—driven by revenge—corrupts the very heart of the artificial intelligence platform their lives depend on. Isolated in the harshest of environments, the Chang, the Hawking, the Einstein, the Newton, and the Kepler each find themselves in a deadly race against time.
From Imperium Publishing, Raven is available at The Nook, Amazon and other online book retailers.
This book is an amazing science fiction read! A story about five ships separated by light years as they search to find the answer to the one thing that could either save them or lead to their ultimate destruction—definitely a page turner! Casey McGinley Wright
I can't say precisely what my expectations were going into [Raven], but what I just read blew them away! This was fast-paced and exciting, mysterious and even a little bit scary at times, and surprisingly thought provoking. Chandra Marcoux, Fine Literature Book Club
It was captivating. The story is a page turner from start to finish, the characters are deep and nuanced with every single one of them offering something to the story. I was left wanting more and more after each chapter, I would buy a sequel from different characters’ perspectives in a heartbeat. This is a must buy for everyone who wants a fiction fix but especially anyone who appreciates sci-fi. It was an amazing read and I didn’t want it to end! David Pratt (Amazon Review)
What a wonderful book! You can tell the author grew up reading classic science fiction—no "space fairy dust" or anything like that here. She obviously did her research in preparation for this book, and it paid off. The stories flow well and read like an Asimov. Nate (Amazon review)
2020 New Release
In January of 1944, the United States is fighting a war on two fronts—Europe and Asia—as eighteen-year-old Vee Hammontree bravely travels from Missouri to Idaho where she intends to marry her high-school sweetheart. Both her fiance, Robert, and her oldest brother, Eugene, have enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the hopes of saving the world from tyranny. While the U.S. troops are fighting overseas, Vee resolves to contribute to the war effort by joining the workforce at Pratt&Whitney to build airplane engines—something that could help ensure the survival of both her husband and her brother. Like others on the home front, she becomes a woman laborer, works to boost morale for the ones who are serving, and makes the ultimate sacrifice—losing one of her own. Home Front weaves together two true stories of sacrifice—one gleaned from Vee's personal diaries of the 1940s, the other through letters home from the war.
From Imperium Publishing, Home Front is available at The Nook, Amazon and other online book retailers.
A heart-breaking account of all the sacrifices and difficulties of those serving the country during WWII and of all those who are at home. This book is a stark reminder of how incredibly difficult and agonizing those times were for so many. It reminded me of my parents, uncles, and grandparents and what they endured. I thoroughly enjoyed this first hand account and this book deserves more national acclaim. The Indie Bob Spot
Poetry
“This little book of observations represents my haiku journey over twenty years. Thoughtful or thought-provoking, I hope these poems spark a desire to take time connecting to those small joys we often pass by in our day to day lives. Perhaps they will open a few minds to a deeper understanding of our connection to things we consider insignificant. For even the smallest insect can have an impact on the larger ecosystem, and one grain of sand still matters when it’s in our shoe. I would ask the reader to spend time with each poem, and then to just ‘spend’ a little time.”
in a bottle of ink is available to order at The Nook, Amazon and other online book retailers.
A Must Have! If you love poetry... buy this book. I spent a few hours on a Saturday morning listening to the rain and reading this book. Wonderful way to spend the morning. The author is new to me but I will definitely be looking for more works by her. Kris
CAMERA OBSCURA is a collection of poetry that draws on Melinda's experience as an artist and photographer - translating her keen sense of visual awareness into poems that engage us. But her poems dig deeper than merely presenting an image. They bring insight to her world, and ours.
From Imperium Publishing, Camera Obscura second edition is available at The Nook, Amazon and other online book retailers.
THE LEADING TREES hearkens to a time of story-telling tradition in poetry. Lyrical and structured, these verses and sonnets use rhyme and meter to lend a musical quality to the language while offering a modern take on timeless themes.
The Leading Trees second edition is available at Amazon and other online book retailers.