Hi Silver Birch Readers!
I grew up in the countryside in southern Ontario, where I had lots of space to daydream. I daydreamed about wizards and mysteries and astronauts. Mostly I daydreamed about becoming an author, because that is the only thing that I ever wanted to do.

When I was young I devoured Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy books. I also loved Half Magic and Goneaway Lake. Later on in life I liked A Wrinkle in Time. My grandmother was from England and every Christmas she would send us a Rupert Annual. My brothers and sister and I loved reading through those wonderful books about the magical adventures of a white bear.
When I was about eight I started writing my own stories and tried sending them away to magazines. They were gently rejected. My younger brother and I particularly liked to write mystery stories. Sometimes we acted them out too. We didn’t have much of an audience, just the dog and the multitude of cats that hung around our place. They didn’t complain too much though, as long as we gave them a treat first.

When I was a teacher I had to work on speeches with my class. My students and I didn’t like public speaking so we used to do goofy things to break the tension on speech day. When I starting writing Addison, I knew that I wanted him to be up in front of the class, nervous, having to find a way to get through that deadly silence. I wanted him to be funny, since I love funny things and funny people. I also wanted him to focus on science. I like science. I also like the unknown. I really like the idea that we actually don’t know just how much we don’t know.

I now live in a small town not far from where I grew up. I have two wonderful adult children and a big, close family. When I’m not writing or thinking about writing or thinking that I should be thinking about writing, I am enjoying nature. I absolutely love trees and lakes and loons.
Addison Addley and The Things That Aren’t There is my first published book and I’m delighted to have you read it. Addison was so much fun to write about. He still hangs around in my head, when I’m not daydreaming, that is. Sometimes even when I am.

Melody

email: melodymcmillan@sympatico.ca