Melati Lum
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Interview 
What book(s) have you written?
- Ayesha Dean Mysteries: The Istanbul Intrigue
- The Seville Secret
- The Lisbon Lawbreaker
- The High School Heist
When did you first realize you wanted to be an author?
Since childhood, although I never imagined I would actually become one.
How long did it take you to write your book(s)?
They all took different lengths of time, the first draft can take me a year (in between work and life) and then editing takes place on top of that.
What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
It was juggling between work as a lawyer, life commitments, and writing when I get the chance (for me that was usually once a week).
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Eeek I don't have one! Does staring into space a lot count?
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
For the Ayesha Dean books, a lot of ideas came from travelling to the places she travels to. Then for different parts of the story, I do research into the parts of Islamic history, or other facts I'd like to write about.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Reading, learning languages, spending time with family and friends, and playing with my cats! I'd also put travel on this list but we've had to stay put since Covid.
What does your family think of your writing?
They're in support of it, alhamdulillah.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
How sneaky those spelling errors can be, even when you've read a manuscript dozens of times and multiple others have proofread it too, those little errors can still manage to evade detection.
Do you have any suggestions to help people become a better writer? If so, what are they?
I think the most important one is don't give up. Remember that the first draft is always going to be cringey so when you come back to it and feel discouraged, keep going, keep working at it, and get other people to provide feedback.
What do you think makes a good story?
An intriguing plot, characters you can route for or love to hate, and a satisfying ending.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be a lollie (candy) shop owner
What is your favorite book?
I can't pick just one! But one of my favourites in fiction is North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell
Where do you live?
Australia
Fun Facts
Please share 10 Random facts about yourself for your readers!
- I love sweet potato fries
- I've travelled to around 24 countries around the world
- I've spent most of my life in South Australia
- I've lived in 24 different houses
- I've spent most of my career practicing criminal law as a prosecutor
- I have a bunch of food allergies
- I love period dramas/movies
- I am allergic to cats
- I have a hypo-allergenic cat named Jaidah
- I have another hypo-allergenic cat named Sunny
