An interview with Melissa Velasco

Tell us about the Hollywood High Chronicles series. What's it about? How many books are you planning in total? What do you want readers unfamiliar with the series to know? 

The world of the Hollywood High Chronicles is a wild place full of daring adventure, growing metaphysical abilities, and gritty life. 

It’s a journey through the teen years of the main character, Melanie Slate, who is passionate, unsure, driven, fragile, determined–and, eventually, powerful. 

While the series is firmly rooted in the “Thriller” book genre, it’s also full of romance, laughter, pain, and the realities of growing up as an “old soul in a new world.” 

Sixteen books are planned, four for each of Melanie’s high school years. The series is perfect for readers who want to experience the realistic fantasy of energy workers who face evil with grit. 

It’s not for the faint of heart. A warning that these characters unapologetically live life with gusto. Buckle up: The series is gonna be a wild ride.

What inspired you to start writing this series? Are any of the characters inspired by real people? 

I will never forget the moment when the idea for the series came to me. 

I was sixteen and a performing arts student at Hollywood High. There I stood in Actor’s Alley, which is a real place, surrounded by these incredible people that I had the privilege of calling my friends. What a unique bunch! We came from all walks of life, and the talent! These people were unreal! Singers, dancers, actors, musicians, technicians. 

I scanned the group and was stunned to realize how shockingly beautiful they all were, inside and out. As Melanie would say, “Not a scrub in the bunch.”

So, anyhow, there I stood, realizing I had to create something. . . But, what? Who knew? My sixteen-year-old brain couldn’t process it yet. I was a good student, but had a head full of teen dreams. I stashed the dream away, knowing that then wasn’t the time. I never forgot it, though.

Fast-forward quite a few years, and I had my astrological star-chart done when I was forty. It’s essentially a life forecast built from the day, exact time, and planetary alignment of your birth place and combined astrological signs. I’m into that stuff. So, there at the “last half of my life” section was the epiphany I was to become a novelist. What a thrill! Things started to click into place and up boiled sixteen-year-old Melissa’s fantasy of a book series about Hollywood High. I was off like a shot! Everything started churning and then it BURNED! There was no controlling the onslaught. I HAD to do it!

So, yes, the characters are inspired by real people. It’s incredibly important that I clarify that point, though. I’ve been stunningly mindful. I took the qualities that I adore about certain people that are inspirational to me. I created what I’d like to believe are well rounded, three dimensional characters, utilizing the wonderful qualities of individuals from my past and present. That’s when things got interesting. The characters took on a life of their own. They spun off into the ether, evolving into their own people. While they hold the essence of so many people that I love and respect, the characters aren’t those people. The series, and characters, are purely fiction. They are not telling the story of actual people in my life. They are telling their own story.

Tell us about the first two books. 

Book One: Intuition is a springboard for the series. 

We set the stage, introducing the world, characters, and initial conflict. My goal with book one is to set the stage for the reader to grow and experience along with the characters. We enter the world of Hollywood High Chronicles at a time when the main character, Melanie, is on the edge of a big shift. She’s shy, insecure, and introverted when we meet her. Through experience, and her connections, she starts to come into her own. This coming-of-age theme is important. 

We all have a catalyst that helps catapult us from child to adult. It just so happens that Melanie’s catapult is one of rage, desperation, and built from evil that hunts her.

Book Two: Dark Water is an important next step in Melanie’s growth. 

She’s leaned on her friends and family up to this point. What happens when she’s plunged into isolated darkness? Remove her crutches and she must dig deep to discover if she will sink, or swim. As individuals, we grow and learn through desperation and being pushed to our limits. While those moments in life are often soul-breaking, they’re also the most lucrative life-changers. It takes honesty, self-realization, effort and discomfort to shed that which no longer serves us. 

Human beings are creatures of comfort, but relying on familiarity often leads to being stagnant. Melanie doesn’t have the luxury of settling comfortably into stagnant familiarity. Her cage is rattled over and over, forcing her to grow into the superhero I think we need. 

We need a female heroine who is scared and brave, destroyed and healed, fearful and whipcord strong. I love that she kicks ass, but is still fragile.

You chose to indie-publish the book series. What are the pros and cons of doing it yourself?

The biggest reason I chose this route is that I have a vision for the book covers. I’m well acquainted with the modeling community in my area. I want to work with other artists, and strongly believe in the arts community. I have the privilege of working with an extraordinary photographer, Tino Duvick, who is a master of post-production. It was important enough to do this my way that I discussed self-publishing with my editor. He supported my desire to maintain control of the project and do it my way. Knowing that I had my editors’ team behind me, I was confident that I could successfully self-publish quality products.

The biggest perk is an easy one. I have full artistic freedom to create the story I envision. I am blessed with hands-on involvement in the editing process. I’m able to maintain the “voice” of the series. Even with a well connected team, voice changes as work moves from person to person. Maintaining the voice of the series is our number one priority, and it starts and stops with me. The gratitude I feel for my team is astronomical. They work tirelessly to maintain the voice and vision of The Hollywood High Chronicles.

The biggest con of self publishing is expense. Doing this right, with editors, proofreaders, models, photographers, type setters, marketers, publicists, and designers, is a very expensive process. With that said, I’m a firm believer in doing things thoroughly with no cut-corners. I’ve held steadfast to my goal of a thorough process that leads to a quality product.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started on this journey?

(Laughs vibrantly) Woo doggies! That’s a loaded question! My answer is both “everything” and “nothing.” Welcome to how my bizarre mind works. (Laughs again.) 

To explain, I came into this journey a driven zygote of a writer. I knew nothing, which is both refreshing and dangerous. My original manuscript of book one was a hot wreck, but it had promise. I knew enough to be fully cognizant that I needed help. I started researching pathways and found a consultant. Kyle Fager is both brilliant and honest. He doesn’t take on just any project, but agreed to chat with me. Lucky for me, I have a boisterous personality and I think he found my quirkiness endearing. He agreed to do a consultation breakdown of my first book, and when the evaluation came back. . . Well, I had work to do. Instead of scaring me, I was fascinated. My consultant answered my neverending questions, and we went through several rewrites. Luckily, I learn fast, and my willingness to learn kept Kyle on board. He suffered through my learning curves with wit and candor. I thrived in the newly minted partnership, and his role morphed from consultant to editor. It’s been magic.

Now, here’s the hard part. When I started the project, it came to me so fast that books poured out. Many writers struggle for years to finish a book. I have the opposite problem. These works come to me on a never ending tidal wave. The issue is that it wasn’t until well into the editing of Book One: Intuition, that I realized the direction we were headed. I realized that direction as Book Three took shape. You see, I was still writing maniacally as Intuition was in the editing phase. The process halted and I panicked. My editor was onboard with the shift, and rewrites, revamps, tears, and hyperventilation ensued. We got it right, though.

So, I believe that knowing nothing about how this writing/publishing process works benefited me greatly. I got to start from a raw, organic, place. I didn’t have terrible habits to unravel. I got to build my methodology with guidance from an expert who was open to who I am. The first thing he, and my subsequent team who have joined us on this journey, have said is that I’m not a traditional writer. Luckily, they seem to find it refreshing. (Laughs). They warn the new people who join the team that it’s going to be a little bizarre. 

I like being a writer that needs a warning, though. Well behaved people rarely make history. They also rarely have the kind of fun that I’m determined to infuse into this project. We laugh, argue boisterously, and let our imaginations run wild. It’s been a blast.

Can you tell us a bit about your own reading habits? 

Reading is such a passion for me. I’ve always been lost in a land of make-believe. When I was little, my mother took me to B. Dalton Bookstore every Wednesday. She’d let me purchase enough books to get me through the week. I loved mysteries, The Babysitters Club, and Sweet Valley High, back then. 

My interests expanded as I grew up, to include Dean Koontz, Stephen King, and docu-books like Helter Skelter. I found escape in the pages of these stories.

Everything changed when I discovered Laurell K. Hamilton and Mercedes Lackey. 

The magic, mystery, and metaphysical thrill was engulfing. These are two very different writers, but they share the common quality of building extraordinary characters and realities. You can live in their tales. You can vividly hear, smell, touch, taste, their stories. I love the vibrancy of their worlds. I’d wait with baited breath for a new novel to drop. Those two writers changed my life.

Who's work has inspired you the most? 

Regarding writers, Laurell K. Hamilton, Mercedes Lackey, James St. James, Stephen King, and Michael Musto.

As a dancer, dance historian, and artist, I need to add Andy Warhol, Bill T. Jones, Vaslav Nijinsky, Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Bob Fosse, Ani Difranco, and a spiritual leader named Athena Perrakis to that list. 

These artists all share a common quality that is a must to interest me. They’re all true to themselves. They create, guide, and display, without tightly held societal expectation and restraint. They make no apologies for their honesty, even when it’s controversial. I believe strongly that the purpose of art is to evoke a response and make people think. That isn’t always a tidy process. Sometimes we have to pour our disaster on the floor and slog through it.

You reference a lot of grunge-era music in these stories. What’s your favorite band—grunge or otherwise—from those days? Favorite song?

Oh man! I’d love to boil it down neatly for you, but music is my safe place. It speaks to me on a cellular level and makes my soul vibrate. I learn, grow, bask, and realize through music. So, please tolerate a few bands instead of one. My favorites then, and still to this day, are Pink Floyd, Warren Zevon, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine, Portishead, The Doors, Janet Jackson, Massive Attack, and Garbage. I love the passion, mystery, and truth that their music evokes.

Regarding favorite songs from that time, there are five. “Blue Jean Blues” by The Jeff Healey Band will always be my number one. It pulls and breathes. It’s a sultry fantasy, but so real. Second would be the Doors “5 to 1.” That driving beat and voice! Next is “Something I Can Never Have” by Nine Inch Nails. It’s built of fantasy and blatant truth. I love that it’s gritty and speaks to being both lost and found. Massive Attack's “Protection” is next. It tells the story of the vulnerable girl that will always live in me. Last, but not least, is definitely “Glory Box” by Portishead. There’s nothing quite like it. Something about the musical picture of the warrior in all of us, that’s both exhausted but thriving, is so beautiful. We all have that part of us that’s exhausted, must keep moving, and wants to feel safe.

What’s one article of clothing you miss from back then? Describe your favorite outfit.

Flannels around the waist! I loved 90s era clothing. We had so many outlets for creativity. Self-expression was alive and well. We had so much to choose from! The grunge look, Betsey Johnson, Posh Spice, Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, Triple Five Soul, surf brands.

One of the best things about the 90s was the sense of unapologetic personal expression. Everything was possible, and there was something creative for everyone. It was also a throwback to the sixties and seventies. I loved bell-bottoms and a crop top!

What’s the most awesome thing you did in high school? What’s the dumbest thing you did in high school?

Well, I’ll tell you right now that I’m not answering the “dumbest thing I did in high school” question. (Laughs.) I was a teen during the last great generation with privacy. We didn’t have a camera in everyone's pocket, or social media. Having the freedom to be teen idiots without long term repercussions was incredible. Our indiscretions and mischief live vibrantly in the memories of the people I was fortunate to experience life with then. I’m leaving those memories in that brother and sisterhood. What I will say is that growing up as a teen in early 1990s Hollywood was everything!

The most awesome thing I did in high school was take a chance and apply to the Hollywood High School Performing Arts magnet program. What a magical place! I gained a spot and it was a gift I can never repay. We were trained by industry professionals who were incredible. The dance, theater, and technical training that I received was life-changing. 

To this day, one of the hardest and greatest moments of my life was graduating at the Hollywood Bowl. I stood on that iconic stage and knew it was the end of one of the greatest eras of my life. I made friends and connections at that school that continue to grace my life to this day.

The love interest is based on your husband. What drew you to him in high school? What has been the secret to your romance over the years?

Indeed. I was drawn to his quiet habit of brooding. I got to know him better and it turns out he can be hilarious. He has a work ethic that’s unshakeable and I love how driven he is. He and I have a bond built on a lot of things, some good and some volatile. We’re both very goal oriented. We’re also each fiercely independent. We’re good about leaving each other the space and time to do our own thing, but we come together when we need to mastermind.

Having a partner who does his own thing works for me. I also appreciate that he’s a very linear thinker, because I’m definitely not. I do best when I have a partner who isn’t an artist. He pulls me up from my rabbit holes and saves me from spiraling, lost in a creative abyss. I really do get lost. I’ll go days without moving, just typing, creating, and ruminating, if I’m allowed to. I need the person who gently closes my computer and makes me get ready for the day. He drags me to a movie, or dinner, to clear my head and remind me that reality exists.

Now, there’s a dark side to that. My husband can be a pragmatic dream killer. He’s had to work hard to quell his habit of rolling his eyes at the inkling of my creative sparks. This series was a tough sell on him, but he trusted me, albeit with sarcasm. I’m the same with him. I don’t understand his maniacal grasp on reality. There are times that I really wonder how he can be so unimaginative. We balance each other. Apparently opposites really do attract.

I’d like to state for the record that while my husband and Trey’s personalities are similar, Trey’s actions and indiscretions are purely fiction. (Laughs) My husband has his own ghouls, like we all do, but I haven’t shared those in my pages.

Your background is in the performance arts. When/how/why did you start writing? 

I think writing was a natural progression for me. Art is all connected, in my experience. Artists must create and express. Writing is no different than my other creative outlets. Whether I’m stage managing, choreographing, dancing, or writing, I’m flexing my creative muscles. The amazing thing about my Hollywood High Chronicles experience is that I get to incorporate all my artistic skills in my writing. I choreograph for the characters. I create and manage their shows. All my outlets are infused into the book series.

I’ll tell you this, though. Writing this series is a remarkable privilege. I believe readers find friends and common bonds with characters in books. They escape, live, learn, and experience through stories. I hope my readers find comradery with these characters. I want my stories to offer an outlet for vicarious living and belonging.

What’s your favorite show you ever produced? Favorite festival memory? Favorite piece of choreography?

I’ve so fondly loved my incredible career in the arts. I’ve choreographed, stage managed, and performed in so many shows that it makes my head spin. There’s nothing in the world like each of these jobs. 

As a choreographer, I get to experience the growth of art in the abilities, personal experiences, and triumphs of my dancers. Dancers are incredible people, almost superhuman. They defy gravity and push the limits of the physical body. Dancers are the toughest people I know. I adore the artists who trust me and bring my visions to life.

As a stage manager, there’s a thrill sitting in the dark booth, calling cues, and mastermining magical timing. I paint emotion and subconscious understanding through the timing of light, sound, fly rail, and technical aspects. It’s a job many fear because of the pressure, but I delight in it. I get to create magic. What a gift!

Huge festivals are an animal all their own. There’s nothing like sitting at my stage management table and feeling the energy rush of a hundred thousand people behind me. That music/performance starts and it rattles your soul.

My favorite experience as a performer was many years ago, at Hollywood High. I was cast as one of the witches in “Macbeth.” The production was uniquely staged, and the witches were choreographed dancers. I transformed in many ways during that show. It was shockingly physical and cerebral. Our “off stage” was under the stage. We’d lay on the floor, with the stage only feet above our heads, in the fog from the smoke machine that drifted down and filled that strange underworld of metal platform legs and darkness. We’d enter the temporary built stage by lifting ourselves through trap doors. I loved the lifts, counterbalance, and physical work. I started that production as a fit dancer, and came away from it a muscled, capable, strong woman.

Describe the HHC series in five words or less.

I can do it in six: Sweet Valley High meets Stephen King.