In this author guest post (the first of its kind) Chloe Spencer, author of our upcoming spooky sapphic mystery, Haunting Melody, Chloe Spencer, shares her inspiration behind this thrilling romantasy.
Haunting Melody is out October 1st and available for preorder now!
My fascination with ghosts began at a young age. From watching film series like Casper the Friendly Ghost or Ghostbusters, to engrossing myself in ghost stories like Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood, I was always game for ghosts. There’s something about how themes of grief and the afterlife intertwined with the macabre and whimsy that draws me in every time—so I guess it’s no surprise that I decided to write a ghost story, I’m only surprised it took me this long.
Haunting Melody is a paranormal mystery/romantasy that centers on a teenage girl named Melody, the daughter of two talented ghost hunters who takes on her first ghost and fails catastrophically. She ends up with a severe facial disfigurement, is diagnosed with PTSD, and to top it all off, is dumped by her first love. In order to redeem herself, Melody and her family move to the island town of Murkmore to try to solve a ghost problem that’s resulted in the deaths of multiple teens. However, her investigation leads her to discover a musically talented ghost named Cyrus, and after the two of them team up, they slowly begin to discover something more sinister lurks in their sleepy suburban streets.
After Monstersona was announced in 2022, I went through a series of traumatic events, including a sexual assault, that caused me to develop PTSD. Mentally, I descended into an abyss, unable to dig myself out. I was plagued by flashbacks, panic attacks, and when not stricken with grief, was consumed by a nauseating rage. I suffered through several sleepless nights, lying awake, unable to escape the prison of my memories. I retreated into myself, afraid to leave the house—not that I could, given how sick I was from chronic fatigue. Other aspects of my health rapidly declined as I struggled to take care of myself in ways I had never struggled before. Therapy became the lifeline that pulled me out of the darkness, and while working on myself, I started to work on this book.
At first, I wanted to write something lighthearted and fun; something that allowed me to revisit my love of ghost stories, while also undoing the things that annoyed me about them—for example, the idea that ghosts were not dynamic creatures capable of change, or that they were always compelled to “cross over” to the other side. After incorporating details regarding the onset of PTSD into Monstersona’s edits, I didn’t want to tackle another work with darker mental health themes.
But as I wrote about Melody’s fall from grace, I found that much of her experience mirrored that of my own, and as I recovered, I understood the importance of writing about someone who was learning to live with such a debilitating illness. Thinking more about YA stories, I realized that many of them explore mental health subjects like depression, anxiety, and even traumatic events, but not many explicitly tackle PTSD—which, unfortunately (as someone who previously also had depression and anxiety) is an even more intense ballgame. Using my experiences and skills I learned in therapy, I continued to write Haunting Melody, much to the encouragement of my then-therapist—I’ll omit her name so she can maintain privacy, but it’s thanks to her that this book exists, and that I am still here today.
At its core, Haunting Melody is a cute, spooky story about a tenacious girl who learns to live with her disorder, falls in love with a ghost she thinks is really cute, and solves a murder mysteries. It’s intended for people who want to enjoy those things. But it’s also intended for those with PTSD who are struggling to be seen: for those trying to mitigate panic attacks, for those who endure the occasional flashback, and for those who are still trying to figure out how their brain works in the wake of a dramatic change. I thought my life was over after my diagnosis, and that I would never learn to cope, but instead, I found a new beginning, just as Melody does.
To anyone out there who resonates with Melody’s character: I’m so grateful that you’re here today. I know it wasn’t easy, and I know it’s a choice you have to make each morning you wake up. Someday, I hope you will understand that whatever happened to you was not your fault, and that you can still build a beautiful life, even if things will never be the same again. Take it slow and take your time. Life is not a race, but a parade, and as long as you march to your own rhythm, you will learn to enjoy the journey.
Now let’s get some ghosts!
Chloe Spencer
Minnesota native Chloe Spencer is an award winning writer, indie gamedev, and filmmaker. She is the author of Monstersona, Duality, and the upcoming 2024 paranormal mystery-romance Haunting Melody. In her spare time she enjoys playing video games, trying her best at Pilates, and cuddling with her cats. She holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Oregon and an MFA in Film and Television from SCAD Atlanta.
You can find more about her on www.chloespenceronline.com
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