Morris Publishing Australia
  • Home Page
  • OUR AUTHORS
  • THE BOOK SHOP
  • ORDERS PAGE
  • QLD AUTHOR WORKSHOPS AND TALKS
  • Contact
  • Submissions
  • Submissions Terms and Conditions
  • News Update Blog

There are many triggers for story ideas, but real life is a popular one

9/20/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture

On the second anniversary of the publishing of Destiny Road, Melissa Wray was asked this question by Uncommon YA.

What sparked the idea to write Destiny Road?

Here is her very personal response.

 We moved to North Queensland when I was 14. After a year or so Mum could see that something about Townsville and I did not mix. Strangely enough it was her suggestion to ring my dad and ask if I could move back south.

 So I did. Then I packed my bags and moved 3,000km away to live with him. This decision is what sparked the idea for Destiny Road.

Now I never set out to write this story, let alone have it published. It just kind of happened. It came about because one night I was lying in bed and couldn’t sleep. There was an unspoken conversation going on in my mind. It was a conversation that I regret not having and has played on my mind over the years. This particular night it got the better of me so I got up and began to write. It wasn’t until after I read through those mad ramblings a couple of weeks later that I thought hmmm … I could create a story from this. So I began writing. I passed my 10,000 word milestone. Then 20 then 30 then before I knew it 50,000 words had been typed.

You see I think about that one phone call I made all those years ago sometimes. I have often thought about how that decision, that one pivotal moment that is talked about in Destiny Road, really did change the course of my life. I’m sure as you're reading this you can look back over your life, and pinpoint one moment that has shaped it in a big way. I truly believe that Dad saying yes when I asked was a determining factor in how things have turned out for me.

 One afternoon I was sitting with him. He got to talking about his philosophy on life and death. Dad had been fighting a battle against cancer for a while at this point and I was kneeling next to him as he sat on his reclining chair. He was holding my hand as he shared these ideas on life and death. He said to me "It’s cool. Whatever happens, it’s cool." My dad used cool a lot when he spoke. He was pretty cool. He was also a big believer in God. So that afternoon he said "It’s cool if I die because I get to meet my maker." ‘Then he said "But it’s cool if I live because I get to be with the ones I love." This was his philosophy. Either way was cool with him.

I remember kneeling there, holding his hand and wishing I could say thankyou to him. Thanks for saying yes all those years ago. Thanks for that pivotal moment in my life. I wanted him to know how much that meant. But I couldn’t. I just couldn’t get those words out.

That night he passed away.

 I never did get to tell him and have regretted that for the past 10 years. So you see once the spark to write Destiny Road was lit, it had to finished. It was my tribute, my thankyou and I am beyond thrilled it was published.

Now I’m not going to bore you with my views on life and death but I can’t help but wonder something, because anyone who knew my dad, Rod Morris, and anyone who knew his sense of humour ... well I can’t help but wonder if there wasn’t a helping hand when Morris Publishing (no relation) chose to publish Destiny Road. I like to think so.

 



 

It's hard to believe two years has passed since the launch of Destiny Road. To celebrate there is a chance to win 2 x $20 Gift Cards, ENTER NOW!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



 

 

To connect with Melissa;

 

FACEBOOK

 

BLOG

 

Read the 1st chapter of Destiny Road FREE.





 


2 Comments
Robert Favretto
9/20/2014 06:10:33 am

It's amazing how a defining moment has inspired you to write this deep and meaningful account of your life. Thanks for sharing the background to your incredible story, Melissa. I look forward to reading your book.

Reply
Melissa Wray link
9/21/2014 01:23:30 am

Thanks Robert. It was a bit nerve racking sharing something so raw like the idea for Destiny Road.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2024
    January 2023
    September 2022
    August 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    June 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    August 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011

    Author

    News updates from Managing Editor, Elaine Ouston.

    Categories

    All
    Blog Tour Winners
    Book Marketing
    Book Reviews
    Books
    Books Blog Tour
    Book Submissions
    Children
    Morris Publishing News.
    Publishing
    Writing Competition
    Writing Competitions
    Writing Competition Winners

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly