Spotlight: Poetry Writer and Author Melanie Cole

This week's spotlight covers Melanie Cole, a poetry writer and author of collections like Ocean Songs, God Bless the Bottom Feeders, and more.

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Welcome back for this week’s spotlight everyone! This time we’re covering Melanie Cole, a writer and poet right here on Substack. She’s been writing for around two years or so now, and is the author of poetry collections like: Ocean Songs, God Bless the Bottom Feeders, and SELKIES.

And with all that out of the way, let’s start learning about this talented writer and her work!

Melanie Cole writes from Tacoma, WA in the Pacific Northwest. Though she never studied writing, Melanie decided she had something to say and began writing about serious mental illness, incarceration, and police violence in Tacoma and beyond in 2024.

Most notably, she has been published in multiple issues of Grit City Magazine, but has also been published in the Tacoma News Tribune and has multiple published pieces on The Mighty.

Ocean Songs is Melanie’s first book of poetry, which she took up after a failed memoir. Maybe one day she will get back to that memoir, but for now, the poems keep coming. Her second poetry collection, God Bless the Bottom Feeders, recently released on May 18th.

Below are some questions Melanie answered for the Spotlight.

What drew you to writing poetry? What sort of themes and ideas do you explore in your work?

I found poetry after failing to write a memoir for a few years. I kept telling myself I could finish, but all I could come up with were small vignettes that I could not tie together. They were almost like poems. After some encouragement from some friends on Substack, I wrote my first poem, called "Everything Is," and it just exploded. It was like my training wheels had been taken off. My work is deeply personal. My book explores themes of love, grief, mental illness, and the natural world--all against the backdrop of the sea. The sea serves as a resounding metaphor for life, in all its trials and tribulations.

Do you have a favorite style or structure you follow?

Having never studied poetry, this is something I would like to learn more about. Currently, all of my work is free-form. I am taking a poetry class right now and I am hoping to learn more, but I do see myself continuing with the free-form style in the future. I like to tell stories with my work. Sometimes I like it to sound as if someone is almost reading a poetic essay.

How do you approach your writing?

I am a "from the gut" writer. I get rashes of inspiration, and I write. They strike me like lightning. This is a blessing and a curse. It's amazing to have such creativity but it oftentimes means I am putting unpolished pieces onto places like Substack. I have to reel them back a little after they have been published. I need to become better at holding my punches.

What is a piece of advice you've received which has propelled your poetry forward? How has it evolved your writing?

"Write your instinct," was something that was told to me by someone who has become quite dear to me. When it comes to poetry, you must trust your instincts. The reason for this is that your instincts will always be genuine. Being genuine is the goal.

What does your relationship with "Writer's Block" look like?

I don't know her. Kidding! I do suffer from writer's block, but that is usually a big signal that I am working on the wrong project and that I need to regroup or scrap it altogether. When I''m working on a project and I experience writer's block, I usually put it away for a while. Then, I try to come back to it from a different angle. If that still does not work, I know it's time to go.

Below is Melanie’s poem “Everything Is.”

What compelled you to write this piece, and what do you hope readers take away from it?

I wrote this piece on the eve of making it to 1,000 days sober. When I first got sober, I told myself, "If I can make it to 1,000 days, then I can make it." It was a huge milestone for me. This poem deals with the push and pull between addiction and sobriety. I also wanted to include it because it was my very first, and I am still very proud of it. I hope readers can come away with a sense of the dichotomy that exists when you live between both worlds all the time.

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What was the most difficult part of getting your work published (or self-published) in a journal or book?

The most difficult part of self-publishing is promotion, which is why resources like this are wonderful! I published my book and stared at the computer and thought "Now what?" That's the most difficult part. You have to be willing to advocate for yourself and your book and know that the product you're putting out is worthy of someone in Ohio reading it on their front porch as a thunderstorm rolls in. That is always the mental image I give myself.

How do you process receiving negative feedback or reviews?

I have not yet had that opportunity. I say opportunity because I do believe it is one. I released an investigative piece in print for Grit City Magazine about excited delirium and police brutality, and I was pumping myself up for all the negative feedback I was going to have thrown at me and in the end, it was crickets. Negative feedback helps you grow. Someone might tell you your font size was too small. Perfect. Know that in your next book, you should break the pages into two.

And how do you decide which pieces to include in a collection?

I decide what is polished and what flows. Of course, after the fact of publishing, I'm still editing my poems in my head, but for the most part it is about what tells a story. Do they fit well together? Do they sound good together? Is this telling a linear storyline?

Is there anyone who's inspired your writing?

I am inspired by great orators. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, John F. Kennedy... if you listen to how these men speak, it is pure poetry. I like to listen to Audiobooks of MLK and Malcolm X speeches. The way they command speech is an art form beyond anything I've ever heard. I usually end up in tears.

Are there any poets or poetry books you'd recommend to readers?

Christian Paige is the current Poet Laureate of Tacoma, WA. You can visit his website here.

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In this section we’ll be going through Melanie’s work, upcoming releases, and social links. Synopsis for each book or series is pulled from their webpage.

Book covers for Ocean Songs, God Bless the Bottom Feeders, and SELKIES

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While Melanie doesn’t have any upcoming releases in the docket. You can stay up-to-date on all her stuff by subscribing to her Substack. She posts a lot of really good poetry over there, so it should be worth your while.

She also runs a literary journal called The Faoileánach Journal, and the first issue just released a few days ago. Definitely go give it a look!

Thanks Melanie for letting me Spotlight you here on BookStack! It was a lot of fun working on this, and I definitely have to read Ocean Songs at some point.

And if you all enjoyed reading through this spotlight, consider subscribing to BookStack for more. You can expect to find regularly posted Author Spotlights, Book reviews, indie release radar posts, giveaways, and more! Just hit that subscribe button down below. Buh-bye for now!