Melody Kepler

Hey there! I'm Melody Kepler, and I write the kind of sci-fi that makes your heart ache and your mind race. (Fair warning: I'm probably going to make you cry, but I promise it'll be worth it.)

I never expected to end up writing dark science fiction with a romantic edge. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I was that weird kid who spent rainy afternoons reading Michael Crichton and writing stories about genetically engineered creatures in my beat-up notebooks. My parents thought I'd become a scientist – plot twist, I actually did! I spent six years as a biochemistry researcher before realizing that what I really wanted was to tell stories about the human cost of scientific advancement.

You know those moments when you're lying awake at 3 AM, wondering if humanity's rushing headlong into disaster with all our technological "progress"? That's where my stories live. I write about the messy intersection of scientific ambition and human emotion, about people trying to hold onto their humanity in a world that's rapidly leaving humanity behind. (And yes, I might have had a few too many existential crises in the lab that led to some of these plot points...)

My debut novel, "The Dawn of Vesper," came from a nightmare I had after reading about CRISPR gene editing. What started as a creepy dream about genetic manipulation turned into a story that consumed me for two years. Ben Hale's journey through a world ravaged by the consequences of genetic warfare isn't just about survival – it's about what makes us human when humanity itself becomes negotiable. If you like your sci-fi with a heavy dose of emotional trauma, morally gray characters, and questions that'll keep you up at night, you're in the right place.

I write what I call "biopunk tragedy" – stories where the science feels real enough to terrify you (thanks, biochemistry background!), but the heart of the narrative is always about the characters and their impossible choices. There's romance in my books, but it's the kind that blooms in the darkest places and often comes with a hefty price tag. I'm not here to give you neat, happy endings – I'm here to give you endings that feel true, even when they hurt.

When I'm not torturing my characters, you can find me hiking the Oregon trails with my rescue dog, Luna (yes, named after Luna Lovegood – I'm that kind of nerd), or geeking out over the latest advances in synthetic biology. Sometimes these hikes turn into impromptu plotting sessions where I talk to myself about story ideas. (If you've ever passed a woman on a trail frantically recording voice notes about genetic apocalypses while a black Lab looks on judgmentally, that was probably me.)

I believe the best science fiction doesn't just imagine the future – it warns us about it. My stories might be set in dystopian worlds, but they're really about the choices we're making right now. Every technological advance comes with a price, and I'm fascinated by who ends up paying it.

To my readers: expect books that challenge you, break your heart, and maybe make you side-eye your DNA test results. I promise complex characters who'll make you question your own moral compass, science that's just realistic enough to be unsettling, and relationships that develop in the shadows of larger catastrophes. There will be darkness, but there will also be moments of fierce hope and unexpected beauty.

I'm currently working on my next novel (which may or may not involve engineered viruses and forbidden love – no spoilers!), and I love connecting with readers on Instagram and Twitter. Come say hi! Just don't ask me about that one scene in "Vesper" – you know the one. I'm still not sorry about it.

Remember: in my worlds, the science is real, the feelings are raw, and happy endings are never guaranteed. But I promise to make the journey worth every heart-wrenching moment.

(P.S. Luna wants you to know that she contributes vital plot ideas through strategic placement of tennis balls and well-timed puppy eyes. She's still waiting for her editor credit.)