C. M. Lockhart (also known simply as Chelsea) is a writer of romance and fantasy because she loves creating worlds, exploring relationships, and writing about Black girls who have more than one side to them. She’s been writing since the age of fourteen and it’s what she loves to do.

Aside from being a writer, she is the owner of Written in Melanin – a brand that came into existence for the sole purpose of supporting Black authors – which includes the Melanin Library, and the Written in Melanin YouTube Channel. She is also a lover of music, video games, and anime, and is known to binge a series or two with her husband whenever she’s not reading and writing – or talking about reading and writing.

1) First, I want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me! When did you know that writing is what you were called to do? What is it about being a writer that you love the most? What about being a writer frustrates you the most?

I feel like this is a two-part question! I first realized that I was called to write when I was thirteen and started posting my stories online. I’d always loved writing in school, but when I realized there were people who really enjoyed my writing, and when I started winning contests on the site, that was a huge boost to my confidence and a clear sign that I was doing what I was meant to do. That being said, life happens – we grow up and we set aside our dreams as we grow older sometimes, whether we want to or not, and I was no different. It was a decade later before I returned to that dream to actually pursue writing with all I had.

What I love most about writing is the freedom it gives me. It gives me access to magic and adventures that are only limited by my own imagination. And I love that I can create stories featuring Black girls – especially since I didn’t get to see myself in those kinds of stories growing up. So, the fact that I can write brown-skinned girls as beautiful, and daring, and powerful, and loved without question, is something that I will never get enough of. I always say I write books about Black girls who aren’t all that nice, and I love that I can do that. That I can write stories about Black girls whose value isn’t based upon how comfortable they can make others feel around them – who are allowed to express their emotions and be introverted without fear of being perceived as a threat – who won’t have their humanity questioned or belittled because of the color of their skin. I love that and being able to create characters and stories like that is why I write.

The thing that frustrates me the most about being a writer is getting my work out there. Like most authors I think, my dream is to be a hermit in my house who writes books and then releases them into the wild without ever having to truly market. But, that’s just a dream lol. I love everything about what I do, but if I didn’t have to market my books myself in order for them to find the right audience, I absolutely wouldn’t!

2) Can you tell us a little about your book(s) and where our readers can find out more about them and you?

The books I talk about the most right now are the ones in my Wrath of the Gods series. It’s a high fantasy adventure about a group of assassins who have to work together to save the gods and their realm from destruction. It’s an epic fantasy with original myths and lore, a pantheon of gods, and a world where brown skin is considered beautiful. The first book in the series is We Are the Origin, and it released on June 21, 2022. The second book is We Are Dying Gods and it releases on August 29, 2023.

More information about me and the books can be found on my websites, https://www.cmlockhart.com/ and https://www.writteninmelanin.com/

3) What projects are you currently working on?

Currently, I’m working on finishing up the final version of We Are Dying Gods so that it can be formatted and sent out to ARC readers. After that though, my next project will be a new series that follows a necromancer who is trying to take over the world.

4) What has been your most significant achievement as a writer thus far? Where do you see yourself within your career in the next five years?

I don’t know if I have a most significant achievement, because everything I’m able to accomplish as a writer is significant to me. Each step is a milestone marking a part of my journey, but if I had to pick, I would say selling over 500 copies of my book in the first year is definitely one of them. I’m also honored to have been invited to multiple Black-owned bookstores to do book signings for We Are Dying Gods. At the beginning of my writing career, I didn’t know if I would be able to achieve getting a book tour, so it’s amazing to me that I’m being invited to these venues.

As far as where I see myself in the next five years, I just hope to still be writing books that people want to read. At the heart of everything I do, that is my one true goal. As long as I never lose that, I’ll be happy.

5) How have you dealt with rejection within your writing career?

Honestly? I just move on from it. I never tried to go trad pub – I knew it wasn’t for me because I had no interest in giving up creative control of my book for a small amount of money when I knew I could publish my book myself and make more than what a publisher would offer me. So, I never faced the “query trenches”. But for other aspects of my book – like applying to get my book in stores, asking for interviews, or reaching out to influencers for space on their platforms, whenever I get a less-than-favorable response, I just accept that the platform I was reaching out to wasn’t for me. My book wasn’t going to thrive there, my presence wasn’t going to be appreciated there, and my energy wasn’t worth being spent there. I accept that and move on because I know there are people and spaces that will appreciate me, my book, and what I have to offer. And my energy would be better spent finding those people and spaces than moping about what wasn’t for me.

6) Do you have a schedule for when you write? Do you outline your novels? How long does it generally take you to finish a novel?

Yes! I’ve spoken about this on my podcast and it’s something that I teach to my mentoring clients – creating a timeline is so important to keep yourself on track. So, at the beginning of every project, I create a timeline for when I want to have things done and it’s been game-changing for me.

I don’t outline my novels extensively, but I do write down the major points of the book that have to happen. I treat writing books like a cross-country road trip – I have the destination in mind, but the stops I make along the way are up to chance. So, I leave space in my stories to discover what the characters would do and where they’d want to go. It takes me about five months to complete the first draft of a 100k word novel.

7) Do you believe that there is ever a point in life where it’s too late for an aspiring writer to become successful in this industry? Do you feel a late start would hinder their chances?

No. Success is what you decide it is for yourself. So, you’re only ever too late once you decide that you’re too late for it. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy in that way. A late start only means that you have more outside life experience to draw from when you start. Everything depends on how you view it. Because an early start doesn’t guarantee success. There are so many young authors who get burnt out with this industry because they got into it and let it shape them before they knew who they were on their own. I think getting a late start could be a blessing in disguise if you see it that way. At the very least, you know enough about yourself to know your own talent and what you will and will not accept from other people. And in the writing industry, knowing your own worth is something that a lot of authors struggle to find.

Of course, this is all my humble opinion, so take it with a grain of salt. I started writing seriously at 23. That’s not a late start to most people, so I can’t speak as if I’m an expert on the matter.

8) Are you an avid reader and have you always been? What’s the first book you ever read that really touched you emotionally and moved you? Who is your favorite author? What book are you currently reading?

In truth, I don’t read as much as I used to. I used to devour books, but as I got older, I realized that my attention for books just wasn’t the same because I stopped reading books that had no representation in them for me. I’ve begun reading more now that I see more books by Black authors that sound interesting to me, but it’s still nowhere near as how much I read as a teenager.

I don’t remember the first book to really touch me. Whenever I read anything, I walk away with something. It’s part of the reason I’m so picky with what I read. I don’t want to carry things with me that I don’t enjoy or that don’t add value to the way I perceive the world in some way. And by that same token, I don’t have a favorite author. I love L. Penelope, but I don’t know if I would call her my favorite. I just have a genuine appreciation for her work and how she’s navigated her career.

Currently, I’m bouncing between two ARCs – What Never Happened by Rachel Howzell Hall and Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington.

9) Did the quarantine stifle your creativity or did it make you even more driven to get things done? What perspective did the Pandemic give you that you that now influences what you do creatively?

I actually started my business right at the start of the pandemic – before it had a name and everything shut down. For me, I think it was the right time. Everyone was home and looking for ways to connect virtually. That opened up a lot of opportunities for me and allowed me space to get comfortable with working from home at a time when everyone was working from home.

There were lots of resources for learning how to manage my time. So, now that the world is opening back up and people are looking for in-person events again, I don’t feel insecure about what I’m doing and I feel confident agreeing to events.

10) Given the recent shake-ups in publishing, what are your thoughts about how the publishing industry is being represented today? Do you lean more towards traditional publishing or self-publishing as a preference? Does being a hybrid author interest you?

I’ve always leaned toward self and indie publishing. To be honest, I’ve never thought there was much value in traditional publishing, especially as a marginalized author. The money, generally speaking, isn’t significant enough in my opinion to warrant giving up so much creative freedom, especially when authors are still expected to do the hardest part of publishing –marketing – on their own. And though traditional publishing is being called out for its blatant and long-standing racism, I don’t think that changes anything meaningful at this point. I think, until significant and lasting changes are made, traditional publishing is going to suffer under the weight of its previous actions.

As far as being a hybrid author goes, I think that would be the only way I consider traditional publishing. Because, despite its faults, it does offer authors access to a market and opportunities they wouldn’t be able to reach otherwise. I think it would be unwise to not consider that when talking about traditional publishing. But I could never see myself as an author who is purely traditionally published.

11) I feel like writing is a remarkable tool to help people not only express themselves, but also to cope emotionally and mentally. I know for me I write to be and feel more authentic. What unique quality is there about you, about your art, that you feel represents your authenticity? How does writing help you to be more empowered in your purpose?

I said this before, but I’ll say it again and however many times I need to – I write books about Black girls who aren’t all that nice. I do this because I’m not all that nice. I prefer to keep to myself and though I know how to interact with people, I don’t enjoy it most of the time – that’s my truth. But, in most social settings, as a Black woman, I don’t get to be quiet, reserved, or keep to myself without being perceived in a negative light. So, my writing is my way of showing the world that it’s okay for Black girls to be less than accommodating to others. It’s to remind myself and others that Black girls don’t have to be a certain version of acceptable in order to be loved.

That is my purpose with my writing and one I hope to never deviate from.

Releasing August 29, 2023