From the author of the critically acclaimed Bigfoot, Tobin & Me, comes a heart- warming and quirky tale packed full of Melissa Savage’s trademark warmth and wit. The Truth About Martians is set against the backdrop of the famous Roswell UFO site, Mylo and Dibs try to discover the truth about the creatures they find inside …

Tell us about you in 25 words or less.

I’m a writer, a mother, a lover of animals and all things artistic. I’ve never seen a Bigfoot and I’ve never been abducted by a UFO (as far as I know).

***The Truth About Martians*, your third middle grade novel, has just hit the shelves. How did it come to be?**

I love the story of the crash in Roswell, New Mexico. Some say it was a UFO and others say it was a military balloon. I find the details of the event fascinating. I did a lot of research for the book which I love doing. In my opinion, research can make a story more authentic, especially when it comes to setting, time frame and even character development. When I first thought about writing a story about the Roswell event, I asked myself, What would it have been like to be a child at that time? What would they have done? My answer was – investigate! So, that’s the story I wrote. Mylo, Dibs and Gracie investigating what crashed in the desert, with the extraterrestrial spin of course, because that’s way more interesting than just a weather balloon!

Where is your favourite place to write?

For some reason I love to sit on the floor. I have furniture in my house, I promise I do, even an office where I rarely write. But I always end up on the floor in the living room with my dog, The Great Gatsby in my lap and fingers clicking on my laptop.

What’s on your TBR pile at the moment?

Braced by Alyson Gerber; Our Castle by the Sea by Lucy Strange and The Day I Was Erased by Lisa Thompson.

What’s your worst habit?

I bite my nails when I’m thinking hard about something so when I’m in the middle of a writing project my nails are chewed to the bits. And I’m always in the middle of a writing project.

The strangest question you’ve even been asked?

Did I arrive at the school event in a limo. Answer: no.

Your favourite word(s) and why?

You mean besides cake? Let’s see, second choice . . . I love that they are so many different possibilities out there for all of us to imagine, to strive for and to ultimately grab a hold of. You just never know what possibilities are out there to be had and where they will take you.

What are your top tips for budding children’s writers?

Never, ever allow criticism about your work to stop you from writing. Criticism comes with being a writer and even though it hurts, if you let it, it can always make you a better writer. Even though I’m a published author, I continue to take classes and read books on writing to improve my skills. And I will always do that. There’s always an opportunity to learn more than you already know and continue to improve and grow as a writer. So, when you receive criticism, take it in, think about it and allow it to propel you instead of stop you from moving forward.

Can you give us a glimpse / hint at your current WIP? (I can bribe you with cake!)

Did someone say cake??? Absolutely I can. I am in the process of editing my next book which is set for publication in America with Random House’s Crown Books for Young Readers, Spring 2020. The working title is Nessie Quest, although that may change. This one has another cryptozoological mystery and it’s set in current time Fort Augustus, Scotland – a magical place I spent time in a couple of years ago.

Did we forget anything?

Thank you so much for sharing The Truth About Martians with your readers! I’m so incredibly fortunate that I’ve been allowed to do something that I absolutely love to do – write for children. I love visiting schools, meeting students and talking about story. What a gift it’s all been. I’m always surprised and filled to the brim with gratitude for the wonderful support I’ve received. So, thank you very much for being a part of that!