Author Q&A With Lois Melbourne


Author Q&A With Lois Melbourne

Lois Melbourne likes to write female characters who make things happen. They may push the boundaries others set, but somebody will be proud of them. With a tech background, Lois respects the pragmatic truth about what technology can do for us. The engineering promises in her book Moral Code are actual or possible with what is already confirmed, even though great minds must work hard to get us there. Lois believes ethical AI is possible and that we should demand it.

Creative writing seldom happens at a desk chair for Lois. The porch, park, or couch allow her to let creativity flow. The desk is for editing and business. 1920s historical fiction is currently bouncing Lois around at the keyboard. Someday, she’ll write about her obsession with Formula One. Meet Lois: 

You are an author, but is it your day job? If not, what fills your days? I’m a recovering software CEO. Now, I write and advocate for Women in STEM, students exploring careers, and voter rights.

Did you always want to be an author? I always loved to write but didn’t see it as a career option. After studying marketing and moving into tech, I used my writing skills extensively. I only pursued being an author after I sold my software business and retired from business operations.

What is your most recent book, and what inspired you to write it? Moral Code is my first novel. If I could build artificial intelligence, I would give it the priority of protecting kids. The story idea bloomed from conversations with my husband, my partner in our software company. We discussed his image of a great book, which is about ethical AI (Artificial Intelligence). The Sunday breakfast chat turned into a day of brainstorming and combining our ideas. I had pages and pages of notes, which I turned into a book, Moral Code. Ross provided the technology possibilities, which I then researched to turn into viable storylines.

How do you hope your book uplifts those who read it? I hope to inspire people to build ethical AIs that benefit kids and society. Breaking the generational cycle of abuse created by bullying, abuse, and trafficking is critical. We need to address root causes to see long-term impact.

What are you most excited about with this book? I enjoy the excitement of other women in STEM. I give them strong female technical characters and a “female” AI ready to make good trouble.

How did writing a book help your career take off? I have a non-profit organization focused on assisting students in exploring careers. Moral Code has given me a lot of exposure to Girls in STEM, where I’ve engaged in conversations that spark intentional decision-making about their futures.

What advice would you give someone wanting to succeed in your professional industry? To girls and young women pursuing any professional position, choose a life partner wisely. Your partner needs to entirely support your ambitions for the future, or you could sit in the passenger seat for your career journey. This means you must dig in and build your vision for your future. You must be honest about your dreams so partners can buy into them. The same thing can be said for parents because they typically weigh in with heavy pressure about what, when, and where your career will look.

How do you handle setbacks and criticism? I evaluate criticism if it contains objective details. I then pick and choose if there is something positive I can do with the information. Setbacks typically require me to assess why the obstacle occurred or how much it needs to change my path. I was treated for breast cancer in 2023, and it jerked around my creativity. It broke my writing routines, which I often grimace over. But this taught me to dance when I feel moved and write too. In fact, I’ve gotten up twice while working on these questions to jam to the incredible artist Pink!

Being an author today is like running a business. How do you manage all your publicity and social media and keep your engagement up with readers? I could do a better job. I was tenacious in selling millions of dollars of my company’s software worldwide. Yet, at times, it can feel self-aggrandizing to promote my books. I’m very proud of them and think they are amazing, so I need to work on this. It does require a consistent practice. My publicity group, Books Forward, is amazing and helps me a great deal. I do LOVE engaging with readers.

How do you hold yourself accountable and achieve the goals that you set forth? Focusing on projects that I genuinely believe in is a great motivator. To push on the marketing side, I’m motivated partially by the fact all proceeds from Moral Code go to Thorn, a non-profit protecting kids in this digital world we live in. They are amazing, and I’m proud to support them as much as possible.

How do you structure your day and make time for writing? I complete exercise, logistics, and other commitments in the morning and carve out writing time right after lunch. If the world needs more of me, I wrap up the day or use the evening to manage life “stuff.” It helps that I’m an empty nester now.

What do you find most fulfilling in the career that you’ve chosen? In my former software executive role, I found creating fantastic jobs and solving problems for clients the most fulfilling. Now, I’m fulfilled by mentoring, creating meaningful prose, and voter activism.

What book uplifts you? John Carlin’s Playing the Enemy, about Nelson Mandela, gives me the best human leadership lessons: respecting others and showing grace when it may not seem obvious. For humor, I recommend Anonymous’s Becoming Duchess Goldblatt.

Anything else you’d like to share with your readers? My tip for readers: track your reading list. It may be in a reader’s journal, a spreadsheet, a Notes document, or an app like Goodreads. I find this invaluable, especially now that I consume many books in many different formats. It’s the best way for me to look up recommendations for friends, make sure I don’t repurchase a book, or seek out a stylistic reference for my own writing’s inspiration. Apps like Goodreads are especially helpful for authors when readers are connected with other readers. When I mark a book as “Want to Read” or “Read,” my friend group sees those titles. This helps the author reach new readers.

Connect with Lois and learn about her book and good works via her website. 

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