My Story

Amanda Melton is an emerging fantasy novelist whose storytelling is shaped by a lifelong love of language, vivid dreams, and a deep curiosity about the natural world. She began her creative journey in poetry and short fiction, with her early work recognized by the Library of Congress and featured in multiple school literary magazines. Over time, her writing expanded into rich, imaginative fantasy worlds—some crafted purely for joy, others layered with hidden meanings for readers who enjoy looking deeper.

A published author as of 2025 with Bits of Me: A Writing Collection, Amanda continues to build her voice across genres while pursuing a degree in creative writing and minoring in interdisciplinary studies at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Beyond the classroom, Amanda is the founder and curator of Rust & Quill Bookmobile, a mobile bookstore dedicated to uplifting small‑press and self‑published authors. Her passion for community, creativity, and accessible literature fuels the project and shapes her identity as both a writer and literary advocate.

She lives in Alabama with her two dogs and her horse, drawing inspiration from the quiet rhythms of home and the ever‑changing landscapes of her dreams. With several novels and story concepts already in motion, Amanda aims to craft books that captivate, comfort, and challenge her readers—always welcoming feedback from those who journey through her worlds.

Bits of Me

A collection of writings from childhood to teenhood, encompassing all the writings that would have taken place in the school setting and free writing. This collection is a part of a larger, upcoming collection.

SHOP

Current Work in Progress

Thianants is a Young Adult fantasy about a girl who uncovers a hidden truth about her world—one that challenges everything she’s been taught. As she navigates ancient rules, shifting power, and her own emerging identity, she must decide whom she wants to become and what she’s willing to risk to protect the people she loves.

a rustic literary bookmobile focused on small‑press and self‑published stories.

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Wild Milk by Sabrina Orah Mark

Wild Milk offers a surreal blend of fairy-tale fragments, poetic language, and motherly musings. Sabrina Orah Mark invites readers into a world where logic bends and emotions pulse just beneath the surface. Her stories often eschew clear structure, delivering instead symbolic snapshots that hover between humor and heartbreak. There’s undeniable creativity in Mark’s approach—the lyrical oddness, the unsettling reimaginings of familiar roles. At times, her prose glimmers with

The Triggering Town by Richard Hugo

Richard Hugo's The Triggering Town has long been considered a touchstone for poets - a craft book that privileges intuition over rules and encourages writers to follow the emotional current of a poem rather than the literal facts and edits. Review Hugo’s central idea — that a poem begins with a “triggering subject” but should quickly move into the imaginative territory where the real poem lives — remains one of the most liberating concepts in contemporary craft writing. He p

How I Annotate My Books

There's something about a book that's already been read through - the soft, dog-eared corners, highlighted lines, tiny notes in the margins. Annotation isn't just a habit for me; it's how I stay present with a story, how I interact with it, and how I remember why a book mattered after I've closed it. My Tools of Choice While other people like to highlight and mark their books, I'm a very different person. I love using my colored, transparent tabs to keep me updated with my s