carmeline melchior

BIO

Carmeline Melchior (Car-mel-lean) | (Mel-key-or) is a true third-culture kid. She was born in Bangalore, India, and raised in Dubai, UAE. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and their sweet dog, where she spends much of her time struggling to answer the question, “But where are you really from?”

Her love for reading began with all things Jules Verne and Philip K. Dick. While it opened her mind to science and philosophy, and encouraged her to think independently, it also made her feel invisible. It seemed like all the things that defined her— the languages, culture, and cuisine—were neither taken seriously nor appreciated, or sometimes used as a prop. 

As a result, Carmeline’s stories are unapologetically diverse. She celebrates her culture by weaving it into universal narratives, exploring themes such as free will, identity, survival, and love.

Carmeline is represented by Ann Rose with the Tobias Literary Agency, as well as Carolina Beltran and Nicole Weinroth with MWE, for film and television. 

You can find her on on X (@carmelineonpage), on Instagram and TikTok (@carmelinemelchior), and www.carmelinemelchior.com where she offers three free query critiques to bipoc writers each month on a first come, first served basis.

MSWL

Some of the best books I’ve ever read have come as a surprise. These are stories that made me laugh out loud, shocked me to my core, defied expectations, and breathed new life into familiar tropes and ideas. 

So, while I do not have a prescriptive MSWL, I am absolutely certain about what I do not like:

  • Animal death or cruelty (especially the death of a pet)

  • Rape or sexual assault (on or off-page)

  • Child abuse or sexual violence involving minors

  • Incest

  • Graphic torture, gore, or body horror 

  • Homophobia, transphobia, fat phobia, Islamophobia, racism, and ableism (if your characters are experiencing any of these, please include a content warning. Otherwise, if your stories promote these idealism, I would prefer not to read it.)

  • Suicide or self-harm

  • Pro-colonial takes