Melody Moezzi — from lawyer to author
At first, Melody Moezzi, a 1997 graduate of Centerville High School, wanted to be a lawyer focusing on social justice.
Though she did complete law school at Emory University of Law and worked as a lawyer for a year, she says she started writing because “I thought I could change people’s minds and hearts more quickly through writing than I could work to change the law. I realized how long it takes to changes laws — and that I’m impatient. Through writing, I realized I could humanize entire groups of people.”
Melody explains that she was born to Iranian parents at the height of the Islamic Revolution, and grew up in the Midwest. Her parents — both physicians — settled in the Dayton area.
“I feel lucky that I group up in a solid community of Iranian-Americans in the Dayton area, and that I got to know people from other Mideastern diasporas,” Melody says. “Upon learning where I grew up, people make assumptions about how diverse the area is — and are surprised when I explain how diverse the people of my childhood community really are.”
She admits that she misses the Dayton area, and that “it holds a special place in my heart,” citing the values of friendship and kindness that she also learned growing up in the area.
Melody has gone on to publish numerous short pieces in outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, and many more.
Her latest book is the critically acclaimed memoir, “Haldol and Hyacinths: A Bipolar Life,” which explores her internal struggles as a person with bipolar disorder, as well as her experiences as both a Midwesterner and a person of Mideastern heritage. Melody’s memoir has been hailed as brave, insightful, honest and at times even funny in reviews from New York Times Magazine, to Parade, and more.
Melody, who is an activist and speaker as well as an author, speaks openly as an advocate for mental health issues, as well as about the experiences of Muslims in the United States.
Her first book, “War on Error,” explores the stories of 12 young people, all American, all Muslim, and all different.
“Both books are aimed at changing people’s minds and hearts about stereotypes,” Melody says. “I’ve had some heartwarming feedback from readers. At one reading, I met a devout Muslim man who told me that reading about another Muslim gay man in my first book helped him change his mind about committing suicide.”
Similarly, she says, “people read my memoir and think, ‘Well, if she can put together a full life with bipolar disorder, than so can I.’ We have embarrassingly low expectations of people whose minds work differently, and I hope my writing helps changes those attitudes, helps people see that being different can be a blessing — not a curse.”
Melody is currently working on her next book, “The Rumi Prescription: How an Ancient Mystic Poet Changed My Modern Manic Life,” while teaching as a Visiting Professor of Creative Nonfiction at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
For other writers, Melody offers this advice: “Submit your work if it is truly at a point where it’s ready to submit. But, expect a lot of rejection. If your work is not getting rejections from reviews or magazines, then you’re not submitting enough or not taking enough risks. And anyone who has a dream — whether for writing or otherwise — should keep going toward achieving that dream, no matter what.”
Learn more about Melody, her achievements and her work at www.melodymoezzi.com
Upcoming Literary Events
■ Wednesday, Feb. 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Oakwood Starbucks, 2424 Far Hills Ave., Dayton — Word’s Worth Writing Center (www.wordsworthdayton.com) offers “First Wednesday Writing Workout” with author and creative writing instructor Katrina Kittle. These sessions will offer writing prompts, the time to explore them, a mini-craft lesson, loads of tips, and the opportunity to share impromptu pieces. See the website to register.
■ Mondays, Feb. 12-26, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Oakwood Starbucks, 2424 Far Hills Ave., Dayton — Word’s Worth Writing Center (www.wordsworthdayton.com) offers “Description” with author and creative writing instructor Katrina Kittle. This three week course will guide writers through the process of writing more effective, deeply layered description. See the website to register.
■ Monday, Feb. 12, 1-3 p.m., Washington-Centerville Public Library, Centerville Library Lobby, 111 Spring Valley Road — This month’s “2nd Monday Authors” program features Shelley Shepard Gray, a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author and her book “The Gift,” and Tanela Hicks, author of “Dreams of the Heart.”
Sharon Short (www. sharonshort.com) is a novelist and director of the Antioch Writers' Workshop. Contact Sharon with news about your book club or organization. Email: sharonshort@ sharonshort.com. Twitter: @ SharonGShort Coco Morante