Q&A: Melanie Maure, Author of ‘Sisters of Belfast’

We chat with author Melanie Maure about Sisters of Belfast, which is an enthralling and deeply moving story that begins during World War II and follows orphaned twin sisters in Ireland whose lives diverge for decades, until fate—and faith—reunite them in the twilight of their lives.

Hi, Melanie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Along with being a writer, I am a Life Coach and a Gateless Writing Coach. I hold a deep appreciation for the fact that all my work is soulful, nourishing, and incredibly fun. I live in Nelson, British Columbia, a veritable outdoor playground and paradise. My Irish and French Canadian heritage makes for large, boisterous family gatherings in Ontario, where I was born and raised.

I am a mushroom fanatic and spend far too much time on my hands and knees in the forest, talking to fungi and taking their photographs. This passion, bordering on obsession for fungi, will make its way onto my next novel’s pages. Reader Beware!

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I was not one who knew they wanted to be a writer from childhood. A reader, yes; a writer, not so much. As a kid, I was more keen to make riding a pig into a profession than becoming a writer. It only occurred to me to pursue it in high school. Like many other writers, an excellent, quirky English Teacher was in the mix. Mr. Roth pulled me aside amid my teenage angst and twitchiness and shone a light on what I could do with my ease around words and stories. I continued to write for myself for many years and only began to share in my late twenties. And it has grown ever since.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Blubber Judy Bloom
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Stand Stephen King
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Book of Longings Sue Monk Kidd

Your debut novel, Sisters of Belfast, is out February 27^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Soulful, heartrending, gripping, lyrical, hopeful.

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect an emotionally engaging story of four very different main characters forced together by the tragic fallout of WW2 in Belfast. Each character is navigating their beliefs and traumas at various ages within the confines of a religious institution and during a time in Irish history when certain women and children were deemed outcasts in Irish society. I hope readers will feel immersed in the story and the landscapes, moved by the history upon which this novel is based, and invested in the emotional lives of each character.

Where did the inspiration for Sisters of Belfast come from?

Sisters of Belfast is a patchwork of inspirations. I come from a lineage of powerful, stoic, and catholic matriarchs. That is a force one cannot help but absorb. My grandmother’s response to my getting divorced was simple and unforgettable. “I’d like to put you in a box and give you a good shake.” That was it. End of discussion. I knew, even then, that those words would be immortalized somehow, and they made it into the novel. As did my mother’s moment of choosing between joining the sisterhood or marrying my father. Even after four children and sixty years of marriage, she still claims the decision is not entirely final.

The first time I travelled to Ireland and set foot on that land, a visceral recognition took place, and when I set about writing this novel, all the scenes in my mind were clear. Ireland was the home for these characters.

The novel started with just Aelish’s voice, and I kept hearing this chippy unruly voice questioning everything. And that is where Isabel came barging in. The two sisters are worlds apart and yet the same person at heart. They need one another, neither complete without the other. As characters, they revealed themselves to me one scene at a time.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Sister Edel was, by far, the most fun character to write. Her voice was unthinkingly self-righteous, yet she was so sharp that she continually made me laugh. Perhaps it was a productive outlet for my own inner critic to blather on without harming me or anyone else. I enjoyed exploring the role of faith and religiosity from the perspective of each of the four main characters. It was a spectrum of sorts and a time for me to dig deep into my own experiences of wrestling with being raised catholic. My favourite scene to write was the tragedy in Newfoundland. I will not spoil it by giving details, but I will say that being in that scene as I wrote it was harrowing. There were tears.

This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

It was a lot of hurry up and wait. I’m not an exceptionally patient person, so waiting to hear back from agents around queries was slightly less torturous than walking on hot coals. It was well worth the wait when Sara O’Keeffe from Aevitas expressed interest. It was not a direct yes from her, as she asked first if I was willing to do some re-writes. And we all know that writing is re-writing. She had brilliant editing suggestions that, in the end, made the book far richer and increased the pace exponentially. From the time I signed on with Sara in May 2021 it took until February 2023 for Sisters of Belfast to find a home at Harper Collins. And even that was not smooth sailing as my initial acquisition editor changed companies, and my novel was handed off to another editor. My good fortune, it turned out, as the new editor had decades of experience and was brilliant in her job. The publishing process required another round of lighter edits, and the pub date was set for February 27th, 2024. I must confess, I feared that Harper Collins would change their collective mind and tear up my contract right up until my box of gallies arrived in the mail. That is a heck of a long time to hold one’s breath.

What’s next for you?

What’s next is book launch-a-palooza! If there is any support I can give another debut novelist, it is to lean on your friends, family, community and your local librarians! Librarians and local bookstore owners have been absolute heroes in helping navigate this book tour/launch world.

I am in the beginning stages of another book—a multi-generational family saga– and look forward to being immersed in that world again when the tide of book launch retreats.

I’m also eager to return to my coaching practice, where I help others create their dreams and make intentional space inside and out for great things to arrive.

Lastly, are there any 2024 book releases that you’re looking forward to?

Having been a lifer Stephen King fan, I look forward to his latest collection of short stories in You Like It Darker

Lisa Wingate’s upcoming novel Shelterwood about Oklahoma’s “elf children” surviving in the forest after fleeing corrupt guardians is on my must-read list.

Will you be picking up Sisters of Belfast? Tell us in the comments below!