
The Sandcastle People
Melody Dover is not happy about moving. In fact, as soon she reaches her new home on the beach, she runs way. But when she finds an amazing sandcastle, she soon finds herself traveling much further than she intended.
Accidentally shrunk down to a much smaller size by an apprentice wizard, Melody meets people who sail around the world building castles that only last a day. Excited about the possibilities of seeing the world, Melody joins them, but soon finds herself wishing for home. But where exactly is home?
Melody Dover is not happy about moving. In fact, as soon she reaches her new home on the beach, she runs way. But when she finds an amazing sandcastle, she soon finds herself traveling much further than she intended.
Accidentally shrunk down to a much smaller size by an apprentice wizard, Melody meets people who sail around the world building castles that only last a day. Excited about the possibilities of seeing the world, Melody joins them, but soon finds herself wishing for home. But where exactly is home?
Today I’m happy to have author B. Well stop by and talk about her latest book, The Sandcastle People.
1. Greetings, can you tell us a little bit about your history and how your work has evolved up to this point?
I grew up on the Jersey Shore, and even as a child I used to dictate stories to my dad and draw the accompanying pictures. Once I could actually write, I won a couple of awards for poetry - nothing major, just enough to make me want to become a writer. In college I majored in English, and even studied abroad with a program affiliated with University College, Oxford. My professors were all excellent in different ways, and helped me find my own strengths and weaknesses. Afterward I did some freelance writing for a local newspaper and began to work in a school, which motivated me to try writing a children’s novel.
2. What genre, or genres, do you write?
In general I write literary fiction. The Sandcastle People was my first children’s novel. I would love to write historical fiction as well.
3. What is your latest book called and what is it about?
The Sandcastle People is about a girl named Melody who runs away from her new home. She soon finds herself in a beautiful sandcastle built by a miniature group of people who travel around the world in a ship, building castles only when they want to stop for a day. At first Melody is so excited and wants to travel with them, but gradually she begins to grow homesick. Unfortunately, she no longer knows where exactly home is.
4. What makes your book unique?
I think the way the Sandcastle People actually live is very unique. They share everything and really depend on each other, like one big family. They are also open-minded and very appreciative of the beauty in nature. Melody learns a lot from them, and I think young readers can, too.
5. Where can we buy your books?
My book is available at Solstice Horizons and on Amazon.
6. What can we expect from you in the future?
I just completed a novel that modernizes the story of Hamlet and retells it from Ophelia’s point of view. I am also working on a sequel to The Sandcastle People, although it’s still in the initial stages.
7. Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?
I’m a fan of Brizo. I like that she’s fearless and very welcoming.
8. Do you plot ahead of time, or do you let the plot emerge as you write?
Generally, I have the main plot figured out, but subplots or little twists come up when I’m writing. It’s very exciting when that happens, and the story literally comes to life.
9. Who are some of your favorite authors to read? Favorite books?
It’s difficult to name them all. My favorite novel is Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. Some of my favorite writers are Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, and Tom Stoppard. As far as children’s novels, I’m a big fan of the Harry Potter series, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and the works of Frances Hodgson Burnett.
10. What would be your ultimate goal as a writer?
One of the reasons I love Victor Hugo and Charles Dickens so much is because they initiated social changes. I would love to be able to write something that has a really positive impact on society, or at least help someone in some small way.
1. Greetings, can you tell us a little bit about your history and how your work has evolved up to this point?
I grew up on the Jersey Shore, and even as a child I used to dictate stories to my dad and draw the accompanying pictures. Once I could actually write, I won a couple of awards for poetry - nothing major, just enough to make me want to become a writer. In college I majored in English, and even studied abroad with a program affiliated with University College, Oxford. My professors were all excellent in different ways, and helped me find my own strengths and weaknesses. Afterward I did some freelance writing for a local newspaper and began to work in a school, which motivated me to try writing a children’s novel.
2. What genre, or genres, do you write?
In general I write literary fiction. The Sandcastle People was my first children’s novel. I would love to write historical fiction as well.
3. What is your latest book called and what is it about?
The Sandcastle People is about a girl named Melody who runs away from her new home. She soon finds herself in a beautiful sandcastle built by a miniature group of people who travel around the world in a ship, building castles only when they want to stop for a day. At first Melody is so excited and wants to travel with them, but gradually she begins to grow homesick. Unfortunately, she no longer knows where exactly home is.
4. What makes your book unique?
I think the way the Sandcastle People actually live is very unique. They share everything and really depend on each other, like one big family. They are also open-minded and very appreciative of the beauty in nature. Melody learns a lot from them, and I think young readers can, too.
5. Where can we buy your books?
My book is available at Solstice Horizons and on Amazon.
6. What can we expect from you in the future?
I just completed a novel that modernizes the story of Hamlet and retells it from Ophelia’s point of view. I am also working on a sequel to The Sandcastle People, although it’s still in the initial stages.
7. Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?
I’m a fan of Brizo. I like that she’s fearless and very welcoming.
8. Do you plot ahead of time, or do you let the plot emerge as you write?
Generally, I have the main plot figured out, but subplots or little twists come up when I’m writing. It’s very exciting when that happens, and the story literally comes to life.
9. Who are some of your favorite authors to read? Favorite books?
It’s difficult to name them all. My favorite novel is Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. Some of my favorite writers are Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, and Tom Stoppard. As far as children’s novels, I’m a big fan of the Harry Potter series, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and the works of Frances Hodgson Burnett.
10. What would be your ultimate goal as a writer?
One of the reasons I love Victor Hugo and Charles Dickens so much is because they initiated social changes. I would love to be able to write something that has a really positive impact on society, or at least help someone in some small way.

Biography
B. Well grew up along the Jersey Shore, and her summers helped inspire this story. Although she has lived in several places around the world, she currently lives in Freehold, NJ with her husband. She works as an instructional aide for reading students at both the elementary and college level.
B. Well grew up along the Jersey Shore, and her summers helped inspire this story. Although she has lived in several places around the world, she currently lives in Freehold, NJ with her husband. She works as an instructional aide for reading students at both the elementary and college level.

The Sandcastle People
Melody Dover is not happy about moving. In fact, as soon she reaches her new home on the beach, she runs way. But when she finds an amazing sandcastle, she soon finds herself traveling much further than she intended.
Accidentally shrunk down to a much smaller size by an apprentice wizard, Melody meets people who sail around the world building castles that only last a day. Excited about the possibilities of seeing the world, Melody joins them, but soon finds herself wishing for home. But where exactly is home?
Melody Dover is not happy about moving. In fact, as soon she reaches her new home on the beach, she runs way. But when she finds an amazing sandcastle, she soon finds herself traveling much further than she intended.
Accidentally shrunk down to a much smaller size by an apprentice wizard, Melody meets people who sail around the world building castles that only last a day. Excited about the possibilities of seeing the world, Melody joins them, but soon finds herself wishing for home. But where exactly is home?