As of today (May 20, 2025), I haven't made a public appearance. And I probably never will. Why is that? 

The main reason is that I just don't like being in public. Things are very bad right now in the United States. I don't need to be attacked by some lunatic because they don't like what I write, or don't like the fact that I'm a woman, or don't like the way I look. It's safer for me to just stay at home. Maybe one day, when things finally calm down, it will be safe for me to do a signing or reading. But, as it stands right now, no, I won't be making any public appearances soon.

The other reason is fake "fans." They are the absolute worse. They pretend to be a fan of yours, then they try to get free stuff from you. If you tell them no (which is our right, by the way! We can tell you no!), then they go on social media and make up all sorts of nonsense saying how "mean" or "rude" you are. Some writers I know have had these "fans" actually steal books from them at signings! They act like they're interested in the book and instead of paying the writer for the book, they run off with it. That really angers me. We put a lot of time and energy into our writing! If we gave a free book to every person who asks us for one, we would be completely broke! There would be no point in writing because it wouldn't generate any income. I'm not Stephen King or John Grisham or Dean Koontz. I'm Melodía J. Parker, a relatively unknown in the writing industry. Every sale is important to me. I can't afford to give books away.

I'll write a blog later about why I absolutely refuse to meet fans privately. The reasons for that are even sadder than the reasons for not making public appearances.