WHO IS MELEENA?

            It’s still only February, but later this summer, my publisher should start working on my first-to-be-published fantasy novel, Meleena’s Adventures – Treasure Of The Umbrunna. In this piece, I’d like to introduce the main character, Meleena.

            This first installment in my sword and sorcery fantasy series is told entirely in her point of view (with the exception of one small spot at the very end). It takes place on the continent of Gallin and starts in the town of Bug Flat.

            To put it bluntly, Meleena is a brat. At twenty-three years old, she lives by her quick wits, and quicker fingers, and starts the story with no moral compass. She’s bedded more men than she can count and has an aversion to becoming attached to any of them. They’re simply tools to satisfy a need. She’s the type of person that will drop a hornet’s nest in a crowd, run for cover and watch the mayhem from afar. It’s not unusual for her to start a fight between two or more people (or creatures) then step back and watch the fun.

            Her earliest memories consist of wandering the streets where she eventually ended up at the home of her aunt Leena. Leena took her in and gave her the name Meleena, “my Leena”. She has no idea if Leena is actually a blood relation. Early on, Leena realized the young girl had unusual abilities. With her brown eyes centered with silver pupils, she seemed to be able to read people’s minds. What Meleena could really do was speak any language, even if she wasn’t old enough to understand the context of the words. That “mind reading” stare Leena noticed was Meleena translating different languages in her head. Her only limitation was her vocal cords. Once Leena figured it out, she realized her young niece was very special, and in an extremely dangerous position. One of the few things Meleena listened to was Leena’s warnings about keeping her abilities with languages to herself, especially after she discovered she could also read and write any language, with no schooling.

            When Meleena was ten, Leena tried to get her interested in school. By then, Meleena had read hundreds of books on her own, some from curiosity, but often as not, for some kind of angle for a con she was playing. She couldn’t help but learn things along the way. As a result, she found what the teachers were teaching simple and boring. Meleena had a lot more fun causing trouble. The one school session she sort-of attended, she almost instigated a war between Bug Flat and a local tribe of Snorgs, a race of half-pig half-gorillas. Leena became fed up and called in a woman to try and turn Meleena into a regular lady. When Meleena overheard the conversation, she was horrified. She packed her meager belongings and hit the streets (see my short story Don’t Mess With A Snorg on the Fantasy page).

            Two years later, she was captured, raped and imprisoned. That unpleasant experience never jaded her toward men, but taught her how to kill when she finally escaped and found her rapist.

            Eventually, she found the Pig Splat, a former Esveen chapel (the local religion), converted into a bar. The owner, Chit Chit, a half human, half insect with four eyes, mandibles, green skin, thin wings, a human face, hands and feet. He became like a brother and best friend. The Pig Splat became her base of operations. Chit Chit was always there for her, no matter what.

            The story starts with Meleena coasting right along, partying and causing mayhem until she hears about this extremely valuable pearl that could bring her fame and fortune. When she decides to go after it, being a loner isn’t going to work. Reluctantly she has to accept the help of others. Along the way, she’s going to have to make a moral decision that will change the course of her life. Will she do the right thing? Will she change her ways? Meleena’s Adventures – Treasure Of The Umbrunna takes you on a wild adventure to find out.

            Well, gang. There you have it. Later on I’ll give out more about Meleena’s world and some of the other characters and creatures in it.