Meet Author Melody Johnson
Melody Johnson is the award-winning author of the Love Beyond series and Night Blood series published by Kensington Publishing/ Lyrical Press. From an early age, she began writing romances about sassy, dragon-slaying heroines and swoon-worthy heroes—and she’ll never stop hunting those happily ever afters.
Earning the 2021 Maggie Award of Excellence, Beyond the Next Star (Love Beyond, book 1) is an exciting branch from Melody’s paranormal romance roots, keeping the dark grit from her Night Blood Series and launching it to new worlds. Sherrilyn Kenyon, New York Times and international bestselling author of the Dark-Hunters® series, praised Sight Beyond the Sun (Love Beyond, book 2) as, “Unforgettable; this book stays with you long after you leave it.”
A longstanding member of First Coast Romance Writers (FCRW), Melody is a contributing author to several FCRW fundraising anthologies, the proceeds of which benefit the non-profit’s mission to provide educational workshops for its members. Her Witchy Business short story rom-coms featured in those anthologies showcase small town magic brewing with big girl problems. In her free time, Melody is a voracious reader and particularly enjoys the same tropes she likes to write: enemies-to-lovers, slow burns, and high spice.
Stay in touch with Melody on social media or email.
Media Kit
Download my media kit to use for professional/ promotional purposes; includes bio, photos, series lists and order, buy links, reviews, social media links and more.
media & awards
Lycoming College Young Alumni Award (May 2025)
Given to a graduate of Lycoming College who has made significant contributions to her profession, the Taunia Oechslin Young Alumni Award recognizes an alumni who demonstrates leadership and accomplishment in her career, exemplifies outstanding service and volunteerism to the college or the community during the first 15 years since graduating from Lycoming College, and whose ongoing work reflects positively on the college. Thank you again, Lycoming College, for honoring me with this award, but more importantly, for nurturing my potential 14 years ago and making the journey toward this award possible.
Wild Women Who Write (July 2023)
I’m so thrilled to be featured on the Wild Women Who Write podcast! On episode 45, Levels of Love: This World and Beyond, we discuss my Love Beyond sci-fi romance series. In particular, we talk about my heroines, Delaney and Kinsley, and how they both tackle social issues like human trafficking and child abuse while pushing the boundaries of love.
Tribune & Georgian (July 2023)
40 Under 40: Tribune & Georgian (June 2023)
Strong Women Strange Worlds (June 2023)
I’m thrilled to share that my online “book tasting” event from June 2, hosted by Strong Women, Strange Worlds, is now available to watch on YouTube! All six authors, including myself, read excerpts of their science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories. You can watch my reading of Sight Beyond the Sun at the 10 minute, 45 second mark.
Strong Women, Strange Worlds QuickRead events happen live, via Zoom, the First Friday and Third Thursday of every month. Learn more and check out future online events on their website.
The Bookshop at the End of the Internet (April 2023)
The Bookshop at the End of the Internet is a podcast hosted by Stacey Horan, author and book lover. “In episode 177, Author Melody Johnson discusses her latest book, Sight Beyond the Sun. In this follow up novel to Beyond the Next Star, Melody brings us fresh main characters and a whole new world to explore in this stand-alone alien romance that involves espionage, an intergalactic human-trafficking ring and an enemies-to-lovers romance.”
Midwest Book Review (Dec. 2022)
“A brilliant blending romance with science fiction”
“A brilliant blending romance with science fiction, Sight Beyond the Sun is a fun and original read by an author with a genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling that makes for a memorable novel — the kind that lingers in the mind and memory long after the book has been finished and set back upon the shelf.
While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that “Sight Beyond the Sun” is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).”
Maggie Award of Excellence (Oct. 2021)
Beyond the Next Star Wins Maggie Award in Paranormal Romance Category
Georgia Romance Writers, Inc., a chapter of Romance Writers of America, proudly presents The Maggie Award for Excellence to Melody Johnson for Beyond the Next Star, an outstanding work by a published romance novelist in paranormal romance. The Maggie Award is a symbol of achievement given by the Georgia Romance Writers (GRW). The Maggie, a silver medallion commissioned by GRW, receives national attention. Books are ranked by librarians, booksellers, and other industry professionals in the publishing industry.
“Eight years ago, I attended my first Moonlight & Magnolias conference, and I didn’t know anything about pitching or publishing. I just wanted to write and somehow, share my stories with the world. Even just being a finalist is a huge honor.”
Tribune & Georgian Article (Oct. 2021)
Kirkus Review (Aug. 2020)
“An Engaging and Unusual Otherworldly Tale”
“Johnson effectively introduces readers to the planet Lorien and its alien inhabitants, the lorienok, in this opening series entry. Overall, the novel does a good job of immersing readers in a strange new realm, and its use of Delaney’s perspective allows them to learn details of the culture and characters organically, as the protagonist does. Along the way, the author describes her alien creations in exquisite detail—“two rows of sharp predator teeth filled his overly large mouth, and pointy bearlike claws tipped each finger and likely each toe on his boot-shod feet”—and her comparisons to familiar Earth creatures make for easy visualization. Even pacing and smooth transitions to different characters’ points of view make for a quick, solid read that remains consistently compelling.”
The Bookshop at the End of the Internet (Aug. 2020)
The Bookshop at the End of the Internet is a podcast hosted by Stacey Horan, author and book lover. “In episode 84, Author Melody Johnson discusses her latest book, Beyond the Next Star, the first sci-fi romance novel in her new Love Beyond series. Melody has kept the dark grit from her paranormal romance Night Blood series and upped the stakes by taking the drama, danger and romance to outer space. Beyond the Next Star allowed Melody to world-build and even create her own language for her alien characters.”
Tribune & Georgian Article (July 2020)
The Bookshop at the End of the Internet (June 2019)
The Bookshop at the End of the Internet is a podcast hosted by Stacey Horan, author and book lover. “In episode 30, we feature, Melody Johnson, the author of the acclaimed urban fantasy, paranormal romance Night Blood series. Melody has always been a fan of the vampire genre. When she decided to write her series, she wanted to put her own spin on the genre while still filling her stories with copious amounts of both danger and romance.”
Tribune & Georgian Article (Feb. 2018)
Lycoming College Spotlight (Jan. 2018)
Author Melody Johnson 