#303 Beyond Redemption with Mel Torrefranca

This week, we're running a takeover in collaboration with AuthorTuber Mel Torrefranca. The winner of this contest will not only be awarded $250 — they’ll also receive a special bonus prize: personal feedback from Mel herself! Read on to find out more...

Hey, Mel Torrefranca here!

I’m a full-time author and founder of the publishing house Lost Island Press. My own titles include Nightshade Academy, Leaving Wishville, Capsule, and more. I also run a YouTube channel where I share videos about writing and publishing.

If there’s one thing my readers know about me, it’s that I’m a sucker for morally gray characters. Nearly every project I’ve worked on features a protagonist who does bad things with good intentions. My finales tend to pit friends against friends and lovers against lovers — nothing beats that level of angst, nuance, and confusion!

In my latest book, Underground Royalty, my protagonist goes far beyond the point of no return… yet readers still love him. That makes me wonder: How far can a character go before losing the reader’s hope for redemption?

This week, I challenge you to explore this question by pushing your protagonist to be more "bad" than you're comfortable with. Don’t worry about whether readers will like them or not. In fact, the goal is to make them unlikable and keep their heart in the right place. I can't wait to read what you come up with!

Special Update: The Results

Mel's top pick for her takeover was "Feral" by Dan Thonberg. Here's what she had to say about it: "The character dynamics in this piece really stood out to me. June is hauntingly terrifying, and the narrator is toxic but well-meaning. I loved how the author explored their emotions and really settled into every moment. For a short story, it never felt rushed, and that’s no small feat. Beautifully done!"

Congratulations to contest winner Dan Thonberg and the runners-up, Aiden Mars and Rebecca Hurst!