Journey into the literary world of award-winning author M. Day Hampton

About The Books

Discover the powerful storytelling of M. Day Hampton, whose two captivating books follow unforgettable characters on a quest to uncover the meaning of life. Through chaos and uncertainty, they find clarity and purpose—transforming not only their worlds but yours as well.

When Sounds Collide

A richly layered story of love and ambition set against the backdrop of the American South in the late 1800s.

Custis—a gifted, Black, ten-year-old boy orphaned and left for dead—is discovered by a young White girl. Sarah Tennison hasn’t spoken a word since her mother died. Nursed back to health and raised by Sarah’s widowed father, Custis is sheltered from community biases and anti-literacy laws. In the safety of the Tennison home, his bright mind has room to flourish, as he strives to advance to his potential. Along the way, Custis’ curiosity and quiet compassion help Sarah find her voice. Sarah and Custis develop an unbreakable bond, but intolerance and bigotry prohibit marriage.

To pursue his education, Custis must leave the repression of the South. He sets his sights on the esteemed universities of New York City, where he dreams of working in cutting-edge science labs to develop a revolutionary medical device. Custis has the stuff for success, but New York City isn’t as enlightened as it may seem. With the help of some unlikely friends, Custis learns to traverse a society that feels like a world away from the ranch in North Carolina. Life moves on back home, with forces threatening to keep Custis and Sarah apart forever.

At the heart of this deeply drawn saga is the power of love to inspire greatness in us all. Custis—a fictional representation of history’s many unsung heroes—chases his goals with compelling determination, driven by his romantic vision of a brighter future.

When Sounds Collide is available everywhere books are sold

Behind Picketwire

2021 International Book Awards, National Indie Excellence Award, Independent Press Distinguished Favorite and the IndieBRAG Medallion Award.

Red Johnson is a cantankerous sixty-eight-year-old man. After suffering a fall, he wakes to find himself alone in the world with no evidence of human existence other than his house and his dog, Jake. Desperate to find a way back to his family and the world he knew, Red journeys across the country in hopes of finding someone, anyone to help him. As he searches the vast wilderness and struggles for survival, he reflects on the life he took for granted. Meanwhile, his own history begins to unfold before him in the form of strange memories and hauntingly vivid dreams. They make him yearn for what he had, and fall in love with his wife all over again. As Red struggles alone through the wilderness, he comes face to face with a hidden family history that completely changes his past…and his future.

We are all on a journey to find meaning, and Behind Picketwire is one man’s struggle through the wilderness to know himself and to finally see his life in stunning clarity.

Buy Behind Picketwire at any bookseller today

A Little More About Melody

Hi. I’m Mel. I am a storyteller driven by a deep curiosity about the lives we pass by daily, those who carry a lifetime of untold experiences. Through my work, I explore the quiet, extraordinary impact of everyday people, whose experiences fade with each generation and whose moments of greatness, love, and resilience ripple through history, often unseen. I strive to connect readers with the profound truth that every moment in time is part of a larger, shared story, shaping who we are today. My fictional work invites readers to step beyond their own lives and into the hearts and minds of others, transforming the act of reading into an act of empathy and reflection.

I am new to NetGalley. I never expected that the very first book I reviewed on this platform would be worthy of 5 stars. But this book truly deserves it. I will never forget Custis and the full circle that his life’s journey took me on – pulling me through every spectrum of emotions along the way. Thank you for sharing his story with me, and for allowing me to share my honest review. This book deeply touched me. Highly recommended!

Danielle A.

(for When Sounds Collide)

Wow! This is one of the best books I have read recently. I felt I was part of Red’s journey back to find his family. This book draws you in and doesn’t let go.

J. Adams, NetGalley review

(for Behind Picketwire)

I admire the way that the flashbacks are woven so seamlessly and organically into the overall narrative…readers will feel as if they are in good hands with a confident storyteller for this journey.” And further, “It’s the kind of scene, to be quite honest, that will stay with me for years and years.

Clete Barrett Smith, New York Times bestselling author of Mr. 60%

(for Behind Picketwire)

Richly humane historical novel of love, race, and ambition after the Civil War.

Publishers Weekly Booklife

(for When Sounds Collide)

The novel’s combination of personal growth, societal critique, and richly detailed settings aligns it with notable literature that explores the resilience of the human spirit against formidable odds. Hampton has penned an unforgettable masterpiece.