“I’ve always been interested with the mechanics of storytelling, and at a young age, I gravitated toward dialog as an important tool to convey any story.”
– Megan Macaulay
Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this interview reflect the personal experiences, perspectives, and reflections of the interviewee and do not necessarily represent the positions of this platform
Megan, thank you for joining us today. Could you start by introducing yourself—who you are, what you do, and what you aim to bring to the world through your work?
I am extremely blessed for having grown up in a very privileged household. My father, Malcolm Macaulay was one of the original computer pioneers; he was an extraordinarily brilliant man. My mother loved reading, the theater, and Shakespeare. As a young girl, in 1967, our family emigrated to Australia as my father was offered a teaching position at the University of New South Wales in their new Computer Science Department.
Returning to the US in 1980, I discovered the J. Paul Getty Museum was hiring at $9.00/hour while NASA at $37.00 an hour. I took the path of least resistance.
What first sparked your interest in weaving stories that blur imagination with reflection, and how has that shaped your creative path?
I’ve always been interested with the mechanics of storytelling, and at a young age, I gravitated toward dialog as an important tool to convey any story. I became obsessed with dialog, which led me to Plato. I absolutely love the construction of framing complex ideas through dialog. For me, the crown jewel of literary influence is the ancient Roman writer, Tacitus, who uses an interesting point-counterpoint technique when shaping a narrative. Phrases like: “The emperor himself became tyrannical – or gave tyrannical men power,” or, “suited for office, if only he had not had to hold it,” are pithy and thought-provoking.
Your work often blends allegory and everyday life. How do you approach balancing the extraordinary with the familiar so readers feel grounded while also inspired?
Writers are frequently taught that drama and conflict are the bread-and-butter of a good story. And while I absolutely agree that a story does need contrast, I’m a believer that sometimes drama is not so much the action that is either happening to, or inspired by the characters of the story; it is their thought-journey of inner realization along the way.
Sometimes we learn immediately, sometimes it takes a little while for the lessons to sink in. Yet it is not so much the lesson, but the reaction to the lesson that makes all of us interesting.
Could you share some of the milestones or recognitions you’ve achieved along your journey, and what they personally mean to you?
I was selected to attend Sydney Girls’ High School, Sydney, Australia.
I remember long walks with my father in Sydney, learning about mathematics, in particular PI, all against a backdrop of a breathtaking harbor view.
Received Early Entry to the Australian National University. This was achieved without the need for entrance examinations.
Met the love of my life, Thomas Clodfelter, at NASA. We had the most beautiful cosmic dance together. Our life together was never boring, frequently intense, always filled with respect and lots of laughter.
Many readers say your storytelling has a transformative quality. What do you think makes stories powerful enough to shift perspectives or inspire change?
Inspiration comes from all places. In every moment there are a plethora of experiences that want to dance with us, if only we will allow it. Change is only our perspective. It’s like looking at a Rembrandt drawing to finally decide: “After all these years of loving this masterpiece, I never noticed those figures in the background.” As we evolve, we may experience the same situation, yet see it differently through time. And even though it may be the same situation, we present a totally different reaction or a totally different vision. And that is what makes us beautiful.
When you create characters and settings, how do you ensure they remain relatable while also carrying deeper meaning?
I’ve never been one for just surface understanding. Case in point: Let’s talk about the brilliant astrophysicist of the 17th century, Johannes Kepler. Many might say: “Math! Yuck!” I would stress this same man had a mother who was arrested for witchcraft, and a partner who lost his nose in a bar brawl, and from that chaos found peace through the mathematical formulae he invented.
Johannes Kepler’s story could be anyone’s story, as his story is not so much about his discoveries but his path to his own inner harmony and therefore his own creativity.
In what ways have you seen creativity foster resilience, innovation, or even inclusivity in your field?
It is important to know one’s audience. A work-for-hire is different from a technical document, which is different from a eulogy. Writing for one’s personal enjoyment has its own set of responsibilities. All these writing segments—the dialog, the description, the character creation—can get out of hand unless one is brutally honest with the editing. I may have written something that I truly enjoy, but if it doesn’t advance the story, it gets cut. Logic errors get cut. Emphasizing a particular item that is never addressed again gets cut. My goal is to make the writing worth the reading.
Some of your work touches on themes like peace, identity, and growth. How do you hope these themes resonate with diverse readers from different walks of life?
Let’s examine graffiti from Pompeii, 2,000 years ago. Here we read all kinds of things, from anger regarding the horrible service experienced at the local tavern, to a boast of sexual conquests, and spiritual regrets. Yet a city is more than its taverns and jails and opera houses. It is the emotional residue of all the inhabitants. And the residents want now, as they wanted 2,000 years ago, to thrive and be treated fairly.
The themes I pick are the same themes found in any ancient or modern society; these are themes that resonate through the ages.
As one of the winners of a BREW Book Award from The Chrysalis BREW Project, what does this recognition represent to you and how does it influence your outlook moving forward?
It is highly flattering and wonderfully unexpected. I guess for me, it reinforces the idea that perhaps my quirky view on life and things really isn’t that quirky after all. I guess I’ll just keep on keepin’ on, with grateful thanks.
What advice would you give to those who are just beginning to explore their own voice, whether in writing or another creative field?
My advice is to understand what is the point of the work? What is the motivation? To tell a story or to make money? Or both? If the work is your personal creation, think long and hard about who your audience will be. If your themes are overtly censorious, unrespectful, or controversial just for the sake of controversy, then your writing will not be the success you may envision. A gay Jesus, for example, will not win you the admiration of the Christian community. If you’re willing to risk that, fine, but why the need to be so antagonistic?
If you were to write your bio in your own words, what would you say? What legacy would you like to leave?
I try to find inspiration from all disciplines, whether a painting, music, or a printed circuit board.
Find joy in everything. Sometimes we ignore or take for granted the fact that the sun is still shining, and that wonderful moon who saw the rise and fall of the Hittite, Greek, and Roman empires, is keeping silent guardian over our own lives. We are all part of a unique, majestic celestial clockwork created by our thoughts, dreams, and hopeful desires.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Find joy in everything. Sometimes we ignore or take for granted the fact that the sun is still shining, and that wonderful moon… is keeping silent guardian over our own lives.”
– Megan Macaulay
Links
- Know more about the BREW Book, Blog, and Poetry Awards here
Share Your Insights
- Which part of Megan’s approach to storytelling resonated most with you?
- How do you think personal experiences shape creative work in general?
- What themes in your own favorite stories inspire reflection or change?
Alignment with the UN SDGs
- Promotes quality education through storytelling and literary exploration (SDG 4)
- Encourages creativity, inclusion, and cultural understanding (SDG 10, SDG 11)
- Supports personal growth and lifelong learning (SDG 3, SDG 4)
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