Stay Mello Creative

Stay Mello Creative are David and Keiko Mello, co-creators in writing, illustration, and photography. Established in 2009 as a photography services outfit, they specialized in Portrait Noir fine art photography, as well as pet & event photography. Fast-forward to today, they are laser-focused on working with Strive Publishing & Bookstore to launch and promote their award-winning middle-grade fiction book, 'The Three Stones of Ebon', the first installment of a planned trilogy. Other ambitions include opening an online store that promotes limited-release illustrations and printed products based on the trilogy, as well as printed goods from their extensive body of photography work. So who are David and Keiko? David Mello left Stuttgart, Germany in 1980 for the Pacific Northwest in his teens, but he is still an “army brat”, divided between U.S. and German cultures. His long-standing love of comic books, standup comedy, and rooting for the underdogs of the world helped shape both his early and current writings, from children’s books, mini ‘zines, and various adventures in revolution. When not writing, David usually has a camera in-hand. Keiko, born Keiko Welch, hails from an interracial family in Minneapolis’ Northside in the 1970s. Also familiar with straddling two cultures, Keiko dove headlong into creative endeavors to ground herself, through drawing, dancing, and playing drums in rock bands. A self-proclaimed ‘metalhead for life’, restlessness drew Keiko to the Pacific Northwest in search of her next music adventure. Keiko and David crossed paths in 1997 and have been inseparable ever since. As for music, Keiko says a definite "maybe" to returning to it one day. In the making of The Three Stones of Ebon, David provided the tale, basing the main protagonist on their godson Jack, and the common core ethics shared among their closest friends and extended family. Keiko helped the tale come to life with co-editing and her black-and-white illustrations.