Sunday, March 30, 2014

DISTRACTIONS

There are so many distractions that can keep you away from writing. I happen to have several hobbies, am a single Mother and work full time.

Kim Harrison signed my book (Ever After) to write like I have a contract. I am writing now, but I will admit I probally need to kick it up a couple of notches.

At least my desire to create and write has returned after a long time. Thank you Kim, Jo and Yolanda for continuing to inspire and push me to explore and push myself with writing. I feel excited. Something I haven't felt in a long time.
Later, Melissa

Friday, March 28, 2014

WRITERS AUTHORS AND OTHER STUFF



I'm dipping my toe into the water and trying to improve my writing skills again. But, something has been bothering me lately. I love to read. That's what sparked my interest in writing. I just finished reading and awesome book and truly loved it.

But in the back of my mind, I have a major battle of epic portions going on. What I have noticed over the last couple of years is...some of my favorite and most talented writers have gone the route of self publishing. Now, I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with self publishing.

You still get your work out there and there are a lot of successful self published authors but,  I think that some of what's happening is that contracts are not being offered or series are not being picked up.

Now, I'm a reader and a fan girl when it comes to my authors that I read and watching this trend is breaking my heart.

Going the traditional route of publishing has always been the harder route but it's becoming almost impossible. I liken it to becoming a professional basketball or football player. It's one in a million shot or like winning the lottery.

Your chances of quitting your day job and writing for a living is paramount to being able to live out your fantasy these days. I follow a lot of writers blogs. Most of the authors I follow do have day jobs and still have  success  as published authors.

Now my idea of success may not be yours but if you have more than five of six published  books that did fairly well...I think that's success.

So why am I writing again? One is because I love to see my words on paper. Another is I want to see what happens to the character I created. And lastly, I have a strong desire to not just be a published author but also a published novelist.

Can I do it? I don't know but one thing is for sure, if I don't even try...then I have failed already.

Later,
Melissa

Saturday, March 22, 2014

MELISSA'S READING LIST



I just finished reading The Undead Pool! It was another awesome offering from my favorite author. Loved this one. But, when I finished reading...I went to Kim's website and realized to my horror...that this is the next to last book in the series! Noooooooo! I've followed Rachel, Ivey and Jenks through 12 books. It's so hard to let them go. Even if I want them all to get their happy ending.

Well, Kim just finished her book tour for The Undead Pool. So, I've got another year to wait until release of her next...sob...last book in The Hollows Series.



Here I am meeting Kim and grinning like a complete idiot. 


I'm glad in a world of digital books, I have brought each and everyone of these in hardcover, two of which I was lucky enough to get signed in person by Kim Harrison in person.

Well, what are you guys reading?

Later,
Melissa