IT'S ALL KELLY GAY'S FAULT!

Okay, months ago I promised myself that I would not buy any new author's books or start any new series until I had made a substantial dent in my TBR pile. Well, a while back I won a signed copy of Kelly Gay's book BETTER PART OF DARKNESS. She sent that along with a couple of authors I hadn't read. One of them was Kat Richardson so, I read GREYWALKER. I loved it! So, I had to get POLTERGEIST which I am reading now.

This morning, I get Kelly's Newsletter in my e-mail. It's talking about her new YA, DARKNESS BECOMES HER.

I made the fatal mistake. I read the first chapter. Now I have it on order to be delivered Wed. Why Kelly, why do you write such damn good books! You know I can't resist. Please have mercy! I've already pre-ordered THE HOUR OF DUST AND ASHES. I don't know if my brain can continue to take such reading happiness.

Later,
Melissa

WHY WE BUY THE BOOKS WE DO

I was patrolling my favorite blog haunts this morning and found this cover.

I love it! I have to buy this when it comes out. I have never read Diana Roland but, this is a no brainer for me. No pun intended. Authors are always wanting to know what makes a reader buy their book. I just answered that question for an author a few days ago. Why am I buying this book? First of all, the cover rocks. The second reason, the title MY LIFE AS A WHITE TRASH ZOMBIE. Come on, it does not get any better than that! Third reason, the blurb on the back cover. Fourth reason, Diana is a multi-pub author. Final reason, I'm a writer/author myself and I need to be well read. So there you have it.

Later,
Melissa

GREYWALKER

Just finished reading GREYWALKER by Kat Richardson. I received the book from a Kelly Gay blog contest. My name was randomly drawn. I got some other cool stuff too. I just bounced back from Kelly's blog. I let her know that it's her fault I had to order book 2 in the GREYWALKER series - POLTERGEIST.

It seems I'm behind in this series. The books in order are:

GREYWALKER

POLTERGEIST

UNDERGROUND

VANISHED

LABYRINTH

DOWNPOUR

I was lucky enough to find books three and four at my local bookstore. Which is no small feat considering four Borders stores are closing right here in NC. I contacted Kat Richardson because I couldn't find books one and two in hardcover. She informed me that the first two did not come out in hardcover. Oh the pain! I'm a nerdy book collector and it's driving me crazy having part of a series in mass market paperback and the rest in hardcover. ROC, can you say special order please.

I had to special order some of Laurell K Hamilton's books to complete my hardcover collection. Which by the way, all of my friends have been pushing me to stop collecting hardcovers and switch over to a kindle or a nook. No such luck people. I can not get over having the actual book in my hot little hand.

Without further distractions, here's my review. Well, first of all, GREYWALKER must be pretty good if I've already brought book three and four with POLTERGEIST on the way.

Here's the write up from Kat's site:

Recovering from a near-fatal accident, Seattle Private Investigator Harper Blaine develops the ability to move through the Grey: the realm of ghosts, vampires, witches, and magic that exists between our world and the next. Harper wants her life to return to normal, but when her clients turn out to be paranormal, the reluctant GREYWALKER is drawn into the affairs of ambitious vampires and angry ghosts. As her cases converge, Harper uncovers a plot that threatens Seattle’s Grey world and must choose between honor and survival.

I loved the GREYWALKER idea. A living person that can enter and move through the grey where paranormal creatures live. Just that one idea alone makes for some very interesting possibilities. I found myself reading into wee hours of the morning scared to put GREYWALKER down. I didn't want to leave Harper hanging in a potential deadly situation. There are enough twists and turns, vampires and magic to keep the plot moving along nicely. There were a couple of times I had to re-read a couple of passages because they were a bit overwhelming with descriptions of the paranormal. but, over all I really enjoyed this one. Like I said. I'm set. I've got books 1, 3, 4 with book 2 on the way. I'd definitely recommend this to my friends.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

What's your superbowl plans? The girls and I are planning a small girls nite. We do every year. It's somewhat of a tradition in my household. Menu: pizza, soda, nachos and beer for the adults. Happy superbowl!!!

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LOOK WHAT I FOUND!

Abaculus III edited by Danielle Kaheaku


Leucrota Press (trade, 220 pages)

Publication date: November 2009, USA

SF, fantasy and horror stories from Kevin Wallis, Jessica Dall, Josh Alletto, Melissa Carmichael, Brandon Ford, Mark Finnemore, Murphy Edwards, M.D. Maurice, Terry W. Ervin III, Martin Zeigler, Lesley Conner, Robert Essig, R.S. Hunter, Larry Ivkovich, John X. Grey, Shaun Jeffrey, David M. Peak.



This is the first time I've seen my name listed as an author in ABACULUS III. I found the listing on www.sfsite.com/books/.  A pleasant surprise before starting to work on the follow-up to  RAVEN'S TRANSFORMATION.

Later,
Melissa

DESIGNED TO SELL

I'm paying my writing dues. I'm taking the dreaded grammar workshop! I've signed up for a workshop hosted by the grammar divas. Like they said, most people equate taking a grammar class with a root canal.

So why am I torturing myself? Because I want my manuscript to shine like the Michael Jordan's bald head. I want to put the best possible manuscript I can send into the black hole that is called slush pile. And I don't want my editor/agent be moaning rookie mistakes. That's why I have a beta reader, crit partner, writing resource books, read book after book in my chosen genre and take class after class to hone my writing skills.

I sacrifice hours of sleep after working twelve or sixteen hour shifts in pursuit of writing perfection. Or close as I can get.

Later,
Melissa