Mel's Procrastination Palace

Saturday, October 29, 2005 Happy Halloween!

Ghosts and goblins and witches... wait, that was Mandy and Michelle's day at the ecchat group, wasn't it? If you missed it, shame on you, they had a great discussion about hauntings and some killer quizzes. Dratted that I was at work all day and only snuck into babble on about my parent's haunted house. *shiver*

There are two, yet uncarved or adorned, pumpkins on my front steps. THAT's as far as I got this year. Highly unlikely I will go any farther this late in the game, but goshdarnit, these holiday's keep sneaking UP on me! Last thing I new I was bemoaning the loss of HEAT, now they're frosty windows and leaves all over and, gah, the call of children... trick or treat, trick or treat...

Actually, as soon as I can boot my child into the shower (she's less motivated than I am today, can you believe it?) I'm gonna take camera and head out into the wild blue (and yellow and red and some brown) yonder and see if I can't capture this on film... cuz next time I open my eyes it'll probably be Thanksgiving or heaven forbid Christmas. (Still rather miffed at Shan that she put a countdown on her site. I didn't want to think we were close enough to consider a countdown, whimper)

I'll try to be back this weekend with something worth blogging about. See Mel eat, see Mel sleep, see Mel work, see Mel write. Lather, rinse, repeat. Gah... that's my life :)

Posted by Melani Blazer :: 8:50 AM :: 2 comments

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Tuesday, October 25, 2005 Dude, where's my condom?

I did it again.
I supposed because I've been married for over 15 years, I don't think about that extra step between foreplay and penetration that requires a thin piece of plastic to separate the hero and heroine. Condom? Wassat?

Way back when, Angie did a post about reading contemporaries and how frustrated she was and TSTL she felt the characters were when they had sex without protection. Even on the pill, a condom should be used. I totally agree with her. Really, I do. If I could only remember to stick about four or five of those puppies in the heroine's purse or hero's wallet before locking them someplace to finally get to the deed. It's not like I can actually write him zipping up his jeans and heading out to the nearest Walgreen's, can I? (No, I do not write comedy on a regular basis, that's Shan's territory...)

So, last night I write this hot sex scene. When I wake up this morning I realized it. No protection. These characters are not TSTL. Neither would/could/will make a dumbass decision, no matter how horny they are. Mel is just a moron and now must go back and invent a bedside table in which a full box of condoms reside, just for this moment. And then prevent the heroine from asking why he's so prepared, cuz she arrived without notice. (I'm so digging myself a plot hole here....) All because of ONE LITTLE BITTY SCRAP OF RUBBER. *sigh*

Thanks Angie, I really appreciate you opening my eyes to this driving need. I wonder if I can a) send my characters back in time to a date in which Trojan meant the big bad horse and nothing else or b) just ignore it and hope nobody mentions the lack of total DUH on these characters parts.

Mel, off to install a condom dispenser in hero's bedroom....

Posted by Melani Blazer :: 7:55 PM :: 2 comments

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Monday, October 24, 2005 Look Ma, I blogged

Actually, I got the title typed in there and stared at for a long time, mainly because a) my mother will never see this (read: technophobe) and b) okay, so a title doesn't a blog entry make.

Sigh.
The whole Halloween thing isn't working for me this year. Zilch in the decoration, excitement department. I bought two pumpkins, but even getting those was more of a chore than a wonderful annual family event.

This weekend was gorgeous foliage wise, and the hubby and I had every intention of going for a walk in the woods, but you know how it is, you get busy doing something else, or say, we'll go when this is over and by that time, we're too tired (from doing what? sitting on the couch flexing thumb to switch back and forth from football to Nascar every thirty seconds???) and so that opportunity waved goodbye from the back of a gaily decorated hayride. The tree in our front yard looks nice tho'. Shame I'll be cursing those yellow and red leaves in another couple of weeks when gravity reaches up and yanks em down. Maybe one day this week I can go cruising around with camera in tow. Don't hold your breath, my motivation is often more in my mind than my get-up-and-go cells.

I really was determined to be positive :) Honest. This weekend the daughter had friends over. When I decided I was going to write them a book, they decided THEY were going to write themselves one. Mine's about three magna-loving teengirls, they're writing/drawing a manga. But they're dedicated--they spent more hours writing this weekend than I did. This is a huge feat for the daughter-who-refuses-to-be-like-her-mom-and-therefore-shuns-anything-writing-related. I'm eager to see what they come up with. Will keep you posted.

And with that, I'm off to fetch lunch and get back to work.
Ciao!

Posted by Melani Blazer :: 12:11 PM :: 1 comments

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Thursday, October 20, 2005 It's OUT!

Brand Name Dates is now available for purchase in e-book HERE.

Talking with my pals this morning, I realized it was three years ago next month when I started making notes about this book. Kinda leaves me awestruck to know people are buying and reading it now. I hope all of you laugh at loud, scream at Jill (silently of course) when she's impulsive and does things she'll likely regret, and lick your lips at the variety of men that cross her path. But I also hope that at the end, you sigh with contentment because of the things Jill realizes, learns and embraces. I sure did when writing it. :)

I'm gonna go hide under my desk now (steals Shannon's favorite hiding spot.)

Posted by Melani Blazer :: 12:44 PM :: 2 comments

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Wednesday, October 19, 2005 Sudden Attack of the Nerves

I actually think I've got more jitters about Brand Name Dates releasing than any of my previous stories through Ellora's Cave.
Why?
Half of me pretends to know why, the other half thinks I'm just channeling my daughter's drama queen-itis. Maybe because I wrote this book way before any of my Ellora's Cave stories. And it's written in first person, which seems to make it sooooo much more intimate to me. Plus, this is *the* book that my daughter, my sister, my grandmother and maybe even my own mother will read. Mom-in-law read it already and gave me thumbs up, (she's a dear, everyone needs a mom in law like her...). *sigh* And yes, some of my close friends have read it and assured me it won't be a literary embarrassment, but still....

The half of me that isn't nervous and shaking is jumping up and down with excitement. Cerridwen Press has given me the opportunity to be funny, flirty, sassy, even oozing sarcasm with this book. Nostalgically, I look back to when I wrote it and smile--even laugh, as I remember IM conversations with my CP, Jaci Burton, as I told her about the "dates" and what clothes Jill would equate them too on this metaphoric shopping spree of hers. There was some ridiculously hilarious outfits that never made it to the book, some I wished I could have shoehorned in there (but I was trying to keep it under 100K!) I might dig up some notes and post them here. :) That would be fun, wouldn't it?

Anyway, my nerves are only getting worse by continuing to type, so to save you from reading my babbling lunacy, I'll sign off and see if I can't keep myself sane for 24 more hours.
Cheers~

Posted by Melani Blazer :: 9:54 AM :: 1 comments

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Sunday, October 16, 2005 oooh, a tangent....

Don't EVEN think math, either. *shudder*

The other night I was IM'ing with my daughter (she was at the grandparent's) and she informed me that she might have sold some of my books. Hmmm, hello? Anyway, turns out the teacher was reading something she thought might have been Ellora's Cave (omg at the thought of a teacher bringing that book to school--AND reading it during study time for her students...) anyhoot, Goose walked up to the teacher and went about the whole sales spiel of her mommy writing and all. Turns out the book wasn't EC, but the teacher did know about EC. That's good, I guess. :)

The conversation went into the concept that Goose, at 14, could read Brand Name Dates. She also asked me about another book (unsubmitted) that she wanted to read, but unfortunately, can't at this point. I thought about revising, but then that dear muse o'mine came up with the concept of writing a book FOR Goose--starring semi biographical characters based on her and her three friends.

So...the mess has begun, and in between them dreaming up character traits (I really do have final say in this) I'm trying to write what Jaci calls... "Hot Nascar Sex".... if only I could get the characters alone to HAVE any. Jeeesh.

How was your weekend?

Posted by Melani Blazer :: 3:56 PM :: 1 comments

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Wednesday, October 12, 2005 Me too... awol that is

When I saw Anna posted about her being awol from blogging, it reminded me I hadn't been on here in awhile myself. Bad, bad me.

I've been writing, playing online games (can't disppoint those who think I can't procrastinate with the best of 'em) and somehow losing minutes and hours doing mundane things like dishes and laundry. hrmph.

The muse teased me today with a new chick lit idea. Of course, my hormones are whacked, I'm coming down with a cold (thank you whoever decided you should share your icky bacteria!!!) and it's just been a stressful month so far. I'm really not complaining, okay, I am, but at the muse's really wacky timing.

On the plus side, I've watched a bunch of interviews with Cameron Crowe about his new movie coming out. (Yes, I had ulterior motives to watch, but ended up being VERY interested in what this writer/producer had to say). His description of his characters motivations seems to sink in with me and I'm learning a ton about it. Learning is good. :)

Oh, and I should start talking about it now, tho' I swear I'm as nervous as if this were my very first book out. Brand Name Dates, a Cerridwen Press release, will be available for ebook purchase on October 20th. This is a chick lit book about one woman's adventures with what she thinks she wants out of life and what life hands her. It revolves around the concept that dating is like shopping for clothes. It's in first person, the first book I've sold with that point of view, and I hope very humorous and fun. I've got an excerpt up on my web site. (I think....if not I'll make haste on that!)

anyway, that's what's up with me, how is it for you?

Posted by Melani Blazer :: 7:04 PM :: 1 comments

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Saturday, October 01, 2005

And then we saw a butterfly, who posed happily for pictures.

Posted by Melani Blazer :: 9:50 PM :: 1 comments

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Today's adventure

A photo success.

I got the child, aka goose, to pose for pictures for me today. She opted out of school pictures (for good reason, I caught a glance at her ID, yikes!) Natural light really makes her look so much better. :) So I gotta show off the kid, ya know? I got a good dozen images of her. And yes, this was done in B&W, not color film. :)

Posted by Melani Blazer :: 9:42 PM :: 2 comments

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Tagged....*whimper*

This is gonna hurt. Jaci tagged me.
Here goes...

1.Delve into your blog archive.

2. Find your 23rd post (or closest to).

3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).

4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions. Ponder it for meaning, subtext or hidden agendas...

5. Tag five people to do the same.

Here goes......

Or, if you do, you don't like it and delete it.

Bwahahahahhahahha It means my favorite way to edit is hit the delete button. But that's pretty much common knowledge.

I get to tag people, eh? come back later to find out who I obligated. *snicker*

Posted by Melani Blazer :: 8:37 AM :: 1 comments

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