Regional Arts Development Fund

I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to the RADF, without which I'm certain I wouldn't be attending the Romance Writers of Australia conference. It's there I hope to pitch a single title, co-authored manuscript to both an agent and editor. This ms has been quite a process and a huge learning curve for both myself and Kylie. But I have to say the story seriously rocks (g)
Can't wait for the conference!!

Eclipse: Verdict

Finally watched this movie the other day...missed the first 5 minutes or so, but still, quite enjoyed it.
The negatives: it ended abruplty, and even though there are more movies to come, I wish they had of tied up the ends better, and not left me feeling like it was a rushed job.
Bella kinda annoyed me. But I guess it means she did her job as an actress. (just fall in love with Jacob already!!!)
The positives: Beautiful backdrops, great werewolves (can I have one?) and Jacob with his shirt off LOL!!!
Overall Verdict:
My eldest daughter didn't like it as much as the first two and gave it a 7/10
Second eldest daughter liked it better than the first two and gave it a 6/10
I'm giving it a 7/10 - Enjoyable but not fantastic

Manuscripts update

While I'm busy doing lots of words on Believe with my co-writer, Kylie, my mind has been percolating with other stories I'm itching to write. A single title story idea that's half written in my head, an EC short story which has alien characters and a human woman, this one features more than one hero (it's a bit out there) and book 3 of my EC Winged & Dangerous series, which will feature a female gargoyle who is leader of a secret gargoyle clan, this will also feature more than one hero....
And then there are two stories I have started which would make excellent Nocturne Bites fodder. I only wish there were more hours in the day!!

Turning Three and Children's Movies

With my youngest daughter turning three yesterday, (the time has flown!!!!!) I've been seeing plenty of movies with her.
Earlier today we watched Toy Story 3, it was great. Unfortunately we couldn't choose who decided to sit right near us in an almost empty cinema *sigh* - the little person who talked and wiggled and wormed through the entire movie. Not to mention running up and down the aisle.
Even so, I enjoyed the movie and might buy this one on DVD.

The same goes with How to Train Your Dragon, really enjoyed this movie - even though Codi was just a little young for it and lost a bit of interest. (at least the cinema was empty LOL)
I'd probably rate these poth on a par... around an 8 out of 10.

I really want to see Eclipse now - but my two older daughters have already watched it, and I'm not sure this is one for the hubster LOL!!!

Book of the Month & July Reads

What a great debut book from Ms Bailey!! Damon and Lily's reunion is rather unique, and Damon's desire for Lily is counteracted only by his ruthless need for revenge. Here's the fantastic excerpt:

Tycoon Damon Blakely had one year to produce a legitimate heir. Luckily he had a bride candidate in mind. Lily Grayson had been the perfect mistress...until she'd left him. And when he proposed his plan, Damon learned why. Lily was already expecting his baby.

The millionaire's shock and anger was quickly trounced by Lily's counteroffer. She would give their child his name...but theirs would be a paper marriage. Lily claimed Damon had no room in his heart for anything beyond business. The terms of his proposal left him little room to argue...until he could get Lily back into his bed.

July Reads:
Powerful Italian, Penniless Housekeeper: India Grey
Embrace the Night: Amanda Ashley

Carnal Moon: Accepted!

Ellora's Cave has accepted my werewolf quickie story, (10K word count) Carnal Moon. This story was offered a contract by another publisher, which I eventually declined. Ellora's Cave is a stellar publisher, and this story will find a great home there =)

I've also been busy working on a new werewolf story, which I'm hoping will be accepted by Nocturne Bites. This one's working title is Moon Thrall, though I hold little hope that title will be kept!

Now I'm looking forward to finishing off Believe with my co-author Kylie, and pitching it as a single title book at the conference! Damn though, the time is ticking a million miles an hour, and still so many words to go! Fingers crossed we get over that finish line!!

Book Piracy

A controversial subject, with two very different reasonings.
*The readers who download our books are likely not to be the people who'd read our books anyway - does this make it right!??
*The people downloading our books for free are putting the readers up in arms who are legitimately buying them, giving them the reasoning of why should I be paying for this when all these people aren't? And yes, creating even more pirates.
There's a great post by Ellora's Cave author, Tracey Cooper-Posey who gives a very valid argument about this sensitive subject.

Reading...not!!!!

I've read not even one full category book these last two months - let alone a big, juicy paranormal or fantasy book - unbelievable for me. I easily read two or three books a week, I *make* time if need be. Plus it's a great way to make me tired before I drift off to sleep.
Between writing my arse off (and getting seemingly nowhere) until midnight or so and having Miss Two wake up at least a few times a night, my will to read has greatly diminished LOL!!! Don't get me wrong, reading is my favourite pasttime...and I can't wait to start reading my TBR pile very soon! Fingers crossed =)

June: Qoute of the Month

There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are ~W. Somerset Maugham

Walking Vs Gardening

I admit it, I hate walking. Walking somewhere new where I've never been before - lovely, but walking the same old road/street day after day in the name of fitness and not looking like a blob - not-so-lovely.
Gardening is my new exercise of choice...yes, even I'm surprised. But Miss Two can potter around with me and there's a great sense of achievement to see my wild and woolly green leafy thing-a-ma-jigs (oh, they're trees) looking lovely and pruned, the ground free from the resident gum's cast-off limbs and the thousands of coco palms sprouting up everywhere.
I've also discovered it's good thinking time (dragging branches to the fire pile does that) kinda clears the mind from the mess of characters/plots/ideas/intermittent ramblings going on in there.
And now my lone, rather dejected looking parsley sitting behind the shed, reminds me it's probably waaay past time to start that vegie patch...

Supernatural Underground

A great blog has been started by a best-selling group of Harper-Collins authors who write Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance under Avon, Eos and Harper Teen imprints. There are some amazing authors here, Melissa Marr, Jeaniene Frost, Pamela Palmer, Jocelyn Drake, Kerrilyn Sparks and so many more, which includes great witing pal, Tracey O'hara.
I left a comment the other day and was stoked to win a copy of debut author, Sara Creasey's SONG OF SCARABAEUS - can't wait to read it!
Pop on over to Supernatural Underground for some fascinating posts and lots of chances to win some fabbo books!

Special Blog Guest: Christina Phillips

I'm so pleased to have Christina Phillips as my special blog guest! Her hot, historical novel, FORBIDDEN, is released September 2010 through Berkley Heat, and I for one cannot wait to read it!!

Hi Christina,

Welcome to my blog!

Thanks for the welcome, Mel!

First off, I would love to hear a little about yourself and your journey that led to you becoming a writer.

Well, I'm married to my childhood sweetheart (OK I was fifteen when we met... almost a child... lol!) and we have two daughters and one son. All of whom tower over me (even when I'm wearing stilettoes). We moved from the UK to WA three weeks before Christmas 1998, and I decided to get serious about my writing at Easter 1999. I started off targetting HM&B and it was over at the eHarlequin boards I hooked up with my incomparable CPs. Five years later I tried writing first person chick lit and began the daunting task of researching agents. When chick lit bottomed out I wrote a couple of paranormal romances, then to stretch my writing muscles (and also because my CPs said I should!) I wrote an erotic novelette. Foretaste of Forever sold to The Wild Rose Press, followed by another novelette, Touch of the Demon. These sales gave me a much needed boost to my confidence in my writing ability and so I decided to really step outside my comfort zone and write a full length erotic romance. And an ancient historical at that!

A *huge* congratulations on your two book deal with Berkley Heat! Could you fill us in on the call story?

Thank you! It all happened quickly, in publishing terms. The night I signed with my agent she asked if I had considered turning my Roman set historical into a series. She suggested writing the story of my heroine's best friend, and wanted to know if I could complete some revisions she had for FORBIDDEN and develop two outlines for subsequent books by the following Thursday (she was going away on the Friday and wanted to sub to a couple of editors before she left).

Of course I said yes!!! And spent the next five days in a complete frenzy of editing, brainstorming and writing. I'm not sure if I remembered to feed my family or not, in fact I don't remember very much of that week at all! But by the Wednesday I sent everything off to my agent and thankfully she loved it all and subbed the following day. Three months later, on New York's Friday and my Saturday morning, I received an email saying we had an editor interested. I was insanely excited!I had to wait until the following Tuesday before we had confirmation that Berkley Heat wanted to buy. That was a very long weekend!!!

I love the title ‘Forbidden Princess’, can you tell us a little about the characters and the storyline? (Blurb and extract pasted below)

I love the title too! It was originally called His Forbidden Druid, but my editor wanted to change it to Princess and that also fits the story perfectly, so I was very happy. A couple of weeks later she asked if I minded shortening the title further to FORBIDDEN, and I loved that too!

It's set during the Roman invasion of ancient Wales circa AD 50. My hero, Maximus, is intrigued by the Celtic woman who shows no fear before him and refuses to accept his word as law. He soon discovers that although Carys may look fragile, she possesses an iron will to match his own, and if she decides she wants something, nothing is going to stand in her way.

My heroine Carys, a Druid princess, and her people escaped into a magical enclave created by their High Druid, Aeron, supposedly to gather their resources before driving the enemy from their lands. Aeron, however, has his own plans, which include once again taking Carys as his lover. Only this time he doesn't intend to let her go.

You already have two shorts published by The Wild Rose Press — ‘Touch of the Demon’ and ‘Foretaste of Forever’ — are the flavour of these stories similar at all to your Roman book coming out with Berkely?

This is such a great question, Mel. I asked my CPs what they thought, and here's their verdict:

Sara Hantz: Yikes that's a toughy. Your style of writing is similar... very evocative, descriptive... And your use of language is second to none. As for the flavour, I think the latest ones you've sold are more romantic, and clearly have more depth because they're longer. And the setting is different, and explored in much greater depth.

Amanda Ashby: I think you actually found your voice with those two novellas so I do think that your voice is the same, but obviously the setting and the scope of the story in Druid is different.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with any writers just starting out?

I've received so much support and friendship from the RWAus and RWNZ, I highly recommend joining a writer's organisation if you possibly can. Not only will you learn heaps about the business itself but there are also opportunities to join critique groups, undertake writing courses and enter contests to help improve your craft. Plus of course there are the annual conferences which are invaluable and a real highlight in the writing year!

One more thing - I'm sure everyone is sick of me quoting Galaxy Quest, but it really does put everything in a nutshell: Never Give Up! Never Surrender!

What is the hardest and/or worst thing you’ve discovered since publication?

Rejections still happen and they still sting, lol. Sucky reviews sting too but you can't please everyone all the time.

Thanks Christina! Just one thing before you slip off into deadline realm (g), what can we expect from you and your books in the future?

I'd love to explore more of my ancient Roman/druid world. That would make me very happy!

Thanks so much for having me on your blog today, Mel!

Blurb:

He was a master of seduction - but no match for the magical allure of the woman he wanted most.

Carys knew from the moment she first spied on Maximus in his naked barbarian glory that he was a dangerous Roman centurion - his taut, battle-scarred flesh marking him as a fearless warrior. But her desire for him was as undeniable as it was illicit.

Charged by his emperor to eliminate a clan of powerful Druids in Britain, Maximus never expects his mission to be thwarted by the clan's ethereal princess, Carys, his daring voyeur. Falling under her spell, he doesn't realize her true heritage - until he captures her heart as well as her body.

As Carys's loyalties are twisted, and freedom is no longer her single-minded obsession, an avenging former lover threatens to crush Maximus's people into oblivion. Now Carys and Maximus must overcome the devastation of war and face the ultimate sacrifice if their forbidden love is to survive.

Extract: http://www.christinaphillips.com/Forbidden%20Excerpt.htm

Web: http://www.christinaphillips.com

Blog: http://christinaphillips.blogspot.com

Pet Photos

Ellie the dog features on this week's Catwalk Wednesday over at the Lovecats Dowunder blog. If you want to share a photo...

Lovecats wants YOUR pet to feature on its Catwalk Wednesday.
Interested? Email Mel at Melteshco@yahoo.com.au

Ice-Cold Lover Book Trailer

The book trailer for Ice-Cold Lover is finished. I didn't have a whole heap of time to do it, so I kept it short and simple =)
A big thanks Laurann for sending me this blocked out image!

Release Day!!!!

In just a few hours my 2nd book of the Winged & Dangerous series, Ice-Cold Lover will be released at Ellora's Cave!! I've really loved writing these gargoyle characters, so I decided I wanted to make this a 3 book series, with ideas for maybe more LOL
ps - I'll be giving away a freebie of Ice-Cold Lover over at the Lovecats if you'd like a chance to win it =)

I'm stoked to be sharing my release day with my great mate, Laurann Dohner and her latest release Tempting Rever one of her series in the Zorn Warriors (and boy, does this woman churn them out!!!!)

Happy Reading!!

Writing Taking a Back Seat, Hubby the Front =)

Happy to report hubby is doing well and dandy (can't believe I said that) after his knee replacement operation yesterday morning. He had a huge hole inside his old knee replacement, so he was well and truly due for his 2nd 'knee'.
Of course, hubby being hubby, he couldn't wait to come home and stayed only one night before deciding enough was enough. Have to admit I did the same after my C-section, one night was enough for me too - no matter what i was coming home LOL!!
So now he has six weeks off and I'm thinking there may not be a whole lot of writing going on in my household.... of course I might be wrong!!
Either way, Moon Thrall will be finished very soon, and Believe not too far after if I hope to pitch it at the conference.
Fingers crossed! =)

Catwalk Wednesday Pics at Lovecats

I've had so many great pictures sent to me since we first began the Catwalk Wednesday over at Lovecats, I thought I'd show a few of the images here =)
There's some great photos coming up too, some gorgeous pets out there.
If you want to show off your pet, email me your pet photo to my melteshco email and I'll send some questions back. Too easy!

Cheers!

I've been reading some blogs lately about refilling the creative well. That's exactly what I"m doing for a few days. Hubby is looking after Miss Two and I'm off for the day and night to my mum's on the coast to get some serious writing done (well that's the plan). Of course there'll be a little bit of cooking going on (home made lemon meringue tart for dessert tonight), and perhaps a couple of glasses of bubbly. A writer's got to eat and drink!!! LOL.
I'm hoping to write a good 20 pages of my co-authored single title "Believe" and be close to finished with my Noc Bites story "Moon Thrall" which is taking way longer than I'd hoped...
So, cheers!!

May: Quote of the Month

I'm like a big old hen. I can't cluck too long about the egg I've just laid because I've got five more inside me pushing to get out. ~Louis L'Amour

Cover of Ice-Cold Lover!!!

I'm soo excited by this cover!! I have to say it's my favourite so far, just gorgeous!

Here's the blurb!

Book 2 of the Winged and Dangerous series.

Celeste has been having vivid, sexual dreams starring Pascal Daniels. He is every woman’s fantasy and leads a charmed life. Pascal can have any woman he wants, any time he wants her. Celeste is determined to have him—just once—because she has a secret she will fight tooth and nail to protect. She is human in every way except for her hideous bat-like wings, a permanent legacy from her once-cursed gargoyle father, Cray.

Pascal is used to attention from women, but he is looking for something special. He is interested in the ice queen, Celeste Diamond. He thinks she has the perfect female form and he wants to possess her. Pascal has decided it is way past time to warm up the mysterious, elusive Celeste. Of course, he has some secrets of his own.

(Excerpt at Ellora's cave)

Pets in the Limelight

I'm loving the pet photos getting sent to me by you guys for the lovecats blog Catwalk Wednesday. I think it's about time our furry friends (or winged/scaled if you prefer) get in on the action!!
If you want your pet included, send it to my email and I'll make sure to slot it in!
Here's our list of questions to choose 5 or more from (or make up your own!)

Name

Abode

Human Slave

Likes

Dislikes

Ambition

Sociable or Aloof

Night Owl or Early Bird

Favourite Pastime

Favourite Toy

Best Friend

What do you like to sharpen your claws on

Winner of Bites Giveaway!!!!

The winner of EIGHT Nocturne Bites is...Karen Michelle Nutt!

Karen, we'll be sending you Fictionwise coupons for all the fantastic Bites listed.

Thanks to everyone who's been to mine and Anna's blog the last two months to celebrate the release of HER DARK LORD and HUNTER'S SURRENDER.

It's been a blast =)