I Used To Blog

Recently I was reminded how I used to blog. When I started writing I used to hate the blogs that were only about the latest releases or contests. (Looks around my own blog now. Yeah.) I didn't know then I was searching for a connection. I wanted to find those wonderful blogs that it seemed like folks peeled back their humanity. Now, I'm not talking soul-deep blog posts, but the kind where you walked away knowing a complete stranger a little better. The rants were the best because people really forget to keep all the filters in place when they're pissed. So, I used to blog like that all the time. One of my most popular blog posts was a tongue-in-cheek confession about my addiction to the Internet.

So, what happened?

I blogged for five years and felt like there was nothing for me to say anymore. Then I got really busy and didn't have the time for retrospective type post that could sort of inspire. Then Oprah went off the air and that screwed up my touchstone. Seriously, watching Oprah reminded me to stop for a moment and look within. I know, sounds so touchy-feely but that's who I am and that's how I refill my well. I take stock of myself to see where I stand. Usually when something huge hits me between the eyes and throws me off balance.

As fate would have it...lol So, I'm taking stock at the moment. I'm looking at the goals I made for this year and it's not that I can't reach them. I'm pretty ambitious when I want to be. It's that reaching them isn't going to put me in a space that I need to be at the moment. My goals are counter-productive to where I want to be in my writing career. Who would have thought that's even possible? Goals are bad. Lol

What am I doing instead of reaching my goals? I'm listening to music, writing emo blog posts and watching lots and lots of tv/movies. Believe it or not, this is work. Can't put my heart and soul into something if my heart and soul is on empty. Took me years to recognize and accept that. So, I'm off to do more navel gazing.

Will be back later in fine form and probably with something to sell. Oh, or I just might talk about how the wait will be long for Double Trouble.

Twice Smitten, A Modern Fairy Tale: Book 2

In case you didn't know, Double Dare is free for a limited time. In case you were wondering what's next? Well, there's Twice Smitten.

 Abigail Johnson would use three words to describe Drew Carter: lush, loafer and womanizer. When he struts into Adtivity, the advertisement company she works for, her world tilts on its head. He's been hired as a consultant to help her ad account team go to the next level. She’s suddenly faced with a man who is a consummate professional, considerate and kind. It’s must be a farce, because he’s there to decide the fate of her career. When things heat up between them, she refuses to let those brief glimpses convince her to entangle herself in a relationship with him. Her career and heart is on the line.

Drew Carter is fully aware of Abigail's trepidation. There's no denying he hasn’t always been the kind of man a woman should trust, but no one woman has ever made him want the way Abigail has. Her stubbornness, loyalty and honesty appeals to his secret wish—to be open, unguarded and challenged by a woman. Abigail fulfills this unspoken need and he refuses to let her walk out of his life without giving them a chance.

It doesn’t take long for Abigail to suspect Drew just might be the one—the one. But can she trust him with her heart? The more she lets doubt rule her it just might be Drew’s heart that ends up broken.

*Will post buy links as I get them. So excited about this release. Hopefully, you'll enjoy it.

Smashwords

ARe
Barnes and Noble
Amazon

I Did It On Purpose

Before I put a book out I am very aware of what will turn some folks off. Now, Double Dare...sigh. I was on Southern Fried Chicas and we were talking about the romances we weren't fans of and another commenter mentioned how she hated the girlfriend romances. You know, the ones where it seems like it's really a love story between the X amount of friends. I totally commiserated because I've read those books before.

Soon after, guess what plot bunny came hopping along in my mind? A series with three best friends. Mind you, at this point in time I didn't write connected books. Lynne was a fluke, but Lynne is the kind of character that doesn't sit around quietly. I didn't want to write these books, but then Emma, Abigail and Sasha got to chattering in my head. I'm not exaggerating the chatter part. I figured if I ignored them they'd eventually fade and I could write a book that didn't have trouble written all over it from the get-go.

Weeks later they were still talking and driving me half insane so I decided to go with Emma's story first. She seemed sweet, uncomplicated and wouldn't it be funny if she's doing a naked dare? Boom, right out of the gate I'd have her meet the hero. And I always wanted to write a pastry baker. Even had a story sitting around my harddrive, that never worked, that would be a perfect starting point.

And then I started to write it and ten pages later Emma, Sasha and Abigail were still talking. I kid you not. Even the folks who ended up with those first drafts had to suffer through six pages of chatter. Nothing broken up with narration, but six pages of dialogue.

So, needless to say Double Dare has the most chatter of the three friends. Yes, it's absolutely a romance between Tobias and Emma. I play on the fact that in any given scene with the three woman together Emma's the normal one who could easily be the wallflower. I made sure whenever the three woman are together and Tobias is there, all he can see is Emma. And in a much more profound way all she can see is him. Her friends fade to the background.

Yes, I did that on purpose. I made her friends a huge part of her world. Really, out of the three books this is the most stage time all three woman have on the page. Because the thing is Emma is all about family. Not by blood but the one she chose. She's the one they all turn to. She may not be the loudest, the most extravagant, the sexiest or the most obscene. She's the quiet one, that you should totally look out for by the way. And Tobias needed a family.

This may drive folks nuts. This may make them go, Emma who? when all three are together doing their usual shenanigans, but I promise you when it's just her and Tobias...well, you know it's them in their own world.

So if you hate this kind of romance steer clear. No, seriously, the chatter may drive you nuts. You may fall in love with Sasha or Abigail first and rather have their stories. They have that kind of flair. Their books will come out so you'll just have to wait. Just know Emma is the foundation of this world. That kind of person is quiet, unassuming, interesting once you really get to know them. And I totally did that on purpose.

New Release: Double Dare

First impressions are lasting impressions...

Pastry baker Emmaline Sharp is one business connection away from turning her bakery into something more than the dessert shop on the corner. She believes she’s found Mr. Right in café owner Tobias Merchant. His Caff-aholic brand of freshly brewed coffee makes him the perfect partner. When she accepts a dare that thrusts her naked self into Tobias’ waiting arms, she jeopardizes her entire future. Emma will have to convince him to give her another chance, and somehow she'll just have to ignore the unexpected passion he ignites within her.

Tobias needs the connection with Emma’s bakery, Sweet Tooth, in order to liberate himself from the financial and emotional obligations of his past. Unfortunately, Emma's reckless behavior leaves him doubting she can be level-headed and business savvy. Every one of his instincts tells him to walk away, but she’s a temptation he can't seem to deny. He's inexplicably drawn to the lightness in her, especially when he knows just how dark the world can be. Against his better judgment, Tobias ignores his instincts and proceeds to form a partnership with Emma.

When their relationship shifts from business to personal, will Emma and Tobias be able to conquer their demons and find their sweet reward before the deal turns sour?

Amazon
Smashwords
All Romance eBooks
Kobo

Barnes and Noble link to come.

Plus, behind the book kind of posts. I have tons for this story. Tons. You can start here at the Pinterest board.

Just A Normal Writerly Day On Facebook

Lately things have been crazy. Haven't had time to do a real post so this place looks like promo-central blew up and scattered its remains all over my blog. So, this is a slighted edited transcript of the craziness that goes down on my Facebook page.

I've edited the hell out of this so that it actually fits in one blog post. Maybe, one day, I'll show you the rest. So, this is where we are semi-focused on the task, but we're writers. All things devolve at some point.

The FB Status That Started It All:

Sidenote: I need blog material. Calling all writers to tell me Shit Your Characters Say. Jennifer McKenzie/Jennifer Leeland, and T. Sue VerSteeg report for duty. And by duty I mean trouble making.

T. Sue VerSteeg: To me or what I actually allow them to say in my books?

Melissa Blue: Oh, of course what they say to you. What ends up in the books are not trouble-making.

Melissa Blue: Unless, they're Jennifer Leeland characters. They have no filter.

T. Sue VerSteeg: Jennifer Leeland has no filter. It's one of the many reasons I lubs her so very much!

Jennifer McKenzie: LOL! What the hell is a filter?

Jennifer McKenzie: Okay okay. Shit my characters say. 1. But I want to have sex noooooooooooow!!!"

Melissa Blue: Believe it or not, she (Jennifer Mckenzie) does (have a filter.) Trust me, we have phone conversations.

Jennifer McKenzie: 2. No, it totally happened like that. All the other characters and the theory of relativity is full of shit.

Melissa Blue: 3. I know. I know. We just had a sex scene, but we haven't tried this yet.

Melissa Blue: 4. I don't have a deep, dark past. I'm peachy fucking keen.

Jennifer McKenzie: 5. Swearsies! This will work! You just have to rewrite the whole fucking book!!!

Jennifer McKenzie: 6. I'm a short story. Honest!

Melissa Blue: No. No. Jen. Number 5 happens when you find out the truth.

Melissa Blue: 7. Wrong heroine/hero.

Jennifer McKenzie: 8. What's wrong with her? She's boring! Don't you have anyone who's a little more.....damaged?

Melissa Blue: 9. We're going to have sex right now even though it's totally inconvenient and it might break my character. I'm sure you can make it work.

T. Sue VerSteeg: 10. I'll behave if you just write my story right now. Liars. All of them.

Jennifer McKenzie: 11. Of course we can have sex when we're in mortal danger! What do you mean?

Melissa Blue: 12. I'm just a secondary character. I won't want my own story. Swears.

Jennifer McKenzie: 13. I have a name but I'm not telling you.

Jennifer McKenzie: 14. I'm not a dirty story. Not at all.

Melissa Blue: 15. I'll never love again.

Melissa Blue: 16. This is the fourteenth scene with us around the kitchen just talking. That's not boring at all.

* To Be Continued...Maybe. One day. This is what writers talk about when readers aren't watching.  

To find out more about T. Sue Versteeg you can click here. To find out more about Jennifer Leeland/The Real and First Jennifer Mckenzie you can click here.

Weekend Sale! 4 Authors! Don't Miss it!

First, wow. I may be overly excited about this sale, but, hey, you're here to find out more. This is a IR/MC March Madness Sale! Did it again. Anyway...

Looking for a deal? Then check out this weekend's March Madness event. You can pick up these titles on discount from new to you or your favorite IR/MC authors until Sunday night:

$2.99 to $0.99

Everything He Dreamed by Melissa Blue

Website

$2.99 to $1.49

Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever by LV Lewis

Website

$1.99 to $0.99

The Problem with Paddy (Shrew & Company No. 1) by Holley Trent

Website

$3.99 to $1.99

Wolf's Promise (Caedmon Wolves) Ambrielle Kirk

Website

If you want to find out more about these authors and their books you can check out their website. And by no means are these the only authors in the IR/MC romance genre. :) I'm always looking for more to add to my TBR list. Tell me some of your favs?

IR/MC March Madness Sale

Join my IR/MC March Madness Sale. I'm looking for authors who have IR/MC self-published titles to join this group promo on Amazon and B&N. It costs you nothing. All you have to do is discount your title on Amazon and B&N and list the promo in your blurb/editorial review section during the event. Of course, to get the word out you should tweet, blog and Facebook the event. For more information you can contact me at melissab dot author at gmail dot com or PM me.

Deadline to join: Wednesday, March 6^th, 2013.

Event: March 8^th, 2013- March 10^th, 2013