Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Hurricane Katrina

I wanted to make blog entries today. I can't. Not about the stuff I would usually. Not with everything going on in the South.

My heart is breaking watching the stories coming out of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

I've seen so many horrible things A man who didn't want to evacuate because of his dog and not sure where to go or what to do with her but not wanting to leave her in the water's path. . A man who lost his wife literally in the flood waters. People on top of houses watching their neighbor's house burn. The stories are many and numerous.

Author, Sheri Gilmore is fine but her house is under water. Larissa Ione, the same thing. Alicia Sparks and her family rode out the storm fine as far as I've heard. I'm sure there are others and others who have family down in that part of the country.

My heart goes out to everyone who has been affected by this storm. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

I would urge everyone. Give what you can. I know times are tough. Do what you can. Every little bit helps. But recovery from this is going to be a long hard road. Most of these people have nothing but clothes on their backs, if that.

The Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/

The Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

Noah's Wish: http://www.noahswish.org/

Friends helping Larissa Ione: http://www.stephanietyler.com/blog/2005/08/30/more-on-larissa/ & http://alisonkent.com/blog/

I'm sure there are more organizations who will be taking money, supplies, and whatever it takes to help everyone.

Pray for the rescue workers. They are having some very long days and nights working to get everyone out. And I salute them all for the work they are doing.

You all have my thoughts and prayers
Mechele

Monday, August 29, 2005

Heart of the Dragon--He'll Make You Burn

Heart of the Dragon
by Gena Showalter
HQN books, 037377057X

He is a Dragon, a rare breed of warriors able to transform into the legendary creature at will. Though the mighty warlord breathes fear into the minds of his enemies and fire into the blood of his women, no one has ever stirred his heart -- until he encounters Grace Carlyle of modern day Earth. He burns to possess this proud, alluring beauty . . . but he has sworn to kill her.

Set in the mythological world of Atlantis, where the gods’ hid their greatest mistakes – the vampires, demons, minotaurs, dragons and too many others to name – Darius en Kragin is the fiercest creature of all. But this immortal warrior is unprepared for Grace and soon finds himself caught between sizzling white-hot passion and duty.

Praise:

Sexy, funny, and downright magical!” New York Times bestselling author Katie MacAlister

Sexy and sparkling, Award winning author Robin D. Owens

Bold and witty, sexy and provocative, Gena Showalter's star is rising fast! Carly Phillips, New York Times Bestselling Author.

Gena's website

Excerpt

Buy from Barnes and Nobleor Amazon.


Check out her cover. (I would have tried to put it here but haven't had much luck posting images). I like it. This is going on my to be bought list.

May the muses have dragon treats
Mechele

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Yes, I'm thilled!!

Blogger kept shrinking anything I typed after the cover in the last post so I finally gave up and just posted the cover.

I'm very bouncey.

Blood Kiss is listed at Loose Id too as "coming soon". LOL I keep going to visit it, like it gets lonely.

It's feeling so official.

Thank everyone for the comments on the cover. I was so happy to share it with everyone here.

May the muses have chocolate
Mechele

Thursday, August 25, 2005

My secret

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

I have a secret

*grins*

Hopefully, I can share it really soon.

It's been a stressful few days so the happy secret is making me very happy.

Ever heard of lupus? It's an autoimmune disease. A BAD one. I've seen what it can do. It wears the body down and out. We just lost a graceful and elegant lady to it. Aunt Jean, you will be missed.

Have you seen Kate Douglas' cover for her Wolf Tales coming from Kensington in January? Check it out: http://www.katedouglas.com/eroticromance/id1.htm but it is HOT and not for under 18. *does a snoopy dance* I'm going to be getting a signed cover flat of it. I rarely win things so that was very good news I got this morning.

But not the good news that's a secret. *evil grin*

May the muses be closed mouthed
Mechele

Sunday, August 21, 2005

Who walked here?

The family and I went on a mini vacation.

We went to Jamestown, which was the first successful English settlement in the United States. The oldest kidlet has been reading some books on Pochahontas (because I won't let her watch the movie...it's very inaccurate *shrugs*). The dh kept saying, "This is where Pochahontas and Captain John Smith walked around." Very wierd to think about.

I hadn't realized the 400 year anniversary is coming up in 2007. So they are busily constructing things for the celebration.

The island where historic Jamestown is has a five mile drive around path. We saw a fox! It was very pretty.

We also went to Busch Gardens, a theme park. The youngest was bummed, she was an inch too short to ride a lot of the bigger rides. But we had fun, riding, eating, walking around. Saw a Clydesdale horse getting a bath. LOL and they've added a donkey in honor of the commercials with the donkey who wants to be a Clydesdale. That made me chuckle.

My one gripe...Busch Gardens has NO Dr. Pepper!! I was in serious withdrawal by the time we left.

All in all, a nice getaway. Now it's back to the writing!

Later today, the newsletter will be released at my Yahoo group. It features an interview with Mary Stella, author of Key of the Sea and All Keyed Up, an excerpt from Handle Me with Care by Diane Charles Linford, and more. Anyone subscribed will be entered in my August contest where I'll draw a random email at midnight on August 31st for a box of beach themed bath treasures. Think Mango and Pineapple. See my web site for details.

May the muses have tropical breezes
Mechele

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Psssssssssst

I finished it!! 214 pages!!

May the muses breathe sighs of relief
Mechele

Monday, August 15, 2005

A quickie

We have empty nest syndrome. *blinks* The robins have left the nest. Saturday morning I peeked out at them, and thought to myself Mommy Robin should have made that nest bigger. We went out and got back and they were gone. *sniffle* I'm sort of sad now. But we still have the rabbit living in our bushes out front.

I'm on the scene that won't die. When I started it, I anticipated a few pages. It keeps going. I had hoped to post that I finished Conduit. I'm sooooooo close. Maybe three more scenes. LOL but that scene has kept busy. I wrote a little on other things. But...da dum, I am at 200 pages!!! I hope to finish it today. I'm not blogging again or bloghopping until I get it done.

Loose Id is having a publisher's week at Theresa MacFarland's yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theresemacfarland/. Lots of authors are participating and great prizes!

Was it good for you?
Mechele

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Naked Barbies

Yes, we are back to naked Barbies. I had blogged about how my girls always have their Barbies and other plastic dolls naked.

So the other day I go up to play Barbies with them. They have about a dozen Barbies and Strawberry Shortcake dolls between them plus King Dominic (from Barbie's the Prince and the Pauper). Only two of them had on clothes and by clothes I mean anything on. One was wearing ballet tights and that's it.

Here's what made me laugh. All these naked dolls and A my Little Pony is DRESSED. I said, "Why are all the Barbies and Strawberry Shortcakes naked and the horse is dressed?" They said, "Well, she came with that." LOL like the Barbies didn't come with clothes.

Had...I won't say bad, but a couple of nonuplifting days. Didn't write anything at all yesterday, and that was odd for me lately. But....I am at 179 pages. 179 pages!! Realized last night (during the not writing), how very close I am. I know what's to come too, just have to get it out on the page. And have gotten general impressions back from both critique partners on the middle part I sent them and it's been favorable. One said I have definitely found my voice in this story and it's strong throughout. So that's been good.

May the muses have Reeses
Mechele

Monday, August 08, 2005

Robin Red Breast

The Mommy bird is a robin!

I felt silly for not recognizing her, but sitting in the nest in the shadows, hid her markings. I finally got a good enough look at her to know. She flew off the nest as we got home Saturday.

The babies are getting bigger and stick their heads up, mouths wide open frequently. We had a bad storm Saturday, and we all kept checking to make sure the nest was still there.

A neat link with a hummingbird's nest: http://community-2.webtv.net/Velpics/HUM/ They are so tiny!

I had a character leading moment. I hit a slow point in Conduit the other day. And was worried I was losing momentum. No, I hadn't. But I was trying to control a scene. *gasps* A sex scene. Once I let the characters tell me what they wanted, the scene flowed like a charm. I'm up to 160 pages.

May the muses have gummy worms
Mechele

Thursday, August 04, 2005

We now have babies!

The little ones have hatched. Three little baby birds. I love to see their heads bobbing up, mouths open. I'm still trying to figure out what they are. I may try and get a picture of Mom so I can do some research. *g*

I sympathize with the Momma bird. Each time I have tried to write today, the kidlets have either fought or decided "Mom, we need..." They have a sixth sense. Smart little girls didn't come down once when I was cleaning. LOL they might be detained into helping. But if I sit down at the laptop, it's like a magnet.

In honor of the baby birds, we made dirt pudding cups this morning. Pudding covered with oreo cookie crumbs and a gummy worm. That was fun.

I did meet the writing goal of the beginning of the week. Actually, Monday night I sat down with two pages to go to get there and I wrote 7! And *drum roll please* today I sit at 152 pages! I'm so excited.

It hit me last night as I approached the 150 page mark that on a 200 page book, that leaves just a quarter left to write. Course conversely I'm going, "only around 50 pages left, I have so many threads to tie up" and "around 50 pages left, how am I going to find scenes to fill it?" at the same time. No, I won't drag it out if it finishes in the 190's or cut it short if I go over. 200 is a general aim.

May the muses have gummy worms (and not real ones)
Mechele