Sunday, September 30, 2007

Banned Books week Sept 29-Oct 6th--Books of the 21st century

Top 10 most frequently challenged books of the 21st century (2000-2005)

1. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

2. "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

3. Alice series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

4. "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck

5. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

6. "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers

7. "It's Perfectly Normal" by Robie Harris

8. Scary Stories series by Alvin Schwartz

9. Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey

10. "Forever" by Judy Blume

I'm proud to say I've read all of Number 1. And I've read a few others.

May the muses have banned books to read

Mechele

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Banned Books week Sept 29-Oct 6th

I'm a big believer in literary freedom. So this whole week, I going to take time as I can to post on Banned Books week. You can find out more here.

Top Ten Challenged Authors 1990 to 2004 (from the ALA website)

1. Alvin Schwartz

2. Judy Blume

3. Robert Cormier

4. J.K. Rowling

5. Michael Willhoite

6. Katherine Paterson

7. Stephen King

8. Maya Angelou

9. R.L. Stine

10. John Steinbeck



Read a banned book today!

May the muses have free reading
Mechele

Friday, September 28, 2007

I forgot I wasn't reading romance

UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH!!

Two weeks I've been reading this book. Over 300 pages. And the blankety blank hero gets killed off.

No, this isn't Dreamcatcher by Stephen King. That actually had a very satisfying ending. The beginning was slow (and gross) but the middle and end picked up very well. I'm actually curious about the movie. It was time worth reading.

Not with a Tess Gerritsen book either. I read the Mephisto Club in one day. Her writing with Rizzoli and Maura is addictive. I need to go find her other books now that I've read all of those that are out. And find out when the next Rizzoli/Maura one comes out *sigh*. I swear she ever does this to Gabriel and I will pitch that book.

This other book, which will not be named, is by an author not normally known for romance, which I should have kept in mind (though they have done stuff with RT). This suspense book has a pretty good romance. Up until the hero DIES. The main heroine is very engrossing as are the supporting characters. And I know from the excerpt in the back, there are more planned of these characters.

Not for me.

The only reason the book didn't get pitched was because I was at the doctor's office. I'm still ticked (if you couldn't tell). Not only did the hero get killed off about 10 pages before the end, but the end is, to me, very unsatisfactory besides that. It doesn't track with what we've been given beforehand.

ARGGGGH! It was so good up until the very end.

May the muses have happpy frigging endings
Mechele

PS Tigress Euphrates:

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Thursday Thirteen


Thirteen Moments from the Day that Mechele enjoys


1. Snuggling with the hubby in bed. We don't get much time before critters or kidlets attack. But it's nice.

2. The moment when the kids go to school and the hubby goes to work and the house is quiet. Ahhhhhhh.

3. Sipping that first cup of coffee in the morning. The brew has cast its scent around the kitchen. Another "Ahhhhh" moment.

4. My writing time. Early in the morning is the best time for me to write. I click on and work. I love it when the muse rocks. Like today *G*

Tigress Euphrates:


5. Walking with the pooch. Evil trashcans and sprinklers aside, it's a pretty peaceful time.

6. Sitting with the cat on my lap while she purrs. There's no set time for this. But usually at least once, she hops up.

7. Picking the girls up from school. I hear all about their day. They talk from the time I pick them up until we start homework. (*notice* homework IS NOT on this list *sigh*). I know at some point, they won't tell me all about their day. So I definitely enjoy it now.

8. Watching them do their extracurricular activities. I know I fuss about driving them hither and yon. But I do enjoy watching cheer, basketball, and gymnastics practices and/or games. For the most part, they have fun as they work on skills. It's fun to see that.

9. Dinnertime. For the most part, we eat as a family for now. And I love the conversations we have with the girls on all kinds of things.

10. Any time I get to read. I don't really have set times. It's more like anytime I can eek out. I love to get engrossed in a good story.

11. The girl's storytime. I love to read to them.

12. When the girls quiet down and I know they are asleep. I can really relax then.

13. Any evening activities with the hubby. We don't spend time together every night. Sometimes I have work or he has work. But I enjoy the evenings when we watch TV together or talk or *G* just about anything.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Monday, September 24, 2007

A drive by update

I'm being spun round round like a record...

But I did manage some writing time today.

Tigress Euphrates:


I'm aiming for between 25 and 35 K.

May the muses be busy.

Mechele

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Just wanted to say

Happy birthday Melissa!

Hugs
Mechele

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Thursday Thirteen







Thirteen Reasons I LOVE April Martinez
(and I could have picked dozens more covers, ads, etc.
I love her work and you can see more of it here and here.)
I hope April and the other authors whose covers I
posted don't mind.


1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.


7.


8.


9.

10.

11.

12.

13.


Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Wednesday, September 19, 2007

A new pretty to share





Monday, September 17, 2007

Career suicide

I've seen so many authors lately do things, that while they may not kill a career, they certainly are not going to help it. It just amazes me. Authors dissing readers, publishers, genres, etc.

Everytime I post anywhere, I think...would I mind everyone seeing that? Because the internet isn't a private spot. When I post to loops, most of the time there are a couple hundred other people seeing what I post. When I write here in my blog, it's not a private diary, I can lock away the key and put under my matress. And things posted on the 'net stay in Google forever. I vent to friends that I trust aren't going to share my emails with several friends. I vent to my husband in person and when he's not around, I vent to the dog and cat. They aren't going to tell anyone.

I think I may have to amend my advice to new authors and add, "Don't kill your career by posthing something you don't want your hundred new best friends to see."

May the muses have private conversations
Mechele

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Nothing to Lose is nothing but finished

Whooo hoooo!





Now a little bit of nail biting begins.

May the muses have finished projects
Mechele

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Thursday Thirteen


Thirteen Things I'm too tired to do Mechele Armstrong


On top of a deadline of Saturday, I received line edits and had to get them back ASAP. Stayed up way too late last night.

1. Dishes. There's a mound of them.
2. Walk the dog. She sat up most the night with me.
3. Think. The brain is fried.
4. Go grocery shopping. The hubby is laughing over that one. I'm not a fan of the grocery store.
5. Take a nap. LOL I'm too tired to sleep.
6. Argue. The girls are going to love me this afternoon.
7. Get out of my chair. I need more coffee *frowns*.
8. Answer email. I'm behind *sigh*. Can't bring myself to catch up.
9. Clean the cat's litter box.
10. Do laundry.
11. Sign into Mr. Linky and get the auto sign in for TT.
12. Take out the recyclables as tomorrow is recycle day.

And the one thing I'm not too tired to do?

13. Think about how well my oldest did at her Manners Soiree. She speaks so clearly in front of a group. And doesn't seem to get nervous like I do.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Sept 11th Remembrance

Pictures of the 9-11 victims.



In honor of those who lost their lives on that horrible day.
Edited to add: I just read a very haunting piece by someone in New York that day, Taige Crenshaw. It moved me to tears.
My thoughts are with all those in NYC and the Pentagon who were there, along with the families of those who didn't make it out in NYC, the Pentagon, and Flight 93.
Mechele

Monday, September 10, 2007

I'm finding

that I loved going through and editing. It's a fun stage. Putting the finishing touches on the words and scenes that are there, they just need their potential tapped.

I can't wait to talk more about Nothing to Lose. It's grown about 300 words already from edits and the end needs more than the beginning I'm sure.

May the muses have loves
Mechele

Friday, September 07, 2007

With a bang not a whimper



Kim Possible's last show of the season, possibly the series just aired. *sniffle* It was great. Not melodramatic or predictable. Funny and endearing. And romantic.

Nothing to lose word count:



A few more tweaks and I'm done!

May the muses have bangs
Mechele

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Thursday Thirteen


Thirteen Things that make Mechele happy
no matter how many times they happen
or she does them




1. Seeing my book on my publisher’s home page, Amazon, or book store shelf *squeee*

2. Seeing the “coming soon placeholder” for my book. *G* The Lovers is now up at Loose Id.

3. Staying up too late to read a really really good book. Tess Gerritsen and JK Rowling owe me some sleep!

4. My youngest’s giggles. She can make me laugh when she gets tickled. Since she was little, her laughter has always invoked something in me.

5. The purr of Diva kitty. I love the rumble. The knowledge that she’s happy (although a purr doesn’t always mean that she is).

6. Holding hands with my hubby. The instant our hands touch, it’s like magic.

7. Watching my oldest read. I was so excited when she learned to read and started chapter books. She reminds me of me in the intensity with which she devours books.

8. Finishing a book. Even though I know my work isn’t done, I love to get to the ending point.

9. Create a new world with which to write in. Each story has something unique about it when I start it, even those set in worlds I’ve started.

10. Rubbing a dog’s tummy and seeing them stare up with you with reverence.

11. Watching the ocean roll in and out. It’s mesmerizing.

12. Laying under the Christmas tree and watching the lights blink.

13. Finding a new author. I love to find someone new to read and always get so excited.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!





Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Saturday, September 01, 2007

Want to read even more about me???

You know you want to. LOL.

Big thanks to Gracie at Joyfully Reviewed for taking the time to interview me. Thank goodnes for her patience. Her questions came right in the middle of the youngest's surgery, first round edits, and working toward this deadline. I had fun answering the questions *G*.

Read more here.

May the muses have fun
Mechele