Sunday, February 28, 2010

Coffeetime Romance Retreat

Loose Id's Readers' Retreat at Coffee Time Romance Starts Monday!

Some exciting events and activities have been planned! Here is just a sampling:

Lissa Matthews and Suzanne Rock will be interviewing each other on 1 March and 18 March.

On 7 March, Ali Katz will give away a copy of her book, The Highwayman. Also, anyone who visits her guestbook and signs on that day will be entered into Passion in Spades Monthly Drawing for March. She will also announce a monthly drawing on 9 March, so look for that.

On 8 March, G.G. Royale will post the humorous article "Everything I Needed to Know about Treating Other People I Learned on a Kittenplay Forum."

S.W. Vaughn will give a title away on 10 March. The reader will get to chose from three different titles.

Look for exciting theme days, when many authors may be poking their heads in to share and chat. Saturday, 6 March covers contemporary erotic romance, mystery, and suspense. On 7 March, we'll have historical, westerns, and action/ adventure. For those of you that like to let your mind explore far-off worlds, come to the forum on 13 March for science fiction, fantasy, and time travel. If you're not tied up on 14 March, stop in for BDSM and all the deliciousness that comes with that. 20 March is our last day in the forum, and that will be given over to the darker side, to the vampires, shape-shifters, and paranormal stories.So mark your calendars and your browser's bookmarks and make sure to join us throughout the month of March.

My day is March 3rd!

Mechele

Friday, February 26, 2010

Friday Five

1. What I've written so far on the Rogue got a pass by a critique partner. So far so good. I'm plugging away at the writing. I really know where the story is going and want desperately to get there LOL but the words are coming along slowly. I posted at Loose Ends on the tribulations of writing when it isn't going quickly.



2. We got passed over by snow! It missed up, despite what the forecasters started calling for. My youngest keeps saying, "No more snow this year." She wants summer. There is a storm heading for us next week that they say, "We need to watch." As Girl Scout cookies are supposed to be delivered next week, LOL, I know I'll be watching. Last year, our delivery wasn't disrupted but several troops in the area had their delivery postponed.



3. The youngest is doing multiplication of two digit numbers by a one digit number. She can do it, except they want her to do it a multitude of different ways. Estimation. Breaking it down into three separate problems. She does way better just straight out multiplying. Understands that concept completely, just sometimes makes careless errors. *sigh* she hates doing them the other ways. Says they confuse her. I have a feeling the test is not going to go so well. I understand they want her to be able to check her answer and they want her to understand what she's doing when she multiplies it out, but if she can do the problem, why worry about these other ways?



4. Reading Karen Rose's Count to Ten. Sort of neat because I've read books with the supporting characters as the main characters. Rose does very well at pacing. I find myself turning pages well after I said I'd stop reading because I want to know what happened.



5. Watched the pilot episode of Castle and the next three episodes of the first season Okay, that show is a labor of love for the writers and directors. And the actors. Some of the scenes were so well done. The hubby said, it sometimes takes a few episodes for a show to hit the ground but this one, not so much. With Castle, things were maybe a little off the first 15 minutes. And even that was good. The cast is well picked. The entire show is smartly written. The direction is awesome. There was one scene that just had me riveted by the actor's faces and the way the camera shifted between them. I love this show! One thing I really like about it? Castle is a flirt, a ham, a bit of a cad. But he's a parent. Not just by lip service but by his actions. He loves his daughter and does his best for her. I loved that she'd never had a nanny. There is also an episode about her friend being drunk in the second season in which Castle acted like a true parent. Keep tugging on those pigtails, Castle, because I want to keep watching.

May the muses have Castle
Mechele

Thursday, February 25, 2010

All about me

I'm the Spotlight Author at http://ping.fm/oBKuB Check out my interview.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Spay Day 2010

Today, the Humane Society and many animal organizations around the country will celebrate Spay Day 2010. This last Tuesday in February encourages people to spay/neuter their pets to prevent unwanted offspring.

The numbers of homeless animals are staggering. Approximately 6-8 million animals enter animal shelters every year in the United States. 3-4 million of those are euthanized. EVERY YEAR. Spay/neuter programs have cut this down from a high of 15 millions animals in the 70's.

It's still too high.

A lot of these animals are healthy. Sweet. Beautiful. But there aren't enough good homes for these animals.

Please spay/neuter your pet. Adopt from your local animal shelter. Volunteer your time. Donate.

I have two cats and a dog. Two came from my local SPCA where I also volunteer. My dog came from a local rescue organization. I fuss about them and their early waking ways, but they give our family lots and lots of joy. Very little beats a doggie lick and a purring cat in terms of relaxation.

Mechele Armstrong

PS my local SPCA says every day is SPAY day for them.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

It's coming!

Come discover love unleashed with Loose Id's authors at the Coffee Time Romance Readers' Retreat starting March 1st. Something will be going on everyday until March 20th. Learn about how your favorite Loose Id authors write, what they are working on, and more. Participating writers include:

Ali Katz
Amber Green

Belinda McBride
Eileen Ann Brennan

Eliza Gayle
G.G. Royale
Gemini Judson
Lissa Matthews
Mechele Armstrong
Michelle Hasker
Nica Berry
Qwillia Rain
Rosalie Stanton
S. W. Vaughn
Suzanne Rock
Selena Illyria
Treva Harte

Won't you join us?

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=1211

Friday, February 19, 2010

Friday Five

1. Yes, I have written this week, just about every day. I'm psyched. Still feel like there is a lot of story to go. But I'm plugging along. Maybe half way through...

2. I posted at Trampy Vamps today on movies made from books and how I don't like it when the movie deviates too far from the book. Also posted today at TRS Blue on snowstorms and sex scenes. Posted at Authors of Erotic Romance on Tuesday about who the first couple I remember rooting for to get together.

3. The snow is melting! It's lasted amazingly long for us. Usually within a day or so, we hit the 50's and the snow is a thing of the past. I think some of those huge piles might be around a week from now. I saw more grass today than I've seen in three weeks.

4. Grrrr. Oldest has told me several things about Artemis Fowl, books 2-5. She got to them first. Still may read them. She's read books 4-5 this week. Stayed up way late one night reading. LOL now she's paying for the late night reading session. I told her it wasn't the first time and if she's anything like me, won't be the last time.

5. Realized how close RT (the Romantic Times Convention) is and how busy my March is today. I'm trying to get stuff together in my head at least for RT. LOL. I did clean off my desk this week, yay me! and have mostly caught up on email. Let's see in addition to cleaning house, writing, blogging, dealing with kids and pets, I'm doing the project board for my youngest troops' Thinking Day, and I'm organizing exhibitors for the spring carnival at youngest's school. I also sewed on badges/patches to my oldest's vest. I have the needle sticks to prove it.

May the muses have good books
Mechele

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Saturday Six?

1. Yes, I know I missed yesterday. I've been dealing with snow bound kidlets and one sicko kidlet. Thursday, I had four hours in which to cram a week's worth of errands. I volunteered at the SPCA yesterday. I at least moved the laundry from the hallway back into the laundry room so I felt accomplished, though they still had a mountain when I left. They had some very cute and sweet dogs and cats.

2. When the youngest is walking around saying, "I can't wait for summer!" LOL you know you've gotten a lot of snow. Let's see: 12.5 inches in December, 13.5 inches, a wintry mix (1/4 inch), 8 inches, 4 inches, and a dusting last night. A storm is coming in Monday night that they think will leave behind "measurable snow." I know places north of us have had a lot more snow to deal with. Normally we just wait for it to melt so it's very surreal driving around and seeing snow covered ground. Yesterday, I did see some grass in my front yard and along my travels. I think those big snow piles in parking lot may be here until April...

3. Yes, I'm still bouncing over Another Dream, Another Reality. I really hope readers enjoy the revisiting as much as I did. Whoot!

4. I finished all 7 RITA entries. Now just have to score them. There's one, I really hope it finals.

5. I also read the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. It was pretty good. I want to see the movie and read book number 2. There were a few things I didn't like so we'll see what happens in number 2. The hilarious thing is that the oldest has decided she's not reading it, despite her intense interest in Greek/Roman Gods and myths. I think she's had Percy Jackson hyped to her as "the next Harry Potter" one too many times.

6. Yes, I am writing through this. Slowly. Of course I had to be at a sex scene with all this snow bound time. Writing a sex scene is so hard when the kids are home. *sigh* but I'm plugging away at it.

May the muses have heroes
Mechele

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

When it snows, it pours--apparently with good news too!

Oh my where to start?

Today is release day for Another Dream, Another Reality! Whooo hooo. It's the sequel to Another Night, Another Dream and follows Cassie, Aden, and Leo as they deepen their relationship.

The blurb: Cassie never intended to let them get to her. Her relationship with Aden and Leo was supposed to be strictly “fun.” But even as she hides from them making demands on her heart and her life, they start to mean too much. Then she's threatened with the loss of her job if she keeps the relationship going. They talk her into a trip to the mountains to try to work things out, but once she's there she has a change of heart and wants to leave them. For good.

Only the car won’t start. So now, she’s trapped at a gorgeous cabin in the mountains with two delicious men who want to win her heart.

Aden and Leo have their own issues with the relationship they’ve moved into, and they know that Cassie has been trying to avoid getting deeper with them. They use their time stuck at the cabin to work through it all.

What starts serious turns into fun, but as life sets in, will they find their relationship a dream or a reality?

To read an excerpt go here.

Remember that pretty I mentioned on Friday? It was the cover to Another Dream, Another Reality. Want to see?




I'll share the banner too.




Needless to say I'm a happy girl, especially with one more bit of good news. Another Night, Another Dream was reviewed by Joyfully Reviewed and selected as a Joyfully Recommended Read for February! Shayna said, "Another Night, Another Dream starts out hot and just gets hotter as it goes on. Mechele Armstrong has masterfully blended steamy hot sex with longing and love in this fantastic tale. Cassie, Aden, and Leo are all characters who are sure to grab your heart... I love that all three of them worked to see the heart of each other. When these three weren’t burning up the page with their passion, they were melting my heart and it was absolutely impossible for me not to become invested in their romance. Another Night, Another Dream is a decadent treat I absolutely loved reading. This is the first book I have read by Ms. Armstrong and it definitely won’t be the last. Joyfully Recommended."



Whoooooo hoooooo!






May the muses have new releases



Mechele

Friday, February 05, 2010

Friday Five

1. Well this is going to be a winter for the record books. The past few years, we really haven't gotten a lot of snow to speak of. An inch here, an inch there. Nothing major and some winters have gotten NO snow at all. 2002? was probably the biggest last snow storm before March of 2009. 1996 was the last really snowy winter.

Boy is this winter making up for lost time. Mid December we received 12 inches. Last Saturday, we received 13.5 inches. Got a wintry mix Tuesday night. And now? We are forecast to get a winter storm that could give where I am 6-12 more. Points north and west of here? 16-24 inches! They are already saying we might get more snow next Tuesday and possibly the next weekend. It's only early February! Still a lot more winter left.

It's snowing right now...

LOL my girls are still excited by snow. But truth is, they love the idea of snow more than the reality. Neither likes the cold.

2. Yes, we shut down here when it snows. This much and we really shut down. The girls had 4 hours of school this week. One day and they went in 2 hours late. I foresee a late end to school or a loss of spring break if this continues.

3. I'm trying valiantly to write in between sledding and snow and such. I have parts I can't wait to get to!

4. I have a pretty that I can't wait to share. Soon as I can, I will. Can't wait *bounces up and down*.

5. 5 of 7 RITA books down. Had some really good ones.

Now a question: Is there a good summary site for Young Adult books that anyone knows of? The oldest is flirting with Young Adult. She's read Angie Sage, the Nicholas Flamel series, and just started Artemis Fowl. I picked up two books that looked interesting in the Young Adult section and am trying to figure out if she's ready. Readingwise, she's ready for the move. I'm just not sure what content she's ready for yet. I'd like to find out what's in the books and then talk to her beforehand for now. LOL she still looks like someone is going to set off an alarm when she walks into the Young Adult section.

May the muses have books
Mechele

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

A new blog

Blogged at FF&P as a guest blogger on characters

http://ping.fm/u2hRS

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Featured at TRS Blue