The Crayon Box

2012-01-23T11:19:00.001-05:00

It's a dreary day here. I really would love to curl up with a book and cup of coffee. Let's hope I do some writing!

2012-01-18T10:59:00.001-05:00

Still working. Still determined. Trying to ignore the heavy machinery taking down a tree a couple of doors down. Writing ho!!

2012-01-12T09:26:00.001-05:00

I have my nose to the grindstone. I'm determined to finish Fire Riders 3: Beyond the Fire in the next couple of weeks. I WILL NOT GET SICK!

2012-01-06T13:45:00.001-05:00

I blogged at TRS about being a kid at heart: http://ping.fm/4svII

2012-01-03T11:45:00.001-05:00

Little late but Happy New Year! I'm determined to write more in 2012!! Here is to health and happiness as well.

Another dragon on the loose!

2011-12-27T09:14:00.003-05:00

Alin can’t believe he captured Geant. Even though he did it unfairly and feels badly about it, he feels his people need this leverage against Eastania. The grizzled captain of Eastania’s dragon riders is just as fascinating in person as he was on parchment. Geant wants his freedom and if his captor would just come in chain's reach, he could get away. But Alin the captain of Wardona’s dragon riders is a little too alluring and sexy, and too smart to take the risk.

When Alin finally does walk within Geant's chain's reach, many things could happen. But what does is nothing either man expected. Combustion. And not the kind that explodes dragon riders. Volatile chemistry of the sexual sort.

Then Geant’s mate Elesia shows up, along with the Eastania delegation ready to negotiate freedom for Geant; she knows one thing instantly. Someone else has been taking her mate. What she discovers is an attraction and an interest in Alin as strong as Geant's own.

War threatens to keep them apart. Can they deny how they feel, or will the fire within consume them all?

To read an excerpt.

A snoopy dancing Mechele
www.mechelarmstrong.com

2011-12-12T10:31:00.001-05:00

I blogged at TRS on an unexpected ingredient: http://ping.fm/cN0iR

2011-12-01T09:49:00.001-05:00

Happy 1st day of December!

The monkey is out of the cage!

2011-11-29T11:00:00.004-05:00

Liquid Silver released Code Monkey late last night. I'm so so excited.

Love my cover. Love Baxter. Love the story. Yep, I'm snoopy dancing right now!

Blurb: Baxter Savage is bored at his job as a code monkey (aka computer programmer). He dreams of leaving his job for better but his sensual dreams of the company’s receptionist, Anna Marie, keep him at his job for now.

Anna Marie is the low woman on the totem pole who wants to be more and dreams of hitting the big time. When she’s asked to spy on a suspected secrets thief for a promotion, she can’t believe her luck. Only it means spending time with a code monkey, namely Baxter.

Baxter is thrilled to have Anna Marie’s attention and Anna Marie soon finds that the code monkey is a lot more interesting than she ever thought possible.

When she finds herself falling for him, will she answer the call of her heart or of her dreams? Can they catch the real thief together or will the code monkey lose it all?

To read an excerpt (the first chapter).

Hope you enjoy the story as much as I did writing it.

Mechele

2011-11-22T13:50:00.001-05:00

Geek Love is being offered in a bundle where 100% of the proceeds go to a charity. Check it out:

http://bundlelytic.com/

2011-11-10T09:40:00.001-05:00

I blogged at TRS Blue on my love of the holiday season and why this year is special http://ping.fm/dLVCs

Friday Five

2011-11-04T12:58:00.002-04:00

1. Not feeling well sucks. Especially when there is lots to be done.

2. I'm still so excited about Taming the Fire releasing. At least that cheers me up and keeps me warm on a rainy, chilly day like today. My pretty. If you haven't gotten a copy yet, get one! LOL. I just shared an excerpt with my newsletter group. See details on the book and my newsletter group at my website.

3. In a current reading slump. Haven't read anything to speak of. Need to find a good story.

4. Youngest wrote a piece about "Fall" and stuck it to my wall above my table with decorative fall and Thanksgiving stuff. She just "felt like writing it." Maybe I'll have a little writer on my hands one day.

5. The Walking Dead is still on my must watch list, though I'm having fewer nightmares about it. Maybe that's a good thing? I love how Daryl has gone from being this redneck bad boy, which he still is, but he's also the most optimistic of them all. "This ain't the mountains of Tibet, it's Georgia." Loved Castle the other night! Sort of a Sleeping with the Enemy theme. I love the beginning when he's like this bank is about to get robbed and Beckett says no way and then it does.

May the muses have NO ALGEBRA
Mechele

Who let the dragons out?

2011-11-01T09:31:00.004-04:00

Loose Id did! Whooo hoooo. Taming the Fire released overnight last night.

Blurb: Against the backdrop of a war over land where battles rage every night, Byron and Callum came together in an inferno of lust and they've been happy together. One problem, though; Byron is a dragon rider who is nearing the age when his fire build up will be too much and he’ll be in danger of combusting. It doesn’t help that Callum is a dragon rider too and raises Byron’s fire instead of lowering it. Only one thing will ease the fires within Byron.

A human.

Mira has been just existing, trying to stay out of everyone’s notice. Only she finds herself fascinated by two dragon riders who don’t act like the others. It’s a dangerous interest, and she should know. Her parents died as a result of dragon rider actions. But she hasn’t escaped Byron’s and Callum’s attention.

When Byron and Callum decide she’s the answer to their problems, will she rise above her problems and prejudices and step into the dragon’s lair to tame Byron’s fire?

To read an excerpt.

Where they be dragons, there is love!
Mechele

2011-10-21T15:26:00.001-04:00

In the land of edits. Will resume normal programming eventually...

2011-10-17T12:12:00.001-04:00

Check out Kate Hill's Halloween Contest too! http://ping.fm/y2QC3

2011-10-17T12:08:00.001-04:00

Sam Cheever's Trick or Treat Contest has begun! http://www.samcheever.com/Halloween_Contest_2011.html

Friday Five

2011-10-14T11:57:00.003-04:00

1. I'm a third of the way through the third dragon story!! Yay me!

2. Just found out Stephen King's Bag of Bones is being done as a mini-series by A&E! Will have to reread the book before December but am very much looking forward to it.

3. The Walking Dead premieres on Sunday night. Last time I watched the series, it gave me nightmares LOL. The previews look good. Castle was excellent this week as always. I loved Ryan's part in the episode. And what better compliment could Kate ever give Castle than the one at the end.

4. Youngest is not a reader *sigh* much to my dismay. She's been reading the True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi in class. She plopped the book on my desk with the admonition to "read it, Mom, it's so good!" Needless to say when the kids tell me to read something, I don't take it lightly, especially from her. I checked it out from the library and read it. Really good adventure book with a hint of mystery. I enjoyed it very much, thank you, youngest. She was mad because I finished it before she did LOL.

5. To the person beside me in the double turning lane who tried to turn into my lane...thanks for eliminating the need for coffee this morning. Yes, that woke me up!

May the muses have books they can't put down
Mechele

2011-10-13T10:13:00.001-04:00

Getting ready to write! It's going slowly but it is going. I have a new pretty to share soon...definitely inspiring me this morning.

2011-10-11T09:46:00.001-04:00

I blogged at TRS: http://ping.fm/XkbnF

Friday Five

2011-10-07T09:48:00.002-04:00

1. I'm working on the third dragon rider story. My word count isn't going up as fast as I would like but *sigh* it is moving. Lots of distractions right now.

2. I could be looking at 3 releases before the end of the year! Will keep you informed.

3. Let's see, I've been watching Castle (loving it, the last few have been so good, course they always are), Doctor Who (OMG! what a ride), Big Bang Theory (it gets funnier and funnier) and Warehouse 13 (Ack! at the season finale). Phineas and Ferb has a Halloween episode tonight and I plan to tune in. P&F is the one cartoon I'll watch without kidlets.

4. Reading, I'm sort of a standstill in the reading. I read two books by Karen Rose (awesome as always, gosh I love her), Sandpiper (couldn't put it down), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (ehhhh, not my favorite book, the writing style didn't draw me in), and Bitter End by Jennifer Brown (that woman can write emotional like nobody else, very serious topic and she did a good job).

5. Middle schools here have adopted the program, Rachel's Challenge. It's a program about kindness adopted from the writings of Columbine victim, Rachel Scott. It's a very moving program, I went to a parent's assembly. I hope the schools manage to keep it going.

May the muses have acts of kindness
Mechele

2011-10-06T09:43:00.001-04:00

Need to get motivated this morning! My word count sucketh this week so far, but I will prevail. I will make my muse submit.

2011-10-05T09:42:00.001-04:00

A review of Another Dream, Another Reality! http://ping.fm/GDVVB

Stop, Look, Win!

2011-10-04T09:10:00.002-04:00

Banned Books Week-it is personal

2011-09-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

I've had experience with a challenged book. You may have heard the story...but for those who haven't...

My high school pulled Salem's Lot by Stephen King from the high school library's book shelves. Our understanding was that one parent objected to the book and it was pulled.

Oddly enough, I had done a Honors English book report on Salem's Lot when I was in 10th grade.

The students protested. A local bookstore gave away free copies of Salem's Lot to any Goochland High School student who wanted it.

But the book remained off the library shelves.

I will never understand why I could do an Honors English report on a book that was so objectionable it was pulled such a short time later. I don't believe the library was better for the challenge and ban. No, I felt the space on the shelf where that book used to be was much lesser for the loss of it.

A book I had read as a younger student was pulled because one parent decided their child couldn't read it and if they couldn't, no one could.

That's why it matters so much to me.

Mechele

What books are banned and why?

2011-09-29T09:06:00.002-04:00

The books on the challenged/banned list run the gamut.

It's anything from And Tango Makes Three to In the Night Kitchen, both children's picture books to children's chapter books like Captain Underpants to Bridge to Terabithia to Julie of the Wolves to young adult novels like Sandpiper (which I read at the library in the banned books reading room the other night) and The Hunger Games to classics like The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath, Lord of the Flies, 1984 to popular fiction like Harry Potter and Twilight. Several books by Stephen King and Judy Blume have been banned/challenged in years past.

Generally when people are asked to name their favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird is somewhere on that list. And yep it's been challenged/banned as well.

ALA took a list of the Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century and counted off how many book on that list had been challenged/banned. These are just ones they know about but 45/100 books have been challenged and yet are considered the top novels of the 20th century.

Why do people challenge books?

The most common reasons books were challenged from 2001 to 2010
- “sexually explicit”
- “offensive language”
- “unsuited to age group”
- “violence”
- “homosexuality”
- "anti-family”
- "religious viewpoints"

I know Harry Potter has been challenged due to promotion of witchcraft.

Mechele Armstrong

2011-09-27T09:37:00.001-04:00

“All of us can think of a book... that we hope none of our children or any other children have taken off the shelf. But if I have the right to remove that book from the shelf - that work I abhor - then you also have exactly the same right and so does everyone else. And then we have no books left on the shelf for any of us.”
― Katherine Paterson

Too big for a status update but I think it gets to the heart of what I was trying to say in my blog of a few days ago. No books-that's a nightmare!!!

Mechele

2011-09-27T09:36:00.003-04:00

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too. ~Voltaire

2011-09-27T09:36:00.001-04:00

Just sent back proofing edits on Code Monkey! One step closer to a release date...

Banned Books Week-Why it matters

2011-09-25T11:55:00.004-04:00

Every year I do a series over the week of Banned Books Week. It's something I believe wholeheartedly in. I think once you start pulling books it becomes a slippery slope to an outright ban.

I have on occasion told my children to wait to read something. They have on occasion read a book with a very serious subject and we've talked about it later. Someone else may say their child can't read that particular book when I say it's okay for my child to read it. And that's fine. We all make decisions for our own children. But when that same parent goes to the school library or the public library and tries to make it so NO child (or adult) can read that book, I have a real problem with that. Don't want your child to read something, be the parent and don't let them. But don't try and dictate what everyone else's child should be doing.

I'm not a big fan of Twilight (*gasp* I know. I've really tried to like it too), which is #10 on the 2010 list of challenged books. I know people who adore it and I know parents who let their kids read it. Just because I don't like it and I think my child should be X years old before reading it, I'm not going to remove from a library.

No one book is going to be liked or "approved" by everyone. If everyone has books removed that make them uncomfortable or they don't like, what would be left on the shelves? Nothing. That's the scary part and the reason this subject matters.

Free people read freely.

Mechele Armstrong

The most challenged books of 2010

2011-09-25T09:39:00.001-04:00

Interestingly enough I told my oldest last year, I bet eventually the Hunger Games trilogy will make it on the list.

1) And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson;
2) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie;
3) Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley;
4) Crank, by Ellen Hopkins;
5) The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins;
6) Lush, by Natasha Friend;
7) What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones;
8) Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich;
9) Revolutionary Voices, edited by Amy Sonnie;
10) Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer

From ALA

2011-09-24T20:03:00.001-04:00

"Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it." -- Mark Twain

2011-09-24T20:00:00.001-04:00

It's Banned Books week. It's a subject that matters to me and I'll probably be blogging/updating on it all week. Celebrate by reading a book

2011-09-22T09:40:00.001-04:00

Posted at Loose Ends on the merits of fall. http://ping.fm/xYbxY

2011-09-21T07:01:00.001-04:00

Have two scenes to write today! Can't wait. Happy Wed everyone!

2011-09-20T10:56:00.001-04:00

Wish it would rain instead of just being gray. Least there was Castle last night... Off to write!

2011-09-19T10:12:00.001-04:00

Definitely a Monday! But it still feels like fall!

Friday Five

2011-09-16T13:03:00.003-04:00

1. Yep I know. Been a bad bad bad blogger. I'm hoping to be a tad less sporadic.

2. As you probably saw, Dragon's Lair is now Taming the Fire. Have an updated title for Dragon's Bait and a new series title I'll be sharing. Release day is coming soon!

3. Need a maid. Tired of cleaning my house. Tired of people stepping over what others drop for a million times until I finally say, "Would you pick that up?" Then I'm the mean (Mom) for being terse.

4. Ready for fall. I love Fall!!!!

5. Castle premieres Monday night. Cannot wait. Have been missing my favorite write and police detectives.

BONUS: Torchwood Miracle Day was one of the most awesome things I've seen in a long time. I really do heart Jack Harkness. Loved the way it ended with a promise of more. I really hope there is more...

2011-09-16T06:50:00.001-04:00

I love the Fall weather! Bring on the cool. Have a great Friday everyone.

2011-09-15T09:37:00.001-04:00

Dragon's Lair has a new title: Taming the Fire! It's on the coming soon page at Loose Id! Whoo hooo!

I do live

2011-07-25T15:00:00.001-04:00

Been busy working on Dragon's Bait, which is why I haven't checked in. It's done and I hope to submit it soon. If possible, in five days. We'll see. It's been a busy hot summer!

Mechele

Peeks head in Friday Five

2011-07-08T09:17:00.002-04:00

1. I do live!

2. Things have been crazy with the end of school and the kids out for the summer.

3. I have news! Dragon's Lair was accepted by Loose Id! I'm thrilled.

4. I'm hard at work on Dragon's Bait. I have written 16 K this week *blinks*. I'm taking advantage of the kids not being at home. I'm hoping to finish and submit in the next two weeks. We'll see how that goes.

5. I've been watching Buffy with my kids. I'm reminded just how much of a genius that Joss Whedon is.

May the muses have writing time
Mechele

Friday five

2011-05-27T10:41:00.003-04:00

1. I do not like strep. It took out youngest who missed 3 days of school.

2. Oldest now has a bad cold and is home with me today.

3. It's been HOT. In the 90's already and it's only May. I just love summer in Richmond.

4. I blogged at Loose Ends on not having a blog topic.

5. I'm not going to make it 4 months until the next Castle. However, I did see a Torchwood preview. Yowza! It looks good. I really didn't like where Torchwood ended so glad to see it returning. I adore Capt. Jack.

Mechele

Friday five

2011-05-20T08:38:00.002-04:00

The quick edition.

1. Hoping to finish Dragon's Lair today. Am close. Is looking like it will be 30 K.

2. Plan to start the next Dragon story on Monday.

3. Still thinking on Young Adult book.

4. Read books by Laurie Halse Anderson and Margaret Peterson Haddix. Loved the Anderson boooks. Haddix were good reads, too.

5. Everyone involved with Castle's Knockout episode should get an Emmy. It was well written, well acted, well directed. It blew me away.

May the muses be blown away
Mechele

Monday Mix

2011-05-16T12:32:00.002-04:00

1. I'm almost done with Dragon's Lair. I know where it's going. It's probably going to be around 30 K. I'm plotting out (in my head) the next one.

2. I think I want to write a Young Adult...

3. Been reading Laurie Halse Anderson. Read Wintergirls, Speak, and Twisted. Really enjoyed Speak though it's a little disconcerting how realistic I think it is.

4. Oldest watched the pilot of Firefly. She really liked it. Need to get her to watch more.

5. So ready for Castle tonight!

May the muses have books
Mechele

Contest and a blog!

2011-05-11T21:43:00.000-04:00

Tabby's Nocturnal Nights is celebrating an anniversary with prizes that end at midnight Central time!! Several signed books!

http://ping.fm/G5b9a

I blogged at TRS Blue:

http://ping.fm/o5l9g

Mechele

Friday Five

2011-05-06T08:36:00.002-04:00

1. I'm quite a bit over half way done with the first dragon story. I'm enjoying it and already starting to figure out the next story.

2. Hopefully will have some good news to share soon. Waiting on some officialness.

3. Firefly has been coming on the Science channel and Serenity was on Sy-Fy the other day. I'm having major fits to watch the whole series. The oldest just turned 12 and I'm wondering...is it time for an introduction? I think she can handle most of the parts but she rarely watches TV without youngest and I know youngest isn't ready for Reavers.

4. Heh, yes, really enjoying Castle. Hubby and I agree...Nathan Fillion can say more with a look than most actors can with words. Loved the one Monday night.

5. Need something to read. *G*

May the muses have Firefly
Mechele

Friday Five

2011-04-29T08:55:00.002-04:00

1. I was a little irked over the Judy Mays' story. Could you tell? I don't like witch hunts. I'm happy to see so much support for Mays and I've heard they are going to do a companion story on her supporters. I hope Mays' royalties go through the roof.

2. Work continues on Dragon's Lair. It's going pretty well I think.

3. Posted at Loose Ends on Movies and books.

4. Had a little kick in the pants recently that life is good here and that with shadow, there is sunshine. Can't appreciate the sunshine without the shadow.

5. Is going to see Beauty and the Beast tomorrow night. I can't wait! I love that story. *happy sigh*

May the muses have Beauty to go along with the Beasts
Mechele

Really?

2011-04-27T15:24:00.001-04:00

An erotic romance author, Judy Mays, was outed in a news story. Mays is a teacher and apparently some parents have problems with her secondary career and personal life.

I won't link to the story but Smart Bitches has a blog on it.

Needless to say my full support goes to Judy Mays. I can't believe the piece that tried to pass as a "news" article.

I'm really irritated. Wasn't like she was reading excerpts from her books in class. From reading comments at the story site, several students lauded her as a great teacher.

Mechele

Friday Five

2011-04-22T07:00:00.002-04:00

1. Let's see...why haven't I been blogging? Well, my aunt was in a serious car accident and I've been helping her out. It's added craziness to an already busy schedule.

2. Writing on Dragon's Lair has resumed. I'm determined to write at least 500-1000 words a day minimum. I want to finish it. I now have a clear understanding of where the story is going.

3. I got some good news this week. Will share as soon as I can :>)

4. A Doctor Who salute to Elisabeth Sladen who passed away this week. She played Sarah Jane Smith in the 1970's and came back onto Doctor Who to reprise the character alongside David Tennant's Dr. Who. She also had a spin off show, The Sarah Jane Adventures. The new Doctor Who season starts on Saturday, much to my girls' delight. They are determined to convert the world to Doctor Who fans one at a time.

5. I blogged at TRS on my soap opera loving past.

May the muses have K-9's
Mechele

Friday Five

2011-04-01T21:51:00.004-04:00

1. Writing has stalled. I have a million and one excuses. The biggest one is my butt is not in the chair enough with fingers on keys. Need to work on it. I'm determined to get the dragon stories written! I'm giving myself a deadline.

2. Oldest said last night, "You have another meeting?" It's been that kind of March. I'm hoping April will settled down some.

3. Naptime should be mandatory for kids and adults alike.

4. Really enjoyed Monday's Castle. Loved the subplot about the daughter and really enjoyed the main plot. The Captain is really a neat character.

5. Got Vampire Academy for the oldest. Ended up reading it myself. Wow. Have now read books 2 and 3. 3 was the best one yet. I have a feeling I'm not going to get my HEA, which might make me mad but we'll see. I love the world building and the main character is intriguing, gutsy, and makes mistakes. I like a flawed protagonist.

Course I asked oldest was she going to read them or should I take them back to the library. She said "Take them back." Now this is after I've been telling her how good the first 2 are. I said, "You sure? They are really good." She said, "I'm just not interested in vampires." *shakes head*

May the muses have vampires
Mechele

Friday Five

2011-03-25T08:35:00.003-04:00

*pokes my head back in and sheepishly steps out*

1. Wondering where I've been? Life got insanely busy. Both of my girls are Girl Scouts and cookie season arrived with a roar. I did 11 hours of cookie booths the first weekend in March with both girls. Youngest worked 4 separate booths (one with dad and the rest with me). Youngest also earned her Bronze award (the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can earn) by making pet first aid kits and handing them out at the Richmond SPCA Dog Jog. She did a great many of her 20+ hours in March. Youngest also (yes, I see a trend) started baton, participated in a school talent show (she played Fur Elise on piano), and kept me running all of March. Here's to a quieter April (but I have doubts)

2. Edits on Code Monkey did get finished and it got *gulp* submitted. It's a sick feeling when you hit send...

3. The dragon story is off and flying (LOL, little pun there). I'm hoping to finish it up by the end of April and start the next one immediately after.

4. I blogged at Loose Ends on Mythical Creatures and TRS Blue on Variety.

5. Castle has been its usual awesome! I told the hubby, "This episode was good. But there are never any bad episodes." Oddly enough, I'm in the mood to watch some Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I've been listening to the soundtrack of Once More with Feeling. Really want to see that and Hush and the Spike and Dru season. May have to pull it out.

May the muses have good muses
Mechele

Friday five

2011-03-03T21:52:00.000-05:00

1. Working on editing Code Monkey. Beta reader really liked, so good sign

2. Started my dragon story. Loving it so far.

3. Youngest got braces. Brings back a lot of memories.

4. Read the 4th Dexter book. Liked it much better than the 3rd. I like the wit.

5. Castle is awesome. I'm still thinking about the episode from Monday. I keep saying best episode ever!

May the muses have straight teeth
Mechele

Come Party with me at TRS Release Party!

2011-02-24T11:04:00.001-05:00

I'm going to be sharing excerpts from Be My Moon! It's a party!

Mechele

It's a very good day!

2011-02-14T08:38:00.003-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

This morning I was checking email (before coffee) and had to read an email several times before it sunk in.

Settler's Mine 6: The Rogue won a SENSUAL READS 2010 REVIEWERS CHOICE AWARD for Fantasy at CataNetwork!

I'm beyond thrilled and absolutely tickled at this. The Rogue was a book I wanted to get right because I had met McTavish in previous stories. It's looking like I did get his story right!

Congrats to all the winners! To see a complete list.

Today is also the CAPA Awards ceremony at the Romance Studio! Another Dream, Another Reality is up for a Contemporary Erotic Romance Award. I'm honored to have been nominated along with some phenomenal other authors and books. For a complete list of nominees. To attend the festivities.
.

It's a Snoopy dancing day!
Mechele

Friday Five

2011-02-11T08:37:00.003-05:00

1. I'm still visiting Loose Id's home page. I'm so excited that Be My Moon is out! Love my cover *snoopy dances* and it's so pretty to see it up there. Go look *G*. Check out an excerpt.

2. I've been working hard on Code Monkey. I think I'm two chapters away from the end. I wrote 4 K on Wed!

3. Been also thinking about my next project. I think I'd really like to get into a dragon story. I'm thinking a trilogy.

4. I've been a little under the weather this week. I think I have a virus that the oldest and my hubby had. Don't really feel bad enough to want to die but feel very very icky. I mainly just want to sleep and collapse all the time. No fun.

5. Castle continues to astound me. I LOVED the end of the one Monday night. Castle and Beckett are just awesome. What Castle did...yards upon yards of awesome. And the whole property on the moon thing? Made me laugh.

May the muses have places to visit
Mechele

I'm howling at the Moon!

2011-02-08T09:12:00.002-05:00

Be My Moon released last night! I'm so excited!

Buy Link

Blurb: Hilary is enjoying a night under the full moon when out of nowhere, comes a man. His first words are to ask her name so that he knows what to call her when he has her under him.

Rourke has been looking for another Moon Person for years and can’t resist Hilary’s scent. They are alike and the power release when they have sex is out of this world.

Only Hilary can’t quite believe the lore that Rourke is telling her about them, even though it makes so much sense. She can’t be a Moon Person. But when danger lurks and forcibly takes Rourke away from her, she can’t imagine life without him. It might be too late, but she has to try and get him back to ask whether he will be her moon.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse.

To read an Excerpt

I shall be dancing under the moon! And visiting Loose Id's home page for a while!

Mechele

PS I know I didn't blog. I've been working on Code Monkey. I had to get some logistical stuff straight (thanks to the hubby) and I hope to finish it this week! So I maybe a bad bad blogger again this week.

Monday Mix

2011-01-31T08:43:00.002-05:00

1. Things are going well on Code Monkey. I'm enjoying the story. I wrote almost 9 K on it last week! I'm going to finish up this week if I push or the beginning of next week. It's all coming together nicely.

2. Gearing up for Be My Moon to release! Soon. *G* Very soon.

3. I've been suffering a reading slump that I posted about over at Loose Ends.

4. I'm thinking Castle is one of the best shows ever. Just when I think it can't get any better, it does. The episode last Monday night was one of the best ones I've seen. The resolution to Beckett's mother's death seems to have a plan, and I want to know where they are heading. The kiss? Smoking hot. "Thank you for having my back in there." "Always."

5. So with the reading slump I've been looking for things to read. And I've been rereading my copies of For Better or For Worse. Yes, the comic strip. I love it. Always have. From Farley the dog through the Lawrence storyline to Gordon to Elly's mother's death and her father's decline in health. My father suffered through several strokes so Jim's (Elly's dad) storyline is always poignant for me. I miss my dad a lot. And my mother. I adore the love between Iris and Jim and Elly and John. It's wonderful that a comic strip can bring out so many emotions.

May the muses have For Better or For Worse
Mechele

Friday Five

2011-01-21T14:46:00.002-05:00

1. My first pretty to share:

2. My second pretty to share! I bow to Anne Cain, who is a genius!

3. After that, I'm at a loss for words! LOL. Not really. Proofing edits are almost done on Be My Moon. Release date is creeping up soon!

4. I have a guilty pleasure. It is the Cape. It's comic bookish and I'm finding myself sucked in each week. Definitely need more of the circus performers!

5. My cat just tried to type. 140000000000000. Not sure what he meant by that, but seems a good ending point.

May the muses have pretties!

Mechele

Monday Mix

2011-01-17T09:49:00.002-05:00

1. Edits did go back and we're all set until the next round comes through on Be My Moon. Still can't share the pretty but will soon!

2. Had one home sick last week and we had a "snow" day off, though it was really a mix day and had a two hour delay. I also volunteered at youngest's Colonial Day, which ate up a whole day. Now they are off today for the holiday. I really need to get some work done!

3. Christmas stuff is almost all packed up. *sniffle* always makes me sad. But it is nice getting the house back in order, too.

4. I adore Castle. The one week before last was such an awesome episode. Just when I think they can't get any better...

5. Needs a nap.

May the muses have naps
Mechele

Monday Mix

2011-01-10T09:58:00.002-05:00

1. Have been working to get line edits back to my editor and have been successful at that! I'm sure she's happy LOL and so am I.

2. Have a new pretty to share and will as soon as I can!

3. Writing has been going pretty well, but was stalled a bit by edits. Hope to get further today!

4. Have a sick child at home :(. Hoping she gets better soon.

5. We are expecting a wintery mix here tomorrow. I was hesitant to use the word in my title! Don't bring it on. I'd rather have snow. Ugh.

May the muses mix it up
Mechele

A quickie

2011-01-08T18:15:00.001-05:00

I'm working on edits...which has led to my lack of blogging on Friday or Saturday. Soon as I can come up for air, I'll update.

Saturday Six

2011-01-01T10:58:00.002-05:00

It was a grand holiday. I'm sort of sad it's over and sort of happy to get back to routine. Especially a writing routine. That I haven't had since...well, we moved and everything went topsy turvey. But I write this first day of the new year and plan to write most days hereafter.

My best Christmas presents:

1. Good review from RT for Geek Love (a web exclusive review and blog)! 4 stars! Several other good reviews, including, 4 hoots from Nocturne Romance Reads, 5 stars from Location 2571, and 4 stars from Night Owl Reviews!

2. My author copies of my new print book arriving and it going live on Amazon and Barnes and Noble! You can take the ISBN to any book store and they can order it: ISBN-13: 9781611183559.

3. A Geek Mom t-shirt. From my hubby. Does he know me or what?

4. A Snoopy dancing hallmark ornament. I LOVE IT. Thanks to Mari of Marissa Alwin for that.

5. a stocking of stuff from Christmases past. My sister found a bunch of ornaments and such from my childhood tree and gave them to me. Made me very sentimental.

6. Beauty and the Beast tickets from my other sister. It's not only Christmas but birthday for the girls, too. I had really really wanted to go so am loving we get to.

It's 2011 and I'm very optimistic about the new year. Have a great one!

Mechele

Just wanted to say

2010-12-31T19:41:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! May 2011 be a wonderful one.

Hugs
Mechele

A lot of good news!

2010-12-28T16:44:00.001-05:00

Not long after I hit send about my RT blog, there was a sound at the door. It was the delivery man dropping off my author copies of…The Alphas, which contains the Settler’s Mine stories, The Wolf and the Man. Lookee! It’s up on Amazon. *snoopy dances*

http://tinyurl.com/MAAlphas

I also sent back my edits about the same time and my editor congratulated me on my CAPA award nomination. *blinks* naturally I had to head over to TRS to find out what that was about. Another Dream, Another Reality was nominated for a 2010 TRS CAPA in contemporary erotic romance! *more snoopy dances*

Mechele

Just wanted to say

2010-12-25T15:32:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays from my house to yours!

It is all geek to me...

2010-12-23T19:11:00.001-05:00

I blogged at RT's blog and got a 4 star online review!!

http://tinyurl.com/MAgeekRT

Blogging around the Christmas tree

2010-12-14T09:05:00.001-05:00

At SEx about the release of Geek Love: http://ping.fm/v5DNw

At TRS about the holiday spirit: http://ping.fm/6wXd0

May the muses have blogs
Mechele Armstrong

Who let the geek out?

2010-12-13T21:26:00.001-05:00

Liquid Silver did! Geek Love is live!

When Joel goes to a science fiction/gaming convention, he never expects to meet the woman of his dreams. But when he finds out a gaming buddy he’s never met is there, that’s exactly what happens.

Sam got tried of being a woman in the gaming communities, so she adopted a male persona to play--only now she has to make that lie up to her best friend Joel, who she’s spent many a night chatting with online. She doesn’t think anything that happens onscreen could be real but things sure heat up when she meets the man she considers a buddy.

Amidst science fiction regulars and popular shows and movie fans, Sam and Joel try to get to know each other beyond their gaming names and have a wild night together.

When another online woman sets her sights on Joel and is willing to do anything to get him, Sam is caught in the crossfire. Will she ever be able to reconcile herself to geek love becoming real?

Mechele
www.mechelearmstrong.com

Friday Five

2010-12-10T09:54:00.004-05:00

Santa has come early...

1. The good: My Moonlight story was accepted by Loose Id! I'm so excited. It's entitled "Be My Moon." Look for more details as they become available.

2. The Pretty!

I love my cover! Geek Love will release next week! Whoo hooo.

3. The blurb for Geek Love:

When Joel goes to a science fiction/gaming convention, he never expects to meet the woman of his dreams. But when he finds out a gaming buddy he’s never met is there, that’s exactly what happens.

Sam got tried of being a woman in the gaming communities, so she adopted a male persona to play--only now she has to make that lie up to her best friend Joel, who she’s spent many a night chatting with online. She doesn’t think anything that happens onscreen could be real but things sure heat up when she meets the man she considers a buddy.

Amidst science fiction regulars and popular shows and movie fans, Sam and Joel try to get to know each other beyond their gaming names and have a wild night together.
When another online woman sets her sights on Joel and is willing to do anything to get him, Sam is caught in the crossfire. Will she ever be able to reconcile herself to geek love becoming real

4. The Fantastic:

The Settler's Mine novellas, The Wolf and the Man are being packaged together in print! Yes, print. I will let you know when it goes live. I'm thrilled. Here's a cover.

5. It's been a crazy week around here. Seems to be a theme. Do heed this warning. It's easy at the holidays to let down your guard about things that critters shouldn't have. Be extra cautious. There's a lot more stuff around that they shouldn't eat.

May the muses have pretties

Mechele

Friday Five

2010-12-03T21:36:00.002-05:00

1. I've been a bad bad blogger. My birthday and also Thanksgiving threw me for a loop. Sorry about that.

2. I has a happy. When I can share...I will.

3. I has another happy. Geek Love is gearing up for a Dec 13th release! I'm thrilled. I have a pretty I'll share next week... Yes, my world is full of happiness.

4. Except for the sickness. Colds have been running amuck. So did a science project for the oldest. It kicked up and down over Thanksgiving but we won! Got it done.

5. The inside halls are decked. Am working on the outside now. I can't wait to get inflatable Snoopy up.

May the muses have Friday Fives
Mechele

Just wanted to say

2010-11-25T11:26:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for so much and hope everyone has a good day, whether celebrating today or not.

Hugs
Mechele

Friday Five

2010-11-12T21:17:00.002-05:00

1. It's been a long week. That is all.

2. I'm down to 30 pages of editing, a spell check, a search for some junk words, and I will be able to submit. I'm hoping by Monday!

3. Reading another Young Adult book. Hate List by Jennifer Brown (I think). Wow. It's captivating me (making it hard to edit because I want to read it). It's a powerful book. Not for the faint of heart because of the subject matter and because of the emotion.

4. I'm bummed. Very bummed. I have been trying to read Bullet by LKH. I just cannot get into it. I find myself not caring. A minor character died and I was like, "Whatever." Not sure what it is. I read Flirt a few weeks ago. I read one other book of hers that I thought sucked and finished it. But I may have to abandon this one. Considering how much I loved Anita Blake in the beginning, it makes me sad. I used to read Anita Blake like I am Hate List.

5. How you know your kids are geeks: When you go to bed two nights in a three day span and find them up still reading, and they are so excited about the book they want to tell your half asleep mind all the details.

May the muses have books
Mechele

Friday Five

2010-11-05T10:38:00.002-04:00

1. I finished my newest novella. Need to name it! It finished about where I thought it would in terms of word count. Onto editing and submission next week. And I need to get back to Code Monkey.

2. It's finally cool here! I'm loving the fall weather. It's not too cold but definitely a nip in the air.

3. It's incredibly busy already. I can't imagine what the holidays are going to be like. Even on our down days, we wind up doing something.

4. I already have purchased tickets to see Harry Potter on November 20th. Boooo ya! My oldest is thrilled.

5. I love Castle. It's such a smart little show. LOL and the strip club episode was a hoot.

May the muses have tickets
Mechele

Bonus: Congrats to the winners in the Trick or Treat contest!

2010-10-31T10:32:00.000-04:00

Time is ticking

2010-10-29T11:17:00.001-04:00

Don't forget Sam Cheever's Trick or Treat contest. Win fabulous prizes from awesome authors!

http://ping.fm/9DhY3

Want to win?

2010-10-24T08:42:00.001-04:00

Check out the Trick or Treat contest, which includes myself and several other authors:

http://ping.fm/GKjNn

Friday Five

2010-10-22T09:51:00.002-04:00

1. Writing continues. I'm less than 10 K away from my target. So I'm definitely plodding along. Haven't really been working on Code Monkey too because of 2.

2. Cold and flu season struck! Nasty cold or flu? I dunno but geesh, it sucked. I was ready to throw in the towel a few times. Youngest didn't feel well and got better quicker than I did. *sigh* I think I'm old.

3. I was feeling pretty lousy last Friday so not only did I read Hunger Games but I read the second book by Suzanne Collins, too. Wow. The dystopian universe that's been created is bleak and utterly captivating. Katniss is a wonderful protagonist. She's not perfect and I identified with her immediately. Gale and Peeta are both engrossing characters and I find myself liking both of them. Oldest and I definitely want the third book soon!

4. Oldest can't decide what to be for Halloween. We have a Halloween party tomorrow night. Not sure what we're going to do about that. I told her she should be Katniss. Youngest wanted to be a Daleck but wound up going for a devil because she wasn't sure she could or would have time to make something.

5. Pssst??? Get ready for Sam Cheever's Trick or Treat contest!

May the muses have treats
Mechele

Featured Siren of the Month For Oct 2010

2010-10-21T10:25:00.001-04:00

http://ping.fm/ohheC

Check out the October 2010 newsletter.

Featured at TRS for October:

2010-10-21T10:23:00.001-04:00

http://ping.fm/24RMK

Blogged at TRS

2010-10-18T09:07:00.001-04:00

on Peanuts.

http://ping.fm/eze3k

Friday Five

2010-10-15T09:54:00.003-04:00

1. Ugh. I have a cold. Or rather "I hab a code." You know it's bad when you tell the kidlets you don't think you can do something fun that you've offered up because you're not up to it and they say, "We know. we can hear it in you voice. You don't look like you feel good."

2. Writing is going. Not sure what I will write today LOL. I actually wrote on Code Monkey and my special moonlight story both this week. I'm over half way done with moonlight, which makes me very happy. I don't usually write on two things at once so am very surprised at being compelled to do it now. I need to find a title...

3. Kidlets and I did three hour long shifts in the banned books reading room at our local library. I was so so excited. Books we read for the hour: It, Harry Potter, Boys are Dogs, The Color Purple, A Light in the Attic, Scary Stories, The Supernaturalist, Are you there God? It's me Margaret?, and Salem's Lot. Salem's Lot has special significance for me as my own school library pulled the book from the after one complaint :(. I'd read it as a 10th grader and done a book report on it. The girls and I discussed book banning/challenges and why I think it's the wrong thing to do. Lots of discussions, which was great.

4. Castle and Big Bang are awesome this year. Both shows are keeping me captivated. We discovered Eureka over the summer, watched the new season. We've been going back and watching the older ones.

5. I'm getting into Young Adult books. Holy wow are there some good choices out there. Oldest recently read the Eragon trilogy. She was upset there isn't a 4th book out yet when she finished the 3rd one. I'm reading Eragon and enjoying it. Melissa Marr is coming to the local library system so I checked out Wicked Lovely and read it. Haunting book. It didn't end like I thought it would, definitely not romance. I'm intrigued. I've checked out the next two books from the library. Oldest also read Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and told me I should read it. I'm a 100 pages in and think it will be a book I can't put down until I'm done. Oldest asked me at our last banned books room stint had Hunger Games been banned anywhere. I looked but didn't see anything, which disappointed her because she wanted to read more in the second one LOL. I already knew what it was about and said I wouldn't be surprised if it does show up on a banned books reading list sometime soon. As engrossed as I am in it, I find that thinking sort of sad.

May the muses have books to read
Mechele

Friday Five (banned books edition--double list)

2010-10-01T09:34:00.004-04:00

All week long I've been discussing challenged books and why we should celebrate the freedom to read, the freedom to think for ourselves, and the wisdom to allow others to do the same. I've discussed why I think it's important, what books have been challenged, and why they are challenged.

I thought I'd list some of my favorite challenged books and also explain a personal reason why I feel so strongly about this subject.

1. Stephen King-A lot of his books have been challenged. King is one of my favorite authors. I love his older works (Cujo, Firestarter, Night Shift, Different Seasons, etc) and some of his newer stuff. The Stand always makes my list of favorite books. King is a writer who made me want to write. He gave me hope that one day I could write my own stories.

And with Stephen King lies a personal reason why this matters so much to me. When I was a senior in high school, my high school library pulled Salem's Lot from the shelves. This was based on the complaint of ONE parent who felt it was inappropriate for their child to read. ONE parent. I had read this book and done a report on it for my Honors English class in 10th grade. Neither my mother or my teacher felt there was a problem with my reading it. Instead of simply telling their child to take it back, this parent felt it necessary to make sure no other child in my high school could check it out. I didn't understand it then. I still don't. I questioned it then, but the book was not reinstated because of one person's objections. I think that's a scary precedent.

2. Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume. Blume is another author who makes the challenged lists all the time. I remember reading this book and loving it. I'm actually reading it again right now because I'm wondering if my youngest would like to read it.

3. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. When people write their lists of favorite books, more often than not, this book is on it.

4. Harry Potter is a series that makes the list quite frequently. It's also the set of books that propelled a generation toward reading. My oldest is a Harry Potter fanatic and she's appalled that anyone would want to ban these books.

5. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. Another book that often makes the lists of favorites. It's also been challenged. I loved reading about Scarlett.

6. The Color Purple by Alice Walker. This is a book I love and that I own. It's moved with me every time I move. It's also a book that's frequently cited.

7. Their eyes were watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I read this in college. Thought it should be required reading.

8. Toni Morrison. Her books frequently make the lists from Beloved to The Bluest Eye. Her books aren't easy reads, they are thought provoking.

9. Summer of my German Soldier. This is a book I remember reading and rereading when I was a tween.

10. Olive's Ocean. This is a book that I read last year when Banned Books Week came around. It's a wonderful coming of age story.

May the muses have banned books
Mechele

Banned Books Week-Why I think it matters

2010-09-29T10:09:00.002-04:00

If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859

I'm a huge believer in not censoring books.

I'll clarify by saying, if parents want to forbid or make a child wait to read a book until they are older, I don't have a problem with it. I've made that decision on books. My youngest wanted to watch the Twilight movies. I've told her she needs to be a little bit older. Once upon a time, I checked out Blubber by Judy Blume but decided my children needed to be a little older before they read it. I'd not let oldest read Stephen King at 11 but she's getting to the age where I discovered him. If they strongly objected to my decision, we'd probably talk it over and maybe agree to read and discuss together.

However, I do not agree with people deciding if their child won't read that book now or until later, than no child should read that book now or forever. That I do have a problem with. Decide for your own children but don't decide for mine.

I have a problem with a person deciding because the book idea is different than what they believe, that no one should read that book.

The other thing is who decides what books are objectionable? I might object to Twilight because I feel the protagonist is weak. Someone else may think she's not weak but object to it for another reason. Just about every book in the universe is going to have something that someone finds objectionable. So do we ban them all?

Books are ideas. Where do we go from banning books? We ban all the books that we object to. What's to stop us from banning people? After all, people have ideas, too.

Wherever they burn books they will also, in the end, burn human beings. ~Heinrich Heine, Almansor, 1823

This quote was on the fake fireplace in the banned books reading room last night. I had to explain it to both kidlets.

One of the first things Hitler did in his takeover was go after books. Dictators do not want ideas floating around because they are dangerous. They make people think. And a dictator doesn't want people who think for themselves. What did he do after going after books? He went after people he didn't like or objected to.

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too. ~Voltaire

Mechele

Banned Books Week, the Banned Books Reading room

2010-09-28T08:10:00.002-04:00

The library I primarily go to does a Banned Books reading room every year. Basically people sit in this display room and read books that have been challenged.

I'm so excited. My oldest and I are going to read in there for the next three Tuesdays. My youngest may join us but I'm not sure she can read for an hour.

Oldest plans to read Harry Potter tonight. She's appalled that HP makes the list of challenged books. My plan is to read Stephen King. I'd love to read Salem's Lot. I'll tell you why in a later post...

May the muses have good libraries
Mechele

Banned Books Week: Why are books challenged?

2010-09-28T07:00:00.001-04:00

Top Three Reasons for challenging a book:

the material was considered to be "sexually explicit"
the material contained "offensive language"
the materials was "unsuited to any age group"

Source

Banned Books Week: The 20 most challenged books the decade 2000-2009

2010-09-27T07:00:00.001-04:00

1 Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling

2 Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

3 The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

4 And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell

5 Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

6 I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou

7 Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz

8 His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman

9 TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Myracle, Lauren

10 The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

11 Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers

12 It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris

13 Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey

14 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain

15 The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison

16 Forever, by Judy Blume

17 The Color Purple, by Alice Walker

18 Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous

19 Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

20 King and King, by Linda de Haan

Source. You can see the top 100 here.

Banned Books Week: The 10 most challenged books of 2009

2010-09-26T07:00:00.001-04:00

The list also gives why the book was challenged.

1. “TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs

2. “And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson Reasons: Homosexuality

3. “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Anti-Family, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide

4. “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee Reasons: Racism, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

6. “Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

7. “My Sister’s Keeper,” by Jodi Picoult Reasons: Sexism, Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide, Violence

8. “The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things,” by Carolyn Mackler Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

9. “The Color Purple,” Alice Walker Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

10. “The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Source

Banned Books Week starts

2010-09-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

As an avid reader, I post on Banned Books Week every year. Today marks the kickoff. I'll try to post something every day about this important issue. I'll post lists so you can see what books are being challenged and also a bit about why I think it's important to have the freedom to read.

Mechele

Friday Five

2010-09-24T08:18:00.002-04:00

First up, Happy belated birthday to Melissa, my friend, writing partner, critique partner. Hope it was very happy!

Now onto Friday Five!

1. I've been writing on Code Monkey and have started a brand new project, that I didn't expect to write *G*. It's good news. I don't usually work on two things at once but I might be for a while. Either that or just work on one, write it fast, and then finish the other. I'm excited about the new project! And Code Monkey!

2. I blogged at Loose Ends on Letting go.

3. Had two school open houses this week so didn't get a lot done at night. Both were good. I liked a lot of oldest's teachers (she's in middle school) and liked both of youngest's teachers. We are getting into a routine again, which is nice.

4. My latest distraction? Geek Mom. I subscribe to a lot (read: too many) RSS feeds but I really only check out a few daily, Jill Shalvis, Chickens in the Road, Dear Author, EREC blog. Geek Mom has quickly become one I check out all the time.

5. TV has been a big distraction, too. I'm watching too many shows! Eek. However, Warehouse 13 just had its season finale. Now they will make me wait months to know how this resolves. *pout*. But I loved the finale. It was really good. Claudia and Artie have such good rapport. Love them interacting together. Castle was excellent on Monday night as was Chuck. But the best premiere of the week? Big Bang. OMG. I've never laughed so hard in my life. If you didn't see it, you must watch. Robot hand on penis. Sheldon on a date. That's all I'm saying.

May the muses have off buttons
Mechele

Friday Five

2010-09-15T08:26:00.004-04:00

1. I do live! I know I missed a couple of Fridays but am back now. Moving has been....hectic. Very hectic. We had to get enough stuff out of our house for the movers and carpet people. Then we had to get our old house ready to go on the market. Cross your fingers it sells quickly. Combine that with starting school and things have been CRAZY.

2. I blogged at TRS Blue on Bad Boys.

3. I have been writing. Not nearly fast enough but I'm getting there. I love Code Monkey and I have a dragon story that's yelling to be written. I hope to get both done over the next couple of months and submitted.

4. Chickens in the Road is a blog I've read for many years. They are celebrating a new baby calf! I have calf envy. LOL think my new subdivision would freak if I got a cow. But Glory Bee sure is cute.

5. I've been absorbed by Warehouse 13. Have really enjoyed their summer season. They had a cliffhanger this week and the season finale is next week. We also just started watching Eureka. Pretty good. May have to go watch the previous seasons. I can't wait for Big Bang to premiere next week. I need to see when Castle comes back too!

May the muses have envy
Mechele

PS I'm camping this weekend on with other Girl Scout leaders/assistant leaders/volunteers. Next weekend I go camping with oldest. Oh well, least it is cabins.

The Rogue has escaped

2010-09-14T09:14:00.001-04:00

And life will never be the same!

Yes, the Rogue released last night at Loose Id! Yay!

Princess Arianna's brother is missing, lost in the dangerous brothels on Batuck. She can't find him alone so she hires a legend to help. When they meet, their heartstones glow. The legend -- the Rogue, a man called McTavish -- is her mate.

Decker's been studying McTavish from behind a desk for years. Catching him is his chance to earn a much-desired promotion in the Union Alliance. Then the Queen, Arianna's stepmother, who is responsible for the prince's disappearance, contacts him with a deal: find her son before McTavish does and use him as bait, and she'll make sure he gets that promotion. Except...

Decker can't stand her actions against her son and turns on the Queen. He contacts McTavish and Arianna to make a deal. The biggest surprise when they meet isn't that he plans to go through with it. It's that his quarry and the princess are his mates.

On the run from a vicious queen, the three must learn what can bond a princess, a law man, and a rogue...in order to save their lives and the throne.

http://ping.fm/miYNh

To read an excerpt: http://ping.fm/hMgPI

I'm snoopy dancing!
Mechele

Friday Five Moving edition take 2

2010-08-27T07:00:00.002-04:00

I'll be closing and moving today and all this weekend. Hopefully will all go well.

1. Some humor: Murphy's Law of Moving

1. No matter how many boxes you have, you will never have enough.

2. The more your friends promise to help, the more likely it is they will be deathly ill or out of town the weekend you are moving.

3. Whatever it is that you need, it is always in the bottom of a box that has already been taped shut.

4. Now that you are moving and no longer need it, you will always find something you have been looking for for years.

5. The tape, the scissors, the markers and the screwdriver all know how to play hide ‘n’ seek.

6. The thing that gets broken will always be an irreplaceable antique heirloom - never something cheap that you didn't like anyway.

7. Regardless of long the drought has been going on, it will always rain on moving day.

8. You will always loose your checkbook, your car keys, the remote control or the telephone.

9. If you stay up all night packing to be ready for the movers, they will be late.

10. No matter how large the new place is, it will shrink before you move in.

Source: http://www.humorcolumnist.com/murphymove.htm

2. Some Music: My daughters are Dr. Who obssessed. Have been hearing this over and over and over again. This is the Great Luke Ski and "It Takes Who."

3. A picture: Youngest LOVES Matt Smith's Dr. Who. I hear a lot about Matt Smith.

4. A book: I've rediscovered the joys of comic strips and my kids are discovering them. I love Calvin and Hobbes and now they do, too!

5. More Music. My inspiration

Wish me luck moving!
Mechele

Friday Five-the moving edition

2010-08-20T12:05:00.002-04:00

1. In one week, we close on the house and move. *gulp* Yes, panic has set in. Severe panic. I have a lot to do in the next week. And the idea we have to sell the house we are leaving is a scary prospect.

2. It's interesting trying to box up everything. I know as soon as I box something up, there will be a "need" for it. I've also found a lot of stuff I'd forgotten about. Lot of memories. I found my old girl scout sash. Found some collectibles given to the kids. Found some stuff from my previous dog who passed away in 2006. Found tiny onesies the kidlets used to wear.

3. Kids are nervous and unhelpful at this point even though they like the new house. *sigh* I might take them with me if I ever have to move again. Maybe. Critters know something is up but not what.

4. Packing tape dispensers are dangerous. I've cut myself on it umpteen times. I'm on my second roll of the stuff.

5. I covet boxes. When I walk through a store now, I don't notice what's being put out. I think, "Now that's a nice box..."

May the muses have packing tape and band-aids
Mechele

Friday Five

2010-08-13T10:09:00.002-04:00

1. In a holding pattern with writing. Too busy to get a lot done. Why busy?

2. Two weeks from today we close on the house and move that weekend. Trying to get everything in the house portable. Fun fun. Critters know something is up but not what.

3. Read Lisa Jackson's Hot Blooded. Pretty good book but I found one thing a little too coincidental. She definitely knows how to write a scary villain.

4. Anyone else ready for fall? The heat is getting to me. It's been humid as can be. Storms every Thursday for the last month.

5. Am loving Warehouse 13. Claudia really adds to the show and her and Artie crack me up. Have been watching Eureka and Haven, too. Hubster thinks maybe we have been missing out by not watching Eureka.

May the muse have boxes
Mechele

Friday Five

2010-08-06T06:36:00.002-04:00

1. Geek Love was accepted by Liquid Silver! I'm very excited about this one. It's the story of two geeks who knew each other online but get together at a gaming/science fiction convention. Needless to say, fun ensues.

2. This is tax free back to school weekend in Virginia. I'm planning to get out this morning and finish up shopping. Thankfully I've bought stuff the last couple of years so we only need a couple of things. Oldest did jump a size in pants but I bought the next size up during clearance last year so she only needs a pair of jeans or two. I'd like to get home by lunchtime...

3. The house is full of boxes. I've acquired boxes from grocery stores and liquor stores. LOL. Sort of a strange mix. I'm boxing up things. It feels like it's going slowly but hubby says I'm doing good. Three weeks until closing *gulp*. Hubby did say last night this is not feeling like home. There's so many boxes out and a lot of the knickknacks are in boxes.

4. Funny how many memories you find when you're boxing up stuff. I have lots of letters, cards, notes from hubby and family. After packing up my books last week, I'm feeling quite nostalgic.

5. Youngest is doing a drama camp next week. They are doing Seussical. I don't know if she'll know the songs...LOL but I sure will. We've been listening this week.

Bonus: Who else is watching Warehouse 13 on SyFy? I really am enjoying their new season. I love Claudia and Artie. Their banter cracks me up. In general, Claudia makes me laugh. I also really enjoyed the new Phineas and Ferb. Had a lot of songs. Poor Isabella.

May the muses have the city of love
Mechele

Good news!

2010-07-31T08:30:00.001-04:00

Yipppee! The Rogue is "coming soon" from Loose Id! http://ping.fm/KGZYx

Friday Five

2010-07-30T08:50:00.003-04:00

1. I love the new house. I was there for three hours on Wed for the house inspection. I've been dreaming ever since.

2. The harsh reality? Packing. Ugh. I'm working on books. I have 10 boxes of books, plus one box of cookbooks, so far and still have comic strip books to pack up. Plus the girls' books. Hubby had one box of books.

3. So many memories with books! Oh my. I remember my first Stephen King book. Carrie. My first Sherrilyn Kenyon. Night Pleasures. My first Robin Schone. Gabriel's Woman. I also found some framed pictures of my mom when she was young (the kidlets guessed it was me), my dad, my brother, my grandparents, my first dog, the family from my wedding, my kidlets when they were younger.

4. My oldest has been doing a drama camp this week. She's been having the time of her life. I'm really excited by how excited she is about it. Youngest does a drama camp week after next. They are doing Seussical. She's a Who. Keeps saying she doesn't want to do it but listens to the songs and has already found her Who outfit.

5. Guess who has good boxes for packing? The liquor store. LOL.

May the muses have boxes
Mechele

Friday Five

2010-07-23T09:53:00.003-04:00

1. I'm a bad bad blogger. I missed last week. I could blame it on vacation fatigue or the kids or a lot of other stuff. I'll just say my mind was in other places.

2. Savannah was awesome! Very hot but fun. We were kept busy. We went to First Headquarters, the first Girl Scout headquarters, went geo-caching, went to the birthplace of both Juliette Low and Girl Scouts, did A Rainy Day in 1870 workshop, took a tour, walked around, took a ghost tour, took a trolley tour, walked around some more, went to the candy factory, went to Tybee Island, played ankle deep in the ocean while straining for critters, toured the Marine Science Center, and walked a little ways into the salt marsh. We took several days of rest after we came back LOL.

3. All first round edits are done on Settler's Mine: The Rogue and back with the editor. Next up, line edits.

4. Going to be undergoing major changes here. We are moving. *blinks* yes, moving. It hasn't quite sunk in yet. Lots of stuff to do!

5. Deadliest Catch has been excellent. It hasn't been too sad and it's been put together beautifully. The scenes where you found out Captain Phil Harris had passed interspersed with the other captains riding out the storm...powerful, yet not melodramatic.

May the muses have new (to me) houses
Mechele

Wanna talk about me?

2010-07-21T11:27:00.001-04:00

I'm featured at Ann Lory's blog with an interview and contest! Check it out:

http://tinyurl.com/MecheleatAL

Friday Five

2010-07-09T07:00:00.001-04:00

1. As you read this, I'm probably on a bus heading to Savannah with my youngest's Girl Scout troop. Should be oodles of fun packed into two days of being in Savannah. I'm a little nervous, going with so many little people. Both of my girls are going. We have to get up at 4:45. I'm sure I will be like coffee pot, here I come! The bus leaves at 6 AM.

2. I did first round edits on Settler's Mine: The Rogue. I have a severe fragment addiction *sigh*. But it's a much stronger story for the work done so far.

3. Youngest is into Calvin and Hobbes right now. I love Calvin. He makes me laugh. I'm a big fan of the comic strip genre, like Baby Blues, Fox Trot, Zits, For Better or For Worse, Peanuts (duh), The Far Side, and others. I checked out a biography of the author Calvin and Hobbes. Should be interesting reading.

4. Okay, a whiiiinee about the heat. Several days of over 100 degree heat already? It's sad when a day in the 80's seems like a big cool down. And no 80's in sight for a long time. *sigh* Savannah probably will be about the same at least.

5. The season finale of Deadliest Catch airs next week with a tribute to Phil. *sigh* I know I'm going to cry. But I've told hubby, I may have to own this season. It's been very well done. I wish it had a different ending.

May the muse have happy endings
Mechele

The Crayon Box

Another dragon on the loose!

The monkey is out of the cage!

Friday Five

Who let the dragons out?

Friday Five

Friday Five

Stop, Look, Win!

Banned Books Week-it is personal

What books are banned and why?

Banned Books Week-Why it matters

The most challenged books of 2010

Friday Five

I do live

*Peeks head in* Friday Five

Friday five

Friday five

Monday Mix

Contest and a blog!

Friday Five

Friday Five

Really?

Friday Five

Friday Five

Friday Five

Friday five

Come Party with me at TRS Release Party!

It's a very good day!

Friday Five

I'm howling at the Moon!

Monday Mix

Friday Five

Monday Mix

Monday Mix

A quickie

Saturday Six

Just wanted to say

A lot of good news!

Just wanted to say

It is all geek to me...

Blogging around the Christmas tree

Who let the geek out?

Friday Five

Friday Five

Just wanted to say

Friday Five

Friday Five

Time is ticking

Want to win?

Friday Five

Featured Siren of the Month For Oct 2010

Featured at TRS for October:

Blogged at TRS

Friday Five

Friday Five (banned books edition--double list)

Banned Books Week-Why I think it matters

Banned Books Week, the Banned Books Reading room

Banned Books Week: Why are books challenged?

Banned Books Week: The 20 most challenged books the decade 2000-2009

Banned Books Week: The 10 most challenged books of 2009

Banned Books Week starts

Friday Five

Friday Five

The Rogue has escaped

Friday Five Moving edition take 2

Friday Five-the moving edition

Friday Five

Friday Five

Good news!

Friday Five

Friday Five

Wanna talk about me?

Friday Five

Peeks head in Friday Five