Melani Blazer

A new date to write (and remember to write…I’ll be in 2008 until about mid-February). A new calendar to….crap, forgot a calendar for my office. What could replace a Pirates calendar? Must start shopping on that regard… Anyway, it’s that resolution time again, and yes, I heard you groan and will do it with you any time I hear that word.

Now, I’ve had resolutions in the past. Some, writing related, have been easier to maintain, at least for longer periods of time. So I’m not going to bother with the vow to work out or eat healthy cuz you all know damn good and well the first time someone says “Let’s have McDonalds,” dude, I’m there.

Because I have been lax here at the blog, especially in keeping my captive audience of two up to date on what’s going on with me, I am going to make an effort to come in and say HI once in a while.

Here’s what I managed to do with 2008. Um….

I learned a lot about kitchen remodeling and FINALLY, Fin-A-Leeeeeeee am on the final step, which is countertop installation. We’re waiting on the contractor to give us the scary dollar amount, then I throw up, then I write a check and then he comes and cusses, grunts, hammers, drills and all those wonderful things contractors do while working, and then I cry when I finally see the entire project completed. (Well, there will be little things like some ceiling trim, etc, but OMG it’ll be working kitchen with a SINK and a COUNTER!!!)

I reviewed, slightly edited and submitted a novellette (slightly smaller than a novella-length?) to Samhain and am waiting on my editor, dear Angela James to ask me what the hell I was drinking when I wrote it.

I wrote, by hand, a Nascar themed book. It’s still mostly on paper in really bad handwriting. A goal for early 2009 is to type it in, editing as I go, then let it brew for a little while, reread and edit it again and then torture Angie @ Samhain with it, too. It’s got some of the characters from Trophy Girl in it, but the sexual level is not even close. Apparently these characters didn’t take notes from Molly and Zander about how to get it on in a car hauler… But I guess not every book needs copious amounts of sex, right?

I added a few thousands words to several other books I have in progress. Mainly a vampire story I can’t manage to get into for long periods of time because it really messes with my moods. Also toyed with a humorous witch story, one I really love and want to finish, but the plot hasn’t all fallen together in my head so I can’t.

Just last week I did something I’ve talked about doing for a long, long time and that’s revise a book I submitted to Silhouette Intimate Moments (that ages it, eh?). It’s not THE story of my heart, but a damn close second, I think. It was ultimately given a personal rejection by the then-executive editor of the line. I think 7-8 years of learning and growing as an author will help me figure out what I didn’t know then and “fix” the things that made this come back to me rather than sell. Who knows what I’ll do with it then. Not sure the original length or heat level will remain. I’m excited about it, and despite one of my friends looking at me like I’d grown 8 heads, am up for the task of rewriting.

Oh, yeah. the other thing I wanted to torture you all with, if you’re even still with me after my babbling-ness. CLICK HERE and you can thank me later.

Life’s been hectic, but we’re healthy, happy (although frustration hits from time to time) and when we look at the big picture, have little to complain about.

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you. I hope your holiday is full of love, smiles and is filled with the message of the season. I also hope Santa brought you everything your heart desired.

With love,
Mel

Eh, who cares, this book is for all those girls, naughty or…not so naughty! Available November 18th (but listed as available now at Amazon.com) you can get into the holiday spirit with this Christmas themed anthology.

For as long as she can remember, Kenna has had dreams of one man whose touch filled her soul and ignited her passions. When her life crumbles right before the holidays, Kenna decides that as a Christmas present to herself, she’s going to finally learn if what she feels is real, or if it’s just a figment of her imagination.

Seth feels the presence of the mystery woman who comes to him in visions and dreams—offering her body and soul to him. He’s spent a lifetime looking for her and tonight he’s going to find her. When he rescues a stranded Kenna, he feels the attraction, but wonders if she’s “the one”.

Stranded by a blizzard in a mountainside cabin, Seth’s and Kenna’s passions ignite. Their hearthside sex leaves them breathless, but the heat they generate isn’t enough to burn the memory of the dream woman from Seth’s mind, or convince Kenna she hadn’t simply imagined the man she knows only in her dreams.

But at Christmas, magical things happen. And sometimes dreams can come to life.

It’s a little nice and a lot naughty and sure to warm those cold, winter evenings…
Check it out online at Amazon.com or at a bookstore near you!!!

I had such big plans for the weekend. Wanted to carve pumpkins and rework the last chapter or so of the book I’m writing. I know exactly where things went awry and am really eager to finish it.

Yesterday we went to the zoo. Last year we vowed to visit more often, but we’re not getting there like we wanted to. The tigers were inspriting, as usual. The lioness was cranky, greeting visitors with a snarl and growl. The reindeer looks like it’s gearing up for Christmas and the kangaroos were shivering and huddled in a little patch of sunlight. I feel ya, boys, I feel ya. We got to see the baby bobcats for the first time, and actually got daddy bobcat to “talk” to us. Cranky feller.

It’s getting cold. Some areas have brilliant fall foliage, others are still mostly green with some yellow tinges. I’m eager to get some nice pics, but haven’t gotten where I need to be at the right time. The just before sunset lighting looks to be the best, and maybe this week I can find an ideal spot for some shots.

I’m off to work, just clearing out the cobwebs… Though, I should leave them, considering it’s damn near Halloween.

How the hell did THAT happen?

I really should be getting back to work, but I’m going to stretch my lunch an extra moment here and reflect on something that’s been on my mind all day.

My husband leaves for work about an hour and a half before I do. I often steal an extra twenty minutes of sleep or so after he leaves the house (and then run around like a mad-woman trying to make sure everyone has food, water, the windows are closed the curling iron closed and I have finished dressing, applying makeup and have found my keys….)

Anyway, this morning my baby squirrels were up and their food bowls empty, so I decided to feed them prior to my shower so they could eat, then maybe be less hyper when I let them out to “visit” with me before I leave. If I hadn’t done that first, I wouldn’t have heard the phone. My husband.

He called to tell me what a beautiful morning it was. He said he was outside and it was truly beautiful. He said “Mother Nature woke up and turned on the light”. There was dew on the grass, the last of fog burning off and the sun just coming up. Oh, and he said his eagles were there.

Lately there’s been several bald eagles flying near the plant where he works, and we suspect they’re nesting in the wooded area nearby. As an animal lover, he has expressed several times how majestic and powerful those huge birds are as they circle overhead, occasionally coming in close for a look.

If you’ve read my blog recently you’ll know we’ve been up to our eye sockets in projects, and not all of them planned. Seems we rarely have a chance to sit down and relax. Something needs to be done somewhere. We’ve both been really edgy and stressed.

So, to hear him STOP stressing, stop worrying and see the beauty around him, and then have the presence to call and share with me, well, it made my day.

Thanks, babe.

I must confess, I like to be busy. But sheesh already.

I am finding time to write. Often, I’ll be typing in handwritten WIP while the squirrels pretend I’m a tree. They’re *trying to count how old they probably are….* maybe nearing three months old? Eh, Let’s go with 2 1/2 months. They’re weaning themselves off milk and have quite the appetite for everything. (As I write this, Lightning’s on my arm, chewing on my watch).

So yes, they’re keeping me very busy. We’re still doing work on the kitchen. And the car. Football started. The “Chase” in Nascar started. (All valid excuses, I’m tellin’ ya) So I’ve been otherwise occupied.

And then, as if there wasn’t enough. We’ve got basement flooding today. Not major, and considering our location, we’re lucky. In ten years we’ve never had water. Our basement is considered finished, but just paneled walls, tile floor and we don’t “use” it, so it’s mainly storage. I don’t think we lost anything worth crying over, but we got a heck of a work out today trying to shopvac it all up. Oy.

Anyhoot, I’ll be here, sporadically. Bye!

update 9/15/08 9:30pm:
Mother Nature had mercy, and with the rain stopping, the influx of water also ceased. There’s still much to be done, but no more standing water. I’ll still be cleaning the better part of the week, but we’re looking on the bright side and a) realizing what a sound investment rubbermaid (and other brand) totes are and b) that we wanted to clean the basement thoroughly–and boy, have we.

So sorry if I was rushed and a little woe-is-me. I need to find a way to cram at least 35 hrs in a day, but until then, I’ll be a little less online.

I’m off to hand-write til bedtime. Night!

I had the thought of firing off a quickie post to let anyone who stops by to know I’m still here, not buried under my kitchen cabinets or hastened away to the funny farm. But this will be shorter than intended because I so haphazardly clicked on the upgrade button and… it ate time. Can you believe it? Now I gotta run.

Speaking of farm…it is one..maybe a zoo…around here. With all the other crap going on, I’m also bottle feeding two baby squirrels. We’ve had some touch and go moments, because one of them likes to inhale his milk and aspirate it. Quite bad for the lungs, but he seems to have gotten over his lethargic state and is eager and climbing and has a helluva appetite. We have all intentions of letting them go into the wild once they’re old enough. I’m hearing 12 weeks. We’re estimating them between 7-8 weeks old now.

Hubby’s back to classes, the kidlets back to school. Me? Just work as usual. Trying to keep ahead of laundry and finding time to write every…single…day. Because I insist on it.

So that’s me. How you doing?

My husband admonished me for failing to blog. Who knew.

So, what have I done lately that’s not going to bore you to tears? Oh, we visited a pretty cool flea market Sunday morning. Bought two books–remind me to take more money next time because OMG are there venders with very inexpensive paperbacks. I grabbed two authors I’ve heard plenty of buzz about but hadn’t taken the plunge to buy at the bookstore or online. For a buck? Heck yeah I’ll bite. I totally understand and support buying books at USB’s or flea markets. It’s my intention to “try out” these authors and if I like them, you can bet I’ll be looking for their other books. (And talk the books up!)

Anyhoot, it was nice to get out of town and do it “cheaply”. As you might remember, I have no kitchen, and just dealt with felling a huge tree that decided to be a wig for our garage. Seems like all my money is being dropped at local hardware stores. However, I have walls now, the drywall is up (THANKS NEIGHBOR MIKE!!!) and we’re almost ready to sand. Half the crappy floor tiles, okay, maybe a third of them, have been pried, pulled and coerced from the floor. Dear lord, it’s insane.

I’ve been writing, or trying to. Watching Olympics when I can, working, ah, yes, the fun of that day job.

That’s about it. Wish I had more to talk about, but any more excitement might just kill me.

Ciao~

I’ll be sporadic over the next few days…

* AT 914 PM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION. THIS SEVERE STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR xxxx…OR 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF xxxx…AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 57 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE SEVERE STORM INCLUDE… (Mel’s house)

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION!!!

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO…THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 80 TO 100 MPH..

Italics my own…

Tree down. On the garage, and kinda the house roof (fell technically between them, but supported by both right now) Doesn’t look like any structural damage other than the electrical box being pulled off the house (bent, not broken, thanks to God Almighty that he left us with power intact). I’m sure a piece of siding will fix that. It could be worse, and I’ve said my prayers in thanks that it wasn’t. I still have no kitchen, (but tonight we ran the hot/cold water lines up to where my sink WILL be…eventually). So, I’ll be busy for a bit doing “other than writing and internet stuff”.

Third August in a row our town has been hit HARD with August storms. Winds at 106mph two years ago. At least 100 tonight. You do know that’s a high category two hurricane? Ain’t it fun?

~Mel, still smiling