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Friday Five

  • Dec. 4th, 2009 at 1:02 PM
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1. Very light writing week. I seem to be having trouble getting butt in chair and fingers on keys. I'm not bagging this week but really really hope to do better next week.

2. Did finish up some revisions asked for by the editor to Another Dream, Another Reality. Yay me!

3. I also finished up decking my halls! I had lots of help this year so the decorations totally rock. I also sent off all my out of state and out of country packages. Another yay me!

4. Today, went to Greek and Roman festival at school with youngest. Got to touch a rock from the Parthenon. It gave me chills. Told youngest, "You just touched history."

5. Going to the Nutcracker ballet tomorrow night. Get to get dressed up and everything. I love the music and the dancing.

May the muses have decked halls
Mechele

Friday Five

  • Nov. 27th, 2009 at 1:08 PM
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1. I'm doing some touchup work to a Another Dream, Another Reality. Hope to be finished the next day or so. After that, work continues on writing the Rogue. Fun fun fun. '

2. Thanksgiving was good. I'm still STUFFED. LOL. I hope to get some Christmas cheer in the house over this weekend. I'm staying far away from the stores on this Black Friday.

3. Anybody else love the Boom de yada commercials by Discovery? I love both the older one and the new one that just aired. I find myself watching and listening to them.



4. Ever heard of a marine iguana? A lizard who swims. The oldest has to research this for an animal project. It's sort of an interesting critter. They live on Galapagos. Darwin described them as hideous.

5. My backyard is a marsh. It has rained so much this November. I'm expecting ducks any day now. Heck, maybe even the marine iguana will come by.

May the muses have friendly ducks
Mechele

New pretties to share!

  • Nov. 24th, 2009 at 9:26 AM
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I adore April Martinez!

Friday Five

  • Nov. 20th, 2009 at 11:30 AM
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1. Edits are in on Settler's Mine 5: The Man. Whoo hooo. Getting closer!

2. I'm up to 10 K on the new Settler's Mine. Had a hard time writing the past few days. Had a disappointment. But I'm bouncing back now!

3. I have a Snoopy playing piano on my desk. It needs to move. LOL I keep hitting it to hear the songs.

4. Anyone watching V? I'm intrigued. I hear the numbers are falling fast. I hope they don't leave me hanging.

5. I'm so glad that the actors who were on Firefly and Serenity have been finding other work. Summer Glau aka River has been in Terminator and just joined Dollhouse. Adam Baldwin aka Jayne is on Chuck. Alan Tudyk aka Wash was on Dollhouse and is now on V (of which he's really impressed me. I was quite worried when he was going to be on Dollhouse because Wash was so different than what he'd be playing and he turned out an excellent performance. He's doing the same on V). Jewel Straite was on Stargate Atlantis. Sean Maher (Simon), Ron Glass(Shepherd Book), and Gina Torres (Zoe) have done various things. And of course Nathan Fillion (Capt. Mal) is Castle, which is quickly becoming my favorite show.

May the muses have favorite shows
Mechele

Friday Five

  • Nov. 13th, 2009 at 8:13 AM
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1. I'm cruising on the new story. Hopefully will reach 6 K before the week is done. The heroine isn't talking enough, but McTavish, man he's loud. Now to bend them to my will. *muah hahahahahah*.


2. So I've still been coughing. And again, it started worsening. Wed, I started feeling bad again. Wed night I took some allergy medicine. So Thur morning, the cough was noticeably better. I hardly coughed at all. But I felt like a zombie. I was sooooo sleepy. I cut the dose Thur night. I'm not so zombielike but am still coughing too. Hmm do I want to be coughing maniac or sleeping zombie? I dunno.


3. I'm off to the SPCA this morning to volunteer. We went on a tour last Saturday with oldest's troop and I reminded again of how much they do. How many animals they have that the public doesn't see. How much they do in the community. Pets don't make good Christmas presents but they make great companions. Even spaz cats.
4. Did anyone watch the CMA's this week? I didn't but caught several clips. I didn't used to be a Brad Paisley fan, but after a couple of songs he's released that I really like and his cohost duties, I think I'm turning into one. I think Taylor Swift is a young talent. I really hope she can make this work and not burn out fast like so many do. I love Lady Antebellum so was glad they won.
5. I have a new pretty... I can't share yet, but soon. It's amazing *G*.
May the muses have SPCAs
Mechele

On this Veterans Day

  • Nov. 11th, 2009 at 7:00 AM
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I salute all who have served.

I keep singing, "The 8th of November" by Big and Rich. Appropriate song for today.

Mechele

An introvert's view of the AADPW conference

  • Nov. 5th, 2009 at 11:47 AM
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I heard a quote once that a writer's conference was where you had a bunch of introverts all pretending to be extroverts for the length of the conference.

Oh yeah.

I admit I'm an introvert. I'm quiet. I listen a lot. I can fake talking but I'm more content to find a corner somewhere and hide out.

At big conferences with several hundred (or more) people, it's easy to do. You can get lost in big groups. I know, I'm an expert at doing it.

Authors After Dark Paranormal Weekend was different. It was a small, intimate conference.

No hiding allowed.

There weren't really any good corners. I know, I looked. LOL.

With the smaller nature of the conference, it was hard to stay shy. Hard not to sit at your table and get to know the other people there.

I have to say, I enjoyed myself. I wish a lot that I were more extroverted. I'm not a big talker or funny or have all these stories to tell. But at the AADPW, it didn't seem to matter. People just wanted to talk and find out about you.

I know I'll still attend the big cons and hide. But once and a while, I think I'm definitely going to seek out a smaller con where I can't. Just like with my writing, I love pushing my comfort zone sometimes.

May the muses have AADPW
Mechele

Oct. 31st, 2009

  • 10:16 AM
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Surge is out!

  • Oct. 27th, 2009 at 9:09 AM
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Bloodlines 6: Surge released late last night. Yay! I'm so excited to get to share Roc and Cheyenne with everyone. Roc is super sexy.

 

This story does standalone. I consider those who have read the previous books to get "extras" because characters from the previous books do appear in Surge.



Blurb: Sexy dreams haunt the vampire Cheyenne as she struggles with her schizophrenia. Her call awakens the man from her dreaming. Only he’s not a man. He's Marroc. The first vampire ever made who took to ground a thousand years ago where he's simmered, feeding on souls and dreaming of Cheyenne, dreaming of taking her for his own.
 
 


When she releases him with her call, Roc goes to find Cheyenne, sure she is “the one” to help him defeat his enemy. She recognizes him from her dreams, and after a wild bout of sex, he discovers that her orgasms give him a surge of power. Orgasms with Roc also have a benefit for Cheyenne: they make her sane.


 
When one of her friends is taken by Roc's enemy, both Roc and Cheyenne will stop at nothing to get her back. The surge of sex gives them both what they've longed for. But can they have enough sex to survive the fight, and keep them together in the end?
 


To read an excerpt.
 
 


Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
Where Sensuality and Wonder collide
The future's never been so sexy
http://www.melanylogen.com

Authors After Dark Paranormal Weekend

  • Oct. 26th, 2009 at 10:38 AM
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I'm still deconstructing the weekend that I spent in Suffern, NY. I almost lost my voice and have developed an annoying cough, so still am not 100%well but better than I was last week for sure.
 
I really think this con is going to grow and I can't really wait to see how it develops over the coming years. This was the very first one. Heh, I can say I attended. It was small. But oh, the energy that flowed through it was tangible. Amazing. The charity raffle had SO many prizes. And it raised over $1500 for Pets Alive, an amazing animal rescue organization.
 
The atmosphere was casual and intimate. I liked that. I wish I were an extrovert at those times, but I enjoyed sitting down with people and chatting. Did so with both readers and other authors, which was nice. I sometimes don't feel I get to meet people at other cons because you are running to places or have something else going on.
 
What else? ...the food was amazing. Everyone commented on how good the food was for a convention. They had worked hard to ensure that there were vegetarian choices at every meal.
 
Actually, the buzz I heard from everyone on Sunday morning was that this was a GREAT Con. There was tons of swag, giveaways, baskets, etc. Several mentioned the intimate nature of the weekend and how really good that was.
 
The book signing was incredible. Had a lot of people stop by and say hi.  And many got my books signed *Grins*, which always just thrills me.
 
Another author was talking to me and talked about how people had come up to say they'd read her books and how wonderful it felt. She said, "I guess you're used to that."  I was quick to say, "I'm not. And I don't think I ever will be."  I'm always blown away when a person comes up and says they read me and how much they love my books. Always. I want to simultaneously cry and jump hug them at the same time. Love them and squeeze them and call them George...*ahem*. Honestly, it means the world to me that people read me and enjoy my stories.
 
Two highlights of many from the signing, one very nice woman had every single book of mine for me to sign.  She also took a picture with me. Yeah that made my day! LOL. I also had one of the Pets Alive volunteers buy a book of mine and come get it signed. Yay!
 
I also had the pleasure to sit at a table with and talk to the book seller, Melissa from Paperbacks N'Things. Awesome awesome lady. She loves books and it shows. If only I were closer to Michigan... I may have to find a way to do a signing there... One day.
 
Let's see, Jacquelyn Frank, who was the host of the event, was incredible. She had so much energy. My roomie and friend, Ann, introduced us and Jackie hugged me. Thanked me for participating. I'm not sure what I thought she would be like, I'd never met her, but she was very laid back and down to earth. Not to mention, funny as could be.
 
I sat a table a couple of times with Jennifer Armintrout, who I rather enjoyed talking to. She's a fascinating person. I bought one of her books and can't wait to start it. Also sat with Rosemary Laurey one night and so enjoyed her talk at the vampire panel, I bought a book of hers (as Georgia Evans). She cracks me up as well with her humor.
 
I also enjoyed meeting/seeing Jill, Lindsey, Dawn, Melissa (yes she deserves two mentions), Pam, Kayleigh Jamison, Samantha Sommersby, Selena Illyria, Eliza Gayle,  Mima (who had the most incredible costume at the Masquerade), Diana Castilleja, Joey Hill, Woowoo, Froggy, and gosh so many more. I didn't catch some names, but recognized a lot of faces from RT.
 
Oh yes, can't forget Stella and Audra Price.  Stella has so much energy and bounce. She's like a little fireball. I could sit and listen to Audra talk all day. Love her accent.
 
Thanks to Ann for being a good navigator and roomie! Yes, Larissa shall come to the next one...
 
LOL for the drive, my hubby got a GPS. He's tired of me getting lost, quite frankly. So Magellan became my new traveling companion. Took us up to Suffern one way and back home another...still haven't figured that out. The most memorable sight, going through a cemetery on a highway. Cemetery on both sides. I've never seen a one split like that.
 
Definitely a neat weekend and well done conference. If you didn't make this year's, book it for next year. I think it's going to be the end of September next year.
 
May the muses have good cons
Mechele

Visit Bitten By Books today

  • Oct. 20th, 2009 at 10:03 AM
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My contest prize of a $10 gift certificate to Loose Id is live. Stop by for details on how to win!

Mechele
 

Friday Five

  • Oct. 16th, 2009 at 11:19 AM
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1. I survived camping! Whooo hooo!  Had a lot of fun, too. The girls did archery, canoeing, a hike, painted a pumpkin, did a ropes course, performed a song in front of the camp, and trick or treated. Twas a nice time. Even though...
 
2. we were apparently exposed to H1N1. LOL. Eek. I haven't been feeling great this week (which is why I haven't updated before now...sorry), but am not running a fever so assume I don't have it. The oldest is home today with what might be it or just a run of the mill virus. Don't know yet. She's playing Xbox so she's not dying or anything.
 
3. I did line edits on Settler's Mine: The Man, turned them in and immediately received proofing edits on Blood Lines: Surge. Extensive proofing edits. The story is definitely a lot stronger for it. I'm excited, it shall be coming out soon!
 
4. I leave in a week for the Authors After Dark Paranormal Conference. Eek! I have a lot to do.
 
5. Halloween Snoopy is up, along with the rest of the outside stuff! I need to finish decking out for Halloween. May do that later today. We went to a pumpkin patch so have our pumpkins. Whoo hooo!
 
May the muses have good editors
Mechele

Friday Five

  • Oct. 9th, 2009 at 9:00 AM
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1. I'm done with the heavy writing on Another Dream, Another Reality. Now begins the clean up process...
 
2. I have edits on Settler's Mine: The Man. I'm reading it and LOL granted I'm biased, but I really like the story. Few of my characters come with songs. For some reason, Colton likes Tom Petty.
 
3. I'm going camping this weekend. Platform tents. The rain chances are diminishing and the temperature has gone up for Sat night. Think it is going to be a lot of fun. The oldest still wants me around, which is nice. I know the time is coming where she won't. I try to take advantage of being with her now. It's already a lot different between oldest and youngest and their desires for my presence.
 
4. Don't forget about the October contests I'm participating in. I'm all over the place LOL. 
 
5. I'm officially addicted to Castle. Didn't intend on watching it the last two weeks when it aired but wound up doing so. I was already a Nathan Fillion fan and this show has definitely sealed the deal. I rather like the writing, too. And the author aspect.
 
May the muses have contests
Mechele

Friday Five--Banned Books Week

  • Oct. 2nd, 2009 at 1:09 PM
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My favorite banned books authors:

Stephen King
Judy Blume
Katherine Paterson
JK Rowling
Maurice Sendak


My favorite banned books

Salem's Lot by Stephen King
The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
Deenie by Judy Blume
Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison


Favorite ways to celebrate banned books week

Visit a library
Read a Banned Book
Read a Banned Book to my kidlets
Buy a banned book from the bookstore
Read about an author whose book has been challenged

Mechele

Banned Books Week Sept 26-Oct 2-lists of most challenged authors

  • Oct. 1st, 2009 at 9:05 AM
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2008:

Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Philip Pullman,
Lauren Myracle,
Jim Pipe,
Alvin Schwartz,
Chris Crutcher,
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor,
Rudolfo Anaya,
Stephen Chbosky,
Cecily Von Ziegesar

2007:

Robert Cormier,
Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson,
Mark Twain,
Toni Morrison,
Philip Pullman,
Kevin Henkes,
Lois Lowry,
Chris Crutcher,
Lauren Myracle,
Joann Sfar

2006:

Chris Crutcher,
Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell,
Toni Morrison,
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor,
Cecily von Ziegesar,
Carolyn Mackler,
Alvin Schwartz,
Stephen Chbosky,
Alex Sanchez,
Judy Blume

2005:

Judy Blume,
Robert Cormier,
Chris Crutcher,
Robie Harris,
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor,
Toni Morrison,
J. D. Salinger,
Lois Lowry,
Marilyn Reynolds
Sonya Sones.

2004:
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor,
Robert Cormier,
Judy Blume,
Toni Morrison,
Chris Lynch,
Barbara Park,
Gary Paulsen,
Dav Pilkey,
Maurice Sendak
Sonya Sones.

2003:

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor,
J. K. Rowling,
Robert Cormier,
Judy Blume,
Katherine Paterson,
John Steinbeck,
Walter Dean Myers,
Robie Harris,
Stephen King
Louise Rennison.

2002:

J.K. Rowling,
Judy Blume,
Robert Cormier,
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor,
Stephen King,
Lois Duncan,
S.E. Hinton,
Alvin Schwartz,
Maya Angelou,
Ronald Dahl,
Toni Morrison.

2001:

J. K. Rowling,
Robert Cormier,
John Steinbeck,
Judy Blume,
Maya Angelou,
Robie Harris,
Gary Paulsen,
Walter Dean Myers,
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor,
Bette Greene

Banned Books Week Sept 26-Oct 2-on the way to the library

  • Sep. 30th, 2009 at 9:38 AM
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Actually nothing happened. LOL.

Last night, my local library system had a program on Banned Books Week. I'm sure the closest library to me has a display set up where you can actually sit behind a glass and do something dangerous...read a banned book.

But I digress.

The program had a couple of local authors and they read from their favorite challenged books.

I took my 10 year old. LOL yeah.  She's gotten to the age where I think she can understand about Banned Books Week. She was shocked, especially as a I pointed out her favorite series, Harry Potter has been challenged quite often. She couldn't understand why.

The authors handed out a list of frequently challenged books. I'd read more than 30. She'd read about 11.  Yes, she's read challenged books. She reads a lot. I pretty much do not censor what she reads. She tells me about stories I haven't read yet and we talk about what she's read. She couldn't believe that James and the Giant Peach is on the list.

They read snippets from their favorite banned books, including the Kite Runner, A Wrinkle in Time (yay!), Olive's Ocean, and To kill a Mockinbird (yay!).

After the program, oldest and I talked about what she'd heard and about banned books in general. I want her to grow up knowing that the freedom of ideas is extremely important.

I put a copy of Olive's Ocean on hold at the library. It's a young adult book, and I really enjoyed the snippet that was read.  If the oldest wants to read it, I will probably let her.  Then we'll discuss it. 

Mechele

Banned Books Week Sept 26-Oct 2-who challenges and where

  • Sep. 30th, 2009 at 9:35 AM
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Overwhelmingly, parents are the ones who initiate challenges.

Schools and school libraries are where most of the books challenged are found, with public libraries coming in third.

Information from the ALA

Banned Books Week Sept 26-Oct 2-three most common reasons for challenges

  • Sep. 29th, 2009 at 1:31 PM
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the material was considered to be "sexually explicit"


the material contained "offensive language"
 

the materials was "unsuited to any age group"

 

Information from the ALA

Banned Books Week Sept 26-Oct 2-list of most challenged books from 2007-2008

  • Sep. 29th, 2009 at 1:28 PM
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Banned Books Week-Challenged books from 2007-2008

 




Adler, C. S. The Shell Lady's Daughter.

Allan, Nicholas. Where Willy Went.

Alvarez, Julia. How the Garcia Girls Lost TheirAccents.

Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Anonymous. Go Ask Alice.

Atkins, Catherine. Alt Ed.

Barnes, Derrick. The Making of Dr. Truelove.

Baron, T. A. Child of the Dark Prophecy.

Bechdel, Alison. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic.

Beiderwell, Bruce, and Jeffrey M. Wheeler, eds.The Literary Experience. Thomson/Wadsworth.

Bradford, Richard. Red Sky at Morning.

Burroughs, Augusten. Running with Scissors.

Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Colfer, Eoin. The Supernaturalist.

Comfort, Alex. The New Joy of Sex..

Conroy, Pat. Beach Music.

_______. The Prince of Tides.

Cormier, Robert. The Chocolate War.

Crutcher, Chris. Whale Talk

de Haan, Linda, and Stern Nijland. King & King.

Dessen, Sarah. Just Listen.

Doig, Ivan. Dancing at the Rascal Fair.

Frank, E. R. America.

Nixon, Joan Lowery. Whispers from the Dead.

Norton, Jim. Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch.

Oates, Joyce Carol. Sexy

Opie, Iona Archibald, and Peter Opie, eds. I Saw Esau: The Schoolchild’s Pocket Book.

Patterson, James. Cradle and All: A Novel

Picoult, Jodi. The Tenth Circle

Pullman, Philip. The Golden Compass

Richardson, Justin, and Peter Parnell. And Tango Makes Three.

Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

_______. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

_______. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

_______. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

_______. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Sanchez, Alex. Rainbow Boys.

Schniedewind, Nancy. Open Minds to Equality: A Sourcebook of Learning Activities to Affirm Diversity and Promote Equity.

Schreier, Alta. Vamos a Cuba (A Visit to Cuba).

Sebold, Alice. The Lovely Bones.

Silverstein, Charles, and Edmund White.

The Joy of Gay Sex.

Sittenfeld, Curtis. Prep: A Novel.

Freedom Writers. The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World around Them.

Giles, Gail. Shattering Glass.

Going, K. L. Fat Kid Rules the World.

Gordon, Sharon. Cuba.

Green, John. Looking for Alaska.

Grove, Vicki. The Starplace..

Guterson, David. Snow Falling on Cedars.

Harris, Robie H. It's Perfectly Normal: A Book

about Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health.;.

Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner.

Howe, James. Totally Joe..

Kingsolver, Barbara. Animal Dreams.

Koertge, Ronald. The Brimstone Journals.

Korman, Gordon. Jake Reinvented.

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird.

Lowry, Lois. The Giver.

Mackler, Carolyn. Vegan Virgin Valentine.

Mathabane, Mark. Kaffir Boy.

McCarthy, Cormac. Child of God..

McNally, John, ed. When I Was a Loser: True Stories of (Barely) Surviving High School by Today's Top Writers.

Mercado, Nancy E., ed. Tripping over the Lunch

Lady and Other Short Stories.

Morrison, Toni. Beloved.

_______. The Bluest Eye..

Myers, Walter Dean. Fallen Angels.

Myracle, Lauren. TTYL.

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Alice on Her Way..

Newman, Felice. The Whole Lesbian

Sones, Sonya. What My Mother Doesn't Know.

Steer, Dugald. Wizardology: The Book of the Secrets of Merlin.

Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men.

Strasser, Todd. Give a Boy a Gun.

Stroud, Jonathan. The Golem's Eye.

_______. Ptolemy's Gate.

_______. The Amulet of Samarkand.

Taylor, Mildred D. The Land.

Thompson, Craig. Blankets.

Twain, Mark [Samuel L. Clemens].

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Vonnegut, Kurt. Slaughterhouse-Five.

Welch, James. Fools Crow.

West, Stanley Gordon. Finding Laura Buggs.

_______. Until They Bring the Streetcars Back.

Wittlinger, Ellen. Sandpiper

Wright, Richard. Black Boy

 

Information from the ALA


 

Banned Books Week Sept 26-Oct 2-the map of censorship

  • Sep. 27th, 2009 at 5:24 PM
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Here's a map showing challenges to book.

As you see, it affects libraries across the nation.

Mechele

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