Long time ago...

Let me tell you a story. Long time ago, a 30-year-old lady sat on a MAX train after a busy day of work and listened to her MP3 player on shuffle. Somewhere between the Lloyd Center and Hollywood/42nd Ave stop this song came on:

The image of a vampire sneaking into a Romanian hospital nursery and saving a newborn on death's threshold with one drop of his immortal blood played in lady's head. When she got home, she pulled out her laptop and wrote out the scene. Thus was birthed the world of Legends of Carpatia. Fast forward 8 years later and a few stories from that world have published with the first novel coming next year. It's amazing what one song can trigger in the mind of a creative.

Last Monday, the writer got to see these guys live. They didn't disappoint. The well has been filled and more writing to come. Thank you Depeche Mode for being my muse.

Good-bye Chris

Yesterday was a hard day for me. I didn't sleep much the night before and when I dragged my butt out of bed at 4am to get to work, I saw the horrible headline about Chris Cornell's untimely death. I kind of was in shock all day. It didn't hit me until I went to pick up my daughter from preschool and turned the radio on in the car. A local station played Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart and I lost it.

That's when I realized we'd never get another new song from this great musician. To me, he wasn't just a musician. He inspired me. I have been listening to Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, Audioslave since their conception. The 90's was the decade where I went from teen to adult and Chris's music defined those years for me. That decade ended with my brother losing his battle with depression. During that time, I listened to a lot of Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and other grungy era bands. Their lyrics and music completely embodied what I felt at the time. It's like they knew exactly the pain that threatened to crush my soul each day.

Later down the road came Audioslave and that became my power music. When I needed to get a job done, that's what I listened to. Show Me How to Live became my mantra after my brother's death. When I became a writer, I turned to their music again. For some reason, I just wrote faster and harder if I had Gasoline or Be Yourself blaring in my headphones.

Yeah, it's fair to say Chris Cornell's music has been a part of my life for the better part of the last two and half years. His gorgeous, gritty voice has been my singing muse and will be greatly missed. My heart breaks for his family, friends, and band mates. While a fan as myself has been deeply touched by his light, imagine the impact he had on those who knew him on a personal level?

Rest in Peace, Chris and may you be free of the inner demons that haunted you during your time on earth. Thank you for giving so much of yourself, now go say hello to heaven.

Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

Spring has sprung

Hi ya'll!

With Easter last weekend and all the spring filling the air, I figured it was time to reveal the cover for the next story in the Legends of Carpatia Series. She's almost done. Getting ready to submit to final editor and keeping fingers crossed to have her out next month.

So without further ado.... I present to you the cover from Spring Fever.

Traian is falling hard for his mentor, the powerful sorceress Evelina, but when she is mysteriously poisoned and he needs to travel to the dangerous Otherworld to retrieve the only cure. On his journey, he discovers Evelina's true identity. Can he look past her betrayal in order to save her and the people he has vowed to protect?

If you haven't read Yule's Eve, the first short story in the series, you can purchase it here and here.

Cheers,
Melania

16 best of 2016

I should be working on the next story in the Legends of Carpatia series, but I've put this on the back burner for way too long. Usually I do a little recap of the year in December or January. Seeing as January is almost over, I better get on with it before its 2018!

So here we go:

1. 1st Tattoo. Yup, I joined the tribe of the marked. Finally. It only took me 17 years to get it done.

2.  Meeting his holy hotness, John Barrowman, aka Captain Jack Harkness at Wizard Con.

3. Epic beach trips throughout the year with my family.

4. My first community garden.

5. Lots of hiking with my girl.

6. Seeing Peter Gabriel and Sting perform together in Seattle, but when Eddie Vedder came out show went to another dimension in terms of epicness. Best date night!

7. GRADUATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8. Relaxing vacation in California at grandparent's place, visiting family, and meeting my new niece.

9. Philly trip. Standing in Independence Hall and seeing the original Declaration of Independence brought tears to my eyes.

10. Meeting my fave goddess authors at I Can Do It! Philadelphia: Dr. Christiane Northrup, Kris Carr, and Cheryl Richardson.

11. Professional Author Head shots!

12.Watching my girl transform into a gymnast.

13. Getting Rainbow hair.

14. Taking my girl to the Nutcracker.

15. Taking my girl sledding on Mt. Hood for the first time.

16. And publishing my first work of fiction. You can buy here.

2016 was a damn good year!

Cheers,
Melania