Because I have not heard back from DragonFlame, using a random number generator to pick a contestant, I am proud to announce the new winner for Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is:
Shaly!
PLEASE email me your address at melania(dot)tolan(at)gmail(dot)com. Sorry DragonFlame, I tried.
Thank you!
~Melania
Monday, September 19, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Sweet and Spicy
What you see my friends is my maiden batch of peach-jalapeno jelly. I found the recipe from a magazine my coworker brought to work. It caught my attention because I had a small box of peaches about to go south in the fridge and just harvested several jalapeno peppers off the plant growing on my balcony. I figured, what the heck.
This was my first time making jelly. The whole process took maybe two hours from beginning to clean-up. While listening to the popping sound of sealing lids, I dipped corn chips into the bowl of jelly foam I had scrapped off before ladling the golden thick liquid into the jars. Sweet with a hint of spiciness and an explosion of salty-savory.
How does this tie into writing? Well, that's how I like my romance. Sweet-romantic, spicy-got to have some heat, salty- to balance the sweetness, and savory- a satisfying ending.
Happy reading/writing and sweet-spicy-salty-savory weekend to you all.
~Melania
PS. DragonFlame I'm going to give you till next Monday (September 19th) to reply. If I have not heard from you, I will draw another winner for Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Darkside.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Vacation, ah...
Greetings from a sweltering Pacific NW.
Now that summer is virtually over, it decided to finally show up. Maybe my tomatoes on the balcony will actually ripen before winter arrives. But I'm not complaining, because the rain and cold will be here soon. I'm one of those odd ducks that actually loves the descending moisture from the sky. Rain is magic. It waters the earth, keeps the foliage green, and cleans the air. It also keeps the neighbor's demon spawns indoors. (I love human offspring, but some specimens shouldn't procreate. But then I'm only god in the worlds I create in word documents.) Best thing about rain, it fills my well with bottomless creativity. Which is why I feel blessed everyday to live the beautiful Pacific NW.
Last post I mentioned I would be leaving the world of internet and cellphones. I did. It was MAGNIFICENT. Here are a few pictures of my rustic mini-vacation.
My retreat:
View looking down from the large picture window:
View looking up towards the mountains:
What I accomplished in my time at the cabin- wrote two chapters in my new WIP, read Delilah Marvelle's juicy historical romance Once upon a Scandal, and hand stitched the A, B, & Y on the blanket I'm making for one of my several prego friends.
The cabin has no electricity or running water. At night we would light oil lamps and get a fire roaring in the woodstove for heat. My little netbook has a long lasting battery and when it get down to about 20% I would plug it into the inverter/charger that I could insert into the cigarette lighter of the car. Because it doesn't draw too much power from the car battery, I could let it sit there for several hours till the laptop battery was fully charged. And that is how I got to indulge in my favorite creative hobby out in the middle of the wilderness. I do believe this lovely place has become my writer's retreat.
Thank you for visiting my little haven. Ta Ta for Now,
Melania
PS. DragonFlame, I still haven't heard from you. I need your address so I can get your prize to you. Please email me at melania (dot) tolan (at) gmail (dot) com Thank you.
Now that summer is virtually over, it decided to finally show up. Maybe my tomatoes on the balcony will actually ripen before winter arrives. But I'm not complaining, because the rain and cold will be here soon. I'm one of those odd ducks that actually loves the descending moisture from the sky. Rain is magic. It waters the earth, keeps the foliage green, and cleans the air. It also keeps the neighbor's demon spawns indoors. (I love human offspring, but some specimens shouldn't procreate. But then I'm only god in the worlds I create in word documents.) Best thing about rain, it fills my well with bottomless creativity. Which is why I feel blessed everyday to live the beautiful Pacific NW.
Last post I mentioned I would be leaving the world of internet and cellphones. I did. It was MAGNIFICENT. Here are a few pictures of my rustic mini-vacation.
My retreat:
View looking down from the large picture window:
View looking up towards the mountains:
What I accomplished in my time at the cabin- wrote two chapters in my new WIP, read Delilah Marvelle's juicy historical romance Once upon a Scandal, and hand stitched the A, B, & Y on the blanket I'm making for one of my several prego friends.
The cabin has no electricity or running water. At night we would light oil lamps and get a fire roaring in the woodstove for heat. My little netbook has a long lasting battery and when it get down to about 20% I would plug it into the inverter/charger that I could insert into the cigarette lighter of the car. Because it doesn't draw too much power from the car battery, I could let it sit there for several hours till the laptop battery was fully charged. And that is how I got to indulge in my favorite creative hobby out in the middle of the wilderness. I do believe this lovely place has become my writer's retreat.
Thank you for visiting my little haven. Ta Ta for Now,
Melania
PS. DragonFlame, I still haven't heard from you. I need your address so I can get your prize to you. Please email me at melania (dot) tolan (at) gmail (dot) com Thank you.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
WINNERS!!!!
Hello Dear Bloglings,
It is with great joy I anounce the two winners of my 1st Birthday contest:
*drum roll*
And the winner for The Cowboy and the Vampire is:
*trumpets*
Dark Angel!!!!!
Dark Angel suggested the Dark Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I have been wanting to read these books for years now. Thank you for the suggestion.
The winner for Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is:
*more drum roll*
DragonFlame!!!!!
DragonFlame likes Vampire Academy by Rachelle Meade. I haven't read the series yet, but I have put them on my list to be purchased when I come back from vacation. Thank you DragonFlame for you awesome suggestion.
*clapping*
Dark Angel and DragonFlame, if you could both email me your mailing information to melania(dot)tolan(at)gmail(dot)com I can send you your prizes.
Thank you everyone for participating in this contest. A HUGE thank you to Kathleen McFall/Clark Hays and Beth Fantaskey for being willing to personalize these books for the winners. And a very special thank you to all of my new followers. I'm so humbled and honored by you.
Now I'm off to the land of no cell phones or internet for a few days. No electricity for that matter. Or running water, unless you count the creek next to the cabin. But when I get back next week, I'll share with you pictures of my wilderness adventure and update on the writing. Thanks again and happy Labor Day weekend everyone!
It is with great joy I anounce the two winners of my 1st Birthday contest:
*drum roll*
And the winner for The Cowboy and the Vampire is:
*trumpets*
Dark Angel!!!!!
Dark Angel suggested the Dark Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I have been wanting to read these books for years now. Thank you for the suggestion.
The winner for Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is:
*more drum roll*
DragonFlame!!!!!
DragonFlame likes Vampire Academy by Rachelle Meade. I haven't read the series yet, but I have put them on my list to be purchased when I come back from vacation. Thank you DragonFlame for you awesome suggestion.
*clapping*
Dark Angel and DragonFlame, if you could both email me your mailing information to melania(dot)tolan(at)gmail(dot)com I can send you your prizes.
Thank you everyone for participating in this contest. A HUGE thank you to Kathleen McFall/Clark Hays and Beth Fantaskey for being willing to personalize these books for the winners. And a very special thank you to all of my new followers. I'm so humbled and honored by you.
Now I'm off to the land of no cell phones or internet for a few days. No electricity for that matter. Or running water, unless you count the creek next to the cabin. But when I get back next week, I'll share with you pictures of my wilderness adventure and update on the writing. Thanks again and happy Labor Day weekend everyone!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Writing advice
I woke up early this morning and laid in bed daydreaming about my WIP for over an hour. I imagined the day when I get THE call from my dream agent to inform me my manuscript went to auction.
I would be at work at my computer, my cell goes off, and I take the call out in the stairwell. She shares the news and I squeal with joyful abandonment. The book sells to the highest bidder (which happened to be Harper Collins, yeah this is totally a dream). I sign a contract within the next few weeks. After a couple of rounds of editing, I submit it to the editor. Then a while later I squeal again completely freaking my neighbors out, when I my pay advance arrives in the mail or direct deposit, I'm not particular.
At this point I pay off our mortgage and take a well deserved vacation. I work for a few more months and quit my job so I could write full-time. Oh, and maybe even think about adding a new member to my family. Then I blog and tell you all about how lucky I feel to have sold book and now I'm working on the sequel. I let you all know when it was due to hit the shelves and give away ARC's. There would be lots of promotion and hype around the best novel the world had ever seen.
Then the book debuts. Stellar reviews fly about from all sides. First week out it hits the NYT best seller list. BAM! I land an interview with the lovely Oprah. Wait, even better, Steve Colbert invites me on as a featured guest on the Colbert Report. He rips my novel to shreds in his classic comedic style and my book sales jump even higher. (Did I mention this was a dream?) Hollywood screen writers and producers are dying get their hands on my book. I go on tour and get to meet my wonderful readers. My mother comes with me to help watch the baby while I signed books (yup, that's how long it takes for a book to publish, I could have a baby by the time it comes out). Though she doesn't necessarily like what I write, she's still proud of her daughter.
I come home and celebrate the success with my husband and try not to accidentally create an additional member. :) All is well, I'm happy. The world is at peace. I have achieved ultimate nirvana.
*insert laugh or snort*
I sighed and rolled over to my side. Then reality slapped me in the face and said in a total god-like voice, "If you want that dream you better write the damn book."
So that is my advice for you dear friends and readers. Dream big, but get to work. You can achieve your dreams, but if you sit on your butt all day (unless you're writing, then it's okay, however I advice to move around a bit every so often so your bum doesn't get sore) nothing will happen.
So I repeat "If you want the dream of publication, then write the damn book." It certainly won't write itself.
Cheers,
Melania
PS: 10 more days till the end of the contest. Please don't miss out on this opportunity to win a personalize vampire novel.
I would be at work at my computer, my cell goes off, and I take the call out in the stairwell. She shares the news and I squeal with joyful abandonment. The book sells to the highest bidder (which happened to be Harper Collins, yeah this is totally a dream). I sign a contract within the next few weeks. After a couple of rounds of editing, I submit it to the editor. Then a while later I squeal again completely freaking my neighbors out, when I my pay advance arrives in the mail or direct deposit, I'm not particular.
At this point I pay off our mortgage and take a well deserved vacation. I work for a few more months and quit my job so I could write full-time. Oh, and maybe even think about adding a new member to my family. Then I blog and tell you all about how lucky I feel to have sold book and now I'm working on the sequel. I let you all know when it was due to hit the shelves and give away ARC's. There would be lots of promotion and hype around the best novel the world had ever seen.
Then the book debuts. Stellar reviews fly about from all sides. First week out it hits the NYT best seller list. BAM! I land an interview with the lovely Oprah. Wait, even better, Steve Colbert invites me on as a featured guest on the Colbert Report. He rips my novel to shreds in his classic comedic style and my book sales jump even higher. (Did I mention this was a dream?) Hollywood screen writers and producers are dying get their hands on my book. I go on tour and get to meet my wonderful readers. My mother comes with me to help watch the baby while I signed books (yup, that's how long it takes for a book to publish, I could have a baby by the time it comes out). Though she doesn't necessarily like what I write, she's still proud of her daughter.
I come home and celebrate the success with my husband and try not to accidentally create an additional member. :) All is well, I'm happy. The world is at peace. I have achieved ultimate nirvana.
*insert laugh or snort*
I sighed and rolled over to my side. Then reality slapped me in the face and said in a total god-like voice, "If you want that dream you better write the damn book."
So that is my advice for you dear friends and readers. Dream big, but get to work. You can achieve your dreams, but if you sit on your butt all day (unless you're writing, then it's okay, however I advice to move around a bit every so often so your bum doesn't get sore) nothing will happen.
So I repeat "If you want the dream of publication, then write the damn book." It certainly won't write itself.
Cheers,
Melania
PS: 10 more days till the end of the contest. Please don't miss out on this opportunity to win a personalize vampire novel.
Monday, August 15, 2011
New Ideas...
Hello and Happy Monday!
It's been two weeks since the contest. I've enjoyed reading the comments and seeing what you all love. Most of series mentioned I've read but there were a few I haven't and are now on my TBR list. Just a reminder the contest ends August 31 so there is still time to add your comment (if you haven't already) and enter to win a personalized copy of either Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side or The Cowboy and the Vampire.
A HUGE thank you to those who have tweeted, facebooked, and blogged about the contest. A GINORMOUS thank you those of you who are now followers of this blog.
Writing Update:
The Vampire Novelist- first round of submissions all but one have been rejected. The one I haven't heard back from yet. I'm currently letting is sit because it's summer and I have a million other things going on right now. Last week however, I got some inspiration as to what changes it needs to make it better. Isn't that the ultimate goal? Make it sparkle and shine so bright it will draw attention.
The Fantasy YA Project- In world building & plotting stages. I'm usually a pantser, but there are three worlds involved in the story, which can be very complicated. I've written the first four chapters and working on the fifth. 15k of 60K goal.
New Ideas- Lots of them. And this brings me to the title of this post.
During the summer months, I tend to have an overly creative brain. I have about a bazillion stories floating through my head at any given time. That's why I started writing. To make ROOM. Most of the time when I get into one of my burning ideas, another pops up. It's really maddening. At first I thought maybe I'd been cursed with a serious case of creative ADD. Then I started cyber-stalking authors' blogs and twitter accounts and discovered that it's quite common. Each person deals with it differently.
Some authors block out everything else and just focus on the project on hand. Others, jump from project to project till one gets done. How they can keep anything straight is beyond me. Oh wait, I tend to jump from world to world too. But at least there is a method to my madness.
How I deal:
Summer- ideas (seeds)
Fall- beginning of project (seedling)
Winter- project completed (transplanting into ground)
Spring- Editing/Submitting (Plant blooming/bearing fruit)
When I'm working on a project I dedicate myself to it solely, however if something should arise that seems interesting and worth exploring, I will give myself the freedom to pursue it till the seed is planted. Because if I don't, my focus on the main work in progress will not be fully present and there will be negative effects. This method seems to work for me.
How do you deal with creative ADD?
It's been two weeks since the contest. I've enjoyed reading the comments and seeing what you all love. Most of series mentioned I've read but there were a few I haven't and are now on my TBR list. Just a reminder the contest ends August 31 so there is still time to add your comment (if you haven't already) and enter to win a personalized copy of either Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side or The Cowboy and the Vampire.
A HUGE thank you to those who have tweeted, facebooked, and blogged about the contest. A GINORMOUS thank you those of you who are now followers of this blog.
Writing Update:
The Vampire Novelist- first round of submissions all but one have been rejected. The one I haven't heard back from yet. I'm currently letting is sit because it's summer and I have a million other things going on right now. Last week however, I got some inspiration as to what changes it needs to make it better. Isn't that the ultimate goal? Make it sparkle and shine so bright it will draw attention.
The Fantasy YA Project- In world building & plotting stages. I'm usually a pantser, but there are three worlds involved in the story, which can be very complicated. I've written the first four chapters and working on the fifth. 15k of 60K goal.
New Ideas- Lots of them. And this brings me to the title of this post.
During the summer months, I tend to have an overly creative brain. I have about a bazillion stories floating through my head at any given time. That's why I started writing. To make ROOM. Most of the time when I get into one of my burning ideas, another pops up. It's really maddening. At first I thought maybe I'd been cursed with a serious case of creative ADD. Then I started cyber-stalking authors' blogs and twitter accounts and discovered that it's quite common. Each person deals with it differently.
Some authors block out everything else and just focus on the project on hand. Others, jump from project to project till one gets done. How they can keep anything straight is beyond me. Oh wait, I tend to jump from world to world too. But at least there is a method to my madness.
How I deal:
- I treat these ideas like seeds and create a file in which I "plant" them in.
- I "water" the seed by writing the first couple of chapters.
- I "fertilize" the seed by including a details synopsis.
- Then I leave the seed alone to germinate.
- After several weeks, if I keep coming back to it and notice the seed has transformed into a seedling, I know I have something viable to work with.
Summer- ideas (seeds)
Fall- beginning of project (seedling)
Winter- project completed (transplanting into ground)
Spring- Editing/Submitting (Plant blooming/bearing fruit)
When I'm working on a project I dedicate myself to it solely, however if something should arise that seems interesting and worth exploring, I will give myself the freedom to pursue it till the seed is planted. Because if I don't, my focus on the main work in progress will not be fully present and there will be negative effects. This method seems to work for me.
How do you deal with creative ADD?
Sunday, July 31, 2011
1st Birthday Contest
*CONTEST OVER*
Hi Everyone!
I have been planning this contest for several months now and it has FINALLY arrived. On August 28th, 2010, I wrote my very first blog. 3 people followed me instantly. Of course, they were my friends! Then I joined Romance Writers of America. The next day I had about 20 hits and several more followers. These were my chapter mates and their support gave me a huge boast. Over the last couple of months however, I have gathered about five more followers- all of which have been complete strangers who thought I was worth following. You have no idea how honored I am.
As a thank you, I am doing this giveaway contest. Since I haven't published anything just yet, I will be giving away two of my favorite books. The authors have even been kind enough to personalize the copies for the winners.
The second book is Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. This is my favorite young adult vampire novel. I found this book at the library when I searched for Romanian Vampire novels a couple of years ago and wanted to know what had already been written. Never in a million years did I expect to read it cover to cover in one setting. Nor did I expect to fall in love with Jessica as she discovered she was a Romanian vampire princess and Lucias, a vampire prince, trying to woo her. What I liked most about it is the romantic relationship Beth created between the two characters. It was very sweet, yet the element of danger gave the romance an edge. Jessica's Rules to the Dark Side, the sequel, will be coming out this fall. I posted the cover here.
So what do you have to do? Here are the rules.
Cheers and Good Luck,
Melania
Hi Everyone!
I have been planning this contest for several months now and it has FINALLY arrived. On August 28th, 2010, I wrote my very first blog. 3 people followed me instantly. Of course, they were my friends! Then I joined Romance Writers of America. The next day I had about 20 hits and several more followers. These were my chapter mates and their support gave me a huge boast. Over the last couple of months however, I have gathered about five more followers- all of which have been complete strangers who thought I was worth following. You have no idea how honored I am.
As a thank you, I am doing this giveaway contest. Since I haven't published anything just yet, I will be giving away two of my favorite books. The authors have even been kind enough to personalize the copies for the winners.
The first book is The Cowboy and The Vampire by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall. This is a fantastic romantic mystery filled with humor and adventure. It is by far one of my favorite adult vampire novel. What kept me reading this fun ride was Tucker, the cowboy. I'm not much of a Western fan, but OMG I could spend a day with Tucker any time. Currently, Clark and Kathleen are working on a sequel and I can't wait to get my hands on it!
The second book is Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. This is my favorite young adult vampire novel. I found this book at the library when I searched for Romanian Vampire novels a couple of years ago and wanted to know what had already been written. Never in a million years did I expect to read it cover to cover in one setting. Nor did I expect to fall in love with Jessica as she discovered she was a Romanian vampire princess and Lucias, a vampire prince, trying to woo her. What I liked most about it is the romantic relationship Beth created between the two characters. It was very sweet, yet the element of danger gave the romance an edge. Jessica's Rules to the Dark Side, the sequel, will be coming out this fall. I posted the cover here.
So what do you have to do? Here are the rules.
- THIS CONTEST IS FOR US AND CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY. Sorry!
- COMMENT: (A)Tell me what your favorite adult or YA vampire novel is and (B)why. (C)Specify which of the two books you are interested in winning.
- Share this post by twittering or Facebook or blogging or whatever social media you use.
- Contest ENDS AUGUST 31ST, 2011.
- 2 randomly chosen winners will receive a personalized and signed copy of the book they specified interest in.
Cheers and Good Luck,
Melania
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