"There's no point in spending your life in the pursuit of something that's easy." - Alice Kuipers

Monday, December 30, 2013

Monday Book Review - Murder on the Orient Express

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Agatha Christie

 

Detective Hercule Poirot is on his way home when his detective skills are once again called into service.  It's overnight on the Orient Express when a murder occurs, one that leaves so many questions the case seems unsolvable... at least for someone other than Poirot.

I love a good mystery, and I've been meaning to read MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS for a long time. It doesn't disappoint. The murder is complex, the motive far reaching and the clues add up to a solution that doesn't seem to make any sense. I loved it. It was entertaining and stimulating as I tried to put the pieces together before Poirot. Of course, I did not succeed. But that's the sign of a really good mystery. A perfect puzzle. 

If you're a mystery fan and you've never read this classic, definitely make sure you do. And if you've never read a mystery, this a great one to start on, I'm sure it will make you a fan of the genre.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - This Year's Favourite

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. There was no prompt this week on Lillie McFerrin's website. My guess is due to all the Christmas whatnot that takes over our lives this time each year. So, instead I've chosen to share my favourite edition of Five Sentence Fiction over the past year. I hope you enjoy it.

May 10, 2013

"Stephanie, honey, could you please take off those damn goggles?"
Stephanie could tell her mother was exasperated but she just shook her head. The goggles were important, they were the only way to tell when someone was telling the truth. She watched her mother on the phone with her dad, through the lenses of the goggles she could see the blue fog pour out of her mouth. She was lying to him about something, she just wasn't sure what.

I hope you enjoyed, my pick for favourite of the year. Please read feel free to read through this year's editions of Five Sentence Fiction and let me know what your own favourite is as well. Just click on the Five Sentence Fiction label at the bottom of this post. I hope you'll check back next Friday for the start of a new year of Five Sentence Fiction.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas!

No post today my friends, but I will be back on Friday for the last Five Sentence Fiction of the year. In the meantime...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Monday, December 23, 2013

Monday Book Review - Happiness

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

HAPPINESS by Will Ferguson

 

I bought this book in September, at the Word on the Street festival in Saskatoon. In fact, I bought three of Will Ferguson's books. Why? Because he did a reading and an interview and was so funny and charming I just couldn't resist. And I'm glad I didn't. Happiness is the first I've had a chance to read and it does not disappoint. It's fabulous!

What is it that all people want? Of course, there's the usual culprits; money, possessions, etc. But deep down what everyone really wants is happiness.And what if there was a book that could give it to you? A self help book that actually worked? It would be wonderful, yes? Wrong. This is the story of a self help book that worked and in the process set off the apocalypse.

It's funny and witty, with a lovable main character you can't help but root for. The writing is superb, and of course the plot is exceptionally original. It's an amazing book. Definitely give this a read.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Silver

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is silver, a very fitting prompt on this last Friday before Christmas. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

She touched the ornament, looked down at the dusting of glitter sticking to her fingertips. She liked the way it rotated slowly on the branch, catching the light, shimmering just so. 
She was supposed to be finishing her Christmas shopping, not mooning over pretty ornaments, but she couldn't help herself. She plucked it from the store tree and took it to the counter, desperate to race home and hang it on her own tree.
Something wonderful was going to come from this ornament, she just knew it. 

Voila! A little holiday cheer just for you right before the holidays. If you're in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just check out the links below. Don't forget to follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Alone
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Highway
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Human
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Pieces

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Monday Book Review ... On Wednesday

You'll have to excuse my being tardy with this week's book recommendation. I was away visiting my sister and playing with my sweet nephew and never had a chance to sit down in front of a computer. But I promise you, it was worth the wait.

N0S4A2 by Joe Hill
 


Yes, this is the second book I've recommended by Joe Hill. What can I say? The dude can write. And this is a story that will have you pondering the dimensions of the universe while being thoroughly creeped out. Not to mention it's especially festive for the holiday season. Nothing like a trip to Christmasland to cure what ails you!

It's the tale of Vic, a woman who has always been able to find things. Lost things. One day, as she tries to escape troubles at home she goes looking for trouble. And finds it. Trouble is a man named Charlie Manx, a man who enjoys kidnapping children and taking them to live forever in his magical Christmasland. But something awful happens to the children that end up in Christmasland. Something inhuman. 

This is not just a novel that tests the boundaries of reality. It's a gripping tale about a man with a mission and the only person on Earth who can find him and stop him. It's fresh and exciting, unexpected and as I mentioned before, gloriously creepy. The kind that will have you blocking off your chimney come Christmas Eve. Definitely give this one a read.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Alone

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is alone. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

It wasn't supposed to be this way. Man wasn't meant to live alone. And yet, what choice did he have? It's one thing to nag, but when your wife starts trying to eat your brains you really have to put your foot down. Still, he couldn't help but miss her...

Yes, I felt I'd gone a few too many weeks without zombies. I hope you'll forgive me, not to mention follow this blog. If you're in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction (and not just zombie related), follow the links below. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Highway
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Human
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Pieces
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Letters

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Counting Down to the New Year

I shouldn't be this excited to see an end to 2013, but I am. After all, this was the year I went to Paris and celebrated five years of marriage to my wonderful husband. But it was also the year that the business I work for was sold to another company and I lost the best bosses I've ever had. It was the year my sister had to move away with my sweet little nephew and brother in law to Ontario (although they will be returning in the summer time, thank God).

It's just that next year holds so much possibility, the way all new years do. This year is old and dirty, smudged with good and bad memories. I want a new one, fresh and clean. Perhaps this new year will hold far more good memories, and far fewer bad ones. It begins with my mentorship, which I'm excited about, and hopefully it will only go up from there.

Three weeks from today will be January 1st. And rather than hiding under the covers until then (which I'd love to do), I'm going to enter the new year blazing. I want to enter it strong, head held high, ready to take the opportunities it presents and make the most of them.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Monday Book Review - My Life in Black and White

This week I've brought in a little help by way of the darling Crochet by Megs, who has a blog all about her crochet, cooking and books, among many other wonderful things. Definitely stop over and give it a look when you have the chance. You can find it here. And now, I shall hand things over to her expertise. Enjoy!

I was surprised and delighted when Melanie asked me to guest post on her wonderful blog. The book recommendations on Monday are actually one of my favorite parts to her blog, so I was honored to be able to contribute.

This Monday’s recommendation is:

MY LIFE IN BLACK AND WHITE by Kim Izzo 



It's the story of a screen writer turned tabloid reporter and her struggles with a disappointing marriage, career and life.

This was an incredible book with one of the most painful, realistic break-up scenes I’ve ever read. Seriously, everything you’ve ever dreaded a lover saying, gets said. 

The main character, Clara Bishop, is shocked and hurt when her husband leaves her for a waitress with little warning. She was deeply in love with him and had deluded herself into believing they had a happy marriage.
With her husband gone Clara finds herself longing to be one of the strong women she loves in film, but always finds herself coming up short, she turns to her mother for solace and finds unusual comfort in her grandmother’s old clothes.

After the devastating loss of her husband, Clara doesn’t know what to do with herself except follow him and his new lady to London in the hopes of winning him back. 

Armed with her grandmother’s beautiful clothing Clara strives to become that what she’d always admired - the femme fatale - and win her husband back. 

This book was a fun journey through a modern day film noir and a beautiful look back into the past and what it would have been like to live in a classic black and white film. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Highway

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is highway. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

She realized a little too late that she never should have gotten off the highway. The little side road had seemed charming at first, but the road had become rougher and rougher, and when she finally decided to just turn back, there was nothing to turn back to. The road behind her had simply disappeared, leaving a dead end in its place.
The road was now too rough to continue on in her car, so she took her purse and set off on foot, looking back only once at her beat up old chevy, unsure of whether she'd ever see it again.
In truth, she would, but it's hard to recognize a car that's been sitting by the side of the road for 100 years.

Voila! I hope you enjoyed this little tale, and if you did, please share it with friends. Don't forget to follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. If you're still hankering after more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below to read past editions. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Human
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Pieces
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Letters
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Dancing

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Party - Continued

As I said last Wednesday, for the past month my husband and I have been planning a 60th birthday party for my mother in law. And this past Saturday was the big night. It went really well. There was a ton of great food and good music and lovely toasts given in honour of the birthday girl (although my favourite was definitely my husband's, he really knocked it out of the park). The best part was seeing the birthday girl have fun, dancing and visiting with all of her friends and family who came out to help her celebrate.

As you may recall, I was in charge of the decorating, among other things, so I thought I'd post a few pictures so you can see how it all came together.

 
This was the guest table. I want to note that the creepy teddy bear was the property of the hall, as part of their Christmas decorations. The bear aside, their Christmas decorations were lovely and complimented my own decorations nicely.
 
I did up a board of pictures of my mother in law over the years, all in black and white that spelled out 60.
 
This was the hall. You might notice the disco light bulb I found on Amazon, which I love and worked great.
 
I hung Christmas tree decorations from the ceiling, along with paper lanterns and stars.
These were the table centerpieces. I spray painted wine bottles white, filled them with glittery silver florals and surrounded the base with a white boa, silver beads and fake diamonds.
 
This is a close up with a different filter, neither one really does it justice. In my opinion it was pretty lovely.
I alternated the wine bottles with these centerpieces to break it up.

And there you have it. I spent the rest of the evening dancing, eating and visiting. 

Monday, December 2, 2013

Monday Book Review - The Miracles of Ordinary Men

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

THE MIRACLES OF ORDINARY MEN by Amanda Leduc

 

Sam, a high school English teacher, is an ordinary guy until the day he wakes up with wings growing out of his back. No one besides himself, his cat, his childhood priest and a student are able to see them.
Delilah is torn between her cold and distant mother dying of cancer and her younger brother, who lives on the streets of Vancouver and refuses to come home. When her new boss approaches her for a date, she finds him both dangerous and alluring, and impossible to turn down.

This is a book you'll be thinking about for days and weeks afterwards. In fact, it's a good idea to lend it to friends and family as well, because you're going to want to discuss it with them. It's something to reread and argue about, a story that will make you question the purpose of God, the devil and miracles. 

This is a book that comes along only once in a while. A beautiful story that sticks with you and makes you question what you know and what you believe. This is a definite must read.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Human

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is human. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

He'd been crying for a long time before the realization finally hit him that his hands were wet. He looked down at the shining tears in his hands and reached up to wipe at his eyes. The tears were coming from him!
He looked down at his hands again, no longer polished and painted wood, but real hands with blood and skin and muscle. He was real, finally a real flesh and blood boy.

Voila! I hope you enjoyed my take on this little fairy tale and I hope you have a great weekend. Don't forget to follow this blog and leave your comments in the comments section. You might also want to come find me on twitter, @MelanieKCole. I'm mildly entertaining from time to time. And if you're still in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Pieces
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Letters
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Dancing
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Erased

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Party

I'm exhausted. It's been quite a month. I haven't done anywhere near as much editing as I planned on, but I do have a pretty good excuse. This Saturday is my mother in law's 60th birthday party, and she enlisted my help with both the decorations and the food, so I've had my hands full with all of the preparations.

I should note that by "enlisted my help" I really mean I forcefully volunteered my services. One, because it's her birthday party, so she shouldn't have to worry about anything, she should just show up and have fun. But also, I love party planning. I really do. Both my sister and I jump on any opportunity to throw a shower or a party. I can't explain why I love it so much, especially since I'm usually not much of a people person, but I do. And my favourite part is always the decorating and the food.

So, I spent the past month shopping, crafting, scouring pinterest for ideas, baking and planning. Hopefully this Saturday my efforts pay off and there's a fabulous party to show for it. Unfortunately, my writing efforts have thoroughly suffered, so starting December 1st, it'll be operation get back on track. Keep your fingers crossed for me and I'll try to post some pictures of the party next week so you can judge my success for yourself.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Monday Book Review - The Shining

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

THE SHINING by Stephen King

 

This has been a bucket list book for me for a very long time, so I was so glad when I finally had the chance to sit down and read it. And it. Was. Terrifying. I thought Christine was creepy, but this was leaps and bounds more scary. It was also beautifully written, the history of the characters and their descent into the hotel's grasp developing steadily, like the long climb on a roller coaster, filling you with more and more dread as you begin to reach the top, because you know the fall is waiting. It was exhilarating and mesmerizing and proves what we already knew about Stephen King. He is an amazing writer.

I know it can be hard to pick up a book that you know will be terrifying, but you really have to in this case. The story is just so good, the characters are memorable and full of depth, overall it's just an amazing ride. I especially loved being inside the mind of Jack and his son Danny. Their different perceptions of the hotel and what was happening around them was riveting. 

So, if this has been on your bucket list, make sure you make the time to pick it up. It's amazing and so much better than the movie. If you're a little reluctant because it's scary, don't let that stop you. It's a great read and just do what I did. Only read it during the daylight hours.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Pieces

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is pieces. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

For a moment she just stared down at the glittering pieces scattered along the floor. The talisman was her only way home and she'd broken it. 
The jeering voices of the crowd were growing louder. She quickly bent and gathered up the pieces, shoving them into her pockets. She'd find a place to hide and she'd put them back together, everything would be fine as long as she didn't miss any...

I hope you liked this little tale, if you did then please share it with friends. If you're still in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below. Don't forget to follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Letters
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Dancing
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Erased
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Determination

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The Mentorship Program

I don't know if you remember me mentioning this or not, but in September I had applied to take part in a mentorship program put on by the Saskatchewan Writers Guild. In this program, four apprentices are paired with established writers who work one on one with them on a body of work for a period of four months. The goal is to sharpen your craft while getting individual attention and editorial advice on your writing. It's a great opportunity, so I mailed in my application and crossed my fingers, hoping that I'd be one of the lucky four.

A week ago today I got the call. I'm in! That's right, I'm one of those lucky four.

Now, I'm writing this here for several reasons. First of all, I'm still so excited I can hardly stand it. The writing life comes with so much rejection, when you get a win you just have to celebrate it. Secondly, I want to remind you (and myself) of the importance of putting yourself out there. As I said, there's so much rejection that comes with writing, it can be hard not to withdraw completely. But there's also a lot of opportunity out there if you look for it. You won't get everything (God knows I haven't) but you'll get a lot more than not putting yourself out there at all.

And now I turn the floor over to you. What new directions have you been taking in your writing? Have you been putting you and your work out there?

Monday, November 18, 2013

Monday Book Review - The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN  by Holly Black
 



I knew I was going to have to read this book after I finished one of Holly Black's other books, DOLL BONES. She's an amazing author, capable of spinning an un-put-down-able tale like no other. And if anyone could make vampires cool again (especially after what twilight did to them), Holly Black could. And she did. That's right, my friends. It's about vampires. Well, really it's about a girl named Tana and her catastrophic encounter with vampires at a high school party, and the events that follow. It's dark, twisted, and best of all, the vampires don't sparkle! Rather than idealize them, Black explores the darkness of their nature, the sickness that creates them and poses the question: is the monster something they've been infected with, or is it something that's been unleashed?

As I said earlier, Black creates tales that you simply can't put down. Not only did I burn the midnight oil reading it, when I finished I was distraught. I had raced towards the ending with unbridled delight and once I was there, I couldn't believe I'd been so stupid not to savour it more. I didn't want it to end. I loved being in Tana's world, dark as it was. It was surprising, never going quite where you expected, with a large cast of unique, lovable characters that made saying goodbye especially hard.

There's nothing better than a book you're willing to lose sleep over. Pick it up and prepare to be tired in the morning, this is one you won't want to end and one you won't put down either.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Letters

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is letters. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

The first letter arrived on a rainy Tuesday. Every day another arrived in the mailbox, mixed in with the bills and flyers. She knew that she must have written them, the only person who could have known her thoughts so intimately was herself, but she didn't remember writing them, and she couldn't explain how every letter managed to describe in detail events that hadn't happened yet.
Indeed, every letter that arrived in her mailbox, written in her own handwriting, warned her what would happen that day, told her what would go wrong and what would go right.
The letters were always right, and although at first she was wary, soon she found herself running to the mailbox every morning... that is, until the day she received the letter that told her she was about to die.

Voila! I hope you enjoyed this little piece of fiction. If you did, then please share it with friends. If you'd like to read more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below and of course, don't forget to follow this blog. Have a great weekend everyone!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Dancing
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Erased
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Determination
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Malice

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

The Ruling

I've had to make a ruling at work. I don't mind if I came off rather bitchy either, it needed to be done. For some reason, I've been singled out in the office as someone you can tell to their face that they look like crap. Oh, not in so many words, but they say it just the same. If I got a dollar every time someone in the office told me I looked tired, or commented that maybe I have an iron deficiency, or asked me what was wrong with my eyes, I could just quit working and stay home all together. Sure, sometimes it's genuine concern, but I really don't care. I don't want to hear it. Which is why I told everyone, DO NOT COMMENT ON MY APPEARANCE UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING NICE TO SAY.

First, it's just good manners. If you don't have anything nice to say, then just shut the hell up or however that saying goes. Second, it's stupid. Why are you pointing out to me that I look tired? I know how I feel. I happen to live inside this body and it keeps me well apprised as to how it's doing. Furthermore, I own a mirror. I know how I look. And I put a lot more care and attention into my appearance than you did this morning, that much I know for sure, because I have a great many of my own comments to make about your appearance, but I don't because I have good manners.

Why does this bother me so much? Mostly because I spend a lot of my day biting my own tongue and I expect the same courtesy in return. But also because I generally like how I look. I'm aware of my faults. I have inherited very pale skin as well as dark under eye circles. This can (and often does) make me look tired, despite being well rested and in good health. Science has yet to find a cure for dark under eye circles and although I've found products that help a lot, they will always be there. And I've accepted this. I don't need constant reminders, nor do I need suggestions that I should eat more red meat. I'm fine. Despite these flaws I like what I see in the mirror.

So, I stood up for myself and let everyone know that I wasn't okay with their unrestrained opinion sharing. You want to know the weirdest part? It's pretty well always the men who feel comfortable enough to insult me with their "concern". What about you? Have you ever had someone be a little too free with their opinions of your appearance? How did you handle it?

Monday, November 11, 2013

Monday Book Review - The Book of Lost Things

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS by John Connolly
 

 This week's book was originally recommended on one of the many, many lists of Halloween reads I perused while in search of hauntingly fantastic tales in September and October, but I have to say, I didn't find it frightening or creepy in the least. To me, it was like reading something similar to, but much darker than, THE NEVERENDING STORY, which I loved. And I loved this one too. It was brilliantly imaginative and haunting. 

It tells the tale of David, a young boy who has recently lost his mother. He has trouble dealing with her absence and turns to books for comfort. But there's something lurking inside the stories, something cruel. And it has an ulterior motive for David.

This is a beautiful book. The language is lovely, drawing you in and painting fantastical worlds filled with kindness and cruelty, shadows and new beginnings. It's a worthwhile read for the language alone but the story is not to be missed. So few books contain so much story, so well told, that will leave you filling as full and content as this one did. Definitely pick this one up. It's an incredible read.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Dancing

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is dancing. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

When he reached out his hand, she took it automatically. No words were spoken, never had been. The music said everything they couldn't, as did the strength of his arms around her, the bend of her head towards him.
Even now, when old age had shrunken them, their charisma on the dance floor was the same. Physical appearances may have changed, but their love never had. 

Yes, it's true. I've given you a healthy dose of mush this week, and I certainly hope you enjoyed it. If you did, pass it along and share it friends; perhaps even follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. If you're still in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Erased
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Determination
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Malice
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Enrapture

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Editing and the Return of TV

Well, the summer of no TV ended midway through October, with the first light dusting of snow. The snow only lasted a day, but I spent that day nestled on the couch with my husband, blasting our way through the first two seasons of Episodes. (Great show by the way.) It felt amazing, the perfect way to relax on a Sunday.

However, now that November has arrived I've decided to throw myself into editing and that means figuring out how to balance work and relaxation (aka TV). With the weather getting colder and the desire to stay in and snuggle getting stronger it's getting harder and harder to focus on work. After all, I'm really enjoying the editing process but it's so hard to resist the chance to wrap up in a blanket with my husband and catch up on the shows I've missed.

So, to combat my natural inclination to be lazy, I've created a schedule. I make sure I always use the time when my husband's at the gym or out with friends to edit, when temptation is at its weakest. I also find it easier to edit and write in the evenings on weekdays, when my brain is already geared towards work, and allow myself the indulgence of sleeping in and lazing on the weekends, only working as much as I'm in the mood for. I find I need to give myself permission to just go with the flow on weekends, that way I have something to look forward to and it makes it easier to work on weeknights.

How are you combating the winter gloom? Do you find it more or less easy to be productive in the winter months? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Monday Book Review - Winger

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

WINGER by Andrew W. Smith

 

Ryan Dean West is a fourteen year old junior at Pine Mountain, a boarding school for rich kids. He's currently rooming with the biggest (literally) jerk on his rugby team in O-Hall, the dorm for miscreants. He's two years younger than everyone else in his class and in love with his best friend, Annie, who thinks of him as a little kid. But this year is going to be different for Ryan Dean. This year things are going to change. 

I can't say enough good things about this book. It was funny, it was sad, it was unexpected, it was... perfect. I know I should never say that about a book, but as I set it down after finishing it in one day, I turned to my husband and said, "I think that might be the best book I've ever read." I loved it. I absolutely loved it. I loved the characters, the plot (always full of surprises and bloody impossible to put down!) and the way all the chapters were short and sweet (which always makes me feel like I want to keep reading). 

You need to read this book. I don't care who you are. If you're looking for a really amazing read, go get this book immediately. It's so fantastic, I can't even describe it. Just go get it. NOW. 

 

Friday, November 1, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Erased

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is erased. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

"Oh dear God," she looked down at the bright orange stain spreading across her top and shorts and back at the crowded lunch room full of faces already laughing at her. 
The professor had warned her not to abuse the magic eraser, had told her not to take it for granted, but she couldn't help it. Some things she could live with, others she couldn't. She pulled it out of her pocket and erased the stains from her clothes, the laughter from everyone's mouth and the memory of her catastrophic embarrassment from their minds. When she was done, she picked up her lunch tray and sat down at a table, anonymous once again. 

Voila! I hope you enjoyed this little story, and if you did, please feel free to follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. If you're in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below to read past editions. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Determination
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Malice
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Enrapture
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Celebration

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Bring On the Holidays

You may have noticed over the past several weeks that I've really been getting into the Halloween spirit here on the blog. Since the beginning of September, my weekly book recommendations have centered around the spooky, the creepy and the suspenseful, and for the month of October all of my Five Sentence Fiction Friday posts have a darker twist to them. Why? Well, last year I swore off the holidays. I was so sick of all the holiday mayhem (Christmas in particular, but the rest as well) that I decided to take a year off. I did the minimal requirements for each and it felt so good to just give it a rest for a year. I really needed the break.

Now, I'm feeling refreshed. I'm ready to take on the holidays again, but in my own style. I'm embracing the parts I love while leaving out the activities I just don't feel up to. Take Halloween for example. I probably won't get dressed up or decorate the yard this year. But I'm reading a giant stack of spooktacular books to get in the spirit, and having weekly get togethers with friends to watch classic horror. I'm going to carve a pumpkin and roast pumpkin seeds and hand out candy to trick or treaters. And so far, I'm having a blast.

So, if you're starting to get a little sick of all the Halloween spirit hanging around here, I apologize. And don't worry, I'll keep most of my Christmas spirit off the blog. That's one of those holidays that can be a little too... everywhere. I plan on enjoying Christmas this year, but I won't be cramming it down anyone's throat. In the mean time, Happy Halloween!

Monday, October 28, 2013

Monday Book Review - Up Jumps the Devil

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

UP JUMPS THE DEVIL by Michael Poore

 

 For our last macabre tale of fall, I bring you the biography of the devil himself. It seemed fitting, even though it wasn't spooky or scary. After all, what is Halloween without the devil? And in this charming, witty and clever tale is the world's best character, the first love story and the first broken heart. A complete delight.

I think it's obvious that my favourite thing about this book was Poore's rendition of the devil. He's as charming as you'd hope he would be, clever, but also complicated with a colourful history. It takes you back through history to the start of the world, with surprising twists and turns and intriguing subplots. Poore has created a truly vivid portrait of one of the most universally misunderstood bad guys, with a fantastic story to boot.

This was the perfect weekend read. Original and unique, a story I won't soon forget.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Determination

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is determination. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

She sat in her car, waiting outside his building, like a cat for its mouse. Sooner or later, he'd have to come out, have to talk to her, acknowledge her existence. She knew if she could just talk to him, she could make him see they were meant for each other. He belonged to her. She would make him see that. 

Voila! Hope you enjoyed this week's story, and if you did, don't forget to check out past editions below. Have a great weekend everyone!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Malice
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Enrapture
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Celebration
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Magnetic

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Tips for NaNoWriMo

Well, October is over the half way mark and for a lot of people that means gearing up for this year's NaNoWriMo. If you aren't familiar, November is National Novel Writing Month. Every year thousands of people sign up online and pledge to write a 50,000 word novel in thirty days. With daily word counters, a supportive online community and pep talks from some fantastic writers, it's a great way to blow your writer's block right out of the water. After all, there's no better silencer for the inner critic than a looming deadline. Unfortunately, I won't be participating this year, I'm deep in editing land, but I was a winner for the June Camp NaNoWriMo and so I thought I'd share a few of my tips and tricks for anyone who's considering giving it a try this year.

1) First off, do not fall behind. Hit your targets every day, right from the start. Don't assume that you'll be able to catch up on the weekend when you have all that free time. You won't. Believe me. You just won't.

2) However, if you do fall behind, don't give up. Yeah, I know what I just said, but falling behind doesn't mean you get to throw in the towel. Dig deep, throw in a few very late nighters and you'll be back on track.

3) Have an idea of your story before you start. No, you don't have to have it all mapped out ahead of time (unless you want to) but have a general idea of the characters, the plot. It'll keep you from staring at a blank page, wondering where the hell you're going with all this. Use this time before the start date to chew on your story, let it start building in your head and then let the momentum take you.

4) If your story just isn't working, change it. NaNoWriMo is the perfect chance to experiment with your writing. Think about it, with no time to care about the rules, you can be free to just create. (Because really, that's what it's all about.)

5) Please remember: Although it's called National Novel Writing Month, at the end you will NOT have a finished novel. What you will have is a rough draft and a very satisfying feeling of accomplishment. Don't get me wrong, completing a 50,000 word manuscript in a month is extremely impressive, but don't forget that there's a lot of work to follow. I won in June 2012, and I'm still editing. And frankly, I will be for a while. Every rough draft needs a ton of work before it's suitable for an agent, a publisher and the general public.

6) Have fun! I know that sounds like a cliche, but it really is fun. Incredibly stressful fun. But as your fingers race over the keyboard, pounding out word after word, an undeniable feeling of elation begins to envelope you. It's magic!

All right, good luck and God bless! I'll see you on the other side.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Monday Book Review - Fangland

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

FANGLAND by John Marks
 

I know we're all sick to death of vampires, but this is something completely different. FANGLAND has turned the vampire into a much creepier, darker monster, something more akin to a virus that infects your mind and your soul. It's brilliant.

My favourite thing about this book was the representation of the whole vampire mythology, the way Marks took it, twisted it and made it so much better. It's effortlessly creepy, sneaking up on you as you read. I also liked the format, almost as a kind of catalog of evidence, jumping from diary entries and emails, from character to character. It unfolds before you like a case file, the evidence building until it's undeniable.

It just isn't Halloween without a good vampire story and this is a really good vampire story. Read it. You're guaranteed to get creeped out.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Malice

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is malice. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

She didn't have the heart to tell her mother she didn't like the doll, not when she looked so excited and hopeful. But really, didn't her mother realize she was way too old for dolls? And besides, it was creepy, with its wide unblinking eyes and cruel little painted on smile. 
She carried the hideous porcelain creature upstairs, feigning excitement, and stashed it in the closet. She didn't like the way it stared at her, the way it almost seemed to move just as she was turning away...

I hope you enjoyed this week's slightly spooky tale. If you did, then please share it with friends. If you really liked it, then I hope you'll follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Still in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction? Just follow the links below to read past editions. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Enrapture
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Celebration
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Magnetic
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Wild

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Beautiful Language Vs. A Great Story

You might have heard me rant a little on this before, but I've always had a hard time with literary fiction. I know that to many it's held in very high regard, and to that same many it's believed to be head and shoulders above main stream fiction. Part of me understands why, but the rest just shakes its head in disbelief.

Lately I've been reading ON BECOMING A NOVELIST by John Gardner, and I think it's helped me figure out what I dislike so much about literary fiction. In his book, Gardner talks about the importance of language. A writer's skill with language can be tantamount to their success, but it requires balance. When a writer becomes too obsessed with the language he's telling his story in, no matter how beautiful it may be, the story gets lost. Of course, neither should a writer neglect language. It adds depth to a piece that would otherwise be flat.

In a nutshell, I think that's why I find literary fiction so dry and boring. Too often I lose interest in the story because it seems to be a shadow in the background, a mere device to drive the language. The writer in question gets to hung up on his method and forgets about the story. First and foremost should always be the story, and the device, whether it be language, metaphor, symbolism, etc. should only be as useful as it is to making the story better. Once it starts to distract from the story, it's no longer useful and must be discarded.

So, what do you think? Am I way off base here? Obviously there are some excellent authors of literary fiction out there capable of telling a wonderful story, which are your favourites? What's more important to you? Beautiful language or a great story?

Monday, October 14, 2013

Monday Book Review - We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE by Shirley Jackson

 

Mary Katherine Blackwood lives at Blackwood Manor with her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian. The rest of her family is dead. The villagers have always hated the Blackwoods, but more so since the bad thing happened. And when a new visitor shows up at Blackwood Manor, everything will come to light.

Deliciously creepy and unexpected, this was another perfect read for the Halloween season. I especially loved the character of Mary Katherine, also known as Merricat, with her strange rituals, her devotion to her sister, and the tickling sensation I had while reading it that she knew more than she was letting on. The whole story is deviously clever, well written and perfectly dark.

If you're looking for a creepy Halloween read, you've found it.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Enrapture

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is enrapture. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

When she sang, it moved him. His heart would thump harder against his chest even as his breath caught in his throat, his skin bubbling up with goosebumps as each hair stood on end. It was hard, watching her from so far away, but it wouldn't be for much longer.
Soon she would know who he was. Soon she would be his. 

Voila! I hope you enjoyed this tiny story, and if you did, then I hope you'll share it with friends. If you're still in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below for past editions. Don't forget to follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Celebration
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Magnetic
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Wild
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Flowers

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

The Importance of Editing

Great news, everyone! I have my manuscript back from the editor. And let me just say, wow. Her ideas and suggestions are so thought provoking, so utterly fantastic that I desperately wanted to jump up and down ecstatically for a few minutes when I read her memo. Of course I didn't, because I was at work at the time. And although my coworkers are aware that I'm rather strange (unfortunately it's impossible to miss), it would have required a little too much explanation. But suffice it to say, I have a lot of work ahead of me. Very exciting, thrilling, rapturous work.

Which brings me (in a very roundabout way) to my point. Editing is so important. Every writer on the planet knows they have to edit their work, that no first draft should ever be the last, but sometimes I think writers (especially new writers such as myself) don't realize just how much editing is actually required. I guess that's why I'm still reticent about self published authors. Now, I realize that there are some really great self published authors out there (Wes Funk for example), who have put their work through the wringer to make sure it's as good as humanly possible before it sees the light of day. But there are just so many writers out there who don't realize that they can't be the only editors of their book.

Here's what happens when only the writer in question edits their manuscript (by which I mean, they don't let anyone else read it and give editorial feedback). They may think they're being unbiased, but it's impossible. They will always have a vision in their head of how the story is supposed to go. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's important to be open to new ideas. When I'm done working through the suggestions the editor gave me, my book is going to be a lot different from the one I started with, but so much better. Unbiased readers, especially those with no emotional connection to you, can offer worlds of possibilities you never would have dreamed of. But you have to put in the work.

And speaking of editing, let's talk about the inevitable rejection. If you've written a novel, and you think it's amazing, that's all well and good. But believe me, it's not as good as it could be. Let it go through the wringer. Send it out, and with every rejection (and there will be tons), look for any hint of editorial feedback. If they say the main character was weak, or the plot wasn't believable, don't get angry. Really ask yourself, was it? I know a lot of writers out there are scared of all the hard work involved, of having to go back to the dreaded drawing board (I know I am!) but it's necessary. It's what molds us as writers. Send it out, take it to critique groups, go through a manuscript evaluation service, hire an editor. It's the only way to really grow as a writer and above all, tell a really, really good story.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Monday Book Review - Christine

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

CHRISTINE by Stephen King
 

It wouldn't be Halloween without at least one novel by Stephen King. In my opinion, CHRISTINE is the perfect illustration of just how talented Stephen King really is. (Not that any of you needed convincing, I'm sure). But here is the story of an evil car, a murderously evil car, and ... it's riveting! This was the first Stephen King I've ever read (aside from his memoir, ON WRITING). I'd always wanted to read his work, but I wasn't sure where to start. A girlfriend suggested I start with this one and she was right. I'm hooked!

I'm pretty sure King could make anything terrifying. It's the writing. He so perfectly sets the scene, builds the tension and then takes it places you never would have dreamed of. And his characters are so well drawn that everything feels intensely real. An evil car becomes entirely possible.

If you've never read King before (or if you have but avoided this one because you found the idea of an evil car too ridiculous), give it a try. It's the perfect example of fantastic writing taking a very odd idea and making it not only believable, but so real you'll never look at a car the same way again. 

As a side note, I'm sure all of you have heard about Stephen King's latest novel, DOCTOR SLEEP, which is a sequel to THE SHINING. I've never read THE SHINING, so that's next up on my list of King's works. I can't wait to read both of them. What about you? What's your favourite book by Stephen King?

Friday, October 4, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Celebration

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is celebration. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

Artie lit the candles one by one. He set the places, placed a hat on each of his guests and sat down at the head of the table. He raised his glass and made a toast. He was having a lovely time, although the same could not have been said for his guests.
Of course, most people enjoy a party a lot more when they're given the option of attending, instead of forced there against their will. 

Voila! I hope you enjoyed this week's little story, and if you did, be sure to share it with friends! If you're still in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below. Don't forget to follow this blog (if you haven't already done so) and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Magnetic
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Wild
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Flowers
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Beauty

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

The Horror!

Well, it's officially October and that means the Halloween season has begun. As you already know, I'm reviewing scary, spooky, creepy books until the end of October for Book Review Mondays, but I'd like to take it one step further. To help us get in the spirit, every week my girlfriends and I have decided to get together and watch classic horror movies. These are a few of the titles that we're thinking of. Maybe there's something here that will get you in the spirit as well.

 
Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho


 
King Kong

 
Dracula


 
Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds

And of course...


 
The Nightmare Before Christmas

What about you? How do you like to get in the Halloween spirit? Are you doing anything fun/different/special for Halloween this year? Do you have any classic horror movies you love to watch around Halloween? (God knows, I only offered a small sampling!)

Monday, September 30, 2013

Book Review Monday - Silks

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

SILKS by Dick Francis and Felix Francis

 

I have for you, another addition to our fall spookfest. And really, what kind of spookfest would it be without a little murder? And SILKS is the perfect murder mystery. Taking place in the world of jockeys and horse racing, a violent murder has occurred. It seems to be an open/shut case for the prosecution but defense barrister and amateur jockey, Geoffrey Mason, has other ideas. And those other ideas may lead to him being killed as well. 

At first, I was a little turned off by the subject matter. I have absolutely no interest in the world of jockeys and horse jumping/racing. In fact, I almost put it down. So glad I didn't. It was the perfect murder mystery for a blustery fall afternoon, with the pace of the story increasing the further you read, until the idea of putting it down was more horrifying than the murder itself. And this one will keep you guessing all the way to the end. You have no idea who the murderer is, or why, and when everything clicks into place it's not cliche. It makes perfect sense and is oh so satisfying, the way a really good mystery is supposed to be. 

The writing is fantastic, the pacing superb. It's thrilling and unexpected and the main character is empathetic, smart and charming. Every step of the way I found myself nodding my head, agreeing with his deductions, urging him on. It was the kind of book where you can't flip the pages fast enough, and I love those. If you're looking for a great murder mystery for the fall, this is it. Wonderful.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Magnetic

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is magnetic. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

FATAL MAGNETIC ACCIDENTS
She shakes her head at her son's latest google search. He's been acting so strange lately, but of course he won't say what's going on.
"Mom, I told you to stay out of my room!" he screams it, eyes glinting as he scrambles across the room and slams his laptop closed. 
She's never seen him like this, so angry he's actually trembling; it's frightening. That's when she notices the coins on his desk begin to move...

I hope you enjoyed this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. If you did, then I hope you'll share it with friends. If you'd like to read more, just follow the links below for past editions. And if you'd like to make my day (and really, who wouldn't?) then follow my blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Wild
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Flowers
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Beauty
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Thunder

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Guest Post Book Blitz with Mia Hoddell


Deadly to Love (Elemental Killers #1)
by Mia Hoddell
Release Date: February 2013

Genre: YA/Romance/Paranormal/Fantasy
ASIN: B00BDQ3QGA
ISBN: 978-1-291-41025-9

Blurb:
The world is dangerous – but love will kill you.

Little did Serena Jackson know that one simple, flirty remark to an anonymous guy online would lead to her world being changed forever.

She doesn’t know him, but inexplicably, is drawn. She knows it is wrong but she agrees to meet.

His real name is Kai. He is beautiful. And immediately Serena feels herself blindly falling for him even though she senses a lie. She knows he is hiding something and it terrifies her.

What she doesn’t realise is that her entire life has been built on secrets and lies. The people she loved left her in the dark for a reason.

She trusted them. She trusts Kai. But as he pulls her straight into the heart of the danger the lies and deadly secrets are revealed. They overwhelm her, and the person she once was no longer exists as she is thrown into a ruthless world of elemental forces. The price of truth is her life—and now the world wants her dead.




Available from:
Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Paperback) | Lulu
and only 99c / 77p on Kindle for September!

Praise:
“I couldn't put it down. So I finished it last night and all I can say is WOW! This book was amazing and different.” Brianna (Book Blogger)

I loved how the author took a different approach to writing a love story in modern times with the paranormal element present. I thought it was absolutely wonderful and refreshing. Marvelous!” Kathy H (Amazon Reviewer)


I will admit I scoffed at the way it started but in the end I had fallen in love with this story…completely untraditional it was a very original idea, not to mention modern. This story had such a good plot and the story structure was sound. Kacii – The Kooky Bookworm (Book Blogger)


About the Author

Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading and loves anything paranormal. Mia always had a love of writing but never reading. She was more interested in sports and hated sitting still - despite getting three poems published before the age of sixteen. Finally though, she found some novels that captured her interest and developed a love of reading which is now one of her favourite hobbies.

Mia began with poems before moving on to short stories. Although she enjoyed this, Mia found she had too much to tell with too little space, so later on she created her first series 'The Wanderer Trilogy' and from there other ideas have emerged. With a total of nine books planned at this moment, she is busy working on her second series 'Elemental Killers' before moving onto the next idea on her ever growing list.


Author Links
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***Excerpt***

Happy with the amount of photos I had collected I started to head back out of the forest, still flicking through my shots. As well as close ups, I had taken a few landscapes and as I was almost at the edge of the forest I noticed something in one of the photographs that made me stop.
In the left hand corner was a figure that looked mostly human, but was blurred as if they were moving on the spot.
A cold shudder shot through me.
Looking over my shoulder I became slightly panicked and felt as if someone was following me.
My eyes flicked and searched the shadows. Even though there was no sign that anything had ever been behind me, the forest looked different now - dark and threatening.
Instinctively I broke away and ran, still clutching the camera that was displaying the freaky image. Surrounded by trees I didn’t stop until I was free of the forest and back in the open light and sight of my house.
Throwing open my door, I slumped against the inside of it, regaining my breath from the short sprint. Once I had recovered I looked down at the photo once more, just to make sure that I hadn’t been seeing things. The old saying “the camera never lies,” came into my mind and for the first time I wished it not to be true. Sure enough though, as I looked down at the screen, the figure was still there and this time I noticed a red and orange glow around where its feet should have been. The image almost looked like the person was on fire but I thought I would have surely noticed if there had been a burning man in front of me.

***GIVEAWAY***

Mia Hoddell is giving away an Amazon gift card this month only there is a slight twist: the more entries she receives the more money she will put on the gift card to giveaway! For example:


No matter what = $5
100 entries = $10
150 entries = $15
200 entries = $20
and so forth...
So if she gets 1000 entries she will give away $100, there’s no limit!


To enter all you have to do is buy or have bought Deadly to Love. It's only $0.99 or £0.79 on Amazon for the duration of the giveaway! This will also unlock extra entries for you so you can earn more points by sharing the giveaway. Remember the more entries she gets the bigger the prize for you so share!


Monday, September 23, 2013

Monday Book Review - Pretty Monsters

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

PRETTY MONSTERS by Kelly Link

In keeping with our fall spooktacular theme, I bring you PRETTY MONSTERS by Kelly Link. A collection of short stories that are sometimes creepy, sometimes funny, sometimes just plain imaginative and often all three. I'm not usually a short story kind of person, I often find them rather boring (sorry short story writers out there. I'm sure yours are awesome!) but these were fabulous. I was swept away with each story, always surprised and delighted.

The writing is fantastic. Kelly Link is an imaginative writer, who paints vivid stories out of pure fancy. As I said before, short stories often fail to grab my attention but these gripped me immediately. I was struck by how well they were told, the originality of the plots and the beautiful illustrations at the start of each story. They're beautiful. I adored them. I want to put them in frames and hang them around the house. 

Definitely pick this up. If you love short stories and even if you don't, try it anyway. Maybe this will do for you what it did for me. Which is restore my faith in the short story. They're the invention of a fantastically original imagination and fit perfectly with my theme for fall, where monsters and creepiness abound. To give you a little taste, here's a quote from the first page, under the illustration for the first story.

"Anyone might accidentally dig up the wrong grave."

Tell me you don't want to find out what happens next. Read it! 

Friday, September 20, 2013

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Wild

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is wild. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

"Wow, that was wild," she looked down at her blood stained clothes and the machete in her hand, bits of gore still clinging to the edge, "I didn't think we were going to make it for a while there."
The faces around her were pale and a little green, a few open mouthed in horror. "I know they were zombies, but you just... you just took their heads clean off, didn't you?"
She smiled. "Well, not at first, but as they say, 'practice makes perfect.'"

I hope you enjoyed this creepy little tale, and if you did, please share it with friends. If you really liked it, then I hope you'll make my day and follow this blog, as well as come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. If you're still in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction (and who wouldn't be?) just follow the links below to read past editions. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Flowers
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Beauty
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Thunder
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Travel

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Gearing Up for Fall

There's something about fall that always makes me think of new beginnings. Yes, I really should be thinking the opposite. After all, the natural world is dying, going into hibernation. It's the end of a cycle, not the beginning of one. But I've been conditioned by years of school that fall is a time for starting new academic challenges, for buying new clothes, for new pencils, notebooks and erasers and of course, for new possibilities. Which is why I've been thinking a lot about the new challenges and goals I'm setting for myself as a writer.

First of all, I've made an appointment with the new Writer in Residence. I miss last year's like crazy and I'm a little nervous about meeting with the new one, as it seems impossible for anyone to fill his shoes. But I felt that way about the Writer in Residence before him, so I guess that's natural. And I think it would be incredibly foolish to turn down the opportunity to learn from anyone as experienced and capable as the talented writers the program has come up with so far. Each new writer has something unique to teach, and I'm anxious to learn.

Secondly, I'm sending in an application for the Saskatchewan Writer's Guild Mentorship Program. In this program you work one on one with an experienced author, on issues and concerns that are personal to you. It's a tremendous opportunity and even though I have no guarantee of being accepted, I knew I had to apply. As I said before, the chance to learn from other writers, especially such talented ones, is a rare gift and not one I'm willing to turn away from.

Lastly, I'm thinking about joining a critique group. I'm not sure how to even begin going about finding an appropriate one, but I love the idea of getting together with other writers, offering and receiving constructive criticism, as well as supporting one another. It sounds like a valuable experience, especially if you find the right group. (Sometimes it's difficult to find one with members that give constructive criticism. Either they give weak feedback, or none at all. Which isn't particularly helpful.)

So, there you have it. How are you gearing up for fall? Have you set goals as well? Let me know in the comments section! (As well as if you have advice for finding a critique group.)


Monday, September 16, 2013

Monday Book Review - The Man in the Picture

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

THE MAN IN THE PICTURE by Susan Hill

 

Another perfect addition to our fall reading spooktacular. This is the eery tale of a picture, its disturbing past and the curse that binds itself to whomever owns it. It's a tale of supernatural revenge and the dangers of a woman scorned.  A macabre tale if ever there was one.

I loved this book. It's a short tale, easily read in an afternoon or two (or perhaps on a stormy evening? Bwah hah hah...), which made it appealing for someone like myself with little to no spare time. The story is supremely well told. It's subtle. You won't have nightmares, nor will you find yourself peering over your shoulder nervously, but you will be creeped out. There's something about it that's just ... eery. It's the way it's told, unfolding slowly, the way the picture seems to latch on to whoever knows about its mysterious past. It's fantastic. 

This was the perfect book to get me in the mood for fall. It's creepy, but not too creepy. It's haunted, the way a gloomy fall afternoon when the trees look skeletal is haunted. It's beautifully written, a tale full of imagination, one that will have you never looking at a painting the same way again. Definitely pick this up if you're looking for a haunted tale for fall. It's brilliant.