Blogging

I'm sure at this point you probably thought I'd completely forgotten about my little blog here. It certainly was a very long hiatus. But, the truth is, I needed the break and I've also been rethinking the format. I've been reassessing the value of where I spend my writing time and I realized I wasn't making the best use of it here. That's not to say that I don't appreciate my readers, I'm eternally grateful for your attention. But, the goal has always been writing professionally, and I had to take some time and evaluate whether or not this blog was helping me reach that goal or hindering me.

If I am to continue with this blog, the posts I write will have to increase in quality. Which may mean a slightly less frequent schedule. I may also have to move. The address as it stands now is a bit of a mouthful and not especially memorable. So, I guess what I'm saying is, there's going to have to be an overhaul. Which is good, although it also means that it will take a little time. I'm hoping you will continue to visit me, and that your loyalty will be rewarded by a much better blog. Stay tuned, and please keep checking back!

Vacation

Just a note to let you all know that I'll be on vacation for a few weeks. Not a "real" vacation, I'm not going anywhere, but just a vacation from this blog and a few other obligations. I've been feeling a little burned out for a while now and I think a short rest is just what I need to sort a few things out. See you soon!

Happy Long Weekend!

Today, being Friday, is usually a day for Five Sentence Fiction. But Lillie McFerrin, who posts the prompts, is taking the long weekend off and therefore so am I! Therefore I will wish you all a great long weekend and see you next week!

Monday Book Review - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD by Agatha Christie

 

I've recommended Agatha Christie before. Last time it was MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Well, this one blows my previous recommendation right out of the water. It was SO GOOD. For the past few days my husband has listened to me go about my business, all the while muttering to myself "I still haven't figured out who murdered Roger Ackroyd".  Now I know. And you need to read this book because it will blow your mind.

What is the key to a truly good mystery? When the author gives you everything you need to solve it and yet you still can't do it. And when the identity of the murder is finally revealed, your jaw drops to your shoes. This is a truly good mystery. And it doesn't matter if mysteries aren't usually your bag, read this one anyway.

Looking for a read that will leave you open-mouthed for hours? You've found it.

Five Sentence Fiction - Feather

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

The feather in her hat wasn't there for decoration. It was a key (and a clue if you were looking for one). It was long and black, shining where it sat perched with a flower on the brim. It was her feather, taken from one of her long wings and placed there, her only way back to her true form. Without it, she'd remain a human forever, never again able to fly.

Voila! I hope you enjoyed this little tale. If you're still in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below. Don't forget to follow my blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Whimsical
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Companion
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Lucky
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Furious

French Obsession

I'm mildly obsessed with Parisian culture. It happened when I started planning my five year wedding anniversary - a trip to Paris. I read all the blogs, started taking French and read every single Parisian based memoir I could get my hands on. And when I got there? It was just as wonderful as I'd hoped. We had an amazing vacation, were even mistaken for natives a couple of times (mon dieu!), and returned home with tons of pictures and trinkets to remind us of our time there.

It was so wonderful, in fact, that my adoration of Parisian sophistication has persisted. I still read the blogs and am often heard to exclaim over how the table manners here in restaurants just doesn't compare to Paris. (Seriously though, it doesn't. Every time I go to a restaurant it feels like I've entered a mess hall. Just because a place is crowded doesn't mean you have to yell. Just lean in a little closer and talk a little softer. The ambience is better and it's more romantic.)

Lately I discovered a wonderful little Parisian shop online that specializes in only the very best skincare, makeup and hair products. The owner has a store in Paris but also ships worldwide via her online store (it's called Oh My Cream!). I can't resist it! I painstakingly translate the articles in their online magazine and browse through the products, entranced. If only I'd known it was there when I went last summer!

There's just something about the French. I'd love to go back to Paris again, as well as travel through the rest of France, but there's a few different places I need to see first. In the meantime, I will continue to prowl the blogs and shop online, pampering myself with little tastes of French elegance.

Monday Book Review - The Language of Flowers

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

 

This is a really unique story, in which a young woman, Victoria, uses the old Victorian meanings for flowers to convey feelings she's not comfortable saying out loud. While she struggles with her own past, and her lack of trust in others, she's still able to help the customers who visit the flower shop where she works, using flowers and their secret meanings to guide them through their own problems. Using a blend of flashbacks and the present, the mystery of Victoria's past is slowly revealed and the question remains, can the flowers she uses to help others help her as well?

I loved this book. I almost didn't read it, at first I was put off by the title (it sounded a little ... flowery), but it came highly recommended by another author I love, and once I read the summary I was hooked. Which is also what happened from the first page. Diffenbaugh has created a one of a kind character, someone who is lost and alone, damaged seemingly almost beyond repair. And yet, she has this beautiful gift with flowers, a gift that could lead to her own salvation as well. It's magnificent.

Read this book. You won't look at flowers the same way again.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Whimsical

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

She was too old to ride on the carousel, she knew that, but it didn't mean that she didn't want to. She did - more than anything. She wanted to sit astride one of the magical frozen horses, going up and down, round and round, all in time to the soft, tinkling music. 
She could see the one she wanted, looking for it each time it came around, a beautiful golden horse with a red saddle and white mane. And for some reason, one she couldn't quite name, she felt like it wanted her too.

I hope you enjoyed this little story. Don't forget 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. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Companion
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Lucky
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Furious
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Misunderstanding

Kicking It Into High Gear

This is the last month of my mentorship. I have only four weeks left to pick the brain of my mentor and absorb every ounce of her wisdom that I can. And as you may know, nothing motivates me like a looming deadline. I've decided to kick it into high gear for this last month and get as much as I possibly can out of the time I have left.

It's already been a wonderful experience. I was blessed with a knowledgeable, patient, kind, encouraging and talented mentor. I have nothing but positive things to say about her and our time together. I feel like I've grown a lot and am better able to take on the editing that is still required of my manuscript. I'm noticing a lot more in the books I read, taking note of what works and why, and where scenes and plot can be improved. On the whole, I feel like I've become a better writer and that with practice I will continue to get better.

That's why I'm kicking it into high gear for this last month. This is another chance to improve my self discipline and fortitude. If I can give it everything I have for this last month, then I know I will have taken complete advantage of this opportunity and not held anything back. It's a challenge, and I do so love a challenge.

Monday Book Review - By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

BY GRAND CENTRAL STATION I SAT DOWN AND WEPT by Elizabeth Smart

 

I found out about this book from 101 LETTERS TO A PRIME MINISTER by Yann Martel. I had heard of it before but I didn't realize what it was about or its significance. It's the story of an illicit affair between a young woman and a married man, told in some of the most beautiful language I've ever read.

Every page is exquisite. It's poetry, pure and simple. Smart's choice of words is incredible. Her work is groundbreaking. When it was first published it was banned in Canada for its "immoral" content, but you can't deny that it's a work of art, well worth the read. 

I don't always love the classics, often finding them rather dry and boring, but this was different. It's beautiful, plain and simple.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Companion

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

I flapped madly at the covers, looking underneath at the big brown eyes staring back at me. People were always shocked when I told them my dog not only insisted on sleeping on the bed but underneath the covers with me. But they didn't understand how happy we both were with the arrangement. I sighed and snuggled back up against her. Yes, we were both happy with the arrangement, aside from the occasional bout of dog gas. 

Inspired by a true story. I hope you enjoyed this little tale, if you did I hope you'll 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 - Lucky
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Furious
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Misunderstanding
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Sunshine

I'm Back

You might have noticed (at least I'm hoping you did) that I didn't post anything for Five Sentence Fiction Friday and nothing for Monday's Book Recommendation. I wasn't so much away from my computer, as my computer was away from me. I bought a new laptop two weeks ago and I had to return it to my tech savy cousin for a few days while he fixed a small bug. All is well though, and I love my new little machine.

Of course, a great debt of gratitude is owed to the old one. It got me through many years, truly a reliable, grizzled old war horse that took a beating and kept on going. Of course, near the end it was literally starting to fall apart, so the time had indeed come to let it retire.

This is the first computer I've ever owned that wasn't a hand-me-down. It comes with a certain sense of pride, and a little intimidation to live up to the challenge. It's just so new. I'm not used to up to date technology, keys that don't stick, weird new interfaces. It's a touchscreen as well and I find myself cleaning the screen constantly, horrified by the greasy fingerprints I keep leaving all over it. I never realized my fingers were so filthy.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that I'm back and there will be no more lapses in blog posts. Which is hopefully something we can all be happy about.

Jury Duty

There's nothing quite like coming home from a long day and finding a summons for jury duty in your mail box. If I had to equate it to something, I'd say it felt like getting home, realizing that I lost my keys and then having it pour rain. Yep, that would be a similar experience.

The past two months have been... long. Normally, I'd laugh it off and say I must have pissed off karma. But the amount I would have had to say that over the past couple of months would have been disturbing. No one has this much bad karma, especially when they haven't actually done anything awful to incur said karma. Oh, I'm not saying I'm perfect. I definitely deserve the occasional stubbed toe and paper cut, but this level of crappy luck is unwarranted.

So, what shall I do? I'll admit, the desire to pack everything up, get in my car and drive far, far away is strong. But, as that's currently not an option, I guess I'll just grin and bear it. Besides, bad luck is only temporary... right?

Monday Book Review - Dad is Fat

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

DAD IS FAT by Jim Gaffigan

 

What's not to love about a humorous memoir by Jim Gaffigan? I already love his stand up so I knew I wasn't taking a big risk reading his book. And you know what? It was awesome, as predicted. Even for a severely anti-baby person such as myself, I still found myself laughing at Gaffifan's exploits as a father of five. And the obvious love and respect he has for his wife was an added bonus. 

True, there are some parts of the book obviously borrowed from his standup, so I was already familiar with a few chapters, but it wasn't too much so I didn't feel cheated. Some of the stories he shared were just too hilarious, giving me away when I was trying to sneak read it at work. He just has a way with words, a way of describing situations and opinions that always has me in stitches. It was clever and candid and never afraid to poke fun at himself. I love that.

If you want to cheer someone up, brighten their day and make them laugh out loud, bring them this book. When I read it, I was down with a cold and even though laughing hurt my throat, I couldn't put it down for a second.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Lucky

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

Lucky. I sure didn't feel lucky. Not now, not looking at that disgusting plate of bright green vegetables, steam rising from them in clouds that smelled like dirt and something worse, something weird. 
Anxious to avoid another lecture on starving children in Africa, I picked up my fork, speared one of the unsettling sprouts and brought it, trembling to my lips. I took a tiny, almost imperceptible bite. 
Oh dear God... it was ... delicious!

Voila! I hope you enjoyed this weird little tale. If you did, then I hope you will honour me by following this blog, as well as come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. If you're still in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below and read past editions. Happy weekend!



Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Furious
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Misunderstanding
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Sunshine
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Ache

The Streak

A funny thing happened this past week while I was sick. You might remember it from last Wednesday's blog post. Because I was sick and miserable, and my sinuses hurt when I laid down and tried to sleep, I spent the week reading. First, I read a full book in one day. Then, I did it again the next day. And the next. And the next. And the next. I've read eight books now in eight days and if I finish tonight's novel, it will be nine for nine.

I've always been a big reader but I have to say, this is something else. I can't remember the last time I've gorged on books like this. Possibly my honeymoon, but even then it was eight books in ten days. I've taken a weird amount of pride in it too. I'm starting to feel like my cold may have triggered a super power. Is that who I am now? The batman of reading? (That would be the most boring comic book of all time). In any case, I've decided it can't be a bad thing. Stephen King wrote in his memoir, ON WRITING, that it's important to read and write, in fact he specifically recommended spending at least six hours a day on the combined activities. No problem, Mr. King. No problem.

Anyway, what you've been thinking this entire post is correct. I am just writing a blog to brag on my awesome reading streak. I don't care. I am. And you know what? Now I'm going to stop writing so I can go finish my book and keep the streak going. Because that's who I am now.

Monday Book Review - Calling Me Home

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

CALLING ME HOME by Julie Kibler

 

Isabelle and Dorrie are unlikely friends. For one, Isabelle is an eighty-nine year old white woman and Dorrie is a black woman in her thirties, a single mom and a hairdresser. The bond they've formed might be unlikely, but it's strong, and it will take them across the country and back in time as Isabelle shares a story she's been carrying for her entire adult life, one she's never shared with anyone.

Loved this. Absolutely LOVED this. The characters were lovable and charming, and I especially appreciated bouncing between the two points of view. You can't get much more opposite than Isabelle and Dorrie, and yet you felt the affection they had for each other, the love. The story is richly layered, as is the setting, a small southern town in the nineteen forties. It was beautiful and upsetting and uplifting all at the same time.

This one wasn't predictable. Things didn't happen they way I expected they would and it was better for it. I felt captured by their story, and it stayed on my mind for days after I was done. Characters like these can be hard to come by, and I enjoyed every minute I spent with them. 

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Furious

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

She glanced over at her daughter before returning her eyes to the road, noting the small hands curled into tight fists, the hardened stare that was fixed pointedly out the window. She wouldn't get another word out of her, not right now.
With a sigh, she adjusted her hands on the wheel and reminded herself to be patient. This was just a rough patch, a phase; at least that's what the book said. She stole another glance at her daughter and prayed to the universe that the book was right, because it sure didn't feel like it.

Voila! I hope you enjoyed my little tale. If you did, and you feel like making my day, then please follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Don't forget to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. And 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 - Misunderstanding
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Sunshine
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Ache
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Frozen

Sick

Today's post will be short. Why? Because I'm sick. I made it through this entire winter thus far without a single cold, and I think I must have gotten cocky because on Sunday, karma hit me with a sledgehammer. Seriously, I'm pretty sure an evil fairy snuck into my room at night and filled my sinuses with hot coals. And then set my throat on fire.

It's been three days so far of achy, moaning unhappiness, contemplating the vodka in the cupboard left over from Christmas. Because at times like this, it seems stupid to be sober. Don't worry, I didn't get drunk. But I did add a splash to my orange juice when I was home from work. You know, to help me sleep. (You wouldn't judge me if your throat felt like mine at the moment).

I've also managed to use the time away from work somewhat constructively. Although my brain function is limited (it's mostly gone towards continually identifying what parts of me hurt and how much), I've still managed to read two books in two days. I know I should be sleeping, and I'd love to spend this time unconscious, believe me, but here's something I've learned. It's impossible to sleep when you have sinus pain. It's just not going to happen without powerful sedatives. And unfortunately, I think I've built up a tolerance to Nyquil. It just doesn't seem to work like it used to. So, I read. And luckily, the books I've read have been good. Really good. Able to distract me for small periods at a time from the hot fiery pain in my face and throat.

So, cross your fingers for me that I'll be back on my feet soon. I have work to do, a manuscript to edit and both will be easier without the constant achy torture of this god-awful virus. In the mean time, It's back to bed.

Monday Book Review - Joyland

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

JOYLAND by Stephen King

 

You know whenever you want a good read, it's never a bad bet to pick something by Stephen King. This is one of his newer books, only released in paperback (no hard cover) with this retro style cover. It gives the feel of an old school, hard crime and it delivers, but with typical Stephen King flair. It reads a little like a memoir, a man looking back on that one crazy summer that changed his life.

What can I say that hasn't already been said? It's Stephen King for god's sake! But really, this is a fantastic book. I love that King decided to do a project like this, it's fun and eery, suspenseful but also doesn't take its self too seriously. I gobbled it up like cookies on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Irresistible. 

If you enjoy Stephen King, then I think you'll love this. If you don't enjoy Stephen King, then I think you'll love this. It stands on its own as a fun, easy read, the perfect thing to curl up and read and forget your troubles.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Misunderstanding

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

"Hey, is he gone yet?"
"Yeah, he just left."
 "Ugh, can you believe what a pompous, controlling, bald-headed ass Brian is?"
"This is Brian."
"... Uh, I think I dialed the wrong number."

I hope I made you smile with this very short story. If you'd like to read more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below. Also, please feel free to follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Sunshine
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Ache
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Frozen
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Sparks

Removing Distractions

This week's lesson was about the removal of distractions. During another productive and invigorating session with my mentor, we discussed the problem with my procrastination. I came clean over what a stupendously crappy two weeks I'd just had and asked her advice on how to be more disciplined.

One of the things I like best about my mentor is she doesn't sugar coat things. She wasn't having any of my feeble excuses (although she did sympathize). Her advice was simple. She told me that this is what separates the real writers from those still dreaming of being 'a real writer'. They show up and they write, even when it's hard. It was time to step up. Was I made of strong enough stuff? Was I willing to do what it takes?

It wasn't hard to see that she was right. I have a pretty soft touch when it comes to self discipline. And procrastination is my way of life, a deeply set routine I have trouble shaking off. So, I decided it was time for a more drastic solution. It was time to get tough.

I have a hard time denying myself, especially when I'm tired from a long day at work. I get home, kick off my shoes and all I want to do is flop on the couch and watch TV, usually until bed time. I have an even harder time saying no to my husband, who also had a long day and wants to come home and watch TV as well. I can't work when the hubbie is watching TV. I can hear it pretty much anywhere in the house and it always manages to suck me in and drain me of any productivity whatsoever. The answer seemed clear. I needed to get away from the television. And not just out of the room, out of the house. I decided that on nights/days when my husband is home, I'll pack up my stuff and head for the library, that universal location of quiet and solitude. A coffee shop is too noisy and ripe with distractions, but a library is just right. And when my husband is going out for the evening, I've asked him to hide all the remotes (our TV doesn't work without them), making it impossible to turn on.

On Sunday, I gave my plan a try and hauled my stuff to the library. And it worked perfectly! In just an hour, I'd accomplished more than I had in the past two weeks combined, and not just a little more, A LOT more. I was ecstatic! And tonight, I have the house to myself, so I'm giving the hidden remote scheme a try.

Sometimes, you just need to know yourself and your limits. My mentor agreed with my plan (especially if it would produce results), but also encouraged me to get in the habit of writing so I wouldn't need these gimmicks. And I agreed with her. But for now, I'm grateful to have a way to trump my procrastination. Hopefully, with temptation firmly removed I can develop those habits so I don't need the gimmicks any more, but until then, I know what I need and it's a strong hand.

Monday Book Review - Spanish Fly

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

SPANISH FLY by Will Ferguson

 

This is a kind of prequel to Happiness by Will Ferguson, although each easily stands on its own. This is the story of Jack McGreary, a brilliant young man who finds himself lost in the world of con men and shifty dealings. The lessons in this world don't come cheap and often have fatal consequences, so he'll need to use every ounce of his cleverness to make it out alive.

I picture Ferguson spending hours in the library while he was researching this book. From all the brilliant factoids to the histories and fates of real con men, this book crackles with realism, a kind of texture that brings the story to life. He gives Jack and his accomplices a complexity that some authors wouldn't have bothered with and it really makes this story something special.

You'll never be able to guess the ending to this one. It's as clever as its main character. This is one to add to your list, just don't blame me if you start feeling suspicious of repairmen and state officials.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Sunshine

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. This week's prompt is sunshine. (As soon as I saw that I thought of Robin McKinley's book, SUNSHINE. I love that book). If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

Sunshine; they call me that ironically because of my dark moods and foul temper, but they don't realize how true the name is. The sun is a billion miles a way and made of molten fire, which sounds a lot like me. A girl has to keep her distance in a world like this, and if you're not made of fire then what the hell are you made of? And I know something else the sun and I have in common. One of these days, no one knows when, we're both going to implode.

A weird little monologue for this week's tale. Hopefully you enjoyed it, because I won't lie, it was fun to write. I also hope you'll have a great weekend, and maybe even follow this blog and 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.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Ache
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Frozen
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Sparks
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Clutch

The Breaking Point

We've officially found that point in winter where all hope seems lost and the idea of getting out of bed every morning seems insane. We're a little over halfway through February, and if you live in the Canadian prairies that means we have two more months of winter. Yes, that's right. Two more months.

So, is it any surprise that people (myself included) are testy, impatient and just plain sad? I'm like a walking Eeyore cartoon. I could stand in for Charlie Brown. And I'm self medicating with so much chocolate I'm going to end up with diabetes.

The only solutions I can see are travel (which I can't afford) and time travel (which hasn't been invented yet). Therefore, I'm stuck with the consolation prize: distraction. You'd think I'd be crazy productive right now, but it's amazing how much of a bite depression takes out of your work ethic. With all the effort it takes to push myself out of bed each morning and trudge through another work day, the thought of going home to write is hilarious. All I want to do is collapse on the couch, eat something bad for me and watch Downton Abbey until it's time to go to sleep.

But, I don't have time for that. There are only two months left in my mentorship and I want to make the most of them. Plus, this problem is temporary. Sooner or later, spring will come and I'll start to feel better. In the meantime, it's just going to have to be force of will pushing me to the computer every day and out of bed each morning.

How do you beat the winter blues? Do you throw yourself into your work? Hibernate? Share in the comments.

Monday Book Review - Hollow City

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

HOLLOW CITY by Ransom Riggs

 

You might remember my review of MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN (if not you can find it here). This is the second installment in the series and it's just as marvelous as the first, with a new collection of eery photos to accompany the story. It follows Jacob and his 'peculiar' friends as they attempt to find a cure for their beloved headmistress, Miss Peregrine.

I should have been prepared for the amount of imagination, after reading the first one, but it's easy to forget how splendid a story is when you've been away from it for a while. I was continually flabbergasted by Riggs and his ability to twist and turn a plot, as well as create unique characters with unique abilities. Combine that with the suspense of the story and you'll understand why it's a best seller.

This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a healthy dose of originality. You won't find another story like it, I can pretty much guarantee that.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sorry one and all! Unfortunately, this week got away from me and I didn't have time to write any Five Sentence Fiction for yesterday, and with it being Valentine's Day as well, my little gift to myself was to not sweat it and take the day off. So, I hope you will all excuse me, and join me on Monday for the coming week's book recommendation. Have a great weekend!

Time Management

I think one of the hardest things to figure out when you're trying to be a writer, but still have a full time day job, is time management. How do you give your writing the focus and dedication it deserves, without burning out?

This is a tightrope I've been walking lately, especially since my mentorship requires a minimum of 20-25 hours per month. On the surface, that really isn't a lot. In fact, it's only five hours a week. That's an hour every evening, Monday to Friday, with weekends free for fun. So why is it so hard?

There's a lot of answers to that question. The first, is that it isn't. Not really. There aren't many things in this world that are easy, especially not those worth doing, so why complain about such a minimal requirement? Why not accept it as set in stone and move on? We know with absolute certainty that we must get up and go to work in the morning. We have to if we want to continue to have a roof over our heads and food to eat. Why not approach our writing schedule the same way? Why not be uncompromising?

Of course, that leads me to my second answer. Which is that work sucks, and when we finally get to come home for the day, we don't really like having something else that we have to do waiting for us. We want to unwind, relax and put the nasty, icky-ness of work out of our minds until tomorrow. But having a set schedule for writing doesn't mean there's no time to unwind. It means just the opposite. If I have time set aside specifically for writing, and use it, then when I'm done I can relax guilt free. There's no "I should be..." hanging over my head. And often, once I start writing, I quite enjoy it and will often work past the required time because I'm in the zone.

And then there's the third answer. Not only does work suck, but it sucks the life out of you. That sounds more depressing than I mean to, but it's kind of true. Depending on your job, it can take a lot out of you. Whether it be customer service, number crunching or other kinds of problem solving, by the time you're done, you aren't just bone-tired, you're brain-tired. So, it can be hard to coax out a creative thought. I do my best to remedy this, by fitting in a little creative time throughout the day. I read a book at lunch, and if I'm waiting in line or have a free moment, I give myself permission to daydream. I let myself drift off to la-la land for just a few minutes. Sometimes, it's writing related and I'll use the time to try play out a scene and get inside the head of a character. But sometimes it's a free for all. In any case, I find when I come home I'm a lot more primed and ready.

The truth is, writing with a day job will always be difficult. But it's a sacrifice a lot of us have to make in pursuit of our dream. And in the end, it's worth it, because a harder life with the dream is better than an easier one without it. At least, that's how I see it.

Monday Book Review - River of Stars

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

RIVER OF STARS by Guy Gavriel Kay

 

Normally, I don't read a lot of fantasy, but I listened to a reading and interview with Guy Gavriel Kay at Word on the Street last September, and I was floored by his eloquence, good humor and wisdom. His latest epic intrigued me and my husband, so we bought it and had him sign it. I've only finally gotten the chance to sit down and read it and I loved it.

There was a point in the reading when the interviewer told a story about the first time he ever read a book by Guy Gavriel Kay. He was working on his father's farm and he was supposed to be watching something, although I can't remember what. He had one of Kay's books with him and was reading it while he worked. Normally, when he would bring a book to work, he would read a page or two, look up and make sure everything was fine, then read another page or two and so on. But as he got into Kay's book, he couldn't keep from reading more and more pages and of course everything went haywire from there. The story was incredibly accurate, as I found the same thing happening to me. The further I got into the story the more I couldn't put it down, the more desperate I became to read just a few more pages.

I don't know how I could possibly sum up the plot. RIVER OF STARS has far too many characters and far too much intrigue to ever attempt such a thing. What I can tell you, is Kay's own description of his books, which I think sums it up nicely. "History with a quarter turn to the fantastic". It was a fantastic read, and it won't be my last. There are many more books by Kay to enjoy, and I plan to do just that.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Ache

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

It felt like a lump in her stomach, a big aching ball of tension. She swallowed hard, blinking back tears, willing them to stay behind her eyelids. The only choice she had was to get out of there, fast. Any moment now those tears would start to fall and everyone would know that the smile she'd pasted on her face was fake. She ducked her head down, let her hair fall in a curtain around her face and made for the door. 

Voila! I hope you enjoyed this little story. If you'd like to read more, just follow the links below and read past editions. Don't forget to follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Frozen
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Sparks
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Clutch
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Moon

The Precipice

This past weekend I had another meeting with my mentor. Now, every meeting thus far has been great. Amazing, actually. But this was on a league of its own. Sometimes we grow in inches, sometimes in leaps and bounds. This was a bound.

We were discussing my manuscript. She had officially read through the whole thing and we were discussing big picture issues, problems with plot, believability and certain characters were feeling rather flat. And in the course of that discussion, she was giving advice on rewriting. Because that's what this would be. A lot of rewriting, not just editing.

"Editing is when you go in, and you're making little tweaks here and there. Adjusting a word, changing a sentence. If you get too caught up in the manuscript as it is and wanting to keep it, you won't allow your characters to make their own choices, you won't give yourself the room to make real change." I thought about it, picturing how we often make those minor, esthetic changes, wandering through rooms and straightening pictures, changing the paint, adding accessories. That's great, but sometimes we need to knock down walls, rearrange pipes and wiring. That's when rewriting is called for.

It's scary, but it's also exciting. I'm standing on the edge of the precipice. When I step over the edge, I won't be settling for the story I started to tell, I'll be striding for the story I want to tell. This is a point where a lot of writers stall. It's a point I've stalled. But now I have someone to hold my hand, lead me through, and even though it's going to be frustrating and a lot of hard work, it's also going to be rewarding and challenging and enlightening. This is where I really grow as a writer. And that's amazing.

Monday Book Review - The Uninvited

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

THE UNINVITED by Tim Wynne-Jones

 

THE UNINVITED is a story about secrets, escape and finding family in unexpected places. It centers around Mimi, a University student on the run from an obsessed professor, Jay, a music student trying to find his voice and Cramer, a young man desperate for change and the chance to be noticed. As their paths cross, they realize their lives are connected in ways they never expected...

Un-put-downable. Is that a word? It should be, because it describes this book very well. My mentor actually recommended this one to me and I'm glad she did. Although at times it was hard to pay attention to the lessons I was supposed to be learning because the story was so willful, it just pulled me along without stopping. It was suspenseful and twisted, with characters that I really enjoyed. Especially Cramer. He really kept me reading. There's something about him that's just so easy to root for. 

This was the first book I've ever read by Tim Wynne-Jones, and it won't be the last. It was just too good. I want more! Definitely give this one a read.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Frozen

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

She ran from the car to the front door, fighting with her key to get the door open. It was only a few steps but it was long enough for her to be freezing by the time she made it inside. With a sigh, she curled up in front of the fireplace and opened her computer. She had thought she'd be able to make it until spring, but now she knew it was time to give in. She went online and started looking at travel websites.

 Voila! I hope you enjoyed this little story. If you did, please feel free to check out the links below and read past editions. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Sparks
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Clutch
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Moon
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Moments

The Need to Relax

Things have been a tad, um, busy lately, what with the mentorship and a job that's in crazy mode, so it shouldn't be surprising that I finally ran my immune system down to the nub and ended up sitting at home last Thursday with a stomach bug. Still, nothing drives me crazier than having a whole day to myself, unable to do a thing because I'm stuck on the couch.

My mentor also noticed that I was getting run down and wrote me a lovely email, telling me how important it is to make time for myself as well as my writing. I couldn't argue with her logic. How can I be doing my best creative work when all my thoughts center around bed and when I'll get to go there? She was right, I had to take care better care of myself.

So, how to relax? My first impulse is a facial or a massage, but I'm on a post-Christmas budget, so I think I'll start by scheduling one day off a week to just watch TV, read a book, or go out for coffee. How do you relax and recharge? 

Monday Book Review - The Shining Girls

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

THE SHINING GIRLS by Lauren Beukes

 

If you're looking for a suspense/thriller that bends the laws of space and time, you've found it. THE SHINING GIRLS grabbed me from page one and held me until the end. It also creeped the hell out of me, but that's understandable, given the plot. It's the story of a serial killer, Harper Curtis, who finds a house in depression-era Chicago that opens onto different times. With it, he stalks and kills his victims, until one, Kirby, miraculously survives. She's determined to bring him to justice and joins with ex-homicide reporter, Dan Velasquez, to find him.

Are you intrigued yet? You should be. The writing is spectacular, jumping through time and the eyes of its characters, pulling you along in its current. Beukes does an amazing job of building the story, unfolding clue after clue and letting you inside Harper's head. It's brilliantly told and completely captivating.

So, if boredom plagues you at every turn, if winter has you dragging your feet, pick this up. It will definitely having you flipping pages at lighting speed, anxious to find out what happens next. Is there anything better than that?

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Sparks

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

She shielded her eyes as another shower of sparks cascaded down around the room.
"I said, supper is READY!" she shouted.
Her husband nodded from behind his mask and she turned to leave. She couldn't tell what he was working on, but whatever it was, she hoped it wouldn't be as big a disappointment as the last one. Their neighbours had never really forgiven them for that.

I hope you enjoyed my little story. If you did, and you'd like to read more, just follow the links below. Don't forget to follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Clutch
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Moon
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Moments
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - This Year's Favourite

Busy

So far, this has been quite the busy month. Going back to work after the Christmas holidays also meant going back to an entirely new computer system. It hasn't been easy to learn and every day has been filled with frustration. Pair that with a thorough deep cleaning of our house, my mentorship and scores and scores of editing and it's not hard to understand why I spend most of my free time thinking about sleep.

Still, there's something to be said for being busy. The winter months are flying by and I'm really enjoying the sense of purpose my mentorship, and all the editing that came with it, has given me. I can feel myself stretching as writer, as well as becoming more disciplined and thorough. As Martha Stewart would say, "it's a good thing".

The hard part is trying to carve out a little relaxation time so I can recharge. One of my favourite ways to relax is to go for a steam, so I'm thinking I might have to find some time this weekend. I found a place with private aromatherapy steam rooms I'm dying to try. Of course, if I'm going to reward myself, I better earn it. So, the game is on for the rest of this week. I have to buckle down so I can enjoy it, guilt free.

What about you? What's keeping you busy these days? How do you find time to relax?

Monday Book Review - The Tao of Martha

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

THE TAO OF MARTHA by Jen Lancaster

 

 Yes. I finally got the chance to sit down and read THE TAO OF MARTHA another fabulous installment by the always lovely Jen Lancaster. What makes her memoirs so funny? I think it's her sarcastic barbs, her self deprecating humour and the truly original way she has of describing any and every disaster. No one makes me laugh out loud like she does.

This is the story of the year Jen spent trying to live under the guidance of Martha Stewart and her domestic wisdom. It's funny, surprising and at times heart wrenching. It's her best memoir in a while, as original and hilarious as her first, BITTER IS THE NEW BLACK,  and another favourite of mine, SUCH A PRETTY FAT. It reminded of me of why I love her so much (it's because we think alike). In short, it's awesome. 

Definitely give this a read. And if you've never read Jen Lancaster before, start with BITTER IS THE NEW BLACK. My husband had to keep coming into the room to check on me while I was reading it, he couldn't understand how I could be laughing hysterically while reading a book and not be having some kind of mental breakdown.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Clutch

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

"Darling, could you pass me my clutch?"
Dutifully, he reached over and grabbed the small, purple purse from the end table and handed it to her, crying out, "Jesus, what do you have in there? A brick?"
"The universe, of course," she smiled. 
He didn't know she was serious, he'd never bothered to look inside. If he had he would have seen just that, and probably collapsed on the spot. 

Voila! I hope you enjoyed this little tale. If you did, then I suggest you follow this blog so you never have to miss another. And if you can't wait and want to read more right now, well then just follow the links below to read past editions. Don't forget to come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Moon
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Moments
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - This Year's Favourite
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Silver

Work and Edits

Last week was my first week back at work after the Christmas holidays, and it was... trying. Being off for two weeks, although hard on the wallet, was excellent for morale. I edited my manuscript every day, read several books and slept a lot. But now that I'm back at work, things are more difficult.

I know, that's not a surprising revelation. A full time job makes other goals difficult. Duh. I was prepared for having less time to allocate to editing (although still determined to give it as much of my attention as allowable), but I wasn't prepared for the large bite it would take out of my patience, my sense of self worth and my ability to receive constructive criticism... well, constructively. I managed an hour of editing every evening all week, but on Saturday morning when I sat down to look at my mentor's edit notes, I kept taking everything personally.

Eventually, I had to walk away, shake it off. I took a nap, read a book and let the edit notes settle on my brain. And, after some time away I was able to see that her thoughts were accurate. But it took some time. I had to step back for a bit. After a week with an entirely new system at work and all the criticism that came with trying to master it, I just wasn't in any shape to hear more and especially not about my writing.

Now, I'm in my second week of work and determined not to be burned out by the weekend. It means spending more of my energy caring about my writing and less caring about the new system at work. The new system will take time and patience, but I can't let it get to me the way it did last week. It just isn't worth it. It requires only a small portion of my concern, while my larger, more important goals require more. It's just that simple.

Monday Book Review - Rest in Pieces

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

REST IN PIECES by Bess Lovejoy

 

Now this was a fun book. As you can see, the full title is actually THE CURIOUS FATES OF FAMOUS CORPSES; REST IN PIECES and it is a very accurate description of what you'll find inside. It's positively fascinating! I couldn't put it down. It's crazy how mishandled some of the most famous corpses of all time have been. We're talking, "oops, we misplaced the head" bad. It's a really fascinating read. 

Not only is the book just plain beautiful (it's now a showpiece on my bookcase), it's well written, funny and just a little twisted. It'd have to be with this subject matter. It was also the perfect answer to a dull afternoon. I loved it. 

Definitely, definitely, read this. It's fantastic and you'll both gross out and really impress at your next dinner party. It's a wonderfully original piece of writing on a subject matter that has always been fascinating. It's a great book.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Moon

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

"I see the moon and the moon sees me," she sang softly, lifting the curtain to look out the window.
Outside, way up in the sky, she really could see the moon, yellow and round, it's surface pockmarked in just such a way to make it look like a large smiling face staring down at her. She wished it could. They would be friends, the moon and her. They would go on adventures together and she would leave it all behind and never come back. 

 Voila! I hope you enjoyed my little story. If you did, please share it! And better yet, follow this blog. If you're still hankering for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below. Don't forget to come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Moments
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - This Year's Favourite
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Silver
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Alone

The Mentorship - Meeting One

I had my first official meeting with my mentor on Saturday and it went wonderfully. Already, I can see that this is going to be a really great learning experience. What they say is true, nothing beats one on one attention. Of course, that also means I have a ton of work to do, but frankly, I relish it. There's something about it that's so inspiring. I feel all fired up and ready to go.

Just in our first meeting, we've uncovered a plot hole that needs solving (and several possibilities on how to fix it), she's noticed a few patterns in my writing that just aren't working that I need to be more aware of (sometimes my descriptions/wording isn't very clear, I tend to repeat myself and I also fast forward through some of the action instead of telling the story). I can see my manuscript getting better and I can see myself becoming a better writer in the process.

It also helps that my mentor is super nice. We get along great. She's also a dog person, so we ease in with some dog-story sharing. I like meeting people who find their dogs as adorable as I find mine. There's nothing more gratifying than meeting someone who 'gets' it. Non-dog people mystify me. (Although they shouldn't, since I'm anti-kids and that seems to mystify people. Sorry, dogs are cuddlier and they don't speak. They officially win in my book.) Anyway, to get back on track, since we already have a good working relationship I think we have the recipe for success. She's serious in her efforts to make my manuscript better and to help me grow as a writer, and I'm serious in taking advantage of it.

To sum up, we're off to a great start and I'm raring to work! Can't get much better than that.

Monday Book Review - While the Sun is Above Us

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation.

WHILE THE SUN IS ABOVE US by Melanie Schnell

 

This is not a book I would usually gravitate towards. Generally speaking, if something looks a little dark or heavy, I go the other way. But I got the chance to hear Melanie read from her book during the Word on the Street festival last September and was so captivated by her reading that I immediately bought it and got her to sign it. I just finally had the chance to sit down and read it and I was blown away.

This is the story of two women; Adut, a Sudanese woman who is captured and held as a slave for eight years, and Sandra, a Canadian woman who left home looking for answers. Their lives are changed forever when chance brings them together for a short but profound moment. 

This book is written from the perspective of both women, each sharing their story with the other. It's lovely and at times heart wrenching, a truly terrific read. Make sure you pick this one up and give it a read.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Moments

Welcome to Friday and the first edition of Five Sentence Fiction for 2014. This week's prompt is moments. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

The receptionist was yammering on again, complaining loudly to no one in particular that her computer wasn't working again. No one felt like telling her that it wasn't the computer that had the problem. My boss was talking loudly on the phone, threatening another vendor that incompetence would not be tolerated. I looked dismally at the pile of work still sitting untouched on my desk, the same work I plodded through day after day. It was moments like these that made me bring up job sites on my computer.

Okay, this isn't my most upbeat piece (and I swear it has nothing to do with me having to go back to work on Monday), but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. If you did, please let me know in the comments below, and if you really enjoyed it, I hope you'll follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. If you're still hungry for more Five Sentence Fiction, just check out the links below. Have a great weekend everyone!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - This Year's Favourite
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Silver
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Alone
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Highway

Happy New Year!

Well, it's the first day of the new year and normally this post would be about my new year's resolutions. But I'm not making any this year. Making proclamations doesn't really work for me. But that doesn't mean I'm not exacted about a shiny, brand new year.

First of all, my mentorship is beginning. I have my first meeting on Saturday and for the next four months I'm under the guidance of my mentor. I want to make the most of such a valuable opportunity, so a great deal of my free time is going to be put aside for working with her. Hopefully my blog shouldn't suffer too much, and I know you all will be patient with me. It feels good to take such a strong step towards building a career in writing.

There's so much to look forward to with the start of a new year. So many possibilities in the 365 days ahead. What are you looking forward to? What new steps will you be taking?