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

   

***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!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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! 

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

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 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.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Flowers

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

Mama told her not to touch the rose guarded by the golden gate, warning that any wish made while plucking a petal would be granted. 
But that sounded delightful to her wide-eyed daughter, who at the first opportunity slipped through the gate and began plucking it's soft pink petals. She wished for beauty, she wished for height, she wished for wisdom, for wealth, for romance and on and on until every petal was gone. 
She should have left one last petal for a wish to take it all back; already her back hurt from the weight of her jewels and her long silky hair, her head ached with thoughts over the great questions of the universe and the gentlemen swooning at the gate made her embarrassed and uncomfortable. She cried as she ran all the way home, hoping her mother would still recognize her foolish daughter.

 Voila! I hope you enjoyed this week's little story, and if you did please share it with friends. Don't forget to leave your comments below in the comments section, I love hearing from you! If you really enjoyed 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 past editions. Have a great weekend!

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

Looking for Something Spooky

Fall is here, with its bursts of reds and yellows and the delicious crunch of leaves underfoot. The whole world seems golden, and even though the crispness in the air signals the coming winter, I'm happy. Summer's been good to me this year (aside from the plagues) and I've decided to let it leave gracefully. I'm going to look at the bright side of things. Starting with my one of my favourite holidays: Halloween.

I know, I know, it's much too soon to start mentioning Halloween, and I'm not, really. But I am thinking ahead to October, and I've decided to throw a few macabre tales into the mix with my reading schedule. What better way to get into the mood for fall than with something spooky? I also plan to start baking a lot, now that the temperature in my house won't be a sweaty 27 degrees Celsius, but that's a lot less healthy for my waistline, whereas a good book is always good for you.

So, this is the part where I ask for your help. What's your favourite spooky, horror, mystery, thriller, etc? Do you have any suggestions that help put me (and anyone else reading this) in the mood for fall? I'll be sharing all my spectacular finds throughout October, so don't worry if you're having trouble finding something. (You can start with last Monday's book recommendation, Doll Bones.) Together, we will brave the fall and embrace all the good it can give us.

Monday Book Review - Doll Bones

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

DOLL BONES by Holly Black

 

This is the story of three friends, the blissfully imaginative games they play and a possibly haunted doll that leads them on a thrilling adventure. Are you interested yet? I know the second I read 'haunted doll' I was in. What's more creepy than one of those porcelain dolls? Doesn't it always feel like they're watching you? Like maybe at night they come alive and begin to move...

I loved this book. Yes, I do believe it's meant for middle grade or young adults, but please don't let that stop you. It's a fantastic tale, well told and deliciously creepy. I loved the characters, especially the main character Zach, who's becoming an adult while still trying to hold on to the imagination of his childhood. The writing is great, with the perfection combination of imagination and creepiness. She's a fantastic author, and I can't wait to read her newest book, THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN, which also sounds amazing.

Definitely give this book a try. It's a short read, imaginative and captivating. Holly Black has picked the perfect subject matter to keep every reader's attention. I've never met anyone who didn't feel a little creeped out by those old porcelain dolls and she plays on that subtle fear perfectly. Enjoy!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Beauty

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

The dragon lay motionless, his last smoky breath escaping with a sigh as Prince Charming removed his sword. He climbed the stairs of the tower, slashing at vines as he went until at last he reached the top. He opened the heavy oak door and tiptoed to the side of the bed at the center of the room, but no one was there.
 "Were you looking for me?" the princess closed the door with a smile. "It never occurred to you that all that was keeping me in, not keeping you out, did it?"

Voila! I hope you enjoyed my little fairy tale with a twist. Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments and if you're still in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below to read past editions. If you really liked it, I hope you'll share it with friends and perhaps follow this blog. Don't forget to come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Thunder
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Travel
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Fabric
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Learning

The End of the Summer of No TV

Well, fall is officially here (according to the calendar. I don't know when the first official day of fall is, but to me it's with the start of September), so I could potentially say that now is the end of the summer of no TV. But, I think I'm going to wait. The weather is still hot and beautiful, so there's no point in turning back on the boob tube while it's still pleasant to be outside. I think I'll wait until it's cold and the thought of warm pajamas and an enthralling crime show are too enticing to resist. But I am starting to reflect on the summer, and I've decided it's been a success.

With the TV off, my husband and I spent the summer going out, exploring our city, talking long walks with the dog and training for a 5K. We went to Paris, which was the vacation of a lifetime, and spent a lot more quality time together at home. I read a lot of books, took a lot of naps and just tried to soak in the heat of summer when it was around. Sadly, the lack of TV did not inspire me to put anymore time into yard work, aside from picking and eating all my raspberries and strawberries with big dollops of whipped cream, but we did put in a driveway, so there's that.

The point is, we really enjoyed our time off, and with winter approaching we're looking forward to having the perfect excuse to snuggle up and watch TV again. I think this could be an annual thing, so we have no excuse not to get the most we can out of summer. What about you? What did you get out of summer this year?

Monday Book Review - Trouble

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

TROUBLE by Kate Christensen

 

This is the story of Josie, a Manhattan psychotherapist who realizes after a glimpse in a mirror at a friend's Christmas party that her marriage is over.With this realization comes the inevitable struggles of a life altering decision. She must tell her husband and daughter, find a new apartment, explain it all to a best friend who's greatest wish in life is to have what she has. And then, her other best friend gets into trouble of her own, causing Josie to jump on a plane and meet her in Mexico City, for five crazy days that will change her forever.

I don't think I can say enough good things about this book. The writing is splendid, pulling you in immediately and holding your attention the whole way through. Josie is lovable, mature and easy to root for, through her escape from a marriage that never really fit, her strained relationship with an adopted daughter and her empathy for a friend in trouble. The setting is exotic and real, the tastes and smells echoing in your senses as you read. It's surprising and lovely, a true gem. 

I loved the compressed time frame, the characters, the setting, everything. It was a fantastic read, just what I was looking for after a series of mediocre books that failed to grab me the way this one did. Pick it up. Read it. It's wonderful.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Thunder

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

Thunder is usually something to be scared of, something to make you grip your sheets in terror, but not tonight. Tonight it was the only thing keeping her safe.
With every loud, shuddering boom, the little creatures on the floor around her bed would leap back against the wall, terrified. In the quiet between they would creep forward slowly, smiling with pointed teeth, getting bolder until another blast of thunder sent them scurrying back. If the storm ended before morning, she was done for.

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

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Travel
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Fabric
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Learning
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Bliss

Fleas and Wasps and Mice, Oh My!

It's been one of those weeks. I'm sure you've all had those. The kind where you want to look up at the sky and cry, 'why me?!' possibly while tearing your hair out.

It started with a text message from my sister, letting me know that her dog (and Maddie's favourite playmate) had fleas. This was most distressing, not only because I adore my little nephew dog, but also because Maddie had played with him two days ago. Could she possibly have given him the fleas? And if she hadn't, it was entirely possible he'd given them to her. I checked her over and couldn't find any, but she's black and they'd be mighty difficult to spot, so, I decided to err on the side of safety and headed to the pet store for a flea treatment.

Little did I realize, that stuff is really toxic! I had to take my sweet baby outside into a well ventilated area, apply the goo to between her shoulder blades and avoid contact with her until it dried. Hmmm, well that's all well and good, except that it wouldn't dry. I'm attempting to keep her off the couch while not touching her and she'd gone doe-eyed and sad, completely unaware of why I'm suddenly shunning her love and refusing to let her onto her favourite nap spot all while I'm texting my sister to find out when the stupid goo will absorb so I can stop this heart breaking struggle. Her response? It doesn't. Her dog is still greasy with  it and she put the goo on yesterday. Great! I'm pondering the thoroughly awful evening ahead of me while rereading the flea package again when I hear buzzing. LOUD buzzing. While taking Maddie outside to douse her with poison, I've let a gigantic wasp into the house.

As most of you know by now, I'm terrified of wasps. Childishly, ridiculously so. All the breath went out of my body as I watched its yellow, torpedo shaped body hover about the lights, reaching blindly for Maddie's collar as I dragged her with me into the bedroom. I'm now attempting to keep her off the bed while phoning my husband, leaving hysterical messages that I've let one of those yellow demons into the house and he has to come home and deal with it now. He finally calls me back, and with a heavy sigh asks if it's really necessary that he drive all the way home from the gym right this second to deal with a bug in the house.

"Of course it's necessary! The dog is covered with poison, we're trapped in the bedroom and that wasp is waiting out there to eat my soul!"

There's another heavy sigh and my very unimpressed husband comes home to kill it. Excellent. Problem solved. At the end of the evening I finally let Maddie up on the bed, wrap her in an old blanket and we move on. Several days go by and her hair is finally almost back to normal. But wait! Our troubles aren't over yet. Last night the three of us (dog, husband and myself) were hanging out in the living room, when I thought I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. Now, I often think I see something out of the corner of my eye, so I didn't pay too much attention. That is, until it went scurrying back under the couch at lightning speed. Oh yes. A mouse had just sprinted under the couch where I was sitting.

I scared the shit out of my husband as I suddenly launched into an impressive string of expletives ending with "a mouse just ran under the f*cking couch!!" Once we got his heart beating again, he started setting traps and I started cleaning like a whirlwind. I was in the cupboards with bleach, transporting the contents of every unchewed bag and box into a sealed tupperware container and scrubbing down the kitchen. Finally, my husband got me calmed down enough to go to bed, but I didn't sleep until 3:00AM, after I'd covered the registers and shoved a blanket into the crack under the door.

The mouse was caught the next day, luckily while I was out (I really didn't want to hear that tell-tale snap), but I won't be relaxing until those traps stay clear for another week or so. And we definitely won't be putting any of them away until we're through that fall home finding period when all the mice seem to attempt to come indoors.

So, to sum up, this past week has been like a series of plagues, and as much as I don't want winter to ever get here, I am looking forward to the peace it brings from pestilence. Because the only creatures I want in my house are the ones I've invited, and I don't recall sending out any invitations to wasps, fleas or mice.

*Side note: Since writing this, wasps have built a nest directly above our back door and I just found a grasshopper in the house. So... the plague continues.

Monday Book Review - Some Kind of Fairy Tale

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

SOME KIND OF FAIRY TALE by Graham Joyce

 

It's Christmas Day and Mr and Mrs Martin are just sitting down to a quiet supper when there's a knock at the door. Their daughter, Tara, is standing on the doorstep. Now, this would normally be a pleasant surprise in a family, except that Tara has been missing for twenty years. Her brother, Peter, is called away from his family to come over, astonished that the sister he's believed to be dead has suddenly reappeared. But there's something strange going on, more so even then her sudden reappearance. For one thing, she looks almost the same, as though she hasn't really aged at all. And she has the strangest tale about where she's been...

I loved this book. It wasn't one I gobbled up in a day, like I do with some of the ones I recommend here. This one took me longer than usual. I'd read a chapter, and then muse on it for a few hours, even an evening, turning over the clues in my mind, trying to unravel the puzzle. It's uniquely told, jumping between different perspectives, both at the time of Tara's disappearance and her return. It's a mystery wrapped in a riddle, surrounded by magic. 

The writing, as well as the structure of the story, were supremely well done. It unraveled in just the right way, tantalizing, intriguing and always flitting about your thoughts when you really should be concentrating on something else. It was a strange and lovely tale, sure to capture your imagination. Definitely give it a go and come back and let me know what you think!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Travel

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

"Excuse me, miss? Your passport is expired."
"What? That has to be a mistake!" She stared at the woman behind the ticket desk, bags packed and ready next to her. "I've been planning this vacation for months, I couldn't possibly have forgotten.."

She woke up with a start, drenched in sweat and looked at the time before turning over in bed and muttering, "I've really got to get my passport renewed."

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed this piece. It was inspired by the millions of nightmares I have when I book a vacation and still need to renew my passport. I literally have nightmares every other night that I've forgotten and I'm at the airport for months until I finally go down to the passport office and get it done. The trip could be nine months away, I'll still have nightmares. So weird. Anyway, have a great weekend, and if you're still hankering for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Fabric
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Learning
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Bliss
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Limitless

Getting in Shape

Last week, my husband did something bold. He asked me to run with him in the Color Me Rad 5K in September. A request made with such heart melting sweetness that I couldn't resist. I said yes. Despite my severe lack of cardiovascular and respiratory fitness. But hey! Love makes you do crazy things. And for some reason (I have no idea why), I find the thought of running side by side with my husband while being pelted with color incredibly romantic. (It's possible I have brain damage).

So, with less than a month to go until the big day, we started running. And we've been running every day. (Now, when I say running, what I really mean is light jogging.) As it turns out, my husband is a fabulous running buddy. He's encouraging, thoughtful and always complimentary. He celebrates my victories (running 2 km without stopping!) despite the fact that he could go out and run the race tomorrow without a problem. It's just one more thing we get to do together, another challenge conquered as a team.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, training for a 5 km race where you get pelted with so much colour you look like tie-dyed rainbow at the end can be very romantic. At least for me. And perhaps for you. If you're intrigued by the idea and would like to look into a race near you, just follow the link below.

COLOR ME RAD

Monday Book Review - Kalila

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

KALILA by Rosemary Nixon

 

Now this was an interesting book and I don't know if I ever would have found it if it weren't for the fact that the author is going to be the new Writer in Residence at the public library this fall. After reading her profile, I decided to request some of her books and read them before going in to meet her. Already I feel very fortunate that Saskatoon residents will have the opportunity to work with her, because her writing is fantastic. 

What a unique book. It's told from several perspectives, each with their own vastly different style and voice. In fact, the style of the book itself is very different, I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it. I know I usually give a summary of the plot, but I don't really want to. Part of the joy of this book was letting the story unfold, and I don't want to spoil that for anyone. 

It's a lovely, bittersweet story, beautifully told and is bound to keep you flipping the pages. It's not something I'd usually read, but like I said before, the style and voice are so different, it was a complete perspective shift. You get to know the characters so well, being inside their thoughts and everything about this book, from the writing to the plot is just so unexpected.

I recommend this one to writers, for the education on technique and style, and to readers, looking to break up the usual routine and read something breathtaking, honest and bittersweet. 

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Fabric

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

"So... it really is fabric, then?"
"Of course, it's not just a  euphemism you know."
She held the shimmering fabric up in her hands, sending it rippling as she gave it a sharp tug. I reached out a hand to feel it, rough and thick in places, soft and delicate in others. 
"I guess I just never thought our existence would be yellow."

Voila! I hope you liked this little story, and if you did, please share it with others! If you'd like to read more Five Sentence Fiction, just visit 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 - Learning
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Bliss
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Limitless
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Wisdom

Watching Summer Fly By

Well, we're approximately half way through August, which means there's only a little bit of summer left. How much? It depends on September. We have years where September is glorious, like a bonus month of summer, and we have years where September is cold and bitter, sweeping away any warm memories of sunshine and lemonade with the last of the leaves. In the face of uncertainty I'm beginning to feel a little panicked. What if there's only a couple weeks left and then it's gone?

This week we were finally blessed with hot weather. Since the beginning of July it's been very mild, rather cool days non-stop. Which isn't awful, but it's not the kind of thing you can call up in your mind when it's minus thirty degrees Celsius and snowing outside. And it's not really shorts and a tank top weather either, which is a bit of bummer when you only get to wear that stuff for two months out of the year at the best of times. So, with this sudden gift of heat, I can't help but feel that it's entirely wasted sitting in an office (specifically, a very air conditioned one). What if it's the last we're going to get until next year?

I've been thinking I should see if I can get a day off this week, just a bonus day to run around soaking up sunshine before it's gone. It'd be even better if I knew someone with a great deck or a pool, but beggars can't be choosers. This might be my last chance to sip on a cocktail in the sunshine. Especially with being officially broke from Paris. There are no sunny destinations in my future this winter or for the next couple. I can't afford a vacation, but perhaps I can afford a day off.

Monday Book Review - The Suitors

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

THE SUITORS by Cecile David-Weill

 

This is the story of two sisters who are flabbergasted to hear that their parents have plans to sell their summer home, L'Agapanthe. The house is a place of charm, elegance and above all, good manners; where the relationship between the two sisters has blossomed. Neither is willing to give up the summer retreat and all it represents, so they hatch a plan to find a wealthy suitor who can afford to purchase the estate. Unfortunately, the suitors are not all they're cracked up to be...

I loved this story. Maybe it was the very French elegance of it, the astutely observant main character, Laure, or perhaps it was the suitors themselves, totally unaware of their place in the sisters' plot and failing miserably to hold up their end of the bargain. Either way, I loved it. It was like stepping into an entirely different world, the world of the fabulously wealthy, where manners and codes of conduct rule the day. I have to admit (not that I was planning to argue), the French really do have style and elegance down pat. You really must pick it up, if just to feel the sensation of that world.

The writing is sublime, even the typeface of the book is elegant. And the story is charming and sympathetic, despite how different most of us are from the main characters and their charmed existence. And who hasn't felt the panic of change, the longing to hold onto things just the way they are? Read it, and come back and tell me what you think!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Learning

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

"Would you give it a rest? I told you, I locked it in the storage room so you're perfectly safe..."
The sound of humming and scraping echoed above their heads.
"What the hell was that?"
"Oh God," she looked over at him, "it's learning."

Voila! I hope you've enjoyed this week's little story, and if you have, I hope you'll share it with friends. If you'd like to make my day (and my weekend) then follow this blog and/or come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. If you're still in the mood for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below for previous editions. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Bliss
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Limitless
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Wisdom
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Locked

Editing

I'm proud to say that yesterday I FINALLY got my manuscript off to the editor. It should have been on its way as soon as I got back from Paris, but jet lag, laundry and a broken water heater put a rather large wrench in my plans. So, it's very late and that I'm not too proud of, but at least it's on its way. And that's worth celebrating. (Which I did. With ice cream.)

My work with this book isn't done yet, in fact it's only just beginning, but it's so exciting to see it progress. I've been editing it for a long time, but I've reached a point where I can see it still needs work, I'm just not sure what that work is. That's where fresh eyes (and very talented ones at that) come in. The last Writer in Residence, David Poulsen, was kind enough to make an introduction and the editor in question was kind enough to take me on.

So that's where it is. This is the next step. To make my book as good as it can possibly be. We'll do this next round of edits and then take it from there. But in the meantime, I'm going to put my feet up and read a good book.

Monday Book Review - Kitty Peck and the Music Hall Murders

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

KITTY PECK AND THE MUSIC HALL MURDERS by Kate Griffin

 

This book is rather special to me because I found it in Paris, at the Shakespeare and Company bookstore. I didn't read it until I got home, so it was nice to have that little reminder of Paris, there on my nightstand at the end of the day. Not that my reading was limited to the end of the day. Honestly, I dare you to limit it your reading of the book to once a day! Good luck. A mystery like this is not easy to walk away from.

The story takes place in Victorian London, and centers around the lovely Kitty Peck, a seamstress at the Gaudy Music Hall, run by the fierce Lady Ginger (who presides over that and the surrounding area with an iron fist). The Lady has called upon her to act as bait for a mysterious kidnapper who's been stealing her most valuable asset, her dancing girls. And one doesn't say no to The Lady.,..

This mystery has a sort of Jack the Ripper quality to it, what with the cold dark streets of crime ridden London and the mysterious disappearances without a trace of who the kidnapper might be. This one will keep you guessing and not just about the identity of the kidnapper. All the characters seem to have a secret of their own, a hidden past they don't want revealed. The setting is vivid, as are the characters, especially Kitty. She is uniquely strong in the face of her adversities, quick witted and unwilling to go down without a fight. It's a great read and a fantastic mystery.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Bliss

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

Bliss. That's how she described it to her girlfriends. 
She couldn't take the risk of telling them the truth, that she actually found the old man repulsive. If this was going to work, no one could question her loyalty or her love. She needed that money and she'd give the performance of a lifetime to get it. 

Thank you for stopping by to read this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction! If you liked it, I hope you'll share it with friends, and if you feel like making my day then please feel free to follow this blog or 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 - Limitless 
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Wisdom
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Locked
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Flight

Hung Over, But Not in the Traditional Sense

Sorry this post is a little late, but I've had a really great week so far. Sunday, my husband convinced me to go see the new Wolverine movie. I'd resisted at first, as I figured it'd probably be horrible and I hate watching my favourite fictional character of all time get ruined on the big screen. (Not due to Hugh Jackman, I think he's a fantastic actor, but due to terrible script and plot choices). But I'd heard on the radio that it was actually a good movie so we went. And it was. I refuse to give spoilers but it was fantastic. Definitely go see it if you're a fan, or if you're not. It's that good.

Unfortunately, Wolverine has a rather strong effect on me, leaving me feeling buzzy and distracted for days after an encounter, whether it be cartoon, book, comic book or movie. There's something about him, always has been, that just gets under my skin and crawls around. It's pleasant and unpleasant at the same time, and I always want more even though I know it will just prolong the feeling. So, I texted a girlfriend and asked if she'd seen it, and volunteered to see it again with her. Which is what I did last night. And it was fantastic again.

But, I'm also buzzy and distracted again, unable to push him from my thoughts or concentrate on anything else. It's irritating and lovely and I'm already itchy to go back to the movies and visit him again. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is, sorry this post is a little late and he's all I can talk about, and does anyone feel like going to the movies?

Monday Book Review - Cinnamon Toast and the End of the World

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

CINNAMON TOAST AND THE END OF THE WORLD by Janet E. Cameron

 

I picked this book up because of the title. I mean, come on! That's a great title. Who could resist a book that combined breakfast food and the apocalypse in just the title? I didn't even read the back, just picked it up and started reading. And it. Was. Fabulous. I read it within the span of two days, just couldn't put it down. It was exactly the kind of book I love. The kind you're willing to cancel plans for. So, what's it about? Not the apocalypse, at least in the traditional sense. It's about a boy named Stephen and the fateful day he realized he was in love with his best friend. A boy. It's a coming of age story in a tiny Nova Scotia town with a unique cast of characters, both past and present, that decorate Stephen's life. 

What did I love about this book? EVERYTHING. No, really. I did. The main character is so real and complicated, you feel for him with every ounce of your once high school angst ridden self. It's also kind of funny and strange and nerve wracking, as you root for him, longing with every page to see it all work out fine in the end. And does it? Well, I'm not one to spoil the ending. Just pick it up.

You can tell how well written it is by how real it is. I forgot all the time that it was written by a woman, I had just assumed it was largely autobiographical because the character's voice felt so real. The setting felt real. All the characters felt real. The writing is just... I loved it. What a lovely book. You simply must pick it up. It's too good to leave this one unread. Add it to your list, read it and then come back here and tell me your thoughts. Although I think we're going to be of the same opinion.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Limitless

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

Every time you think it's over, it just begins again. 
At first, it was a relief, the idea of eternity. But heaven or hell, it just goes on forever until finally, you realize they're one and the same. But there's no escape. It's what you signed up for, and now you have a very long time to contemplate your decision.

Okay, this one may have been a little dark, but it's the image that popped into my head at the word limitless. And you can't fight an idea that won't let go. So, I hoped you enjoyed it. If you'd like to read more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below to read past editions. Don't forget to follow this blog and come find me on twitter, @MelanieKCole.


Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Wisdom
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Locked
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Flight
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - View

Getting Back on the Ball

For some people, traveling to Europe can really screw up their internal clock. Normally, I'd say I was the same, but I will admit that my recent trip to Paris did nothing of the sort. I was entirely jet lag free the whole time and returned to my home time zone with ease. (Amazing, I know. But it's true.)

No, what has been weirdly difficult is getting back on the ball. I can't seem to get blog posts done on time (aside from today's, finally!), I haven't managed to get my manuscript off to the editor when I'm practically jumping out of my skin I'm so excited to have her look at it and getting back on track at work has been an arduous undertaking. Sure, some of that was due to the usual work of laundry and such after a vacation, and true, my water heater did crap out on me as soon as we got home and leaked all over our basement, leaving me without water and an additional large expense when I really didn't need it. But I never post late on my blog! It's a point of pride for me. And not getting my manuscript off to the editor immediately? Say it ain't so! I should be wading around my basement in rubber boots, unshowered as I reread my final draft before stuffing it in an envelope and putting it in the mail.

The only explanation I can come up with, is that I'm still in vacation mode. You know what I mean. That head space where you sleep in, take life slow and stop for a three hour coffee/lunch whenever the mood pleases you. God, I love that head space! And it wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have a day job. But I've got to get back to it! So, even though I can't stand to let go of my Parisian attitude, I've got to buck up and get back to work. Because what I really want, (even more than a three hour lunch) is to see my book in print. And posting this on time is my first step.

Monday Book Review - Allison Hewitt is Trapped

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

ALLISON HEWITT IS TRAPPED by Madeleine Roux

 

I read this book a while ago (may have even mentioned it on this blog on one of my book lists) but I thought it deserved its own stand alone recommendation. To be honest, I love zombie things. I don't know why, I just do. I like zombie movies, video games, board games, books (obviously). The only problem is, they give me nightmares. (I know, I know, I'm like a nine year old that can't have sugar before bed time). So, my enjoyment of zombie flavoured entertainment is usually limited to broad daylight, well before nightfall, and usually with a few Disney movies thrown in afterwards for good measure. But even with my zombie handicap, I could not put this book down well before dark like I was supposed to. It was addicting, you just have to keep reading to find out what happens to Allison Hewitt and her comrades.

Okay, I better back up. Usually, I do the synopsis first. Here's all you need to know. The book centers around a girl named Allison Hewitt who, up until the zombie apocalypse, works in a bookstore where (after said zombie apocalypse) she and her coworkers get trapped. The book is written through a series of blog posts she sends out into the void in the hopes of rescue, as she and her friends battle for survival in their new zombie infested world. It's brilliant, very tongue in cheek, clever and doesn't take itself too seriously. Just the way I like it. 

As I mentioned at the start, the writing is fantastic. You're pulled in from page one and childish nightmares be damned, you'll keep reading until the end. The blog post idea gives the zombie genre a fun twist and the cast of characters is lovable, hate-able and very relatable. Even if you're not a zombie lover, I encourage you to give this one a try. It's funny, ridiculous and the perfect antidote to reality.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Wisdom

Welcome to Five Sentence Fiction Friday! This week's prompt is wisdom. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

The snake warned me not to do it. 
"What good is wisdom anyway? Stay here, in the garden, in paradise."
He made an appealing argument to my simple mind, but there was a pull inside, a need for freedom, a tingling of curiosity for that big red apple that was impossible to ignore.
My children often ask if I regret it, but I just look at the spark of intelligence in their eyes, smile and shake my head no.

I hope you've enjoyed this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. If you have, please share it with friends. If you're still hankering for more, just follow the links below to previous editions. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Locked
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Flight
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - View
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Blades

Paris

On Sunday night my husband and I returned from our trip to Paris. It was an amazing vacation. Obviously we didn't see it all (I think that's impossible in Paris), but we saw a lot. We wandered through side streets, hit the tourist hot spots, tried out what little French I'd managed to master before we left, and had a wonderful time in each others company. It was the best anniversary a couple could ask for.

There's just something about Paris. Its every avenue drips with history, every building, alley and doorway is something special. I did a lot of research before we left, which helped a lot when it came to understanding the etiquette of going into shops, ordering at restaurants and so forth. I've heard a lot of people say the French are rude or snobby but in my experience this couldn't have been further from the truth. Everyone I interacted with had impeccable manners. The French conduct themselves in a way that is just all together more classy. From the way they dress (no booty shorts or too tight tops or jeans, skank is not an embraced fashion choice there) to the way they talk in restaurants. In a tiny crowded bistro you never had to shout to be heard by your dinner companion. No one tried to talk over anyone else, there was a polite consideration for your fellow diners that you just don't see in North America. The difference was so pronounced that while we waited to board one of several flights home in Canada, I leaned over to my husband and whispered, "I miss the French." I'm a very proud Canadian so that tells you something.

Of course, the real star of Paris (after the history) is the food. Oh. My. God. The food. Everything was so fresh, with so much consideration put into the dishes, while at the same time being so startlingly simple. Being there for just that short time has taught me a lot about eating, about really enjoying my food and not settling for prepackaged garbage. Why have Doritos when you can have Pain au Chocolat? After such an extraordinary trip for my tastebuds I'm looking forward to simplifying, but also going for a slightly higher quality. And if I can find a bakery with good Pain au Chocolat, then I'll really be set.

Of course, our vacation curse struck again when we got home. (Every time we go on vacation, we come home and are struck by some kind of financial grenade). This time our water heater went kaput and leaked water all over our basement floor. So, that's getting replaced by the end of the week and we've been busy cleaning up and getting rid of the dank in our basement. (Which is also why this post is late). It's a financial expense we really don't need after a pricier vacation, but I'm not going to let it get me down. These things happen and this vacation was worth it!

Monday Book Review - Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE by Maria Semple

 

Yes, I know! I know! The last horse finally crosses the finish line. People have been going on and on about this book for a while, and I finally had the chance to sit down and read it. And truthfully, I almost stopped after a few pages. You see, it employs a form of story telling that I generally hate. It tells most of the story through letters. So, when I saw that I almost put it down again. But, because everyone was so gaga for it I decided to soldier on and I'm so glad I did. It was fantastic.

This the story of Bee and the disappearance of her fantastically zany mother, Bernadette. It unravels the story through correspondence, as well as Bee's input, all the events leading up to and then following her mother's disappearance. It features a cast of crazy characters, secrets and honestly holds your attention right to the end. It's so juicy, it's like reading someone's diary. A very, very interesting someone. Even though I questioned the style at the start, I came to adore it after just a few pages. You'll see what I mean when you read it.

So, I'm glad I put my initial distaste aside and gave the book a real chance, because I loved it. It's just so damn clever! Pick it up yourself and give it a read, then come back and let me know what you thought of it. 

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Locked

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

I pulled at the door, heaving on it with all of my body weight. I screamed and clawed at it, giving it one last hopeful rattle before sinking to the ground. It was all over now.
"Oh dear, was it locked?"
He was moving slowly, patiently, taking long enough that I looked down, noticed the glimmer of a broken bottle and picked it up. I smiled, maybe it wasn't over yet after all. 

Thus concludes another edition of Five Sentence Fiction. I hope you enjoyed this one, and if you did, let me know in the comments section, or share it with other people you think might enjoy it. If you're still hankering for more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below to read previous week's editions. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - View
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Blades
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Home

Beating the Heat - Old School

Lately we've had a string of gorgeous, sunny and very hot weather. And I've loved it. While a lot of people complain about the heat and retreat into the air conditioning, I relish it. We have such ridiculously long, cold winters, I love the chance to be too hot. I hold the memory dear to me throughout the winter, remembering that hot, sticky feeling, when the air waves around you like a warm bath. It's beautiful. Because I know that in just a few very short months it will be winter again.

I always shake my head when people complain about the heat, because more often than not those people have air conditioning, and they have it cranked. I'm sure they feel the same way about me in the winter, when I complain about the cold and keep the heat cranked, but such is life. I don't have air conditioning, and I wouldn't use it if I had it. I prefer to beat the heat the old fashioned way, with ice cream, electric fans and partial nudity. Yes, I find it much more fun to stand in front of a fan in my underpants eating a fudgsicle than have my house feel like the frozen foods section in the grocery store.

I realize, of course, that I'm strange. I know I'm not the norm, but I highly suggest that one day you just give it a try. See if you can appreciate the heat, store it in your bones for that icy cold day in winter when all hope seems lost. Maybe you'll find your own fun new way to beat the heat. Who doesn't remember those blissful days of childhood running screaming through the sprinklers? Do you remember how exhilarating that was? Why not try it again?

What about you? How do you beat the heat the old fashioned way?

Monday Book Review - Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

Welcome to Monday and this week's book recommendation!

MAJOR PETTIGREW'S LAST STAND by Helen Simonson

 

This is the story of Major Pettigrew, a retired major who's living a quiet existence in the village of Edgecomb St. Mary when he gets news of his brother's death. The loss of his brother brings two things: sorrow, and the hope that his father's guns will finally be reunited. On his father's death bed he separated his pair of antique hunting rifles between the two brothers, with the condition that they be reunited upon one or the others death. Major Pettigrew is determined to see his father's wish through, despite his sister in law and her family, as well as his own son's desire to sell the pair and reap the rewards. The death of his brother has yet another curious effect on the Major's life, it sparks a new friendship with Mrs. Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper in the village. Each of these new developments bring their own challenges and force him to question his own beliefs and morals.

I could go on and on about how much I loved this book. First of all, the main character, Major Pettigrew is the perfect, lovable old English gentleman. He has a rigid code of honour and good manners while remaining warm and tenderhearted. Not to mention the blossoming relationship between the major and Mrs. Ali will warm your heart. It remains throughout a lovable romp, a book I never wanted to end.

It's a wonderful story, filled with warm and social complexity with a cast of characters that make you never want it to end. If you're looking for a truly lovely read, you've found it.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Flight

Welcome to Friday! It's time for this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction. Are you excited? I'm excited. This week's prompt is flight. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, or give it a try yourself, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

So, it had come to this. There was only one way to be sure if they were real. No one else seemed to see them but her, and if they were right, if it was all in her head, then she didn't much care if she hit the pavement. 
She took a deep breath and stepped off the roof, screaming with terror at what she'd just done as she plummeted toward the ground. She threw her hands in front of her face and that's when the wings that no one else could see unfurled and stretched, caught the wind and lifted her into flight. 

Voila! I hope you liked it! I want to note right now, that this is just a story. It's not meant to be symbolic of depression, suicide or anything like that. Instead, it's merely a flight of fancy, of our imaginations being much more real than we realize. That said, I hope you enjoyed it and it inspires your own imagination to take flight. (Sorry to hit you over the head with it, but I've had a few previous stories really misinterpreted). If you'd like to read more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below to read past editions. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - View
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Blades
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Home
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Oops

The Difference Between a Crappy Workplace and a Good One

The difference between a great place to work and a not so great place to work is pretty simple. Take this example from last week. Where my husband works, people are often condescending, insulting and there's a lot of yelling about not working hard enough or fast enough, none of which is great for an employee's morale. And then, there's where I work.

Last week, I was at my desk when I received a call. The man on the other end of the line abruptly started snarling about an invoice going to the wrong company, a mistake that was made by him when he ordered, not by us. I reminded him to always be clear about who he was ordering for when he called and... he lost his freaking mind. I sat in my chair, rigid with fury as he swore and insulted me. I asked him if there was anything else, and when he said no I promptly hung up on him.

Later, I was recalling the incident for my boss, mostly just to commiserate over what an ass he was, but something wonderful happened. Her face went white and her eyes got big as fury filled her features. She looked at me and said, "he said what to you?" I was touched that my boss could be so outraged at an asshole contractor screaming at me and went about my work feeling appreciated and generally pretty satisfied with the situation. But apparently, my boss wasn't.

Not long after I heard her on the phone with the same contractor, in a conversation that started like this: "Hi, yes I understand you talked to Melanie today and you weren't very nice..."

I listened from my desk with my mouth hanging open as my boss (very politely) informed him that no such thing had better happen again. Ever. Anyway, I think she made him feel pretty bad because within an hour flowers were delivered to our office for me from him with an apology note.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what makes a great workplace.

Monday Book Review - Sailor Twain

Welcome to Monday! A day made less painful by a weekly book recommendation by yours truly. Enjoy!

SAILOR TWAIN by Mark Siegel

 

I bring you this week, something a little different. This is a graphic novel. And it's brilliant. It really is. It's the story of Captain Twain and his encounter with a mermaid. I promise you, you'll never find a more imaginative and spell binding story of man, the sea and all the mysteries in between. I loved it. It was beautifully told and as I said before, seemed to be made of pure imagination. So mysterious, dark and enchanting. 

What I loved most about this book is not just the fantastic story, but the way Mark Siegel chose to tell it. I'm not usually a graphic novel sort of person (although I definitely dabble), but it was just the perfect format for this story. The drawing are simple, but beautiful, and I think it's because of this format that the story really leaps to that higher level. It haunts you (but don't worry, not in a bad way), not to mention becomes completely impossible to put down. I read it in a day, unable to stop even when I really should have put it down to get my work done. 

So, pick it up. That's all I have to say. It's a lovely book, definitely one of the best stories I've read in a while. Read it yourself and then comment below and let me know your own thoughts. Don't forget, if any of my suggestions remind you of another great book you think I, or others, would enjoy, let us know! I love getting book recommendations!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - View

It's Friday! And not just any Friday, it's a long weekend Friday. (At least here in Canada it is.) Aren't those so much sweeter? And what better way to kick it off than with some Five Sentence Fiction? This week's prompt is view. If you'd like to learn more about Five Sentence Fiction, just visit Lillie McFerrin Writes. Enjoy!

"How's the view?"
"Oh, just fine... just fine."
He was being flirtatious, she knew, but clearly he didn't realize he had a hickey on the left side of his buttocks, or he wouldn't be swaggering around naked with it in plain sight. 
'So much for true love,' she thought, dropping her purse by the couch. She went into the kitchen to look for something suitably sharp. 

There you have it! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. If you liked this piece, then please share it! Whether it be facebook, twitter, it doesn't matter. And if you really liked it, follow this blog so you never have to miss another one; not to mention come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. If you're still hankering for more Five Sentence Fiction, just check out the links below for previous ones.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Blades
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Home
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Oops
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Desolate

The Random Bad Movie Generator

The other day I was talking to a fellow at work about bad movies. Apparently, he hadn't realized that ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER was a book first before it was a movie. (And yes, I realize we probably should have been a little more productive with our time).

"Oh, really?" he said, "I just assumed it was a bunch of writers, sitting in a room picking random words out of hats. Like, okay name: Abraham Lincoln. Random noun: Vampire. Profession: Hunter."

I laughed. "Good thing they didn't get Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Gynecologist. Although, that I might have been able to sit through."

We had a good laugh, but it got me thinking. What if that was really how they got ideas for movies? I decided I had to give it a try myself, so I did. I got three bowls, one for famous historical figures, one for random nouns and one for professions. This is what I came up with. (And by the way, if any of these spark a story idea for you, please feel free!)

Joan of Arc, Bacon Teacher
George Washington, Cloud Embalmer
Julius Caesar, Eggplant Waiter
Thomas Edison, Toenail Biographer
Queen Victoria, Snake Pirate

I will admit, that was a lot of fun. I'm most intrigued by Queen Victoria, Snake Pirate and George Washington, Cloud Embalmer. Now, if I really wanted to challenge myself, I'd write stories to go with them...

Monday Book Review - Paris in Love

In keeping with the Parisian theme I have going, I introduce to you this week's book recommendation.

PARIS IN LOVE by Eloisa James

 

Yes, I bring to you yet another memoir about Paris. Are you sick of them yet? I apologize if you are, but I've been reading a lot of them and this is a very, very good one. It's the story of a woman and her husband who decide to take a sabbatical for a year and run off with their two children to live in Paris. It's different from a lot of the other ones I've read, thanks to its ingenious style. It's told in perfect, bite sized pieces, based on her tweets and facebook posts throughout the year. I know it sounds a little odd but she gets the flow just right and it really, really works. Just pick it up and you'll see.

My favourite part of the book was obviously the style and structure of her narrative, but she and her family also make for such a lovable cast of characters. Her daughter, Anna, is adorable, precocious and delightfully weird. She tells her story with the perfect blend of good humor, not to mention the style of the book allows her to zero in on these small moments, capturing her experience in a much more intimate and honest way.

Even if you're not planning a trip to Paris, you'll want to pick up this book. It's so funny and charming, just the thing to curl up with on an afternoon off. And who knows? You might start looking at plane tickets when you're done...

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Blades

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

'If you know what's good for you, you'll steer clear of the meadow,' they told me, so of course I had to see for myself. 
At first it just looked like normal grass, only very, very tall and wide, as wide as my wrist. But as I got closer, I noticed all the blades looked rusty around the edges, which didn't make any sense at all until I reached out to touch one and pulled away a bloody finger. Every blade of grass was as sharp as... well, a blade.
That's when I looked down and saw the remains of those who'd simply run in without looking.

Yes, this one's a little... gory? Sure, we'll go with gory. But I hope you enjoyed it anyway. Please make sure to leave your thoughts below in the comments section, I love hearing from all of you! If you liked this post, I hope you'll 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 to previous editions. Have a great weekend!

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Home
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Oops
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Desolate
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Charmed

The Journal: Writer's Tool or Cheesy, Outdated Medium Used Primarily by Twelve Year Old Girls?

Do you journal? I do. And no, it's not the typical "Dear Diary, Such and such a thing happened to me today. Then more boring stuff happened. Peter in biology is soooooooo hot. The end." garbage. And if it was, it wouldn't matter. Because you don't have to be self conscious about what you put in a journal. When I write in mine, it's mainly stream of consciousness type stuff with no evident connection between one subject and the next. And yes, it often becomes a place for me to bitch relentlessly about the things I dare not put on twitter or facebook; but mostly it's the stream of consciousness stuff.

I often turn to it when I can't come up with an idea for a blog post, or if I feel something important has happened that I must preserve for posterity. I also write in it just because I want to. There's something relaxing about it. I don't have to worry about whether it's good or bad, nor do I need to concern myself with form or structure. Unlike writing that I one day hope will see the light of day with publication, the journal remains a place for wholly creative, unstructured thought.

I also believe it makes for good practice. Sometimes it's hard to write every day, especially when you're trying to write something good every day, something with a purpose. I find the journal takes the pressure off and helps me just get into the habit of daily writing. It doesn't have to be good, it doesn't have to be meant for something, but it does get me putting words down on paper. Not to mention, I find a lot of great ideas come to me when I'm just writing without any kind of goal in mind. It gets the wheels turning and the creative juices flowing. In fact, my journal has worked wonders whenever I've come down with a case of writer's block. Once you get words flowing, more keep coming to take their place.

So what say you? Is the journal a useful writing tool or just another place where we can bitch ceaselessly about petty problems?  Do you keep one?

Monday Book Review - 101 Letters to a Prime Minister

A few weeks ago, I told you about TOLSTOY AND THE PURPLE CHAIR, a lovely book about books and their power to bring you back to life. This week I present another, different book about books. Enjoy!

101 LETTERS TO A PRIME MINISTER by Yann Martel

 

As I said above, this is a book about books. (Which also happens to be a quote from the first line of the introduction). It is about a writer, Yann Martel, and the question that led him to write to our prime minister, Stephen Harper. The question was this: what is Stephen Harper reading? Which also begs the question, does he read at all? This, after all, is a man who has publicly stated that his favourite book is the Guinness Book of World Records. He is also a man who is running our country. I highly suggest you don't skip the introduction to this lovely book, which more clearly explains Yann's intentions, far better than I can here. The point is, he decided to send Stephen Harper a book with an accompanying letter explaining his choice, every two weeks. He never received a direct response for his efforts, but the gold mine of exquisite literature is something every person can enjoy.

There are so many things I love about this book. First, there are the books themselves. What a treasure trove of excellent book recommendations! What avid reader wouldn't swoon with delight at the prospect of so many wonderful stories and poems? Second, of course, is the letters. If you didn't already know it, Yann Martel has a way with words. He effortlessly expresses sentiments I've never been able to fully define, delving into the beauty of the written word and the lessons within. His love for art seems boundless and his passion builds a fire in your chest, reminding you of every life changing word or work of art you've been witness to. He reminds us why books (and every other kind of art) is so important. He opens our eyes to our government and challenges us to question it, to really think about what we expect from our leaders. It reminds me of a retort I heard from a senator on Bill Maher's documentary, Religulous, in which he said, "you don't have to pass an IQ test to be in the senate." Hmmmm, but maybe you should? 

This is a book for writers. It is a book for readers. It is a book for the politically minded. It is a book about the beauty of books, and all they have to teach us.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Home

Welcome to Friday and this week's edition of Five Sentence Fiction! This week's prompt is home. Make sure to visit Lillie McFerrin Writes for more details. Enjoy!

"There's no place like home," I whispered, clicking my heels together for the third time and looking around. It was cold and dark, and I could hear things (large things) rustling through the bushes behind me that sounded far too hungry and menacing. 
"Goddammit!" I snapped, looking down at my feet, "wrong fucking shoes!"
I sighed as the creatures (which were indeed large and hungry and menacing looking) started shuffling out of the bushes around me. Should've stayed in oz.

I hope you enjoyed this little story, and if you did please share it with friends. Also, please feel free to follow this blog and come find me on twitter @MelanieKCole. If you'd like to read more Five Sentence Fiction, just follow the links below.

Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Oops
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Desolate
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Charmed
Five Sentence Fiction Friday - Accident

Looming Deadlines

As a procrastinator, I kind of like deadlines. Not so much because of the heart stopping, head pounding stress involved, but because of the way they kick me into action. There's nothing like a looming deadline to get you to turn off twitter or facebook and actually get to work. As it turns out, I have several deadlines looming and they all happen to fall upon my quickly upcoming departure for a vacation to Paris. If you think one looming deadline is stimulating, then believe me, several is um... more so. By a lot. (Also gone with any possibility of spare time is my ability to write intelligent sentences.)

I should be stressed out, and in truth I am, but all these deadlines make me feel more alive. I have a purpose. Every morning I get up and a clattering of alarm bells goes off in my head, reminding me not to doddle; there's so much to do! So much to do! It's terrifying and exhilarating all at once. And although it may seem more stressful to have so many deadlines come due before a vacation, it's actually a relief. The best vacations are the ones you really feel you've earned. Not to mention, no one wants to come back from a trip and have their relaxation torn away by a waiting due date. I prefer to hold onto my post-vacation attitude as long as possible, thank you very much.

The key is organization and good time management. Neither of which I possess. So, I think it's going to get interesting.

As a side note, I'm having a wonderful time preparing for the trip. I'm reading so many Paris themed memoirs, guidebooks and fiction. The librarian looked me up and down as I picked up another stack of books today and muttered, "you must really love Paris, huh?" to which I smiled politely and nodded. No I didn't. I don't possess restraint like normal people. I gushed about my upcoming trip until she was very sorry she commented and practically had to shoo me away. Yep. That's my style.

Monday Book Review - The Palace of Curiosities

Welcome to the start of another work week and this week's book recommendation. I think you're really going to like this one.

THE PALACE OF CURIOSITIES by Rosie Garland

 

Two main characters, Eve and Abel, each strange in their own way. Eve is the Lion Faced Girl and Abel is The Flayed Man. Both have been cast out of Victorian society and find shelter in the Palace of Curiosities run by Professor Josiah Arroner. But this is really only the beginning of their story.

This book captures you right from the beginning. It's so mysterious, each character's story slowly unraveling, their secrets coming to light. I love the writing style, seemingly so simple, but so perfectly in the voice of the characters. It just keeps you turning the pages.

I know I'm being rather mysterious about this book, but that's what I love most about it. I don't want to spoil anything for you, because the uncovering of the story is the best part. Just do yourself a favour and pick it up. As the cover says, it really is a jewel box of a novel.