MIGHT AS WELL DO IT TODAY

From now on you can find me here: http://www.melissablue13.wordpress.com

It's a better place to blog. Plus, I'll still be funny over there.

THE BEST OF THE BEST BLOGGER: Top 10

So I searched through the archives on blogger to see which post had the most comments on it. I've whittled it down to 10 Blog Post. I've written a lot on this darn thing. I'll go back and pull the best ones on craft and writing/publishing life for my website, but today I'm bringing you the best blog posts. It's my way of saying goodbye to Blogger. We've shared great memories.

Top Ten Best of the Best:

1. When I sold How Much You Want to Bet? Less than a year ago. It gets the top spot for obvious reasons.

http://melthegreatest.blogspot.com/2007/10/it-could-be-cold-medicine-but-this.html

2. My Second Confessions of a Romance Writer. Reading it back made me giggle, so it makes the list. Hey, it was back in the days when I was funny.

http://melthegreatest.blogspot.com/2008/01/confessions-of-romance-author2.html

3. Ah, this fond memory when I was still naïve about publishing. Snork. I'd like to retract some of those statements I made about what Published Authors told me.

http://melthegreatest.blogspot.com/2008/02/things-published-authors-told-me-and-i.html

4. One of my all time favorite post. The open letter to potential agents. Gotta read this one if you missed it. Heck, if you didn't read it again.

http://melthegreatest.blogspot.com/2008/03/some-soul-searching.html

5. It wasn't all fun and games. I blogged about Love. Of course, because I'm a romance writer.

http://melthegreatest.blogspot.com/2008/04/new-view-to-same-argument.html

6. And then there was the time I said I'd quit publishing and everyone came to stop me. The support was incredible and exactly what I needed. I read back over the comments and everybody was right. I needed those words more than anything else. Heck, I still need them.

http://melthegreatest.blogspot.com/2008/04/fear-beast-or-motivator.html

7. And this post. *le sigh* Really if you haven't read the Net Head Confession of a Romance Author then you should. I have to say it was one of my finer moments of brillance.

http://melthegreatest.blogspot.com/2008/05/confessions-of-romance-author-part.html

8. This one is about my short lived diet that started the idea for Diary of a Food Addict. Reading it again I've got ideas on how to bring Jorja to life.

http://melthegreatest.blogspot.com/2008/05/day-3-fifth-ring-of-diet-hell.html

9. When I tried to tell Little Ms. Diva the tooth fairy doesn't exist. I didn't quit succeed.

http://melthegreatest.blogspot.com/2008/05/im-not-dream-crusher.html

10. Lastly, when my grand adventure to National's 2008

http://melthegreatest.blogspot.com/2008/07/confessions-of-romance-author-at.html

Hopefully, you enjoyed these blogs with me or just now. I'll be back Monday to do the official goodbye to blogger.

I'VE BEEN CHEATING ON BLOGGER

You just don't understand unless you've seen WordPress how seductive it can be. I'm mean Blogger has lost a lot of bloggers that way. You see the "you can now find me here" post.

Well, soon, within the next week or so, you'll get one of those from me. I'll leave this blog up so people can find me, but otherwise on Monday you can find me here:

http://www.melissablue13.wordpress.com

You can even leave a comment. Tell me what you think. What isn't working. What's wonky. Or just tell me that it's okay to be seduced by the darkside.

LET'S TALK ABOUT...

Promotion.

I'm in the state of mind to get ready for the digital release of See Megan Run. I have in mind to write another press release and send it to my local newspaper, along with the local African American newspaper.

But what it really comes down to is whether not what I decide to do will reach my potential readers. And is my book interesting enough to get them to even read the excerpt. Or do I just concentrate on what draws my current readers to me. For instance Karen Marie Moning has a podcast/reading of her first book out of the Fever series. I've never seen that done before. It's free, mind you. Now I'm already her reader. I'd already planned to buy Faefever, the next book in the series. But will I still listen to the free podcast of her first book? Yes.

Now let's cover what I do know about promotion*don't blink. You might miss it.*:

1. Promotion can be like a black hole for time and resources.

2. Websites are very, very handy.

3. Asking friends to pimp you can leave you feeling squishy, but that's what friends are for....

4. It can only be a coicidence that after I do yahoo loops that I get a lot of hits on my website.

5. I'll probably never get bookmarks and business cards made. I think I'll settle for book plates. As soon as I find out what those are...

6. Promotion is beyond me.

But do expect another contest, starting Oct. 1st. Of course it involves you my dear readers pimping me or finding the answers to weird questions I have i.e. Trivia. I love trivia hopefully you do to.

Outside of that reference to number 6 to get why this post is pure rambling.

NOTHING LIKE PIMPING FRIENDS

These fine ladies I'm pimping on my blog today are not only incredible, but they took me under their wing. *snort* Well, I kind of followed them around at RWA and they let me.

Since this blog would be too long with posting pictures and blurbs, I'll just tell you how fantastic these women are. (of course with links to buy their books. I did say pimp)

First up. Jennifer Leeland/McKenzie:


Now that I think about it, it doesn't surprise me she has two writing personalities. You have to meet her to understand. Just kidding, but she gave me a cup of Crown Royal when I needed it. That in my book makes us BFFs. Oh, not to mention her Whiskey Wednesday's on her blog. We weren't destined... And if her name sounds familiar it's because she won a copy of How Much You Want to Bet? Long ago. Told you it was destined.

Pimpin'

Next will be Loribelle Hunt and whenever I say her name I do it with a pseudo southern accent. Can't help it.


You know I just think she used to be a southern belle and then she entered the military and they beat it out of her. The point is if I'm ever stranded on an island with this fine lady, I know we'd be rescued. I seriously believe 1. She'd kill me just to shut me up. 2. Could make a cellphone from chewing gum, floss and a bra wire. Yes, she's a southern belle with bite.

Pimpin'

Next up R.G. Alexander:


Before I met this lovely lady I didn't believe NICE people existed. Well, nice people who didn't take a lot of meds to get that way. But the first thing she did when we met, was hug me. It wasn't one of those, "Hi, how ya doing?" hugs and then you both step back. It was one of those, "You can cry on my shoulder" type of hugs. Every time I saw her I got one of those hugs. Amazing how you don't know you need those things until someone does it.

Now she writes Erotic so she just might have been feeling me up for research. :)

Pimpin'

Last, and certainly not least Crystal Jordan:



As an aside, I referenced her along with another woman that what they've written from Aug. 2007-Aug. 2008 just makes me look like I've been picking my nose for the past year. Yes, she's that incredible. She also just garnered Another 3 book deal. This is a name you should be looking out for on a Bestseller list. She just had a video go up on Author Talk.

So, how I feel about this woman can be summed up as: "Oh, my God she knows my name."

Pimpin' You can also find her in a bookstore near you. If not I'll call them personally and ask them, "What you haven't heard of Crystal Jordan? What rock have you been living under?"

The Box

My dear friend Raine has issues with the box. You know the ones that are "genre specific". Well, here are the few I wish weren't so set in stone and some that I wish were a little more accepted.

1. Single mother who isn't a widow.

2. Long-term releationships that just didn't work out. The ex didn't beat or cheat on her, making him the eternal bad guy and woe is the heroine.

3. If she had sex with more than one guy they were all bad guys or those relationships are skimmed over or it was BAD sex.

4. If she's overweight her first experience sucked or she's just had one experience.

5. The hero is a ho, but the heroine's Glittery Hoo-Ha will change him and he won't cheat on HER.

6. Just stop saying the man's teeth flashed. PLEASE.

7. He's a felon, but he didn't do the crime or it was for an honorable reason.

I guess what I want are people who aren't so perfect. A little more complexity. Let me sink my teeth into a character who I can't just say they're good or bad. Let me decide through the story. Here's some books that I'm talking about:

Agnes and The Hitman
Homeport
Once a Thief
Smoke Thief

So on and so forth.

Now tell me which genre rules would you like to see less of or what type of stories would you like to see more of.

THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

In the nine years I've been a parent I've had to apologize to my parents on numerous occasions. The stories I've heard about myself as a child raised my the hairs on the back of my neck. Most times it just starts to make sense. I had one of those moments yesterday.

A little backstory...

My sister and I, at a tender of age of YOUNG loved this song by Changing Faces. R. Kelley produced it, but this was before the scandal broke out. (Heck, the Aaliyah scandal could have still been going on.)

We were in the car one day singing the innocent words, "Do I mind if I stroke you up? Do I mind if I stroke you down? All through the night."

My parents turned with horror on their faces. "You can't sing that song."

"Why?" we asked in protest.

"You just can't."

At the time I didn't understand.

Of course until my son was running around the house singing, "Ya, Trick, Ya."

It's really a song. I had to explain to my son he couldn't sing that song anymore. "But why?"

*head-to-desk*

Mom and Dad I formally apologize....