Mel's Shopping Diary
One Down, One Million To Go? LOL!
August 27, 2007SLAM!
That is the sound of finishing the final draft of JEALOUS?, the second book in THE ASHLEYS series. It is so weird to be done with book #2 before you all have even had a chance to read book #1! I'm soooo excited for the launch of THE ASHLEYS, coming to a bookstore near you in January, I'm told. JEALOUS? drops in April. How fun is that question mark at the end?? LOL.
I'm so sorry we still haven't mailed out the prizes. They are sitting on my couch in my office right now but we will mail them this week as long as you have sent your address to my office email.
It's been a very stressful summer as we continue to give our baby physical therapy to correct her head tilt and Mike and I try to meet our deadlines at the same time. She's going to be one year old in a few months! It's so crazy! I can't believe it's been almost a year since she was born! I still remember the pain of those first few months. And I STILL don't have highlights in my hair! ARGH!
In other exciting news, I've figured out what is going to happen in Blue Bloods 3: REVELATIONS. I know, I know. I've kind of known for a while what I thought was going to happen, but last week the whole thing finally clicked and I thought, voila! It's really really juicy. The sad part is that I still don't quite know what's going to happen in ANGELS ON SUNSET BOULEVARD: THE STRIP. I thought I did, but now I think I've changed my mind. It's very annoying when that happens. But I do know there's going to be a lot of Johnny Silver in it. I've also started writing the outline for the third book in the ASHLEYS series, THIRTEEN CANDLES: IT'S MY PARTY AND I'LL FREAK IF I WANT TO. Which I think comes out next October.
I know, a lot of books. Lately I've noticed a lot of my friendly and frenemy acquaintances have been giving me a lot of grief for the amount of books I have written or are coming out. You know, little jokes like "Melissa will be publishing her thousandth book this summer!" Or "We don't have room in our shelves for all your books!" Or "You write faster than I read!"
I don't mind the jibes. I guess I do have a lot of books in me. And I have ideas for TONS more. I mean, the other day I got an idea for a new YA series that I am DYING to write but I can't yet because I still have all these books under contract, and my god, SOCIAL LIFE hasn't been started yet. But I really really want to start writing it. And I just did a proposal for a little-kids book which made me think of ANOTHER little kids picture book idea. And I have an editor waiting for a proposal for a non-fiction style book that I am JONESING to get started on as well. Plus, I have an adult novel that's fully outlined that I can't even start yet, plus another one in synopsis form that I would love to write at some point. Sigh.
You know, there was a time in my career when I couldn't get published for the life of me. All my proposals went unsold, I have three unpublished novels in my hard drive, and god knows how many unanswered pitches to various magazines before I finally hit it. So now that people actually want to publish my writing, I'm just so grateful.
Of course I go through writers' block. I sometimes just sit and stare at the computer screen for god knows how long. But I fight it--you have to--and I start to write gibberish. From the gibberish sentences form. I have no trouble writing outlines. I love writing outlines. But fleshing it out is another story. I hate writing first drafts. I much prefer the revision process, when everything--click, click, click, comes together.
Besides, the biggest revenge is to publish even more books, right? LOL.
What I have also been doing is planning our vacations. This is my favorite thing to do next to writing my books. Because the minute I finish a book I HAVE to get away to relax. My life is work-work-work-work and BIG RELAX. I think we're going to drive down to the St. Regis Monarch Beach. It looks fantastic! And Guiliani Depandi and Bill Ranzic were just vacationing down there! Hey, me and the C-listers! That's how we roll. LOL.
I'm hoping to get to St. Tropez this spring as well, so I can finally start writing SOCIAL LIFE. Everyone says to just take the baby along with us. I have several friends who know the scene there very well, and I can't wait to start yacht-hopping!
Why do all the good things in life start with Saint? St. Regis. St. Tropez. St. Barth's. Yummm.
Hoping everyone is having a scahhhn-dahlous summer!
xoxo
Mel
On August 28, 2007 at 1:00 pm, casey had this to say:
YAY! I’m sending my email right now.
haha.
I’m so excited for my bag!
Oh god, I wish I had some ideas; how do you do it? Its so tough being a writer at this age because you’re inspired from...other peoples ideas and not your own.
Grrrrr. Its my dream to complete a Teen Chic Lit book. Just one! It doesn’t have to be published...just...completed.
I personally think Authors are getting treated like celebrities now. They’re myspaces are flooded with fans and everything! It would be good if the fans get SOME appreciation. A nice myspace comment or reply would just make my day.
And authors SHOULD get treated like celebrities.
Anyways, I hope you have fun relaxing! School is so tiring! Especially English. I OBVIOUSLY KNOW WHAT A NOUN AND PRONOUN IS.
--Casey
On August 28, 2007 at 5:34 pm, Abby had this to say:
Ahh, all this talk about the Ashleys and Social Life is making me anxious!
I’m so excited for it.
I love all the titles, especially the THIRTEEN CANDLES one.
I can tell it sounds scandalous. :D
You are amazing to take on so many books at once!
I keep trying to write, but I never finish.
It’s kind of depressing.
I always end up ditching that story for a brand new one;
Which I don’t finish.
Haha.
I don’t know how you do it! :D
My DREAM is to go to St. Tropez.
It’s like .. half way across the world, but I want to go.
It sounds so glamorous.
Who am I kidding;
The entire COUNTRY of France is glamorous. 
Can’t wait for your next blog!
<3 Abby
On August 29, 2007 at 7:06 am, Dans had this to say:
Oh my gosh, you’re from the Philippines! I absolutely knew it. I’m from the Philippines. Writing this from my little room in an apartment in Makati - the heart of it all. Please come visit! You can do the whole book-signing thing too. I absolutely LOVELOVELOVE Blue Bloods. I can’t wait til the third book finally comes out!
-Dans
On August 29, 2007 at 7:25 am, Kellie had this to say:
i can’t wait to read the new Blue Bloods book! you are an amazing writer! i hope you do a book signing in New York!!
On September 1, 2007 at 10:53 am, Jane had this to say:
Hey. Im just wondering if you are writing the third book for Blue Blood. Your books are awesome. I read the two of them in 2 or 3 days. Hahaha. I do hope you write the third book. I want to see the ending of it.
_ Jane.
On September 18, 2007 at 12:12 pm, Chris had this to say:
The Blue Blood series is awesome, my friend got me to read the first one and I loved it. The second one was just as good if not better it was really a treat to be able to read it. I just can’t even understand how you take on so many books at once it’s simply breath-taking. I can’t wait for the third book Revelation.
On September 22, 2007 at 7:52 pm, CL had this to say:
I undersatand you must be a busy gal, but waiting for the 3rd in your Blue Blood series is just wrentching tourture! The series is highy addictive, and has much more substance than most other vampire tales. Your view on their world is very creative indeed! So please; end my suffereing.
On October 3, 2007 at 7:15 am, Shenna Bunton had this to say:
I love your series blue bloods i read through both of the books in 2 days one for each day. as soon as i finished the first one i couldnt help but pick up the second one. Your take on this series is very addictive i love storys on vampires and witches and your series takes the cake for me. can not wait for the third book Revelation. I hope it will be out soon. im dying to find out what happens next.
On August 28, 2007 at 7:37 am, Isabella had this to say:
Ooh, it’s awesome that you know what’s going to happen in Blue Bloods: Revelations now. Can’t wait for the release!