Melani Blazer

Tomorrow cometh the countertop. Then, with a few minor tweaks such as connecting pipes under the sink, my kitchen will once again be whole. I couldn’t be happier.

Went to the Chicago auto show last Saturday. The economy’s effects on the industry was apparent, despite the attempts at glitz and glamour and same ole… I noticed there were fewer cars per square yard and not as many “fun” concepts. In some cases, there was only one example of a particular model where I know in past years there’s been several–a base model, a souped up model and a standard average one. Regardless, we had fun, took some cool snapshots and spent the train ride home with talk of “if you could have one car from the show, which would you take?”

I was bad. I didn’t write for two whole days because I’ve been nose to book. Kathy Reichs is my guilty pleasure. I absolutely love forensic stuff and her books manage to have so many threads, enough history and truth to make it feel like you’re learning something–and I never can (or try) to figure it all out. I just like watching it unfold. While I can devour a romance in a few hours, it takes me much longer to get through an equally thick KR book. I suppose it’s because I’m really trying not to miss anything. I get my money out of those books. ;)

But then I had a weird, fractured sort of dream last night with a few of those really “real” sensations–where I’m not just witnessing, I’m there, and wake up with what feel more like real memories than just recollections of a dream. In the past, those have worked as offshoots for stories, so I’m eager to see what I can do with this one. I have no idea who the characters were in this one…for real or as in future book characters. I’m letting it bounce around in my head for a bit before I start trying to stretch it beyond the bit I ‘know’.

That’s it for me. Lunch is over and I’m back to work. Happy reading, ya’ll!

Well, I’ve been busy–with the stuff that keeps most of us busy, that really annoying thing called real life.

My daughter, now a junior in high school, has officially signed to be a soldier. She’s joined the Army Reserve. She’ll complete boot camp/basic training this summer and then come back to finish her senior year, then do her AIT training (she chose chemical operations) and then onto reserve life. She’ll go to school, we’re looking hard at Purdue University because it’s not far from here and they have an ROTC program, which is what she wants. The military part wasn’t a surprise at all, because for the last 4-5 years she’s been talking about becoming a military pilot. This direction won’t take her there, at least directly, but she’s way excited about this path she’s chosen. It’s a huge step, but she’s been doing her research and understands her risks and benefits. I’m proud of her.

Thank you to whoever it was that sent me two really neat magnets from Cafe Press. They came to me at work, under my “real” name, so I assume it’s someone who knows me rather well. They arrived anonymously today. One has an outline of a soldier and it says “Real dads raise soldiers” and the other has a cat wearing combat boots and a camo hat or scarf. The cat’s standing up with fists at its sides and it reads, “Don’t mess with me, my daughter is in the Army.” I love them, and so does my hubby. (Who couldn’t be prouder for his daughter.)

I’ve started a series dealing with military guys, so I do anticipate picking my daughter’s brains in the next couple of years for terminology or simple “how things are done” from her point of view–hopefully I can use her feedback.

Shannon did a post a few days ago about following your heart rather than doing what others are doing or what you (or others) think you should do. I wholeheartedly agree with that, and have been following that piece of advise for the last year or so. It means I don’t have any new releases on the horizon, but I’m working on some things I feel very good about and I’m constantly rediscovering why I love to write. So many of us used to say that we’d write even if we didn’t get paid or didn’t see our book in print. I still feel that way. I also believe we’re all still learning as writers and I’m finding new ways to apply what I’ve learned and look at how to piece together a book.

I’ve had two friends recently tell me of their ambition to write a book. I always feel weird offering them advice, even though they’ve asked for it. Today I listened to the power and desire in my friend’s voice and told her that her drive was the key. I really loved to see the sparkle in her eye and the way she was stumbling over her words to get her ideas and thoughts out. Wow. That’s so inspiring. I told her to stay in love with her idea. Nourish it. Make notes. Believe and never let someone tell her that she can’t do it. Write every day. Write garbage, because it might inspire something better–and one can edit garbage, but you can’t edit a blank page. Read, read, read. I finally told her to develop very thick skin. No one every likes to hear that part. Huh. Thankfully I got that advice, and more.

And with that, I’m off to type in some more handwritten WIP and visit with the hubby.