How do I get your 2nd book in print. I bought it online (maybe you call it e-book?) but I never figured how to get it to my ????touchpad (I’m not sure I’m using the right word for that either).
Put together your early childhood and adolescence experience with what you do and write today is an amazing story. How you turned out is surely an anomaly. If ever there were a radically contrasting early life story when compared to yours, it is mine. Yet your life in college is similar to mine. I was in a fraternity in my first year and those guys so thoroughly disgusted me that I left after that first year. I wrote many boxes about life and philosophy and human nature, etc., but would throw away a box full of writings and then start on a new one. It was all done to clarify my worldviews and no one ever read them. Even now I have only about a dozen in my email audience. I still fill up my web site(s) with essays, hundreds, that I do not expect more than a tiny few to find interesting. Am I closet writer? Definitely! I never write with an audience in mind. It is just for me and maybe some few others. Of such is my hermit style of life. ed
Just saw on your book of favorite books that you prompted readers to post their own list of 20 top reads! Figured it would be interesting to see what my own list would be at this point in life 😀 So, in no particular order other than what comes to mind first…
1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – LOVE not only the entire world created and 1984 vibe of dystopian life but also that at the end of the series the author notes that none of the survivors are ever quite the same; that PTSD does exist and would still impact these children for life most likely.
2. 1984 by George Orwell – My first dabble into dystopian readings. A huge eye-opener and the scene of mental/physical torture the two MCs get put through has stuck with me since high school reading of it: “I betrayed you.” Chilling!
3. Libriomancer by Jim Hines – This series is AMAZING. The idea of being a magical librarian who pulls items from well-read books because those which are most read are most powerful and the deeply flawed characters make a gripping, funny, awesome read.
4. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell – YA of the best kind which actually has multiple romances when you include the MC’s fanfiction story and it just makes me happy.
5. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Ben Saenz – There is nothing I don’t love about this story of two best friend boys who fall in love. It is beautiful, funny, caring, deep and gorgeously written.
6. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor – The first was definitely my ultimate favorite in this one because the character of Brimstone was delightful to read about. Teeth magic, angels, huge revelations, demons, fabulous friend characters; there was awesome in this entire book.
7. Let’s Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson – This is one of the few books I can re-read multiple times (and HAVE) yet I still laugh until I’m nearly crying. The poignant moments in this memoir are touching but the humorous moments raise hilarity no matter how often I read it.
8. House of Night series by PC Cast – These books are a flurry of activity that mostly happens the first year or so that one girl becomes marked as a vampire and joins a vamp school. Her best friend makes the entire series delightful (especially when read on audiobook) and while by the end it stretches the best of suspended disbelief just how MUCH apparently happens in so little time it is still a fast and fully fun brain-candy read.
9. The Little Prince/Le Petit Prince by Antoine Saint-Exupery – Delightful. I have always loved this book and re-read it often because this little guy with his big thoughts just makes me smile in wonder at the vast beauty of the world.
10. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga – Listened to this one about a man in a lower caste in India trying to break out and become an entrepreneur and loved every gritty, dark moment. The reader was perfect and likely MADE the story for me but still the imagery and characters were powerful.
11. The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher – Love this guy’s fireball-loving snarky city magician detective stories. The characters definitely evolve throughout the series, becoming darker, fighting moral quandaries while tossing out quick pop-culture quips and fighting monsters. Hugely fun.
12. Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs – A crafty, witty, clever woman mechanic who can turn into a coyote and has to hold up her own in a world of werewolves and vampires and crazy fae; this series is great. The fae are dark and the storylines are sometimes beautifully dark. Mercy is also a survivor of sexual trauma and I love how the series treats her reactions to life after the event as she rebuilds and works through mental anguish while still coping with monsters and physical injuries.
13. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Bianco – Still love this story of love making you so well worn that you become real.
14. Frederick by Leo Lioni – Best picture book ever. Wee mouse tries to keep his friends warm and loved during the winter with poems.
15. A Little Princess by Francess Hodgess Burnett – Gorgeous. I have re-read this one more times than I can probably count. A girl who can keep her hope and love of beauty in the world even in the darkest of times it just hits me right in the heart every time.
16. Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel – I could probably recite this one from memory by now. Love this far-historical fiction for the great herbal information and the inquisitive character of Ayla who attempts to fit into a society of repressive (but rather accepting mostly when you think about it) people.
17. Going Postal by Terry Pratchett – My first intro to Pratchett’s work and still my favorite. A swindler man on death row is given a new chance at life but in exchange he must dig out the overwhelmed (and slightly magical) post office and not run away from his Golem parol officer.
18. A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux – This and “Wishes” by the same author are two romance novels that I can always go back into and read for their comforting love stories and the fun time-travel bits.
19. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling – Love it. Re-read it often; but probably don’t have to at this point. The friendships, the fighting for what’s right, the fun magic…nothing to hate about it.
20. Wool by Hugh Howey – Fantastic dystopian future with a strong female character and so many twisting plot moments that it definitely needs to be read again.
I’m so very sorry, but “Kinned to the Sea” is not available in print. You can access a free copy of the ebook on Smashwords, though. You sound like a reader who loves stories set in the ocean. 😀
Hi Melissa:) Ty for the info! I do love the ocean 😀 and I like to read print books, I will look into reading your Pterren book! added to my list :), I hope you enjoy the year as well!!
Hi Jade, thanks for giving Pterren a try! I hope you’ll reach out again and let me know what you think, good or bad, whatever comes of it. I hope it works for you. ❤
Thought Candy 
Love the website! And thanks for including your list of favorite books!
LikeLike
Never mind fiction, Missy. Write your biography! Mesmerizing. Read Coming Clean for inspiration.
LikeLike
Going to get your 2nd book right now. Did I tell you how much I enjoyed the 1st one?
LikeLike
I’ve so loved reading your books. And reading your bio, seeing how you connect with your characters, makes me like them and you all the more!
LikeLike
How do I get your 2nd book in print. I bought it online (maybe you call it e-book?) but I never figured how to get it to my ????touchpad (I’m not sure I’m using the right word for that either).
LikeLike
Put together your early childhood and adolescence experience with what you do and write today is an amazing story. How you turned out is surely an anomaly. If ever there were a radically contrasting early life story when compared to yours, it is mine. Yet your life in college is similar to mine. I was in a fraternity in my first year and those guys so thoroughly disgusted me that I left after that first year. I wrote many boxes about life and philosophy and human nature, etc., but would throw away a box full of writings and then start on a new one. It was all done to clarify my worldviews and no one ever read them. Even now I have only about a dozen in my email audience. I still fill up my web site(s) with essays, hundreds, that I do not expect more than a tiny few to find interesting. Am I closet writer? Definitely! I never write with an audience in mind. It is just for me and maybe some few others. Of such is my hermit style of life. ed
LikeLike
Just saw on your book of favorite books that you prompted readers to post their own list of 20 top reads! Figured it would be interesting to see what my own list would be at this point in life 😀 So, in no particular order other than what comes to mind first…
1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – LOVE not only the entire world created and 1984 vibe of dystopian life but also that at the end of the series the author notes that none of the survivors are ever quite the same; that PTSD does exist and would still impact these children for life most likely.
2. 1984 by George Orwell – My first dabble into dystopian readings. A huge eye-opener and the scene of mental/physical torture the two MCs get put through has stuck with me since high school reading of it: “I betrayed you.” Chilling!
3. Libriomancer by Jim Hines – This series is AMAZING. The idea of being a magical librarian who pulls items from well-read books because those which are most read are most powerful and the deeply flawed characters make a gripping, funny, awesome read.
4. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell – YA of the best kind which actually has multiple romances when you include the MC’s fanfiction story and it just makes me happy.
5. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Ben Saenz – There is nothing I don’t love about this story of two best friend boys who fall in love. It is beautiful, funny, caring, deep and gorgeously written.
6. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor – The first was definitely my ultimate favorite in this one because the character of Brimstone was delightful to read about. Teeth magic, angels, huge revelations, demons, fabulous friend characters; there was awesome in this entire book.
7. Let’s Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson – This is one of the few books I can re-read multiple times (and HAVE) yet I still laugh until I’m nearly crying. The poignant moments in this memoir are touching but the humorous moments raise hilarity no matter how often I read it.
8. House of Night series by PC Cast – These books are a flurry of activity that mostly happens the first year or so that one girl becomes marked as a vampire and joins a vamp school. Her best friend makes the entire series delightful (especially when read on audiobook) and while by the end it stretches the best of suspended disbelief just how MUCH apparently happens in so little time it is still a fast and fully fun brain-candy read.
9. The Little Prince/Le Petit Prince by Antoine Saint-Exupery – Delightful. I have always loved this book and re-read it often because this little guy with his big thoughts just makes me smile in wonder at the vast beauty of the world.
10. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga – Listened to this one about a man in a lower caste in India trying to break out and become an entrepreneur and loved every gritty, dark moment. The reader was perfect and likely MADE the story for me but still the imagery and characters were powerful.
11. The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher – Love this guy’s fireball-loving snarky city magician detective stories. The characters definitely evolve throughout the series, becoming darker, fighting moral quandaries while tossing out quick pop-culture quips and fighting monsters. Hugely fun.
12. Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs – A crafty, witty, clever woman mechanic who can turn into a coyote and has to hold up her own in a world of werewolves and vampires and crazy fae; this series is great. The fae are dark and the storylines are sometimes beautifully dark. Mercy is also a survivor of sexual trauma and I love how the series treats her reactions to life after the event as she rebuilds and works through mental anguish while still coping with monsters and physical injuries.
13. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Bianco – Still love this story of love making you so well worn that you become real.
14. Frederick by Leo Lioni – Best picture book ever. Wee mouse tries to keep his friends warm and loved during the winter with poems.
15. A Little Princess by Francess Hodgess Burnett – Gorgeous. I have re-read this one more times than I can probably count. A girl who can keep her hope and love of beauty in the world even in the darkest of times it just hits me right in the heart every time.
16. Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel – I could probably recite this one from memory by now. Love this far-historical fiction for the great herbal information and the inquisitive character of Ayla who attempts to fit into a society of repressive (but rather accepting mostly when you think about it) people.
17. Going Postal by Terry Pratchett – My first intro to Pratchett’s work and still my favorite. A swindler man on death row is given a new chance at life but in exchange he must dig out the overwhelmed (and slightly magical) post office and not run away from his Golem parol officer.
18. A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux – This and “Wishes” by the same author are two romance novels that I can always go back into and read for their comforting love stories and the fun time-travel bits.
19. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling – Love it. Re-read it often; but probably don’t have to at this point. The friendships, the fighting for what’s right, the fun magic…nothing to hate about it.
20. Wool by Hugh Howey – Fantastic dystopian future with a strong female character and so many twisting plot moments that it definitely needs to be read again.
LikeLike
Just spotted this list, April — I LOVE IT!!! *Fabulous* Thank you so much for sharing!! This totally made my day!! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi 🙂 Are any of your books available as a print book? I was wondering, would like to buy/read Kinned to the Sea,
Jade
LikeLike
Hi Jade,
I’m so very sorry, but “Kinned to the Sea” is not available in print. You can access a free copy of the ebook on Smashwords, though. You sound like a reader who loves stories set in the ocean. 😀
Hope you have a great year of reading in 2023! 😀
XO
Melissa
LikeLike
Hi Melissa:) Ty for the info! I do love the ocean 😀 and I like to read print books, I will look into reading your Pterren book! added to my list :), I hope you enjoy the year as well!!
LikeLike
Hi Jade, thanks for giving Pterren a try! I hope you’ll reach out again and let me know what you think, good or bad, whatever comes of it. I hope it works for you. ❤
XO
Melissa
LikeLike