I’m sure many of you have been to sites like Mullets Galore or Rate My Mullet and laughed your non-mullet wearing ass off at the pictures. Many of us laugh because we once broke the cardinal rule and wore a mullet ourselves. (Yes, I had a mullet. I was in Jr. High. I thought it was cool. I was wrong.)

So, today, the fam and I are in Wal-Mart (hmmm, mullet, walmart, Mississippi–y’all are all shocked aren’t ya) buying up the colored christmas lights in hopes to rival The Griswalds this year. We have a basket full of goodies and we decide to go to the toy section when all of a sudden, this man is in front of me.

And my mouth drops open.

I’m staring.

Disbelief is coursing through me.

Did he mean to do that with his hair? Did his clippers give out on him mid haircut? Should I show him where the clippers are? What color is that, exactly? Is it supposed to be blonde? Cuz it’s more like gold straw. Could he be Rumplestiltskin? No. surely not.

And my husband, who is a quick thinker walked behind dude and snapped a picture with his phone:

When Bad Hair Gets Worse

That’s right y’all–Judd the Dudd is G-O-N-E.

Anyone crying in their cornflakes over that one? (insert Jon Stewart imitating W’s laugh here)

NOT ME.

But I have to wonder at how smart a move that really was for everyone…especially Steph.

Steph controlled Dudd. He was her love-slave. She could’ve told him to gnaw on the trees and ‘rassle the crocodiles and he would’ve done it like a good little mouth-breathing-cromagnon. Besides, Dudd was Steph’s only real chance of winning this game. If she would have take him to the final two, she might’ve won. Probably not, but he was definitely her best chance.

Dudd may have been an idiot, but he was a loyal idiot. Loyal to Steph, that is. And now that she’s fucked him over, he’s gonna bend her over the jury box and give it to her like the maneating backstabbing beast she is.

Do you think she’s realized what a mistake she’s made yet?

Now, I love Rafe and would really love to see him win, BUT, getting rid of Dudd really opened up another possibility for the game. The girls could band together and get rid of Rafe. (yes, I know, technically he’s a girl) We could have an all chick final four. None of the women have been smart enough to pull that off until this year. This group might be able to do it, despite Lydia.

Right now, I’m pulling for Danni and Rafe to be in the final two. But, if we could do an all girl final two, I’m pulling for Danni and Steph. That way, Steph could be close enough to taste the money and have it ripped away from her by Dudd.

Hey Steph! Payback’s a cold bitch; are y’all related?

That’s right y’all–Judd the Dudd is G-O-N-E.

Anyone crying in their cornflakes over that one? (insert Jon Stewart imitating W’s laugh here)

NOT ME.

But I have to wonder at how smart a move that really was for everyone…especially Steph.

Steph controlled Dudd. He was her love-slave. She could’ve told him to gnaw on the trees and ‘rassle the crocodiles and he would’ve done it like a good little mouth-breathing-cromagnon. Besides, Dudd was Steph’s only real chance of winning this game. If she would have take him to the final two, she might’ve won. Probably not, but he was definitely her best chance.

Dudd may have been an idiot, but he was a loyal idiot. Loyal to Steph, that is. And now that she’s fucked him over, he’s gonna bend her over the jury box and give it to her like the maneating backstabbing beast she is.

Do you think she’s realized what a mistake she’s made yet?

Now, I love Rafe and would really love to see him win, BUT, getting rid of Dudd really opened up another possibility for the game. The girls could band together and get rid of Rafe. (yes, I know, technically he’s a girl) We could have an all chick final four. None of the women have been smart enough to pull that off until this year. This group might be able to do it, despite Lydia.

Right now, I’m pulling for Danni and Rafe to be in the final two. But, if we could do an all girl final two, I’m pulling for Danni and Steph. That way, Steph could be close enough to taste the money and have it ripped away from her by Dudd.

Hey Steph! Payback’s a cold bitch; are y’all related?

Humph.

Okay, the lovely Miss Robin Miller tagged me. So now I gotta play nice.

I don’t like to play nice. (Well, I do, but I’m trying to act annoyed so work with me here.)

I need to list 15 facts and personal preferences (quirks, habits, whatever) about books. FIFTEEN? See, Miss Robin Miller cheated by listing the same thing over and over again.

What a novel idea. (pun intended)

1. I love books.
2. I love bookstores.
3. I’ve never skipped to the back to read the ending first.
4. I have skipped to the first love scene before I bought a book.
5. I always read the first page before I buy a book.
6. I hate clinch covers. Abhor them even. The women either look worn out or constipated and the men look like plastic tranny dolls.
7. My first love in romance was Historicals. (specifically, medievals) (suck on that, miss-i-hate-historicals) 🙂
8. I hate being disappointed with a book. I feel robbed if I read a book that doesn’t capture me and draw me in and make me not care about the characters.
9. I spit on whiney heroines. And if they’re TSTL (too stupid too live)–I spit on them twice.
10. I hate wimpy heroes more. Why would I want to read a book about a man who can’t make a decision? Why would I care about some poor dufus that would rather hide than clear his name?
11. Worse than clinch covers are many of the computer-generated covers for e-books. I’d rather eat toenails than have a bad cover like some of those featured at Smart Bitches. Now if all e-covers were like my friends’ Kate Pearce and Sylvia Day, well, then we’d be in business.
12. I hate literary snobs who snub the world of romance because it’s popular. Good lord. That’s just as bad as not liking someone because everyone else seems to like them. Could it be possible that romance is popular because, hmmm, I don’t know, maybe, IT’S A GOOD READ? Sure, I’ve read some bad romance. But I’ve read some bad Lit Fic, too.
13. I love it when a book makes me want to read it again. When I dream about the characters. When I can’t wait to get home to read. I want to write that book for someone one day.
14. I love the feel of a brand new book. Hardcover, paperback, comic book, (excuse, I mean “graphic novel”)whatever book you give me. I love taking out of the bag and cracking the spine for the first time.
15. I love books.

Okay, my turn to pass it on. I’m going to tag 3 people I’ve never tagged before to see if they’re paying attention.

Ellen P., Pamela H., and Lucy S. It’s your turn! Let’s see who plays.

Humph.

Okay, the lovely Miss Robin Miller tagged me. So now I gotta play nice.

I don’t like to play nice. (Well, I do, but I’m trying to act annoyed so work with me here.)

I need to list 15 facts and personal preferences (quirks, habits, whatever) about books. FIFTEEN? See, Miss Robin Miller cheated by listing the same thing over and over again.

What a novel idea. (pun intended)

1. I love books.
2. I love bookstores.
3. I’ve never skipped to the back to read the ending first.
4. I have skipped to the first love scene before I bought a book.
5. I always read the first page before I buy a book.
6. I hate clinch covers. Abhor them even. The women either look worn out or constipated and the men look like plastic tranny dolls.
7. My first love in romance was Historicals. (specifically, medievals) (suck on that, miss-i-hate-historicals) 🙂
8. I hate being disappointed with a book. I feel robbed if I read a book that doesn’t capture me and draw me in and make me not care about the characters.
9. I spit on whiney heroines. And if they’re TSTL (too stupid too live)–I spit on them twice.
10. I hate wimpy heroes more. Why would I want to read a book about a man who can’t make a decision? Why would I care about some poor dufus that would rather hide than clear his name?
11. Worse than clinch covers are many of the computer-generated covers for e-books. I’d rather eat toenails than have a bad cover like some of those featured at Smart Bitches. Now if all e-covers were like my friends’ Kate Pearce and Sylvia Day, well, then we’d be in business.
12. I hate literary snobs who snub the world of romance because it’s popular. Good lord. That’s just as bad as not liking someone because everyone else seems to like them. Could it be possible that romance is popular because, hmmm, I don’t know, maybe, IT’S A GOOD READ? Sure, I’ve read some bad romance. But I’ve read some bad Lit Fic, too.
13. I love it when a book makes me want to read it again. When I dream about the characters. When I can’t wait to get home to read. I want to write that book for someone one day.
14. I love the feel of a brand new book. Hardcover, paperback, comic book, (excuse, I mean “graphic novel”)whatever book you give me. I love taking out of the bag and cracking the spine for the first time.
15. I love books.

Okay, my turn to pass it on. I’m going to tag 3 people I’ve never tagged before to see if they’re paying attention.

Ellen P., Pamela H., and Lucy S. It’s your turn! Let’s see who plays.

You Are Sawyer. You’re a realist, not an idealist.
Sarcasm, wit, and leers run rampant whenever
you are around. Whether it’s making a racist
remark or shooting a polar bear, you’re sure to
leave a lasting impression on those around you.
Add a cigarette and some beard stubble, and the
formula for redneck charm is complete.

Which Lost Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Okay, everything is true except for the racist remark. I might be a total bitch to someone, but I’m not a racist. 🙂 And I don’t have beard stubble. And I only smoke when I drink.

Hmm. Can’t I be Kate?

You Are Sawyer. You’re a realist, not an idealist.
Sarcasm, wit, and leers run rampant whenever
you are around. Whether it’s making a racist
remark or shooting a polar bear, you’re sure to
leave a lasting impression on those around you.
Add a cigarette and some beard stubble, and the
formula for redneck charm is complete.

Which Lost Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Okay, everything is true except for the racist remark. I might be a total bitch to someone, but I’m not a racist. 🙂 And I don’t have beard stubble. And I only smoke when I drink.

Hmm. Can’t I be Kate?

Okay, you know I love this show. I’m totally addicted. Completely.

Has anyone else noticed that a key thread that ties the crash survivors together is daddy issues.

Locke: stalked daddy who abandoned him
Jack: had problems with alcoholic daddy
Sawyer: whoa–talk about issues
Sun: Controlling Daddy
Jin: Married into Sun’s family so he adopted daddy issues
Shannon: her daddy married the stepbitch from hell
Walt/Michael: Um, hello!
and now
Cate.

Hmmm.

I almost don’t want to know all of the tail end survivor stories. Sheesh.

And is it just me, or is Jin a freaking hot?

And what did you guys think of that ending???

Okay, you know I love this show. I’m totally addicted. Completely.

Has anyone else noticed that a key thread that ties the crash survivors together is daddy issues.

Locke: stalked daddy who abandoned him
Jack: had problems with alcoholic daddy
Sawyer: whoa–talk about issues
Sun: Controlling Daddy
Jin: Married into Sun’s family so he adopted daddy issues
Shannon: her daddy married the stepbitch from hell
Walt/Michael: Um, hello!
and now
Cate.

Hmmm.

I almost don’t want to know all of the tail end survivor stories. Sheesh.

And is it just me, or is Jin a freaking hot?

And what did you guys think of that ending???

Rejections are a part of the writing business and we all know that.

Rarely does someone submit their first manuscript and have it purchased in an auction or a pre-empt moments after submission.

I’m sure that has happened to someone, somewhere in a parallel galaxy, but honestly that’s just not how it works.

So, we writers prepare ourselves for rejection. We tell ourselves it’s a part of the game and we even begin to look forward to the day we start getting “good” rejections instead of the form, “thanks but no thanks” crap.

We believe that “good” rejections do exist. We have to…that faith helps us move forward. And the reality is, there are good rejections. I just never truly believed until today.

Yes, today I received a “good” rejection.

My lovely and brilliant agent called it a “glowing” rejection. I think I like that better. “Glowing” Mel. (and not like nuclear waste, thank you very much)

The editor liked my voice a “great deal”. She followed that with “Mel has a wonderfully charming voice.”

Standing alone, that sounds fabulous. I wish the sentence would’ve actually read “Mel has a wonderfully charming voice and I want to buy it for ONE MILLION DOLLARS!” (sorry, had to get my Dr. Evil in there…) But, she didn’t.

I’ve reread the email several times and have to say, this is a positive rejection. There’s a rumor in the writing world that we tend to cling to and that is that once the “good” (or glowing) rejections start coming in, that an offer isn’t far behind.

Here’s to believing.

I’ll admit it stung a bit when I read the email. I’ll also admit that even though I’ve expected rejections, that I always had this fantasy where I would be the .0000000000001% of the writers who sold at auction just moments after my agent submitted.

I know that my book wasn’t right for this editor. If it was, she would’ve bought it. And somehow, knowing that helps just a little. I know my agent will sell this book. I know that because she is brilliant and I am brilliant and together, that makes us brilliance squared. There’s no way that the publishing world can ignore brilliance squared for long.

It’s just not possible.