Tag Archives: ARCs

the twitter winner & my daddy

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Congratulations MAD! you were my Random.org pick for my book! Contact me at tellmel@melissafrancis.net with mailing information and who you would like the book signed to!

Yesterday on a whim, I did a little twitter experiment. (Would that be a twitterment?)

I announced a Twitter only contest. If you leave a comment on yesterday’s blog, you’d be entered for a chance to win an ARC of BITE ME!

I did this for a couple of reasons. One, I wanted to test the power of twitter. Would my blog traffic increase? Would I get some new twitter-followers? Would I get some new commenters on my blog or gain new blog readers?

My blog traffic exploded. It was a slow morning, when I posted the tweet, I only had 64 hits to my blog. 15 minutes later, I had 124. That’s a pretty big increase! I gained new followers and new commenters and we’ll see if I gained some new blog readers. Not sure about that one yet.

Twitter is a pretty amazing social network. My contest was ‘Re-Tweeted’ and spread across the Twitterverse. Never deny the power of a tweet…

Thanks to everyone who stopped by. I hope you’ll continue to come back and play. There’s always something going on here in Melville. (Like Whoville, only better.)

Now onto today’s random thought about my daddy.

Last night was the first real severe weather of the season (usually by now, we’ve had two or three ugly storms come through, but this has been an unusual winter/spring here in Arkansas) Anyway, we were watching TV and good old Ed Buckner interrupts (which I’ll admit pisses me off. I know it shouldn’t but dammit, I’m in the middle of a really interesting show and you’re interrupting to tell me the storm has just crossed into Arkansas? I’m 250 miles away, dude. /rant) But Ed does say something that interested me. The storm was about an hour away from Mt. Ida.

Mt Ida is a tiny little community about 15 minutes from my parents place on Lake Ouachita (it’s pronounced Wash-i-tah not Oh-u-a-cheetah). My daddy pretty much stays up at the lake in the spring and summer. So I called to warn him b/c there really is no telling if he’s paying attention or not.

I forgot it was poker night, so he wasn’t up at the lake. This is a good thing.

Anyway, when I call, he answers the phone and I hear all the old man ruckus in the background. (Have you ever heard old man ruckus? It’s a hoot) There’s something about my daddy that cracks me up every time. (Besides the fact that every one of our phone calls is almost exactly the same no matter the topic. Seriously. We can discuss tornados, fishing, cancer, politics or watching the grass grow and they are all the same.) That’s not what cracks me up the most.

Nope.

My daddy can’t say ‘I.’ As in “I love you.” “I thank you.” “I smell what you’re stepping in.” “I know what you did last summer.”

Nope.

He says ‘we.’

Me: Daddy there’s a tornader headed to Mt. Ida, but I hear the Grumpy Men Brigade in the background, so you’re not at the lake are ya?

Daddy: Naw. It’s poker night. But we thanky (prounounced thankee) for callin’.

Me: No prob. Just didn’t want you to be swept off your feet and unprepared.

Daddy: Naw but we appreciatey. (this is appreciate you, btw)

Me: Have fun. Love ya, Daddy.

Daddy: Weloveytoo. (all one word. the quicker the better)

This conversation cracks me up. EVERY TIME. I have made it my goal in life to get an ‘I’ out of him just once. The man is 73 years old and so far, I’m failing at my mission.

But it will happen. You’ll see.

We thanky for readin’ today. Come back soon, ya hear?

the day has come…

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Almost every author I know has the same inner fear.

Rejection

What if someone reads my book and doesn’t like it? What if they hate it? or worse yet, what if their reaction is “Meh. It was okay.”

Shoot me now. There’s nothing worse in my mind than a ‘meh’ reaction. That means I didn’t do my job. I didn’t write a story that evoked any emotion at all. And boy, when you’re a hot mess like me, the last thing you wanna do is write a lukewarm story.

Getting my ARCs was a blessing and a curse. Sure I get to hold, molest, sniff, lick, and sleep with a copy of my book. That’s the blessing. The curse? People I don’t know are reading it. And they’re gonna comment on it. They’re going to tell the world how they feel about it. And me and my book are lying in bed, waiting. Waiting. WAITING.

The wait is over.

I got my first reaction from Elaina who was one of the limerick contest winners. She said something along the lines of “I love BITE ME! and want to have its babies.” (okay, I may have taken some liberties with that quote. but the meaning is the same. She had a very strong, a very positive reaction. and I had a happy.)

Then my 11 year old son read it. This to me was the most terrifying of all because A: he’s a big reader. He reads 3-4 books a week and when I say books, I mean BOOKS. He read TWILIGHT in a day. B: He has no filter. (Much like his momma) If he doesn’t like it, he’ll tell me. So when he finished the book and said “Mom, this was so funny. When can I read the next one?” I was so relieved. I was so thrilled! And then he started asking me questions about my research and my characters. And when he told me who his fave character was, my heart melted.

And now the big news. I just received my first official review from a review site called Teens Read, Too.

Bite Me! by Melissa Francis

Category: Paranormal
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 7/28/09
Publisher: HarperTeen
Reviewed by: LadyJay
Rating: 5 Stars


AJ Ashe, a teenage Southern belle, is hiding a secret.

Her family is descended from a long line of vampires – yep, I just said vampires. AJ has fangs and occasionally craves blood, but she has also suppressed many of her vamp instincts to fit into “normal” society.

The part that’s not normal – AJ’s mom is marrying her boyfriend’s father.

AJ knows she can’t be with Ryan, especially now that they are step-siblings. The reality of the situation doesn’t make it hurt any less. AJ tries to push Ryan into the arms of another willing female, but they just can’t seem to avoid one another.

And then, of course, other weirdness starts going down. AJ discovers that her family is part of the Serpentine clan; a high school friend is killed, rises from the dead, and begins to stalk her; AND she gets suspended from school.

Just another day in the life of a teenage vampire!

Melissa Francis has successfully produced a fun and fresh vampire novel. The story itself is engaging, and you can’t help but love the characters. Many a teenage girl will empathize with AJ and her angst-ridden relationship with Ryan.

I enjoyed the fact that Francis has made her vampires very different from those in the TWILIGHT series. These vamps have their own set of rules to follow.

I am so glad that I got my hands on this book. The ending left me wanting more, so here’s hoping that many sequels will follow!

Now I know that BITE ME! isn’t going to be for everyone. I have prepared myself for some bad reviews. I’m waiting for the hammer to fall because it will inevitably. But right now, I’m floating on cloud nine. This is a great way to lead up to my release date!

ETA: Twitter contestants–Random winner will be announced tomorrow!

Another chance to win!

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If you want another chance to win an advanced copy of Bite Me!, pop over to my GoodReads contest page (I believe you have to be a member of the GoodReads community to enter.) I’ll be randomly choosing two lucky winners to receive an ARC. You have until April 7 at midnight!

CLICK HERE

THE MONTH OF MEL: day 18 CONTEST WINNERS!

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Okay, so I had a hard time picking a favorite of my limericks yesterday. WAY hard. I mean, any limerick that can incorporate “Chinchilla” in it, deserves major kudos.

And of course, there is the whole, “..MILF for the masses, she rocks ginger asses…” line which deserves to be bronzed.

Lucy called me a Southern Belle and I suddenly had a case of the vapors. Where’s my Rhett Butler? I need him to catch me as I swoon.

I honestly had a hard time picking a favorite. So, I decided to use Random.org and let fate pick for me!

Congrats to Elaina (#4) and Jeanne St. James (#10) (btw, I counted Elaina’s 4th Limerick for Marcus…)

That’s right! I decided the entries were so good, I had to give away 2 copies!!!!

Ladies email me your address and who you would like your copy signed to at tellmel@melissafrancis.net and I’ll ship them to you as soon as they arrive (should be today or tomorrow)

Here are all the entries. I have to say, I giggled all day. And I also couldn’t stop thinking in limericks…

Elaina Huntley said…
There once was a Diva named Mel
Who ran a 5k-What the Hell?
She finished ahead
Then went straight home to bed
Bite Me, is all she would yell
3/17/2009 07:29:00 AM

Elaina Huntley said…
A Diva named Mel wrote a book
Then shouted “Hey everyone look!”
My cover, she rocks
Oh and check out my socks
Then Bite Me, cause duh it’s the hook
3/17/2009 07:36:00 AM

R F Long said…
If you’re going to get our Mel’s book
to read in a dark, cosy nook
The secret is clear
And there’s no need to fear
her a sexy librarian look.
3/17/2009 08:06:00 AM

Elaina Huntley said… Last One! LOL
Bite Me, a book that is new
From our very own Mel Diva, True!
A MILF I aspire
She said with such fire
The balls of the boys all turned blue.

marcus said… I’m stuck with just a piece of limerick, the center part that I want to have go like this :
“..MILF for the masses,she rocks ginger asses…”
Elaina–can you work with that? ’cause I’m naming you Mistress O’Limericks
3/17/2009 08:28:00 AM

Elaina Huntley said…
Mel’O Diva said ‘y’all don’t you fret’
A turn on each hunk I will get
A MILF for the masses
She rocks ginger asses
And look, not even a sweat!
(How’s that marcus??) LOL

prabjohn said…
Mel is a chick, who writes, blogs, and twits.
About Bite Me, Fish Dog, and various shit.
She finished her 5K.
In less than half a day.
Which left her ample time to suck it.
3/17/2009 08:47:00 AM

Bonnie Ferguson said…
‘Tis March cried a blogger with glee
Known as the Month of Mel to all and sundry
Mel O’Drama, a fine Irish lass
Who’s more than once uttered: Kiss my Ass
Has written a grand tome titled Bite Me!
3/17/2009 01:34:00 PM

Rhoda said…
She runs, writes, bitches and blogs,
but I swear this lady could balance on logs.
She wrote a new book due out in month eight of 0-nine,
and I hope the advanced copy ends up being mine!
3/17/2009 01:46:00 PM

Rhoda said… #2
Melissa Francis, that fiction chick
bitches ’bout fiction like it’s gonna make her rich.
That fun lovin’ Mel is drama-swell,
Now let’s stop and read ‘bite me’, or she’ll curse us to hell.

Jeanne St. James said…
On a day meant for celebrating St.Paddy’s
There was a girl named Mel who liked handsome laddies
She wrote a book
With sharp teeth as the hook
If you read her story “Bite Me” you won’t have the saddies.
3/17/2009 05:00:00 PM

Lucy said…
There once was a trainer from hell
Who coached a sweet Southern Belle
When it came time to race
She kept up the pace
‘Cause that’s just the way of our Mel
3/17/2009 05:42:00 PM

Lucy said…
There once was an exercise class
Of which Mel considered no pass
She thought it was Rumba
Turned out it was Zumba
Yet still she thought it a gas
3/17/2009 05:49:00 PM

Lucy said…
There once was a writer named Mel
Who wrote YA hoping to sell
Her brand’s ‘Bitchin’ Fiction’
Just thought I would mention
Buy ‘Bite Me’ or get ready for hell
3/17/2009 06:35:00 PM

prabjohn said…
Ms.Mel, Hogzilla, or Boobszilla?
“Bite Me” coming soon to your villa
If you don’t buy and read
On your neck she will feed
Or on your nuts sick a chinchilla.
3/17/2009 09:45:00 PM

prabjohn said…
Vampires love blood in their tummy
Oh Mel, this may make you feel crummy
Since they don’t floss and brush
Do their teeth turn to mush?
Therfore, should the book be called “Gum Me.” <—OK seriously, that's just funny.
3/17/2009 10:04:00 PM

SheWolfSilver said…
It is the month of Mel
A very sexy bombshell.
A Diva who wrote a book.
What you ask is the hook?
I need something to read So, I wrote this for greed.

Paradox said…
AJ Ashe is a bit of a liar,
with a secret, in danger most dire.
“I’m normal,” she said,
though in fact she’s undead,
your everyday teenage vampire. (Paradox, this is excellent for having just read the ‘books’ page! Thank you for playing!)

I had two limericks enter via FB last night at 8:07 pm. I’m adding them here so they will count.
From Glenn:
limerick #1
There once was a writer named Mel,
From her hands best sellers they fell.
Her fans were all lined upAt Borders, Bretanos,
And everywhere where books they sell.

limerick #2
There once was a princess named Mel;
Her awesomeness easy to tell;
Her subjects all loved her,
A feminine wonder,
A Venus reposed on her shell.

Now do you see why it was so hard for me to choose??? Y’all are all awesome. I felt the limerick love, and am still all a green-glow today. (is that anything like being a teenage mutant ninja turtle?)

The MONTH OF MEL: DAY 17 a contest for an ARC of BITE ME!

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HAPPY KISS ME BECAUSE I LIKE GINGERS DAY! ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

So….Guess what?

I give you all a free pass to pinch me. That’s right. Even though I’m clearly wearing green, you’re allowed to pinch me.

You’re welcome.

Guess what else?

I’m supposed to be getting some BITE ME! ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) this week! And because I’m feeling so generous (it is the MONTH OF MEL after all) I’m thinking of giving one away.

Here’s the deal. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day we’re gonna be writing Limericks!

Limericks rock.

If you want to win an advanced copy of my AWESOME book BITE ME! then here are the rules:

  1. The limerick subject has to have something to do with Me, my book, or my blog
  2. It’s okay if the limerick dirty, but please try to make it closer to PG-13 than XXX.
  3. You can enter up to 3 limericks. (If you enter more, I will only count the first 3)
  4. This will be totally subjective, as I will pick the winner. No random drawing this time! So make me laugh and you get a chance to win!
  5. You have to write and post a review of BITE ME! If you don’t have a website, you can email me your review and I’ll post it here. Yes, even if you didn’t like it. I know it won’t be for everyone and I’m okay with that. I will also link to your review once you have it posted if you’ll notify me.
  6. You have until midnight CST March 17 to enter. (1:00 a.m. EST/10:00 p.m. PST)

Now, who wants to play?