Tag Archives: books

a fangastic time was had by all!

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My book signing for LOVE SUCKS! was yesterday. Check out my new fangtastic ring that my sweet friend Ell-Bell gave me. (She also is the one who gave me Count Smurfula. She is my favorite girl in the world)

The signing was a success. 65 copies of LOVE SUCKS! were sold, 12 copies of BITE ME! we sold out of BITE ME! but that didn’t stop people from ordering them! YAY!
I had several friends from high school come to support me. I’m truly blessed with wonderful people in my life.
I owe a huge thank you to Fishdog for designing my new bookmarks (which are wonderful) and taking care of all the printing for me. He also designed the table top sign for me.
Books-a-Million in North Little Rock is the best damn bookstore in the state. Pam Houk and Chris Barton and all the other awesome associates seriously rock my socks off. If you live in central Arkansas, you should be making all your book purchases from this store. Trust me. They are awesome.
I posted these pics at Fictionistas today, but I’m gonna repost here for your viewing pleasure.
The first pic is me and my rotten boys. The 2nd is me and some of my classmates.

I had the best day and the greatest weekend. I have surrounded myself with a fabulous circle of friends and am truly the luckiest girl in the world.

Count Smurfula will be blue if you don’t come to B.A.M. on Sunday.

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Look what was in the paper today!!!!

I will be signing books (both BITE ME! and LOVE SUCKS!) on Sunday at the North Little Rock Books-A-Million from 2-4 pm. Please come see me!

Count Smurfula will also be making an appearance…if I can find him. It seems the Kittehs have a fondness for the Count. They’ve either kidnapped him or he’s in hiding…


Count Smurfula demands you come see me or else he’ll get with the Unicorns and bring the Internetz to Life and you know what that means, don’t you? Yes. Rick Astley will make a come back! And since there is only one person in the world who wants Rick Astley to make a come back (RaderFrancis) I suggest you do your best to get to Books-A-Million on Sunday.

Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down…never gonna run around and dessert you.

the word on the street

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Fan letters for LOVE SUCKS! are rolling in… (okay, I’ve received 2. But who’s counting, right?) So far, so good! Which makes this camper, a happy camper.

In other news, I found my camera cord, so there will be Big Butt, So What BABY GOT BACK pics soon… Maybe.

Supernatural Summer is featuring one of my photos in their caption contest. Pop over and play!

Last week, InkPop.com (a teen writing site sponsored by HarperCollins) featured my writing tips in their blog. Wanna get Melducated? Stop by!

I met fellow Fictionista Gwen Hayes in person this week. I have a big Heart On for her now…even bigger than before. She is what Awesome wishes it could be!

Last night I hung at the waterfall pool with my new friend Tyler. Tyler is almost 12 and a Scorpio, which means we’re perfect friends. I’d kinda like to hang at the waterfall pool today, but there are workshops to go to…maybe I can sneak away for a little while…

BABY GOT BACK! and Front! and Books!

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Last night was chocolate covered awesome!

First off, I signed books at the Literacy Signing. And while I was doing that, I met my new favorite person: Helen.
Isn’t she adorable? And she’s fun, too. I told her she was going to be made famous in my blog today, so here I go making her famous. Helen was sent to me by a regular reader of my blog (HI LESLEE!) I can’t tell you how excited that made me! I was like a goofy little girl, all giddy and stuff. I channeled Sally Fields for a moment last night, “You like me? You really like me!”

Here I am at my little spot:Keep all cleavage remarks to yourself. I’m pretty sure I heard them all last night. DANGER: CURVES AHEAD!

After the signing, Maria Geraci’s family adopted me and we ate dinner at a fabulous Italian restaurant in the Swan. Our waiter was Fabiano and he was Fabuloso! (ok, true story here: We were discussing how I’m 41 years old and in all my many years, I never knew the Dolphin was both a fish and a mammal. And the Dolphin hotel is named for the fish not the mammal! I couldn’t figure out why the Swan had pretty swans everywhere and our hotel just had that weird looking fish!) Anyway Fabiano became my most favorite ever because he said “If it makes you feel better, you don’t look even close to 41. I would have guessed 31.” Ahhhh Fabiano! You just earned yourself an extra 10 spot in your tip!

After dinner, Maria and I joined the Divas for some Karaoke. There are pictures of me, Keri Ford and Amanda Berry doing a damn fine job of Baby Got Back–unfortunately I can’t find my camera cord this morning so you’re just gonna have to wait.

Trust me, they will be worth the wait….Thankfully, there is no video evidence. *she says as she runs off to check you tube just in case*

book signing event tonight!

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I will signing books (both BITE ME & LOVE SUCKS) for a charity event along with 300 other authors tonight. If you’re in the Orlando area, please come by the Dolphin! I’d love to see you, visit with you, get my picture taken with you and not feel left out like the red-headed step author. <–See what I did there? that's funny cuz I have red hair… Mel & Jill Monroe at Lit signing 2009

2010 “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing

The “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing has become one of the most popular events at RWA’s annual conference. More than 500 romance authors participate in this two-hour autographing event, and each year we raise thousands of dollars, which are donated to ProLiteracy Worldwide. Since 1990, RWA has donated more than $600,000 to literacy charities.

The 2010 “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing takes place on Wednesday, July 28, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Walt Disney World® Dolphin Resort, Pacific Exhibit Hall, in Orlando, Florida. This event is open to the public; there is no admittance charge. Since the proceeds from this event are donated to charity, we ask that you purchase books at the event instead of bringing your own books. (RWA accepts cash, check, or credit/debit cards for book purchases at the event.) If you do bring books, please limit yourself to one or two books and consider making a cash donation to the cause.

Mel & Gena Showalter Lit Signing 2009

my biggest fans are smurftastic!

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Ryan, my 10 year old nephew is my self-proclaimed biggest fan. He’s all the time talking about when BITE ME! goes to Hollywood, how he’s gonna be in the movie. And how he can’t wait to walk down the red carpet with his Aunt Mel.

Now, he’s never read my books, but he knows that one of the main characters is named Ryan which means he is a very. important. character. He has to be, right?

Well, my nephew is obsessed with my books being a big hit and he very badly wants me to write a 3rd book so the other day when I walked into his house he hands me a piece of paper and says, “Here’s your 3rd book idea.”

And now (with his permission of course) I’m going to share it with you:

The Final Bite
Author Meilisa Francass
Melissa Francis

The drama continues when one day Ryan was hit with a pistol andgot sent back in time to England and he meets his greatest challenge when himand his new friends have to fight Dracula and his vampire goons. Now they haveto kill dracula before sunset (I think he meant sunrise) [&]find out newromance in THE FINAL BITE.

That is truly a story made of 10 year old awesome.

Another thing that is made of awesome?
My friend’s daughter saw this and just had to buy it for me! Right now I’m calling him Count Smurfula but I’m thinking he might need a better name. What do you think? Any suggestions?

are you near Fulton, MO today?

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My friend Jon Pendergrass is having his first book signing today during Alumni Weekend at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. Stop by & buy a copy of his book Pepper Jack then have him sign that puppy for you.

Alumni Book Signing 11am-1pm
Mueller Leadership HallFeaturing alumni authors: Giles Fowler ’55,
Gary Forrest ’65, Dr. Carlton Caldwell ’80, John Landrum ’80, Jim Muench
’86, Jon Pendergrass ’91 and Matt Murrie ’98

Happy Saturday, y’all!!!!

a mish mash of mel

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Trivia Night at Touchdown Sally’s:

Team BITE ME! was again victorious! Together, this motley crew could rule the world of useless knowledge.

The kids:

Ian was wounded in battle yesterday during PE. His ankle was as big as his head for a little while…but according to fishdog, he seemed better this morning. He’s hobbling still but he’ll survive.

Rader has a chess tournament this weekend. I love my kid and would do anything for him, but spending all day watching these kids play chess is about as much fun as watching paint dry.

Books:

Pepper Jack is available at Amazon in hardcover, paperback and Kindle and it was written by friend of mine and fellow Arkansan, Jon Pendergrass. I’m downloading it to Rader’s Kindle today…shhhhh don’t tell him the reason he got a Kindle was so that I could use it!!

Jackson Pritchard is a wanted man. Wanted by his clients, by an ex-lover, by a new love interest…and now by the police for questioning. His clients have begun to turn up dead.
Jessica Young wants to live her own life for a change. Now that her second life is ready to begin, her path crosses Jackson’s. Follow them across the country and further as their adventures culminate in an explosive and surprise ending. Pepper Jack is a thriller much in the style of James Patterson. Set predominantly in Memphis, it is filled with rich Southern character and characters.

Weird stuff:
I’ve had 2 nose bleeds in 2 days. I hope this isn’t a direct result of the shelf incident. Phil the Lump is now Phil the Light Bruise. I’m thinking the nose bleeding thing is just my sinuses. Still, it sucks.

The skeeviest thing on earth happened to me yesterday. I’m not going to talk about details but I will say that an offer was made that I couldn’t decline quickly enough. And then I wanted to take a shower–in bleach.

Miscellaneous (did I spell that correctly? I always mess that up…)

I’m thinking of making my own laundry detergent. Anyone out there ever done it before? What did you think? At $.02 a load, I’m thinking it’s worth a try….

• 4 cups of water.
• 1/3 bar of cheap soap, grated.
• 1/2 cup washing soda (not baking soda).
• 1/2 cup of Borax (20 Mule Team).
• 5-gallon bucket for mixing.
• 3 gallons of water.

First, mix the grated soap in a saucepan with 4 cups of water, and heat on low until the soap is completely dissolved. Add hot water/soap mixture to 3 gallons of water in the 5-gallon bucket, stir in the washing soda and Borax, and continue stirring until thickened. Let the mix sit for 24 hours, and voila! Homemade laundry detergent.

and then she rested

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What a busy weekend! Holy Spamoli!

Okay, first was Friday night’s party…which was a huge success and totally fun! I didn’t want the night to end however, responsiblity called and reminded me that I had a very busy day ahead of me on Saturday. So even though I played at being a Naughty School Girl–I am still a good girl at heart and I went home. (by myself, heh)

Saturday started off watching the Razorback game with my pal (and Alabama fan) Marley Gibson. Then the fabulous Linda Gerber joined us. After that farce of a game (can NOT even talk about it) we drove over to North Little Rock to meet Stacey Jay and her cutie-patootie hubby and Rosemary Clement-Moore for some appetizers.

from left to right: Me, Rosemary, Linda, Marley, Stacey (Not pictured: Chloe Neill)

Then we had the book signing at Books-A-Million. It went pretty well considering we were competing with the Miley-freaking-Cyrus concert. Lots of great costumes, fun trivia questions, and tasty treats. Met Chloe Neill for the first time. Totally awesome chick.

While there, I found out that BITE ME! has been chosen for the Books-A-Million Twilight Book Club! Look! Not only do I get great placement, but I get a sticker, too!

Sunday, Marley and Me (hehehee) went out for a very lovely and inexpensive brunch before I took her to the airport. We had a great time and was so good to see her again.

Now it’s back to the normalcy of laundry, house cleaning, cooking, and homework. Hmmm. I like the busy weekends better.

Hope y’all had a good one. Anything you wanna share?

have you bought a banned book today?

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This is Banned Books Week, which is an annual event here in America that celebrates the importance of freedom. You know, that silly 1st Amendment? Yeah, that.

Here is the list of last year’s most challenged books.

1. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group
2. His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman
Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, and violence
3. TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
4. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, and violence
5. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, and violence
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, and unsuited to age group
7. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
8. Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen
Reasons: homosexuality and unsuited to age group
9. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
10. Flashcards of My Life, by Charise Mericle Harper
Reasons: sexually explicit and unsuited to age group

Which challenged book are you going to buy? I have to say, it kills me that the #1 book is about a pair of male penguins who just want to hatch an egg of their own. The #1 challenged book is ABOUT LOVE but it’s banned because it’s about *whispers in an appropriate southern manner* “H-O-M-O-SEXUAL LOVE.”

Ouch. I just hurt myself when I rolled my eyes.

I haven’t been notified of any challenges to BITE ME! yet, but I did receive one hate mail letter last year. (Yes, before my book even came out. She took offense to my blog) I was told that my book will NEVER see a shelf in her town and her children will NEVER read me because I was a disgrace to mothers everywhere. I just laughed because frankly, my sons would probably agree with her from time to time. And as a parent, she has the right to refuse her kids my awesomeness. But I’d bet my last dollar my book is in her library and on a shelf in a bookstore somewhere in her little Texas town… that pesky little 1st Amendment. It gets in the way of everything!

Go. Buy a challenged book. Support intellectual and creative freedom. Just because a book might not be right for you or your child, doesn’t mean it isn’t right for someone else.

Here’s a list of the top 100 challenged books from 1990-1999. It blows me away every time I read it.

And here’s a list of challenged classics. Seriously. Some people need to get a life. If you don’t like what you’re watching: change the channel. If you don’t like what you’re reading: put the book down.