Michelle Scott's Blog, page 13
February 18, 2019
Browsing the Stacks of a Used Book Store
[image error]Last weekend, my daughter and I visited what I consider to be a national treasure. Or at least, a treasure here in the state of Michigan.
I discovered John K. King Used Bookstore years ago, but I haven’t been back in a very long time. To my relief, the place is much the same as it was twenty-five years ago. The building once housed a glove factory, but now it is four, fabulous floors of used books. Everything from military history to YA to old Workbasket knitting magazines like the ones my grandmother used to get.
[image error]The best thing about John K. King, imho, is the atmosphere. It’s an old, worn building, [image error]with scarred, wooden floors and lots of nooks and crannies. It’s a bit industrial and pretty creepy, to be honest. In fact, I’m planning on incorporating it into my Restless Spirits series, because what necromancer doesn’t want an antique bookstore in which to find old books on the occult?
I had only planned on spending an hour there, but of course, one hour turned into two and a half. And, honestly, I could have stayed an extra three or four if they hadn’t had to close.
February 7, 2019
Open Marriage Movie Review
Here’s another LMN movie review for Open Marriage. If you’re interested in watching the frisky misadventures of a frolicsome foursome, then this movie is for you!
January 9, 2019
Free Books for Your New Year
I hope all of you had a great holiday! Or maybe you’re just glad that the holidays are over…?
In any case, a new year also means new books. Time to put that new Kindle/Nook/e-reader to good use with these two amazing events.
[image error]The first giveaway (hosted by Prolific Works) is called New Year? New Worlds. This giveaway event revolves around fantasy and sci-fi novels. There are 79 books to choose from, all of them FREE! My book Stage Fright is among them.
The next giveaway is for books involving gay romance. My paranormal suspense novel Thunder Point is among 37 other novels and excerpts available for your enjoyment.
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If you are looking for new books to explore and new authors to discover, this is your big opportunity.
November 12, 2018
Vampires for Christmas…Free for the Holidays
[image error]Cassandra Jaber hadn’t planned on spending the holidays with a bunch of vampires who are all intent on stealing her soul. But when she gets a party invitation she can’t refuse, she realizes that vamps aren’t the only things she needs to beware of.
What goes better together than vampires and Christmas? Vampires for Christmas is a novella that is part of the Bit Parts series.
Vampires for Christmas is available for free on Smashwords.
November 5, 2018
Lifetime Movie Review – Party Mom
Just when you think that Lifetime movies can’t get any more outlandish…
Here’s my latest review of Party Mom.
October 24, 2018
How I Switched from Pantsing to Plotting – Preparing for NaNoWriMo
[image error]Until recently, I’ve been a pantser. That is, I write without using an outline. My favorite writer, Stephen King, does this, so I figured it was the only way to write. While pantsing does make my writing more spontaneous, I wanted to write faster. Especially since I’m planning on a sequel to Thunder Point and I have all of these loose ideas floating around. Honestly, my head feels like a Pinterest board!
While hanging out on my favorite writers’ forum, I came across a website called Helping Writers Become Authors. What a goldmine of information! The author, K.M. Weiland, has step-by-step instructions on the best way to plot a novel. In less than two weeks, I’ve learned so much and have gotten a huge start on my novel. (Well…I have everything but a title…)
I also invested in Scrivener, a word processor made especially for writers. It’s been immensely helpful in creating characters, plotting scenes, designing settings…the whole nine yards.
In essence, I’ve become a true plotting convert. For the past two weeks, I’ve done nothing but plot Thunder Point’s sequel, and by NaNoWriMo, I’ll be ready to write it. I’m really hoping to write that entire novel in November. (Which will be a little challenging due to Thanksgiving, but I’m giving it a shot anyway.) And I would be one happy camper to have Thunder Point 2 out in January of next year.
Stay tuned!
October 22, 2018
Stage Fright…the Movie Review
In addition to writing, reading, and knitting, I am a huge fan of Lifetime movies. Yes, they’re cheesy and over-the-top, but there’s something about those crazy, silly movies that I find very entertaining.
In light of that, I’ve started my own YouTube channel where I review movies from LMN. My maiden video is a review of the movie Stage Fright. I hope you enjoy it!
October 14, 2018
Spooktacular Giveaway Hop
[image error]Happy Halloween (or close enough anyway!) Once again, I’m participating in the Spooktacular Giveaway hop hosted by Bookhounds. The prize is a $15.00 Amazon gift card, and the contest is open to everyone.
The hop runs from October 15 – 31. Once you’ve entered the contest here, you can use the list of links below to continue hopping from blog to blog for more chances to win.
When the contest is over, I’ll be contacting the lucky winner via e-mail. This contest is international, and the winner will receive the Amazon gift card via e-mail. If I contact the winner, and he/she doesn’t respond within a week, I will move on to the second place entry, so be sure to check your e-mail!
Good luck!
October 13, 2018
Rainy, Raw, Sniffles, Indoors, Flannel, Cozy, Tea
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If I had to describe today in seven words, I’d say: rainy, raw, sniffles, indoors, flannel, cozy, tea.
The weather, as you can guess, is rainy, and the wind carries within it the raw edge of winter. This makes my nose run. To compensate, I’m staying indoors and wearing my favorite flannel shirt (and soft socks) while drinking tea. Yoshi is here [image error]with me, snuggled up and purring, so it’s cozy as well. Honestly, there’s nowhere I’d rather be right now.
Back in grad school, I was sitting in class on day much like today, wishing I wasn’t in a bleak classroom, but back at home on the couch with a fleece blanket and a good book. Unfortunately, I had to sit through a lecture.
Then, out of the blue, the professor turned our attention to a poem by Wallace Stevens. It goes like this:
When the elephant’s-ear in the park
Shrivelled in frost,
And the leaves on the paths
Ran like rats,
Your lamp-light fell
On shining pillows,
Of sea-shades and sky-shades,
Like umbrellas in Java.
Instantly, the poem evoked the image of two people reclining on blue pillows while sharing cups of tea in a softly-lit room. It’s a brilliant poem, and it plays like smooth jazz inside my head every time the weather gets nasty.
Today is the perfect day for it.
