Melanie Harlow's Blog, page 6
June 7, 2013
Flapper Friday -- How Did They Get That GLOW?
Glowing Gloria SwansonEver wonder how those classic Hollywood screen starlets got their glowing complexions? Why the leading men appeared so virile? Easy-peasy. Radioactivity!
Within two years of its discovery, doctors, inventors, and cosmetics companies were singing the praises of radium's healing properties and energy-boosting powers. It was called a "revolutionary beauty secret."
This ad for Radior Toilet Requisites from 1918 claims, "The tiniest particle of Radium throws off a stream o...
June 4, 2013
Tempt Me Tuesday: Get in THE MOOD
Since my cover reveal was so much fun last week, I thought I'd share some more pictures that will put you in the proper mood for SPEAK EASY. (This is me trying to tempt you...)
Best viewed with a cocktail and the Great Gatsby soundtrack.
Booth at Club 23
Several fun things happen in stairwells...
...as well as underground tunnels.
What's better than a man in a three-piece suit at a speakeasy?
Um, this.
The hair. The eyes. THE LIPS. Meet Enzo DiFiore.
OK, the modern room can go, but the man? He stays....
Best viewed with a cocktail and the Great Gatsby soundtrack.
Booth at Club 23
Several fun things happen in stairwells...
...as well as underground tunnels.
What's better than a man in a three-piece suit at a speakeasy?
Um, this.
The hair. The eyes. THE LIPS. Meet Enzo DiFiore.
OK, the modern room can go, but the man? He stays....
May 31, 2013
Flapper Friday: SPEAK EASY Cover Reveal & Gift Card Giveaway!
This is a really exciting day for me! And it's almost the weekend--what could be better?
For today's Flapper Friday, I'm revealing the cover for SPEAK EASY, my NA Historical coming out July 22nd.
This is my debut novel, so I'm completely giddy about this (also kinda nauseous, but I do have a bit of stage fright).
So what's SPEAK EASY about? Think NA meets Boardwalk Empire. Here's the scoop:
July, 1923. The ‘20s are roaring, and twenty-year-old Tiny O’Mara is desperate for a little anything-goes e...
For today's Flapper Friday, I'm revealing the cover for SPEAK EASY, my NA Historical coming out July 22nd.
This is my debut novel, so I'm completely giddy about this (also kinda nauseous, but I do have a bit of stage fright).
So what's SPEAK EASY about? Think NA meets Boardwalk Empire. Here's the scoop:
July, 1923. The ‘20s are roaring, and twenty-year-old Tiny O’Mara is desperate for a little anything-goes e...
May 30, 2013
Suddenly I Was Drunk: A Drinking Game for Self-Editing
I finished the revisions on my latest book, which is a good thing, but now I'm editing.
Which I hate.
I hate it because it reveals all my writerly tics and bad habits, all the rules I have broken. It confirms once and for all that I am unfit to write a grocery list, let alone a novel.
Yes. And I'm horrified with myself.
Why do I insist on using the word "suddenly" when I cringe even as I'm typing it?Why are my characters always shrugging, nodding, or shaking their heads?Why is everyone glancing a...
May 28, 2013
Tempt Me Tuesday: THIS PICTURE
I came across this photo over the weekend.
It reminds me so much of a character in SPEAK EASY (a gorgeous Italian boy who's good in the... kitchen) I wanted to share it with you.
You're welcome.
Go enjoy the day.
It reminds me so much of a character in SPEAK EASY (a gorgeous Italian boy who's good in the... kitchen) I wanted to share it with you.
You're welcome.
Go enjoy the day.
May 22, 2013
Vintage Ad Fun with Listerine
One of the most popular series of posts on an old blog I had was Vintage Ad Fun, so I thought I'd resurrect it here for your amusement. The first installment is brought to you by the miracle that is Listerine.
Are you unpopular?
It might be your "unexcusable" bad breath.
But don't worry. You can instantly halt halitosis with Listerine.
In fact, the "pleasant-tasting germicide" is so powerful, it can combat a cold, dandruff, or perspiration, and it provides cool, refreshing exhilaration after a sh...
Are you unpopular?
It might be your "unexcusable" bad breath.
But don't worry. You can instantly halt halitosis with Listerine.
In fact, the "pleasant-tasting germicide" is so powerful, it can combat a cold, dandruff, or perspiration, and it provides cool, refreshing exhilaration after a sh...
May 21, 2013
Tempt Me Tuesday -- In Royal Fashion
As if I needed another reason to be distracted today, my friend Laurelin Paige discovered something fascinating.
The Prince of Sweden is a babe.
I don't even mean a babe for a royal, like he wouldn't be hot otherwise.
I mean an honest-to-goodness, take-me-to-your-palace-NOW babe.
Just doesn't seem fair, does it? I thought handsome princes only existed in books. (And I might have to write one now. I'm feeling...inspired.)
According to Wikipedia (which is NEVER wrong), Carl Philip was born Crown Prince of Sweden, and he retained his title and first place in succession for seven months until 1 January 1980, when he was stripped of both by a change in the Act of Succession to introduce absolute primogeniture.
Yeah. I'd strip him too.
The Prince of Sweden is a babe.
I don't even mean a babe for a royal, like he wouldn't be hot otherwise.
I mean an honest-to-goodness, take-me-to-your-palace-NOW babe.
Just doesn't seem fair, does it? I thought handsome princes only existed in books. (And I might have to write one now. I'm feeling...inspired.)
According to Wikipedia (which is NEVER wrong), Carl Philip was born Crown Prince of Sweden, and he retained his title and first place in succession for seven months until 1 January 1980, when he was stripped of both by a change in the Act of Succession to introduce absolute primogeniture.
Yeah. I'd strip him too.
May 17, 2013
Flapper Friday -- Detroit is gonna party like it's 1920
Someone sent me this article recently, and the headline made me turn cartwheels:
Party Like it's 1920: Detroit City Distillery Opening in Eastern Market.
First because it comforts me to know that other people are interested in partying like it's 1920.
Second because Detroit needs this kind of cool new business.
Third because it involves gin. And anything involving good gin gets an automatic cartwheel from me.
Whee! Good gin!
The Prohibition-themed micro-distillery (love those words) and tasting room will be located in an old Eastern Market slaughterhouse (which is also kind of a cool old word even though I don't like thinking about its actual meaning).
The outside
The inside
Although it is not slated to open until Spring of 2014, distiller J.P. Jerome is already barrel-aging whiskey in preparation for opening.
How cool is that?
Cheers, everyone! Have a great weekend!
Party Like it's 1920: Detroit City Distillery Opening in Eastern Market.
First because it comforts me to know that other people are interested in partying like it's 1920.
Second because Detroit needs this kind of cool new business.
Third because it involves gin. And anything involving good gin gets an automatic cartwheel from me.
Whee! Good gin!The Prohibition-themed micro-distillery (love those words) and tasting room will be located in an old Eastern Market slaughterhouse (which is also kind of a cool old word even though I don't like thinking about its actual meaning).
The outside
The insideAlthough it is not slated to open until Spring of 2014, distiller J.P. Jerome is already barrel-aging whiskey in preparation for opening.
How cool is that?
Cheers, everyone! Have a great weekend!
May 16, 2013
Thinking About Self-Publishing? THINK AHEAD! (Now I Know...)
First! I hereby admit:
I have not done it yet.
I am not an expert.
I am not saying my way is the only way/the best way/your way sucks.
I'm only a writer who wants to do things right and is willing to do research and spend time and money making sure my stories get out there the right way. With that out of the way, this is the first of a series of posts I'll call Now I Know. They are intended to help other newbies like me along the path to (hopefully) successful self-publishing.
Lesson #1? THINK AHEAD.
Publishing your beloved book yourself means you have the responsibility of not just being the writer, but being a businessperson too. I cannot emphasize this enough. When I made the decision to self-pub SPEAK EASY, one of the first things I realized was that I had not thought about the book like a businessperson.
At all.
The book was done--done, I say! It was April, and I was toasting myself in smug fashion. I'd have no problem releasing it by summer, right?
WRONG. All I'd done was write the damn story. I had not thought about the realities of cover creation, a marketing timeline, Ebook pricing, booking a release tour, or formatting/distribution. My girls over at The NAturals panicked for me and immediately told me to get moving on the business end.
One of the writers in my group was still finishing her book, but she already had a cover and reveal date, a banner, a release date, and swag! She was building buzz for her book before it was final? Gulp.
I put down my drink (this is hard for me). I dug into the research.
Here are a few resources I found help ful: The Writer's Guide to E-Publishing, BookBaby, The Creative Penn, the Ebook Formatting Fairies. I also asked fellow writers for recommendations on book tours, editors, cover design, and formatting.
When I emailed the online book promotional people I wanted (AToMR Tours), I found that the soonest they could get me in was August. And in order to decide if they'd take me on as a client, they needed to see the cover, the blurb, and the first chapter. The book (even the chapter) didn't have to be edited and the cover didn't have to be final.
Ummm...Cover? What cover?
In traditional publishing, where you're querying an agent, your ms must must be PERFECT and COMPLETE before you query. And a cover? That's done for you wayyyyy down the road. You'll be lucky to like it.
Not so in my new world, where I'm the boss.
NOW I KNOW: Book tours need to be set up months in advance. At AToMR, your cover needs to be released (public) before you can get tour sign-ups (bloggers willing to feature your book). And you need 8 weeks to properly set up a tour in order to give bloggers time to read your book--they are crazy busy and overloaded with reading. Duh!
So think ahead--If you know you want to release this fall, NOW is the time to do your research and choose your partners. Lucky for me, I found a talented graphic designer willing to take on my noob self and work fast. (More about that in the next Now I Know post.)
When my cover was done--I salivate over it daily--I finally sent the necessary materials to the goddess named Julie at AToMR, and I caught a bit of luck. She had a tour spot open up in July--and she liked my book.
I did a little of this.
Goddess Julie helped me set my cover release date in time for bloggers/reviewers to take part, and has answered all my I-know-nothing-please-help-me questions thoroughly and patiently.
Drum roll... My cover reveal for SPEAK EASY is May 31st!
I pick up my drink again to toast Julie and The NAturals for educating me one step at a time. I am completely humbled. (I owe NA writers Laurelin Paige, Alessandra Thomas, Sophia Bleu, Tamara Mataya, and Lucy Stark many cocktails for their patience, generosity, and cheerleading.)
Stay tuned for Lesson #2: THE COVER, or What do you mean, my title is too long for that font???
I have not done it yet.
I am not an expert.
I am not saying my way is the only way/the best way/your way sucks.
I'm only a writer who wants to do things right and is willing to do research and spend time and money making sure my stories get out there the right way. With that out of the way, this is the first of a series of posts I'll call Now I Know. They are intended to help other newbies like me along the path to (hopefully) successful self-publishing.
Lesson #1? THINK AHEAD.
Publishing your beloved book yourself means you have the responsibility of not just being the writer, but being a businessperson too. I cannot emphasize this enough. When I made the decision to self-pub SPEAK EASY, one of the first things I realized was that I had not thought about the book like a businessperson.
At all.
The book was done--done, I say! It was April, and I was toasting myself in smug fashion. I'd have no problem releasing it by summer, right?
WRONG. All I'd done was write the damn story. I had not thought about the realities of cover creation, a marketing timeline, Ebook pricing, booking a release tour, or formatting/distribution. My girls over at The NAturals panicked for me and immediately told me to get moving on the business end.
One of the writers in my group was still finishing her book, but she already had a cover and reveal date, a banner, a release date, and swag! She was building buzz for her book before it was final? Gulp.
I put down my drink (this is hard for me). I dug into the research.
Here are a few resources I found help ful: The Writer's Guide to E-Publishing, BookBaby, The Creative Penn, the Ebook Formatting Fairies. I also asked fellow writers for recommendations on book tours, editors, cover design, and formatting.
When I emailed the online book promotional people I wanted (AToMR Tours), I found that the soonest they could get me in was August. And in order to decide if they'd take me on as a client, they needed to see the cover, the blurb, and the first chapter. The book (even the chapter) didn't have to be edited and the cover didn't have to be final.
Ummm...Cover? What cover?
In traditional publishing, where you're querying an agent, your ms must must be PERFECT and COMPLETE before you query. And a cover? That's done for you wayyyyy down the road. You'll be lucky to like it.
Not so in my new world, where I'm the boss.
NOW I KNOW: Book tours need to be set up months in advance. At AToMR, your cover needs to be released (public) before you can get tour sign-ups (bloggers willing to feature your book). And you need 8 weeks to properly set up a tour in order to give bloggers time to read your book--they are crazy busy and overloaded with reading. Duh!
So think ahead--If you know you want to release this fall, NOW is the time to do your research and choose your partners. Lucky for me, I found a talented graphic designer willing to take on my noob self and work fast. (More about that in the next Now I Know post.)
When my cover was done--I salivate over it daily--I finally sent the necessary materials to the goddess named Julie at AToMR, and I caught a bit of luck. She had a tour spot open up in July--and she liked my book.
I did a little of this.
Goddess Julie helped me set my cover release date in time for bloggers/reviewers to take part, and has answered all my I-know-nothing-please-help-me questions thoroughly and patiently.
Drum roll... My cover reveal for SPEAK EASY is May 31st!
I pick up my drink again to toast Julie and The NAturals for educating me one step at a time. I am completely humbled. (I owe NA writers Laurelin Paige, Alessandra Thomas, Sophia Bleu, Tamara Mataya, and Lucy Stark many cocktails for their patience, generosity, and cheerleading.)
Stay tuned for Lesson #2: THE COVER, or What do you mean, my title is too long for that font???
May 14, 2013
Tempt Me Tuesday -- With a Bow Tie
I think we can all agree that a man in a bow tie is sexy. And if you have doubts...
Love when a man adjusts his French cuffs.
Fine, I'll dance with you.
It's sexy in a crowd.
Sexy in a hallway.
Sexy with a cardigan.
And lately the bow tie has become stylish even with jeans.
Dig the velvet coat!
Yes. Whatever you're asking there. Yes.
It's even sexy undone.
But learn to tie one. And NO pre-tied nonsense, please. Man up.
Need help? here you go...
Because the only thing better than this...
Is this.
Where's his bow tie? It's on the floor. But this was a better picture.
Love when a man adjusts his French cuffs.
Fine, I'll dance with you.It's sexy in a crowd.
Sexy in a hallway.
Sexy with a cardigan.
And lately the bow tie has become stylish even with jeans.
Dig the velvet coat!
Yes. Whatever you're asking there. Yes.It's even sexy undone.
But learn to tie one. And NO pre-tied nonsense, please. Man up.
Need help? here you go...
Because the only thing better than this...
Is this.
Where's his bow tie? It's on the floor. But this was a better picture.
