Melanie Ansley's Blog, page 5
December 2, 2016
5 Things Acting Taught Me About Writing
Most writers have day jobs, which feed into their writing. Every Friday I’ll be asking a writer what unexpected lessons their day job has taught them about the craft.
Today, I asked actor, children's author and screenwriter Jenn Daugherty what being on screen has taught her about writing on the page.
Jenn Daugherty is one half of the creative team of Uncanny Entertainment. With her husband, director and writer Phillip Hughes, the two have just completed their first feature comedy, The Merry...
November 26, 2016
5 Things Being a Vet Taught Me About Writing
Most writers have day jobs, which feed into their writing. Every Friday I’ll be asking a writer what unexpected lessons their day job has taught them about the craft.
This week, veterinarian and fantasy author Mary Parker shares how being a vet feeds into her writing. Mary Parker works in both emergency and general practice. She published her first novel, 'Fairy Tales Written By Rabbits', in 2015 and is busy editing the sequel between other work commitments. You can find her online at feroxpu...
November 11, 2016
5 Things Law Enforcement Taught Me About Writing
Most writers have day jobs, which feed into their writing. Every Friday I’ll be asking a writer what unexpected lessons their day job has taught them about the craft.
This week, I asked animal author Terry Kaye about what she learned over almost a decade working in law enforcement, and how that's shaped her writing. You can check out her latest book, "Dog Only Knows," on her website www.dogonlyknows.com.
Terry: I moved to LA for the same reason most actors do--to work in film and TV. More ...
May 27, 2016
Writing Spaces
Virginia Woolf famously said that a writer needs a room of one's own. While I do appreciate my own room, I also love a couple of corners of the world that are public yet also incredibly great for writing.
I'm lucky to be in one of these places now.
Coming back to this small, quaint Bangkok hotel, I wonder about its marketing policy. It's such a great place for writers: quiet, with a 1950's vibe that seems like the hotel hasn't changed from the day it was built. There are immaculate antique writing desks, old fashioned library corners, and gilded lights and plush red mid century seats that are almost reminiscent of The Shining.
Authors flock here in the quiet unassuming droves, as evidenced by the bookcases displaying complimentary copies of the books written here. One of those books was "Eat Pray Love". I adore this place, perhaps in great part because this was where I made a major breakthrough on the rewrite of "Theo and the Forbidden Language".
And that's why I am hesitant to recommend it to anyone outside of my closest family and friends. People who love this place want to keep this hidden gem hidden.
But who knows, maybe this place is already famous, and its watertight guest policy guarantees that it will never lose its old world charm, or get flooded with every aspiring writer on the planet. Or perhaps it just relies on its loyal clientele, like me, who come back any chance we get. Regardless, I'm grateful for all the cozy nooks I've found, at home or abroad. Something about being away from home for a short while really can energize the writing, not to mention all the stimulus of a new place.
Anyway, back to writing!
I'm lucky to be in one of these places now.
Coming back to this small, quaint Bangkok hotel, I wonder about its marketing policy. It's such a great place for writers: quiet, with a 1950's vibe that seems like the hotel hasn't changed from the day it was built. There are immaculate antique writing desks, old fashioned library corners, and gilded lights and plush red mid century seats that are almost reminiscent of The Shining.
Authors flock here in the quiet unassuming droves, as evidenced by the bookcases displaying complimentary copies of the books written here. One of those books was "Eat Pray Love". I adore this place, perhaps in great part because this was where I made a major breakthrough on the rewrite of "Theo and the Forbidden Language".
And that's why I am hesitant to recommend it to anyone outside of my closest family and friends. People who love this place want to keep this hidden gem hidden.
But who knows, maybe this place is already famous, and its watertight guest policy guarantees that it will never lose its old world charm, or get flooded with every aspiring writer on the planet. Or perhaps it just relies on its loyal clientele, like me, who come back any chance we get. Regardless, I'm grateful for all the cozy nooks I've found, at home or abroad. Something about being away from home for a short while really can energize the writing, not to mention all the stimulus of a new place.
Anyway, back to writing!
February 15, 2016
New Interview
An interview I did with Canadian author Coreena McBurnie is now up on her website:
http://coreenamcburnie.com/2016/02/14...
I'm now also reading the first in her "Antigone" series--a historical fiction fantasy which is one of my favourite genres. Coreena welcomes interview submissions from independent authors, so it's worth visiting her site and checking out her work.
Happy reading and writing over this long weekend!
http://coreenamcburnie.com/2016/02/14...
I'm now also reading the first in her "Antigone" series--a historical fiction fantasy which is one of my favourite genres. Coreena welcomes interview submissions from independent authors, so it's worth visiting her site and checking out her work.
Happy reading and writing over this long weekend!
February 16, 2015
Giveaway day!
"Theo and the Forbidden Language" goes free today (Monday, Feb 16), as it's my last day on Amazon's KDP Select and the other giveaways did a great job connecting me with new readers and supporters.
Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Theo-Forbidden-...
I've also found that the uptick in interest does create sales/borrows in the days immediately following--so for any new authors out there, it does seem going free has its perks, especially if your book is well written, well edited, and finds an audience who feels like they got a very good deal off your countdown/free promo.
I am still debating the benefits of going to Nook and Google Play--there are such mixed opinions on line, but would love to hear any experiences readers/authors have with those two platforms!
Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Theo-Forbidden-...
I've also found that the uptick in interest does create sales/borrows in the days immediately following--so for any new authors out there, it does seem going free has its perks, especially if your book is well written, well edited, and finds an audience who feels like they got a very good deal off your countdown/free promo.
I am still debating the benefits of going to Nook and Google Play--there are such mixed opinions on line, but would love to hear any experiences readers/authors have with those two platforms!
January 26, 2015
You may be a book junkie if…
We’re all familiar with discussions about how and when we steal time to read—in the bath, on the toilet, waiting for the bus. Those are the tried and true methods of sneaking in precious time with our addiction. But lately I realized that some of the ways I’ve worked out to feed my reading habit are less common. Not only that, but I’ve also discovered that I can take some pretty unpleasant experiences (dentist appointments, medical exams) and turn them into enjoyable reading time to such an extent that I no longer dread those visits. If you’re like me, and can relate to any of these, you just might also be a book junkie.
1) Blood tests:
I’m not talking about the quick in and out operations, though those can work too. Last week I was “lucky” enough to have to undergo a blood test evaluating my glucose processing ability, where you drink a glass of sickeningly sweet fluid and then sit for an hour before having blood drawn. The doctor told me to show up with two hours to spare and a book to read. My thoughts went immediately from “I hate needles!” to “I get to read for two hours? Sweet!” My only complaint after this experience was that the test turned out to be shorter than expected, cutting drastically into my anticipated reading time.
2) Cooking:
Soups have become my lunch of choice. Sure, I like the taste, and it fills me up, but soups are brilliant in that you just have to stir occasionally, not constantly watch. Which means you can cook with one hand and read with the other. Does not work so well with stir frying, so this is not a good option for Chinese foodies out there.
3) Heading out with your family:
If your family is anything like mine, they take a while to get organized and out the door. With a little practice, you can end up with five to ten minutes standing at the door as they wrangle their cell phones, purses, and keys. I understand this works less well when one has children.
4) Running errands:
When I lived in China, internet banking was non-existent, unreliable, or downright inadvisable due to security. You had to go in person to the bank, which meant lining up with at least thirty other people in a tight space, with usually only two people to service you. This meant bank errands equaled giant chunks of reading time. I was one of the few customers who wasn’t pulling my hair out in frustration at the tellers’ glacial pace. This works for lines anywhere—the grocery store, pharmacy, post office, you name it.
5) Take your book everywhere—and I mean everywhere:
Friends arriving late for coffee, family saying “I’ll pop in for a sec, just wait a minute,” and unexpected change in plans. They happen anytime, anywhere. Especially when you’ve forgotten to bring a book.
Suggestions on other ways you squeeze reading time out of your day? Do tell, I’m always looking for more ideas.
1) Blood tests:
I’m not talking about the quick in and out operations, though those can work too. Last week I was “lucky” enough to have to undergo a blood test evaluating my glucose processing ability, where you drink a glass of sickeningly sweet fluid and then sit for an hour before having blood drawn. The doctor told me to show up with two hours to spare and a book to read. My thoughts went immediately from “I hate needles!” to “I get to read for two hours? Sweet!” My only complaint after this experience was that the test turned out to be shorter than expected, cutting drastically into my anticipated reading time.
2) Cooking:
Soups have become my lunch of choice. Sure, I like the taste, and it fills me up, but soups are brilliant in that you just have to stir occasionally, not constantly watch. Which means you can cook with one hand and read with the other. Does not work so well with stir frying, so this is not a good option for Chinese foodies out there.
3) Heading out with your family:
If your family is anything like mine, they take a while to get organized and out the door. With a little practice, you can end up with five to ten minutes standing at the door as they wrangle their cell phones, purses, and keys. I understand this works less well when one has children.
4) Running errands:
When I lived in China, internet banking was non-existent, unreliable, or downright inadvisable due to security. You had to go in person to the bank, which meant lining up with at least thirty other people in a tight space, with usually only two people to service you. This meant bank errands equaled giant chunks of reading time. I was one of the few customers who wasn’t pulling my hair out in frustration at the tellers’ glacial pace. This works for lines anywhere—the grocery store, pharmacy, post office, you name it.
5) Take your book everywhere—and I mean everywhere:
Friends arriving late for coffee, family saying “I’ll pop in for a sec, just wait a minute,” and unexpected change in plans. They happen anytime, anywhere. Especially when you’ve forgotten to bring a book.
Suggestions on other ways you squeeze reading time out of your day? Do tell, I’m always looking for more ideas.
December 10, 2014
Leaping off the deep end
This is my first Goodreads blog post--not just as an author, but ever. Behind the times, I know. But to make up for it, I’m kicking it off with a free promo day.
After a lot of research (okay, maybe just as much as my brain could handle) into KDP Select and all the various exclusive options, I went with KDP. Hugely for the experimentation with exclusivity, but also for the free promotion dates.
Today, my fantasy novel “Theo and the Forbidden Language” will be available for free. I know there’s a lot of debate online about the advisability of free, whether it devalues a book or generates new readers. But ten plus years as a film producer has taught me that sometimes the only way to find out is to dive in. Opinions are plentiful and convictions run deep, but ultimately the only way to really taste the truth and gain the knowledge is to eat the apple yourself. So here we go!
I'm running this free promo for one day only, feel free to check out the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Theo-Forbidden-...
Thank you and happy reading!
After a lot of research (okay, maybe just as much as my brain could handle) into KDP Select and all the various exclusive options, I went with KDP. Hugely for the experimentation with exclusivity, but also for the free promotion dates.
Today, my fantasy novel “Theo and the Forbidden Language” will be available for free. I know there’s a lot of debate online about the advisability of free, whether it devalues a book or generates new readers. But ten plus years as a film producer has taught me that sometimes the only way to find out is to dive in. Opinions are plentiful and convictions run deep, but ultimately the only way to really taste the truth and gain the knowledge is to eat the apple yourself. So here we go!
I'm running this free promo for one day only, feel free to check out the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Theo-Forbidden-...
Thank you and happy reading!
