In case I get famous

Q&A

2012-02-24T19:38:00.000-05:00

I've been tagged. And I'm going to tag you too.

THE RULES

1. You must post the rules.

2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you've tagged.

3. Tag eleven people (or as many as you can) and link to them on your post.

4. Let them know you've tagged them!

It's always fun (for me) to be part of an interview, so when M. Nicole Cunningham tagged me, I was flattered. Here are her questions:

1. What is the oldest book you've ever read?
In terms of publication, probably the Bible. In terms of the age of a physical book, I've read several classics from the early 1900's. I liked the brittle pages and that the cover might fall off if I wasn't careful (no, really!)

2. What was the first story you ever wrote and what was it about?
My very first story was called The Bad Carwash. I probably wrote it when I was in kindergarten. It was about a woman who went to a car wash and got her dress caught in the door, thereby soaking her dress by the time the wash was finished. Started strong, but degraded into multiple car washes with various parts of the car falling off in the process. That's actually about how long the original was, too.

3. Who is your favorite author? If you have several, list them all out!
Always a tough question for me. Classically, I love Oscar Wilde and Charles Dickens. In the modern world, I'm pulled toward writers who take my mind off other things, like Kyra Davis and Jennifer Weiner.

4. Tell me a little story about the significance of your birth date. Feel free to embellish.
Well, I was born. That's pretty significant to me!

5. What tropes are beginning to annoy you in steampunk? I know you have a few; I certainly do. *coughairshippiratescough*
Uh, I'm not entirely engaged in steampunk, so I couldn't say.

6. Do you think a novel needs an idealized hero?
No. The hero should be someone who's flawed -- someone people can relate to. Any time you idealize something, you run the risk of it becoming a parody or a "Mary Sue".

7. What do you think of gender roles in novels? Should they reflect reality, an ideal, or something in between?
Most often, they should reflect reality. I write everything from "the present" so the roles are what I see around me.

8. What makes a delicious villain?
Someone who has 2 sides. Everyone has a little good and a little evil, so when the villain displays something good, something you can identify with and (possibly) agree with, it makes the character so much frightening (and believable).

9. Tell me about a lesser-known novel that made an indelible impression on you and why.
I could probably sit here all day thinking of the "perfect" choice here, but I'm gonna go with Help! A Bear is Eating Me! by Mykle Hansen. Hilarious! It impressed me because voice can make or break a story. This story is more than a little morbid (a man trapped under a car has his legs slowly eaten by a bear), but the way the author handles the narrative and characterization makes the novel funny.

10. Earlybird or night owl?
A little of both.

11. Favorite mythological being? Feel free to pick an obscure one.
Unicorns. They were a serious favorite when I was a kid, and they still make me a little happy. Although, if we could put some wings on a cat, that would be cool. My cat already hurls herself through the air, so I wouldn't have a hard time picturing that.

Now for the tagging!

Please answer the following questions:

What's the most annoying book you've ever read?
You're in a bookstore: what's the first section you visit?
What project are you working on now?
Are you a "plotter" or "pantser" (i.e. do you use an outline or just "wing it")?
What do you do when you're not writing?
Why did you choose your specific genre?
Who are your biggest influences?
How much of your writing is based on your own experiences?
Are you ever afraid you'll never have another book idea?
We all like TV (even if we don't want to admit it). What's your favorite TV show?

FREE!

2012-02-22T20:37:00.000-05:00

For a limited time, I'm offering The Silent Treatment free of charge! Download a copy, recommend it to your friends, leave a nice review.

As a bonus, if you download The Silent Treatment and email your Smashwords receipt to Untreed Reads, they will send you a coupon code for 50% off The Morning After!

Happy reading!

Subway Art 2

2012-02-20T18:15:00.000-05:00

Houston St. Station

Reminded me of Engrish Funny.

Giveaway!

2012-02-14T22:17:00.000-05:00

Spending Valentine's Day away from my husband has got me bummed out, so I decided to spread some love and give a FREE copy of my new book The Silent Treatment away to the first 10 people who respond. So reply to this message or to my Facebook announcement, or send me an email -- however!

Meanwhile, here's a(n unrelated) video that made me smile today.

Girl Detective

2012-02-10T17:34:00.003-05:00

Nancy Drew taught me that reading didn't have to be boring and stupid. When you're homeschooled and all reading becomes "required," it's easy to want to do anything else.

Nancy was cool, though. She had a boyfriend (which my parents didn't like), investigated behind the police's backs, and saw all kinds of trouble (which my parents told me would give a real person serious mental problems). Regardless, I became hooked on The Nancy Drew Files -- it was the coolest of all the series.

Though I didn't grow up to be a detective (it was a runner-up), I kept reading and eventually writing about them.

My current favorite "adult Nancy Drew" is the Sophie Katz series by Kyra Davis. Luckily for me, she's posting a chapter of her newest novel on her blog every week until the official release date. For reasons the author herself can fill you in on, this latest book will be indie (like me!), which is very exciting. You should all check it out. I even reviewed Sex, Murder, and a Double Latte on my previous blog.

Similar to Nancy, Sophie has a boyfriend (but a much cooler one ... I mean, I know Nancy's was invented in the 20s, but Ned? No longer sexy), goes behind the police's backs, and sees a lot of trouble. But there's also sex and language (sorry, mom) that makes the stories much more interesting.

I guess the reason I've preferred amateur detectives to professional ones is that they give me the hope that one day it could be me. I don't want to work for the police or be a reporter or any of that. But what if I get a client in my chair and she blabs a little too much about "that chick who got stabbed" ...? I'd put things together, ask the wrong person questions, and because I carry my shears and razor with me everywhere, they'd turn into the perfect weapons when I get kidnapped for knowing too much.

Yeah, not likely, but still.

Catnapped

2012-02-08T21:32:00.001-05:00

It's no secret that I like cats. In fact, sometimes you have to make me stop talking about mine. Luckily for me, the internet is full of them since my little Pour Chat is living 2 hours away.

So when my critique group got together and introduced a new middle grade story about a cat who is magically transformed into a boy, I was intrigued.

Catnapped, by A. M. Knott (as in, "are too!"), is the kind of story I wish I'd had when I was about 10. It's got cats (!), magic, adventure, and a lot of heart.

LIVE!

2012-02-08T18:37:00.001-05:00

It's happened. I pushed the button on Smashwords.com and released The Silent Treatment.

Kat Shergill doesn't expect to find a piece of forgotten movie history during a bout of retail therapy. After watching the coil of film found tucked inside her purchase, she's shocked to witness the brutal murder of a famous 1920's star by a fellow actor. 80-year-old mystery aside, someone will stop at nothing to get the film away from her and silence what she's discovered.

Head over to Kat Shergill Mysteries for more ...

Subway Art

2012-02-07T21:45:00.001-05:00

Among other things today (which aren't worth getting into at the moment), I stumbled upon some cool art in the Prince Street station.

the "Cell Phone While Walking"

the "Awkward Conversation"

And my favorite...

the "Fine Diner"

Silent Movies 102

2012-02-01T10:35:00.000-05:00

To get ready for my forthcoming novel The Silent Treatment (you can catch the first chapter here: Chapter 1), I thought I'd share a few more silent movies with you, such as the oldest surviving one:

When I started watching silent films, I got hooked on the comedies -- namely Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. The more in depth I got, though, the more I connected with the German Expressionism films because of the emotion in them. They weren't quite so goofy. Also, as silents matured through the 20s, the technique of filming and acting became absolutely gorgeous before plunging into the world of "talkies".

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919)
Not even sure when I saw this movie first, but I was captivated. Everything about this film is unrealistic, and that's what makes it beautiful. The sets are painted and angular. The characters are something out of a nightmare. [93 year old SPOILER ALERT] The twist ending in the mental asylum brings all the strange elements together, since the entire story was being narrated by a "crazy" person.

I like this story so much that I've thought about adapting it into a novel. It would be a lot of fun (and not much of a stretch) to make this a murder mystery and create my own new twist.

Metropolis (1926)
Everyone who knows me knows I love this movie. Stealing my answer from The Lisas' blog interview:

I love a lot of movies, but I always go back to Metropolis from 1926. It was never an ordinary movie for me. The first copy I saw was a poorly presented public domain DVD I bought for about $5. The plot didn’t make a whole lot of sense, but the visuals were a real treat. After some research, I found out that after its release, the film was truncated, and the plot veered into some strange territory because it did so poorly at the box office. So, I tracked down the novel it was based off of, and it was a whole new experience. The characters made sense, missing scenes put others into perspective, and most of all, it was how the movie was supposed to have been seen (the director’s wife wrote the novel at the same time the movie was being made).

Throughout the years, pieces of “missing” scenes have been found in various film museums around the world and plugged back where they belong. Now that the film has been restored to almost its full length (and with the correct plot), I feel like it hasn’t just been a nice movie, but something lovely I witnessed being rebuilt.

Sunrise (1927)

A sweet movie about a husband and wife falling in love with each other again. The film starts out with the husband conspiring with his mistress to kill the wife ... so they have a lot to overcome.

The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
Even if you know nothing about the history of this character (or care), the look of the film will blow you away. Originally, it was meant to be watched completely silent (i.e. no soundtrack), but in 1995, Richard Einhorn wrote a stunning score for the film which even stands alone as a great piece of music.
Because this movie came at the end of the silent era, the cinematography is gorgeous. The acting style (while extremely emotional), is much more natural than films from even a decade before. [581 year old spoiler!] You'd even swear they were burning the actress at the end.

Asphalt (1929)
This movie stars the lead actor from Metropolis, and it's a fun movie about a cop who falls in love with a thief.

Hair models needed!

2012-01-28T21:55:00.002-05:00

As of right now, the models I need are:

One Length line haircut - $30 February 3 or 7 at 9am
~~Blow Dry - FREE February 9 at 9am~~ (already taken -- but there will be plenty more. Details as they come)

These services will be done at Arrojo Studio in SoHo by a licensed professional.

Please email me if you're interested! melanie (dot) surani (at) gmail (dot) com

Check me out!

2012-01-26T14:35:00.003-05:00

I was recently interviewed on The Lisas' blog about writing! Very exciting--check it out! http://thelisas.wordpress.com

Mirrors

2012-01-25T09:23:00.000-05:00

As you may have already seen on my HAIR page, I worked as the stylist on a music video a few months ago for a singer named Alan Fox. In addition to being a very cool song (and catchy!), the people behind it were some of the nicest I've ever worked with.

Filming took place in downtown New York on top of a seriously swanky apartment. Here's one of the views:

And this was a GOOD day...

That's one of the greatest things about being in New York City: you never know when you'll see something spectacular. Also, this was my JOB for the day.

Compare with this
<---

The task for the evening was to do hair for the singer and an actress with a classmate of mine (who did makeup), and then hang out on the rooftop to ensure they continued to look good.

Halfway through the video, you can see my work - the portion where they're outside and obviously on a rooftop. I hope you enjoy it!

Check out more from Alan Fox here, and follow him on Twitter.

HAIR MODELS!

2012-01-23T22:25:00.001-05:00

Because I'll be starting work at Arrojo soon, I will need hair models pretty desperately. Once I get the schedule, I'll post it here and on my HAIR page (above). The apprenticeship program will be going on for at least a year, and I'll need between 3-5 models per week (so you can do the math how many people that comes up to in total!).

Stay tuned ...

Congratulations, Class 14!

2012-01-22T13:46:00.000-05:00

Thursday was my graduation day at Arrojo Cosmetology School. It's been a lot of hard work, and I'm going to miss everyone a lot.

When I started, I knew nothing about hair (except how to put mine in a ponytail because that's all I could make it do). I learned about the history of hairdressing, how to keep my tools and station sanitary, and most importantly: what to do with someone's hair.

After trying color, perms, and relaxers, I realized cutting was my love. Something about changing the shape of hair is incredibly satisfying. The methodical way I section and snip is therapeutic in a way that only drawing and writing have been to me. I can't believe I'll be doing this for a living instead of filing paperwork, inputting numbers, and devising any way to get out of the office.

I've updated my HAIR page with more current examples of my work. I'll be posting openings for models once I get a schedule.

Congratulations, Class 14! I'll miss some of you, and I'll see some of you at work...

The End = The Beginning

2012-01-11T22:18:00.001-05:00

Just hanging with Nick

Preparing for my graduation at Arrojo Cosmetology School has me full of mixed emotions. On one hand, I'm excited to be on my way to getting a job I'm actually going to love (not tolerate--LOVE) ... to be able to do something with my hands that will make me happy to go out every morning. On the other hand, I've made some great friends at the school, and I feel like I could work in the student salon forever with the way we get along. Unfortunately, in about a week, we'll say goodbye.

It's crazy that the 7 months I've spent here have gone by so fast, and yet it's almost like I've been doing this my whole life. ... Like working in all those offices never happened.

So what's next for me? Not sure yet. The moment I get snagged by the best salon in town, I'll let you all know so you can come get a gorgeous haircut from me.

Meanwhile...

I've been editing like crazy on The Silent Treatment, getting it ready for whatever is next. Also starting to brainstorm about future volumes in the series -- and if that isn't a good use of my subway time, I don't know what is.

Kat Shergill

2012-01-07T08:36:00.000-05:00

Because I've been spending the past few days sprucing up my novel The Silent Treatment, I thought I'd give its heroine her own blog space: check out Kat Shergill Mysteries for information about novel releases and short stories. Since the mysteries follow a definite timeline (unlike, say, Nancy Drew, who remained the same age for 70 years), I've decided to create "filler" stories for interesting things that happen between the novels ... you know, to keep you guys interested.

The first appeared on the blog Generations, called Do Not Spoil the Ending, in which Kat and her friend Bridget get into trouble in Canada.

Without further ado, I'll go back to editing so I can get this novel public soon!

Bestseller list already...

2012-01-02T22:57:00.001-05:00

Just got an email from my publisher (Untreed Reads) saying my story "The Morning After" is the #3 bestseller in December! As a result, it's now discounted 25%. Come on, you guys: get me to #1 in January!

Story vs. Words

2011-12-31T17:47:00.001-05:00

There's a lot to be said about the feel of a book. The texture of the cover, the smell of the pages, etc, etc. When people find out I'm a writer and they catch me reading my Kindle, it often surprises them.
"Don't you love books?"
"Don't you just love words?"
Honestly, I've never been "in love" with either. Some books I've picked up have been rather disappointing or boring or forced on me. Everyone's favorite combination of "beautiful words"-- poetry -- has more often made me roll my eyes than wowed me.

Conclusion: I love stories.

To start off the new year, here are some stories I've enjoyed that are not in book form:

Granted, it's no longer running, but Lost is one of the best TV series I've ever seen. The mystery builds on itself through the seasons like a giant novel. Excellent cast and music!

The characters make this show work. Not only do you have a mystery to solve, you've got to put up with an OCD detective to get to the answer.

There's a lot going on with this series right now. While both incarnations deviate from the original (as TV and movies really have to do), they're so entertaining that the punching/explosions (movies) and the modern era (BBC) don't detract from the enjoyment of the story.

Want to share your favorites? I'm always looking for a good recommendation!

Year in Review

2011-12-31T08:20:00.001-05:00

Magazines are good at this: recapping everything that happened during the year to make you feel nostalgic for something that's only just gone. I won't be doing that, but I will be saying goodbye to 2011 with a kind of bittersweetness that I don't often experience.

The bad could very well outweigh the good if I let it. My job as an office money finally got the better of me (and if any of my former coworkers are reading, I don't miss it), and I found myself hastily putting together the puzzle of what would ultimately make me happy. The answer wasn't in another office position or in nursing or in graphic art: it was hairdressing.

As a result of my hasty decision to go to one of the best schools in the country, I'm once again living alone (or rather, in a roommate situation), struggling to keep on top of my responsibilities while retaining everything I'm paying a small fortune to learn. New York is not the easiest city to live in, especially after having spent my life in spread-out places. On the other hand, it's freaking New York, and I've been having a great time exploring and getting to know the place that will be my home for the next chunk of time.

This year also brought me one of the greatest triumphs of my life: a publication for sale. Even as I form myself into the next great hairdresser, I've been furiously writing for whatever gets accepted next. It remains to be seen if my sales extend past my family and close friends -- but even if not, I'm PUBLISHED!

Next year will tell me a lot about the decisions I made in 2011. Maybe I'll have a job that doesn't make me want to kill myself. Maybe I'll garner a following in the writing world. Maybe my little family will be secure together, not to be separated again.

It's been a difficult year, but one that's (hopefully) been leading up to something great.

The Morning After

2011-12-20T21:15:00.001-05:00

One could say this is a dream come true. Today, I am a published writer who will be receiving royalty payments. For those of you who need last minute Christmas presents, look no further: The Morning After, by Melanie Surani

Christmas in the City II

2011-12-13T22:32:00.001-05:00

So many gorgeous decorations in the city, I thought I'd share again! (uploaded these from my phone, so the quality is a bit crappy)

I've also added a new page to my blog: it's about hair. See photos of what I've done and commentary about what I think about it. Leave your comments, and hey--maybe give me a job!

Christmas in NY

2011-12-03T17:16:00.001-05:00

Christmas has almost been a sore point for me in the past few years. Either fatigue from commercialization hampered my mood, or the inability to see my family and participate in what made Christmas special in the first place made me more depressed than jolly. When you're married with no kids and the nearest family member is 1000 miles away, it's hard to have your standard under-the-tree present-ripping session on the 25th.

This year, I'm living in Queens with a roommate (several generations older than I) because of school, so it's like the one sliver of family I had is now living 2+ hours away (with my cat). Instead of moping, I've decided to continue the tradition my dad started twenty-some-odd years ago and go look at Christmas lights. Fortunately, Manhattan is a mere subway ride away, so I have access to all kinds of wonderful sights.

Near Rockefeller Center

At Rockefeller Center

Skating rink at Rockefeller Center (spent an evening in the area, can you tell?)

Macy's at 34th Street

More to come...

Not this year

2011-10-23T14:40:00.000-04:00

Oh NaNoWriMo, how I love you. Last year, I compared the challenge to my version of Christmas (since I don't have the wherewithal to visit my family around the Holidays), but ended up failing to write 50,000 words because that story didn't want to be written. This year, as you all know, I'm in school, and won't have the time or energy to start a new story and bang out all those words in a month. November's going to be tricky for me anyway.

However, I can't stay away from writing, even if I'm not starting anything new. Since I've gotten to New York, I've been plugging away at editing Awake, my favorite, ever-changing mess of a novel. I have high hopes for it this go round, though.

Sometimes writing is the only thing that keeps me sane. I'm learning something completely new (and a bit foreign), living in a new (big and very crowded) city, with some ... interesting roommates. When asked why I write mysteries, why I focus on kidnappings and murders and dark things like that, I tell them I have to write it down so I don't do it in real life. That usually gets me a laugh ... but sometimes I wonder if it's not completely true.

Living away from my husband and with someone who seems to only find fault in what I do, writing is the one thing that stays exactly the same in either place. Sure, the characters and plot are always being tweaked, but Sophia always loves Josh, and they all want to know just how the hell to get home.

Another thing to keep my sanity in place is re-watching old TV shows I used to love. Because my internet connection is crap for crap and I can't watch new TV, I've been either watching DVDs or patiently waiting for something to load on Netflix. The two shows I've gotten (re)hooked on are The Young Ones, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Better than focusing on not having a husband or a cat in my room, and blocking out my roommate's conversations about poop.

Wait, what?

2011-09-18T19:51:00.001-04:00

Hawt.

Barbie was one of my favorite dolls when I was growing up. Granted, I didn't have as many as my friend across the street, but my collection was plenty big.

The only problem was Ken. He was boring, but kind of necessary (because otherwise, Barbie's wedding dress would be useless). The plastic hair, the stupid, goofy expression ... and he only had one outfit because it was too embarrassing to change his clothes.

Here we go: the 90's version of a cool guy. He's got the street signs on his shirt, the baggy, high-waisted jeans, and the rad, rockin' neon shoes. He's just ... that guy who friggin calls too much.

Since I've been under the weather today (have to use that preface for my time-wasting activities you're currently reading about), I looked up what Ken looks like today. Um... yeah. Kind of makes me wish I hadn't missed the gap by 20 years.

Reminds me a little of Tarkan

Now, I might have still been leery of taking those pants off, but if I'd had a Ken like this, he might not have gone to work so much during playtime. Maybe my invisible 10 year old will be getting a present.

Ten Years

2011-09-18T11:54:00.001-04:00

The towers on 9/11/11

With the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 just behind us, I've been thinking about how far I've come in that decade. What started out with me working at Blockbuster Video watching the news from New York on a TV we kept behind the counter, has ended with me going to school within walking distance from where it happened.

It struck me as odd on the 11th this year as I walked toward the new WTC that ten years ago, people were rushing away from the site, and this year people crowded toward it.

Also ten years ago, I was working on a version of a story that would become Awake. Today it barely resembles that story (because it kind of sucked), but has been stuck in a perpetual mode of "first draft" ever since. Maybe in another ten years I'll look back on today and think, "wow, I hung onto that piece of crap for that long?" Who knows. Maybe I'll be watching it in the theater by then, reading in forums about how so-and-so actor sucks in it.

To supplement my writing in 2001, since for some reason literature that was written 100 years ago was the only thing with merit in my eyes, I was obsessively reading Oscar Wilde. While enjoyable, all this did was make my writing as pretentious as possible, which is why the whole thing has been thrown out except for the single concept I'm using now.

Discussion time: how has your life changed in the past 10 years? Any surprises you didn't see coming?

Reviews

Time for some fantasy in my reading now ... just kind of happened that way.

Interview With the Vampire - Anne Rice

I started this book years ago and put it down for whatever reason. Now that I'm trying to broaden my literary horizons somewhat, and because I didn't feel quite up to reading Twilight, I went with Anne Rice again.

The story was nice, but I recognized some things in her writing style as things I've been told not to do -- like being too wordy. As I got into the book, I wanted to yell, "get on with it! I KNOW!" I read somewhere that she doesn't use an editor, but that her writing would be much better with one. I agree.

The Princess Bride - William Goldman

This book was a bit of a surprise for me. After having seen the movie about a million times (as we all have), for some reason I wasn't expecting the book to be funny. Because I read primarily on public transportation, I try to keep my reactions to myself, but I laughed aloud several times.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

My husband and I have been watching the Harry Potter movies lately, but since I've been spending too much time away from home, our DVD watching time has been seriously compromised. I wanted to find out what happened next (since I didn't get on board when I was younger), so I pulled out the books.

Maybe it's just me, but Rowling gets a bit wordy too. Granted, I'm not in her target age group. Something that bugged me a lot was how angry and stubborn Harry is. He gets an idea and sticks with it till the bitter end, despite what anyone else tells him. Maybe we can chalk that up to what this character has been through (which is a lot for someone that age), or just his own character traits (because at least one of the other characters calls him out on it).

Anyway, I liked it well enough that I went straight into the last in the series, and even at the beginning of the book, I'm holding my breath thinking, "oh no... oh NO!"

Changes for Melanie pt. 2

2011-09-04T11:28:00.003-04:00

As it turns out, when I don't update for a while, lots of stuff happens. Perhaps this is an accumulation, or maybe so much is going on that I don't have time to write. (My poor novel knows all about that!)

Bollywood themed entry

At school, I participated in an up-do competition and lost. But it got a lot of positive attention, which I enjoyed.

Additionally, learning more cuts and color theory is making my head explode, so I decided to stop commuting from Philly to NY every day and rented a room. It sucks very much being away from home, but the extra hours of sleep I get are making it worthwhile (I think). Not sure if I'll ever get used to the sheer volume of people in New York (I've never liked crowds).

The long weekend is the perfect time to get some writing done since I've promised myself not to think about hair in these three days (except for the little bit I wrote in the paragraphs above).

Still no release date for The Morning After (with Untreed Reads), so I'll continue to keep you updated as I learn more. Meanwhile, I'm trying to get some work done on Awake, which is taking forever. This is either going to be my best story every, or I'll waste so much time on it I'll fail to get anything else written and ruin my career before it gets started. In the meantime, though, I'm taking notes on all the crazy city behavior I'm witnessing on a daily basis and saving it up for something spectacular.

For my lovely German readers...

2011-07-24T16:27:00.000-04:00

Eichstätt

Eichstätt changed something in me. Everyone I've ever known who spent time in Europe came back in love. Though it's now been 8 years since I was there, I still think about that little town as the ideal place to live--the place against which I compare every city.

I recently acquired German citizenship, and some people are more excited about it than others. Some don't understand why it's important to me at all. I like the laid-back lifestyle and the friendliness of the people. The streets aren't littered with trash and don't reek of urine. The trains are clean, well lit, and connect everywhere. Not to mention, everywhere in Europe is easily accessible for a nice weekend vacation!

So if people don't share my enthusiasm, it's their own business. I love my new country, and can't wait to move there.

Cosmetology, Publishing, and other Stuff

2011-07-23T20:00:00.000-04:00

So, jeez, where to begin?

It's been a crazy month or so. Started cosmetology school at Arrojo in New York -- commuting every day from Philly. It's a lot, but about a fourth of the people on the bus every day are regulars, so I'm not the only one doing this. Cosmetology just kind of happened all of a sudden. I couldn't be in the cubicle any more (they say office work is soul-crushing--I found that to be horrifyingly true).

Some things have been more challenging than others (getting the blow-dry right, for example), but for the most part, I love going to school, and I'm so glad I made this decision! The teachers are extremely knowledgable and helpful, always telling us why something is important rather than saying, "Oh, don't worry about it, just do it." Genuinely nice, too.

In the Writing World...
Can't give any specifics yet, but one of my short stories is about to see the light of day! The Morning After, the "little novella that could", finally piqued someone's interest when I chopped a few thousand words out. Not sure if the title will stay the same after it's gone through the final edit. Super excited! My first real foot in the door! Rest assured I'll keep you all updated on the release date once I have one. Until then, share in my happiness.

Awake is getting such a big overhaul that it's almost not the same story it was when I started. Granted, that's not all bad, but it's always disheartening when someone doesn't like your characters or doesn't enjoy a particular plot point (particularly when someone says a decision your character has made was stupid ... because really, it was me making the decision for him ... ouch). Nevertheless, all the comments and critiques I've gotten so far have helped develop both the characters and the plot. Every time I rewrite this story, I think it's finally the last time, but now I'll just let it go where it needs to. Each time it gets better, so in 50 more drafts, it'll be quite okay. Reassigning a few character traits, adding some backstory and suspense. Yeah, it'll be fine.

Other Creative Stuff

Because I can't leave well enough alone, I've decided to make and sell some jewelry and amigurumi. I've always enjoyed making things, and now I'm pushing them on you fine people! I mean, look at that bear in my hand. She's practically begging you to take her home. Don't make her cry!

Tiny update

2011-06-14T10:04:00.002-04:00

I've tweaked some of my FAQs. Check it out. Ask me more questions.

Idea for a show ...

2011-06-09T09:08:00.001-04:00

My dad used to have a go-to boring TV suggestion when I was little: The History of Asphalt. At the time, my sister and I laughed at him because, obviously, a documentary like that would be ridiculous!

Watching paint dry, anyone?

Of course, making a movie or TV show has everything to do with talent and having a phenomenal idea that'll rivet the audience to their seats. Right? I mean, that's clearly why I don't have my own TV show. No one would spend good money and waste everyone's time with crap like Hogs Gone Wild or not one, but two programs about pawn shops.

I feel like Alan Partridge is pitching all our TV shows.

What about all these books I'm reading?

Since I've been at home for the last two weeks or so, I've been reading a lot -- to make my writing better and to ease the boredom.

A few quick reviews:

I, Spy by Kate Johnson

This was quite an enjoyable book. Granted, some parts challenged my suspension of disbelief, but not enough to keep me from reading. The characters were likable and relatable -- and Sophie, the main character's boycraziness was fun. Let's face it: I'm a girl. I like the cartoon-y pink covers. I had fun with this book. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
And best of all, the Kindle version is FREE on Amazon for a little while (the month of June, I think).

This is a Book by Demetri Martin

I love Demetri Martin. His standup is funny, as was his short-lived TV show, Important Things with Demetri Martin, so I was excited about this book. About half was what I was expecting -- unexpected wordings, and very silly, yet somehow obvious things you've never thought of before. The other half consisted of longish stories that were kind of boring and skippable.

Check out this video of Demetri performing.

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

There was nothing I didn't like about this book. Bridget Jones is a wonderfully "real" character with all the excitement and worry of your average woman. I never stopped rooting for her, and had a hard time putting the book down.

Hello Kitty Must Die by Angela S. Choi

This book definitely gets an R rating (sex and violence both). Interesting story about a woman who's tired of having to be everyone's ideal (and tired of being set up on dates by her parents). After running into an old friend from school, she develops a new ... uh... hobby? Killing.
Funny in parts, uncomfortable in parts ... enjoyable if not taken too seriously.

The Elusive Dream

2011-06-03T08:55:00.001-04:00

Ah, the feeling. Opening my email to what I'm sure is another rejection letter (after a while, you only have to read the first few words: Thank you for your query. Unfortunately ... ), and finding the words, "may we send you a contract?" instead is nothing short of stunning.

The work in question is a short story called The Morning After. It's about two vacationers joining their friends in a wooded cabin, only to find one friend brutally attacked and everyone else missing. Like most of my stories, this one went through a multitude of changes before finally settling into its final form (and after the editors at the publisher get finished, it could very well change again). My critique buddies helped me tremendously with this piece--from telling me which sentences didn't flow well, to which whole pages ruined the suspense. Forever grateful!

After a few days feeling like I kind of suck at writing, this was the ego boost I needed to get back to work.

On a roll ...

Just posted my long-overdue story to Generations, the blog where my Papaw, my Dad, my sister, and I tackle a central topic and write something about it.

Yeah, I played a little with Photoshop.

The story I posted, Do Not Spoil the Ending, uses a familiar setting (Toronto) and a familiar situation (uhh.. spoiler), and makes something completely fictional out of it. I also used Kat and Bridget, characters from the mystery novel I'm trying to sell, and learned more about their personalities and background.

Something which I have no experience with, but find really interesting, is urban exploration. The story touches on it when the characters wander into the long-closed Lower Bay subway station (which is real -- read about it toward the end of this page: Infiltration: Toronto Subways). Creepy and exciting, huh?

Changes for Melanie

2011-05-27T12:40:00.002-04:00

So my view has changed somewhat. I have a window now, a cat for a boss, and work that better suits my personality. The only drawback? NO PAY!

I've also enrolled in cosmetology school, which will start at the end of June (and this will include a daily commute to New York City, which could be a good chance to catch up on reading/writing, or it might suck. We'll have to see). I am extremely excited about cosmetology, though! It's artistic, I'll be working with my hands, and best of all: no math paperwork! Play with makeup and shiny tools all day--what's not to love?

Pleasant Company

And yes, on the corner of my desk is a doll I've had for about 20 years. Seems like times of stress, I revert to my 10 year old self and get her out again. Oddly enough, when I was in New York the other day getting my enrollment sorted out, I went to the American Girl Place (formerly Pleasant Company), and discovered they have a doll hair salon in the store. ...And here I am about to start with the haircutting. And so, Felicity came out of storage, hairbrushing commenced, and hubby laughed at me. That's okay.

Josephina, the smaller doll, used to keep me company in my former cubicle -- kind of a bright spot where the numbers and jargon couldn't go. Now both of them watch me procrastinate while I'm supposed to be writing.

So, I've got a month to myself. If I don't get my current project edited and ready for agents to fight over, I'm an idiot.

By Popular Demand...

2011-05-07T08:10:00.000-04:00

Comments are now available on the pages in the menu above! Oh joy!

It's just balls from start to finish!

2011-04-29T20:02:00.001-04:00

Not everyone has the same tastes in literature. As I continue to query agents and read books of questionable quality, it's important for me (and everyone) to embrace how subjective writing can be.

(And yes, that's Dr. House)

The Music Muse

2011-04-09T20:44:00.001-04:00

I'll admit, I got the idea to post on this subject from my friend.

The muse is a funny thing. Songs have different moods, different personalities, much like the stories I write. Sometimes I'll assign each character his or her own artist or genre, which helps me to focus while I write and helps me stay "in the mood" at other times.

Some of my favorites for my current project:

Regina Spektor has some wonderful songs - the perfect "voice" for one of my characters.

Wolfsheim sings in English and German (but mostly in English).

At times, the English language gets in the way when I'm trying to focus on the proper wording for a scene, so I'll turn to foreign language music instead of instrumentals. The voices help me stay "in character." The world is huge, and pop music is everywhere.

Creepy clown aside, this guy's got a smooth, beautiful voice.
Other Germans who have lovely voices:
Laith Al-Deen
Annett Louisan
and Xavier Naidoo (although I have no idea what's up with this video)

Bollywood ranges from dance to sad and weepy. It's such a good resource.

And last, but not least, my favorite: Turkish music. Maybe it's just Tarkan's gorgeous face.

I'll be updating new and old favorites on the music page at the top of the screen every now and then.

Silent Movies 101

2011-03-25T22:02:00.001-04:00

The image most of us get when thinking about silent movies has a lot to do with railroad tracks and mustache-twirling villains. TV shows and commercials use clips of people falling down or being chased by a group of baton-weilding police because they're in the public domain. But those clips probably do nothing to make the average person want to break out an hour long silent movie.

That's exactly what I thought when my mom sat a tween me in front of the TV, put in a cassette of Buster Keaton's The Cameraman, and said, "Watch this. It's funny."

Initially, I was stunned at how much the characters just looked like ordinary people (with a lot of makeup on). They weren't too fast or being tied with rope -- I thought, "Wow, that's what the twenties looked like!" And then I got caught up in the absurd story. Yeah, it was funny, and it also opened a door for me.

Some twenty years later, I've taken the love for the genre and given it to one of my characters (since she's probably the closest I'll come to having a child). Kat Shergill finds a small coil of film in a jewelry box she buys at an estate sale, and after playing it, realizes it's a historic piece from a silent movie, starring her favorite actor.

The idea of finding a lost film (or a lost fragment) is nothing I made up. Unfortunately, because the technology to replay a film at home wasn't really around in the first half of the century, many early films were intentionally destroyed or improperly stored, which caused them to deteriorate.

Occasionally, though, collectors kept films and hid them away. The Passion of Joan of Arc is a good example of a pristine copy of a presumed-lost film being discovered and subsequently distributed on DVD. (The Passion of Joan of Arc (The Criterion Collection) Spine #62)

Silent movies came in all genres, from nearly every country. My personal favorites are from German Expressionism, the first and last generally listed as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), and Metropolis (1927). The genre is full of dark themes, interesting, angular sets, and "horror" plots. The stiff acting takes getting used to, but once you suspend your disbelief, they're a nice escape.

Hello

2011-03-18T19:19:00.002-04:00

Not much here right now, but there will be soon.