writing romance

Yet Another Virgin Moment

| Melia Alexander

So. I’m pretty much dazed today. I mean, it isn’t every day that a writerMotH_500(2) gets to see her first book published. Excuse me a moment while I pinch myself…

OUCH!

Well. I’m not dreaming…And yet, the entire experience feels strangely surreal. Kinda like when you ask Santa for a Betty Crocker Baking Oven, swearing up and down you’re gonna be good, making deals that you’re gonna quit picking on your little brother as soon as you get the present you’ve wanted in FOREVER. And when it shows up, you’re actually stunned silly because it did. Yeah. That.

While I marvel at all that it took to get here – the 4 a.m. writing times, the weekend writing times, writer friends who encouraged, cajoled, and threatened (that’s a whole ‘nother story) – I have to admit I’m beyond thrilled MERGER OF THE HEART has arrived!

Okay. Gonna go try and calm down now…But if you’d like to read an excerpt, please click here.

Happy Mash-Up Monday,
Melia

 

 

Christmas Nails

Aside | | Melia Alexander

Welcome to Fashionista Friday!

One of the things I most love about being a girl are the chances to do girly-girl things like facials, shopping, and mani-pedis. Not that I’ve necessarily got the time or patience for them, mind you, but I can admire them, too, can’t I?

Case in point? These.

20141219_122642Aren’t they pretty? I love, love, LOVE the detail! And the artistry that went into them. Makes me wish I could sit down long enough to have my own nails done! Ah, well…I can live vicariously through others, can’t I? 😉

Do you take the time for a great manicure? What was your fave design?

Happy Friday,
Melia

 

Santa Baby! (Take 2)

| Melia Alexander

Merry Christmas!

Welcome to Take Me Back Thursday. Today’s post comes courtesy of Mr. Alexander and the wonderful surprise he gave me a couple of years ago.

What I wanted…
What was under the tree…
Looked pretty much like an abmat to me!
What I got instead. 🙂

If you want to read the original blog post (because I couldn’t figure out how to re-post the danged thing!), please click here.

And have a wonderful Christmas!

Hugs,
Melia

Little Touches

| Melia Alexander

Welcome to Food and Wine Wednesday!

I love the fact that life at The Male Observation Lab includes some fun downtime at the end of the year. To me, it’s the little touches that make this party so special.

Our party favors at this year’s celebration was a pair of mini cupcakes. Dusted with gold. Seriously. 24-carat edible gold flown in from New York!

I’m kinda thinking topping this one’s gonna be kind of hard next year. Then again, there have been all sorts of wonderful surprises through the years. Like the magician. But that’s another story…. 😀

What wonderful touches have you seen at holiday celebrations?

Happy holiday eating,
Melia

 

Christmas Visits

| Melia Alexander

Welcome to Travel Bug Tuesday!

One of the bestest parts of the holidays is visiting with friends and family. 20141223_091522Especially when you actually like them! So it was when I trekked over hill and dale and through mud and sleet in bare feet…Well, okay…So I really packed a bag and shoved it into the car trunk before heading up the freeway, but still…

Anyhoo, I got to spend some wonderful quality time with my lovely writer pal Fiola Faelan! We talked writerly stuff and life stuff, and I was reminded yet again how incredibly lucky I am to have amazing people in my life. And that includes you all!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and for leaving a message or two. As I continue on this publishing journey, your presence here means more to me than I could ever express!

Happy travels,
Melia

Underneath the Tree

| Melia Alexander

Welcome to Mash-Up Monday!

Because life is so hectic for me these days (and I’m too darned tired to think of anything clever), I’m gonna let you all decide what this pic is about. 🙂

20141221_193503Have a wonderful week!

~Melia

 

More Nice than Naughty

Quote | | Melia Alexander

In a world of absolutes, I prefer to view my life as a “mostly.” As in, I’ve been mostly eating well versus not. Or, I’ve been mostly helping out around the house. Or, I’ve been mostly exercising instead of sitting at the keyboard eating chocolate and drinking red wine. Okay, maybe that whole red wine/chocolate thing’s true, but still….

The point is, this time of year, we all know the drill. Santa only brings you a present if you’ve been good. And while I’ve been sometimes bad, I think I’ve been mostly good. See how that works? I figure Santa’s got a direct line on this whole good/bad thing, and would likely find out that I’ve not always been good, so why lie about it, right? Truth should get me extra points. *Nods head sagely* Doesn’t that make sense?

Anyhoo, my whole reason for being good centers around these babies:

Aren’t they pretty? I figure that since I’ve been mostly good, and didn’t lie about it, then maybe, just maybe, Santa will realize I deserve all three this year. Wish me luck! 🙂

Have a great weekend,
Melia

Snow Saucers

| Melia Alexander

Having spent the past three days with family has made me realize how quickly time passes. One minute my nieces and nephews are in diapers, and the next, they’re these independent creatures with critical thinking skills that scare me. Seriously.

Look at how innocent they were just a few years ago.

P1040250Cute, huh?

Well, not so, when you consider they wouldn’t let me try out their new snow saucers. Yeah, I’m totally okay with it, even after all these years….*insert huge pout*

Happy Almost-Friday,
Melia

 

 

The Big 8!

| Melia Alexander

Those of you with December birthdays can attest to how hard it can be to keep the whole holiday thing out of your special day. So when I was invited to my nephew’s 8th birthday party, I definitely kept this in mind. Apparently, so did he. His menu choice for the evening? Pizza! Natch.

What I loved best about the whole thing was how truly chill it was. Let’s face it: there’s enough holiday craziness that some down time is more than welcomed. There was no formal dinner setting, no place cards, no menus at the table.

Instead, there was pizza out of the cardboard boxes, and eaten off of paper plates and napkins. We all sat around the dinner table and toasted the Birthday Boy. Candles were blown. Presents were opened. And the casual atmosphere only added to the evening. I loved every second of it!

Do you have a December birthday? How do you celebrate?

Happy eating,
Melia