"Indie Spotlight" @ Reading Teen blog

Hey!

I'm over at the awesome Reading Teen book blog with my music playlist for Book 2, THE HIDDEN BLESSING. Come on by and see what I listened to while I wrote and what you can listen to while you read. :-)


Happy listening, friends!

Book Signing in Fullerton!

Hey book friends!

I have a book signing set up at the Barnes and Noble in Fullerton, CA on Saturday, February 16th @ 2 p.m. Book 1 THE SEVENTH BLESSING and Book 2 THE HIDDEN BLESSING will be available for purchase and I'll be there with my shiny pens to sign your books!

Will you come and read my book?

Book Review: SKINNY by Donna Cooner

SKINNY by Donna Cooner

Summary from Goodreads.com: 

Find your voice.

Hopeless. Freak. Elephant. Pitiful. These are the words of Skinny, the vicious voice that lives inside fifteen-year-old Ever Davies’s head. Skinny tells Ever all the dark thoughts her classmates have about her. Ever knows she weighs over three hundred pounds, knows she’ll probably never be loved, and Skinny makes sure she never forgets it. 

But there is another voice: Ever’s singing voice, which is beautiful but has been silenced by Skinny. Partly in the hopes of trying out for the school musical—and partly to try and save her own life—Ever decides to undergo a risky surgery that may help her lose weight and start over.

With the support of her best friend, Ever begins the uphill battle toward change. But demons, she finds, are not so easy to shake, not even as she sheds pounds. Because Skinny is still around. And Ever will have to confront that voice before she can truly find her own.

Melissa's Review:

This book was incredibly heartbreaking and wonderful. Wow. So many profound ideas but written in such a real way. Even if you've never had an eating disorder, you can learn something from this book. Ever's story is one that will resonate with many people. I found myself crying as Ever struggles with her size, her relationships, but, most importantly, how she feels about herself.

Warning: There is a little language in the book, so I wouldn't recommend this book for younger readers.

This book was given to me free by Scholastic for a fair review.

Year in Review: 2012

So, everyone is posting their "Year in Review" for 2012...so I thought I'd do the same.
(My goals for 2012 post)
And, as per my usual, I'll show you in pictures! :-)

In January, I received this:

My first children's book was accepted for publication! SO excited!

Finished writing Book 3 of my YA fantasy series, THE CURSED BLESSING.

Storyboarding Book 3

We went to the Reagan Library in April and had a great time.

Went to the Renaissance Faire in April for the second time.

I did the A-Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April! It was fun!

May

Went to the "Summer Lovin' Book Tour" and met Jessi Kirby, Jenny Han, and Morgan Matson.

I had a book signing at Blue Chair Children's Bookstore

June

I WENT TO NEW YORK CITY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! 

It was for Book Expo America (BEA). Such a wonderful couple of days! You can read my posts about being there for the full story. I was able to hang out with some fun book people, make new friends, and see the sights of NYC.

And I went to ALA in Anaheim! I met more bookish people and had even more bookish fun!

Went camping at the beach in July

Went to Legoland

Went to a book signing for Lisa Schroeder and Lindsey Leavitt

Traveled to Las Vegas for my grandpa's funeral in August

September

Went to the SCBWI Editor's Day and heard some great advice from editors and agents

My children's book SOMETIMES MY BROTHER BUGS ME was released!!

Went to Shannon's book signing for KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES

November

My husband and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary!

My second book THE HIDDEN BLESSING was officially released...and then the printing was delayed. It was fixed and should now be out in the hands of readers! :-)

December

I had a book signing at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore down in San Diego. What a great place! I had a fantastic time.

So, it's been a terrific year when I look back on it. I am still subbing, still writing, still crafting, still taking photos, still baking, still cooking...and taking care of my family, of course. Did I complete my goals for 2012?

I read 117 books. (I was aiming for 100, so yes!)

I finished Book 3 in the series. (Yes!)

Continued working on my YA contemporary story. (But didn't finish...so, no.)

House is more organized! My whole crafting closet still looks great! I'm able to finish projects more quickly now. (Yes!)

I attended BEA this year. (Yes!)

I attended several other conferences this year. (Yes!)

Didn't go to Yosemite this summer. (Couldn't get reservations!!)

Goals are good things to have. My goals for 2013 will be similar. Read, have fun with family and friends, write more, craft, attend writing conferences. And take photos. Lots and lots of photos. ;-)

Have a great 2013!

Winner, winner! (Of Christmas Time prizes!)

Hello friends!

I used "Rafflecopter" for the giveaway I just had and they allow you to pick winners using their "randomizer" thing. :-)

(Prizes based on blog comments.)

Winner of stuffed cupcake: Angelique
Winner of stuffed cupcake: Jessica M.
Winner of Scrabble tile necklace: Julia C.
Winner of journal: Lea K.



Winners - please email me and send me your mailing address so I can send out your prize. Thanks to all who entered!

Gift giving!

Hi! It's time for gift giving! (I'm giving presents to you guys, too! Scroll down!)

You can order Book 1 THE SEVENTH BLESSING or/and Book 2 THE HIDDEN BLESSING in time to give it for Christmas!

If you email me at  4melissabuell(at)gmail(dot)com (switch out for the @ sign and the .) and let me know that you've bought my books, I'll mail you a free signed bookplate for the inside of your books! Happy Christmas to you!

Links to buy my books
Amazon.com - The Hidden Blessing
Amazon.com - The Seventh Blessing
Barnes and Noble.com - The Hidden Blessing
Barnes and Noble.com - The Seventh Blessing
Mysterious Galaxy
Powell's Books

Giveaway Time!!

I've arranged a little contest/raffle for you guys. Enter using the rafflecopter form below.

You can win either
1.) a super cool "Scrabble tile necklace" made by me! :-)  Let me know what you'd want for your design, and I'll make it for you. (I've made myself one that reads, "Author - a person who writes a literary work." cut out from an old dictionary.) I can make it from old stamps, cute paper, pretty much whatever you'd like. Well, so long as it's appropriate. Family friendly. Something I could make in front of my kids. ;-)

2.) A handmade journal (by me, again)

3.) A little stuffed cupcake!

So...if any of these things strikes your fancy, please enter the giveaway. :-) Let me know what your top item would be. I'll contact you once the giveaway is closed after December 28.

Or a PDF version of THE SEVENTH BLESSING or THE HIDDEN BLESSING.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Books for Kids" 2013

Hi book loving friends!

My friends Farrah and Britney have an awesome non-profit charity called "Books for Kids." And it seriously is NON-profit. They don't get paid for what they do. Every dollar that is donated to the fund is used to buy books for kids in hospitals. Farrah donates books to the Children's Hospital in Phoenix, AZ and Britney donates books to the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Texas. They have done this for the past two years and are continuing on.

How can YOU help? You can make a donation, even as little as a dollar. A dollar can buy a baby book from the Dollar Store! :-) If you have gently used books, you can send them to Farrah and she will take them to the hospital in Phoenix. (The hospital in Texas only accepts new books.) Authors can send bookmarks, signed books, anything to help bring these little ones hope and encouragement. (Can you imagine being in a hospital as a little kid?? So sad...)

Please consider donating to "Books for Kids." It's awesome!

Thank you!

Book Signing at Mysterious Galaxy in Pics!

Last Saturday was the signing at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore down in San Diego. The hubs, my boys, and I drove down there and had a great time! There were many authors there:

Diverse Energies contributors Cindy Pon and Greg Van Eekhout – a young adult speculative fiction anthology benefiting the Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund

Karl Alexander – Time-Crossed Lovers – a new time-travel adventure from the author of Time After Time

Melissa Buell – The Hidden Blessing – young adult high fantasy princess quest

Dan Hanlon – Fraternity of Thieves – crime and family conflict in Southern CA

Donna Keeley – Having a Whaley of a Time – first in the Paranormal Mystery series

Gini Koch – Alien vs. Alien – the new installment in the highly entertaining Alien Collective saga

Nathan Long – Swords of Waar – the continuing adventures of biker chick Jane Carver in space

James Morris – Sky Bound: Book One of the Three Kingdoms Trilogy – debut fantasy from local teen author

Justin Robinson – Mr. Blank – who is the mysterious Mr. Blank?

Hope Tarr – Operation Cinderella – Kobo ebook comtemporary romance

I was able to share a signing table with Donna Keeley and Hope Tarr. Both ladies are SO sweet! Each author was able to share a bit about their books and then we signed outside near the food table. (The food!!) Near the end, James Morris (a teen author and musician) brought out his guitar and sang some songs that he wrote.

We loved being at Mysterious Galaxy! The staff there are SO wonderful and attentive. Many thanks to Maryelizabeth, Bunny, David, Jen, and the rest of the staff that helped out.

Hope Tarr and me

James Morris

Guest post: Top Ten Wedding Dresses!

I'm over at "Catch the Lune" blog with Hilda K.! My guest post was on "My Top Ten Favorite Wedding Dresses." (Yes, I am a romantic!) ;)

Promo code!

Just in time for holiday shopping! Use the promo code "2mbthb12" at The Little Things (TLT) Publishing Co. website for 30% off your order of THE HIDDEN BLESSING. Merry Christmas!