This week is banned books week

(Lauren Dane has been posting on this subject all week at her blog.)

I'm a little late to the party on this, but it's something I feel rather strongly about.

My Mom never really censored what I read. My first brush with a banned book was in high school when they took "Salem's Lot" off the shelf at the school library. I'd read it a few years before (even did a free choice English book report on it). It still amazes me how many books are challenged, especially ones that continually make the best books' list.

So go out and read a banned book or author!

http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bannedbooksweek.htm

The top 10 Most Challenged Authors in the last decade:

1. Alvin Schwartz (Scary Stories)

2. Judy Blume (Blubber, Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret, Deenie, Forever)

3. Robert Cormier (Whale Talk, The Sledding Hill)

4. J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter)

5. Michael Willhoite (Daddy’s Roomate)

6. Katherine Paterson (Bridge to Terabithia)

7. Stephen King (Cujo, It, The Stand, Salem’s Lot, The Dark Tower Series, The Green Mile)

8. Maya Angelou (I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, And Still I Rise)

9. R.L. Stine (Goosebumps)

10. John Steinbeck (The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men)


May the muses read banned books
Lany

Favorites:

We all have them in almost every aspect of our lives. Favorite music. Chocolate. Ice cream flavors. Models to use as muses. Cars. Athletes. Favorite movies and even books. Yes, books!

I have about a dozen all time favorites on my keeper shelf. But, I’m not in search of just keepers; I want to know what your very favorite EROTIC ROMANCE is. And why does it happen to be a keeper for you?

In recent months there has been much debate on erotic ROMANCE and erotica fiction. Much debate over how some NY houses just don’t get erotic ROMANCE, yet.

I’d like to know what about erotic ROMANCE appeals to its readers. And I‘m looking to learn just which authors you believe have mastered the art of writing ROMANCE with explicit sexual relationships. ;) Besides, I absolutely love finding new keepers!

Mine are:
Robin Schone- Anything. I can’t wait until Feb. to get her new one!
Emma Holly – Strange Attractions
Angela Knight – Anything

These ladies give great HEAs!

You can also e-mail me at: melany @ melanylogen .com with no spaces.

Until later~
Mel

They say it's your birthday

*hums heavy music*

Happy Birthday Mel! Hope it's wonderfully happy!

Hugs
Lany

I'm behind but I have a treat

Sorry this has been so delayed. This week for some reason has kicked my behind. I'm behind on everything.

The winners from the blog contest were Mary Ann and Dawn! Congrats. Thanks so much everyone for playing. We had a lot of fun reading entries, and Mel got a lot of coyote suggestions.

I do have a treat!!! We got our new cover from Ellora's Cave for out Quickie. Isn't it pretty?

May the muses have new covers to share.
Lany

Contest time!

Lany and I participated in chat yesterday at Ecataromance Yahoo, of course was being its typical unpredictable self. So to insure everyone gets a chance to participate, we’ve moved the contest to our blog.

Below are some questions. Not all have right or wrong answers, though some do.

Personal questions:
1. What’s your first name?
2. What state -or if you don’t live in the US- what country do you live in?
3. What’s your favorite genre to read?

Ellora’s Cave reader questions:
4. What’s your very favorite Ellora’s Cave book?
5. Why is this your favorite EC story?

Since Melany Logen is a co-authored team we have questions from our own individual author sites.
Lany = Mechele Armstrong. http://mechelearmstrong.com/
6. How many stories has Lany had published so far as Mechele Armstrong?
7. What kind of creature is Bastian?
8. What’s the hero’s name in The Bracelet Mechele’s first short story?
9. Where will Mechele (Lany) be making an appearance in Oct?

Mel = Melissa Lopez http://melissa-lopez.com/
10. What’s the subject of Mel’s essay I AM?
11. Which demon had been summoned in Mel’s short story The Summons?
12. What other pen name does Mel co-author?
13. Offer a suggestion for a title with the word Coyote in it? (There is no right or wrong answer to this last Mel question.)

Our Melany Logen questions. http://melanylogen.com/

14. What series does Torc’s Salvation kick off?
15. What is book two in the series titled?
16. What is our chat group called?
17. What is the tag for our writing?

Directions:
Please do not post answers on blog. They will not be counted as an entry.
Please no multiple submissions. Only one will be included.
Send your answers to our e-mail address located here http://melanylogen.com/contact.html

Prize:
Winner’s choice of any EC download.
Bonus prize: The winner’s choice of any Mechele Armstrong book.

Lany will handle notifying the winner. Monday around noon, she’ll randomly pick a name from those -with the needed correct answers- entered.

Good luck and thanks for playing!
Mel .

The little things

I was thinking about this yesterday. A lot of times it's the little things that mean the most and captivate us about characters.

My DH will bring me back Starbucks as a surprise. He doesn't drink coffee.

In the movie Aliens, Hicks lifts the little girl, Newt, up so she can see the console everyone is looking at.

In the book, The Stand, one of the characters leaves candy wrappers everywhere he goes along with signing his name.

In the song, John Deere Green by Joe Diffie, the hero paints a big green heart on the water tower to show his love for his heroine.

Okay, the last one was a big one. LOL.

But it's the little moments sometimes that bring us close to the characters to see what's ticking inside.

What are your favorite little moments in books or film?

May the muses have little moments
Lany

What’s up with us?

We’re busy, busy, busy! Ingram’s Charm is complete! Wrapped it up last week! Completion is a fantastic feeling! Of course, we’re in the clean-up stage now. And everyone knows what comes after creative touch-ups! *Grin* Submission!

It’s really been a great year! IC will be our fourth submission!

Next, on our rotation schedule is Kyrand’s Reward, a full length novel and…a yet untitled novella. Normally –since we trade off- we work on at last two projects so we’re always advancing the word counts on something. Since we’ve learned the full length takes longer once we get deep into the novella will bring in another project. It’s a never ending process, but mercy…I love it!

Until later~
Mel

A quote from Stephen King

"People think I'm very strange, but that's not correct. I have the heart of a small boy. It's in a glass jar on my desk."

A horror writer with a sense of humor *G*.

May the muses have quotes
Lany

Exciting news!

Law’s Deliverance has been submitted. Please keep your fingers crossed. We sure are!

In keeping with our Soul Shifter futuristic vampire series, here’s a fun quiz- I snagged from a friend’s blog.

Whose your Vampire personality?

http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=55592

Mel …
You scored as Dracula. You are the smooth sexy cool Dracula. Patient and lustful. If you were any cooler you’d be ice. Great style with a way of seducing those around you. And three brides who wouldn't want to be him.

Lany…
You scored as Marius.
You are the quiet cool. You are so mellow people are lulled into a false sense of security. When you are pissed god help anyone who crosses you.

Until later~
Mel