Dear Mom

Dear Mom,

As you know I tend to struggle with mother's day with being single and all and of course it's not my favorite holiday since you've been gone, but after thinking about things for a while I decided to write you a letter.

I miss you! I just have to say that up front because of all the things on Mother's Day that hurt, this one is the most. I miss being able to visit and surprise you. I miss getting your hugs and smiles and seeing your face light up when you are around your family. I even miss your lectures on all the things that might help me in my life. I think I especially miss those. I miss your laugh and the times that we would both laugh so hard that we would cry and you would almost have an asthma attack. I miss talking with you about things that are important to me and getting your insight.

I'm sad that you will never read my books here on earth, though I know you would enjoy most of them and I know you are probably reading over my shoulder. I'm sad that I will never be able to talk to you about boys, and dating, and planning my wedding, and about having kids, and that you will never see my children born. (Though I know you are probably hanging out with them.)

I'm sad that you won't get the chance to visit me here in the Northwest and see all the amazing flowers that I know you would absolutely love and the waterfalls and the river and all the beauty I get to see every day, though I hope you are watching from above.

I suppose that my little rantings here are enough, since there are many people in the world that miss their mothers every minute of every hour of every day and I was lucky enough to have you a part of my life for 33 years. I hope I have lived up to your expectations of me as an adult and the things that I need to improve on I will improve on.

I guess as I write this the whole reason is to let you know how much I miss you and wish you were still here. I miss having my mom and it hurts me inside. I've been so lucky and I guess that is why it hurts so much. This Mother's Day seems harder than the others, I don't know why and I'm sort of glad it's over. I don't want you to worry about me though because I have wonderful family and friends that have been so kind and loving since you left us. Mothers, siblings, and friends whom I have come to depend on. I'm so grateful.

I hope where ever you are you are looking down on me from time to time because I'm sure you are very busy up there. Know that I love you so much and though I'm glad you are no longer suffering down here, I do wish you were still with us. I love you so much and miss you even more!

Love,

Melanie

Review!!!

Another great review! Thank you all so much for reading The Line That Divides. Thank you Shauna Wheelwright for reading and reviewing. You are awesome!!!

: http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-line-that-divides.html

Just a few more books

So I finally had the chance, upon recommendation by a close friend, to read The Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. If you haven't had a chance to read them and you like fantasy, I highly suggest them.

I also had the chance to read a few stand alone novels, some that are sequels, but can be read on their own as well. The Season by Sarah MacLean








and Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters by Shannon Hale. I highly recommend these to read.

Dear Editor

Dear New Characters,

Maybe you haven't gotten the memo yet, but I'm the author. You really should do what I tell you, except for the fact that what you end up doing is probably so much better than what I would have told you in the first place. So, I guess you just go on doing what you're doing and I'll deal with it.

Okay, I guess you can ignore the memo. Apparently I'm not the author, I'm just the crazy writer who reads books in her head and happens to write down what goes on in there. In fact, maybe, I'm just crazy. Well, not really crazy, everything has a purpose and of course eventually I will find out what that purpose is, but of course it will be by the end of the book and by that time I really will be going crazy and then I'll reach the end of your story and think this is the end. That's the point when you laugh your evil (well I guess you're the protagonist so your laugh isn't evil) laugh and kindly inform me that this is only book one of three.

It might as well be book one of 100 because now I have to go through the pain and frustration of writing all the rest of your story before I can find out what FINALLY happens and through it all you'll be put through pain and suffering both mental and physical because of course your story would be really boring without all the pain and suffering stuff.

And of course the pain and suffering I put you through is payback for the fact that you aren't a stand alone book and there are at least two more books I have to write. Really, that's just mean. Why can't you just resolve your issues in 80,000 words? Oh, because there are two of you and you both have to make sure you have equal protagonist rights. Got it. So not only do I have to give you equal rights and attention you both have to have your own book and your own sets of troubles, trials, and suffering.

Then to make things worse you go and complicate matters in the entire Seven Realms, so OF COURSE, now I have to write a whole third book just to resolve the problems you really started by being who you are. To top all that off I had to go and create a whole world with crazy cities and towns with weird names and naming characters that have gifts and issues. It's not easy you know. I do have a full time job that I have to work and a life beyond my writing. How do you expect me to function when you are constantly there in the back of my mind taunting me with your story and the excitement of something new and wondrous.

Why can't we all just get along really? I could resolve you in 10,000 more words, but of course you would the most boring story ever and we can't have that. Ugh. I knew when I had that dream to get you started that I should have just stuck with the 50,000 word romance. What was I thinking? Apparently I wasn't. (sigh)

Grudgingly yours,

Melanie Mason, Author

Sunday

What a wonderful day! I've actually had a great week this week. I was able to work on some new stories, work, go to the temple, get my car cleaned, help some friends, have a mini party, and relax (just a little).

Then today I get to start a new week with an amazing Sunday. Church was beautiful. In Sunday school we had an awesome lesson on Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. The thoughts and comments shared filled my soul. In Relief Society meeting my best friend stepped up to the plate and gave an awesome impromptu lesson on Joseph Smith. 

I'm just so grateful for the blessings I have. Even the trials I go through in life have blessed me in some way. Hopefully I can live my life in a way that will show my Heavenly Father how grateful I am for what he gives me and I will always be in his debt.

Sunrise, Sunset

Sunrise on the Columbia River

Have you ever noticed how beautiful sunrises and sunsets are? I was going through some pictures today and I realized that I must have a thing for sunsets. I have taken a gazillion pictures of sunsets and they all seem so amazingly beautiful. I love our world. It is a spectacular place that makes me glad I can enjoy the beauties God has given us. It's also a great boon to the imagination.

Here are some of the most spectacular ones.

Sunset over Portland, OR

Sunset at Rosario Beach, WA

Sunset at Poi Pu Beach, Kauai, HI

Sunset on Kauai

Sunset in Cancun, Mexico

Sunrise in Cancun, Mexico

Quotes

Dear Editor

Dear Inner Editor,

Yes, you, the one in my head that won't stop critiquing. I get it!!! I need to work on everything, nothing will ever be good enough to print again. Blah, blah, blah, blah. Go away before I ax all my main characters and burn my laptop.

You heard me,
MMason


Dear Real Editor,

You there, the nice one who actually helps my writing be better. Thank you. I appreciate you. Keep up the good work. Just ignore the angry inner editor that wants to scrap every story, she'll get a good night's sleep and feel better in the morning. Thanks again for your help.

Gratefully Yours,
MMason

Nine Books

I know you don't believe me. I really did read nine books. Just to prove it here they are in order of completion:

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas (Yes, I'm annoyed because there is going to be another one and I can't read it yet because it isn't published.)

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Ever After High: A Wonderlandiful World by Shannon Hale

Crossed by Ally Condie

Reached by Ally Condie

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Geir

Emerald Green by Kerstin Geir

Twice Upon a Time #1 Rapunzel, the One With All The Hair by Wendy Mass

Of course the week before I read:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Matched by Ally Condie

Though of all these books my favorite were the Ruby Red series by Kerstin Geir. Loved them. Want to own them.

I have to admit that I do love libraries. Thanks to the Multnomah County Library I was able to do absolutely nothing but read and work for a whole week. A library to me is like stepping into a candy shop where everything is free.

How is it that a whole week has gone by...?

Just when I think I'm catching up on stuff I sit down and realize that a whole stinking week has zipped by and I have gotten nothing done. No editing, no writing, no emails, no blog posts, no reading...wait...ahhh that's what happened. I read a book...
well okay two books...
okay fine four books...
seriously, whatever, okay, I'll admit it, I read nine books this last week. Yep, nine.

So I guess it makes sense that I didn't get anything else done.

Oh oh. I worked. I did that too. I guess that counts for something.
Well goodbye lazy days, hello lots of catch up work. Sigh.