Tender Mercies

So today I attended a stake conference in Fresno, CA and one of the speakers talked about looking for the tender mercies in life. I really enjoyed listening to this talk. It made me think about all the things that I can look for that are tender mercies in my life.

The speaker encouraged us to write down those things that are tender mercies of the Lord so that we can remember them and also note them in our lives. This way we are able to become more grateful and see the amazing things that the Lord sends our way.

I am making a goal to look for and write down the tender mercies that the Lord gives to me. I am grateful for all the tender mercies in my life and hopefully I will gain an even greater sense of gratitude for the many things that I am given, for I know I am truly blessed.

13 Clean Fiction Novels To Watch For This Fall

I just discovered this article (thanks Dad) and it upped my excitement level.
I am so excited The Line That Divides has made it to this list and in this on www.ldsliving.com. I feel so blessed right now.

Check it out:
13 Clean Fiction Novels To Watch For This Fall.

I HAVE A WEBSITE!!!

I am totally official now. I have a website!

Please check it out and let me know what you think.

www.melaniemasonauthor.com

And they lived happily ever after...maybe?

That which we long for the most is that which we try to give others. Perhaps that's why I like happy endings in books and movies because I want to feel the hope that I too can have my happy ending. Maybe that's why I like to write happy endings in my stories.

Does this mean everything will be bliss? Of course not. There are trials and struggles that will come, but depending on our attitude and faith in the Lord, even these trials can have happy endings. Does that mean everything will be perfect and turn out just the way we want? Not necessarily, but it does give me hope that whatever happens will be a good fit for me.

It is always hard to put my characters through difficult things, but I also recognize the value and growth that comes to my characters while they experience the horrible things that they go through. It's just like real people. One character I have been working with has dealt with some particularly awful things and I had wondered about how I could hurt her so.

Later when discussing this character, among others, I posed the question of what this characters theme song would be. A wise friend replied simply and firmly: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Though I laughed, I realized the truth in what she said. We may be struggling with awful things in our lives, but if we put our trust in the divine and exercise a little faith we too can say, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

The Seeress and the Stone

Check out this story and let me know what you think.
The Seeress and the Stone Prologue
You can find more links to the chapters on Melanie Mason Hubpages.

Enjoy!!

Dear Editor

Dear Readers,

I am so happy to finally be able to offer you all a finished product.
I hope you enjoy it. Thank you all for your love and support!

Sincerely,
Melanie Mason

Dear Editor,

Well we have begun book 2. I can already tell it is going to be an amazing adventure.
And along with all adventures there will be pain and suffering, :) LOL, as well as discovery and joy!
Thank you!

Ready and Willing,
Me

Dear Auto-correct,

No, No, No! That's not the word I wanted there. Why can't you get it through your annoying computer brain. How many times do I have to type this before you get it. Grrrrr!

Frustratedly yours,
Typed the right word in the first place

Dear Brain,

I know you're tired, but surely you have a few more good editing sessions in you, right? No?
Fine. Maybe I can inspire you by reading a good book. How about one we need to edit. :)

Hopeful we can finish this,
Author

Dear Fantasy Novel,

I never realized just how boring you were until I started working on my dystopian stuff. We really need to work on your excitement level, especially since you are the one who started this whole process in the first place.

Let's talk...or edit,
Looking for more excitement

Announcement!!!

It's official!

The Line That Divides will be available

at Deseret Book stores November 2014.

Published by Walnut Springs Press.

Procrastination: The art of not doing anything and still looking busy.

Sometimes I'm all into my writing and sometimes I don't want to write at all.

Sometimes I'm focused on reading and can finish several books in a few days and sometimes I don't want to read anything ever again.

Today...well let's just say that my Sudoku game is looking more and more appealing.

I'm in total procrastination mode now.

Grrr.

I think the behavior of some of my characters is annoying me and I'm tired of dealing with them.

Hmmm.

She's Back!!!!

I know I keep saying I'm busy, but it is definitely the truth. I have been busy writing and editing and writing some more. I'm loving flying out of Portland right now and I hope to be able to continue to do just that for a while.

Right now I'm off work because of an on the job injury. I fell out of the hotel shuttle van at the airport. Yes, I'm serious. Yes, I'm totally humiliated. Yes, I hurt. :) My foot slipped off the runner board of the van and I caught myself with my right arm. In the process I twisted my right ankle, knee, jammed my hip into the floor of the van and wrenched my right shoulder and strained my right wrist and thumb. I'm currently in physical therapy doing stretches and trying to get the muscles to chill out and relax. Hopefully I'll be back to work next week. At least that's the plan.

I've also been reading a ton. I saw the movie Beautiful Creatures and decided to read the books. Not bad.


Read all the Heroes of Olympus books and am now waiting for the last one.



Finished The Selection series and a stand alone by the same author that I loved called The Siren. I highly recommend that one.

I read the Maze Runner series,






and finally got to Inheritance. Now I'm wanting to get back to working on more writing and editing. Lots of ideas running around in my mind.







For those of you who would like to read some more of my stuff, I have been posting chapters of the first book in my fantasy trilogy, The Seeress and the Stone on my hubpages account. I have 15 chapters posted so far. Feel free to check it out.

I'm hoping in the near future to have actual published books to tell about, but we're not there quite yet. I am setting a goal to write here a little more often or at least to post things. I've been rusty with my Dear Editors and hopefully will be gaining some inspiration soon.

Have a great day!!!

A Writer's World Is Always In Upheaval

Yep, that should just about cover everything that has happened over the last few months and I'm not even talking about the insanity of the holiday season. As usual, though, with the onset of insanity comes incredible blessings and opportunities.

I have been working feverishly on the Storm books trying to get them ready for the upcoming writing conference in February and I am hoping and praying that something good will come of this conference. If not, then I am prepared to head in a different direction.

Overall, I have been very blessed during the last few months. I now have a place to live, work is going well, and my imagination doesn't seem to be running out of things to bring into existence. I look forward to the new year with satisfaction and eagerness at what lies in my path.

Happy New Year!!!