Novelette/Short Story Available!
In this Edition:
Quote.
Update & Motivate: My update turns personal.
A link to my Novelette (short story)!
Book Review: It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey.
New Onyx Podcast: 3rd place winner.
Christmas gifts for the writers and readers in your life.
Final thoughts.
Update:
NaNoWriMo is officially over, and I feel so much freer! I made it to 60,000 words of a new novel in the month of November, and while I’m planning to slow down, I’d like to finish this novel before I take a writing break. There’s something to be said for momentum, so while the end is in sight, I’m going to take advantage of that. Surely I can manage another 20,000 words in December.
Still no news on the publishing front.
Though, I’m very excited to say that my short story is now available for download!
It’s for newsletter subscribers only, so if you’re interested, you can get it here:
Originally, I’d planned to call it Santa’s Secrets, but as I was creating the files and graphics, I decided to change the title. It was actually Stephen’s, my husband’s, idea. Now, it’s Just Desserts, a triple meaning.
Just desserts: only desserts. (as in eating your feelings)
Just desserts: getting what you deserve in a negative way as a result of poor actions. (as in a potential affair)
Just desserts: getting what you deserve in a positive way. (as in a reward for your unrecognized actions)
I had so much fun writing this story. It’s taken many forms along the way, until it landed where it is now. I love talking about food, and I’m convinced that since I’m not eating gluten or dairy, I’ve let the main character of this story enjoy it a little too much. I mean, there’s dessert in the title.
I also wanted to run with the idea of how the past influences the present. We all have traumas and/or events in our past, and those events shape how we view our present surroundings, how we interact with others, and how we treat others.
I’ll be doing a post about my sister in February (anniversary of her passing), but her life and death have really influenced my writing. I think I must work through my own traumas with her in a lot of my stories. I have this nearly-subconscious need for her to be recognized. And I want to right (and write) the wrongs that occurred in her life. I can’t actually do that, of course, and I didn’t even plan to type this when I sat down to write this newsletter, but if I’m honest with myself, I think my main character’s “issue” in this book has a lot to do with my sister because…she didn’t feel worthy.
As usual, let me get too personal…
My sister and I had a rocky relationship. She struggled with lots of, shall we say…demons, and I didn’t know how to handle all of her issues. She was 9 years older than me, so for much of our lives, she was the adult, and I was the kid, but it was really the other way around. (I’m convinced I was born a 40yo woman.)
At one point, she was living with an abusive boyfriend, the father of her youngest child, and I was working hard to try to get her to leave him. She “loved” him, though.
I picked her up one day (he kept her as isolated as he could) around Christmas of 2017. As I’ve told you, I decorate A LOT during the holidays, and when my sister walked into my house for the first time in a very long time, she immediately clammed up.
I will never forget that moment: her standing behind my couch, folding into herself, my smile dropping like a weight as soon as I turned and saw the tears blooming in her eyes. Pain reached all the way to my toes, much as my stomach is sinking right now, recalling the vivid memory. Because you know what happened next?
She wanted to leave. No, she didn’t want to, but she thought she should.
She felt uncomfortable in my house because she instantly saw that it was “normal.” I viewed my life through her eyes: me, my husband, and one daughter at the time (She couldn’t see her daughter.), all of us snuggled in a festively decorated home with plenty of food, no alcohol problems, no drug problems, no abuse.
And her life was a mess.
She actually told me that she shouldn’t be there.
My sister felt like she didn’t belong in my home. She didn’t want to mess up the good that I had, like she’d taint it somehow. I had to tell her over and over again that she was worthy. That I was honored for her to be in my home, that she mattered more than any of it. (She didn’t know that I decorate and surround myself with pretty things because I’ve seen so much ugly in my life that I like my home to be an escape. It’s a way I deal with my past. But that year, I’d also decorated FOR her, knowing she’d be coming at some point.)
Her reaction was completely unexpected. She agreed to stay, and I treated her as much like royalty as I could that day. We had hot tea and treats, and I gave her anything she casually mentioned that she liked.
We created a plan for her to see her daughter, to work through her alcohol issues, to distance herself from her boyfriend. We made so many plans that day. She left me with a smile on her face. Little did I know that would be the last time she’d be in my house, and the plans—all of them,—would go unfulfilled. We’d never cross them off the list.
Wow, like I said, I didn’t plan to tell you any of that, but there it is, my fingers deciding what to say without my full approval.
You won’t find any of that memory in Just Desserts, but you might find the essence of it. Marley, my main character, is not my sister. They’re dissimilar in most ways, except that Marley struggles with one thing I watched my sister struggle with, something a lot of us struggle with.
Our worth.
Our place in the world.
Our desire to be treasured by others.
When times get hard, we struggle even more. For some, the holidays are the darkest times because it highlights what they don’t have, rather than what they do.
Now that I’ve thoroughly depressed us all, let me cheer you with the story, written with the humorous notes I enjoy playing with in all my writing.
So you don’t have to scroll back up:
For now, you’ll have to read the story with your very own eyeballs as my voice has been on the fritz. But the audio file is coming as soon as I can read 12,000 words without sounding like a dried-up male cadaver in need of a stiff drink. (I think I’ll be able to manage it this week. So hopefully the mp3 will be in next week’s newsletter! Subscribe so you don’t miss it!)
If you somehow find yourself loving the story and wanting to share it, I ask that you not forward it to them directly, but do so by sending this link to signup:
https://www.melissacollings.com/freeshortstoryjustdesserts
The story will be delivered to their inbox. I ask this because I’ve announced everywhere out there that this story is only for newsletter subscribers.
Thanks in advance.
If you do read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts…if you liked it or even if you didn’t (what I could improve on.)
I’ve already had some feedback!
One Instagrammer commented:
“Excellent read!" The story gave me all the feels and had tons of laugh out loud, relatable moments. Love your writing style. Can’t wait to listen to the audio version.”
That made my day!
Book Review: It Happened One Summer
Starting with Goodreads stats:
Rating: 4.06/5 from 285,019 ratings 31,247 reviews
It was nominated for Best Romance in 2021 on the Goodreads Choice Award
I don’t know what to say about this book.
It was a light read, yet we watch someone learn a solid life lesson and “find themselves.” It’s funny and I was curious enough to read the whole thing. Though I fast-forwarded through the graphic sex stuff, which after the 50% mark was a lot. I’m pretty sure I cheated on my husband just listening to some of this.
It’s a 5 on the steam scale, too much for me.
Do I recommend it? Well, it’s not a must-read for me. It was fine. Well-done for what it is. But, it wasn’t grippy enough. In my opinion, it was really “fluffy.” The book set out to do what it intended and did it well. And Bailey did manage to keep me curious enough about the ending that I made it to the end. But I won’t be grabbing another of her books right now.
For those who enjoy this style, they’ll love it. As you can see, a LOT of people do love it.
And I’d agree with it being inspired by Schitt’s Creek.
Goodreads summary:
Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who is cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town... where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong.
Piper Bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly on her heels. When too much champagne and an out-of-control rooftop party lands Piper in the slammer, her stepfather decides enough is enough. So he cuts her off, and sends Piper and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar... in Washington.
Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. So what if Piper can’t do math, and the idea of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. How bad could it really be? She’s determined to show her stepfather—and the hot, grumpy local—that she’s more than a pretty face.
Except it’s a small town and everywhere she turns, she bumps into Brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper doesn’t want any distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks at a time. Yet as she reconnects with her past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper starts to wonder if the cold, glamorous life she knew is what she truly wants. LA is calling her name, but Brendan—and this town full of memories—may have already caught her heart.
New Onyx Podcast!
Tess is her Name – Fall Contest 3rd Place
Written by Michail Mulvey
Narrated by Meredith Lyons
Today’s show features our Fall Contest Third Place winner, Tess is her Name, by Michail Mulvey. Prose contest judge Katie McDougall said “With a voice that sings with subtle characterization and musicality, the narrator suggests “in-between” lives of his neighbors below and above, ultimately illuminating his own lonesomeness, a pining for meaning and connection. The author masters the art of flash fiction; short in length, Tess is her Name is expansive in aboutness.”
Michail was unable to participate in our interview, so after the reading, JW and I discuss Michail Mulvey’s background and how it relates to this flash piece. Then we have a fun discussion on a few writing topics: the merits of NaNoWriMo, Writing Groups, and writing resources.
We had no guest, but we had a blast!
Holiday gifts for writers & readers:
Blue-light glasses:
Looking at a screen right before bed isn’t a good idea, it can keep you from getting that sleep you need.
Writers and readers (if looking at a screen) might enjoy a pair of blue-light glasses…
Okay, let me bring this to a screeching halt.
I found these glasses online, saw that the purchases of these lenses were skyrocketing, and thought…a perfect gift recommendation.
But as I was researching where to send you to purchase, I encountered a problem. I didn’t hunt for conclusive evidence, but some scientists (retinal specialists) are saying that these glasses might not do anything.
I left it in here, not really to recommend as a gift, but to inform you. I find it so interesting that some people can be so confident in something that we later find out had no real business being promoted. Like what healthy food actually is. But I digress.
Book-themed Christmas Ornament:
I love this ornament (pictured.)
But if you’re crafty/want something more personal, you can create an ornament.
If you know an author, making an ornament of their book would be amazing. If you know someone’s favorite book, you could do the same!
Books on trees? Yes, please!
It’s easy to make. Print the book cover online, glue it to a small piece of wood or a small stack of glued papers, put some ribbon at the top (loop to hang from), and voila, a gift!
(Etsy sells them too.)
Final thoughts:
I hope your week is amazing.
Focusing on the positives can be hard sometimes, but they’re there, and tending to them can make a huge difference in how you live life.
If you listen to my short story, I hope you enjoy it!
Until next week, much glitter,
Melissa
p.s. Loving this blog? Get my weekly content: timely updates, book reviews, book bonuses, essentially, ways to love yourself, others, and books! And get email-only specials. Sign up for my weekly newsletter. If you want a free short story: use this link to sign up: https://www.melissacollings.com/freeshortstoryjustdesserts.
