Hi ho, MMMLogerinos!

Weather: Rainy, cool and gray.

Empty Rooms
The movers did indeed remove the Son of MMMMM's stuff yesterday--all that he'd take. He just doesn't seem to want his first bike and all those boxes of saved toys and stuffed animals. Guess we're going to have to continue to haul those mementoes of his childhood around until he has children. In any case, now we have two empty rooms. Seems that empty nest thing just keeps on happening to MMMMMM, making her wanting to fly the nest herself.

Tattoos
I have contact with lots of interesting folks with a wide variety of skill sets, many of which are greatly developed psychic skills. Recently, a very receptive and adept energy worker emailed: "Tattoos are an interesting phenomena. According to a rock guitarist friend, tattoos and piercings are like cockroaches; for every one you see there an hundred you don't see! (Revulsion). Case in point, a pointy chinned, round eyed green Roswellian face peering out from the arm of a previously considered dull man. I clicked into "otherworld" for a second and opened to his electromagnetics and WOW! He's been there, although he may not realize how thoroughly. Said he is fascinated with Roswell, etc., and his teenage kids think it's a hoot he came home with not only a tattoo, but a space alien face."

Body decoration is an interesting phenomenon that's been with us for millennia. This life I've chosen to avoid tattoos, scarification and piercings, with the exception of getting a hole in each earlobe that I thought was gonna kill me. I've chosen instead to decorate myself with Miss Clairol since I was in high school. My hair has been every color of blond there is. For the last many longs I've settled on getting my hair "striped" by a very talented, though smartassy--just my kind of jerk--stylist and colorist. Jane does a great job and is always entertaining (that's the smartassy part.) As far as I'm able to observe she doesn't have any tattoos . . . but the kidnapped by aliens thing wouldn't surprise me. And she'd say the same about me.

Production Tips
Our favorite MMMLog contributor John Dark has been cruising through the Articles on my site and emailed about the Production Secrets of the Prolific Pros article:

"About outlining: I've been doing something that may not make much sense to other people but works for me. I backward outline a lot of the time. I start out with a general idea of where everything is going to end then outline the start of the story. I'll work past the point I've outlined until I get to a tough part and then go back and write as an outline what I've already done. When I do this it sets in front of me the structure of what I've done. That way I can see a little of what a reader would see from outside the story. As you well know sometimes you can get lost in the details and not see the greater picture. I don't want to have a reader suddenly saying to himself, "These last few chapters don't make any sense. This stuff just shouldn't have happened." I have read books like that. Don't know if that makes sense but it works for me.

"I particularly liked the way the article ended encouraging everyone to enjoy the process of writing and especially life. I'm on my third novel. The first one took two years for the first draft. The second one took one year for the first draft. The third one that I'm still working on I set a goal of six months and am already going two months longer than that. There are reasons that I won't go into but the bottom line is motivation is hard when you don't have a deadline. So, I will take your advice and ease up on myself. In three months this first draft should be done.Then, I'll write something that's fun to do. Thanks for the article. It was fun to read, I learned some things and got some good advice. Especially not to let the cat do hot laps around the dryer. That's gotta hurt."

A Fan of Another Writer . . .emails MMMMMMM
There is another writer out there, an Oprah pick--bless her, that shares my name, except for the Rucker part. In any case, she wrote a well-reviewed book. And when she did, I got all of her web traffic on my site because she didn't have a website. And she apparently still doesn't. So after about five years, I still occasionally get her fan mail. A couple of days ago, a lovely reader wrote a "gushing"--her word--fan email to that writer. I wrote the woman back, thanked her for the email and explained that I'm not that writer, but I do have one or two books of my own she might consider. The woman wrote back:

Well, if it's any consolation I thoroughly enjoyed your logs/blog!

Jo.

Some days you're the windshield....
Some days you're the bug.....


Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLogerinos!

Weather: Cool, overcast, rainy--of course they're packing out the Son of MMMM's furniture today.

Murderers & Their Groupies
The Kansas heckler emailed: "If you hadn't heard, Dennis Rader (BTK killer) plead guilty to all 10 counts this morning giving the judge graphic, emotionless testimony & details of each urder. Argh Yuck! Anyway, an auctioneer[the Heckler knows]& real estate broker has the listing to auction his house. In order to sort out the real buyers from the ghouls, potential buyers will have to show $2500 earnest money to get in. It has all the ear marks of being a circus!"

People's interest in these crazies always mystifies me. They hang on every printed or spoken words from or about them. They buy their books, watch made for TV movies, haunt the scenes of the killings or where the murderer lived. I don't get it. Isn't that just what the murderer wants--that kind of attention? Why would anyone want to reward a murderer with exactly what it wants? Crazy is as crazy does.

Anytimeliness
Yeah, the Son of MMMMM has been trying to get some personal belongings and furniture shipped from here for the last month. The movers or someone tells him that they'll show and MMMMM gets everything ready. No show. Today is the day, he tells me because they swore to him that they would be out anytime from 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. I haven't seen 'em yet.

Hey! As I typed that, they showed up! Two nice guys. Off I go to take pre-damage pictures of the stuff.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMmmmmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLogerinos!

Weather: Sun breaks, breeeeeezy and cool. Could be a topless Red Therapy day, but I'm under deadline.

Supreme Court Ruling Paves Way for Cities to Seize Homes
I just got the following very disturbing news item off Comcast.com news. The following is condensed from the article . . .

Supreme Court Rules Cities May Seize Homes
By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - A divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses against their will for private development in a decision anxiously awaited in communities where economic growth often is at war with individual property rights.

The 5-4 ruling represented a defeat for some Connecticut residents whose homes are slated for destruction to make room for an office complex. They argued that cities have no right to take their land except for projects with a clear public use, such as roads or schools, or to revitalize blighted areas.

As a result, cities now have wide power to bulldoze residences for projects such as shopping malls and hotel complexes in order to generate tax revenue.

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has been a key swing vote on many cases before the court, issued a stinging dissent. She argued that cities should not have unlimited authority to uproot families, even if they are provided compensation, simply to accommodate wealthy developers.

Writing for the court, Justice John Paul Stevens said local officials, not federal judges, know best in deciding whether a development project will benefit the community. States are within their rights to pass additional laws restricting condemnations if residents are overly burdened, he said.

"The city has carefully formulated an economic development that it believes will provide appreciable benefits to the community, including - but by no means limited to - new jobs and increased tax revenue," Stevens wrote in an opinion joined by Justice Anthony Kennedy, David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer.

At issue was the scope of the Fifth Amendment, which allows governments to take private property through eminent domain if the land is for "public use."

The lower courts had been divided on the issue, with many allowing a taking only if it eliminates blight.

"Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party, but the fallout from this decision will not be random," O'Connor wrote. "The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms."

She was joined in her opinion by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, as well as Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

Nationwide, more than 10,000 properties were threatened or condemned in recent years, according to the Institute for Justice, a Washington public interest law firm representing the New London homeowners.

Your Neighborhood and Mine
Real estate is booming here in the Puget Sound and prices of homes increasing exponentially, or so it seems. There is less raw land to develop due to a number of restrictive bills and developers are turning to older neighborhoods, buying houses piecemeal and throwing up twenty-five half-million dollar homes in the space that four or five older homes on larger lots occupied. These people no doubt sold their homes for "tidy" sums, compared to what they paid for them thirty years ago.

With today's Supreme Court ruling, what if folks don't want to sell, because where are they going to find another home they can afford for the couple of hundred thousand they'd receive? Can the development corporation simply team up with the city and declare eminent domain--for the greater good of the community--the people must sell their homes to make way for bigger, better that is good for all and that "all" being the developer and city coffers?

If you want to get a different and perhaps more valid perspective on the business/government partnership, watch the Ferengi on Deep Space Nine reruns on SPIKE TV. Their entire society is built around the Laws of Acquisition, a not so funhouse mirror of our world's corporatocracy.

Like the man said, "Business is a sporty game won only by those who set the rules."If I were to believe that, I'd have to take the formula for success sign off my monitor that I endeavor to work by everyday: Realistic Goals + Hard Word + Scholarly Perseverance = Solid Achievement, Dependability & Trust.

I'm not ready to give up on the idea that I create my world, my reality with every thought I have and that I'm responsible for what I create. I'm determined to see today's Supreme Court ruling as another wakeup call to what others are creating that I may not want to co-create with 'em, such as making people sell their homes to put up another shopping mall.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Ciao, ciao, mmmmmmmmmmmmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather: FULL MOON ALERT--The DH tried to wear a sweater to work today. Overcast, rainy, cool.

Maybe A Good Rejection
You may have noticed on this MMMLOG that I don't have reply boxes, etc. I told Willa the Fab Webdesigner that I didn't want that on my web journal. If people want to interact with my journal content they can email me as well as get their own blog at www.blogger.com. I think that's a great site and my MMMLOG is easy to use and works great.

Now to the good rejection . . .you've read previously in MMMLOG about a cool NW horror writer, John Dark. He emailed me about his own fun with rejections and I thought you'd enjoy his experience.

John Dark wrote: A while back I submitted to an anthology, that I won't name, where they didn't pay but of course they do give exposure. The tale I submitted was written after I'd put out a few really mild stories and wanted to do a real gross-out tale. After talking with my wife and coming up a list of the worst possible things that could happen to someone I came up with "Does Your *ss Itch" where aliens are trying to take over the world through toilet paper seeded with little bitty aliens that would grow inside the body. Something I wouldn't want to happen to me. Anyway, I sent the story to the unnamed anthology and received a reply back saying it was bizarre and imaginative and they loved it. Unfortunately it was also hilarious and because it was primarily a horror anthology the story stands out too much. I like standing out from the crowd and took the rejection as a big compliment. I sent them a thank-you letter. I'm holding the story until I can spot a paying market where they want bizarre and unusual. I also decided I won't submit to any more non-paying markets. It's good for the ego but after being in more publications for free than I can name it seems like a waste of time now. Time is the one thing that I as well as most people never have enough of.

We'll Help You Put Your Rejection In The Right Perspective
See, John Dark learned something valuable from his rejection. So can you. Email me at melinda@melindaruckerhaynes.com and I'll post your rejection in MMMLOG. At the very least, you'll get your named mentioned, site linked and your experience may serve to inspire others . . .or make 'em mad as hell with you. Either way, it's a win-win, from a certain perspective. And we're all about that here at MMMLOG.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather: Warm, showers. First Day of Summer!

Solstice
My favorite day of the year here in Seattle is the longest day with the most light and least darkness--TODAY! Then . . . the sun begins its slide to the south, coming up later everyday and going down earlier until December when it's so darned dark here I feel like a moss-bound troglodyte.

Enjoy today. Tomorrow won't be as light and bright--in many ways!

The Perfect Pitch Online Workshop--Starts June 27. Register NOW!
The online workshop to tune your pitch to perfection is about to kick off and runs through July 1. The class is filling up fast, so if you want to get in on it and get your pitch personally tuned by yours truly, a pitching pro, don't ya know, register now at Eastside RWA.

Check out the new article, Ghost Books Under The Bed, here.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather: Not a cloud in the sky. Warm. A perfect summer day.

Getting Experience
When I first started writing fiction, my critique partners suggested that I also begin entering writing contests. I followed their advice and found that I did very well. The various wins and finaling I was lucky enough to score created a sort of experience or track record that I, an unpublished fiction writer, could cite in query letters or in talking to agents and editors.

I still enter contests as a published writer. Entering contests at any stage of your writing career is a way to encourage yourself. An entry due date can serve as a deadline, always very motivating. The feedback, if allowed in the contest, can be illuminating about a particular kind of reader, at the very least, and how your writing is connecting with the reader. A word about the comments or opinions of the judges . . . beware of exuberant praise AND completely negative criticism. Neither is very useful to you.

Car Wash Revelations
Took Red Therapy through the car wash today, top up of course, and got wet. The SLK is a hardtop convertible that's usually very tight. Last time I had the car in for its big inspection, I asked them to adjust the roof. They did. Now it really leaks at the car wash, but not during rain storms, thank goodness. That would be a tragedy in Seattle. I've determined that the roof is leaking at the top of the gasket where the rear side window folds down in the stow position. I'm thinking there's no fix for that except a new gasket. And now that we're out of warranty--oh my, I don't relish the idea of paying Benz prices for that. Just had a thought--maybe if I leave the top up for awhile, the gasket will soften and the crease go away . . .

And yes, I do believe in Santa Claus.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather: 70s, sunny, fluffy clouds--perfect topless Red Therapy weather.

The Best
The DH and I don't exchange gifts for Mother's/Father's Days because I'm not his mother and he's not my father. That leaves it up to the son of MMMMM to fete us, which he does very nicely. We did a sort of pre-Father's Day celebration today. We got up early and cruised to Starbucks then indulged in some car salesman torture, always a great way to spend a Saturday morning. I got a manicure and pedicure and talked the DH into getting his first ever manicure, but he wouldn't do a color. Ah well. Then we did lunch and enjoyed a long drive with the top down. Came home with sun-rosied skin to enjoy cocktails and pu-pus on the patio. Now, that's way to spend Father's or any day!

Tarot Writing Help
A wonderful and talented writing amiga of mine, Lindy McLaine, sent me some great links to a Tarot site that has Tarot spreads for writers do work with charactization, goal/motivation/conflict, a relationship spread, a character generation spread and others. They can be had at www.tarotforum.net

All you fathers and those who love you, have a great Father's Day!

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather: Uh, gray. What else?

Good Rejection?
I belong to several writers' lists and the traffic can get pretty overwhelming on them, but most of the posts are so worth reading that it's hard to resist. When I can grab some time, I post, too, to offer help on something I know or a "good on you and your book, too." I've gotten lots of help myself from these kind people on the lists with everything from formatting hard drives to introductions to editors. Often writers will post about getting a "good" rejection, in that the rejection letter isn't a form or a single line of PASS! from an editor or agent to whom they've submitted their projects.

How can rejection be good, you might ask? It's the ole glass half empty/half full thing, IMO. Most writers, even those of us who've sold many books, will have gotten a lot of rejection in our careers. And those rejections run the gamut of type that I mentioned previously. I've even had a rejection where the agent returned my own query letter and scribbled across the top, "I don't like ghosts." No signature and it was crammed into my SASE. That's another thing, the self addressed stamped envelope that we must send with any correspondence to the publishers or agents. I really can easily afford the envelope and postage, but I always wonder why including an SASE is such a canon of the writer to publisher/agent submission process. There is one publishing house that never uses the SASE but sends the rejection letter in their own postage metered envelope. I've wondered what they do with all those SASE. Peel the stamps off and sell them on Ebay? Then I read in the recent industry magazine that a former editorial assistant advises us never to fold the SASE around the letter as the opening machine can slice them to ribbons. Ahhhh, the light dawns. Perhaps that one house has a very Jack the Ripperish opening machine that the assistants fear but evil middle management refuses to get them a new one . . .

Back to the "good" rejection. I submitted a paranormal proposal to an editor once and received what could be viewed by some as a good rejection. The editor said, "Thanks for sending (name withheld to protect--something, my pride probably). After having read it, I'm sorry to say I will be passing. The novel is highly imaginative, with a compelling female lead and a strong sense of setting and atmosphere. Unfortunately, though, I was not as engaged with the overall plot as I needed to be."

HUH?

Maybe getting the Dear Author form letter is the best way to go, because then I don't take it personally because it wasn't even addressed to me. Makes sense, in a weird way, huh!? Remember, the glass is indeed half full. Really, it's probably full to overflowing in some alternate reality where that highly imaginative project of mine is a NYT bestseller, so think about that!

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather: Clouds and sun breaks. Cool.

Happy Birthday, Son of MMMMMMMM
Yes, MMMLOGerinos, it was 27 years ago today that the little redheaded kid stepped into this world again in Las Vegas. (Though he's proof that what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas.) Due to the C-section his APGAR was only a 9 and I, ever going for a top score in anything, was a bit miffed. But he was healthy and huge, 9.3lbs. My mom has always said thank goodness for that C-section!

The son of MMMM has always been my perfect treat and reward for what I can only imagine as some life when I did something right. The red hair was a surprise, for I thought he'd have dark hair like his dad. But recessive genes are not to be denied. Mom says I had reddish highlights as a baby. My paternal grandmother had red hair and all my maternal grandmother's brothers were redheads. Then there's the DH's side of the fam, yup, auburn tresses there, too.

I really had no idea what to do with a baby so did what I knew how to do--I started teaching him from day one, once I got that whole feeding and diapering thing figured out. One of the first things I taught him was how to crawl out of his crib. Yes, that proved problematic, but I thought he ought to know how. After I finished my last research project at UNLV when he was almost a year old, I got to play with the son fulltime. Everyday we'd pack a lunch or go to the Arches, then sit beside the runway at McCarran, watching the jets land. I taught him the aircraft types and the different airlines. When he was almost two he could identify any airline and plane type when they were on final approach into the airport. I told my friends at the Dept of Ed. in Carson City and they wanted to test him. Apparently, that was unusual ability and behavior for a two year old. I decided to test him myself and administered the PPVT, a type of verbal IQ test that I used when serving on a diagnostic and prescriptive team, when he was two and half. He scored 156 (smoothed and extrapolated). We weren't surprised as he was already having lively and informative chats with rather stunned women in the grocery store who'd said hello to the cute little redheaded toddler. As to his extremely adequate verbal ability--when he was four I enrolled him in an exclusive private school's preschool when we lived in St. Louis. One day the teacher called to ask me to help him "feel happier" about having to take a nap after lunch. He'd refused, saying he was "appalled and horrified" that she would ask such at thing of him.

The son wanted to be taller like the 6'6" men on the DH's side, but he stands tall to just this side of six feet. As I've mentioned before, we aren't terribly organized sports-minded but I thought it necessary to expose the son of MMMMM to all sports, except football. That's just stupid. Friends taught him to swim when we lived in Brazil because he wouldn't listen to me as he was too busy screaming. He later lettered in swim team and water polo and had a great breast stroke! He did soccer in England, and basketball and Little League in Louisville and tennis in Seattle. Whatever classes were being offered, the son of MMMMM was enrolled, poor kid, from sports to art, music and acting. He was actually a working actor and model from age four and will hate my telling that--the model part, anyway. Remember Santa Clause: The Movie? Yup, he was in that. Look for the darling little redhead kid flying into a kitchen and eating cookies from a jar on the top shelf. Some of his best work! He's been in made for TV movies and commercials. Yeah, I was a stage mom--but the best kind. I was cool and all about making sure he was having a good time. Gotta tell you, the movie business--oh ugh.

On the subject of oh ugh--when we lived in England our house was in a small village some 45 minutes out of London. When the boy had to go on an audition, we'd climb on the train, transfer to the tube, line to line, and walk many blocks in crappy weather so he could go to a loft in Soho and deliver a twenty second scream for some casting agent. Then back through the dicey neighborhood to the tube station, change lines about fifty times to catch the train at Marylebone and out to Seer Green. He was working on the actor thing when we lived in Brazil, too. One morning I was in the courtyard of our service flat, a twenty story highrise, and heard a little voice crying "Socorro! Socorro!" from above. There he was, nine floors up, out on the terrace yelling for help--practicing the one Portuguese word he knew, and I raced back upstairs to stop him. The Brazilians couldn't understand that, for they are all about children and letting their little darlings do whatever they want, including cursing and beating up the maids taking them to the park. Supernanny alert!

Case in point, the afternoon we arrived in Sao Paulo, we were taken by the base manager to a huge supermart with, count 'em, twenty-six busy checkout lanes. We chose our groceries and got in line. The son of MMMM was then just five and very tired and cranky after our long flight from Miami. It was unusual, but the pressure was on and he threw a glorious stem-winding gee-whizzing fit. The DH and I were tired, too, and we'd had it. The DH grabbed the screaming child monster and lightly popped him once on the rear with his palm. The place went stone silent and then erupted in outraged Portuguese. I thought they were going to lynch us for spanking that boy. (I think that was one of extremely few and certainly the last time we ever spanked him.) Brazil is country where they have Children's Day and those who can afford it pour on the gifts. The son of MMMM came to expect the same and asked when the next Children's Day was. We told him it was on Octember the first. I know, I know, mean. But he's a clever lad and soon figured it out, though that first disappointment probably jaded him. His years of traveling with us contributed to his love of adventure and other cultures and after two bachelor degrees and a masters by the time he was twenty-two, he's become the man I'd always hoped he would be--an educated man of the world.

Anyway, those are just some of adventures we've had with the son of MMMMM and I'm really looking forward to fifty more years of experiencing the joys of being this very special man's mother.

I love you, Bink. Happy birthday!

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather: It's a topless Red Therapy day--now that the sun is out. Started out very cool and overcast. Typical Seattle June day.

Starbucks Here, There and MMMM Got Nowhere!
I was to meet my friend Mary Lee at the Newcastle Starbucks this morning. I left the house about twenty minutes early because it's a less than three mile trip. I rounded the corner onto Coal Creek Parkway and joined the line of cars that crept along for the next thirty minutes, arriving at Starbucks fifteen minutes late. Grrrrr. I ordered my XH/Soy/NW/HC and waited, finally leaving just before nine o'clock. Mary Lee and I have emailed--and yes, I got the right Starbucks, but she'd arrived fifteen minutes early and left after thirty minutes--just as I was arriving, no doubt. Now, you're probably thinking, don't those two have cell phones? Uh, yeah, but you gotta have the number . . .and we didn't. Argh.

New Article Up Now
My new article GHOST BOOKS UNDER THE BED & OTHER UNDEAD ENERGY STEALERS is now published in the FF&P Out of This World Newsletter. You can read the new article here and discover how to protect and increase your creative energy.

A New Market for Paranormal Romance
Harlequin Blaze is beginning a line of themed mini-series. The existing
line, Wrong Bed, will be moved to Blaze and they are looking for Gothic
stories, paranormal elements, erotic thrillers or mysteries. Authors should
feel free to be innovative. Stories should be urban, but can be light and
playful or gritty. Remember that new project I MMMLOGed about? I'm thinking it's just right for this new opportunity.

Designer Dreams
MMMMMM is sending the son of MMMMMM her entire family room, well, the furniture, anyway, as well as the contents of his former bedroom. Now that I'll have two empty rooms again, I've contacted the best designer in the Puget Sound this a.m. Haven't done so since we "finished up" the house about a year ago. Now, she'll come back, see how things have drifted, gone wonky and get my space all serene and poppingly beautiful again. She says now is the time to shop for furniture, adding that the housing market may be skipping right along, but the furniture market has slooooowed. I'll let you know how it goes.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather: Breezy, sunny and just plain lovely out!

The Inspirer Needs Inspiration, Too!
My mother-in-love listens to a local alternative talk radio, 1150 am, here in Seattle. I was listening today and heard the Angel Lady on Dr. Pat's show giving angel readings. In need of some inspiration, I called and Sue the Angel Lady told me that mine were Caroline who is a positive thinking angel, Cara who is love, and Gabriel the archangel of communications and something else. Dr. Pat was kind enough to ask the name of my book(s) and where they could be had, as well as my site URL. She brought up my website as we spoke on the air and said she needed some creativity coaching! Don't we all, at one time or another, even we who seek to inspire and help others, or perhaps especially we inspirers, need inspiration. It's too easy to give endlessly of ourselves because we genuinely care and want to help others feel better. It's a deep and abiding drive that has inspirers working one-on-one or with thousands in our "create a better world now" outreach.

Back in my hyper social activist days when I channeled the overflowing high vibration energy into helicopter momming, volunteerism, charity fund raising and lobbying at the state capitol for a women's education organization, I didn't think it was enough to write stories about people emerging out of a darkness of soul into the light of transformational love. In fact, I thought my fiction writing something of a secret pleasure that I should be depriving myself of so I could do more "out there" with my stolen time. Then a very wise woman, a spiritual teacher, counseled that people hear or see what they need at the right time--be it a politician's speech, a TV show, a preacher's sermon or a book. She reminded me that many of life's lessons are best taught through parables and even the early church presented the stories of Bible as action-packed emotional plays for the masses. I learned that I couldn't help everyone, that isn't my job this life. I can help and learn from some. And that's enough.

So thanks to Dr. Pat and Sue the Angel Lady, my creative centre is filled up again with love and light and I'm ready to get back into an exciting new project, a paranormal chic-lit . . . but that's another story.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMmmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather: SUNNY! Breezy and I'm wearing shorts, so there!

From Inside Out: Writing from Creative Flow
Amanda Brown at DiscoverU emailed to ask me to present another Writing from Creative Flow workshop in September as the June 1st class was so successful. I always like to hear that!

Lovely Gifts
The most creative photographer known to MMMmmm, Connie Coleman brought me a lovely gift yesterday, a souvenir of her cruise through the Greek Islands. I unwrapped it and proclaimed, "Winged Victory!" That is the title I knew the piece of sculpture by, but upon further investigation in my Art Through the Ages Fifth Edition, the piece is a lovely miniature of the 8' marble sculpture known as Nike of Samothrace now in the Louvre, Paris. My personal victory came today when I cruised through the book again, and the index proved that Winged Victory is another name for the beautiful Nike of Samothrace. Wooohooo!

Connie has an eye for classical images and her special perspective really comes through in her photographs. Check out the Reflections on Love backgrounds that you can download to your desktop. They're lovely and inspirational!

Thought for the Day
If a deaf person swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap?

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMmmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather: Cool and cloudy. I actually turned the AC off and the heater on.

A Good Fish Story
You remember the Kansas Heckler? She sent along a great fish story with writing exercise and outdoors survival tips that you're going to love.

The Heckler writes:
Yesterday evening we went fishing. We planned to fish for an hour or hour
and a half but the experience lasted 1/2 hour only. Saturday we had watched
carp eating mulberries that fell into the pond, and the DH remembered someone who used to fish with the berries, so we decided we would try. Successful? Wow! In half an hour we caught 1 large catfish, 2 big carp, and 4 big bluegills, all on mulberries we were picking as we fished. We are trying to clear the pond of carp--need to catch another few hundred--but the restwill taste good. What fun!!! Almost every cast either caught a fish or had'one that got away'. It's been years since we had that much fun fishing-and we were BOTH having the same luck.

So, Melinda, if you [any writer] have a heroine who is lost, hungry and around a fruiting mulberry tree (month of June),have her take the safety pin our of her bra, pull the monofilament stitching our of the hem of her dress and fish for her dinner. She can use her hand pocket magnifying glass (I carry one!) to start a fire, wrap the fish in leaves from a handy wild grape vine, and packthat in mud, placing said packet in the coals for a tasty dinner.

The Perfect Pitch Online Class June 27-July 1
Everyone wants to know the secrets of getting an editor's or agent's attention and I've pretty much boiled it down to an art form! In fact, I love to pitch and if I don't have something at the moment, I'll make it up on the spot. They ask to see the project/story everytime. This would be problematic if I weren't a pretty darned fast writer and can get the proposal (three chapters and a synopsis) right out to them.

In any case, Eastside Chapter is holding their summer "Bake Sale" and offering The Perfect Pitch Class for all writers who are anticipating an editor/agent appointment at the RWA national conference in Reno or any other upcoming writers' conference or are getting ready to query work out. My pitching process works equally fantastic in person or in writing and I'd love to help you become a great pitcher or one who's a little more confident. Whatever your pitching goals are--let's make them happen.

If you're ready to learn or tune up your pitch, click here to register.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi Ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather: Cloudy, cool and breezy.

Good News Abounds
Thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts about the mother of MMM's procedure. She just called from home and is doing well.

I received two more reviews for ESSENCE OF TRUST and the best stuff snippets follow: Woooohoooo!

Harriet Klausner, Amazon Reviews, Five Stars
ESSENCE OF TRUST is an exciting paranormal fantasy that grips readers once the triangular relationships between Rian, Jonathan, and Ian and their abilities surface. Rian is the key to the story line as the two men from her past demand she join their side of the dispute, but she distrusts both of them. Though complex and overloaded with otherworldly elements, fans of modern day fantasy thrillers can trust Melinda Rucker Haynes for providing an enchanting tale.

Alice Klein, Sime~Gen Reviews, Four Stars
To the literal mind, Essence of Trust is the story of Rian Farsante and Jonathan Spencer who, together with Mike and Dorel Gabrielli, rush to save the Gabriellis' son, Marty, from kidnappers who are led by Dr. Ian Stoddard.

But to the literary mind, this is a story of good and evil and the psychic forces at work around us all. It speaks of soul mates and reincarnation and chakras and shamans and, yes, the energy vortex located in Sedona, Arizona.

It will matter not if you believe but merely that you keep an open mind. This book is for anyone who wishes to learn more than they know now. It will, due to our upbringing, mean different things to different people. To any religious belief, this novel can become a powerful parable.

Strong intense characterizations and a mesmerizing story will keep you entertained as well as enlightened. Melinda Rucker Haynes tells a good story. Sit down and enjoy it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See, told ya, it was good news. I'm going to Eastside RWA tonight to hear Sherilyn Kenyon, which should be fabulous! I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather: Yeah, we've got some.

A New Bad Moon Rising
CCR not withstanding, today I get what that song was about. Sheeesh. We'd readied the shipment of furniture to our son and he just called to say that things had gotten screwed up. The mover in Seattle had never received the paperwork. The packout is rescheduled to the 13th. The first ARGH.

The second ARGH. My son's friend has pets, a cat and two wire hair fox terriers, all of which the son of MMM adores. The cat is a Norwegian Forest Cat that is beautiful, huge, unusual and very, very smart. The cat comes over to my son's house for "play dates". He got a call this morning from his friend. She'd taken to letting the cat outside and he'd just been killed by a car. My son had to go take care of the poor cat. Very sad!

The third ARGH. The mother of MMM called to ask me to research a painting that her mother had given her by Hamilton Hamilton. I researched it online and we discussed it, when the mother revealed that she was having a procedure in the morning that I didn't think necessary or advised for an almost 80 year old woman. I threw what is known in our family as a stem-winding-gee-whizzing fit. But the mother of MMM was not to be dissuaded even when I got the sister of MMM involved. Mother has her date with destiny tomorrow.

The forth ARGH--yeah there are other bad moon rising arghs, but it all pales compared to #3. Please send all good thoughts and prayers to my mother. Thank you, my friends!

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi Ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather in the Seattle Area: Well . . . it's not exactly a Red Therapy day. We've had some thunder boomies and rain. Sun, too.

A Whole Foods Shopping We Go
There's a fab "megamart", as Alton Brown calls 'em, in Bellevue called Whole Foods Market. What a wonderful store full of fine food, much of which is organic. I love to shop that store and so does half of Bellevue, apparently. Interesting thing is the shopping carts are quite small, unlike those at Costco that you can put that pallet of toilet paper in and still have room for the case of bath soap. Nevertheless, I filled our minibasket with many goodies such as organic Bean and Rice chips, veggie chips and sprouted wheat bread. An alternative health practitioner has suggested that I shift my diet to one more whole and raw foods oriented instead of the chardonnay/chips and salsa diet I'd been enjoying putting on weight and cholesterol with. This past week I've eaten enough green and raw stuff to, well, I feel like a walking compost bin. Alas, I probably smell like one, too . . .

Think I'll go have a yummy graze through the refrigerator. Oh hell.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather: I think I saw the sun . . .

A Copper Talks
Lisa Wanttaja and I took ourselves to the Greater Seattle RWA Chapter's monthly meeting today. The scheduled speaker was Ali Mosa, a retired police officer, but she was unable to attend due to a death in the family. Her husband Mike kindly took her place and treated us to a lively and informative session.

One of the things that stuck with me was that Mike said most "coppers", as he calls them, don't watch CSI. Can you imagine? My OB-GYN says she watches "Scrubs" because that's closest to reality--hooohaaa! In any case, Mike proceeded to tell us why he didn't watch CSI. The reality is--with all that DNA and fingerprint collecting that CSI does in seconds, in actuality takes months. And according to Mike, DNA isn't even collected/processed except for the most high profile cases because it's too expensive and time consuming to process. Of course, you have to realize that on TV they must get those CSI heroes to solve the crime in about 45 minutes, so that kinda speeds things up. Ahhh, if real life crime fighting only imitated art . . .

Lunch was fascinating in so many ways, the most interesting of which was when Mike pulled a two inch long piece of wire out of his burger. You'll be glad to know that he didn't have to pay for it and they offered to give him whatever else he wanted to eat. He stuck with coleslaw and we made him order a piece of Boston creme pie. But turns out he was safe there, too, as they were out of Boston creme pie.

Fun, huh!?

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Oh, yeah, the weather--it is what it is.

#3 Writing Consideration
Remember in previous MMMLOGs I'd been talking about clearing writing blocks and the best way that I'd found to do so was working through the 5 Step or writing considerations. (See the previous MMMLOGs for 1 & 2).

#3 Writing Consideration is: List the beliefs that you have about your writing and your ability to write. And when you've got those listed, review them and actively eliminate the negative or not as positive as you'd like items. Email me if you'd like more information on eliminating the negative beliefs.

DiscoverU Class
We had a big class last night for the From Inside Out: Writing in Creative Flow I really enjoy teaching creatives because they teach me so much. I always encounter very creative people who can write amazing stuff! They usually have one thing in common--they aren't sure of or doubt their own ability and so block their creative expression. It's so fun to watch them respond to the exercises and bring their own creative flow online. WOWOWOW!

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Weather: Thunderboomies, lightning, sun peeks and a bit of rain--yay! The garden needs the water.

From Inside Out at DiscoverU
Getting ready to teach my creative flow workshop tonight at DiscoverU. I love this workshop--it always draws the most interesting, creative people, who don't happen to be feeling very creative at the moment. Hence, their coming to the workshop. Good fun and good work!

Talking about creating . . .
I just tried to get our bank/credit union on the phone. Oh cripes--got stuck in automated hell. When I finally got a live person it was just the same. She repeated how the freaking system worked. I said no, it doesn't or isn't working that way. And you know what? She repeated exactly what she said, what the system said! I thought I'd gotten another automated response. Sheeesh. Then when I asked to cancel an automatic withdrawal she said I'd have to pay 20 bucks because it's just like a stop pay.

My antivirus is doing all kinds of weird stuff and when I went to the site to get some help--you guessed it. Got in a loop of showing me how to install ActiveX controls so it could evaluate my system. Oh cripes again. Think I'll go have a nice long bath and imagine a bright new world without electronic devilry

Ciao, ciao, mmmmmmmmmmmelinda