Hi everyone,
Firstly I want to wish you all a very happy and fulfilling 2007. It is going to be another big year for me, I have a lot of books to write and lots of places to visit so I'll have to be super organised. I am really enjoying our little Polly. She has learned to sit and shake hands already! The toilet training is going well, not too many accidents now. I have been spending hours watching her play with our other dog, Pippi. They adore each other and there's no jealousy at all. Pippi is so patient with Polly when she chews her ears and neck. My eldest son is home at the moment and Polly's favourite place to sleep is in his open suitcase! It's so cute.
I have a book on the Waldenbooks bestsellers list this week coming in at number four. That's a huge thrill so thank you all my US fans for putting me there! I am finding it hard to work with all the family around now. I want to cook and nurture everyone but my characters need me too. Being a writer requires a lot of sacrifices that most people don't realise. I feel guilty when I write and guilty when I don't!
All the best for this very first week of January, may it be a happy and healthy one for you.
Much love,
Melanie x

Hi everyone,

I am totally besotted with our new baby. We picked her up last Friday and she is gorgeous. At seven weeks old it is all fun and games of course but I am so thrilled with her. She has a very outgoing personality and has already got our other dog Pippi under control. Polly hides under the sofa and teases her with little puppy barks and growls. It is so cute.

I am housebound after my foot surgery so it is a perfect time to baby sit but I am afraid I'm not writing much as I keep getting distracted by little black button eyes twinkling at me. It's the countdown to Christmas so I figure it will be fine to take a few days off although I am really excited about the medical continuity I am working on. I am busily reading up on Forensics and chatting with my police officer friend who helps me with research.

Take care and I will post again soon,
Melanie x

Hello folks,
I am recovering from foot surgery ( again!) and hopping about on crutches for a week. I have borrowed a wheelchair from the hotel I am staying in which has been a blessing as I am hopeless on crutches. I keep toppling over! Everything went well and I should be walking in heels in about four weeks. Running is still up in the air but I will take it one step at a time-literally! I can't wait to get back to Hobart to pick up our baby on Friday. I am getting more and more excited.
I have been asked to do another book in a continuity, a medical series this time set in Cornwall. It's going to be great fun. I have wonderful characters to work with and can't wait to get started. I have finished my medical and my latest Presents so I am ahead of my schedule which was my goal in order to enjoy Christmas. I have a huge work load but I find I can do it if I remain focussed and disciplined. Being tied down with a foot injury has certainly helped! I hope everyone is busily buying up books for holiday reading. I just got a 4/12 out of 5 reveiw on Cataromance for The Virgin's Price out in the UK now. Hope all you UK readers enjoy it! US readers it is coming your way soon and Australian readers get the bonus of a novella by Kim Laurence attached in January.
Lots of love,
Melanie x

Hi everyone,
I am so excited as we are getting a new baby. Her name is Polly and she is a black toy poodle. We lost our elderly cocker spaniel some months ago and I wasn't ready for a new dog as I was enjoying having our little fox terrier to myself. However Pippi is increasingly lonely and every time we see other dogs she gets really excited so I started to think about it a bit more. Polly belongs to a friend of a friend so it was all meant to be I think as the timing is wonderful. I visited her yesterday and she chewed my shoes, tumbled head first into my handbag and stole my heart! I will put up some pictures as soon as I get her.
I hope everyone is not too stressed out Christmas shopping and so on. I just had a birthday so I always find this time of year a bit hard as I am still in birthday mode.
Talk to you all soon,
Melanie x