Hi everyone,
My bathroom renovations are now finished. Yippee! I can now sit at my computer without the noise of drills and work men's boots and radios and man chat. Although I might tell you the guys gave me a few novel ideas at times! It's lovely to have the house to myself once more, I didn't realise how much it was getting to me to never be alone to think. I am working on a new book which is really emotionally heart wrenching so it's taking a bit of time to plot out these early stages.
Polly is going to miss the workmen as she was forever running off with their tools. We had our grand piano turned the other day and she had a wonderful time taunting the tuner by pinching his wooden tools. At one point she stood poised on the stairs with a come-and-get-me- look in her bright black button eyes. As it turned out I found a pot of glue she took off him after he'd left. He will no doubt know who is the culprit when he goes looking for it.
Have a good week!
Cheers
Melanie x

Hi folks,
I am working extra hard for the next few days as on Thursday I am going to Sydney for the day to go shopping and also to look at my son's newly renovated apartment. I would have stayed longer but our own renovations are still dragging on and with Polly so young I don't like to leave her unattended. She is so quiet at times she can slip out the door without anyone noticing. No one else is as vigilant as me!
I am giving an Adult Education workshop this Saturday which is always fun, especially if the attendees are keen to write something themselves. It is always exciting seeing how creative people can be when given a little encouragement.
It's still gorgeous weather, lovely colours of Autumn and calm weather. Our walnut tree is dropping leaves and walnuts almost constantly and when a nut hits the roof outside my office window I nearly always jump in surprise. I should be used to it by now but it's such a hard crack of sound it sounds like a gunshot.
Hope you have a good week and get lots of reading done.
Cheers
Melanie x

Hi folks,
Well I'm back in my chair at home all set to work again after a few days off at Easter. We had fabulous weather for this time of year, lovely sunrises and sunsets and gorgeous clear night skies with the moon rising over the Hazards and shining like liquid silver over Great Oyster Bay. It was very inspiring! Polly is worn out from long walks and two runs with me. Yes I am back running, somewhat tentatively, I admit but a run is a run, right? I was stiff for three days afterwards so I will have to get back into it a little more slowly. I am working on two novels at once at the moment as I have some tweaking to do before my deadlines arrive almost simultaneously. I was thrilled to hear The Secret Baby Bargain was number four on the Waldenbooks bestseller list for the second week in a row. Thank you to all those wonderful US fans who hang out for my books. This is a short week and crammed with jobs to do but I will be back on Monday to tell you all my news.
Cheers
Melanie xx

Hi everyone,
Well it's countdown to chocolate time again and I have been putting in some hard yards in the pool in preparation! I love chocolate but only the good stuff. I am a bit a of princess in that regard but there are worse things to be fussy about, right? I hope that whatever Easter means to you that you will have a lovely time, either on holidays or relaxing and reflecting with family and friends.
I am writing a new medical but I will have to put it to one side in the next day or two as I am interviewing a Forensic pathologist tomorrow for a continuity novel I've been assigned. There is sooooo much police procedural detail that I am being meticulous in research to get it just right. We are off to the shack for a break which I am really looking forward to as the weather is quite settled, in spite of the tsunami scare! My sympathy goes to those in the Solomon Islands who are facing such a worrying time.
With warm wishes for a Happy and safe Easter,
Melanie xx