Hi everyone,
I was totally blown away on Saturday when I received news of a five out of five review for an upcoming release-The Marcolini Blackmail Marriage on cataromance.com. I am so thrilled and hope you enjoy the book as much as my reviewer did.
I had a short weekend break at the beach house and the dogs loved the long walks along the beach. It was a bit wild last night with rain and wind but so cosy with the fire crackling and curled up in bed. The seems to slow down up there, it's not like in the city where there is always so much going on...yes even in a place as small as Hobart! I always feel myself going down a gear or two. Of course it meant I didn't do any work but I really enjoyed just reading and thinking and reflecting, which is an important part of writing in any case.
Thank you to the lovely Ann from the south coast of Texas in the US who emailed me to say how much she loves my books. I love hearing from readers so don't be shy!
Hope you all have a happy and healthy week,
Melanie xx

Hi everyone,
We are having a lovely family weekend as it is my husband's birthday on Monday and my oldest son's on Wednesday. Paul and his wife Dunya came down for the weekend as a surprise so it was lovely to see my husband's face when they walked in the door on Friday night. Actually, the dogs were just as if not more excited!
My first Spanish hero is soooo delicious! I am really enjoying writing this book. It's one of those that I just know will write itself. The reason that happens I have found is because the characters are so real inside my head that I know everything about them. It was funny as I have been reading Robert McKee's book on Story and he mentions exactly that concept. I hadn't realised it was the knowledge of the characters so much as just the story line being a particularly solid one. Perhaps it's a bit of both.
Hope you have a brilliant week.
Melanie

Hi everyone,
I have just started my first Spanish hero story. Why has it taken me this long? My favourite tennis player is Rafael Nadal. Doesn't he make the most brilliant romance hero? My heart is all aflutter!
I am enjoying this book more than any other I have written in a long time and one of the reasons is because of an email I received last week from the daughter of a fan. Hayley (the lovely daughter)told me how her beloved mother Jenni was unwell with kidney failure but how she had found joy and relaxation in reading my books. I immediately organised to send Jenni some signed copies when I suddenly realised she lived in Hobart. I called the press and we had a lovely meeting and an article in the paper so that Jenni could be a star for a day. It was truly such a thrill to meet such a brave lady and also her husband who is very definitely hero material. My best wishes go to Jenni, Rodney and Hayley and the rest of their lovely family as they continue to support Jenni in the road ahead. I am writing this book for them.
Have a great week and happy reading,
Love Melanie

Hi everyone,
I hope all the mums out there had a great Mother's Day. I certainly did celebrating in Sydney with my two boys and daughter-in-law and some of their friends. I felt very special indeed. My daughter-in-law has recently learnt to knit. I watched her struggle with casting on the stitches, ( I was no help as I am a hopeless knitter) and then on Mother's Day she presented me with the most gorgeous fuschia pink scarf! I was so touched.
I am about the start mapping out my trilogy. I am really excited about this series. I can't wait to get going with it.
Some good news is I finalled in The Bookseller's Best in Short Contemporary in one of the RWA US chapters for The Surgeon Boss's Bride. That was a nice Mother's Day gift to come home to that email.
Have a great week.
Happy reading,
Melanie xx

Hi everyone,
Well I finally finished book number 34. I am having a week off now while I think through my plans to write an exciting trilogy for Presents. I have lots of ideas going through my mind including the heroes'names. They are going to be gorgeous, I can tell.
After our really cold snap we've had some lovely mild weather. I have enjoyed my daily walks with the dogs. Pippi is getting old however and has to take a few breaks now and then. I hate the thought of losing her, she is a huge part of our family. Polly would be devastated too, I think as she adores her.
I hope you have a fabulous week. I am going to be spending Mother's Day in Sydney with my eldest son and new daughter-in-law. I am looking forward to seeing them and the shops!
All the best,
Melanie