Tag Archive | United States

Fifty shades of abuse?

Aug24

 

 

 

I heard today a UK charity called for people to hand over their copies of Fifty Shades of Grey so they can be burnt in a huge bonfire.

 

While I don’t like the idea of burning books or any forms of extremism and intolerance (remember the Nazis?)

 

"North Hampton is a Domestic violence fre...

“North Hampton is a Domestic violence free-zone” (Massachussetts) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

, I can see their point. I like to listen to both sides. That said, I’m really uncomfortable with the idea. Burning books, burning flags? No. What will this achieve?

 

 

 

One can only hope this is done to shock in hope of garnering publicity for the charity and highlight what victims of domestic violence go through. I can also understand this charity’s frustration as authorities cut down on the services they provide for these victims. Not so long ago some of these women were told by their local authorities to go and sleep in the Occupy movement tents because of a lack of hostels.

 

Really? What a ridiculous suggestion!

 

 

 

When I was asked, as an author, for my views on the Fifty Shades phenomenon, I declined to comment, pointing out I hadn’t read them. No problem, they said, we’ll send you a copy right away. Ah thanks, not my type of book was my reply.

 

I have toyed with the idea of reading them since everywhere you look, someone is talking about it. Comments, reviews, articles in newspapers, you can’t escape the wildfire.

 

The more I read, the less I was inclined to read these books, even though I enjoy reading different genres and have at times been nicely surprised. It’s just not for me and that’s fine.

 

 

 

The fantasy of the young virgin being taken in charge by a millionaire is nothing new, but I baulk at the idea of reading a novel where someone enjoys inflicting pain. Oh, but he has a tormented past. Hmm, so what? Many more have had a difficult start in life, no reason to turn on others, on the contrary. There is a time when people have to grow up and make their own choices.

 

While victims can find solace and healing with others, this sounds a bit extreme. Most of the healing has to start from within. Imagine if all of us who had a difficult childhood did this? In reality, you can’t just change people, not unless they want to.

 

Some will say this is a novel, no harm done. Perhaps, but will it do anything to help change attitudes about rape and violence?

 

Each to their own, but let’s not forget the vulnerable, the victims. While everybody are making jokes, they’re still suffering.

 

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An erotic novel? Moi?

Apr27

 

The hazards of the writer’s life.

You write a story and then something unexpected happens.

Waking up one morning, I noticed my husband was laughing his head off. I was getting quite concerned.

Would he recover? The joke was on me of course as he showed me the source of his hilarity.

Occupy Me, a short story I wrote, or is it?

Turns out someone else had published an erotic novella, with the same title.

You’ve got to be kidding? Can’t make these things up.

A message pops up, from my publisher. Bless them, they do try hard and they did have a bit of a struggle with Amazon.

Anyway, they didn’t realise…

Oops.

Of course I asked them to change the title. It is now called Occupy Me, a French Affair. 

Nothing to do with the erotic novella.

The jokes abounded. Friends and readers know I write under two pen names and in different genres. Well, not that genre yet.

You never know. Never say never…

 

Check it out:

The arrest of a French politician in New York brings back unwanted memories as a French woman recalls her ordeals. After a brief holiday back in France, she gets caught in the upheaval in America and witnesses her boyfriend being pepper sprayed at a peaceful demonstration.

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You might have heard…

Feb13

If you fancy reading Nowhere Left to Hide for free now is your chance.  

     Hurry, it’s only for 3 days. 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0063T7QN6/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk

So click on the link to be transported to Santa Barbara, California.

Happy reading!

By the way, I’ll love you to bits if you could post a review.

Thank you :)

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Author to Author with Rochelle Melander

Dec12

Welcome to Rochelle Melander, CEO of Write Now! Coach, a writing, editing, and coaching practice that she founded in 2001. Her 10th book, Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (and Live to Tell About It) will be released in October 2011. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Where do you most like to write?

I write in my home office, next to a window, so I can watch the squirrels, birds and the neighbor’s cat when I have writer’s block. I live in a college neighborhood, and my office window overlooks a duplex filled with college students. Over the years, I have been treated to many more risque sights and sounds than squirrels and birds. My other very favorite place to write is at my friends’ home on Coronado Island in California. I love to look out at the lemon tree and smell the ocean as I write!

  • How much does real life inspire or shape your writing?

Tons! I am always revisiting my life experiences in my writing work. Since I mostly write nonfiction, I often use my daily experiences as a jumping off point for the writing I do. I am currently working on a novel, and I am finding that I do the same thing. I am planning to host my first Thanksgiving dinner ever in a few weeks. It just so happens, that I have given the characters in my NaNoWriMo novel the same challenge. This way, I get to look up recipes during my work time and get a double benefit out of it.

  • Plotter or pantser?

I land somewhere in the middle. I usually have an idea of the general plot line, but then I develop the specific plot turns and scenes as I write. Sometimes I stick to the original plot lines, sometimes I don’t.

  • The dreaded writer’s block, have you been struck with it or blissfully spared?

I’ve had massive bouts of writer’s block and have finally figured out that writer’s block usually means something. Here are the likely culprits: 1. I am tired. 2. The book’s structure, plot, or topic is not working. For either crisis, I take a break from writing that piece and do something else. (Take a nap, do laundry, play with kids, walk in the park.) When I come back, I am usually able to write or find a solution to the book’s problems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the Write Now! Coach, Rochelle Melander coaches professionals, executives, writers, business owners, and aspiring authors. Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander values the power of writing to change the lives of writers and readers. She teaches aspiring authors how to make time to write, shape their ideas into a book or product, sell their work, and navigate social media.

 

Write Now! Coach evolved from Ms. Melander’s related careers as an author, feature writer, copywriter, editor and coach. Rochelle writes a popular Ezine, Write Now! Weekly Writing Tips, blogs regularly, and hosts the Write Now! Mastermind Class. 

 

Find out more:

Rochelle@writenowcoach.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/rochellemelander

http://www.twitter.com/writenowcoach

 

www.write-a-thon.com

www.writenowcoach.com

The link to the book trailer is:  http://bit.ly/WriteathonTrailer

 

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Once a victim, always a victim?

Dec8

My new novel follows a British student as she leaves her past behind her to go and study in California. Make no mistake, Natasha is a go-getter, a fighter, not a victim.

Abuse is ugly and all too often an assumption takes place, labels stick. Once a victim, always a victim? Abused children go on to replicate what was done to them?

I don’t think so. Yes, of course it does happen, but a difficult upbringing is never an excuse and many of us do go on to become loving parents. Perhaps it makes us better parents, I don’t know but for those who recover and break the cycle life becomes a constant search to better ourselves, a perpetual discovery and lightbulb moments.  For even after all these years you suddenly get a better understanding of past events and with life experience you might understand, not excuse, what pushed people to act the way they did but also to understand you were not the only one, that it didn’t happen because of something you did.

Whatever happens to us, we have a choice, we can turn our lives around instead of seeing ourselves as victims.

In Nowhere Left to Hide, Natasha has to fight her childhood ghosts. She’s had to run away many times, she knows what it is to live in fear and run away in the night.

When she’s offered the opportunity to study in Santa Barbara she does not hesitate despite being warned of the challenge ahead of her. She doesn’t even consider it a challenge, rather she sees her chance to be free and seizes it.

Being so far away from her tormentors and her fears she can finally be herself and shake off the labels. She makes friends and falls in love. The big question is: can she conquer her last fear?

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