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Archive for the ‘Paranormal romance’ Category

I’m not sure how the garden is going to do this year. The weather has been so crazy, I’m sure the garden can’t keep up with the changes. When I planted the tomatoes, it was up near 90 degrees and had been pretty dry. A week later, it was back down in the 60’s and raining. And it has been doing this whole seesaw thing for a month. And today, once again, the temperatures peaked in the high 60’s after last week’s 90 degree weather.

Someone find Mother Nature and send her back to Gambler’s Folly with Fate. Maybe they can find another couple of shifters to torture.

So, I’m still editing Scotch and Soulmates. They are a fun couple, our Paul and Sophia. He’s an English lord, doctorate in psychology, and works as a profiler in the London office of Interpol. He’s also an expert on expensive Scotch, which is the reason he’s on Gambler’s Folly.

Sophia is from the Bronx and had a tough time growing up. She’s an agent with Interpol’s Spaggia Sole’s office on Gambler’s Folly and is known as the she-wolf. Having to fight her way up in a world of alpha males, she is radically feminist. And she takes exception to Paul’s high-brow upbringing.

How about a little excerpt?

Morning came early after a few too many drinks the night before. Paul wouldn’t have been as tempted by the Scotch if it hadn’t been for thoughts of Sophia. She was a beautiful woman, especially with her auburn hair down and caressing her shoulders. The green gown–chiffon over some satiny material–smoothed enticingly over her curves. Some men might have found her a little overly curvaceous, but not Paul. He preferred substantial women, especially in bed.

“Dream on,” he told the reflection in the mirror. “Get the job done and get back to London. Plenty of appreciative women there.”

Nagi was at the office when he arrived, so after grabbing some coffee, they sat down to discuss the case.

“I had assumed we’d wait and discuss things together,” he heard behind him.

“Just tossing around some ideas until you arrived. Get some coffee while it’s fresh.”

With a toss of her head, she put her things on the table and went over to the coffee maker. When she returned, Paul stood to hold her chair, out of habit.

“As I’ve told you before, I’m quite capable of seating myself.”

“Of course you are,” Paul answered. “Such a pity you’re incapable of being a lady.”

Had he said that out loud? Must be the headache speaking.

“If you’re talking about those simpering little, hand-wringing, wilting flowers, who need a man to lean on, count me out, “ she snarled.

“No. I’m talking about an intelligent woman, with a strong personality, who has a good sense of self and focus, who has enough confidence to accept social courtesies with ease and grace, without jumping to erroneous conclusions about the intentions of her colleagues.”

So, which one will tame the other? You’ll have to wait and find out! I know… I’m working on it!

Have fun, stay dry, and I’ll write more later.

As always,

Don’t Forget…\

…to Share the Romance…

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Can you help me? I need a little advice from someone on the other side of the reader/writer line.

As an indie author, I do everything myself, not just the writing. The writing is the easy part. Afterwards comes the editing, and it takes time and effort. I am sometimes able to have someone help me with the editing after I’ve been through a book several times myself. And there is a program I sometimes use which helps point out words I over use, or which tone down the emotion of the book.

Now let’s talk about book cover art. I can’t afford to pay someone to put together the cover art. And the few times I’ve tried, I didn’t like the results. So I use an online program, sometimes with AI assist, to create a book cover I feel portrays the story I’m telling inside.

After all the editing is as finished as it can be, and I have the cover art, there is the formatting so I can publish it through Amazon or Draft2Digital–which links all my books to retailers through Books2Read. All the keywords to come up with to help place it correctly for people to locate it. I’m not necessarily the best person to decide this. People who read the books and offer suggestions come up with categories and tropes I would never have dreamed existed in those pages.

And once I get to Amazon or Draft2Digital, I have to decide what price I want to ask for. What is my book worth? There are suggestions in the documentation for each site, which I use to gauge my list price. I don’t want to charge so much people are afraid to take a chance on the book. But at the same time, I don’t want to give it all away for free. I do have sales several times a year. During some of those, I do list a book or two for free, and generally I give away quite a few. While I’m happy when people want to read my books, it is disappointing when they only want them for nothing.

With my last book–Old Flame–I paid several people to help with the promotion and marketing aspects and got absolutely nothing in return. I did just as well by myself. Now with Sultonna Nadine’s new release, Lady Calloway, I am besieged by promoters and marketers wanting to help me get my book out to readers. For anywhere from $200 on up.

I’m not made of money. Never have been. And if throwing money at it worked, you would think Old Flame would have sold like hotcakes.

You might ask why I don’t hire some of this work out. And the answer would be the expense of it. For an editor to do a final editing for me would be over $1000 per book, minimum. Cover art? Anywhere from $150 on up to as much as I want to spend. Formatting? Several hundred dollars. And then there are the book trailers and all the social media posts to put together. Trailers start at around $200 and go up from there. By the time I paid for all that, I would have several thousand dollars invested with no guaranteed return.

So tell me, what am I doing wrong? I get great reviews, when I get them. Most are 5 star reviews. Everyone says the writing is excellent, the tropes are popular, the categories are popular as well. And I’ve reworked the keywords and categories on all the outlets to take advantage of them.

What am I missing? I’m not complaining about the work, except the editing… It’s doing all the work with nothing to show for it, while getting all kinds of emails and reviews with people who love it, but apparently love it only if it’s free.

Go take a look at my author pages and books. And then come back and give me your opinion. Why would you buy or not buy my books? What turns you away?

Amazon Author page for Mellie Miller

Books2Read for Mellie Miller

Amazon for Sultonna

Books2Read for Sultonna

Anyway, enough rant. It has just been a disappointing year. If you’ve read any of my work, please at least rate it for me. A review would be great.

Have a wonderful weekend.

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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Normally I would say yes it is. But after the spring/summer we’ve had so far, I’m not ready to commit just yet. The last time I was sure summer was here we got a cold snap. The beans are up, though, the tomatoes and peppers are blossoming, and there are even a few tiny peppers checking the weather before bursting forth.

So what is happening in my writing world?

Sultonna Nadine’s new book is beginning to get some attention. LADY CALLOWAY--A Question of Heresy is a romantic fantasy with elements of a Victorian alternate reality, duty vs. love, moral dilemma, and strict church dominance. It is a multi-layered fantasy romance with our couple at the center of all the drama. Psychic abilities play into the story as well. I mean, this is Sultonna Nadine after all.

So if you haven’t checked it out yet, go on over and take a peek.

In the meantime, stay safe, stay healthy, and happy reading!

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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Ever have one of those weeks that just didn’t seem to go right? Where everything was kind of on the disappointing or depressing side? Yeah? That has been my week so far. And since a new week starts tomorrow, I guess it was all week.

I would say the most aggravating thing was an email I received from someone wanting to help me with promoting my work. Now I know I’m not the greatest at marketing and promotions. And in the past, I have hired people to help me with that–people who were recommended to me. They did help a bit, though not as much as I had hoped for.

A word of advice. If you want me to consider hiring you to help me with something, don’t write a completely disrespectful email to me, pointing out things I already know (because they’re in my bio), and getting things from my bio incorrect. (like the fact that I’ve never in my life run 3 miles 3-5 times a week) And don’t sneer at the fact that I’m doing the best I can with what I know to do.

Did I enter a book cover contest? I sure did, because I thought it would be fun and get my book a little visibility. Did I adjust my key words as suggested by a couple people I communicated with to bring it more in line for what readers may be searching for? You bet I did.

But am I going to quit using two pen names for my writing? No. Because those two names write different books. Mellie Miller writes the books in my series. Sultonna Nadine writes the stand alone books that take different paths. And each name has her own blog and page on Amazon and Goodreads.

I also cross reference them so people will know we are the same person writing two different types of books.

If you want to help–and you want me to consider using your expertise–don’t make fun of me. “I finally wrote a theocratic dystopia with telepathy. Then I discovered that my telepathy could not help me communicate my author name to Amazon.” 

This does not in any way help me are encourage me to use your services. Neither does, “You run 3 to 5 miles three times a week. Run your author brand the same distance.” 😅 And yes, this person actually put the emoji in the email.

Which book are they talking about? My latest release as Sultonna Nadine–LADY CALLOWAY–A Question of Heresy. If you’re a fan of fantasy romance, romantic intrigue with a dystopian vibe, some religious conflict, moral conflict, and duty vs. love, check it out.

Anyway, done with my rant. If you’re looking for either of my pen names online, check out:

Mellie Miller at Amazon or at Goodreads

Or Sultonna Nadine at Amazon or at Goodreads

Want to check out Sultonna’s blog? It’s right here on WordPress.

Sorry if I sound a bit irritated this week. I’m trying to turn things around.

And I still don’t run 3 miles 3-5 miles a week, nor do I intend to start.

And as always, friends,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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Liora had always trusted their priest to teach the truth.

But now her husband accuses her of heresy.

Her village is under religious purge.

And her husband has to choose between the church he serves and the woman he loves.

In seclusion at the seaside, Kerrick and Liora discuss the church doctrines and what will happen if the wardens or confessors hear of her heresy. After much deliberation, she accepts that he must be right, even though it still kind of feels wrong to her.

But during a walk along the beach one evening, a bigger problem presents itself. They begin to communicate by telepathy. While Liora finds it fascinating, it scares Kerrick to death. As an employee of the church, from a family of confessors, he knows this ability and others like it are forbidden to the average person. They can be allowed only to those the church deems fit to use them for the church.

As he puzzles over what to do, he is contacted via telepathy from an unexpected source and urged to take his wife to Wales as quickly as possible. The wardens have her village surrounded pending a purge for heresy. Since they know she was from this village, they are looking for the two of them, to see if she believes the heresy her priest taught. And if they find the two of them with these added mental abilities, it won’t just be Liora going to the confessors.

A tale of harsh religious rule, persecution by the church, forbidden talents, and a newlywed couple caught in the middle.

Come to London and Wales and meet Kerrick and Liora, Lord and Lady Calloway. Follow their journey, not only across England and Wales, but through the religious upheavals they face as they flee the church they once served.

LADY CALLOWAYA Question of Heresy is available at Amazon. Links to other retailers are found at Books2Read.

Fantasy, alternate realities, romantic suspense, religious conflict, and a bit of folklore. Don’t miss it!

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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Yes, my alter ego, Sultonna Nadine, has been at it again! LADY CALLOWAY will be out on March 1, so if you are a fantasy lover, this is for you.

Set in an alternate timeline in turn of the century London, this fantasy has a strong romantic side as well as religious conflict and political intrigue. Liora Calloway, recently married to Kerrick, was raised believing women must not find pleasure in sex, even in marriage. They must give themselves to their husbands to keep them from seeking outside pleasure. But for the wives to enjoy the act was the same as prostitution. They also said women had no real sexual drive, so it wouldn’t be a problem. They were wrong and she was afraid she would be damned for her evil thoughts.

Kerrick worked for the church and thought his marriage would be fulfilling in every way. But no matter what he did, he couldn’t bring passion into his bedroom. And then he found he was married to a heretic. He was duty-bound to report her to the church, but his heart demanded he protect her from the church he served. Taking a holiday from work, he rushed Liora to the seaside cottage to reason with her over her beliefs.

Her heresy soon became a minor issue when they both began to develop mental abilities the church had forbidden. Not knowing what to do at this point, they receive a message from an unexpected quarter and set out for Wales in the middle of the night to escape a church determined to bring them back to London for questioning.

Can they escape the reach of the church? Are there others, like them, who have forbidden talents? And can their marriage survive the turmoil the face?

Go over and pre-order your copy of LADY CALLOWAY!

And as always,

Don’t Forget….

…to Share the Romance…

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I don’t know about you, but a lot of times I read to escape from the world around me. All that hectic stuff that drives me to drink–coffee mostly… Though I wouldn’t say no to a nice sauvignon blanc.

If escape is your quest, come on over to my page and find something to take you away, whether it is a fantasy world with hunky shifters, A world full of psychic powers, mischief, and romance, or alternate reality with elemental magic.

We’ve got you covered!

Come sit for a spell and find your next favorite book!

Whether you go with Mellie Miller or Sultonna Nadine, we won’t let you down.

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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If you haven’t reached out yet to find your next favorite book, today is the last day of the sale!

All books from Gambler’s Folly and Esperance are still on sale for only $0.99–except for Old Flame.

Where can you find them?

Over at Boos2Read!

All the Sultonna Nadine books are also on sale!

If you’re a lover of fantasy romance, with a touch of the paranormal and magic, and maybe a bit of intrigue, don’t miss it!

In the meantime, as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Shaare the Romance…

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And to the new year, 2026!

Did everyone survive the holidays? It was little crazy around here, but we’re all present and accounted for.

So what were you reading last year? It seems I read way more than I thought I had.

What are you starting your reading year with?

If you haven’t finished one of my series yet, from now until January 10 all of my series ebooks are on sale over at Books2Read. Well, everything but Old Flame, which is available through Kindle Unlimited! So you can complete either series for only $0.99 per book! It’s hard to beat that price.

Just go over to Books2Read and pick the series you’re looking for. And then click on the book you need to find the buy links. It’s that simple.

Looking for my alter ego, Sultonna? She’s over there, too, with books for sale. If you need a little more magic in your life, go on over and choose from alternate reality, magical flat mates, or paranormal goings on in the American Rockies.

Start your New Year with a little magic and romance. Maybe a little fantasy and intrigue, too.

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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We’re in the middle of the winter holiday season, and if you’re like a lot of us, you need a break from reality. So come on over to Books2Read for a sale on all my books listed there. The first three books from Gambler’s Folly and all four books from Esperance are included in this sale.

Whether you love shifters or paranormal abilities–or both–go on over to Books2Read and choose your next read today! You can also check out the books from my alter ego, Sultonna Nadine while you’re there. Magical alternate reality, genies, and mysterious desert secrets all waiting for you.

And the best part? Each of my books is priced at only $0.99 each!

So go over and choose your adventure for the evening. Take a break from the chaos. I suggest a cup or glass of your favorite beverage, a nice fire, and a cat or dog or two. Sink into that comfy chair and slip into a fantasy world with me.

Happy reading to you all and happy holidays.

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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