Category: LT3 - Mell Eight's Writing Blog

What's Next for Mell Eight?

7/16/2019

It is with great sadness I learned LT3 will be closing its doors. I will miss working with them. It has been a privilege and I have learned so much over the last eight years. They have made me a better writer and have taught me so much about the publishing business. They helped create Mell Eight--my stories and my penname--and now I am sitting here wondering whether it is possible for Mell Eight to go on without them.

Facts First:

All of my books--ebook, print, and audio--will be removed from LT3 and third party vendors (Amazon, B&N, etc.) starting today. They will all be gone as of July 31. You have until then to purchase your own copies. You can purchase them here: https://lessthanthreepress.com/books...
Downloads of previously purchased works will be available from LT3 until September 30. After that, they'll be gone too.
All rights for my books have fully reverted to me.

So, what does that mean for Mell Eight? The simple truth is I can't self publish. I do not have the time or energy to find an editor, cover artist, etc. That's why I went with a company in the first place. I also don't know if it's possible to transfer my old stories to a new publisher (or whether a new publisher will even take them). I will start reaching out to see if anyone is interested and I will let everyone know the second I have news. I am hoping there will be someone interested in selling enough of my back list that I can then begin submitting the sequels I know everyone is still waiting for.

I'm sorry I don't have a firm answer as to what will happen to Mell Eight and to my stories. If anyone has any advice on what I can do, I would be more than happy to hear it. If anyone knows of a publishing company willing to speak with me, I would very much like to reach out to them too.

Mell Eight will continue on, but I don't know what form I'll take as I make this step into an unknown world. Please bear with me as I slowly figure it all out.

Thanks to everyone that has loved my stories and my characters as much as I have.

Sincerely,

Mell Eight

The Oracle Series Flash Sale

4/23/2015

Today is the day for the Oracle Series flash sale as part of LT3's birthday party! The entire Oracle Series--The Oracle's Flame, The Oracle's Hatchling, and The Oracle's Golem--are all on sale for 50% off. If you're been waiting for the best moment to get your copy of any of those titles, now is that moment. Click here or on the covers below for more information about each story and for purchasing information.

Out Now: Satisfaction Guaranteed

9/24/2014

Satisfaction Guaranteed:
Heartbeat

Nothing is more frustrating than getting screamed at, spilled on, and talked down to while doing a miserable job just to make ends meet. Less Than Three Press offers a collection of romantic shorts about the people who work the daily grind to keep the world turning, and toil away so others can have fun. Because everyone deserves a happy end, especially those who work so hard in the service of others.

Stories in this anthology include:

» Robillard's by R.D. Hero
» No Complaints by Diana Sheridan
» Fair Weather for Airstrikes by Mina MacLeod
» Heartbeat by Mell Eight
» Deliver Me by J.D. Walker
» A Bird in the Hand by Ils Greyhart
» There is Light by Blaine D. Arden
» Stableboy by Leona Carver
» Flip Flops & Tennis Shoes by Bettina Kaipling
» Single Vampire Seeks Consort by Cassandra Pierce
» My Sexual Superhero by Talya Andor

September Goals

9/3/2014

Setting goals for August helped me focus my writing time, especially given the fact that I was under a time constraint. Now that the six-week job that ate up all my free time and my will to live is done, I have a lot more time for writing. I'm hoping that by setting goals for September I'll be able to get more accomplished this month too!

Work on The Oracle's Sprite. My goal for this story has always been to have it completely written and ready to submit to LT3 by the end of the year. I would really like to get a large portion of this story, at least 10k words, written during September. That will
give me enough time to write the ending and give the story a thorough edit
before my self-imposed due date.
Finish Magnified. In my head this seems like a lofty goal, yet it's really only
10k words. I have to write the final battle scene and the aftermath/ending
and then the story will be completed. It's not all that much to do. The main
reason why I've added this goal is because Justified, part two, is starting to take shape in my head and I don't feel as if I can start putting it onto paper until Magnified is finished.
Write, plan, or submit three anthologies. The first one is Thunderbird, which I wrote for LT3's Intertwined collection call. It's written, but it needs editing. I don't foresee any issues getting it ready to submit by the due date and I would like to have it in LT3's hands by the end of this month.
The second is for Riptide Publishing's Sweet Romance call. I haven't written something sweet and YA appropriate since Cleanly Wrong, one of my first published stories. It's a challenge I would like to take on. My goal is only to figure out the basic plot and characters this month so I can get the story ready to start going onto paper. It's an open-ended call, but I would like to have it submitted by early next year.
Third is LT3's The Devil's Land call. I really enjoy having my stories run in their serial section and the due date is far enough away that I think I have time to write something for it. I'm hoping to get started with the introduction chapters and begin fleshing out the plot this month.

So, that's my plan for September! I'm really hoping that I'll be able to get it all finished. As always, one of my other stories will no doubt creep in and demand equal time, but that's part of the fun. I'll post again in October to see if posting my goals was a successful idea.

LT3's Birthday Sale and Giveaway

4/7/2014

4/7/14
LT3 is turning five and to celebrate they are holding a huge giveaway! All of their books are on sale and from April 7-10 they're giving away dozens of books for free. Road to Revenge will be given away on April 9 and Finding the Wolf on April 10. Get your free copies today and don't forget to stock up on all the other books too! Click on the banner below to be sent to more information.

News: Audiobooks, Release Dates, and Writing

2/8/2014

2/8/14

Finding the Wolf is officially available as an audiobook! You can purchase it right now from Red Planet Audiobooks. It will roll out to all third-party vendors starting on its scheduled release date of February 15th. LT3 will link to other vendors as the audiobook becomes available. The rest of the Dragon's Hoard series will follow next month!
I have an official release date for Wings of the Stars. It will be ready for sale on April 2, 2014. Look for pre-order sales to start sometime in March!
I have written a good chunk of The Oracle's Golem. I have an idea of where I want the story to go and I'm getting ideas for book four of the series as well. My goal is to have Golem in LT3's hands before Hatchling comes out on March 5th. I think it's very doable!
Just a reminder, there's only a few more days to buy My Truest Love, part of Rocking Hard Volume 2, for a 15% discount. It goes on sale February 12th. Paint, Guns, Money, and Love will also start running on LT3's serial section on February 12th. There's so much to look forward to next week!

News: Writing and Happy Holidays!

12/26/2013

12/26/13

The holiday season is ending. I hope everyone who celebrates had a lovely Christmas and that everyone who doesn't celebrate, like me, enjoyed their day off from work. I saw Frozen and American Hustle this past week, so I've been spending my time wisely. Okay, I've also written a lot too. The third section in Magnified is quickly drawing to a close, which is good because the fourth section is where all the fun starts to happen. I'm looking forward to sitting down and planning it all out.
Ge-Mi is also starting to take shape, and I don't mean just on paper. I'm still slogging through all the tough introductory stuff that happens whenever I create a new world I need to build around the character, but the foundation is really starting to form. The next step is the very beginning of the romance. The non-paper/writing development is the title. I have a beautiful vision of two separate covers, which means there somehow must be two different books. Therefore, the series must be called Ge-Mi (or Genetic Mutation) and book one must be called A Kitten's Claws. I honestly have no idea what plot idea there is for a second book, but I'm going to try!
The next big holiday is New Years. I always go to First Night with my family, which is amazing fun. This year I have two big things to look forward to. First, my third, seasonal job will be ending which means less money in my bank account, but more time for writing and other fun things. Second, the submission dates for LT3's Satisfaction Guaranteed and DSP's Juicy Bits are coming due. That means I'll soon hear yes or no for the stories I've submitted to each. It really is so very exciting!
My last bit of news is the cover for Wings of the Stars is finalized. It's to the right, so please have a look. I know the artist and LT3 worked very hard on it. Hopefully I'll soon have the cover for The Oracle's Hatchling to show off too!

News:

12/18/2013

12/18/13

There’s not much happening right now. I’m still plugging away at my stories. I’m hoping to have something ready to submit by the end of January, but there’s still a lot of writing to go.
The 2013 M/M Romance Group’s Member’s Choice Awards are still ongoing. If you haven’t voted yet, please do. Hadash Aviv was nominated in the Best Law Enforcement category and could use your support! You don’t have to be a member of the group to vote: http://www.esurveyspro.com/Survey.aspx?id=31dc63a9-f374-40b9-a220-b3aad4f2ba0d
The edits for Heart’s Tournament are back with the editor. I’ve done my research and I’m hoping that the issues with the age of my characters has been resolved. Who knew toddlers couldn’t climb walls? Not me, apparently.
I have seen a first draft of the cover for Wings of the Stars. It's a work in progress, but I know if will turn out all right. I can’t wait to show it off here!

LT3's December Advent Sale

11/23/2013

11/23/13

Turkey Day is almost here! It's a time to say thanks for all the wonderful things in life and a time to spend with your family. After Thanksgiving (and Hanukkah, I cannot believe Hanukkah is so early this year!) comes December and the Christmas season. My holiday season might be over early thanks to Hanukkah coinciding with Thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean the holiday season won't still be fun.
Okay, to be honest I'm looking forward to December 26th, when the tinny Christmas music is finally off the air for another year, but I'm also excited about all the sales. I've got my eye on a couple of books to buy and I already know when I'm going to buy them. LT3 is holding a gigantic Advent Sale with 25% off books on special days throughout the month of December. Click on the picture below to check out all the sales and to start planning when to buy those books you've been eying.

My day in the Advent Sale is December 5, which is coming really soon! Every book I've ever written for LT3 will be on sale for 25% off for that day only! Follow this link to preview exactly what will be for sale!

Out Now: Bloody Kiss

10/9/2013

Proud to be a Vampire

Bloody Kiss

Lis had been enjoying his school trip to Egypt until a statue came to life and drank his blood. Back home in Boston, nothing feels or tastes or smells quite the same, he's plagued by strange dreams, and has a craving that nothing seems to satisfy—until the statue shows up again.