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IMPERFECT

Happy Monday

I am over at Girlfriends Book Club today. Come visit!

Also, I am offering a pre-holiday special on my book Imperfect. For 12.00 I will sign, seal and deliver any hard copies to you, or as gifts. (U.S. and Canada only at this time)

Please private message me for details.

Giveaway!

Hey! Are you on Goodreads? They are hosting a giveaway of my book, "Imperfect". Why not throw your hat into the ring? Good luck!

 

 

    Goodreads Book Giveaway

 

   

       

   

   

     

          Imperfect

     

     

          by Melissa  Clark

     

     

         

            Giveaway ends October 19, 2012.

         

         

            See the giveaway details

            at Goodreads.

         

     

   

   

      Enter to win

Three Rivers: Full Circle

In 2008 I ran into my sister's friend Emily at a bar. She had just purchased a cabin up in Three Rivers, CA and told me it would make an excellent writing retreat, and if ever I wanted to write there to get in touch with her. I think I got in touch the next weekend. I was struggling with my novel at the time and needed a place to clear my head. I set out on a rainy day in February armed with my laptop and not much else, and when I arrived 3 1/2 hours later I marveled at the setting. I spent the next three days marveling at the setting, taking walks, taking naps, having dinner with a neighbor, reading books, watching movies. I did everything but write.

But a funny thing happened. About a month after returning from my "writing retreat" I had a dream about a character named "Ruth Tichner" and in my dream she was having sex with her boyfriend and somehow in that dream I knew she was a hoarder. I woke up and started writing the dream down (which ended up being one of the first scenes in the book) and soon I started writing more than the dream. Soon the cabin in Three Rivers started playing a role in the novel - at first a small role and then a bigger role. And soon after that I realized I had two major characters in my novel and that I had to figure out how to unite them.

This past Thursday, the whole thing came full circle when I had a reading of "Imperfect" (only $4.99 wherever ebooks are sold!) at the Three Rivers local library. You see, in May I ran into Emily's sister Anna at a party and she suggested I get in touch with Christina, the neighbor with whom I had dinner 4 years ago on my "writing retreat". One thing lead to another and before I knew it, Chris had organized a reading for authors who have been inspired by the town of Three Rivers.

I grabbed my friend Maggie Marr and we road-tripped it up to the cabin. At the library we set out about 25 chairs which were all filled by members of the community. I loved hearing the other authors read. Later, we had an excellent dinner at neighbor Chris' house (who has her own novel coming out in November) before retiring to the cabin that inspired the subplot.

Isn't life funny?

Setting up with Chris and Maggie

Reading from "Imperfect"

Author Dalan Smith

Poet Bill Haxton

In front of the library.

Yummy dinner

Maggie and I walking in Three Rivers...

Sisterly Blogging

Hey! You!

You know what? If you become a follower of my sister's blog, you have a chance at winning a copy of my new novel!

Meremade is a blog full of crafts, recipes, ideas, kid's stuff, etc. This month is Pet Month on the blog. Check it out!

Thanks for your familial support.

Novel #2

In preparation for tomorrow's publication of "Imperfect", I'm posting a photo from my very low-budget 'recording session' of a section of my book. Once I figure out how to post the actual audio, I will.

I hope that everything goes smoothy up in the world wide web tomorrow. Only time will tell...

Meanwhile, a fantastic blurb from a fantastic writer arrived in my in-box today. I am so thrilled.

"Unusual, unputdownable, unforgettable" --Lauren Baratz-Logsted.

Somehow this DIY publishing process is even more exciting than my original experience with mainstream publishing. I don't think I've ever worked so hard in my life.

Countdown to e-launch

I am getting very excited about my forthcoming eventure in epubbing. I have never worked so hard in my life. I thought this book was hard to write... that was nothing compared to getting it out in the world.

The blurbs are starting to come in and I am so grateful to the authors who have read and commented on "Imperfect." It's very heartwarming to receive these from people I admire so much.

Then there's this - it is the 'gathering spot' for news on this book.

And I even have a new email address for this book. (imperfectthenovel@gmail.com) I wonder if anyone will write?

The book is cracking open on March 20th. And with it, I think I'll be cracking open, too. At least cracking. In a good way. Is there such a thing?

I hope so.

Foreign

I had a wonderful morning at the Academy of Motion Pictures. The five nominees for Best Foreign Language film spoke on a panel. My dad, a long time member of the Academy, votes in this category. There are approximately 60 movies that get whittled down to five, and tomorrow one winner will be named from those five. The directors, four men and a woman, were all passionate and articulate. I have a feeling Iran is going to win with A Separation, but that's only because it seems that film has gotten the most press. My favorite speakers were Israel (Joseph Cedar) and Canada (Philippe Falardeau), though they were all wonderful. I can't wait to see the films, many which are now in theaters and a few coming over the next months:

Foreign Language Film:
Rundskop (Bullhead), Michaël R. Roskam, Belgium
הערת שוליים (Footnote), Joseph Cedar, Israel
W ciemności (In Darkness), Agnieszka Holland, Poland
Monsieur Lazhar, Philippe Falardeau, Canada
جدایی نادر از سیمین Jodaeiye Nader az Simin (Nader and Simin, A Separation), Asghar Farhadi, Iran

Speaking of foreign, this behemoth......has been parked outside my apartment for the past 4 days. This photo doesn't do it justice. I have no idea why it's here and quite honestly feel a little weird at night when I'm changing for bed. Can they see in? The other day on my run I asked a few dog walkers what that yacht was all about. Two of them said with certainty that it's the billionaire Russian owner of Stolichnaya Vodka. One asked if I've seen the helicopters landing on the yacht (I haven't). No one knows why it's there. I'm guessing Academy Awards? Perhaps Stoli is a sponsor? I guess we'll see tomorrow night. At night the yacht is all lit up in neon colors. Again, this photo doesn't capture it. It's kind of like the inside of my Mini Cooper - one night it's green, the next blue. What a mystery!

FInally, here is my new book's cover. I am so thrilled with it. Kim Killion of Hot Damn Designs put it together after I picked the egg image. The book cracks open in mid-March. This has been a very empowering adventure and I can't wait to share it with you.