Thursday, September 10, 2009

News and Updates

Back to work now. That leaves less time for working on my current works in progress, including book three. It is moving along slowly but surely. I've been busy working on another romance, but there will be more details about that later. Getting back to work this week has been difficult since I love to be a nightowl, and when you have to get up to a buzzing alarm at 5:00 A.M. you can't do that. Well, I could, but no one would want to be around me, including myself! I'm grown attached to my coffee pot! Well, I always have been so that's not really news.

This summer I added a couple new chapters to the third book, plus I mapped out some more ideas. It's so strange how new characters can just pop into the story! I have no idea where they come from, but that's the joy of writing; the not knowing part that just happens. This book has little- bit parts- by new characters to the series, but you won't see much of them. They do have to be there though, even though their parts are small.

You can start looking for my newsletter to come out soon. Just let me take a deep breath and relax for a minute or two...


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Absence is to love What wind is to fire; It extinguishes the small, It enkindles the great

ROGER DE BUSSY-RABUTIN

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Sale is over, but you can still purchase my books
at the publisher's, or through me.

Mary J. Dressel writes:

My publisher is having a sale that is out of this world! I've never seen prices this cheap. Please visit their site if you're interested in getting a great deal on my books-- Thanks in Advance!

Click on link, put 'Dressel' in the search box, and scroll down

Available for a limited time only!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Capture the Moment | Quazen

Please check out my latest article about Photography. Thank you!




Capture the Moment Quazen

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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Update for Enchantment Series, and Other Info

This month is almost over, and I have been writing a little bit in my series. My goal is to finish the first draft by time I go back to work at the end of August, or whenever it is I start back. Kids start back after Labor Day, but I start back before that for meetings and such. So, that means I have a ways to go on my book. I'm on chapter 27 now, and Part 2 in the book.

I had a brainstorm for this section, and it gave me new direction. As it stands now, Part 1 is titled, Accidently, and Part 2 is titled On Purpose. I've never broken any of the books up into parts, so this is different. Maybe it won't even stay this way, but for now, it is in parts.

To make sure I keep myself busy writing, I am now a member of NaBloPoMo! Do you know what that means? You might have heard of National Novel Writing Month... Well, this is National blog Posting Month, and it's to write a daily blog for the month. Actually, I think they do it each month. I didn't keep the goal. :-( I was away from home and didn't have the address to go back to it, so it say a few days without any post. But, yesterday I made my first post. You can join me too, at http://nablopomo.ning.com/ It's fun, and it will help you to keep writing. You know a writer needs to write each day! So, come on and join me at this new Ning Network. If you already have a Ning Login, then you can sign up with your Ning ID. Too bad I didn't know that! I made a new login before I realized it was a Ning Network. Oh, well, it's still me!

I have written my first post in my Ning Blog, but I also copied it to my Wordpress Blog. Anywhere I can stick my name, and my book titles, I will! So, feel free to check out my posts, and think about starting your own daily blog. Hope to see you there, and if you do sign up, be sure to be my friend, so I can follow your blog posts too!

Enjoy your day...

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Book Three Update

I just started chapter 24 in this third book, and it's over 44,000 words. It's moving along well, and just started into Part 2. My goal is to finish the first draft before I return to work in September. It has a ways to go so that means I need to be very busy with it, writing in most of my spare time. I've been staying up late to do some work on it when it's quiet, and then afternoons.

In the mean time, there is new information from my publisher, saying that my books have become available in HARDCOVER. I can't wait to get my hands on them. When I got published, it was a dream to see my books in hardcover, but at the time, my publisher didn't do hardcover books, but now they do! Please contact me if you're interested.

I wrote a new blog post over at my other blogging place. Most of that is rambling writing, stating opinions and having fun with writing. Click on the link if you want to go there. My latest entry is called: If You Could Live One Special Day Over, What Would It Be? I think you'll like it.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Wishing You a Happy Fourth of July

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Sounds of Saturday

I'm sitting here in my recliner with my laptop on my lap. I hear a lawnmower from the neighbor across the street, or next door. One lone bird is chirpping. I'm not sure what kind. At 5:00 A.M. there were too many chirpping. The TV is on in the background to the Animal channel.

For five days a week, I get up to peace and quiet,and alone while I drink a cup of coffee. On Saturday it's calm chaos. A small airport is nearby, and on occasion you can hear a small training aircraft, or a huge military jet. But, for now, it's just the lawnmower and more birds. I hear a Cardinal at times, whilstling for it's mate, or protecting its babies. If the dogs were out next door, they would be barking, because they always do when they're out. My own dog is in the kitchen breathing deeply, and that could turn into a snore at any time. She snores loudly when she does, and the floor vibrates. Once in awhile a noisy car will drive down the street. If it was a winter morning, it would be quiet outside, but the inside sounds would be the same except the furnace would be making its own sound.

Soon, it will be summer The sounds outside will be different. How does it know? There may be sounds of kids playing, although there aren't many on this block. There will be more birds, or at least seem like it. More traffic will be out, and I don't know why. During spring, summer, and fall, there will always be the sound of a lawnmower if you live in the suburbs. Sometimes teenagers walk by talking on their cell phone; I can hear conversations. Other times they are listening to their radio.

All in all, Saturday is a wonderful morning to wake up to. Sunday will start it all over again. Listen to the sounds in your area. Are they the same? Are you waking up to a busy city morning, or a quiet farm community? Do you wake up at the shimmering lake and hear sputtering boat motors, kids playing in the water, waves splashing, etc? Enjoy your Saturday no matter what you wake up to.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Writing Time


Last week was my spring break. I was off work for over a week counting the weekends. There wasn't much sleeping in. People in my house don' t sleep much. Therefore, it's hard to sleep in. It was still okay to get up and not have to do anything, like get ready, decide what to take for lunch, etc, etc.

Writing and visiting my youngest son were my priority for that week. I did both. Mostly, I started typing into the computer from notebooks. That's how I started my erotic contemporary because I could take that with me before I had a laptop. It's nearly all in the computer now. Another contemporary novella is barely started, and I did some reviewing and editing on that. I usually do editing as I go, not like some writers, who wait till the end. It's also my way of getting back into a story I've been away from. And last but not least, I did some writing in Book Three in the Enchantment series. Last night I lost a whole page. I dont' know how. I was doing something else at the time, and I think I hit the back space key. When I clicked on Undelete, it took me back too far, then I hit, undelete what I just deleted. Anyway, I ended up losing a page. It wasn't something I wanted to lose, and I suppose I can write it again, but it's just so frustrating. Once again, I became lax, and didn't save it like I should have. Maybe it's backed up somewhere, but I'll probably find it too late, if I do find it. It's only a page, about 250 words. Ugh, sometimes it's hard to come up with 250 words! I'll quit whinning, and replace it. It's my fault for not paying attention.

So, at this point in time, I'm working on three WIP. (works in progress) I usually write that way these days. I want them all to be finished, so when the mood comes for one of them, I work on that one. When I wrote the very first book, that was all I worked on. I was all consumed with it. But, since I've started working on more than one thing at a time, that's what I do now. It might change.

Last night I watched Twilight. I loved it. I did read the book. Loved that too. I've heard a lot of people say they didn't like Bella. I did. I think she looked sad and sort of depressed, but come on, she should have. But, when she was with Edward, I think she looked so in love. They looked at each other the way many couples dream of. In my world it only happnes in my writing, and it was pleasant to watch them be in love. I am reading New Moon, and you know that movie will be out this November, 2009. I hope all the same characters come back. Except for James!! You know why. If you haven't read the book, or seen the movie, I won't give it away.

It's Saturday. I worked my first whole week in a few weeks. The week before Easter was only 4 1/2 days, so that was a short week. Then off a week, now back full time. We are back until Memorial Day. I shouldn't complain, because I know a lot of you don't get all the time off that I do. When you work in a school, you get a week off more than once a year. I started this job because when my kids were young I could be off when they were. I am not in the same district because I moved five years ago, but still in a school district. I do love my job. Talk of pink slips is circulating again, so I have to wait to see what happens there.

Today I will do some more writing on my erotic contemporary. I have a title for it, but if you know me, you know I don't release my titles until I have a contract. I love the title, and it fits the book well. The story, and writing erotica is different for me. I didn't know I could do it. It seems to flow along. Hmm... :-) It also involves royalty, and I have to do some research for it. I don't know all that much about royalty. See, maybe the word "ROYALTY" needs to start with a capital letter. I don't know! But when I get done, you won't know that I didn't know because that'ls the reason for the research! A good tip for you writers. Research till your fingers fall off, then throw half of it away! You can't have enough to look at, just don't use it all.

More updates as my writing continues...


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Sunday, January 25, 2009

Stay at Home Spouse

I made a vow to myself that I was going to do better in updating my blogs. It's nearly the end of the month, and I haven't done that yet. So, starting now, I am going to decide on a topic and write about it. Today's topic is going to be about living with a spouse who is home.


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As I look around my house, I see dust and clutter. When did this start? I ask myself. If I try to follow my memory back, I must say it started January 2007. The day my husband had surgery, and everything concerning his health went downhill. He has had a disease for 13 years, one without a cure. It effects bone marrow, but is not Leukemia, although it can turn into Leukemia, and falls into the Leukemia catagory.
He had to go on disability. Therefore, he is home 24 hours a day. I understand that he is sick, and what he can do is limited. That's the part that makes it easy to accept him being here throughout the day. After all, I love him and have always looked forward to our time together. But on the other hand, since he's here throughout the day, it is very hard to work around him as he watches television, or sits at the computer. I find it very hard to use the vacuum or mop, or try to dust the house when he continues to look agitated as he looks around me as I move around the furniture. I'm sure it's this way with a retired spouse, too.

Mostly, I find myself waiting until he has to leave for the store or to pick his daughter up from school before I can turn on the vacuum, or start dusting. I feel more comfortable when I am doing this at home alone. Of course there's no problem doing laundry, or cooking because that's a different area of the house. Unfortunately, I find myself sitting with him, with my own laptop until I can find a quick minute to start cleaning the room. He tells me to go ahead, and do what I need to do. But, then again, like I said, he looks at me, turns the TV up, and moves his eyes back and forth around me to see what is on TV.

I know this might sound like I'm being disrespectful to him, but that's not it at all. I think that no one can understand what I mean unless they are living with someone who is always there. It's not like I'm wishing he wasn't here, because I love that he doesn't have to work when he's so sick. He gets to spend more time than ever with his daughter; actually every day now. This is a very good thing, because it makes him happy when she's here. He's not happy a lot of the time, so that does help. On occassion, he will do the laundry, and he's even learned to cook a few dishes. This is a feat he overcame because he never used to cook anything that didn't go "Ding."

So, my reason for writing this is because sometimes I just have to know that others are going through this, too. I am not regretting that he is here because, as I said, I'm glad that he doesn't have to work when he's sick. That would be impossible because some of his days are very bad; especially for a couple days after he gets his Interferon injection. Yes, I'm glad that he can spend his days in a warm house in the winter, and a cool house in the summer while he feels so miserable.

So, for my topic today, feel free to comment. I'd like to know how others are coping, and working around, a spouse that is home. Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Excerpts Information

Just below this post, I posted the first excerpt for my newest free read just for you. It's original title was The Accident. I've since changed it to something I like better, so now it's called, True Love Never Dies. I've tossed this story around, wondering if I wanted to leave it as is, or add to it. For now, I'll leave it as it is.

Now, one more thing. This story has some adult content to it, more than a PG-13 rating, I think. So, sometimes Blogger will mark a blog as Adult Rated, and I don't want that to happen since most of my work here isn't adult rated. What I'm doing with the rest of the story is to direct you to read it on my website. One simple click will take you there! Click! It's the second story on that page, with a link at the top of the page. I hope you take the time to click. The inspiration for that story follows the story.

Enjoy!

I would love to hear your comments. Have a wonderful day!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The Accident, Excerpt # 1 New Title-- True Love Never Dies

The whole week of Halloween, I posted excerpts and real ghost stories on my friend's Halloween Blog. That blog was set up for that theme only, and is no longer there. But, I decided to post excerpts from that same story, here.

I'll tell you what inspired that story. When I lived in an apartment in Belleville, Michigan in 2001, there was a ghost there. He was about 19 years old, and wore a baseball cap cocked to the side. My roommate at the time saw him, but I never did. He spoke to me one night, saying my nickname, which I won't repeat here... He said, "_____ are you awake?" It was my roommate's voice! He worked the midnight shift, and this was in the wee hour of the morning, so I thought he had come home. I was asleep on the couch, and jumped up. No one was there. Talk about freaky! Another time, I was at work, and the roomy was asleep. The ghost spoke to him. He said, in my voice, "Wake up, it's time to get up!" Well, I was at work, and that's when he woke up and saw the ghost guy standing in the doorway. He called me at work right away. He was totally spooked.
When I was alone, I could sense him near me. At night I would pretend to be asleep, but I knew he was there. Sometimes he would stand right beside the couch in the dark. I think if I had reached out I could have touched him. He'd bump against the back or side of the couch. (The back faced the dining room, so you could walk around the couch.) When I slept in the bedroom, there was a master bath that I could see from the bed, and I know he was there in that hallway, watching. I was never so frightened, so often, as I was when I lived there. Only one time did my fear scare me away. I had to leave the apartment, and it was broad daylight. It was such an eerie, scary feeling I had that day.
Before we moved, I told him to find his peace and go to where he was supposed to be. I hope he did. So, that brings me back to the story I wrote. Some of it is true, like the young couple with the infant who sub-let the apartment to us. The traffic that never stopped was real. Terribly loud ALL the time. I let my imagination run away a little with this, and I could expand on it if I wanted to, but I don't know yet if I will. I had to make the decision for my character to stay with her husband or go with the ghost. I'm satisfied with my decision. I'll go back through it to see if there's more to tell. Come back to see what I decided.

Now, that first excerpt:


glitter-graphics.com
The Accident
A Free Read by Mary J. Dressel
(Protected by Copyright)

Adult Rating

If you're under 17, please
proceed to a different page.

I don’t know why I chose that place, or what made me cut the ad out of the newspaper. Standing out front sent terrible chills through me, but something deep in my psyche told me that I had to look into this apartment. Even though I accounted the chills to it being cold outside, something inside me knew it wasn’t true. The tenants were very friendly. They had a cute little baby. She was three months old. Their apartment was large for the money they paid. I wondered why they wanted to sub-let after only living there six months.

"We’ll take it!" said my husband, Pete.

"Great," said the young dad.

"How soon can you move in?" asked Sue, as she rocked her baby in her arms. "We’ll be out by the first of the month."

"Okay, that works for us," said Pete, glancing over at me for approval.

I nodded that it would be okay. Later that day we talked to the leasing agent, signed the contract, and went home to pack. Pete and I were still considered newlyweds, being married for only nine months, and we still lived with my parents. We were so excited to finally be out on our own, but I still wondered why they wanted to be out so early.

It wasn’t until we moved in that we realized the highway noise. Why didn’t I notice that when I stood outside trying to make up my mind. When I walked to the patio to look at that side of the yard, I didn’t notice it, maybe because of the chills that spread over me, the fearful feeling inside. No wonder the rent was so cheap. One of the busiest highways in the state was right past the parking lot. The sounds of engines, brakes, big rigs, and sirens never quit. It gave me such a shudder to hear it. For some reason, it made me fearful, and I don’t know why. But I soon learned the traffic wasn’t why they moved.

I was the first to realize it. I don’t remember the first incident. Maybe it was the feeling of being watched, or the icy touch on my cheek at night. It might have been the feeling or the bumps in the night, or the dreams of someone pressed against my body. I hated for Pete to work the midnight shift. Even before the voice began I hated being there alone. Even on the weekends he worked late at a second job. It was because he liked it, he said. I was a newlywed and lonely. The sounds and bumps in the night unsettled me, but I took it as being something on the highway, or the neighbors in their apartment. When I felt the pressure of a kiss on my lips, or woke up wet with arousal, I ignored it, and brushed it off as missing my husband.

On our one year anniversary, I lit candles and dropped rose petals along the hallway. My favorite perfume spread through the bedroom as I waited for Pete to come home. My sexy black nightgown fit my slim body just right. Slick and tight!

That night before he got home, I drifted off to sleep. When I felt the bump against the bed, I turned and stretched. "Mmm, Pete, I was dreaming about your hot body against mine." His hands felt so good on my thighs, then his fingers higher, probing my tender parts. There was no answer when I hummed his name. I opened my eyes, looking around for him. "Pete, where’d you go, babe?" I got out of bed, searching the apartment. He wasn’t there. That’s when the phone rang.

"Hi, hon, I’ll be home shortly, I had to stop at the store."

"No!"

"Huh?"

"I mean, no, you aren’t at the store, you were just here."

"No, I wasn’t, I’m driving on the highway."

I jumped back into bed, pulling the covers up tight against my chin.

"Babe?"

"I’m sorry... Hurry, I’m frightened."

"Calm down, Sarah, I’ll be there soon."

"Okay. Love you! Hurry..."

"Okay. Oh, happy anniversary!"

"Thank you, same to you."

I hung up the phone and stayed under the covers. I still felt the chill. I closed my eyes. "That touch was so real." My eyes popped open when I heard a moan. It sounded like Pete when he was hot and horny. It wasn’t Pete.

"Who’s there?" I asked aloud. Again I felt the bump against the bed. "Go away, you’re frightening me!"
Come back and check for another excerpt tomorrow.

Friday, October 24, 2008

"It's My Turn to Talk"

Well, it's happened. My character and hero of the Enchantment series finally has his say. At the blog, My Turn to Talk, you can read the interview I did with him. Did you ever wonder why a character does what he or she does? Stop by and experience this unique idea of interviewing book characters.

Also, some more new information. I decided to make a Halloween page on my website, and I wrote a ghost story then posted it as a free read. You won't want to miss it. So, get in the spirit, and visit my website now. Have a great day!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Spotlight at Sister Writers Blog October 19th.

I’d love if you’d stop by Sister Writers Blog on Sunday, October 19th. The Blog moderators have asked questions about me, my books, and advice to new writers. Come on over that way all day tomorrow
and see what I have to say.

I’d love to see you there!


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Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Blogging/ Interviewing All Week

I'm over at INTERVIEWING AUTHORS Blog all week and I'd love to hear from you. Stop by and say hello!
Week of October 6, 2008

Sunday, September 28, 2008

For Love?

I watched The Notebook the other night. It's based on the book by the same name written by Nicholas Sparks. While I sat with tears in my eyes, I wondered what it would be like to have the man/woman you loved take care of you when you could no longer take care of yourself. Then I wondered what I would do for love.

I submitted the rest of this article to Triond, where I post a lot of my writing. It was just approved and posted. My article is called What Would You Do For Love. This is a serious article and question. It really made me think. I hope you will take the time to click on the link and ask yourself the questions in this article.

Scroll down on the page then click on the title.
While there, please see some of my other writings.