Mel Schanz's Blog

Book 8, Southwind Rocks, is out and ready for you! Download your copy today. Enjoy!

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Valerie Payne has a great life. She spends most of her days pulling calves on her family ranch; her evenings on the back porch watching the sun set into the Wyoming skyline. Family surrounds her at home and her second home: Southwind, Kansas. Her twin brother lives in Southwind and she visits as much as the ranching life allows. Life is busy; she doesn't have time for a man.

Rock Spindle is living the good life. Being the lead singer and drummer of the Rock Spindle Band has many perks. With five records going gold, a coast-to-coast tour, women throwing themselves at his feet...what more could a rock-star ask? Life is perfect. Until meeting Val, there was nothing he thought he needed. Val is different. She's not one of his roadies begging attention; she's quite the opposite. What will it take for Rock to convince Val to take a chance on him? 

In Southwind, the Bracken Ranch is bustling with people. Friends and family are aplenty as the Summer turns to Fall. Ashlee and Avery Harrison are right in the center of the action; exactly where they want to be. Ranch life is good. Truthfully, ranch life ROCKS!

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Let me know what you think. Did you love it? Hate it? Was it just meh?

Much love and happy reading,
Mel

Southwind Second Chance, Book 7 is here!

Chloe Davis had it all. She married the man she fell in love with at sixteen. They bought a house. She gave birth to his children. Life was good. Until, it wasn't. When David unexpectedly died, she was dealt a blow she didn't believe she could overcome. With the help of her friends in Southwind, she was healing. Life was becoming livable once more. Any distraction could change everything.

Sailor Crawford was a definite distraction. The tall, handsome owner of the Southwind Hardware Store makes it known he's interested in Chloe. Not only is she adorable, but also a good mother to her three fatherless children. Sailor has a plan. He not only wants Chloe in his life romantically, he wants her children too. Hook, line, and sinker, he'll have them eventually. He's a patient man.

America is having a birthday and the Bracken Ranch is hosting their second annual Independence Day party. Everyone in Southwind is invited. New love, old love, young love, it doesn't matter which kind; love blossoms in the heat of a Kansas summer. And, second chance love is the best kind.

As always, thank you for choosing to read my novel. I appreciate feedback on all social media platforms.
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Much love and happy reading,

Mel Schanz

“I know a knight in shining armor when I see one. This one, is practically riding for Camelot. Don’t let him die in battle. Go out to meet him."

Ellie dropped her head toward her lap, “What if I’m not worthy of the knight?”

Her friend lifted her chin, “Honey, you’re worthy of King Arthur himself. Not many are, but you, My Dear, deserve the fairytale ending.”

“I don’t know why you say that, Ash, if you knew the things I’ve done in the past…the men I’ve had and threw away like the kitchen trash…you’d know you were wrong about me. Besides, how do you know I want Jack to be my knight in shining armor?”

“Ells...you’re wearing his shirt. What does that say?” She smiled, “And, as for the men before Jack, none of them were for you. When you meet the person you’re meant to be with, you finally understand why the men before never worked. It’s the same way for Avery and me. He had women before me, but never felt a connection with any of them before he saw me again. And, he tried staying away from me, but nothing prepared him for the powers greater than us. We both felt the universal pull toward each other and couldn’t deny our feelings. It’s probably the one reason we’re able to put our past in the past. Our souls are only half ours; the other half is out there in the world waiting to be reconnected with its mate.”

"Damn girl, you are in love,” she said on a half-laugh.

Ashlee laughed too, “What can I say? When your soul finds its long-lost mate, everything becomes clear as when the fog lifts on a September morning."

Ellie looked across the pasture. The grasses were green and swaying in the light breeze. The sun shined on them making everything clear as if a person had twenty/twenty vision.

Chapter 9 ~ Ellie, Southwind Hideout ~ Book Three

Download book one in the Southwind series, Southwind Calls: When You're Predestined to Love, for FREE on Amazon. Link on the upper right of this blog page.

Purchase books 2-6 in the series also on Amazon. Some as low as 99¢.

Southwind Vacation ~ Book 6 in the Southwind series is here, ready for download or purchase on paperback.

I hope you enjoy the continuing story of everyone on the Bracken Ranch in Southwind, Kansas. As-well-as, two new friends and the possible romance between them.

As always, please read, review, and share with everyone on your friend list.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Much love and happy reading,

Mel

If there's something in Rachel's life she has total control over, it's her career. Rachel James is a successful and well-loved nurse in the geriatric department of a major hospital. She loves everything about the job. The patients, her co-workers, even her boss... She hates time off. So, when the hospital mandates she use her banked time-off, she's not happy. She plans to be the grumpiest vacationer on the planet.

Pete Levy has relationship issues. He knows this. He's been told it by several women of his past. His former fiancé, Deborah, is saying I do to another man. He's decided there’s no way she’s over him and he has a wedding to stop. Traveling from San Francisco to Daytona, he stops in Kansas, visiting friends. Never in a million years does he expect to meet the Goddess, Rachel. Out of his mind, he invites her on the trip.

Neither one is ready for the ride they're about to take. Neither one knows anything about love. And, neither one has any idea how to handle their growing feelings for one-another. Will this trip between strangers end in disaster? Or, will they find the one thing they've both been missing?

Ashlee and Avery, along with the rest of the Bracken Ranch clan, are busy as ever with life in Kansas. It's summer. The perfect time to fall in love. Ashlee watches as her niece, Sarah, falls for the resident cowboy, Dusty. Ah...young love. Only... Her brother, Toby, will kill her when he finds out she let it happen. But, who is she to stop love? Southwind, Kansas is the perfect place to call home, fall in love, or take a vacation.

Sometimes, I feel if I don't write, I may actually die. Like, shrivel up and melt into the ground, die. I'm the Wicked Witch of the West; not writing, is the bucket of water.

Okay... Maybe die is a bit harsh (and I, in no way, want to compare my feelings to those who suffer from the deep-dark depression that kills people of their own accord. Believe me, I've felt depression on a small scale; the grand scale, does kill people.)

However... When I don't write--for let's say a week because that's what I just took off and am feeling the blues. Major writing dismal blues--the darkness follows me. It creeps in like a long shadow on a moon filled night. The kind you can see but almost not-see. The kind you wonder how they work because the sun is on the other side of the world and it's the sun who produces shadows, right? At least it's how we learned it in elementary school. We all know shadows are everywhere. Including the dismal part of the brain feeling the blues. Dark navy blues. Darkest of navy. Almost black.

I took a week off from writing. An entire week. I thought, I need a break. I needed to take my fingers off the keyboard and pick up a book with pages. So, I did. I read three (decent sized) novels by two wonderful authors I miss reading from and one author I recently found and decided to give a shot.

The first--the new author--was a book I found intriguing on Amazon Kindle called Meant to Be by Melody Grace. I like giving author's I don't know a shot and it was FREE when I downloaded it, so... I read it in one afternoon. Flying through the easy read. The story was woman wants something more than she has; man thinks he is doomed and can't provide happiness to any woman on earth. I liked the way the author wrote the feelings of both characters as-well-as the supporting cast. It pulled at my heart strings a little. I've an outline in my cellar of books not finished with a similar story-line. Reading Meant to Be made me want to pull the manuscript out, dust it off, and get to work revising. I give it four stars and recommend it to all my reading friends as an easy, summer romance, read.

The second novel, After Anna by a favorite author, Lisa Scottoline, was a criminal-lawyer-murder-mystery-family drama. I seriously enjoyed the chapter layout. The first one, the husband's POV, After Anna, the second chapter, the mother's POV, Before Anna. It went back and forth from the present day courtroom to the past when Anna joined the already blended family of three. There were a few characters mentioned, described in detail and characteristics which made a person think they'd be important later, but... Then they weren't. I was somewhat disappointed by the time the story ended, thinking, but what about her? Or, why didn't Ms. Scottoline use that character in this way? I'd still recommend the book but only give it two and a half stars. One for the way the chapters bounced back-and-forth, the other for the enjoyable story-line. Half a star because I like Ms. Scottoline in general. However, I found four editing mistakes; on my own, without looking for errors. (Example of one. Author used the word keep instead of the past tense kept. All errors were of this type of nature.) I find it irritating when an author has a paid for an editor and there are still simple mistakes. I've never used an editor. Never paid for one. I expect to make mistakes. I expect to miss a few when I self-publish. If I were paying someone to edit my manuscript, I'd expect it to be flawless.

The final novel was by far the superior of the three. The Obsession by my favorite person, Nora Roberts. It wasn't her usual love-story. Or, at least not the sappy read-in-a-few-hours-and-have-all-the-feelz kind. No, it had drama like I hadn't read in a Nora Roberts novel in quite some time. The story centered around a girl, her family secret, how it changed her life, how she had to adapt as she grew from a frightened, yet brave, eleven year old hero to an adult trying to do life. It was a total page burner. Loved it times a thousand and recommend it to everyone in the universe.

As always, I love Ms. Roberts style of writing. I want to be her someday. I wish I was her, everyday. The artistic beauty of her craft...the emotion of her characters...the description of everything... I just wish I was her. I wish it on every wishing star, coin thrown in a fountain, and every four leaf clover. However, there is only one Nora Roberts. Maybe the writing world can't handle two? Or, maybe I'll never be as-good-as she. In the meantime, I'll keep wishing on every lucky charm I find and work on my writing style. Hopefully, not completely mimicking her. Although... I've read copying is the best form of flattery. Probably not plagiarizing though. Lol

All-in-all, the week I took away from writing was definitely worth the time off. But... My head is screaming to write again. I started with this blog and I'm gonna finish the day with about five hours of writing book eight in my novel series. I enjoyed the little break, but my Southwind friends are ready to party. Or, fall in love. One of the two, or both. I'd tell you what they're doing right now, but... Spoilers. No one likes spoilers.

Much love and happy reading,

Mel

She let her waitress call out the orders and waited to see which customer had what. After setting the last plate, she turned, hurrying back to her hidey hole. She hadn't quite made her escape before one of the customers asked her a question.

It was one of the men; the one with the pony tail. Ugh. She despised long hair on men.

"Are your biscuits and gravy made from scratch?"

She brought her eyes to meet his. He seemed to be taking her appearance in, and she let him before she replied. "Yes, they are. It's my Grams' recipe," she fidgeted with her apron, wishing she would've thrown a clean one on before showing herself to the public.

The man, half smiling, seemed to be still taking her in, "And, the sausage?"

Vera, clearly uncomfortable, but not sure how to appear more at ease, brought her fidgety hand up her neck and gave her nape a squeeze like she had an ache, "I buy the sausage from a local meat locker, Sir."

"Sir?" He questioned. "Well, I haven't been called sir in... Well, all my life, I suppose. I know I age every day, but I'm not that old, am I?" He continued, "And, I'm far from a sir in the other sense, wouldn't you say, Sunshine?" He turned to the gorgeous blonde on his right. The one who ordered egg whites, strawberries, and one slice of wheat toast; the one who looked like she recently stepped off the page of a Sports Illustrated Magazine, swimsuit edition.

The blonde scoffed, "Oh, Honey, he is the farthest thing from a sir, or gentleman, but you, Victor, are missing her hospitality. She didn't mean you were old by calling you sir, she was being polite. You should try it sometime." She patted his cheek with a playful slap.

She tried excusing herself during their playful flirting, but another woman at the table grabbed her attention.

"Don't mind them. They're from California and don't know how to act in public. I'm sorry, Miss..."

Vera met the green eyes of the other blonde. This one, appeared less modelesque, but still beautiful. She replied, "Vera. And, it's perfectly fine." Turning to the first man, she apologized, "I'm sorry if I offended you, sometimes it flows from my mouth without my thinking; I forget some people associate the title with being old. Obviously, you're not old at all. Are the biscuits and gravy not to your liking?"

The man stood slowly, facing her. He stared at her with calm eyes, but couldn't stop the corner of his mouth from twitching. He was trying not to smile, she could tell; but, wasn't quite sure if he was laughing at her, or if something else was funny. He placed his hand across his waist and bowed.

"I'm truly sorry, Madam; I didn't know I was in such polite and exquisite company," he straightened and put his hand forward to take her in his. "Will you forgive me? I'm not sure how I can repay my impoliteness. AS my friend said, i have no manners. The food is delicious."

Vera gaped at the man as he brought her hand to his lips. He kissed the backside before slowly standing tall once more. His eyes worked their way from her delicate wrist to her throat, lips, then eyes. He smiled.

She wanted to gasp, freak out, and run away; anything, but stand there with him in the middle of her cafe. She was uncomfortable, and it wasn't something she dealt with well. She noticed the entire table staring at the two of them and gathered herself to speak. Taking her hand back, she immediately hid it in her apron.

"Uh... There's no need for you to apologize, Sir...err...um... Well, there's no need for it. I'm glad you like the food. Oh, look, here's Brenda, she can get anything you need; I must get back to the kitchen." She was nervous, instead of merely turning to leave, she dipped and said, "Cheers." She hurried past Brenda into the kitchen before she could further embarrass herself. Mortified, she grabbed a hand towel from a nearby rack and buried her face in it.

She was still in this position when Brenda entered the kitchen. She heard the door swing open and closed.

"Don't even begin to tell me how it wasn't as-bad-as it seemed," she scolded, "I was there. I bought the shirt, the souvenir mug, or whatever. It was completely awful.

Brenda moved beside her, rubbing her back, "Oh, don't beat yourself up. It's not the end of the world when you embarrass yourself in front of the greatest hottie who has ever walked into Southwind, Kansas."


Chapter 11 ~ Vera, Southwind Loves ~ Book Two

Download Book One in the Southwind series: Southwind Calls: When you're Predestined to Love, for FREE on Amazon. Link on the upper right of this blog page.

Purchase Book Two in the Southwind series: Southwind Loves: When Friends and Barbecue Come Together through the link in the same place. Only 99 Cents on Amazon Kindle!

Book 5, Southwind Arrested is here!

I am so happy to bring you the continuing story of the people in Southwind, Kansas. I hope you're ready for this!

Please download, read, and review. I'd love to hear what you think.

Much love and happy reading,

Mel

Angela Fielder moved to Kansas looking for a fresh start and a good job. She found both in Southwind with good people and even better friends. She loves working the Bracken Ranch with her boss, co-workers, and cattle. She loves her little cabin. She loves her new friends. Everything seems perfect. Too perfect. Just when she’s ready to relax, find a man to share her happiness with, her past seems to have caught up to her.

Jacob Shields has put his feet firmly into the Kansas soil. He has the well-built custom home. He has the successful law firm. He even has the greatest group of friends in the area. What he doesn’t have is a woman to share his wealth with. His rich love and compassion. Upon meeting Angie, he thinks he just might have found the woman of his dreams. She’s exotic, intellectual, fit, funny, and intriguing. All the best things rolled into one creature. Then, she’s in trouble. Can his law background help her? Or, will his feelings for her be a hindrance in the investigation?

The crew on Bracken Ranch are busy as always. Ashlee and Avery, as-well-as their son, Eli, are enjoying life as it goes. With a huge birthday celebration, a Memorial Day rodeo, and a friend in the slammer, life is never dull. They say it takes a village, well… Finding answers to their current obstacle might take the help of each friend in their crew.

Beep-beep, b-b-b-beep-beep.
I pushed my chair back, stood and glanced out the back-door window; my kitchen help followed. A bright red truck, with a gigantic black and white cow logo on the side, pulled up the long drive. The cow was laid back, relaxing in a hammock, eating what looked like barbecue ribs, while a small fire burnt underneath the hammock, roasting the cow. It was grotesque, but I guess if it got the public's attention, it did the job. Above the cow was my friend Victors' company name, NorCal Sweet BBQ. I turned to Clare and Jenna and again we laughed out loud at the hilarity.
"C'mon, let's go meet my California friends," I said as Clare picked up Sam and the three of us stepped outside.

Victor climbed out of the truck and stretched his limbs. They had driven from Monterey, California the past two days to arrive at the ranch in time for the party. I ran to Victor and threw my arms around him. He immediately swung me around in a circle with my hands looped around his neck and my feet off the ground. I giggled with exhilaration.

"Victor!" I screeched. He set me back on my feet and kissed my cheek, "Oh, how I missed you."

Laughing, he replied, "Me too, Little Mama."

I smiled at his nickname for me. Victor had pet names for everyone he knew. Mine, of course, was Little Mama, because I became a mom at a young age.

Clare cleared her throat behind me, "Oh, yes, how rude of me. Clare, this is Victor, friend and food truck adventurer. Victor--Clare. Of course, you know Jenna."

Clare held out her hand, "Pleased to meet you Victor and this little munchkin is Sam, short for Samantha," she added about the baby in her arms.

"Happy to meet you too," he replied. "But, Clare isn’t quite good enough for you and your beautiful aura. It may take me a day or two to think of what suits you best, but I will have something for you."

"Victor gives everyone pet names," I explained to Clare's scrunched up face. "He doesn't mean Clare isn't a good name, he merely means you should be something else as well. He thinks if he names his friends they'll remain special to him. Just go with it."

"Oh, well, I'll be happy to receive a special name."

"Hello to you as well, Mama," he hugged Jenna.

"Victor," she acknowledged as she returned the hug.

"Oh-Em-Gee! Praise the Lord, Halleluiah!" exalted words came from the opposite side of the big truck. All four of us walked around the front to see what, or who, was praising God. I was not surprised, and neither was Victor or Jenna; we knew the voice and I knew Ellie was traveling with Victor, and, of course, Victor knew who his traveling companion was, but Clare's mouth dropped to the ground upon seeing Ellie. There is no other way to explain Ellie's appearance than to say she is drop dead gorgeous. She's close to six feet tall, bright blonde hair with royal blue eyes. Her skin is always tanned even-though she wears seventy proof sun-block daily. At this moment, she was on her knees alternating between kissing the ground and raising her arms to the sky, praising Jesus. It was quite the scene.

Victor, who stood behind the three of us girls, leaned in, "She says she's not riding in this damn food truck for one more minute, and she's flying home when her visit is over. Believe me when I say, I wasn't going to let her back in the truck. I didn't tell her that, I figured I'd let her think she was ditching me instead of the other way around, because, if it would've been up to me, I would've left her ass in Flagstaff, maybe even before then.



~Chapter 8 Ashlee, Southwind Loves ~ Book Two

Download Book One in the Southwind series: Southwind Calls: When you're Predestined to Love, for FREE on Amazon. Link on the upper right of this blog page.

Purchase Book Two in the Southwind series: Southwind Loves: When Friends and Barbecue Come Together through the link in the same place. Only 99 Cents on Amazon Kindle!

I love writing. I really do. Love it as-much-as the best things in life.

Love it as-much-as my husband, kids, family, friends, dog, music, rollercoasters, cliff-jumping, cake, swimming, boating, knee-boarding, lakes, oceans, traveling, sight-seeing, flying, reading, rom-com movies, hit drama television shows, singing in the car, Guinness... The list could go on forever.

When an idea pops into my head randomly, and I can't stop thinking about it until it consumes me... I love it. I feel as if I've won the lottery. Minus the millions in cash, of course.

I live for it. I die when I've typed the final period. Literally, I die.

Usually, I'll write an outline of the general idea I have. Next, I'll add to each "section" of the outline. Then, I'll section it off further with chapters. This can take anywhere from a day to thirty, depending on the length, or depth, if you will, of the story. When I've finished, after typing that final period, I have an extremely short window of triumph. A window where I fall asleep happy. Content. Loving my life.

I absolutely despise the next day.

When I have to sit down, read, fix spelling errors, sentence structure, flow of wording, verbiage, (Ugh... Verbiage is the worst.) capitalize proper nouns, italicize thoughts and brand names I've borrowed, fix commas, fix periods, fix quotations, fix semi-colons, remove all the and's I thought I needed, re-read, re-read, re-read...

Editing is the absolute worst.

But... Where would the story be without being edited?

Over the years, I've read a lot of quotes from fellow writers about editing. It makes my heart sing when I read how much they hated it as well.

Here are a few of my favorites:

“Edit your manuscript until your fingers bleed and you have memorized every last word. Then, when you are certain you are on the verge of insanity...edit one more time!” ~C.K. Webb, Author, Cruelty to Innocents

“While writing is like a joyful release, editing is a prison where the bars are my former intentions and the abusive warden my own neuroticism.” ~Tiffany Madison, Author, Black and White

And, Ernest Hemingway:

"After writing a story I was always empty and both sad and happy, as though I had made love, and I was sure this was a very good story although I would not know truly how good until I read it over the next day."

I'm not sure what he's talking about when he says he's both sad and happy about making love, but... It's Hemingway. Did anyone ever completely understand him?

My analogy is much simpler.

If writing is the cake, editing is the green peas you must eat in-order-to clear your plate for that coveted dessert.

I love cake. I hate green peas.

I know, I'm no Hemingway. but... My analogy may be more relatable.


Much love and happy reading,
Mel

P.S. This blog entry is really a way of taking a break from editing book six of my Southwind series.

P.P.S. I have an awesome story in my mind right now, completely not related to my current series, but seriously need to be editing book six. Ugh!

P.P.P.S. I love writing, creating, conversing between characters, situations, dramas, emotions.

P.P.P.P.S. I hate editing.

At exactly ten o'clock, the man took the stage. He was taller than me, but not like Ryan or Blacko. Probably five-foot ten, or eleven. He had what I thought was blonde hair sticking out from under his cowboy hat, but I couldn't see his face at all; his hat was set low where he didn't allow much to be seen. Mysterious. Hmm... His shoulders were broad; his chest built. Yep, he looks like a builder. He sat on a stool tuning his guitar while we sat at the bar drinking our drinks.

Blacko turned to our group and questioned, "I wonder why he's wearing his hat low on his head? Trying out a new look or some—ouch! What was that for?" he demanded of Clare.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Did you hurt yourself?" she pleaded. I didn't miss the look exchanged between them.

"What's going on, you two?" I asked.

"Us...err...nothing. I mean... I think Blacko should think about spinning me on the dance floor," she declared. "C'mon, Love, let's go. He's playing one of my favorites."

The guitarist strummed the familiar chords to Check Yes or No by George Strait.

Ryan took my beer from my hand, before pulling me to the dance floor after the love birds and echoed, "Let's go, Love."

"You do remember we've already established there's no fire between us. Or, have you changed your mind?"

"No. I was giving you the couple treatment. Wait... Have you changed your mind?" he stopped right in the middle of the dance floor, meeting my eyes.

"I wish," I admitted before I leaned forward and gently kissed his lips. "Nope, still big brother material, but one hell of a dancer, so let's do this, Love."

We danced through George, Garth, and a current one from Dierks Bentley, before we took a breather. I downed my beer while watching the singer slash guitarist slash builder on stage. He traded his acoustic guitar for an electric one and started off with one of my favorite Keith Urban songs. I enjoyed the guitar solo in the song and sat back on my bar stool, soaking it in.

~Chapter 15 Ashlee, Southwind Calls ~ Book One

Download Southwind Calls: When You're Predestined to Love, for FREE on Amazon. Link on the upper right of this blog page.