Melissa Whitt

Planet Gemini series hits the papers

2010-08-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

Check it out at the Sun!

Great article, if I do say so myself...Ha!

"Fertile Earth" now available for ordering through author

2010-05-22T10:32:00.001-07:00

FedEx dropped off copies this morning. Woo hoo! If you'd like to find out how the Planet Gemini series ends, be sure to get "Fertile Earth". If you'd like me to sign it, be sure to let me know if there's anyone specific you'd like me to make it out to.

Here's a link to Paypal if you'd like to buy at my discounted price of $10 (plus shipping).

Peer props

2010-05-04T06:47:00.000-07:00

A hearty thank you to Wes Hughes, my colleague at the Sun, for mentioning "Planet Gemini" in his column on May 2. I didn't even ask him for the favor. How's that for good karma?

You can check out the column here.

I should have discounted copies of "Fertile Earth" shortly, so if you're looking for a price break, it's coming your way.

The short getaway in Big Bear Lake was nice. I managed to get about 12 pages done for the new novel. Writing on vacation is a little more difficult than I imagined, mainly because the last thing you want to do on a break is more work. But these books are actually a lot of fun. Sometimes it's difficult to decide which is more fun, taking a kayak on a massive lake or sitting in front of a fire, trying to scribble down the elements of a ghostly encounter. Decisions, decisions.

"Fertile Earth" officially released

2010-04-27T14:07:00.000-07:00

Wow. Talk about fast service. Publish America just put out the followup to Planet Gemini, "Fertile Earth". It's now available for purchase. If you'd like to wait a bit, I should have them available at a discount. I'll be happy to sign them for you as well, if that's something you desire.

Check it out:

Fertile Earth on Publish America.

Sneak peek at the new book

2010-04-20T08:55:00.001-07:00

Props to Gordon Campbell, the bluesman extraordinare who doubles as a fantastic artist, for the fetus design. Bravo my friend!

An update on Fertile Earth

2010-04-07T08:38:00.001-07:00

"Fertile Earth" is currently in production with Publish America. There is no release date yet, but I'll keep you posted.

An ending, and a beginning

2010-02-26T08:24:00.000-08:00

Publish America accepted my submission "Fertile Earth" this week, so I'm starting the publishing process again. It's been a great experience so far and I'm glad I was able to see this series to the end. All the questions people have raised from "Planet Gemini" will hopefully be answered in this new book. My editor said it was a smooth read, and a nice conclusion, so let's hope that opinion isn't a fluke.

Meanwhile, I've just completed the prologue for a new novel called "Skein of the Sky Woman". I've touched on this previously, and I won't give away too much here, but as a bit of background, I have spent the past year off and on researching Iroquoian folklore and mythology. Also, I'm using some of my background in writing about law enforcement to create the main character, a cop with a predisposition toward profiling. She finds herself questioning her own ideology, and that of the world around her, when an ancient Native American spirit places her in the middle of a nature-versus-nurture experiment where souls are switched.

There you have it. As my fellow author and music aficionado Greg Doyle often says, "See you on the flip side..."

Update on Planet Gemini II

2009-11-13T08:17:00.000-08:00

"A Fertile Earth" - the second and final installment in the Planet Gemini series is, for the most part, done. I'm editing, adding and deleting content at this point. Hopefully, I should be able to submit it to the publisher before the year's out. It's been a long journey, and a rewarding one. All the questions, concerns and feedback people have given me on the first book definitely helped me on the second. I am forever grateful to you.

I have another novel in the works - all in my head at this point - which I'll start soon after Gemini is put to bed. This will be a paranormal thriller using spin-offs from Iroquoian folklore and the nature-versus-nurture argument. I've been looking forward to this one for some time.

Though it's early, I just wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday season. Stay safe and never turn away from that which inspires you. God bless.

Catch-as-Catch-can

2009-08-26T06:59:00.000-07:00

Who needs book signings at stuffy book stores when you can do it at a rock show?

The tiered approach to the Planet Gemini concept seems to be catching on so far, as people who have read the book are interested in the new CD by my band. The CD plays kind of like a movie soundtrack for the book. And people who haven't read the book have started to show interest in it, after having listened to the CD.

Now all I need is a call from Steven Spielberg and we'll really be in business. ;)

"Planet Gemini" now on sale

2009-07-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

Publish America is currently selling "Planet Gemini" softcovers for $8.99.

Check it out here.

Have a great summer everyone!

Thanks

2009-06-19T13:12:00.000-07:00

To everyone who has purchased "Planet Gemini" so far, or anyone who spent the time reading a borrowed copy, I deeply appreciate it. Times are tough as we all know, so the fact that people have shelled out their hard-earned cash as a show of support means a lot to me. It will not be forgotten. I still have a few personal copies left if anyone is interested in getting an autographed book.

As for the follow-up to the first novel, I am more than halfway done with the manuscript. This will be a very different book than the first because it contains very few flashback "dream" sequences and will have many different perspectives from new characters. The book is based almost entirely on Earth, though there will be some scenes on Pyla, the Yoxall colony and Gemini. Most importantly, the body count mentioned during the Gemini wars in the first book will pale in comparison to the destruction planned for Book Two.

Rolling on the River

2009-04-02T12:38:00.001-07:00

Well, writers can't be all work and no play - at least I can't. So here's a glimpse of my off time.

Enjoy!

Santa Ana River Bike Run

Starting Part II, and other odds and ends

2009-02-03T13:41:00.001-08:00

The first chapter of Planet Gemini II is done. I'm not sure what the title of the new book should be. In hindsight, I probably should've had a subtitle for the first part, but it's too late for that now. Anyway, just for a sneak peak, the book opens with a prologue, something to bring people up to speed in case they haven't read the first installment, and then it moves to Chicago, where we meet a new character. Her name is Minerva, a 17-year-old college student with serious anger-management issues. It's been quite fun developing her character.

Also, The San Bernardino Sun is talking about doing a profile on me, which really makes me feel embarrassed. But maybe it'll help book sales. In conjunction with this, I'm working on a trend piece about the rise in the print-on-demand and self-publishing market. It's good to know at least something isn't suffering in these economic times.

Finally, this month I will have the misfortune of losing my bass player, Paul, who has been in Sachi for eight years. It's been an interesting ride. Paul's a talented guy, with eccentric sensibilities, but that's why he was such a great part of the band. I hope marriage, and Ohio, works out for him. I will be sure to give a hearty "told you so" when it's about 80 degrees here in the winter and he's putting heating blankets on his car radiator. Heh. Just kidding Paul.

Up and running

2009-01-28T06:18:00.000-08:00

Finally, we have books. They are online, they are in my hot little hands, they are everywhere. Buy one. They're good for you. Kind of like brussel sprouts. But I wouldn't recommend eating the book.

**Get a signed, discounted copy (31% off online bookstore prices)by submitting your payment through Paypal.com. Shipping is FREE.**

Make sure you specify who you'd like the book to signed to, or any particular wording you'd like included.

ALSO AVAILABLE AT:

Target.com
Publish America
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble.com

You may also request this book in Barnes and Noble stores.

First press blurb on "Planet Gemini"

2009-01-15T07:38:00.001-08:00

Check out the Highland Community News. I'm also working on getting some exposure in other local publications. Next step is book signings! Yikes!

Planet Gemini on Amazon.com

2009-01-10T14:39:00.000-08:00

Planet Gemini is now available for order on Amazon.com. If you pick up a copy, please return to the site and post a book review. Any help, feedback, props, would be greatly appreciated!

It's also on Barnes and Noble.com

Release date announced

2008-12-31T12:40:00.000-08:00

Well, it's coming down to the wire. Final proofs went out and the cover design came in. The official release date for "Planet Gemini" is March 1, 2009. But the book is currently available on Publish America's website.

(Updated 1/12/09 with direct link to PA store page).

And so it begins...

2008-12-11T07:08:00.000-08:00

As editors make the final touches on my first novel "Planet Gemini" I am starting this blog to keep people up-to-date about the book, its release date and things that are on the horizon.

For those who don't know, "Planet Gemini" - my SciFi baby - was officially started in early 2007. I completed it late last year. For months now, I've been querying agents, trying to land a publishing contract. Finally, I went with my gut and approached Publish America. They accepted my work and now we're in the home stretch. These are very exciting times.

More to come...