Blog: Mel's Muse

Thank you, again, to all who have bought my book, A Painful Post Mortem. A novel about a mother who has to come to terms with her daughter's waywardness, it raises, among other things, the question of HIV and AIDS.

Posted at 09:07am on 13th April 2012

APOLOGIES FOR THE SMALL FONT & LACK OF IMAGES.  AM TRYING TO RECTIFY THIS.

Dear Mel,

We "met" on LinkedIn. I recently visited your website and enjoyed a few of the many things you offer. Something that struck me is the similarity of our book covers. You can see mine at www.grief-recovery.org...

Posted at 07:00am on 6th April 2012

Hi Mel,

Self publishing for me would be a last resort as I would find it difficult to promote my own work. Although I was in the business world for a long time it was somehow different promoting a product. Also I have been retired for quite a while and feel...

Posted at 16:58pm on 25th February 2011

Dear Mel,

I am a writer and I basically have no clue what to do in order to get published. I am writing in response to the post I saw at : http://www.melmenzies.co.uk/blog/2009/01/manuscript_formatting

Now, I am currently working on my final copy of my book, but what do I do in order to submit it...

Posted at 12:13pm on 19th July 2010

Dear Mel,

I hope you don’t mind me writing but I’m on Jury Duty next month and I’m feeling quite nervous about it. A friend in my church said she’d heard that you were on a big case a few years ago and that you might be able to advise me.

I’m worried I might...

Posted at 10:21am on 26th April 2010

Hi,

I have enjoyed reading your articles and blogs/posts. Would really love to communicate more with you cos I think I really appreciate your train of thought. It appeals to me a lot. I am also an avid writer and have written many articles.

Can you recommend a good creative writing course for me to attend...

Posted at 18:38pm on 11th March 2010

2 Comments

Hi Mel,

I was interested to see what you had posted earlier this month on your blog about formatting a manuscript; it was most helpful.

Posted at 15:45pm on 22nd January 2010

Dear Mel,

My parents have always had a very explosive relationship. There were always shouting matches when I was a child, and I grew up fearful that they were going to get divorced. My dad had a very fiery temper, whereas my mum would be tearful. Inbetween the rows my dad...

Posted at 14:52pm on 17th November 2009

1 Comment

Dear Mel,

I have never done anything like this before, but I feel I am at the end of my tether. I am 32 and I was previously in a relationship for 8 years, with someone who I thought was the love of my life. We had been friends since we...

Posted at 20:49pm on 25th September 2009

2 Comments

Dear Mel,

I got married again, about six months ago, to a lovely man who’s very good to me, and is keen to know everything about becoming a stepfather. The trouble is, he has no children and he doesn’t seem to know how to cope with my teenage daughter, who lives with us. He complains...

Posted at 14:33pm on 25th July 2009

Yesterday, I began a response to a letter from Sonia, requesting information about setting up a Book Group. As my reply turned out to be rather lengthy, I have split it into two parts. If you wish to read from the beginning, use this link for Part One: Setting up...

Posted at 18:07pm on 10th May 2009

Dear Mel,

Last week it was exactly a year since my Penny passed away. We’d only been married ten years – no children – and she meant the world to me. I never thought I’d get through this last twelve months but I have and I wanted to mark the occasion, but at the same...

Posted at 15:21pm on 29th April 2009

Dear Mel,

You once wrote something about trying to please everyone – I forget what – but you know what I mean – people like me who still have kids at home who don’t seem to want to leave, and who have to hold down a job, ok its only part time - and now...

Posted at 21:03pm on 3rd April 2009

I received this book as a birthday present after seeing it reviewed somewhere I can't now recall...sorry. Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed...yes, enjoyed it. It has everything...humour, pain, characterisation, existential angst...the way you write about Faith and God is just incredible and has really helped me at a difficult time....I am pregnant...

Posted at 19:29pm on 11th November 2008

I have read A Painful Post Mortem with much interest and I am greatly impressed with the book and, not least, your actual written style. Congratulations!

I have only one critical comment and that is the use of the word ‘ruddy’. Your character Mark would, I suspect, have been far more likely to say ‘bloody’.

It...

Posted at 01:00am on 15th October 2008

2 Comments

I’m not normally a reader; however, I could not put this book down. I felt privileged . . . This is an honest account of the difficulties that are all too often encountered behind the scenes. Thank you . . . For those of you have not read it, I strongly encourage you to...

Posted at 15:00pm on 25th August 2008

Your book was a good read with a lot of raw emotion. You portrayed the struggle the family had really well.

Sandra, Sussex

Mel's Comment:

Thanks Sandra. As an author, I wanted to be real about the emotions that are aroused by the sudden and shocking death of a young person, but at the same time...

Posted at 01:00am on 30th May 2008

. . . the working through of emotions and spiritual realisations were fluid and helpful.

Ros, Devon, UK

Mel's Comment:

Posted at 11:08am on 6th May 2008

I enjoyed seeing you (on TV). I thought the interview went very well and I taped it so I could show other people.

Jana, Tonbridge, UK

Mel's Comment:

Posted at 11:06am on 6th May 2008

Some years ago I read your book and subsequently placed it in the library for others to read. I do envy you being able to write . . . I would love you to come and speak, but hesitate to ask you to come this far, but if you were already in the...

Posted at 11:01am on 6th May 2007

Well done! It’s a splendid little book. Were I still Review Editor of Today, I would review it, but alas, I am not. But we will certainly add it to our reading and reference list.

Nick (Revd), London, UK

Mel's Comment:

Posted at 11:00am on 6th May 2007