Sweet Melissa

The Importance of a Review As a READER, I myself never left a REVIEW.  Now, as an AUTHOR, I understand the importance and VALUE of the review system.  Sometimes people look at your reviews and when they see that there are only a FEW they think that your book must not be very GOOD or that no one is BUYING it.  That is NOT always the case.  Most people do not a LEAVE review.  I read somewhere that you are LUCKY if 1 out of every 100 readers will leave a review.  Well, to get to my POINT, if you have read any of my BOOKS I would so, so, so, much APPRECIATE a review!  My books have been SELLING, and if you have read my books you know where I coming from, and what I have been THROUGH. I am not a college GRADUATE with a degree la-de-da galore.  I am an EX-JUNKIE just trying to tell my STORY about overcoming ADDICTION and ADVERSITY.  I want to show the WORLD that anything is possible.  I was a hardcore DOPE-FIEND for most of my life and I wa...

EMOTIONAL and DRAINING I am in the midst of WRITING  the final book of my "SWEET MELISSA" memoir series.  I have come to the PART where I am writing a letter HOME to my PARENTS.  Fortunate for me, my MOTHER saved ALL of my letters that I had written to her.  Unfortunate for me, MY letters from HER were DESTROYED due to multiple CELL searches over the YEARS.  It is so STRANGE to read letters that I had written 13 years ago.  My INSECURITY  and LOW SELF-ESTEEM became even more apparent to me.  My IMPULSIVE nature and my NEED to fit in.  I have GROWN so much over the YEARS yet I am having a DIFFICULT time writing because the SHAME, the LOSS, and the CRYING is totally DRAINING me. AGAIN, GIVE IT UP!  THE PAST IS THE PAST!  MOVE ON! NO MORE TEARS!  I CAN DO THIS!  HERE ME ROAR!  IT'S MY TIME TO SHINE! That is just a little PEP talk and we ALL need it sometime!  Keep going, stay POSITIVE and MOTIVATED because no o...

So, everything was going great..... SUDDENLY, the S.M. wakes her mother, grabs her belongings and her baby and tells the GUY and my FRIENDS that it was time to go.  The PARTY commenced.  They brought their BELONGINGS out to the car.  The S.M. got inside the GUYS car and they talked while everyone waited for her to get back to her baby and drive home or at least tell them what her plans were.  After a bit, the S.M. got out of the GUYS car and got into the other car, ordering the owner of the car to get out of the driver seat.  SHE wanted to DRIVE.  My FRIENDS thanked me, the GUY thanked me, but the out of state GUESTS did not say a word.   The following day I tried calling my friend to check to see if they all made it home safe.  She was working (but I did not know it at the time) so I sent a text to the S.M. and asked her if they had made it home safely.  I had not heard from anyone all day.  Two HOURS after the TEXT, still no wor...

JEALOUSY AND ENVY I hope EVERYONE had a nice holiday this 4th of July!  I thought I did but APPARENTLY certain guests at my pool/BBQ party told me something DIFFERENT the next day.  Let me explain, a very good friend of mine had out of STATE friends coming to town.  We decided to have a SMALL  relaxing get-together.  She went to pick up the "GUEST'S" from the airport and after they had settled in a bit at her place they all HEADED over to my house.  I invited everyone in, including a single mother in her late 30's, her baby, and her mother.  There were only EIGHT people here.  It was, like I said a small get-together.  I played HOSTESS, as usual, and provided the FOOD, BEVERAGES, SNACKS, APPETIZERS, and a very WELCOMING and COMFORTABLE atmosphere.  I made everyone feel at home and they were swimming, tanning, and relaxing in the jacuzzi.  We were taking photos, talking, and laughing.  I GRILLED hamburgers and hotdogs for the ...

IS THERE LIFE AFTER ADDICTION Whether it be HEROIN, COCAINE, ALCOHOL, METHAMPHETAMINE, PRESCRIPTION PILLS, or "WHATEVER" there is always HOPE for a decent and prosperous  life after addiction.  Is it EASY?  Hell NO!  It is one of the most DIFFICULT things a person may ever have to ENDURE.  With the LOVE, and SUPPORT of family and friends this seemingly IMPOSSIBLE TASK can be ACCOMPLISHED.   As with anything else in life that is WORTHWHILE, anything that you may be trying to SUCCEED at, there will WORK involved.  I'm not talking about the SHOVEL in hand type of work either!  The type of JOB I am referring to is FAR more MENTALLY draining and CHALLENGING.  I am talking about DEDICATING your absolute EVERYTHING to the CAUSE.  It may or may not sound EASY to you.  Just keep in MIND that it is extremely EASY to get SIDETRACKED and STRAY from your GOAL and your main PURPOSE of assisting a loved one in RECOVERY. The ADDICT wil...

PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW Before I started writing books, I myself, never left reviews.  I will admit that I had no idea of the relevance of reviews.  What difference did it make whether I left a review or not?  Who wants to hear what I have to say about something?  I figured that it did not matter.  Now, having five books out, I totally understand the importance and the necessity of reviews.  Whether good or bad, a review allows you to give your opinion on something, to help in making a purchase decision to a potential buyer.  When someone only has a few reviews it appears as though no one is buying the book.  "So why should I?" is what the buyer is possibly thinking.  It's funny but the number of reviews don't really, in all actuality, tell you if the book is selling or not.  Although, most readers do not know this.  That is why I am asking everyone to "Please leave a review" even if it is a bad one.  Of course, I do hope ...