Hi! My name is Melanie and I like to write. In fact, I love to write. The only thing I like more than writing is to have written something that people want to read. Because my time on this earth is limited (I know, I know, all our time is limited but I'm on another run of chemo and one day I will run out of options) I figure this is my last chance to really make a go of something.

Welcome to my newsletter and story service.

What is a story service you ask? I like to think of it as what people used to look forward to in their weekly or monthly magazines. Once upon a time this was how people like Charles Dickens published their work: as a serial in installments. Then the family would get together and read the chapter and discuss it and wait for the next installment to come out. In a sense this is the very definition of slow reading which I think is something missing from our world. So, think of me like a modern female Charles Dickens who isn't anything like Charles Dickens writing-wise (or personality-wise). The two stories I have set up for you all could be considered romance. Possibly poor romance stories? That is up to you to decide. After years and years of writing for free I figure it is time to start valuing what I love to do.

Here is a review of the The Christmas Visitor which is first story to be offered:

“Oh Melanie it is just lovely.”

-my mom

It doesn't get any more unbiased than that!

What will this newsletter hopes to cover:

  • Stories! That's the big one. That's the one I'm hoping people come for and then stay for the ramblings.

  • Living life with a chronic/terminal illness.

  • Book reviews about that focus on classic literature - but new stuff too when I feel inspired. I just really like books and like talking about books.

  • Book club. I plan to run this every three-months (that’s four books a year). Some of these will be taken from the more obscure classic women's literature but I am trying to set up author interviews as well and hoping those author's will join us.

  • A monthly series called "Dying Sucks and Then You Die" where I interview other people living with a terminal illness. This is because I miss being a journalist and love digging into people's minds.

  • Recipes. I'm currently working through our favourite whole-foods, plant-based recipes and compiling them for my family and will be giving them to you as well. Remember when I tried to start a food blog but then got diagnosed with terminal cancer like a week later? Yeah. Me too. This will fill that hole in my heart.

Some of this will be free and some will be behind the paywall. Why? Well to be honest I've felt the need to protect my family's privacy more and more as the girls get older and so being so OUT THERE all the time hasn't been a possibility. By keeping things small I will be able to get close and personal with real issues. By being paid I can focus on showing up to my desk every day and getting to work. I can explore other story ideas. I can help pay the mortgage - or at least get us some takeaway once in a while.

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Newsletter about living life with a terminal illness, parenting, food, and fiction.