Love to read and give authors honest reviews? Apply to join my team! I’m building a review team for The Rock Star’s Wife series. Although I did write each book to be read either… Read More
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Melina Druga Blog Blog
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Melina Druga is an author, freelance journalist, and history enthusiast. She blogs about history, the writing process, author interviews, and historical fiction book excerpts and reviews. She is particularly interested in the period 1890-1920 and how WW1 changed the lives of ordinary people.
Rock Star Romance launches today on Amazon. A college grad still reeling from an amicable breakup falls for a rock star who’s given up on love in this contemporary, second-chance roman… Read More
Two couples. One bound for forever. One living in the moment. A Christmas they won’t forget. Cassandra: My boyfriend Corey often quotes love poetry, but he&rsqu… Read More
Co-ed Cassandra Economos has a plan. Earn her degree then move into a Chicago penthouse. If she can meet a guy who accepts her, high sex drive and all, that’s an added bonu… Read More
Teenager Cassandra Economos loves five things: Her awesome friends. Her big fat, dysfunctional, Greek family. Rock music. Her plan to move to Chicago. And Kurt Cobain. Soon, she’… Read More
We’re two months away from the launch of my next eBook, Sexual Awakening. Currently, it is available only on Amazon and can be preordered today for 99 cents. This is an int… Read More
It’s time for me to say goodbye. To historical fiction, that is, and make the switch to contemporary fiction. While we all know never to say never, this makes The Unmarriab… Read More
My identity has been stolen twice – that I am aware of – to create catfish accounts on Instagram. The first time, they used a variation of my name and the same profile photo I wa… Read More
An excerpt from Chapter 2 of The Unmarriable Kind by Melina Druga “You wish to speak to me, sir?” Pen in hand, Steward sat behind his neatly organized desk and glanced up… Read More
An excerpt from Chapter 5 from Rose’s Assignment by Melina Druga “Hello, Mama,” Rose said, maneuvering up the aisle trying to prevent her voluminous dress from injuring the… Read More
If you’re a frequent visitor to my blog, you may have noticed something is different. Most of my blog posts are missing. Don’t worry. They haven’t been deleted… Read More
If you lived in 1820s Colonial Canada, your life would be a constant and ever-present struggle for survival. The land was still wilderness. There were few roads, and those… Read More
An excerpt from Chapter 3 from Journey of Hope by Melina Druga Lavinia Fox Winthrop’s shriveled and cracked hands appeared two decades older than the rest of her 42 years. While… Read More
Journey of Hope Available January 11 Journey of Hope, an historical fiction novella by Melina Druga, tells the story of Claire Appleton, who lives a simple life in 1829 New Brunswick with he… Read More
Claire was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, in 1810. At the time, it was a sleepy village of less than 200 houses, farms and cottages surrounded by forest. The Mi’Kmaq… Read More
The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815. The conflict ended in a stalemate, but was a battle for commerce and territorial expansion.&nb… Read More
In the United States, Loyalists during the American Revolution often are painted in pop culture as villains. As with many things in life, it depends which side of the issue you fall. C… Read More
When it comes to fiction writing, which is better? First person or third person narratives? While for some it might be a matter of personal preference, or genre, there are clear… Read More
I am a multi-genre author. That wasn’t always the plan. When I was a child beginning my writing journey, I dreamed of becoming a famous novelist. This is… Read More
Have I ever scrapped a work in progress? The answer is “yes.” When I was a teen and young adult, I wrote dozens of novels I never published. However, if you&rsq… Read More
The amount of research I conduct for my novels varies considerably, but as an author of historical fiction, research is vital. As the History Quill puts it, “One of the trickiest… Read More
How did I get the idea for my latest work in progress? Well, it depends on which one you’re referring to. I have several. In 2022, I will launch three historical fict… Read More
Without characters you don’t have a story. So how do authors develop them? There are many different methods. For this blog, I’m sharing some tips from writing e… Read More
Are my characters based on real people? The quick answer to this is “no.” However, it’s a bit more complicated than that. While none of my characters are… Read More
Are you a writer having problems organizing story ideas? If so, you’re not alone. As Writer’s Digest puts it, “The desire to write The Great American Novel is l… Read More
Those Left Behind relaunched August 5. The book originally published on Amazon in 2020. It is now available wherever eBooks are sold including Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Ko… Read More
Is it possible for an author to have a love-hate relationship with her fictional characters? Merriam-Webster defines a love-hate relationship as “strong feelings of both love and hatre… Read More
I first read Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner for an American English class in college. It is perhaps the novel I read in college that has had the most influence on me. Angle of… Read More
Angel of Mercy relaunched July 22. The book originally published on Amazon in 2019. It is now available wherever eBooks are sold including Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo… Read More
Green Day’s American Idiot is one of my top five favorite albums of all time, so of course I had to read Green Day: American Idiots & The New Punk Explosion by Ben Myers. The book… Read More
Establishing a writing routine can be a challenge for many newer writers. There’s plenty of advice out there on how to establish a routine, so I decided to compile a list of the… Read More
I read The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin earlier this year. I was attracted to the story for two reasons: It is set in 1893 and it was written by Goodwin. Goodwin brought to… Read More
Heinous: Forgotten Murders From the 1910s relaunched July 8. The book originally published on Amazon in 2019. It is now available wherever eBooks are sold including Barnes… Read More
I first read All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque as a teenager. The novel was given to me by a friend as a gift. My friend gave me the novel, knowing I had a keen in… Read More
For many authors, deciding how to publish is a difficult decision. Should they go with a traditional publisher? Go it alone and become an indie author? Or publishing using… Read More
I first read The Alienist by Caleb Carr after watching the television adaptation for its sequel Angel of Darkness. I decided to read the prequel first, and if I liked it, I would read… Read More
A Tale of Two Nations: Canada, U.S. and WWI relaunched June 24. The book originally published on Amazon in 2018. It is now available wherever eBooks are sold including Barn… Read More
I first read Short Stories by Louisa May Alcott in a college American Literature course. Prior to this short story collection, my only encounter with Alcott’s writing had been Li… Read More
Writers often are asked, “What is your strength? Narrative or dialogue?” That’s an easy question for me to answer. My writing strength is dialogue. My cha… Read More
I first read The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton after watching the 1993 film starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder. I absolutely loved the costumes and the sets.&n… Read More
1918 relaunched June 10. The book originally published on Amazon in 2018. It is now available wherever eBooks are sold including Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Indigo, An… Read More
I first read Canada 1911: The Decisive Election That Shaped the Country by Patrice Dutil and David MacKenzie while researching my WWI Trilogy. Although 1911 is prior to the Great War… Read More
Angel of Mercy is the first novel I published, but it is not the first novel I wrote. In the last blog, I introduced you to my early, unpublished work. Most of it was written whi… Read More
I first read 100 Best-Loved Poems for one of my college classes. Unlike many of the books that were required reading for my classes, this one was a quick read. However, poetry is… Read More
Memorial Day weekend book giveaway! I’m giving away my WW1 trilogy to one lucky winner. The winner will receive paperback copies of Angel of Mercy, Those Left Behind and Adjustme… Read More
1917 relaunched May 27. The book originally published on Amazon in 2018. It is now available wherever eBooks are sold including Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Indigo, Ang… Read More
I first read World War I in 100 Objects by Pete Doyle while I researching and writing my WWI trilogy. The book was a gift from my husband who felt it might be helpful for my research… Read More
Angel of Mercy is the first novel I published, but it is not my first novel. I’ve been writing since I was 10 years old. Because I began writing before I had a home compute… Read More
Book four in the A Tale of Two Nations series launches on Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo and More May 27 World War I, like most wars, was started by politicians and fought by ordinary… Read More
1916 relaunched May 13. The book originally published on Amazon in 2018. It is now available wherever eBooks are sold including Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Indigo, Ang… Read More
Ask 10 authors where they write, and you’ll probably get 10 answers. For example: Some authors write in cafés. I would find this distracting to the extreme, and I would be… Read More
1916 by Melina Druga re-launches wherever eBooks are sold May 13 World War I, like most wars, was started by politicians and fought by ordinary men who generally had no stake in the conflict… Read More
1915 relaunched April 29. The book originally published on Amazon in 2018. It is now available wherever eBooks are sold including Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Indigo, A… Read More
Naming fiction characters is like naming a baby. The person you’re naming will be stuck with that name for life. Or, in the case of fictional characters, potentially for ce… Read More
Lusitania sinks while Second Battle of Ypres rages World War I, like most wars, was started by politicians and fought by ordinary men who generally had no stake in the conflict. They f… Read More
It’s difficult to believe, but announcements aside, it’s been more than nine months since I last blogged. The break was necessary as I spent the time working on a multitude… Read More
1914 relaunched April 15. The book originally published on Amazon in 2018. It is now available wherever eBooks are sold including Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Indigo, A… Read More
An excerpt from Chapter 18 from Adjustment Year by Melina Druga Why were Jacob and Nathaniel never subjected to these dinners? Oh, wait, I know why. It’s because they didn… Read More
Adjustment Year launches April 9 on Amazon. It completes the WWI Trilogy that started with Angel of Mercy and continued with Those Left Behind. Currently, the eBook is available only o… Read More
Enterprising Women: Practical Advice for First Time Entrepreneurs and Enterprising Women: A Practical Guide to Starting Your First Business relaunched April 1. The books original… Read More
The Trilogy Concludes: Adjustment Year Launches on Amazon April 9 Adjustment Year, by Melina Druga, tells the story of Hettie Taylor who returns to Canada after serving as a nurse in Europe… Read More
1914 by Melina Druga coming to a book retailer near you April 8 World War I, like most wars, was started by politicians and fought by ordinary men who generally had no stake in the conflict… Read More
Author Melina Druga re-releases two business book aimed at aspiring female entrepreneurs Starting your own business is one of the most empowering things you’ll ever do, especially if y… Read More
Do you enjoy reviewing books? Well, you are in luck. I’m looking for volunteers to join my book-review team. Currently, my books are available exclusively on Amazon. … Read More
“Captain of Steamer Denies He Saved Swimmer,” a headline in the Washington Post read on Aug. 18, 1907. The swimmer was Brooklyn musician Edward Hugo Colell and how he ended… Read More
Some smaller publishing houses do not require authors be represented by literary agents. These publishing houses allow authors to query directly. How do you find the right publis… Read More
Workers at a copper mine in Calumet, Mich., were striking this week 107 years ago, and 80-year-old union activist Mother Jones was expected to speak, several newspapers reported. On Aug. 2… Read More
The self-publishing route isn’t for everyone. If you decided to take the traditional publishing route, chances are you will first try to get a literary agent to represent you.&nb… Read More
There are contradicting reports out of the Spanish newspaper, the Imparcial, the Montreal Gazette reported July 21, 1898, on the progress of the Spanish-American War. One version of events s… Read More
The following is an excerpt of The Exsanguination of the Second Society: Scholarly Historical Fiction Relating to Robeson County, North Carolina’s Tuscaroras by Stephanie M. Sellers.&n… Read More
Stephanie M. Sellers describes her hobbies as “country.” She enjoys gardening – including growing hemp and raising “Thanksgiving” and “Christmas&rdq… Read More
Alaska was still a territory in 1913, but that didn’t stop it from having a fun-fill July Fourth, judging from the coverage in the Alaska Daily Empire in Juneau on July 5 and July 7. I… Read More
A book launch party is an excellent way to debut your newest novel to the world. For those who are household names or have support of a large, traditional publisher, the party is proba… Read More
The following is an excerpt of A Cobbler’s Tale by Neil Perry Gordon. It is from Chapter 52: Moshe’s Bar Mitzvah. It was provided by the author. Clara said little in the da… Read More
The Bartlettes are extended family to the Stewards in my WW1 Trilogy. The trilogy is comprised of Angel of Mercy (released in 2019), Those Left Behind (estimated publication date of 20… Read More
Neil Perry Gordon is single with two sons, living in Park Ridge, New Jersey. He is the founder, owner and operator of a window covering business named Decorating with Fabric. He enjoys a hea… Read More
Writing retreats are opportunities for writers to sequester themselves away and accomplish one goal – writing. Some retreats are held in conjunction with writers conferences and… Read More
Members of the congregations of three churches – one Baptist, one Presbyterian and one Methodist – gathered in Raleigh, North Carolina, to pray for missionaries, the Raleigh Time… Read More
The Stewards are the main characters in my WW1 Trilogy comprised of Angel of Mercy (released in 2019), Those Left Behind (estimated publication date of 2020 or 2021) and Adjustment Year (to… Read More
Austrian-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assassinated on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, setting into motion the events that ignited World War I. The couple was… Read More
Seventeen-year-old Alexander Krieschwzi was on trial for the murder of his father, Lewis, the Evening Journal in Wilmington, Delaware, reported on June 9. 1908. The teen was “a r… Read More
Photography has been a hobby of mine for many years. Every year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame holds a balloon classic in Canton, Ohio. The hot air balloons (and fireworks) featu… Read More
Were you aware that grants are available for writers? Grants are funds given to businesses, government entities and nonprofit organizations for a specific purpose. Let’s ex… Read More
Thinking of starting your first business? Unless you’re in a profession, you can never truly know what that profession is like, and when it comes to working from home, it s… Read More
My historical fiction WW1 trilogy is comprised of Angel of Mercy (released in 2019), Those Left Behind (estimated publication date of 2020 or 2021) and Adjustment Year (to follow six months… Read More
Photography has been a hobby of mine for many years. My family and I visited the Cincinnati Zoo in 2018. This video features stills and video of the zoo animals. If you fi… Read More
If you’re an author, chances are you’ve given some thought to joining writing organizations, if you haven’t already. The question is: Which organizations are th… Read More
Thinking of starting your first business? Burnout is something anyone can suffer from, but it’s especially common among the self employed. Burnout has many symptoms in comm… Read More
Many people celebrating Victoria Day “Plunged to Death,” the Victoria Daily Times said in a headline May 26, 1896. A tram car carrying more than 100 people to witness a moc… Read More
Photography has been a hobby of mine for many years. The photos in this slideshow were taken in 2013 and feature animals residing at the Cleveland Zoo. If you find this video in… Read More
Thinking of starting your first business? Your new business represents you, so the process of selecting a name should not be taken lightly. Here are some questions to ask before… Read More
Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is now prevented by vaccine, but in the early 20th century it was still a surge that affected farmers and gardeners especially. Popular belief is that r… Read More
Photography has been a hobby of mine for many years. My family and I went hiking at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park in Garrestsville, Ohio, in 2017. The park is known for its ro… Read More
Thinking of starting your first business? In the United States, 50 percent of business survive to celebrate their fifth anniversary, and only 20 percent to reach the decade mark. … Read More
Among stories of crime and politics on the front page of the Colorado Springs Weekly Gazette on May 10, 1906, was a story of local interest. A YMCA campaign had raised $28,000. Denver… Read More
Photography has been a hobby of mine for many years. I attended a Civil War reenactment at Hale Farm and Village in Bath, Ohio, in 2015. I did not have a video camera then, so I… Read More
Thinking of starting your first business? Although most entrepeneurs would never admit it to their collegeaus or clients yet alone themselves, they all share one common fear: failure… Read More
Canada passed the Wartime Elections Act in September 1917. The act was part of the Conservative government’s efforts to maintain power later that year during the federal election… Read More
Photography has been a hobby of mine for many years. My family and I visited Shenandoah National Park in Virginia in 2017. This slideshow contains mountain vistas, waterfalls, de… Read More
How do you outline a book or novel you plan to write? More importantly, why do you outline a book? This depends on who you ask. Recently, I compared three different website… Read More
