Life: A Novel Available for Presale

I finally put the finishing touches on my new book. I'm super excited (scared and terrified) for you guys to read it. It's a stand alone novel, separate from the Natalie Miller series. This story is a bit  darker, less humorous and at times close to home.

Order here

Now I can finally take a break:)

18 Years!!!! Today!!!

I can't believe it's been 18 years since Buffy first graced our TV's! It just doesn't seem that long ago....It also makes me feel old as fuck. Man, she was such a badass! Super heroines have been coming out of the woodwork lately, but let's not forget about the small little blonde wonder who did it all before the rest.

Bow down.

Now, I'm in the mood to revisit Sunnydale....Gotta fire up Netflix........

Original Team BTVS!!!

So I'm on Tumblr....

I've dreaded this move for a long time...Tumblr has always scared me....but since all the cool kids are doing it, I caved....

http://authorellameeks.tumblr.com/

Now if this is good or bad, who knows?

Please excuse the short length, as I have been fighting sleep all day...never mind that it's daylight savings time....I mistakenly took the wrong allergy pill (NOT non-drowsy, 24 strength!!!) and have paid dearly....

E.

Ugh...Coming Up For Air...Guilt...PTA

I've spent the majority of the past week writing. Not that it's a bad thing, but I feel like I've neglected my life. My son and husband took off for the day to sled in the mountains, while I stayed home with a puking dog and edited a new story. Now I'm left with a headache from a caffeine overload, and my eyes are jacked.

The good news is I've completed my new book. Bad news is that I feel like a shitty parent. So, I think I will take a break for the next 48 hours to reclaim my life. I also need to settle on cover art for the book. I hired someone to design it for me, but I'm not exactly thrilled with the end results. Any other writers out there design their own covers?

Anyone catch Hindsight last week? It was good...really good! Is it wrong that hate Kevin? Can't wait for the next episode. Has it been picked up for a second season???

I need to get back to real life. Which for me means working in my son's classroom and organizing a "Movie Night" basket for the annual school auction. It's really not as bad as it sounds, but I draw the line at being a PTA president. I don't think I have the sunny personality for it. But I do pay my yearly dues, just to make myself feel less guilty. I'll never be a REAL PTA mom. I'm far too much of a Daria Morgendorffer for that.

Besides, this is what the PTA looks like....

As you can imagine, I don't exactly blend in well......

Wish me luck.

(If you didn't already know, I'm a lover of the 90's. Daria was my everything back then and still is now!)

I Love the 90's....VH1's Hindsight

Did you grow up in the 90's? Or do you have an unnatural/unhealthy attachment to that glorious decade? Well, you are not alone. VH1 picked up on all of our pent-up angst and launched the scripted TV show Hindsight. What's the premise? "Becca, as she nears 40, is about to embark on her second wedding to Andy Kelly, but her joy is tempered by the absence of her old best friend Lolly who's a no-show, having dropped out of their relationship years ago." Yeah, the summary is not that exciting, but here's the real deal:

Becca ends up getting transported (via a magic elevator) back in time to 1995, right on the eve of her first wedding to super hot (which I think is subjective) Sean.  In present time she's marrying Andy Kelly, a lifelong childhood friend, and a bit vanilla in her eyes. Becca  believes this is her chance to get her life right. She is convinced that by magically traveling back in time to the place where her life went off the rails (marrying Sean), she may be able to right so many of the wrongs that took place. 

I think we all know her plan is going to implode. I mean, you do not mess with the past. One tiny change can have serious ramification. (Hello, butterfly effect!) Still, it makes for some good TV. Not just that, but it may even send you down your own path of nostalgia. You might find yourself contemplating your own life.

The music is so totally 90's, as are the clothing and hair. Who didn't have or want a pair of Doc Martins? This is the area where Hindsight gets it all right. I love the pop culture references too. Mentions of 90210 (the Original), My So-Called Life, Friends, pagers, raves, AOL!! Yeah, they nail all the biggies.

The cast has great chemistry and I love how the story, dare I say the "real" love story is not about who Becca ends up marrying, but whether she and her BFF Lolly ever reconcile. At least, that's what I'm tuning in to see. Yeah, Becca's hot and smart, but she pulled some pretty shady shit in the day. While Lolly is not a saint, there's a real vulnerability to her character that makes you a bit overly protective. Anyhow, I'm hoping these two crazy kids work out their issues in the past, so that in the future they are together again. 

The show starts out a bit rough, but as time goes on I feel it's starting to get its footing. I love where it is right now and cannot wait for Wednesday nights!

Have you watched Hindsight? What are your thoughts? And if you do watch, do you feel those Domino commercials have hidden subliminal messages? (PIZZA...PIZZA...EAT...CARBS...EAT...)

Hindsight airs Wednesday nights at 10pm on VH1.

Let's Talk TV....Arrow

I became hooked on Arrow a while back and binged watched my way through two seasons. I was so in love and wrapped up in the show and all of the characters. So, needless to say when season three started I was giddy with delight; I mean, who would be the "Big Bad"? Would Laurel ever stop crying and whining? Would Oliver and Felicity hook up? What happened to Thea? Would Dig really be a dad?

Then season three started and my enthusiasm for a great year started to crumble. Now we are stalled at episode 15, which aired last week titled Nanda Parbat or what I like to call "WTF? Really?"

So, I'd like to talk about what's been working, what's not, and how to fix it.

What Works:

1. Team Arrow. Lately the lair had been inundated with way too many bodies. Are they giving the pass code out to anyone? This season we've had Laurel, Merlyn, Nyssa, Thea and ever present Roy. Honestly what drew me in as a viewer was the effortless manner in which OTA (Original Team Arrow) operated. Oliver, Dig and Felicity worked seamlessly. Each new their role and job and did so, without generally too much drama. Now this season, the whole team is a fucking mess. Way too many cooks in the kitchen.

2. Dig. Diggle. Daddy Diggle. Whatever you choose to call him, he's the only character that seems to speak for the audience. The wise man, Buddha, some even call him Yoda. I don't care how you refer to him, but please respect him. This is a man who is obviously older than all his contemporaries, and because of that he holds some valuable wisdom. Most of which he's been truth bombing on Oliver. I really wish and hope that the EP's and writers will give him more to work with. Being sidelined is such a waste of David Ramsey's talent. Also give the man his own mask for crying out loud!!! He's more than earned it and has more to lose than all the others!

3.Thea. Damn, the girl is badass! I never thought much of her the past few season. Most of opinions ranged from spoiled rich girl, to just annoying. I love what they have done with her character and how strong she has become. She's a fighter and makes her own choices. Whether they are good or bad choices is up to interpretation, but I respect her. Now this is a welcomed addition to Team Arrow. A useful one. Looking forward to seeing what lies ahead for her.

4. Katana and Maseo are one interesting couple. While the past is still not totally known, their current state is intriguing. Katana is an amazing sword fighter and Maseo with his non-stop loyalty that never waivers makes him enduring. I really want these two on the show more, but present day. Enough with the flash backs! Sometimes I feel like they are cutting away from what really needs to be known.

5. Felicity. You knew I was going to include her, right? I know her actions and words have ruffled a lot of feathers this season. But I like it. My girl has backbone, and she's not afraid to speak the truth. I like that in a character. However that doesn't mean she's without flaws. The girl's got them and I'm not talking about Ray Palmer. I wish she had been a bit more verbal in her feelings toward Oliver, but I get it. I also didn't really feel so great when she was standing next to Palmer all proud after he took over Queen Consolidated. It felt kind of cold, but then again all characters have flaws. I'll also say this: those who are crying in their pillows about her having sex with Palmer need to get a reality check. How could you not see that coming? I saw it in 3x01. I knew that's what the writers were planning on doing. However, it took much longer than anticipated. I'm not saying Felicity should have mounted him in episode 3x02, but I was really growing tired of her making threats and not following through. There's nothing worse than having a strong female character wait around for the guy she's in love with to come to his senses. Felicity deserves some lightness, why not with Palmer? It's not endgame people, it's just a rebound relationship that I feel she desperately needs.

What's Not Working:

1. Oliver. I hate to say it, but I really am not feeling him this season; and it's his fucking show. I'm going attribute it to sloppy writing. He's all over the place this season, and I find myself growing continuously angry with his actions. I do love his devotion to Thea and Felicity, but I think he really needs some intense therapy. Maybe all the years of being hunted and a killer are starting to break Mr. Queen? This whole season has been billed as an identity theme, so Oliver in conflict with himself seems about right. I just wish they'd infuse him with some happy moments. It's no fun watching Oliver fight himself over and over again. It almost feels like a step backwards the way the are writing him. He's come along way, only to revert back to how he was in the beginning.I'm starting to think Ra's al Ghul isn't really the Big Bad of the season; maybe it's Oliver vs. Arrow?

2. Black Canary. I still can't get into Laurel being Black Canary. I know it's her destiny per comic books, but her path to becoming this great warrior is so LAME. I blame this on the writing. If they had made her Black Canary in season one, I feel like we'd all being singing a different tune. But this...this presentation is just so sloppy and it feels like it's a little too late. Let's face it; Laurel hasn't worked in a long time, but it seems like the EP's are not going to be satisified until they beat her over our heads and we submit.The manner in which they killed off Sara was so painful. I called it before the season began, and I remember other people dismissing me. No, I knew they were going to do it, and I knew it was going to happen in 3x01. And they did it! Those bastards did it!! Sara had a lot of grace and YEARS of training to become The Canary, while Laurel gets a few boxing lesson and tries to single white female herself into her sister's clothes....No. Sorry. I just can't. Her recklessness and stupidity is beyond conventional thinking. Sometimes I wonder if the writers sit around and think about the worst case situation for Laurel and then make it happen. Do they even like her? Some might say no. I feel like this character has been so trampled on that there is no room for her Arrow any more.

3. Ra's al Ghul. Who? Yeah, exactly. The billed Big Bad of season three has only made his presence known on a few occasions, and yet we are supposed to be worried and terrified. Everyone keeps talking about how menacing and evil this guy is, but it seems like a lot of hot air. Sure, he killed Oliver and kicked his dying body of a cliff. But beyond that we only have the frightened whispers of Merlyn to go on. Speaking Merlyn, could he really be the baddie of the season? Honestly to me, he's way worse than Ra's. Merlyn drugged his own daughter and had her kill Sara. So much worse in my eyes. Dude needs to get in a body bag, now. Anyhow, now they have Ra's offering Oliver the title of the next Ra's Al Ghul, as if it's some kind of pageant award. (That could be a new show....DC's Next Ra's al Ghul.) I doubt Oliver will take the job up long term, but Ra's just doesn't do it for me. I feel like they've wasted the potential of this great villain. Also, please let's not get started with all the ripoffs from Batman with the current story? Ugh.

4. Ray Palmer/ATOM. Does anyone else feel like Brandon Routh is just wasting him time? I feel like it. There has to be the promise of his own show, or else I couldn't see him sticking around for another season. (Announced on Friday is a new Arrow/Flash spin off in development with Brandon Routh and Caity Lotz.) I know The Flash is all about the impossible being true, but Arrow is a realistic show. Having ATOM take off flying at the end of episode 15 felt wrong and cheap. I don't really mind the character, even though he started off a bit rough and possibly unstable. I've grown to like and understand his eccentric ways. Still, I just can't get on board with a flying dollar store version of Iron Man. Sorry.

How To Fix It:

1. Let's bring Oliver full circle by the end of the season. Have him learn and understand that he can and does need help from other super heroes. The guy needs to learn that he can't handle and take on everything by himself. He really needs to accept the fact that he cannot control everyone. People are going to do what they want, Oliver needs to make peace with it. Make him understand by doing so, he is allowing himself to have a life. A life as Oliver Queen and possibly with Felicity. He needs to let go of that invisible weight he carries and allow himself to be happy. Even if he's not with Felicity in the immediate future, allow him to get his house in order. He needs to embrace Oliver Queen so he can get his family's company back and maybe that lovely old mansion!

2. Take Laurel and Ray and ship them both off to the new show in development. If there was ever a way to give a character a fresh start, it's by doing this. Laurel could get redemption by surrounding herself in a new environment and new friends. I am actually curious to see what kind of chemistry Katie Cassidy and Brandon Routh have. On looks alone, I'd ship the two characters romantically. What would their name be? Lauray? Anyhow I also think this would be a great opportunity to allow Ray's story to be told, without eating up precious time on Arrow. I also think it would allow for amazing recurring appearance by both of the characters. Win-win?

3. Give Thea a role on Team Arrow. She's a brilliant fighter, so it's really a no-brainer, except I'm sure Oliver will protest and pout. One can only hope the team silences his reasons and overrules him. She's also become an interesting character and I want to know more about her. Another selfish reason? I want Felicity to have a gal pal. Why is this not happening yet?***Just saw on Twitter that Willah is being fitted for a mask, so a suit is not far behind....

4. Which brings me to this....Give Diggle a fucking mask! Seriously, I can't believe this is even being discussed. He has the most to lose with that new little family he created. Just give him a mask! Give him a mask!!! Fuck!!

I am eagerly awaiting this seasons final episodes with cautious optimism. I understand the need for the show to keep things fresh and exciting, but they might want to take the baby steps approach. Too much has been done and introduced this season and I feel like the original feel of the show has been lost.

Distractions, Excuses and Writer's Block....

So, when I first starting writing the Natalie Miller series...(I'm only two books deep!) I found writing the first book to be challenging. What I thought would be simple and easy, ended up taking nearly a year and half to complete. The second book Killing the Fitness Queen was pounded out in just a little over three months! I'm not really sure what was holding me back during Killing America's Sweetheart, but if I had to guess it'd probably be self doubt and lack of confidence. Basically me just being scared shit-less of failure.

And you know what? I succeeded. Not in monetary value (I still have a day job), but in a life goal. Even since I was a young girl I dreamed of being a writer. I use to hide in my closet where I created my own worlds. Places free of whatever chaos was currently consuming my life at the time. Anyhow, A lot of people say that they want to write a book, but never get around to doing it....well I did!

What I created with the Natalie Miller books was not Shakespeare (not by any means!), but rather a fun, entertaining world where you'd be able to lose yourself in for a few hours. That's pretty much my only goal and if I've made you smile and happy for a bit, then I've done my job:)

Right now I'm working on a new book. Something different. It's not part of the NMM, it's a one off book. Based off a story I started a few years ago. I actually tried to shop it around as a screenplay, but SURPRISE SURPRISE no one wanted it. So, I said fuck it, I'll make it into a book. And, that's just what I'm doing. It's bit darker and hits close to home on a few levels. I'm not sure when I will complete it, but I hope before summer.

Which brings me to my next point....distractions, excuses and the dreaded writer's block.

Lately I have been so lazy when it comes to writing. I can't believe how little I've done. I haven't really written much of anything since I published Killing the Fitness Queen and that was back in Sept. 2014! Mainly I've been doing school work, working, and being a parent and wife. It's hard. No one tells you this stuff. Starting last month I made it a priority to carve out some writing time, at least a couple hours a day, three/four days a week. I find that I'm really most productive when I am home alone, with no distractions. Meaning; no child, husband, dogs, phone, TV and social media. Seriously, it's amazing what I can get done. However, it's not an easy feat. I have to methodically plan the night before and make sure the coffee is on tap too! And without fail something always goes wrong...life sucks sometimes!

So, this is where I'm at currently. Working on a new non NMM project, while tossing around some ideas for a new NM book. I have a few ideas as to where I'd like to take Natalie, but the problem is narrowing down the options and selecting one. I hope that I can start working on a new installment soon. Typically, I love to have two books out a year, but that might be overkill!

Ella

Start From the Beginning!

Meet your new fictional BFF!

Small town reluctant psychic, Natalie Miller had it all- a good job, new car, beautiful home, and a handsome husband. Fast forward three years and Natalie finds herself working as a minimum wage cashier, driving a twenty year old car, living in a cracker box apartment and divorced. Life has not been kind.
One night while working the closing shift at Super Thrifty, Natalie crosses paths with Hollywood super couple Simon Bellamy and Hannah Gold. With a little twist of fate Natalie finds herself knee deep in murder, danger and maybe, just maybe a little romance? With her trusty canine sidekick Honey and BFF Karen Cain, can Natalie use her psychic abilities to help solve the murder of one of Hollywood’s biggest stars? Or will she become a casualty of the killer’s sick and twisted fantasy?

Available now on Amazon

The second book in the Natalie Miller Mystery series is out now. In this book we find Natalie working for her ex-husband's wife! Yikes!

Amateur psychic sleuth Natalie Miller is back in an exciting new adventure!

After taking on a new job with Hollywood actor Simon Bellamy, psychic detective Natalie Miller returns to her home town of Treeville from a whirl wind six month adventure. All she wants to do is rest and relax, however her BFF Karen has other ideas. After convincing her to do some minor psychic work, Karen gets Natalie involved in the high profile murder case of a fitness guru, working for the defendant’s sister, who just happens to be Natalie's ex-husband's wife! Read along as Natalie navigates through uncharted territory, which tests her skills as a psychic and friend. She discovers the hard way that people change and friendships don’t always equal loyalty.

Available now on Amazon

Welcome!

After much thought, I decided to create my own blog. I mean everyone seems to have one these days, so why not toss my hat into the ring? I feel like this will be a great way to keep in touch with those who are fans of my books and....possibly make a few new connections? Anyhow I promise it will be entertaining to say the least!

Let's see where this takes me...