I Ain't Said Nothin' But A Word...

I didn’t bother with my Santa letter this year. There was nothing I wanted to ask the jolly guy that I haven’t already asked for before. Nothing that he hasn’t already heard from most of us. And I knew he had his hands full. This year has been a bear. 2016 came in hard, body-slammed most of us and seems determined to kick us while we’re down as it heads out. But 2016 be damned. I’ll be happy to see it slide right on out of here and I don’t need to wave goodbye or wish it well. Disappointment has been the benchmark for most of my goals this past year. I accept full responsibility for that because I've not been good about doing everything I know I needed to do to be successful. The writing took a turn that felt like I’d been sucker punched. Family issues had me reeling over and over again. I’ve been struggling both professionally and personally and I was past ready to be done and finished with it all. Just when I was ready to toss in a multitude of towels, there was a shi

Big Daddy and I like to road trip. It’s our thing to do. We’ve been to some amazing places, met some pretty incredible people and usually have a great time. Recently, we were headed to Bunn, North Carolina. To visit family. It was reason enough to go explore and so we did. Like with most road trips we frequently stop. Sometimes out of necessity. Others times just to explore. On this day, we stopped because the gauge on the gas tank was low and I had to use the restroom. When traveling through rural areas of the south we are particular about where we do and do not stop. Only once in many, many years do I recall ever stopping anywhere that we didn’t feel comfortable. Most places, people are very welcoming. I have always trusted the BP brand. More times than not the restrooms at a BP gas station are clean and the staff are friendly. When we saw the BP logo, we stopped, confident that this time would be like all our other times. Sadly, it was not. BP outlets are neithe

I am so excited to share that my first four books, published some 12-plus years ago, are now available in ebook, AND once again, in paperback. Many of you didn't d iscover me until the Stallions, but these four stories laid the foundation for what has since come. Books are available at Amazon.com and B&N and are sold individually and also as a box set at Amazon. I can't wait to hear what you all think! Kick off your weekend with a Deborah Fletcher Mello read. Enjoy my first four romance novels on Kindle, Nook, and in one perfect box set! DEBORAH MELLO RE-ISSUED 4-BOOK BOX SET TAKE ME TO HEART (Paperback) Take Me To Heart (Kindle) Take Me To Heart (Nook) A LOVE FOR ALL TIME (Paperback) A Love for All Time (Kindle) A Love for All Time (Nook) THE RIGHT SIDE of LOVE (Paperback) The Right Side of Love (Kindle) The Right Side of Love (Nook) FOREVER AND A DAY (Paperback) Forever and a Day (Kindle) Forever and a Day (Nook)

It's RELEASE DAY! And I am so excited about the latest installation in my Stallion family series. This is Nicholas Stallion's story and he finds love with the indomitable Tarah Boudreaux from the Boudreaux family series. I am so nervous because I love this story and I want everyone else to love it as much as I do.  It's not my usual romance novel, but it is by far one of the most beautiful, most incredible love stories that I have ever written. I am so proud of this book. From start to finish it just makes my heart sing! The PAPERBACK releases today. Ebooks will download on October 1st. Don't miss out. Order your copy. Order one for a friend. Tell a family member. Please! And then, ENJOY!

I received an email from someone who wanted to know who I thought I was. There were some expletives and the N-word was used a time or two. Seems something I wrote struck a sensitive nerve and she doesn't plan to ever read any of my books. Ever. But since she asked, I thought I'd tell her about myself. Rather than send her back to an original post I wrote once a long time ago I thought I'd just rehash it again for those who might be finding me for the first time. I wrote once before about a friend who thinks it is the funniest thing that I never drank Kool-Aid until I was well into my teens. Every time the subject comes up he is rolling on the floor with laughter. I can’t help but laugh myself because what family back in the day didn’t raise their children on Kool-Aid? Well, mine didn’t. My first experience with Kool-Aid was at a cousin’s house during a summer break. I thought it was the coolest thing to be able to make a full pitcher of drink from that little pac

I love reading. I get excited when I discover a new author or find an outstanding story. I’m eager to leave reviews and share with others my new finds. When a book or story is lackluster, leaving me less than thrilled, I usually remain silent. I know the effort that an author has put into a story. I know how hurtful a bad review can be. It is not for me to dash anyone else’s dream because what I might not have liked, someone else may have loved. Recently I read books that left me disappointed, and angry. One was an award-winning title, the author gleefully claiming a coveted statue for her efforts. Clearly what I hated, others found award-worthy. And that actually scares me. The story was as well-written as any other in the genre. Its formulaic plot hit all the buttons that her publisher required. But as a woman of color, I found it as insulting and as distasteful as any story I have ever read. The story featured a Native American heroine. She had self-esteem issues, co

Like many families this week, we were having a discussion about the two African-American men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile who were gunned down by police officers, the despicable acts captured on video and streaming over social media. And then the subsequent act of vigilantism where a young black man allegedly ambushed and shot ten police officers in Dallas, Texas in retaliation. Remembering back when I was a little girl and my father owned a business in the community where he often encountered black boys and young black men, many who had no father, I recalled how he would advise them on how to behave whenever encountering the police. I remember him telling them to always ensure their hands could be seen. To keep their fingers wrapped around the steering wheel if they were in a car. To hold them, palms open, high above their heads if they were on the street. I remember his admonishments to always be respectful, “Yes, sir! No, sir.” To comply with whatever was asked

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I am humbled and honored. Being acknowledged for what I love to do is a blessing. I am grateful!

Are you NOT able to make The Diamond's Literary Tea Party on Saturday, February 13, 2016 from 12:00 - 3:00pm at the 21C Museum Hotel in Durham, NC? We're sure going to miss you! But we don't want you to miss out! Enter for your chance to WIN a DIAMOND TEA PARTY GIFT BOX! What's in a Diamond Tea Party Gift Box? All the gift bag swag from the Literary Tea Party event. A wonderful selection of books from all the participating authors! Fourteen authors means fourteen plus books. Maybe even an advanced read or two. You'll be delightfully surprised! A wonderful selection of books from non-participating authors! Too many books to list but we'll be giving you sneak peeks on Deborah Fletcher Mello's Facebook page throughout the week! Gift cards from Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com to buy your own favorite books! A monogrammed throw with your name embroidered on it to wrap around you as you curl up with your favorite literary read. Tea! Yes, Tea! And

I am sitting in the midst of greatness. Twenty-six female authors came together in Destin, Florida this weekend to celebrate their love of literature and their joy for writing. They came from all corners of the country, at varying levels in their writing careers. There are the seasoned professionals, the mid-list authors, and the newbies. They are all spirited, driven, and determined to transcend the perception of who they are as black women and as black women who write. They have gathered to share information and perfect their craft. What they each do is an art and not one takes the responsibility of being better at it lightly. The abundance of support and encouragement is monumental, each wanting the others to do their very best in an industry that often takes them and their talents for granted. Laughter has been abundant, resonating through every room of their rented beach house. There have even been a few tears of frustration as they shared the trials and tribulations th

I’m angry. I’m a mother of black sons and I’m angry. 2015 was eye-opening for too many. Last year young black men were dropping like flies at the hands of those who lied about serving and protecting. Suddenly, the N-word that Jay-Z claimed he and his generation were taking and using to empower the black male has been taken back and reclaimed, its original connotation like a banner for racists who don’t bother to wear hoods anymore. Now, little white girls print the letters on tee shirts and use the word for photo ops. I sat and listened as a group of young men bemoaned the arrest of a fellow friend and college classmate. He’d been pulled over in his girlfriend’s car for a broken taillight. When asked if the officer could search the car, he gave consent, knowing that he had no reason to be concerned. Minutes later he was surrounded by two other patrol cars, the officer claiming dried, crushed leaves on the floor board had to be remnants of marijuana. After being handcuffed and

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