
Melinda Kucsera writes fantastic short stories, novels, and books when not being kidnapped by dragons or chased by armies of fictional creatures. (We do, on occasion, rescue her.) She leaves the running of her newsletter to a cast of lovable characters who hog her inbox. Enough about her, it’s us you’re really interested in, her cast of characters. Join us every week for a new story.
Over 15000 readers are already enjoying our fight to survive and thrive as we straddle the often blurry line between fiction and reality. Because we do exist outside of the books Melinda writes for us. Let us take you on an adventure behind and between the scenes. Sign up to experience our weekly shenanigans. Go where no book or newsletter has gone before!

Melinda also writes short stories. Find them all here.
She has one story to tell about a place called Shayari and the people who live there.
Sound intriguing? Go check out her books.
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Hi Melinda :D! I stumbled onto your blog because you were featured on Mandibelle’s blog today for her Interview series, and then I saw you replied to my comment on Rosema’s blog. It seems you & I have been wandering around in the same blogging circles but I haven’t formally introduced myself yet, so hello and lovely to meet you ^_^
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Hi Jade! It’s nice to meet you! And you are right, we do move in the same circles. π Ah that’s right the interview published today π I had forgotten about it π Thanks for the reminder!
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Hi Melinda, it’s me π I’ve been looking into blog tours, and would like to take you up on your offer. I am happy to do a Q&A or guest post for your blog, and would love for you to do one for me, too! If you could send me a message in the ‘contact me’ form on my site, I’ll be happy to discuss it π
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Hi Rachel, thanks for stopping by π I filled out your contact form. π Now you have my email address. I added a contact form to my site. I just noticed that I didn’t have one. I am curious about the newsletter sign up on your site. How often to you send out newsletters? What do you put in your newsletters? I’ve thought of added a signup for my site but for the life of me I couldn’t figure out what I would put in a newsletter.
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I only set it up yesterday, so I haven’t sent anything out yet. I’m waiting until I have more subscribers!
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You got some already? That’s awesome!
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Only a couple. They’re probably people I know though, tbh.
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At least you have them! I have a hard time getting people I know to visit my blog π so count that as a win for you!
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I know the feeling. Even my own sister doesn’t want to read my book!
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oh no! Maybe she’ll change her mind.
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Dunno. She is a stubborn one!
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oh no, well if you put it in her hands, she won’t say no right?
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I wouldn’t be so sure, haha!
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Hey you never know!
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Love, love, love, the new format, Melinda! There’s nothing like a coat of fresh paint and rearranging furniture to give the place a new feel. π
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Thank you! I’m still fine-tuning things but so far I like the new look and feel. I’m glad to hear that I’m not alone in that π
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You are welcome. I think the fine-tuning is a long-term process π Yes, you have lots of company π
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Thank you π I am glad you like it.
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You are welcome and I do, much so π
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π just wait until I get a paid account…my cube mate is a css pro!
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π
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I did like to pull up a chair.
Yes! ofcourse let’s chat.
When we have the time
When I come here
or when you come to me.
That be a good conversation.
I therefore press the follow button.
Regards,
Shiva
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Thank you, I hope we’ll chat soon!
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Well, what I was poorly expressing–thanks for the ale, especially on tap–might have to do with in media res itself. When I go to your site, there are story narratives progressing. I very much like what I read but feel I haven’t read enough of a single story to comment at all intelligently, much less appreciatively. It’s probably a problem with what little I know of blogging culture, too, as well as posting a poem at a time. I write something and know enough how to post it. I don’t have the know-how of crafting and sharing an ongoing work. My blog is admittedly a simple thing. Post a poem, maybe someone reads a poem. I believe I don’t know how to do justice in responding to all the work you have. Silly old bear, I know. Should probably go for the mead.
How may I best respond to your work? I guess that’s the question I ask myself. May I do so in parts and pieces?
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You are welcome to respond in anyway you choose. I am just grateful for the time spent reading any of my work and honored that it caught any eyes at all and ensnared them. Feel free to respond however the spirit moves you. There’s no right or wrong; appreciation is appreciation. Oh and here’s that mead you requested. π It’s made by a friend of a friend whose an enthusiast!
I am very glad that you let me know that it’s a bit overwhelming my homepage. I’ve been trying to figure out how to make it easier to start any of my four ongoing narratives. (one of them, Re-Quest, is a retelling of an existing narrative). Thank you for letting me know that my latest idea–pinning the table of contents (for those that have more than 2 parts) to the homepage–is not working. I’ll have to rethink this. If you think of anything that might help you as a reader, do let me know on any post or page and I will see what I can do. WP does have options if you’re posting one novel in pieces but they have nothing for my situation. So I’m making this all up as I go along and hoping I am not confusing anyone!
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I like the invitation to “Pull up a chair.” Tankards of beer or cups of tea by the fireplace. I’m not sure how to respond to your blog for interrupting the fictive narrative. But I just read Rosema’s birthday poem for you, which led me to this page. She writes beautifully and accurately.
Happy Birthday!
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Thank you for the birthday wishes! Might I ask, while I’m pouring your a drink…we have ale on tap and mead of course since I write fantasy and all kinds of things not yet invented, would you clarify what you meant by “not interrupting the fictive narrative”? Perhaps I have had a glass or two too many (ahem of herbal tea) and am not quite following, it is saturday after all! π
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Happy Birthday, fellow-Pisces! May the sun shine sweetly, and not burningly (yes, I made up the word, WP, so don’t underline it!) on your special day.
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Thank you fellow Pisces! π You’ll be happy to hear that today calls for clouds and unseasonable warmth. no burning here:)
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Yay! Yesterday was too hot — unseasonably so.
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here it was in the low sixties, not bad for March!
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Happy birthday today Melinda. May the rays of sun in your life remain bright . Blessings π
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Thank you so much. π
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My delight. Blessings π
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Thank you! π
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Happy birthday, Melinda πππππππ
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Thank you!
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My pleasure. π
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π
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HI
Thank you so much for finding my blog and liking a post. Hope you come back again soon
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You’re welcome π
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You have a wonderful blog.
Stop worrying and keep on writing all those wonderful fantasies of your:)
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Thank you π that’s what I’m trying to do.
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All the best.
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Thank you π I wish you all the best as well π
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Hi Melinda! Thanks for popping into my posts…..brought me here to ‘check out’ the generous person…found this exciting site….Will be seeing you. Mind if I ‘follow’? Hugs!
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Sure thank you for stopping by π I’m glad you found my humble site appealing
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With you now….;) Hugs!
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π
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I’m surprised (and disappointed) that I had never written here although it seems I have known you for a while. “Project manager” and “IT” are two phrases with which I am familiar. At one point I was wearing a hat with all words written on it.
Oh, and, on dark chocolates – One word: Yes.
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Thank you for stopping by! So you know my pain then…I love my job–when it’s not giving me a headache… I should update this page. Thank you for the reminder!
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You’re welcome, the pleasure is mine!
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π
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oh thank you. π
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you are welcome π
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π
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Thanks for contributing to dark | side | thursday , you have an intriguing blog here.
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Thank you and thank you for stopping by.
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My pleasure π
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π
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I am married to an IT engineer who is 11 years younger than me. He works as a consultant. A project manager as well. He blogs here https://prodgic.wordpress.com/ whenever he has time to spare. I used to be a psychiatric nurse before I decided to pursue my life long dream of becoming an interior designer. But couple of years ago, I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease which rendered me almost invalid. I will not bore you with the details. Nice meeting you.
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Autoimmune diseases are tough. I can’t imagine the daily battle you wage against it. My sister had a metabolic condition that took her life and that gave me serious respect for anyone dealing with an incurable illness. You are definitely not boring me. Never think that! I would love to hear/read your story. I am surfing over to check out your hubby’s blog. Any advice I can get on IT Proj Management or life in general is valuable! Too much so for me to pass up. Thank you for the intro!
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If you have sometime, you can read my story here: https://impossiblebebong.wordpress.com/changes/
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Thank you, I’m on it now.
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Wow. Just wow. You have such inner strength and it shows through in your acc0unt. My sister used to observe the same thing–that since her diseases had no external signs, no one understood how much its complications complicated and often limited her life. Her ‘sideshows’ killed her and that is the hardest part to accept. Thank you for sharing your account.
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I’m glad you understand. My father suffered the same fate. He died at the age of 56. His “symptoms” killed him. His vitals just gave up the constant fighting.
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I do understand. I’ll never know exactly how my sister died but the circumstances point to the complications she had as a contributing factor, if not the main one. Diabetes affects the brain and very few people understand the harm it does to that essential organ. I am slowly coming to accept that I will never understand what happened. Those questions will always go unanswered. Her behavior leading up to that day will always baffle me. I will never get closure on this side of life. It’s a hard road acceptance but one I have to tread or go mad from the wondering.
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You must love her greatly.
I had a patient once that had Diabetes and Hepatitis C. Her feet were amputated and had to go to dialysis three times a week. She died at the age of 52 at 2:00 a.m. Her son contacted me first. I remember her sitting in her wheelchair in the rain holding a bouquet of flowers waiting for me to come out of the church on my wedding day. Lovely lady.
Just think that your sister doesn’t have to suffer anymore to soften your pain. I know it’s not easy but… for your own sake.
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Thank you. I remind myself of that every day. I am currently working towards making her last request a reality and that helps a lot because her last request is something I want for myself. Thank you for your kind words. It’s hard for people who haven’t lived their lives so close to someone with an incurable disease to understand.
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I wish you all the best in life and don’t be too hard on yourself. Good luck on fulfilling her wish. Success!
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Thank you! Good luck to you too in all that you do. Thanks for sharing stories and listening. π
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It helps.
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π
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Hi Melinda it’s lovely to meet you. π
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Nice to meet you too! Thank you for stopping by. Do come again.
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