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3 authors roll dice for prompts then cut to write and come back and read their short stories – an episode of Books Cubed

Good Adventures,

This week we’re playing in the Roll-A-Prompt series again. This time, I’m joined by my co-author Lisa and our friend Kristina. I picked a random set of elements from the Genre Mashup Edition, we cut to write (so you don’t have to be bored while no one is talking) then come back and read. It was lots of fun. If you’d like to play along, the prompt is below. Grab some dice, roll for your elements, write and leave your story in the comments. I’ll read it on a future show. 

The prompt we use today is from our Roll-A-Prompt Writing Journal Genre Mashup Edition

Character

Roll 1 number 

Even = MC is alone

Odd = Roll again for a companion 

  1. Stand-up comedian
  2. Delivery driver
  3. First officer
  4. Masked horse rider
  5. Phoenix
  6. Welder

IF the MC is alone, add an object

Roll 1 Number

  1. Roll of pennies
  2. Embroidered slippers
  3. Drone
  4. Wedding ring
  5. Bag of dirt
  6. Syringe

Scenario

Roll 1 number 

  1. Getting fit for a spacesuit
  2. Boss dies in the middle of a job interview
  3. Car stalls in the fast food drive-thru
  4. Light never turns off
  5. Probe is discovered drifting in space
  6. Is there a troll under that bridge?

Now write and have fun! If you want to share in the comments. 

See you next time. Good a good book. 

Melissa

PS My latest release is How to Square Your Grouper

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Paranormal Romance Author TK Lawyer Reads to Us!

Good Adventures,

Grab a cup of tea and find a comfy spot on the couch. This week, paranormal romance author TK Lawyer is reading from one of her new books, Serenade. Enjoy!

Links:

TK on Facebook , Instagram, Twitter

TK’s Website

Serenade on Amazon, 

Borrow ebooks and audio from your library through Libby.

Ep 5 of Books Cubed featuring TK Lawyer

~~~

What do I write? Thanks for asking. 

How to Sex Your Snake. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

Pre-order for May 10, 2020 How to Square Your Grouper

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

That’s it for this week. Go read a good book!


Melissa

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Books Cubed Ep 59 Author & Acting Coach Guy Castonguay

Good Adventures,

This week on the show, author and acting coach Guy joins me from Vancouver. I hope everyone is healthy and as happy as you can be with this lockdown.

Links:

Guy’s Website 

Get the ebook of A Name for People Like me for on sale through April 20 for $2.00 US  

Behind the Scenes doc I shot and edited for the film On a Clear Day starring Guy.

I couldn’t find the actual film. If I do, I’ll post a link.

That’s it for now. Go read a good book.

Melissa

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For Quarantined Souls – Funny Videos and How long will your TP last.

Good Adventures,

As so much of the world finds itself in Quarantine, we need humor now more than ever. Here’s some things that made me chuckle this week.

How long will all that toilet paper last that some people, not you of course, hoarded? Click on the link and then scroll just a bit to the advanced option tab. Add in how many sheets per visit, how many souls in the house. How often you visit that special room.

Next – I was really looking forward to A Quiet Place 2. Next best thing is Emily Blunt doing a skit titled, A Quiet Plane. It starts at the 3:00 mark.

And Finally – Nick Heath a sports commentator who turns every day life into sport. You might need to scroll his feed a bit but it’s worth it.

I hope everyone is safe and healthy. Let me know what you’re doing to keep yourself busy.

Go read a good book,

Melissa

PS does anyone else hate the new wordpress as much as I do? It’s now so much harder to make a simple blog post.

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Books Cubed: Ep 55 Favorite Podcasts – Disneyworld & Murder. Just not together.

Good Adventures,

Podcasts! I’m joined by my co-author Lisa Mahoney and we’re talking our favorite podcasts. She’s into murder and I’m into the mouse. What are your favorites? What else should we be listening to?

Links:

https://mouseandmore.podbean.com

Home

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connecting-walt-look-into-history-man-behind-mickey/id1154127358

http://myfavoritemurder.com

Home

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/exactly-right/i-said-no-gifts

Are you a writer who loves prompts? Check out our Roll-A-Prompt series. (also on Barnes and Noble and Kobo if you hate the River)

That’s it! See you next time. Go read a good book.

Melissa

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Books Cubed: Ep 54 Epilepsy Advocacy

Good Adventures,

If you have epilepsy or know someone who does, you’ll want to watch this week’s show. Epilepsy advocate Meghan Kennedy chats with me about her part in the new book, Visions: The Inspirational Journeys of Epilepsy Advocates.

You can also listen to the podcast. Check your app for Books Cubed or go to the homepage.

For a limited time, you can get the book for 30% off.

If you have an inspirational story of your own that you’d like to share, leave a comment.

I’ll see you next time. Go read a good book.

Melissa

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Books Cubed Ep 53 Confidence: Diary of an Invisible Girl

Good Adventures,

Remember those awkward teenage years? This week on the show, I’m chatting with YA author Paige Lavoie about her novel Confidence: Diary of an Invisible Girl. Plus comics. And Star Wars. And a whole lot more. Check out this great show and don’t forget to comment.

Or if you prefer to listen, check out the podcast.

I’m back on my feet after two months of that crappy cough that was going around. I had it twice. Or probably never got rid of it the first time.

Was a long day of writing so my mind is fried. How to Square Your Grouper will be out soon. I’m off to bed. Go read a good book.

Melissa

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Books Cubed: Stars Wars Rise of the Resistance photos

Good Adventures and Happy New Year!

No interview this week. I do have photos from my visit to the new ride in Disneyworld Star Wars land – Star Wars Rise of the Resistance. Just click the video above!

This is going out on January 2, 2020. Anyone break their resolutions yet?

Me in the ride queue. I have lots of other great photos, but my computer keeps putting everything in the cloud and then won’t let me have it back. I hate technology.

I guess my resolution should be, get better acquainted with technology. But it’s just easier to imagine smashing things with a hammer and then asking one of my kids to do the tech stuff for me. (none are around right now. Blast.)

I found a perfect white elephant gift. A week after the party. Maybe next year.

And that’s it for me. I just don’t know how I can top that. See you next time. Go read a good book.

Melissa

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Books Cubed: How to Sex Your Snake Ch 7 from the Audiobook

Good Adventures,

Anybody else have a horrible cough? Mine has been kicking my ass for almost three weeks. I’m up off the couch which is good and slowly getting my fingers back to the keyboard. I’ve got just a few chapters left on book two in the June Nash MisAdventure series and I’m beyond ready to get this baby out in the world.

chapter 7 from book one is up on this week’s Books Cubed podcast. Just click the video above or listen to the podcast.

Just before I got sick, I hit the theater for a preview of Knives Out. Daniel Craig, a very under used Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Even, who excels at being a real dick, and so many more. The film starts out a bit slow – there’s some questioning of the suspects, but then it dives in and pulls you along. You think you have it figured out and then wham – it becomes a puzzle inside a puzzle. I need to go back for another viewing before it leaves the theater.

That’s it for this week, I’m gonna hit the hay. Stay healthy and go read a good book.

Melissa

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Books Cubed : Roll-A-Prompt Writing Journals

Good Adventures,


Writers, is your imagination stuck? Tired of staring at a blank page? Looking for a new way into your stories? You’re in luck! Roll-A-Prompt Writing Journals, which I co-authored are the topic today. Sets of elements plus the roll of a dice = more than 6000 writing prompts per book.6 in all. 5 genres, plus a mashup. Three authors have bravely joined us today. They’ll each roll for a prompt from the same set of elements and then write while Lisa and I chat about the books. At the end, you’ll get to hear what they came up with.

And you can join in the fun. Below, I’ve included the set of elements we used. Give it a try and let us know what you think.
Melissa & Lisa

Links:

Roll-A-Prompt books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Banczak/e/B01N7UG4ZW/
(On other retailers soon)

http://www.cryscain.com

Kayla’s mailing list: (get a free romance story) https://www.kayladawnthomas.com/

Terri’s Sunny McBain series: https://www.amazon.com/Terri-M-Collica/e/B00OUE3URW/

Today’s set of elements. Grab a six sided dice and play along:

Character
Roll 1 number
Even = MC is alone
Odd = Roll again for a companion

  1. Birthday party clown

  2. Tree trimmer

  3. Ambassador

  4. Fishmonger

  5. Gatekeeper in purgatory

  6. Romance novel writer
I

F the MC is alone, add an object
Roll 1 Number


  1. Hard boiled egg

  2. Cowbell

  3. Mirror

  4. Stuffed hedgehog

  5. Oxygen tank

  6. Nose-ring

Scenario
Roll 1 number

  1. Called for jury duty

  2. Abandoned cart at the supermarket

  3. Screams echo through the ship

  4. Lost in a passageway

  5. Unmanned horse and buggy

  6. Dog is found in a tree house