cities

I agree with most of what you said, Melissa! I'm totally incoherent right now, however, and can't write anything vaguely smart to save my life. So I'll end here, saying it was nice to finally hear from you again!

Melissa - I would love to read your book blog. Maybe reading yours will inspire me to get off my tush and start writing a book about any one of the story ideas that fill my head and make it impossible for me to concentrate at work.

Congrats again on the great accomplishment.

Oh gosh... a thought jumped into my mind as it usually does for a leaky lounger: a thread for helping Melissa develop ideas for a book title. ^o^ No worries, I know I won't be starting it up anytime ever, but it would be interesting to see what people would think. Moreover, I'm just excited that I'll be able to read a book based on your experiences Melissa. I know it's going to be one that will go down in fandom history all by itself. I'm not one to read constructive analysis books on Harry Potter like the many that are being told today, but to read one on the fandom is an exception that I know I'll enjoy immensely. Good luck on helming your adventures over the next months of research (note that my word of the day is "helm" since I've just read Sue's essay. LOL, and that research shouldn't be fun, you lucky girl :P), and hopefully you'll add a good chunk of history to Harry. Pun intended.

Oh my gosh, I totally forgot to tell you congrats! You have a BOOK coming out! That is totally awesome and I hope you have a great time writing it! Maybe it will finally inspire me to write the book that I've been planning out and actually get it on paper :P

Bravo Melissa for putting words to what a travesty Bush has perpetrated on our country and most especially our children.

Big, fat kudos, too, on your book deal. The fandom is such a beautiful, inspiring thing and I know from my own experience with it, that you have gads of stories to choose from.

I'd love to read a book blog of yours, Melissa. I really find it interesting the ins and outs of writing professionally. I hope you stick to the idea. Amy

Melissa,

I wish I could put so eloquently about my feelings for Bush as you did, cause there's so much more I could say to him.

I don't live too far from St. Louis, and if you get the chance to go and explore the city, go to Ted Drews and get a frozen concrete(a frozen custard) ... so good!

Im so happy for you! you are writting a book! thats amazing. I would love to read a book blog that would be every cool . i also love the working title ..'Harry ..A Histoy' but I know what u mean about it. Im sure u will find something that is even better.

I totally agree with you about Bush. Sad thing is, I voted for the man. What an idiot I was!!

Anyway, I want to hear about your stories! And, I am really excited about the book. That will definitely be on my Christmas List in '08!! That is an amazing oppurtunity for you, and this fandom is an amazing thing. Congrats to you!

Dear Melissa,
I am so glad that you are finally able to announce your book publically. I hope you had a great trip to England, it sucks that you didn't get to see Richard Griffiths though. Have fun as a groupie/roadie (I dunno whatever you are, it is awesome that you get to travel around in a van with a rock band, that has always been a dream of mine). Anyway, have a rockin time, and I hope to see you soon.
Chaya

Melissa, Congrats on the book!! I am so excited for you to be able to write this book, and I am more excited for November 2008 when I will be able to read it! Thank you so much for giving me something else to look forward to in the Harry Potter fandom. That really is a gift, with the 7th book coming so quickly, i'm not ready for all this to be over. :)

I would love a blog about the book! I think many would, your experiences with the fandom have been so up close, so personal, and so real. Everything that you have experienced I enjoy reading about so much because I know that your opinions and views are so close to mine; they aren't skewed or biased in any unfair way, they come from a source of love for all things Potter. So thank you again, for all that you have done and will do for the fandom. And yes please for the book blog!!!
Kendra

Meliss,
I believe you should keep it all to yourself, with small little personal updates as you go along. This way we can all be knocked off our feet with excitment and curiosity when your book is released.
Keep up the great work.
Love always

Your book will be amazing no doubt about and I like the tenative title. Have fun on tour. (You will love Some Still Loves You.. they are amazing!)

Melissa,

I totally agree with what you said about Bush-- I just wish I could put it so eloquently. Usually it is just "Bush is a big-long-string-of-curses". I can't even watch or listen to him.

On a happier note, I'm so excited for you. If there is anyone who could write a wonderful book about the fan's journey, and give it the justice it deserves, it is you. I look forward to reading your work. In the meantime, we have PotterCast, OotP, and DH to tide us over! Cheers! :-)

I second the comments on Bush. I keep telling myself that he's only in office two more years - how much more damage could he possibly do in two years? Then I remember what he's already done and who we're talking about here...

Congrats again on the book deal - I'm sure a book blog would be interesting! :) It was lovely meeting you at the STL concert - hope you're enjoying the freezing cold weather up there! ;)

I so feel for all of you who hate Bush-because you are feeling exactly the way I felt all 8 years of the Billary presidency. I HATED IT.

i just wanted to say congradulations!!, Good Luck!! with the writing im sure you will do the fandom we all love so dearly justice and Have Fun! touring and such

and also ah "history" ...oh its so sad i cant believe it but as the countdown says "It's coming..."

im glad you plan to be updating more i've missed you haha

Hey Melissa! Yay you updated!
And, i completely agree with you on bush (he's too stupid and annoying to get to be a proper noun)! I'm too political for my own good (or age) so yay! =) I get to vote in 2008!! I AM PSYCHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love the idea of a blog! it would be so much fun to read! ^^

And I am SUPER happy about your book!! *SQUEE* Is it is going to be the bestest! This sounds really cheesy, and completely stupid considering I have never met you, but I am really proud of you! Well, Idk I feel like you're one of my friends or something and this huge dream you've wanted for so long to do has finally come! *hugs*

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY! (without listening to the "idoit" talk. For the record- My mum and I still have her Kerry/Edwars bumper sticker on our car. :D

-Helena

Potter People;
Rowling and the Potters;
Why was I Born a Muggle?
Best Fans Ever;
Dumbledore's Army;

Sorry. Couldn't resist doing a little title exploration. I'm sure you'll come up with the perfect one. Actually, Harry, A History sounds pretty good. Congrats again!

Yeah, I feel sad and mad about the Bush problem. The bottom line is I just don't trust that man or the people playing in that dynasty or whatever people are pulling his strings. It's disturbing, but I'm working on making it interesting to myself in a more objective way so as not to get high blood pressure and related malfunctions.

Much success to you. Have fun with the wizard rockers.

Okay, very weird. I was in St. Louis Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, so we were there at the same time.

WOW, your book sound so amazing, Melissa! I can't wait to read it, and i know it will be amazing! I have to be a bit kiss-ass and say that you're a huge inspiration to me and a lot of others i know.

I think it's gotten to the point where I take Jon Stewart more seriously than a state of the union. it's somewhat sad that people who make fun of the government are more truthful than the goernment itself. But then again, it's always been that way.

OMG, Bush was coming to Brazil, where I live... We hate him here too, not because he is USA president (Clinton played soccer with Pelé in Maracanã here times ago), but because he's George "WC" Bush.

Waiting for your book, sure I'll can buy it in Amazon?

wow - congrats Melissa! Very excited to hear about your book - you really have been crowned The Queen of the fandom and well deserved i feel!

I'll be over in the summer and hope to catch up with you as it really has been too long!

Chris

I would love for you to keep a book blog! I'm really interested in what you are planning to write!

melissa, you just rock .
you are my idol :)
i can't wait to read the book ! ( love the tentative title, btw .)

my life with harry

Oh, so it *was* you at the Montréal Harry and the Potters show! I kept wondering why you would come to another country to see their show. Now I'm mad at myself for not coming to see you and asking you in person... Where should I go shoe shopping in new york city? :)

Hah, you should have seen me watching the State of the Union in my dorm. I was spazzing and yelling so incoherently through most of it that my friends next door thought I was having a seizure. o.O

Anyway, I'm just dropping by to say that I *love* the title Harry, A History. I vote that it stays that. =)

Have fun with everything! It's an exciting time to be a fan.

Laurence: You should have said hi! Definitely head to 8th street in the village for shoes. There are shoes EVERYWHERE. Also check around Prince and Broadway, near the Apple Store and Scholastic. Great (but expensive) shoes abound.

Melissa, congrats on your book deal.

Maybe we should start that title thread? I have a few:
Jo's Little Orphaned Boy,
It Started on a Train,
A Potter Revolution,
The Potter Fandom: trials, triumphs, and tales that amuse

but I really like Harry, A History. Whatever it is I know you'll do an amazing job and represent the Fandom with pride. Show those silly non-Potter fans what the Fandom is really capable of!

Melissa,
Man. I just about bounced off of my bed when I heard you were writing a book. I'm a fiction major at Columbia College, and I have been writing something that... might or might not be approximately novel length. So I understand how huge of a thing it is to say, yes, I'm writing a book, I'm dedicated to this, and I'm going to see it through. It's a big commitment, and I'm glad you've made it. I've been hungering for a book on fandom for a while now, and even thought of attempting to do it myself, but seriously, you're the perfect person to do it. I'm really excited to read all about my own kind, but I'm even more excited to see if, finally, people will understand that being part of a fandom does not mean that a person is socially incapable or that they have anything wrong with them at all, that it is a positive reaction and that we are not dilusional, although sometimes we may pretend.

To gather all of this together, I say, Thank you.

~Amanda

I'm so excited for you that you get to do something that you really, really love. We're about the same age and I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. :)

Good luck and I think that you'll probably think of the perfect title (if you aren't totally in love with Harry, A History) when you are least expecting it. Like most things in life.

Just my two cents.

Take it easy!

Hi Jim. You letter i received. Thanks! Photos is GREAT!!!!

Hi Jim. You letter i received. Thanks! Photos is GREAT!!!!