Could It Be?

What is this? Could it- could it actually be true? Is there really even any remote chance this is happening?

Well I guess we'll have to look at the receipt now, won't we?

That's right! I have finished the first edit of the Mornellys and it is COMING IN THE MAIL SOON! I have ordered myself a manuscript copy!


So here are the final statistics of the volume. Brace yourself for length, I hadn't realized it was going to be this long until I complied and formatted it all:


Length: 538 pages

Word Count: 124,000

Amount of Stories Compiled in Volume: 12


Whewee! There were a lot more words in that book than I realized. I debated and tossed back and forth for some time on if I should include the shorter stories in-between the longer ones. (think of the long ones about the length of Legend of the Mornellys and the shorter ones about the length of The Nurse is In.) This is what I came up with for cost on that:

Seeing how there is less than a dollar difference in including the shorter stories, I decided to leave them in. Oh, and the page count is reduced significantly when I single space it instead of double space it. ;) The actual book will be single-spaced, though my version is double spaced and an 8x11 so I can edit it with ease. Cost is reduced significantly when you make the book smaller in size and in page length. ;)

Oh and as a heads up to the Lulu Publisher users out there, since as you can see I have a random note to myself about the amazingness of Amazon- Amazon is running about two dollars cheaper per copy of your book. I-6: Legend of the Mornellys would have cost me about nine dollars to make in Lulu. Amazon's CreateSpace has made a shopper out of me, easiest formatting I have ever done and better prices! You do have to set up taxes, though, so if you're not doing taxes yet or don't have to file taxes than I recommend sticking with Lulu. Great for us taxable writers, though. ;)

Because I am so happy and celebrating and just excited in general, I decided you readers should have a chance to celebrate, too. So I'm going to be giving you a special surprise today. In honor of the manuscript copy being ordered and the first edit finished, you get to see...

Building Relationships. Copyright © 2016 Melissa McConnell. All rights reserved.

The first full colored illustration of any Mornelly character to date! Can you guess which Mornelly brother this is? Obviously you can tell who the girl is- the first character concept of Aileen. I wanted to withhold this image until I got my first edit done as sort of a reward to myself to show you readers. Its very hard for me not to show things the second I get them. ;) As a side note the illustrations in I-6: Legend of the Mornellys will be black and white, but my sister did this as a surprise for me one day and I was thrilled. The front cover will be in full color and it's going to be amazing!

Annddd that's not all! Nope, nope! I have a little something else for all you dear readers who have encouraged me on this endeavor:

“Vell, sorry to burst your bubble or vhatever zat saying is, but ve’re kinda in za middle of, y’know, a var, and zis is not za place for… little boys.” He smiled at his own cleverness for the emphasis of "little boy" again.

“I know. I don’t want to be here. But I don’t think I’m safe being a little girl in a great big war.”

Why was she telling him all this? He was a captain. A German captain. She didn’t know him at all. Why did she trust him so completely already?

She didn’t know. But she felt she could trust him and that he wouldn’t hurt her.

“Vell, you’re right about zat.” He shifted in the saddle and adjusted his cap, revealing a mess of very bleach-blonde hair. “You’re better off as a little boy. Which means you need a little boy name.” He scratched his head, looked her up and down, then lit up. “Your name is Wilhelm.”

“Wilhelm?” she repeated, a little bit offended. “Why Wilhelm?”

“Because zat’s your name now, little boy,” he snapped. “And you need to stop questioning my orders. I’m za Captain, here, you do vat I say. If you vant to stay safe zen you’re going to have to pretend I’m your commander and do everyzing I say. Okay?”

“Then, then what am I supposed to call you?” she asked.

He pulled his cap off his head and did a mock bow, that ever-present smirk crossing his face again. “Just call me Zhe Most Excellent Gerhard.”

-Excerpt from I-6: Legend of the Mornellys, Volume One



Thatttt'ssss right! Zhe Most Excellent Gerhard is to be a character in the very first volume of the Mornellys! I won't say what story he comes from but rest assured you will finally be introduced to The Most Excellent Gerhard and his Most Excellent ways!

So I think that's everything, readers! I hope you're excited as I am. After I do a second edit through the manuscript copy I'm handing it off to an editor who agreed to do it for me if I in turn format one of her books. I think it will be a good trade, and I didn't tell her a thing about the Mornellys so she can see if the story makes sense.

Hope you're all having a wonderful day, have a great week and God Bless!