Though updates of work have been few and far between, production hasn’t slowed. Not one bit. Summer 2010 has been busier than I imagined it would be, I have a feeling this is just the beginning. At least I hope it is.

June –
After being approached by dance-instructor-turned-studio-director, Melodie Sharma, to help her introduce her business, Kelowna Dance and Performing Arts, to Okanagan residents, I was pleased to assist her in the creation of a feature article titled A Cultural Revolution and staff bios for the newly launched website. Visit Melodie and staff online at:
http://www.kelownadance.com/?p=293

In addition to KDPA, I saw the assignment of destination write-ups for Snowbirds & RV Travelers Magazine on Chemainus (a town near and dear to this island girl’s heart), Radium Hot Springs and the Naramata Bench. I’ll be sure to add the URL to the latest online version once it comes available.

July/Aug issue of Gonzo went online (and into circulation), with amazing articles on Nicholas Cage (cover) and artist Angelina Wrona. My contribution to this edition came in the form of OIFF reviews (pg 14-15) and a piece on mental illness in film (pg 22-23). Check it out:
http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1o490/GonzoMagazineJulyAug/resources/index.htm

July –
The first couple weeks were spent road-tripping to Los Angeles with stops in San Francisco and Seattle, before returning home to our new locale of Penticton.

The second half of the month was then spent moving and unpacking (ugh!) before polishing off an article for the next issue of Gonzo. Fingers are tightly crossed that it will make print. As always, stay posted.

August –
Though we’re only four days in, this month is showing signs of being the best yet. It started off with a random (?) email from someone regarding my blog. Though I can’t divulge too much in the way of details (right now anyway), it seems as though I’ve crossed a radar beyond that of my family and friends. Sure, I was always aware that what I’m writing here is put out into the global reach of all internet users, but I never believed that anyone would read what I have to say without my prompting them to. Apparently, I was wrong… in the case of at least one person. Once I have more to share, I will.

Once again I’ve found myself in the midst of a busy month and sometimes when all is quiet (which isn’t often nowadays), I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not still dreaming. This, right here, is what I always wanted. And, it’s mine. To share with you.

Work with Gonzo has been moving along at warp speed – I’ve barely had time to catch my breath (finally!). I’m working on multiple pieces for the upcoming issue, all film-related. This coming week I have an interview with one of the masterminds behind The Beast of the Bottomless Lake and a meeting with local indie-film buff, Leo (from Leo’s Videos) – to pick his brain on the upcoming OIFF.

Rouge continues to be an exciting venture for me. I get to be the girly-girl that everyone knows me to be, while backing up a company that I believe in whole-heartedly. Who could ask for anything more than that?

I’m back doing some freelance work for OkanganAnchor, just an article here and there. When it comes down to it, this and OVHR are the companies that my website was built on so I’m happy to help them whenever possible.

As for other projects, I met with an owner of a local up-and-coming marketing company a few weeks back and we’re hoping to work together in the near future. So, fingers crossed!

The thrill of seeing my name, my work in print still hasn’t worn off. I somehow doubt it ever will…. And, I think there’s something beautiful in that. I have the issue sitting right beside my laptop and each day that I sit down to write, I can’t help but think of where this wonderful talent has taken me (and will continue to take me, though my best friend has me pegged for Vanity Fair. I guess we’ll see.)

All in all, life is good. And by good, I mean grand.

Life, both personally and professionally, continues to be delightfully busy – so much so that I sometimes find things to be unrecognizable. It happened in the blink of an eye, making it seem as though someone else entirely is living my reality.

What’s been going on…

The most recent issue of Gonzo went to print – and with it, my interview with Victoria Banks! I felt my breath catch as I flipped through the glossy pages, looking for my attached name. There it was, in a classic red font: Melissa MacDougall. It was a defining moment for me, having wondered for so long if I would ever see something I wrote on paper. For perfect strangers to read.

But the experience of print became 3-dimensional when Victoria Banks said in a Facebook post that it was likely the best article to have been written about her. Sigh of relief… smile of achievement… I was able to do her justice. (See link below for online version)

Rouge has been amazing – it’s a project that I have the utmost confidence in. The girls are truly dedicated to stellar performance – in style and technique. They promote feeling beautiful – from the inside out – so, as you can imagine, it’s natural to be onboard with a company when their message is more about you than them.

RAGE is still labelled: In Progress. I have pitched a few ideas for their blog, one in particular piqued the interest of the editor – and, fingers crossed, I will get the go-ahead on this assignment.

Other news…

Last weekend, I participated in a pink ribbon event – Rock the Dress. This amazing charitable photo-shoot has all proceeds going to breast cancer research, a cause that is near and dear to me. Paired with uber-talented Salmon Arm photographer Ben Ingebrigtson, you can be certain the pictures are sensational.

Gonzo has handed me an amazing opportunity to cover the reviews for the upcoming OIFF (set for July 21-25). With talk of some seriously brilliant national and international films to show this year, I’m eager to begin the screening process. Stay tuned for more exciting OIFF-related info!
***
http://gonzomagazine.ca/docs/webmag/WEBGonzo0410.pdf

I have been working diligently on upgrading the content for melissamacdougall.com and in the coming weeks visitors can expect to see a revamped portfolio and photographs of yours truly. The overall layout will be the same, why mess with the creative and technical prowess of Mr. Andrew Noonan? If it’s not broke… and all that!

This week saw the launch of Rouge Beauty Lounge’s blog and more reworking of my children’s book. Will I ever stop editing long enough to move beyond the first few chapters? Besides this, I have a staff bio to write (for the Rage Project) and a meeting with a client regarding an upcoming publication (yes, that makes three magazines I’m affiliated with), both of which will be flanked by restless anticipation of the soon-to-be-released issue of Gonzo Magazine.

Rouge Beauty Lounge, Penticton’s latest and greatest full-service spa and salon, is heating up the Okanagan with its new approach to old Hollywood glam.  Partners in polishing, Yolanda Abraham and Tania Chartrand are making waves in this lakeside town while establishing themselves as the place for pedicures and pampering. 

As luck would have it, I have been given the extreme pleasure of helping these Esthetic geniuses with informing their clients of upcoming events, product reviews and other Rouge-related hype.  Stay tuned for their blog… it’s bound to be addicting!  www.sparouge.ca

February has already proved to be just as wonderfully hectic as January (could this be what they refer to as ‘momentum’?); another artistic project from RAGE and several from Gonzo, a local print and web magazine focussed on music, film and culture.

Currently in the works:  An article on exuding confidence (which is witty and brilliantly executed… then again, I am a smidge-bit biased), film reviews (I can’t wait for Alice in Wonderland – I suspect Johnny Depp will rock his role as the Mad Hatter) and a feature-interview on Canadian country music artist, Victoria Banks. 

Should anyone need to locate me, I can be found on Cloud 9… tickled a delicious shade of bubblegum pink!

2010 is already shaping up to be a seriously creative (and productive) year.  I have written more this last month than I have in most years, inspiration-level is through the roof!  Besides starting on my own book, there are a ton of exciting new projects in the works…

On the go:

RAGE – An up-and-coming magazine (web currently, print eventually) focused on fashion, art and culture has launched in Kelowna.  My first RAGE article (see link below) was published on the site January 28, with more to follow soon. 

On the horizon:

Nickle and Thyme – My dear friend, Kristal Burgess (cook and photographer-extraordinaire) is self-publishing her first cookbook (due out later this year) and I have happily signed on as editor!  With an entire chapter dedicated to bacon, this is going to be a must-have book. 

http://www.ragefashionmagazine.com/melissa-macdougalls-shoe-isnt-always-greener