Sweet Home Alabama prequel novel - coming soon! #MFRWauthor #MFRWhooks

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Before Melanie Smooter became hot fashion designer Melanie Carmichael, she was known as Felony Melanie, the teenage troublemaker of Pigeon Creek, Alabama. Aching to escape the boredom of small-town life, she gets into many reckless adventures. Her boyfriend, Jake, is always by her side – and the local sheriff is usually close behind.

When Melanie qualifies for the Miss Teen Alabama Regional Pageant in the big city of Mobile, the first prize scholarship could be her ticket out of Pigeon Creek. But can her homemade dresses compete against the expensive gowns, and can a "trailer trash" girl survive when a haughty debutante will do anything to destroy the competition.

Meanwhile, Jake thinks beauty pageants are silly, but he’ll be there to support Melanie – as long as he can avoid getting kicked out by hotel security. Then Jake and his friends start to suspect someone is sabotaging the whole pageant. They try to follow the clues, but it isn't easy when everyone dismisses you as redneck kids.

Melanie needs to prove herself on stage. Jake and the gang need to make sure she gets the chance. Can they show they're more than what people see on the surface? 

Check out the new series featuring “Felony Melanie” a decade before the events of the movie Sweet Home Alabama. 

Sign up for our newsletter and get Felony Melanie Destroys the Moonshiner's Cabin. These first two chapters from the novel Felony Melanie in Pageant Pandemonium stand alone as a short story. In the future, you'll get fun content about upcoming Felony Melanie novels and other romantic comedy news and links.

Excerpt from Felony Melanie Destroys the Moonshiner's Cabin:

She paused at the edge of the bleachers. She’d be in full view as she went from the stands to the parking lot. Only for a minute, but it was the most important minute of this plan. The ref blew his whistle. Mama turned toward Daddy. Melanie slipped out from under the bleachers.

Don’t look back. Don’t hurry. Be cool. Running would attract more attention.

Shuffling and snorting sounds rose from nearby.

Melanie jerked to a stop and searched for the source of the noise.

It didn’t matter. She had to keep moving. She stepped forward.

Three boys popped up from behind the next car. They raced away as if launched out of a cannon.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Melanie jumped high enough to set a world record. When she finally landed, she gasped for air. Dang redneck boys, starting their Friday partying early with cherry bombs in the parking lot.

Principal Peck shouted from the stands, “You boys git over here!”

The boys took off into the woods cackling like hens.

Everyone in the county must be looking her way. Melanie resisted every urge to look back toward the bleachers. She took one shaky step after another, whispering, “Wasn’t me, nothing to see here, just some blonde girl nobody knows.”

Another voice cut through the humid air. “Melanie Smooter! You’re supposed to be grounded, young lady!”

Melanie glanced back. Adults frowned and shook their heads, while teenagers laughed and waved. Heat crept across her cheeks.

Her mama stood at the top of the bleachers, hands on her hips, glaring. “Earl, you go collect that fool girl.”

Melanie ducked her head and spun away, but it was too late to pretend she hadn’t heard, and way too late to pretend she hadn’t been at the game. Her mama would pitch a fit to end all fits. Melanie would probably be grounded for the rest of the year. Why couldn’t Mama understand? She and Jake were in love. She simply had to see Jake play.

She ran her hands through her hair and swore softly. She should be there when Jake got off the field. He’d want her there.

If she was busted anyway, she might as well enjoy the rest of her last evening of freedom. She veered toward the school building with a grin. This Friday night just got a whole heap more interesting.

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Pre-order Felony Melanie in Pageant Pandemonium now!
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Douglas J. Eboch is a screenwriter and author who wrote the original screenplay to the movie Sweet Home Alabama starring Reese Witherspoon. His sister is the author of over 80 books under the names Kris Bock, M.M. Eboch and Chris Eboch.