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The Daphne du Maurier finalist slideshow
Last modified on 2010-07-10 16:44:12 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
The Kiss of Death chapter contest chairs have gone above and beyond for this year’s contest: They’ve collected the finalists’ pictures and put together a slide show to recognize the finalists. Check out the unpublished category here! I’m under paranormal.
Querying
Last modified on 2010-06-14 19:04:37 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I’ve done it. I’ve started querying Passages.
Last week I completed my edits, read through the entire book as a paper copy and entered the last (for now!) changes into my chapters and combined them into one document. Then I printed the entire 369 page manuscript for another check.
Interesting note: Word won’t give me a word count. The doc starts tabulating somewhere in the 94 hundreds, gets to 99 and something and then blinks out, leaving that space blank. Finally I highlighted the entire doc and went under Tools to word count and came away with 112,196.
Now the waiting begins. Except there is no waiting for a writer; it’s back to work. I’m going to tweek another round of letters and I resumed writing Friday on a sequel to Meadow Magic–Fern’s story–called Conifer Curse
Contests, again
Last modified on 2010-06-04 23:40:49 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I’m trying my luck at a few more contests. My chapter, the Maryland Romance Writers has extended their deadline to June 8th because of low entries. I entered Passages’ love scene in the Reveal Your Inner Vixen contest in the Alternative category.
Then I entered the first 33 pages and a 2 page synopsis in the Georgia Romance Writers Unpublished Maggies. I believe this contest is patterned on the RWA Golden Heart, with scores of 1 to 10. The deadline is June 5th.
Anyone else doing the summer contests?
Getting Steampunk
Last modified on 2010-05-29 13:31:49 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Thanks to another writer I met at the 2009 RWA Nationals, I finally am catching on to what the steampunk genre is. Victorian era with gadgets, YA writer Suzanne Lazear told me at the FF&P (Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal) party. But the next time we talked, her examples hit home: The Golden Compass and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Ah, that I can see — all the neat stuff designed to help when they need it, but in a funky antiquated way. Same stuff I always imagined when reading Jules Verne or H.G. Wells. And, I think, the time traveling steam train from the last scene of Back to the Future III fits. And maybe the flying boat in Stardust?
I’m liking this idea.
If you want to learn more, go to the Steamed! blog where Suzanne and her lolita co-bloggers write about Steampunk, review new releases, feature the latest genre machinery, travel to cons and showcase the cool fashions.
Once there, keep your eyes alert for the 2012 date you’ll be able to pick up Suzanne’s YA Steampunk Fairytale from a bookstore, because she has sold Innocent Darkness, her fourth manuscript and first to be published. Go, Suzanne!
Website Update
Last modified on 2010-05-27 13:04:00 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I’m still working out a few bugs with the website, so please bear with me while the contact form doesn’t work.
New Look
Last modified on 2010-05-23 16:44:13 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Wow. New look, huh?
I’ve been searching for a new wordpress theme for a few days and yesterday learned I couldn’t upload any of the pretty ones I’d found online onto my wordpress webpage. Why? When I was a beginner with websites last year, I signed up for my domain and hosting with 1 and 1, but overlooked a detail: I could now go to wordpress.ORG. Instead I used the free site .COM.
The wonderful support staff at 1 and 1 walked me–okay, US. I couldn’t do this without my tech-savy DD–through the 1 and 1 end, and because our guy knew it himself, he directed us where to find the wordpress instructions. They are all there, including how to get FileZilla, which I don’t understand but somehow eases in using themes.
One hurtle? Could I use all the pages and posts I’d accumulated in a year of using my .COM website? He didn’t think so. Oh, no. But I had been searching for that uload button earlier and had run across export.
Guess what? You can export your entire wordpress site to your computer as a file. Then import it to your new site. It transferred! All of it, including the pictures and links. I was thrilled.
But then one theme I had chosen didn’t want to download on my MAC without unzipping–forever. The next didn’t have the flexibility to arrange all my page links and other fomatting details I don’t know the names of.
Enter DD.
My daughter had set up a Sims clothing design webpage this winter. She had spent hours customizing her site using the Suffusion theme.
She went to work. I went to bed at midnight. Today it looks fabulous. Thank you, thank you, thank you to my creative and talented daughter.
I still have some of the old colors to change from my green-themed website to this purple-themed one. I know why this has happened thanks to Emma Clair and Michelle McGinnis, two RWA writers who presented “Creating a Web Presence in Just One Hour” at the 2009 RWA Nationals. Listening to it along with their web presence workshop from 2008, I’ve learned a few things. Go to Emma’s site to download their workshop in pdf format; it’s great for beginners.
So, there you have it, more than you probably wanted to know about changing the look of my website.
An article and a freebie ARC contest
Last modified on 2010-05-17 17:35:49 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
One of my other writing goals this year was to write an article for my chapter’s, the Maryland Romance Writers, monthly newsletter, The Pulse. Today I drafted a “should your chapter include a YA category in your writing contest” piece entitled To Offer or Not To Offer. I’ll post when it comes out. I knew our category winners had entered multiple contests and two had sold, so I put out an email to catch up with them and ask about their contest experiences. It was fun to hear the news and all had valuable tips for contest coordinators and judges in the YA arena, which I received permission to include.
One gal, Lisa Desrocher, has had her YA book Personal Demons inserted into Macmillian’s fall list. It’ll be released September 14, 2010. She’s hosting a contest, with one prize option an ARC of the book.
He …heck, I’d love to read more than the 20 pages I read of her contest entry. I’m in on the contest. Click over to her blog and enter.
Cross-post
Last modified on 2010-05-10 01:21:42 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
My Daphne finalist placing was noted in a post on Science Fiction Romance Brigade. The brigade members have a friendly running points contest going and one of the ways to earn points is by finalling and placing in contests – with your SFR manuscript, of course. When I sent in my win to grab a point, the officer on deck kindly posted.
The Daphne Finalists List
Last modified on 2010-05-07 15:35:18 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
THE KISS OF DEATH CHAPTER’S 2010 DAPHNE DU MAURIER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN
MYSTERY/SUSPENSE IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE ITS UNPUBLISHED CONTEST FINALISTS
FINALISTS: CATEGORY SERIES ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Orchard County Killer by Deborah L. Kaufman
His Reluctant Witness by Christine Keach w/a Lexi Connor
Rescued by D’Ann Linscott-Dunham
Kira’s Keeper by Jan Schliesman
Blue Ridge Fear by Robin Weaver
FINALISTS: HISTORICAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
A Lady’s Revenge by Tracey Smith w/a Tracey Devlyn
Her Secret Flyboy by Jeanne Dickson
Vengeance is Mine by Linda Friar
Deception by Jennifer Ramirez w/a Jennifer Beane
Sweet Enemy by Heather Snow
FINALISTS: INSPIRATIONAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Illusion of Safety by Dianna Benson
The Shadow of Heaven by C.J. Eernisse Chase
Nightshade by Debra E. Marvin
Submerged by Dani Pettrey
The Peacock Throne by Lisa Karon Richardson
FINALISTS: PARANORMAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Last Wishes by Caroline Dunsheath
Last Chance by writing team Ann Fischer & Linda Baxter
Hearts of Darkness by Ciara Stewart
Lost Paladin by Tracy St. Hilaire
Passages by Laurel Wanrow
FINALISTS: SINGLE TITLE ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not by Lena Diaz
In For a Penny by Kathy Franklin
Misdirection by Linda Lovely
Safe in Enemy Arms by Joan Swan
From Baghdad with Love by Gail Zerrade
FINALISTS: MAINSTREAM MYSTERY SUSPENSE
Insight by Polly Iyer
Death Benefits by Arlene Kay
Nearly Departed in Deadwood by Wendy Kunkle-Munk w/a Ann Charles
Pineapples in Peril by Cheryl Linn Martin
Solstice of Death by Robin Weaver
The winners and placement of each unpublished subgenre will be announced on
July 29th in ORLANDO!!! at KOD’s Death by Chocolate. Congratulations to
the finalists, to the entrants, to the judges and to our hardworking
coordinators. Stay tuned for the Published side of the contest as we
announce later on in May.
So there it is folks. According to one of my chapter mates at MRW, the finalists are seated with with the final round judges at the party. KOD is providing finalists’ ribbons to wear on our conference name tags and asking for a picture to be used in a yet-un-named manner. What a nice set of ways to be recognized and treated; the contest and chapter organizers have done an excellent job. Thank you, Donnell Ann Bell, Daphne Coordinator, and all the volunteers working with the contest and award ceremony.
Passages finalled!
Last modified on 2010-05-04 17:49:52 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Woo-hoo! I’m doing the happy dance here.
Passages finalled in the unpublished division of The Daphne du Maurier Contest sponsored by RWA’s Mystery /Suspense chapter, Kiss of Death.
I’m thrilled. The Daphne was the first RWA contest I entered four years ago as a newbie romance writer. I entered both times in the Paranormal / Time Travel / Futuristic Mystery/Suspense category. Passages is a futuristic or science fiction romance mystery.
This was one of the limited word contests I posted about back in March – 5,000 words for the manuscript and 675 for the synopsis. Yes, I trimmed my 5 page synopsis to 2 pages for this contest, a worthy exercise by itself. I now am allowed to send up to 25 pages (mine was 18) to the final judges, who are … *drum roll* … Heather Osborn, editor with Tor Publishing and Paige Wheeler, agent with Folio Literary Management.
I’ll post the finalist list when available.
I Wrote the Blog!
Last modified on 2010-04-07 10:37:31 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Please check out my post at SFR Brigade and weigh in with your unusual H&H.
I'm in a blog again…
Last modified on 2010-04-04 18:15:07 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
and it looks like it may happen more. In my innocent, not-up-to-snuff-with-blogging way it appears I’ve joined the SFR Brigade blog, as a blogger.
But hey, it’s a good thing. My little post from a few days ago was acknowledged in yesterday’s post … right alongside other authors, including Linnea Sinclair. Now to get Passages on the bookshelf alongside …
Ok, enough with the fantasy. Passages has jumped another hoop on its way to querying; The last of its critiques through my FF&P crit group have arrived. In this large on-line group affectionately known as The Mud Puddle, a half-dozen readers traded crits with me over the four months I posted and two stuck with me the entire book. Many thanks to Brenda Davis and Bart Palamaro for their valuable insights and contributions to the continuity of the novel.
I have a few things to fix, but should be shopping it by the end of the month. Thanks to contest entries, I already have a fresh two page synopsis and a short query-worthy description. I’m looking forward to typing “Passages is a Science Fiction Romance complete at 95,000 words.”
SFR Brigade
Last modified on 2010-04-03 02:18:01 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I ran across the SFR acronym a month ago on another writer’s website, discovered what it meant–Science Fiction Romance– and today found a new blog community for writers of SFR. I joined and may even figure out exactly how to describe Passages, my latest manuscript I’ve been calling a futuristic fantasy. The site boasts a nice list of sub-genres of science fiction on the welcome page.
Check out SFR Brigade at http://www.sfrcontests.blogspot.com/
My First Public Reading
Last modified on 2010-03-23 18:12:40 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
A week ago I was asked by my former Girl Scout co-leader to talk to the troop about writing for their Reader badge. I actually jumped at the chance–my first request as a writer to speak to a group. I went over the bare bones of what a writer needed to do to transform an idea into a full-length novel, skimmed the surface really since I had only thirty minutes and the group ranged from 6th to 12th graders. They didn’t mind that their speaker is pre-published and listened attentively to my first read (ever!) of the first scene of my YA novel Wildflowers and Winged Boys.
Needless to say, I was nervous and thought afterwards I had read too much and the girls had gotten bored. But …
My leader friend emailed her thanks with the note that three girls had asked about reading the rest of the book. Wow. Made my day, no week. I think I may have some Beta readers for the revisions I’m just finishing.
As part of my prep I put together a short list of resources that have helped me along the way:
The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler
Who the different characters are in a story and what different stages the story goes through. Go to the articles under Hero’s Journey.
Screenplay Mastery by Michael Hauge
Movies have a bit of a different structure, but still works for books. Go to the articles section and read them, especially Screenplay Structure.
It’s in November. Sign up, it’s free. They will send you encouraging messages from popular writers on how they write.
The blog of New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Leitch Smith on which she shares what’s happening in the world of children’s and teen literature. Lots of book reviews, author interviews and links to current happenings.
Go to any author’s website and see what tips and articles they have.
And lastly, write, write, write and read, read, read!
Contests by the word
Last modified on 2010-03-13 12:32:29 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Contests, contests. Writing ones of course. I’ve entered a 5000 word, a 2500 word and now a 200 word still open until Sunday, March 14 at Guide to Literary Agents‘ “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest. Only problem? My MACbook seems to count the words differently than the same MS WORD program on PC.
Over, of course.
I'm in a blog – someone else's!
Last modified on 2010-02-16 19:52:01 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
What fun! One of the first writers I met at a RWA Nationals conference has featured me in her blog post today . Eliza March and I met in the lobby while I was trying to spot an agent from whom the computer had bumped my pitch appointment. We were so new, I had no idea you received a confirmation of the appointments. We chatted and connected and then I dashed off because I spotted the agent–who kindly gave me the opportunity to pitch to her on the spot. But among 2000 writers we did find each other again, a number of times, and we keep in touch. Please visit Eliza and her fellow bloggers at Romantic Hearts and Sexy Tarts. I hope to visit her in Nashville at the 2010 RWA National Conference, an eleven hour drive from the DC area.
Writing and Snow Days
Last modified on 2010-02-10 14:58:56 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I live just outside of Washington DC and we’ve been hit with a number of snow storms this winter – very unusual for us. The Post publishes the biggest storms, so we have been reminded the last was in 2003 and before that 1996. This one’s a double hitter; the Friday-Saturday storm left 28 inches and the Tuesday-Wednesday blizzard–the weather service’s new status–today is expected to leave another foot.
So what does this mean for a writer, someone who works from home? Well, I write full-time anyway, so for me there are no additional days off work giving me more time to write. Not published, but I’m focused and have my routine that begins after I drop the kids at high school every morning at seven.
And there it starts; I don’t have to get up. I’m staying up late. The kids and husband are at home. The neighbors are home. There are many, many more opportunities for socialization–shoveling, barbeque potluck in the parking lot, shoveling, talks and walks on the city’s partially plowed pathways, shoveling, trading recipes and making to long runs to the grocery store to buy even more food. Shoveling.
Yep, we are spending hours shoveling. It’s gotta be done and thankfully is replacing my workouts since I can’t get to the gym. But that activity competes with typing for not only time, but muscle stamina. For me, it’s elbows. Another writer said wrists.
And then there’s Facebook. Need I say more? It’s fun to see others’ snow pictures, read the stories and compare snowfall around the region. But darn it, ya gotta resist the temptation to keep re-checking!
I won’t delve into my other time sucks – the pets, cooking and cleaning – everyone has those, but you just seem to pay more attention to them when you are house bound and they are there, all the time.
On the flip side, I have managed to bug out with computer on the two ‘waiting days,’ the days each storm hit but didn’t manage to arrive until late in the day. School was cancelled in anticipation, but the roads were clear (okay, passable the second). My destination? Starbucks. With my venti six pump hot chocolate made with half breve, I am powered for hours and spent seven each day reworking my villain in Passages. I’m happy, but need to keep going to maintain my continuity.
Guess I’ll try to carve out alone time today. At least until I succumb to another project badgering for my attention: taxes.
To Shorten a Synopsis …
Last modified on 2010-01-16 12:46:25 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
… there is no better inspiration for a writer than a contest page limit to force one to look at what you thought was a perfectly good synopsis, and ruthlessly cut it. Add to that limit the contest’s drop-dead deadline, and you are set!
Can you tell I entered another contest? Waited until the last day, because I knew I had a great synopsis I’d used this fall to enter the On The Far Side. Passages placed second in that contest. I’ve just been through a series of critiques with the first third of the manuscript through the fantasy chapter critique group and knew the pages were polished to be even better than before.
So I sat down, in the morning mind you, on the last day to enter the Washington Romance Writers Chapter contest, The Marlene. This is one of my local chapters, so I’d been hearing about the contest at monthly meetings. I’d glanced at the rules; I knew the entry was 35 pages, manuscript and synopsis.
But then I read the rules.
First bulletted point: One electronic copy of a synopsis (up to 5 pages) and the beginning of the manuscript not to exceed 35 pages total for synopsis and manuscript pages.
You guessed it; mine was six pages. Six full pages.
Like most writers, I never initiate work on my synopsis voluntarily. But, I tell you, I had decided to enter this contest, to see how my changes would fly and to support my chapter. So I buckled down right there.
Luckily I was already at my favorite Starbucks, with my venti (and BTW, I had to go verify the spelling of that; my MAC dictionary defined it as an opening that allows air, gas or liquid to pass out of or into a confined space. Yikes.) custom recipe hot chocolate, half consumed, and I was ready to go. Er, cut.
My edits took the better part of two hours, leaving a strong five page synopsis. I re-read the pages and put together my entry for the Fantasy/Futuristic and Paranormal category. I also entered Wildflowers and Winged Boys in the YA category. I’ve spent the last two weeks revising the start of this novel, but that’s another story.
The final judges for both my categories are of interest to me, and an author critique is awarded to each winner:
Paranormal: Final Editor Judge: Katherine Pelz, Berkley
Critique Author: Gwyn Cready (www.cready.com), 2009 Rita winner for Best Paranormal Romance
Young Adult: Final Editor Judge: Emilia Rhodes, Simon Pulse
Critique Author: Carrie Jones (www.carriejonesbooks.com)
It’s weird, but entering contests always gives me a little rush of satisfaction. I think I’ll go check and see what else is out there to enter.
And hope I don’t have to shorten that synopsis to three pages!
Happy New Year!
Last modified on 2010-01-01 17:59:40 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Just as I’m sure everyone else is doing, today I’m evaluating where I am in my writing career. And where I’d like to be. We have so many opportunities these days and so many things to distract us. Insert internet for both of those. I’ve taken some great classes and joined a very helpful crit group, but I’m spending too much time reading rather than writing. I’m still in the sorting and prioritizing phase with my resolutions, but (nod to Oprah) this I know :
Order Debra Dixon’s Goal, Motivation and Conflict
Read the craft books I own
Review the remaining lessons of Warrior-Writer class
Select another continuing ed class
Refine list of agents to query
Participate in crit group
Take website class and polish website, esp home page.
And in actual writing …
Wildflowers and Winged Boys – Rewrite beginning to submit requested partial by mid-Jan. Apply new edit ideas from crit group
Passages – Finish the edits and submit to crit. Prepare query.
Conifer Curse – complete first draft
Courting the Pawn – apply new edit ideas from crit group
Contest efforts?
Enter my chapter contest – WRW’s Marlene.
Determine how much time and money to devote to other contests, verses querying.
To be continued … ( I have to get back to Passages’ chapter edits!)
The First Five Pages
Last modified on 2009-12-29 21:52:54 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I’d heard about this writing craft book written by agent Noah Lukeman and thumbed through it a RWA National conference bookstore. A repeat mention in a self-editing workshop tape put the book on my Christmas list. The dh had to order it online, but so far it’s worth the extra trouble.
The format is chapters, ranked according to an (this) agent or editor’s patience with the writer’s skill at getting his message across. The first is Presentation, the second Adjective and Adverb (mis)use. Okay, soon after my first contest returns three years ago I got on the train with those two, though a recent crit had a gentle reminder about those pesky ly words. (Hey, the heroine is an emotional savant – she’s all about touchy-feely.)
The third chapter is titled Sound. Interesting. How one divides and punctuates sentences creates a pleasing sound. Well, I’d heard to mix the short and long sentence constructions, but this takes it to a new level. So does the fourth, Comparisons. The next is Style, and those five chapters comprise Part 1: Preliminary Problems.
There are nineteen chapters total. They not only build on each other (He directs readers to complete the end-of-chapter lessons before moving on.) but they also loop, because Chapter 3 is related to Chapter 19, Pacing and Progression. Yo-boy. All right, I’ve read into Chapter 4, but according to Mr. Lukeman, I’m still in Chapter 3, because I haven’t read a paragraph out loud and devoted four working hours to it.
Can I do this? Can I, a writer who really would like to publish, afford not to?
By the way, the book is subtitled A Writer’s Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile.
New Year’s Resolutions, anyone?
Indiana's Golden Opportunity Winners
Last modified on 2009-12-24 14:11:32 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Indiana’s Golden Opportunity 2009
Congratulations to all our Winners! Best of the Best will be announced approximately November 18th.
Historical Finalists Judge — Jesse Feldman, NAL
The Soldier by Patricia Patton
Love and the Heir by Patricia Patton
The Yard Man Affair by Jill Stone
Mainstream Finalists Judge — Paige Wheeler, Folio Literary Management
Odin’s End** by Dawna Fichtner
The End at River’s Bend by Cathryn Pritchard
Damaged Goods by Barbara Binns
Paranormal Finalists Judge — Kerry Donovan, NAL
Darkness Dawns by Leslie Duvall
The Story Queen by Joe Fraser
The Chimera Courtships: In Like a Lion by Karin Shah
Single Title Finalists Judge — Latoya Smith, Grand Central
Chocolate Kisses** by Kelli Zeiher Riley
Uncivilized by Meghan Murphy
Once Upon a Margarita by Heidi Luchterhand
Romantic Suspense Finalists Judge — Megan McKeever, Pocket Books
Degrees of Death by Linda Lovely
Dangerous Choices by Donna Meier
Trail of Secrets by Greta MacEachern
Young Adult Finalists Judge — Holly Root, Waxman Literary Agency
Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
The Dead Guy Downstairs by Sheri Adkins
Seaside Sorcery by Laurel Wanrow
One of the reasons I’m going back and looking up my past contest co-winners is I’ve been in touch with the gal who won this one, Lisa Desrochers. Lisa has won a slew of contests, but I first contacted her when I was coordinating the YA category for my chapter contest, Maryland Romance Writer’s Reveal Your Inner Vixen, to tell her she’d finalled. She placed second and we shared some contest stories. The best came a few days ago when she wrote to tell me she’d sold! Not just Personal Demons, but three books in an auction. How exciting is that? What every writer dreams of getting for Christmas. Read about it on her blog: http://lisadesrochers.blogspot.com Go, Lisa!!!
Lone Star Writing Competition Winners
Last modified on 2009-12-24 13:25:47 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I’m backtracking and posting my other contest co-winners. I think it’ll be fun to keep a watch on these manuscripts that are making the journey at the same time I am.
NORTHWEST HOUSTON RWA
presents the winners of the
The Seventeenth Annual
LONE STAR WRITING COMPETITION
The 2009 Lone Star Writing Competition committee is proud to announce the 2009 winners. A third of our winners had requests from an agent, an editor or both. Congratulations!
Contemporary Series
Wanda Ottewell, Harlequin
Natanya Wheeler, Nancy Yost Literary Agency
1st: HEAD GAMES, Denise Cychosz, Waukesha, Wisconsin*
2nd: THE BILLIONAIRE’S PURCHASED PRINCESS, Robyn Anders, Long Beach California (formerly of Dallas)
3rd: LAURA TAKES A LOVER, Mary Oldham, Beaverton, Oregon
*Partial request from editor
Young Adult
Kat O’She, Leap Books
Jim McCarthy, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
1st: WILDFLOWERS AND WINGED BOYS, Laurel Wanrow, Reston, VA*
2nd: A WITCH’S WISH, Martha Ferris, Freedom, WY
3rd: JOURNEY TO EDEN, Natasha Hanova, Overland Park, KS
*Partial request from editor
Romantic Suspense
Becky Vinter, NAL
Lois Winston, Ashley Grayson Literary Agency
1st: FROM BAGHDAD WITH LOVE, Gail Zerrade, Boise ID*
2nd: SWITCHED IN DEATH, Sherry Foley, Smithville MO
3rd: SHOT THROUGH THE HEART, D’Ann Linscott-Dunham, Olathe CO
*Full request from agent
Historical Category
Alicia Condon, Editor, Dorchester
Michelle Grajkowski, Literary Agent
1st: THE VISCOUNT’S DILEMMA, Theresa St. Romain, Wichita KS***
2nd: SURRENDER THE STORM, Angelique Newman, Sault Ste. Marie, ON*
3rd: THE HOUSE PARTY, Beatriz Chantrill Williams, Greenwich, CT*
***Full request from editor and agent
*Full request from editor and partial request from agent
FF&P
Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks
Tina Wexler, International Creative Management
1st: SUBENA’S SACRIFICE, Robin Weaver, Concord, NC *
2nd: GUARDIAN ANGEL, Joey Kristine Berube, Round Rock, TX
3rd: CALLING FIRE, Melanie Card, Waterloo, ON
*Partial requested from agent
Single Title
Leis Pederso, Penguin
Paige Wheeler, Folio Literary Management
1st: SONGBIRD, Lizbeth Selvig, Webster, MN
2nd: PLEASURE, Jeanell Bolton, Georgetown, TX
3rd: KISSING MY OLD LIFE Au REVOIR, Beth Watson, Oak Creek, WI
Inspirational
Jessica Barnes, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Tamela Hancock Murray, Hartline Literary
1st: VIOLETS AND VIOLINS, Keli Gwyn, Placerville, CA*
2nd: TURNING PAIGE, Kara Bonnevie, Wellington, NZ
3rd: LETTING LOVE IN, Teresa Goudey, Leona Valley, CA
*Full request from agent
100 words over 100 days
Last modified on 2009-12-24 01:47:28 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Drum roll, please …… Day 100: 295 words!
I completed my personal challenge of writing at least 100 words for 100 days. I logged my daily count with others on the loop Club100writers@yahoogroups.com and I have to say that once I started I didn’t consider quitting on this encouraging group. While I only wrote just over my minimum most days, one writer completed NaNoWriMo, often logging on after midnight with her 1700 plus counts.
I did have a few high days. I kept track my 100 day total working on a new YA fantasy, Conifer Curse. With the exception of about 5 days writing on a different ms, I totaled 35027 words.
A fun feature the group encourages is designing your finishing tiara. Several others described theirs and gave me ideas, so mine was set in silver, covered with glittery diamonds and sported an amethyst in the center front.
I am happy to have finished for the holidays and will concentrate on another round of edits for Passages, preparing it for querying in the new year.
Happy Holidays!
On The Far Side Contest Winners
Last modified on 2009-12-20 23:52:54 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
The winners of RWA’s Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal Chapter unpublished writing contest were announced a few days ago and I’m excited to report my two manuscripts entries placed second and third: Passages was second in the Futuristc category and Seaside Sorcery third in the Young Adult category.
Here’s the announcement of all the winners:
Fantasy Futuristic & Paranormal Special-Interest Chapter is proud to
announce the following winners in the 2009 On The Far Side contest.
Congratulations to all the winners!
Romantic Elements:
1 – Soul Trade by Melanie Card
2 – The Darkshaper Invasion by Karen McCullough
3 – Windborne by Brenda Nelson-Davis
Erotic:
1 – MIA Case Files: Wolfsbane by Tracy Truman
2 – Gods and Mortals by Rebecca Zanetti
3 – Catacomb Bound by Robin Haseltine
Fantasy:
1 – Rites of Clay by Bonnie Johnston
2 – Wild Fire by Rashda Khan
3 – A Soul for Trouble by Crista McHugh
Futuristic:
1 – Unspeakable Acts by Cheryl Alldredge
2 – Passages by Laurel Wanrow
3 – Apocalypse Daughter: Dystopia by Tracy St. Hilaire
Paranormal:
1 – Echo 8 by Sharon Lynn Fisher
2 – Night Walker by Lisa Keesler
3 – Stealing Time by Elise Chand
Time Travel:
1 – Once in a Coyote Moon by Crista McHugh
2 – Machine Slave by Jennette Heikes
3 – The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone Seguin
Young Adult:
1 – Breathing Fire by Christine Canada (Request for full!)
2 – Frostbite by Lynn Rush
3 – Seaside Sorcery by Laurel Wanrow
Congratulations everyone!
A 'Good' Rejection
Last modified on 2009-11-10 02:22:45 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I received a rejection this past week, truly out of the blue. The agent in question has noted on his site that queries they are interested in will be responded to within four weeks. Otherwise they are ‘passing.’ Since I sent this query in early August, I wrote it off long ago.
Well, he still passed, but wrote to tell me personally. When I posted to my Facebook profile that this occurrence excited me, several non-writers became confused.
He wrote me a personal note, not a form letter. In the past my queries have received form letters. Mostly. I had one very short personal note saying the agent had represented this type of work in the past, but had moved away from it. And another kind agent inserted a little note into her form letter: ”A little dialect goes a long way. Use it once and drop it.” See, that stood out so much I remember it nearly two years later.
But this agent also mentioned I had done something well: ” … your pages evidence the micro-tension that I feel is so important to any novel’s success.”
Wow! And I’d done it in the five page submission. (Of course I had to go see where that ended to read what I’d included.) Unfortunately, this followed him saying Passages is the type of science fiction he’s found exceedingly hard to place.
Oh, well. I’ve moved up a level in the quality of my rejection letters. Now to write something easy to sell.
Halfway to 100 words for 100 days
Last modified on 2009-11-04 03:33:59 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I’ve hit 50 days in my personal challenge to write 100 words for 100 days. I joined Club 100 when I started my new manuscript, Conifer Curse and on my 50th day I completed 24684 words. So, I’m averaging more than 100 words a day–good–but not as many as I would like.
Why? My attention is too divided right now. I’ve been polishing three other manuscripts for the BIG contest: Meadow Magic, Seaside Sorcery and Passages will be my entries in this year’s RWA Golden Heart contest. The first two are ready, and over the next few weeks I plan to tweak Passages.
I can’t wait for Thanksgiving – my deadline to put everything in the mail. Yes, the GH still uses paper for those 50 page entries! The rest of the manuscript can be paper or burned to a disc. Is that an oxymoron?
Wildflowers and Winged Boys placed first!
Last modified on 2009-10-26 02:26:28 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I am thrilled to learn that my first YA novel, Wildflowers and Winged Boys has placed first in the YA category of the 2009 Lone Star Writing Competition. The contest is sponsored by the Northwest Houston Chapter of RWA and a YA writer friend from that chapter gave a shout out that led me to entering.
I found out this evening, too late to do anything special, so think I’ll treat myself to writing time in Starbucks tomorrow. I love having my hot chocolate away from the distractions of my needs-to-be-cleaned house and can-you feed-us-again pets.
Seaside Sorcery Placed Third!
Last modified on 2009-10-20 20:37:20 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Hey, I had a third place in the Indiana’s Golden Opportunity contest! That’s quite an honor, as I know they had a lot of entries in the YA category. As the genre becomes more popular–thanks Stephanie Meyers, P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast, and many others–there are more YA contests and entries. Thank goodness, because nothing is more disappointing than preparing a contest entry and sending it off, only to find out the category didn’t have enough entries and has to be cancelled. Happened to me last year!
Nearly happened in the Lone Star Writing Competition this year, but they extended the deadline and put out a lot of calls on the loops. I entered, and finalled. This coming weekend, the Northwest Houston Chapter will be announcing the winners at their conference in Houston. Too bad it wasn’t closer, but I’d be a nervous wreck if I went. 
Soon I have to start thinking about entering the Golden Heart contest that RWA sponsors for unpublished writers. I finished polishing both of my YA manuscripts this week and will print out the first fifty pages of each to review on paper again. The contest accepts a total of fifty pages, but that must include a synopsis, so I’m also going to be looking for an interesting hook in the 45-48 page range to end each entry on.
Double Finalist!
Last modified on 2009-10-15 23:59:05 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I just got my notice from the most recent contest I entered and both of my entries finalled. How amazing is that? I’ve belonged to RWA’s Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter for years and only entered the On The Far Side contest for unpublished writers my first year with my first manuscript. No need to say any more. I started to enter last year, but the thing about contests is you have to read the rules. And pay attention. Very close to the deadline I discovered that the font had to be courier 12 point. I typically use Times New Roman. If you have ever switched between the two, you know courier takes up more space. This lengthened my entry and it no longer ended at a good spot within the 20 allowed pages, so I gave up.
This year, since I’d already tightened that manuscript, Seaside Sorcery, for other contests, I was prepared. It finalled in the Young Adult category. I entered my most recently completed ms, Passages, in the Futuristic category. The winners will be announced in December, but in the meantime I’m really enjoying my success. Ironically, it comes on the heels of learning that Seaside Sorcery was rejected by the agents I pitched to at Nationals. So this is the encouraging boost I need to just keep putting my Sapaksa stories out there until I find someone who is a good match for representing me.
The Personal Side of Writing Research
Last modified on 2009-09-23 01:00:26 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
When I used to research topics for my natural history programs at nature centers, I used the library. So cumbersome compared to internet search engines. And … impersonal. Take today’s google adventure for Conifer Curse. In my WIP Fern must take on the beekeeping for the Meadows. Believe it or not, I have done beekeeping, back in high school when my parents moved during my senior year and I lived with my 4-H leader for six months at her orchard. I helped with the beekeeping, mainly holding the smoker and really dousing the colony into a stupor so I didn’t get stung.
But of course, this was back in ancient times and I don’t remember everything with clarity, so I plugged in honey harvesting and came across a fantastic blog: http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com After I watched many of Linda’s detailed how-to videos and slide shows, and admired her award-winning wax block (I had forgotten wax would be another ‘bee’ product that the Meadows can produce to support Emerald Isle.) I decided to bookmark the site on the most recent date.
That’s when things got personal. Yesterday Linda and three of her beekeeping friends lost seven of their hives at a community garden to flooding in Atlanta, GA. I feel so bad, for them and for the helpless bees. This is not the kind of feeling one would get researching a topic in a book. I mean, I’ve been in Linda’s kitchen, in her backyard, seen her grandson crushing honeycomb. All this morning. I really appreciate all the work she’s gone to in sharing via her blog what she’s learned in the last four years. So to see her photos of the flood and down in the water-filled basin the little marks on them that indicate where the hives used to be … well, you get the picture.
Yes, tooling around on the internet takes you to some research sites fast, but it also allows you to touch the lives of some very interesting people.
100 words for 100 days
Last modified on 2009-09-20 01:29:50 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Along with starting writing a new novel, I started a new challenge – for myself. Though I am a fairly consistent writer, I have read the best way to maintain your flow is to write every day. I never seem to be able to do this, so I joined a yahoo group called Club100writers. The challenge is to write at least 100 words every day for 100 days. The writer posts daily totals to the group.
Right now I’m one of the only newbies. I started Conifer Curse on Monday, and started Club 100 the same day. I posted Day 6 today. Other writers are in the 50′s and 30′s. There don’t seem to be too many people currently working toward the goal. It’s hard to start a new habit. I nearly forgot because it’s Saturday and I was away most of the day. Thank goodness for yahoo digests cropping up in my inbox. And I didn’t want to start again.
Perhaps you’d like to join?
Hooray, another final!
Last modified on 2009-09-16 01:03:59 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
This weekend I received the exciting news that my other YA manuscript, Seaside Sorcery, finalled in the 2009 Indiana’s Golden Opportunity contest. I entered this contest sponsored by the Indiana Romance Writers of America back in June during my flurry of contest entries. Along with the other finalists in the YA category, my entry is being judged by an agent and the results will be back October 15th. I’m breathing a sigh of relief that I’ve just finished polishing the manuscript (yet again) and my critique partner says she has time to review the whole story.
So … with both my YA stories doing well in the contests, I’m (overly optimistically, I’m sure) starting to work on a third set in the same Sapaksa world. I have many story ideas, which I make notes on in my moleskin, but it’s so hard to decide which to dive into next. I’m pretty linear when it comes to writing. I pick one, get totally immersed and write until I’m done.
The chosen story is Conifer Curse, which features Fern and Beri from Meadow Magic, and a new character from the Sapkasa city of Bonterra in Ireland. I have a brief description of the story under Young Adult Books.
Last modified on 2009-09-04 22:08:00 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Willow has two new pieces of art that show off her placid nature. Thanks to Skaera for her lovely golden-haired headshot, and to Sikurri for the young witch with full wings. Love how she’s flooding the flower with magical energy.
I’m happy to say today I submitted the story in which Willow appears, Wildflowers and Winged Boys, to a contest that’s open only for manuscripts that have finalled in another contest. The competition will be stiffer for this one, but I’m looking forward to seeing how it does.
August Art
Last modified on 2009-08-31 22:45:28 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Well folks, I’ve been terrible about posting this month and have some catching up to do, especially with art thank yous.
My dd took a break as well, but lately has been busy coordinating more art for my book characters. Each person is now well represented, even Hilda the guinea pig! Medic Droid treated us to an adorable piggie chibi. She’s even ‘weeking’ love, and we love her!
For the other Meadow Magic characters, Ning Yu portrayed Fern and Beri with a Red deer native to Ireland. She gave lots of nice details to their clothes – very true to the story. Fern has a cute new chibi in her spiral purple shirt by Sprinkle and Beri has a new head shot in his signature color of green by Rebekah L. Great eyes!
But for Meadow Magic characters, Raven is the winner this month. The poor guy had no art and is now well-featured. Gou sent in a sketch chibi couple of Raven and Willow that is quite striking in its monotone colors. Then an attitude-heavy portrayal of Raven came in- a short black outfitted chibi by Radio. I laugh every time I look at him, because its “so Raven.” The last of Raven’s by Melan has Raven’s wings spread wide and looking very capable of lifting the guy into the air.
Willow also has her first art. Eliah shows off her wide golden eyes in a nice head shot, and Willow shares in the sketch art couple by Gou.
For Seaside Sorcery, Sprinkle drew Ty and Coral as a chibi couple on a beach. They are quite charming with their blue and red hair and I love the small details of Coral’s necklace and hint of her braids.
It’s so fun to have my dd pop in while I’m working to show me a new picture. I really love the variety of ways one character can be depicted. I hope my readers are also enjoying our growing gallery.
Thanks everyone!
A Finalist!
Last modified on 2009-08-23 21:39:30 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
One of my YA manuscripts is a finalist in the the 2009 Lone Star Writing Competition sponsored by the Northwest Houston RWA Chapter. Here’s the confusing part: it’s entered under the title WIldflowers and Winged Boys, but is on my website as Meadow Magic. Same book, I just thought the first title was a bit more catchy and have been using it lately.
Anyway, I am thrilled! The three finalists are being judged by an editor and an agent and the winner will be announced two long months from now during the chapter’s conference on October 25th.
I’ll keep you posted!
Last modified on 2009-08-03 23:55:52 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I finally went to see the newest Harry Potter movie. I liked it and can’t wait to have it on DVD to be able to look around at all the scene details, but the bit that really caught my eye in the theater was the trailer for The Lightening Thief.
It looked terrific. My son has been an avid reader of the series, so I swiped his copy and began reading it that night. It’s really good, and I’m trying to figure out what’s making this twelve-year-old’s adventure so engaging? I like the cameos of the mythologic creatures, all of whom are dying, albeit temporarily. I like his companions, the meek satyr Grover and the enemy-wanna-be Annabeth. And I like the cross-country trip featuring American icons.
But I think it’s come down to sharing Percy’s hope that he can still save his mother, and that perhaps his father will accept him. Gotta hand it to Rick Riordan – he did exactly what I’ve heard Michael Hauge say to do: give the protagonist a conflict in which the reader can become emotionally invested.
Percy, I’m with you again tonight!
Last modified on 2009-07-26 00:12:45 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I haven’t started on a new manuscript – on purpose. I heard a great workshop on self-editing and have been working over the last ms, as well as one of my previous ones. This takes some concentration, and I get so sucked into the world of a new book, that while I have the opportunity ( i.e. I’m not published with deadlines, other than the self-imposed ones ) I figure I may as well focus. This week I also used a new workshop from nationals on High Concept and have beefed up my story loglines. It’s helped quite a bit with the three line query pitches and a new synopsis, both of which are a different form of writing.
YA at RWA
Last modified on 2009-07-21 21:29:02 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
One of the neatest things I did during RWA 2009 was to connect with other YA authors. I participated in two different breakfast meetings, but I also met so many other YA authors along the way. It seems there are more of us now and the networking is ramping up. The report on young adult chapter of RWA is good – we are close to being official.
A YA novel even won the overall First Book category in the RITA – or published competition: Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs. This book was also nominated for the YA category, which was won by Hell Week by Rosemary Clement-Moore. I’ve read both of these and they’re great. The third novel in the category was How to Hook a Hottie by Tina Ferraro, which I’m going to pick up soon. Hope you all put them on your to-be-read list as well. In the future look for the winner of the unpublished YA Golden Heart Award, Stage Fright by Shoshana Dawn Brown.
Way to go ladies!
Back and Inspired
Last modified on 2009-07-20 00:16:00 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
The RWA conference ended last night — three days of writing workshops, renewing connections with far-away writers, meeting new writers, and brainstorming all the ideas that come with the creative venture of storytelling. I’m swimming in the excellent karma of so many great conversations and ready to drop into my imagination and explore another new world. But first (!) I have to catch up on my sleep and send out my requested partials on Seaside Sorcery. The response to my story pitch is encouraging–cross your fingers for me!
Ready for RWA
Last modified on 2009-07-14 22:20:05 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
At long last my writing conference is about to start and I believe I’m ready. Re-editing my manuscript reacquainted me with a piece I haven’t looked at in almost a year, and I’ve learned so much in that time that I felt confident about the changes I made. I’m proud of my finished novel and excited to go out and talk about it.
I’m just as proud of my new website and sure will be talking it up as well — especially all the great art I have!
Two new pieces went up today. Thanks to Vanessa Savanh for drawing Duffy in a hot pink tank and to Rui for her deep blue-eyed portrait of Coral.
RWA 2009, here I come!
Editing, guinea pigs and art
Last modified on 2009-07-11 16:44:53 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Preparing for the RWA national conference has taken me away from the internet for a more than a week–as have other activities at home. I’m pleased that I did finish editing all 277 pages of Seaside Sorcery, so it’s ready to go if requested by any agents I pitch to at the conference.
Guinea pigs–we seem to be overrun with them. If you’ve been to Hilda’s page under Meadow Magic, you’ve read about our volunteer fostering. Right now we’re pig sitting for a fosterer on vacation – her rescued moma and 3 week-old babies. They are incredibly soft and cute, and eat so much. We are constantly feeding them, then cleaning the cage.
And art. A few more pictures have come in, and they’re all great. Thanks to Chisuru for the portrait of Fern – glowing with bright green energy, to Ayame for 2 drawings- one each of Duffy ( you got her hair just right) and Ty, and to Phantascope for the one of Ty – love that energy!
Lots of Art
Last modified on 2009-06-28 21:32:30 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I have been remiss the last few days in thanking my artists–sorry! I was tied up polishing a contest entry – a long 55 page one.
Coral and Ty – wow – lots of pictures now. Thanks Hue for the two blinking ones – love Skipper and the Vespa.
They’re carefree and zooming along on the Vespa in a chibi pic by Lyle Lawrence. Erin Goodman asked about drawing a beach scene, so I sent her an excerpt. She portrayed Ty sharing magic with Coral, and her tye-dye dress is even better than I imagined it!
Thanks to Karina Yurallos and Rui for Fern’s new solo art. Both are very nice, as is Lunasumerin’s portrait of the green-eyed Beri.
Last modified on 2009-06-23 20:27:41 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Thanks to Ning Yu for her pencil sketch of Coral. I especially like the fun macrame details in her hair and on her sandals.
Yesterday I completed the character sketches for Fern and Beri from the Meadow Magic story, so they are up on the site, along with a chibi couple portrait that came in an hour ago from Fleet. I had to ask my dd why they had little red marks on their faces–they’re blushing! <g> I love it!
I have started the character sketches for two of Beri’s friends from Emerald Isle, and a witch who’s doing a college internship. So look for those in a few days.
Today, I’m polishing my Seaside Sorcery manuscript in preparation for pitching it to an agent at a writing conference–Romance Writers of America’s 2009 National Conference. This will be the third national conference I’ve attended and this year it’s in Washington, D.C. I’m nervous about my pitch, though I’ve already prepared it and am practicing, but I’m super excited about the opening speaker–Janet Evanovich!
DD and I have read all of her Stephanie Plum books and most of the others. I even own her How I Write book. Have to say, one of her reprints is my favorite–Love Overboard, maybe because the hero owns a two-masted schooner, just like Coral’s family.
First Artwork!
Last modified on 2009-06-21 20:10:06 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I’m pleased to announce that Erin Goodman submitted art for both Coral and Ty. Have a look at Erin’s great pencil sketches under the characters’ descriptions. Thanks, Erin, for being the first to send in your work!
Art coming!
Last modified on 2009-06-19 19:13:49 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
When I began talking about establishing my website, my dear daughter (dd) suggested collecting art images of the different characters. Two days ago I wrote and posted character descriptions and the dd ran with them. After posting the request on her avatar community, we’ve been in a whirl of activity. A number of artists have responded. I have now collected even more of the personal details about Coral and Ty from Seaside Sorcery and posted them.
I’m so psyched that we’re going to have a collection of individual interpretations of my characters.
Next to pull together the excerpts from Meadow Magic.
Starting out
Last modified on 2009-06-17 17:37:46 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
About a month ago I purchased two domain names and decided it’s finally time to use them. Following the suggestions of a RWA workshop by Emma Clair and Michelle McGinnis (Go visit their websites to see a summary) I’ve set up my very first website on WordPress. It’s fun, complicated and very rewarding to learn this aspect of getting my name out there.
