The traditional publishing world moves like a glacier.

It's no secret. Everyone who's ever submitted a single query knows how slow the publishing industry moves. It's just how it is. Agents and editors are bombarded with content every single day. Plus they have a ton of other things to do beside read queries, partials and full requests. They have to keep on top of their current clients and authors. They're always on the go. I follow enough agents and editors on Twitter and have heard enough speak at conferences, etc...to know a good amount about how their lives go. They are crazy busy.

So yeah, it takes a while to hear back from them. I can't say it's always easy to sit back and just wait. And wait. And wait some more. But it's part of the process of pursuing a traditional publishing career. I've come to accept it. I've learned how to deal with it and stay sane.

Recently I listened to an author speak about her journey and why she has chosen to self publish her work. And one of her biggest reasons was the time issue. She chose to self publish, and was very adamant about encouraging us to do it for this same reason as well, because she could write her book and get it out to readers immediately, instead of waiting a year for it to come out through traditional means. She started making money immediately instead of in a year.

And yeah, that does sound nice. I love writing. I love when readers enjoy my creations. But a girl needs to eat and I do need to make money. I don't look at this year of waiting time for traditional publishing as a waste though. There's so much that can be done in that time.

So here's an example. My agent currently has my book out on submission. Let's say it sells tomorrow and won't release until April 2014. I have a year to write more books and get those sold and ready to release after that book does. I have a year to work on social media and build excitement for the book/s. And the money aspect- I will pay $0 for editing, $0 for cover art design, $0 for formatting, etc. So even though I have a year of collecting $0 in royalties, I have also paid $0. It may take a little longer for the money to start coming in, but I personally feel that is a better base for a career. For me. I know others feel differently.

Every writer has a decision to make when it comes to their career and going traditional or self pubbing, or even a combo of both. It's a personal decision and everyone has their reasons. This girl has her reasons too. And for me, traditional is just the best route, despite the fact that it takes longer to get there.

How the publishing world is like high school

Not necessarily in a bad way though :)

Recently I was chatting with an author friend about how we're both waiting ever so patiently for news from editors about our newest manuscripts. For anyone who is trying to get published the old fashioned way, you know the wait is often long. I said to her, "I feel like I'm in high school again. Why hasn't he called me back yet?"

And that got me thinking. The whole publishing process is a lot like those awkward self-concious years.

***Now I must say before you continue, this is high school in MY day....1991-1995. Things have changed a lot since then, with the internet and texting and such, so yeah, some of this might not happen exactly for teens today, or anyone who was in high school the last 10 or so years. But anyway, the feelings are still there. So now you can continue reading :)

When we send out that first query, it's like sending a note, or asking your friend to go over to so and so and ask if he thinks you're cute. It's the first line of communication. It's the opening, to see if this crush is gonna go any further.

And then you get a request, just the first 3 chapters. That's like the guy writing back or telling the friend, "Yeah, she's cute." There's a spark there.

Then comes the full request. That's the telephone number exchange and phone call. You're in! Partially, anyway. They want to know more about you....more about your story.

And then there's waiting. And more waiting. You're on the phone with your girlfriends whining, "Why hasn't he called again? What is he thinking? Does he like me?" In the publishing world, weeks and months will pass with no word. In the teen world, probably only a day or two, maybe a week. But both feel like FOR. EV. ER.

And then the contract or offer of representation lands on your doorstep, or inbox, which is equivalent to a guy asking a girl out. "He likes me. He really likes me!"And the jubilation commences.

But what if that doesn't happen? Yep...pretty much still the same thing. Rejection happens to us all. And just like 15 year old girls, us authors cry into our pillows wondering, "What's wrong with me? Why don't they like me? Am I not cute enough?"

And usually you never get an answer. Sometimes the publishing world will give you a reason, especially if you've gotten all the way to the full request phase. Teen boys, not so much. Usually it's because some other girl looks shinier. (Teen boys are easily distracted by shiny things.) They don't see the awesomeness that is you. And that's very true in the publishing world too. It's such a subjective business and maybe that particular agent or editor just doesn't see your book's awesomeness and shininess. But there will be someone else who does. I hope teenage girls know this. The right guy is out there. He just might not have seen you yet. For writers, the right agent or editor is out there...and you'll find them too.

Chick Lit and Contemporary Romance

When I first started writing, I had no clue what to call it. It was just a story. There was love and romance. There was humor. The main character had stuff to deal with other than her boyfriend. There was a fun BFF and crazy parents. There was drama and tears and celebration. There was a whole lot mixed into my stories. But it's what came out of me and what I liked in the books I read.

And then came the time to categorize what I wrote. And it was chick lit all the way.

Back then (circa 2006 ish) the term "Chick Lit" was still acceptable. Agents still represented it. Publishers still wanted it. Harlequin still had its chick lit only imprint- Red Dress Ink. My dream was to have that logo on my book. Well, I came close, but nothing happened back then. And the chick lit thing started to fade. I was left wondering what to call my work. I still loved reading books like it and I knew many others did too.

So I started calling it women's fiction. But then people told me my story was romance instead. I was like "WHAT?" No way. I was not a romance writer. And it used to bother me. I guess I was naive back then and all I thought when I thought of romance was cheesy stories and Fabio on the cover. That was not me and not what I wanted for my career.

But then I started doing my research. And romance was not at all what I thought. And yeah, there was a place for me. Others were writing sexy, sassy, humorous books with drama and being published as romance authors. And with a little more time and research and getting my hands on lots of contemporary romance titles, I had embraced the genre. And now I adore it. It's smart and sophisticated but also fun and sexy. A complete escape.

In my opinion, chick lit is not dead. It's still out there and there are tons of us still loving reading it and loving writing it. But we do have to name it Contemporary Romance now. There really is a fine line between the two. Both are stories of women facing struggles in life and love. Neither is complete without both. But chick lit does not have the romantic relationship as the main plot, and romance does.

Interview with the FAB Roni Loren!!

Today I have a super awesome treat!! Fresh off her release day for her debut book, Roni Loren is here to chat with us!!!

You've done what so many writers dream about...snag an agent and book deal! How did you celebrate both of those successes?

When I signed with my agent, I’m not sure it really set in. I just kept punching my husband in the arm and saying, “Dude, I have an agent!” : ) Then when I got my deal with Berkley, I just couldn’t stop smiling. I was such a Berkley fangirl, and I couldn’t get my head around the fact that my book was going to be published with them. I do remember going into my Borders and sticking my finger in the spot on their romance shelf where my book would go. I still look for that spot in any bookstore I go into.

That's so cool. Now I wanna go do that at the store!!

I remember way back when...I met you way before either of us had publishing contracts! We'd started blogging around the same time and even had a similar amount of followers for a while...but then you just exploded! :) Is there a secret to your blogging success?

I don’t know if I have any secret. I was as surprised as anyone when people started following me, lol. I think the key for me was I had a focus. I naturally gravitate towards teaching (although, my husband may argue that really means I gravitate toward bossy. J) So even though I hadn’t intended for it to be a writing blog, that’s what it became. And for some reason, even though I was a complete newbie, people found that “come learn with me as I learn” approach helpful. I don’t know if I’d recommend my approach to others since it also means I limited myself on topics (and have subsequently had to start a separate reader-focused author blog as well), but I’m so thrilled to have met all the great writer friends I have. It’s been a blessing.

You always have such great advice for writers. Where did your wealth of knowledge come from?

It truly was a learn as I blog kind of thing. I devour books on craft. It’s a bit of an addiction, really. And then I read agent/editor/writer blogs like they were going out of style. Plus, as I went along, I started learning things by making my own mistakes. (Like querying a first novel before it was ready.) So I would share those hard lessons on the blog to hopefully help others NOT do what I did, lol.

Thanks for sharing your enending wisdom with us all!

Now, let's talk about the book! Give us the blurb for Crash Into You!

Brynn LeBreck has dedicated herself to helping women in crisis, but she never imagined how personal her work would get, or where it would take her. Her younger sister is missing, suspected to be hiding from cops and criminals alike at a highly secretive BDSM retreat—a place where the elite escape to play out their most extreme sexual fantasies. To find her Brynn must go undercover as a sexual submissive. Unfortunately, The Ranch is invitation only. And the one Master who can get her in is from the darkest corner of Brynn’s past.

Brynn knows what attorney Reid Jamison is like once stripped of his conservative suit and tie. Years ago she left herself vulnerable only to have him crush her heart. Now she needs him again. Back on top. And he’s all too willing to engage. But as their primal desires and old wounds are exposed, the sexual games escalate—and so does the danger.  Their hearts aren’t the only things at risk. Someone else is watching, playing by his own rules. And his game could be murder.

Sounds so good!! Can't wait to read it!

What will you most likely do the first time you see your book on a bookstore shelf? (I'm thinking cartwheels in Barnes and Noble are a bit frowned upon.)

Is that frowned upon? Well, damn, there goes plan A. I’m honestly not sure what I’m going to do. Probably do a little quiet squeezing and bouncing, then I’ll have hubs snap a picture of me holding it. I think the whole thing is going to be surreal.

We did this interview weeks ago...so now I'm wondering what you actually did do yesterday!! :)

Did you set out to write an erotic romance, or did it sorta just happen?

Just sorta happened. I had written a paranormal YA and contemporary romance already. And while I was waiting to hear back on the contemp romance, I got the idea for CRASH. It was an idea that could only be told via erotic romance, so I decided to give it a shot. I’m an avid erotic romance reader, so I was familiar with the genre, but I was a little nervous about writing something with all the naughty stuff in it. : ) Then I realized, hell, this is fun!

It sure is fun! The more I write, the more sexy my scenes get! So fun!

I know this isn't the first book you've written. Will you someday dust off those other manuscripts??

The YA? Probably not. It was my practice novel. Though I haven’t ruled out writing a new YA in the future. The contemporary romance had publisher interest, so it’s still viable. I just need to find time in between my deadlines to revise it a bit and decide which way I want to go with it—traditional or indie. I love that book and have a series planned for it, so it will get out there at some point.

And just for fun, knowing we have similar tastes in movies and men, I need to know......

Favorite scene in Dirty Dancing:

Definitely when Baby and Johnny dance in his cabin. *swoon*

Favorite song from Dirty Dancing:

Cry to Me – Sexiest. Song. Ever.

(If I know you as well as I think I do, I’m guessing they are the same as mine!)

I was sooooooooooooooooooooooo right!!

Favorite Ryan: Reynolds or Gosling:

Gah! That one’s tough. Which one’s taller? *googles* Dang, they’re both over 6 ft. I’ll say Gosling. But I do write erotic romance, can’t I just have both? ;)

You take Gosling, and I'll have Reynolds!

Sexier eyes: Paul Walker or Bradley Cooper:

Bradley

Thanks for having me!

BIO:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Her debut erotic romance CRASH INTO YOU will be released January 3, 2012 by Berkley Heat/Penguin. If you want to read more posts like this one or follow her journey to debut authorhood, you can visit her writing blog Fiction Groupie or her author blog. She also tweets way too much for her own good.

CRASH INTO YOU - EXCERPT:

Brynn’s response lodged in her throat, the all-too-familiar name ringing in her ears. No, couldn’t be. But a sinking feeling settled in her gut. She’d only met one Reid in her life, and that Reid was a lawyer. She closed her eyes and took a steadying breath before she turned around to face her new co-worker.

Reid’s blue-eyed gaze met her head-on, hitting her like an airbag to the chest. She sucked in a breath and fought the old instinct to lower her eyes in deference. Son of a bitch, where had that urge come from? She ticked up her chin and gave him her best I-hate-you-but-will-be-polite-because-I’m-the-bigger-person glare. “Hello.”

Cooper walked around Brynn and clapped Reid on the shoulder. “Reid, I’d like you to meet our other social worker, Brynn LeBreck.”

Reid nodded, his expression annoyingly unreadable. “Brynn, pleasure to see you again. It’s been a while.”

Not long enough. Three years had passed since she’d last seen him. His inky hair was longer on top and a few lines creased the corners of his eyes, but time hadn’t softened her warring responses to him. The urges to pummel his face and strip naked before him held almost equal weight. Luckily, the venue was too public to give in to either. She feigned an air of indifference. “It has.”

“Still as beautiful as ever, though.”

The warm notes of his voice stirred the dark recesses of her memory, further inciting the old longing. She shifted in her heels as hot tingles crept from deep in her belly and moved downward to settle between her legs. Un-f**king- believable. Her body was a whoring traitor.

Melody stepped next to Brynn as if sensing her need for support, and Cooper’s eyebrows rose. “You two know each other?”

Boy, did they—in just about every way a man and woman could. She searched Reid’s face, and he tipped his head infinitesimally, as if giving her permission to answer the question. Her eyes narrowed. “Used to. Long time ago.”

Cooper smiled, either oblivious or unperturbed by the tension zipping through the air between her and Reid. “Great. Guess introductions weren’t needed then.”

Nope. Not needed. Brynn knew exactly who Reid Jamison was. A first-class bastard.

(Full version of chapter one can be read here: http://www.roniloren.com/excerpts )

This is why I love that man....

My husband said something so wonderful the other day...and I just had to share.

We were walking through Barnes and Noble and he said to me:

"There's so many books in here. There's no way every single one of them is more talented than you. I just don't get it."

He sees me struggle and get frustrated...he's frustrated too. Just doesn't understand why I can't find an agent like every book in B&N has.

Why do you want to be published?

When I started writing fiction with the intent on completing an entire novel, oh, some six or seven years ago, I had no clue why I was doing it. I just wrote cause I wanted to write. I'd finally decided to take one of the million ideas that had floated into my brain and make it into a story.

I did end up abandoning that first story in favor of something more near and dear to my heart. And I'd never felt so accomplished as I had when I completed it...all 135,000 words of it.

It was then that I took the next natural step. What else does one do with a completed novel but try to figure out how to get it made into an actual book?? I wanted people to read my story and love it just as I did. And man did I ever go through a major schooling after that!! I'd never imagined just how hard it was to become a published author. I laugh now when I think back to that time in my life. I had been so naive! I'd thought it would be so simple!

But maybe it's how hard it was, how much of a challenge, that made me crave it so badly. I worked hard. I learned. I kept on writing. I entered contests. I joined a critique group. I received hundreds of rejections. But I persisted. I just kept going. Only the people who give up never succeed, right? That was my mantra.

And eventually it paid off. I'd finally found the right home for my story (not that original one, mind you, but another one I completed after that). And was it everything I'd ever dreamed of?? Well, yes and no. :) My story was out there for the world to read and that made me so happy. But there was also the challenge of getting people all over the world to know about it and and want to read it.

I'm still working on world domination, but in the meantime, I am ecstatic just having my story available for everyone! Every time someone tells me they loved it, I get tingly! I hope that never goes away!

Don't forget my Show Me The Love Blogfest!! It's gonna be fun!! Make sure you sign up!

Why am I sitting here? I have things to do!

Yeah...I have tons to do right now. Tonight is my turn to host the monthly Girls Night in with my close group of friends. (Can you say martinis and comfort food???) I have to clean the bathroom, do up some dishes, get the dining room ready....and a pan of homemade mac n cheese isn't going to magically appear in my oven. Ohh and what's that smell....oh...my son needs a diaper change too.

But where am I??? Right here, at my computer. I've just spent the last two hours reading blogs, commenting on blogs, Twittering, Facebooking, Goodreads, etc.... I think I'm a little obsessed, but not obsessed with social networking, per say. I'm obsessed with getting myself out there and connecting with people. I'm obsessed with getting people to want to read my book.

I need to do this. I need to be successful. I need to make something of this dream.

There's so much I want and I want it now! I so feel like Veruca Salt in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I see other people have it and I want it too. Sometimes I really want to stamp my feet and be bratty. Sometimes I wish my daddy would ask "Okay, how much?" and buy me my dream come true.

No, that's not true. I've always been a girl who needs to earn what I have. And yeah...nothing worth having comes easy. I know that.

Sometimes I just wish it wasn't so damn hard. It would be so much easier if my dream was to be a doctor. You go to school and as long as you apply yourself and work hard, you dream will someday come true.

With my dream there is no guarantee...ever.

Okay, the stink is getting to me and I really need to go clean!

I'm officially on vacation!!!!

Though I'm just staying home and doing nothing really, I'm still officially on vacation. We usually go away in the fall, and this year is no exception. Our late fall trip to Disney was booked months ago and we're eagerly awaiting it!!

But yes, even authors need vacations...a week to not work on writing or editing or anything. Summer is going by too fast and my kids are too little to not spend some time with them where they have 100% of me.

I decided if I made it to 40,000 words on my WIP by the end of July (which added close to 30,000 words in the month of July), I'd take the first week of August off. And I did it!! YAY!!

So today I have decided to repost one of my favorite posts since I started my blog!

The first is the day I got my publishing contract form Lyrical Press for A Bitch Named Karma:

Sunday, May 17, 2009

I'm on my way....finally!!!!

I think as a writer...we get used to rejection, almost immune to it...."Another one to add to cork board...." And even email rejection letters...though they can't be saved and used to wallpaper a bathroom, unless you print them anyway, tend to be the same. You check your inbox and see a publisher or agent's name as the sender with a subject of Re: Query. You know what it says before even clicking on it............I did until yesterday that is........................

I was offered a publishing contract!

A few weeks ago as the final last ditch effort for my second novel, A Bitch Named Karma, I started looking into ePublishers. I had been on the traditional merry-go-round with the novel several times. I did a major rewrite with a name change and started again. I'd gotten several partial requests, even a full request...all ending in rejection. I just could not find a home for this story that I loved so much. I started looking into publishing it for free for Amazon's Kindle. But it sounded so confusing and I just wasn't real sure what I was getting myself into. I then started looking into ePublishers. Seemed like a decent way to go so I sent out some submission packets.

Then yesterday I got a response from Lyrical Press! I sat there for a few minutes unsure if I was actually reading what I thought I was reading:

We’re happy to inform you that after reviewing your submission, we’d like to extend a contract for A Bitch Names Karma. Our editors and screeners thoroughly enjoyed this read and we’d love to add it to our catalog.

My husband was outside trying to finish up the last few things on the wooden swing set we bought for our kids. I walked out in my pajamas, regardless that my neighbor was outside playing with his kids, and told him. He climbed down from the playhouse part of the thing and hugged me. We both found tears in our eyes.

I'd done some research on the company and it seems like it's on the up and up. Folks at Absolute Write Water Cooler had good things to say too. Plus, this company has really nice covers...some of the others......tacky is the nicest word I can think of!!!

No fat advance, but I have to say, royalties are really decent for ePublishing! I was kinda surprised....comparable to what I'd make if my book was picked up by a print publisher and sold in books stores.

So, once I have my lawyer take a look at the contract and I sign it and mail it to them, I will officially be on my way to being a published author!!!

Is this real??? This is happening...to ME???? So many days I wondered if this would ever ever happen to me......

Finally!!!!! The anthology is released!!!!

Back in, oh Spring of 2007, my writers group told me about an anthology that was being put together...all local writers writing about local things, fiction, non-fiction, poetry. I thought it sounded great. I've lived in Western New York my entire life (aside from two years away at college and a brief 9 month stay downstate), so I had to have something I could write about.

I started a piece about myself and titled it The Girl from Black Rock. (the nickname given to the area of Buffalo I grew up in). It talked about my life as a kid growing up in Buffalo and the simple things we did for fun. My family did not have much money but we did some really fun things. I sent the piece in and within a day or two, it was accepted. The editor said it was exactly what they were looking for. I was BEYOND ecstatic. I hadn't been writing for long and I was actually going to be published!!!!!

Then I wanted more. I started a fiction piece and polished that in a day or two...sent it off again. Yep..they loved that too!! Yippee!!!! I'm in the book twice!!

Well, after three years and several calls for submission, the book is FINALLY finished and available for sale!!! Click here for the link!

All proceeds benefit the Just Buffalo Literary Center, who do amazing things for our community.

Signing a contract is so exhilarating!

Very excited to share with you all...Lyrical press offered me a contract for my second novelette, titled Soap Dreams! Yay!!

I wrote two novelettes, completed unrelated. A friend had sent me a link to a romance magazine that was looking for pieces with a max word count of 10,000. I thought I;d give it a try. And I really liked writing something that length. It was long enough to really get into the story (as opposed to a short story with a 5,000 max) but short enough to not be able to focus on any sub plots and I had to keep my character list short. I completed one, edited, got feedback form several places, and then sent it off. I wrote the second while I waited. And then I never heard anything. The second story was finished but the word count was too high....I let it sit. There was no point in whittling it down.

Fast forward a year or two. I had received my contract for A Bitch Named Karma from Lyrical press and I was ecstatic. And I found that they also published shorter works. Maybe I could finally find a home or these pieces that I had no clue what to do with.

But Lyrical has a 15,000 word minimum. So I went to work and bumped up my word count for Paradise Cove. I submitted it and wahlah! They loved it! Then I worked on Soap Dreams some more and when I finally had it ready to submit. And they loved that one too! I signed the contract and it's ready to mail! (Woulda went in today's mail, but no mail today!)

So happy to have found a home for these short works...one thing I absolutely LOVE about digital publishing!! A few years ago, no one would have wanted to publish a 15,000 word story. Yeah, there are compilations but never do they take on newbie writers.

Got some dates for releases!!!!

I am so so excited over here!!!!!!! Back in, oh, like February, my editor at Lyrical, Piper Denna, told me she saw A Bitch Named Karma on the print release schedule for September. I was beyond ecstatic!!! But without hearing it from the owners of Lyrical Press, I tried not to get too excited. And then I did hear it from them..at The Write Stuff conference the end of March. But they said January.

Well, I found out the other day that the official release date for PRINT for A Bitch Named Karma is December 1, 2010!!!!!!

Wooo Hooooooooooooooo!!!!!!! They emailed me the book flap...OMG......it made me all tingly!!!!

And I have another release date announcement!! Found out my official release date for Paradise Cove, a short novel that is being published by Lyrical as well!! March 21, 2011!

RELEASE DAY IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! After years of trying to find a home for a story that I loved....after years of agonizing and wondering why no one else found it special....after making so many changes and edits and wracking my brain trying to find out what was missing....this day has come. My novel is out there...for sale! People will buy it (hopefully) and love it (again, hopefully!) and I am officially an AUTHOR!!!!

When I graduated from college, just over 13 years ago, I was on a much different career path. I thought it was what I wanted...I thought that was what I was meant to do with my life. And for a while I was happy. But it never fulfilled me...not completely, and that was something I never knew until I found something else.

I knew I had lost my fire...my drive....the all encompassing joy that I'd once felt. Maybe it was working for myself..the stress of being a business owner was much different than working for someone else. But I liked working for myself.

And then one day I picked up a pen and actually wrote down a story idea that floated into my brain. This had happened many many times...these random thoughts where I said to myself "Hey, that would make a great book or movie!" but then let the thoughts fly away. Until that one day. And that was it.

In case you want to check out my book trailer again, here it is!

Many of you have been here through this entire journey and I am completely thankful! Some of you are newer followers and I offer you a huge "Welcome to my world!" As a thank you, I am giving away a digital copy of A Bitch Named Karma!! You have `til the end of the week to enter, just by leaving a comment here! (Must also be a follower) Please promote and for every place you post this blog post (Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, your own blog) you'll get an additional entry! Let me know in the comments section where you've posted it!! If my follower list reaches 150, I'll give away an additional copy!

But if you can't wait to see if you win, here is the link to buy it now!!!

Check back every day this week...I have all kinds of fun things going on!!!!

Only ONE week to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Memorial Day everyone!!!!!!! My plans for today include a trip to a nearby amusement park that we have season passes for! Hope you all are having a fun time as well!!

But the most exciting news- today marks ONE WEEK `til release day for A Bitch Named Karma!!! WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm still not sure how I want to celebrate that day. I will be chaperoning my daughter's zoo field trip, which I am very excited about. They only allow 4 parent volunteers and I was lucky enough to get one of the golden tickets! (It's a lottery if more than 4 parents volunteer, and in this suburbia, there are always tons of parent volunteers!)

My release party is planned for June 12th and I've invited my closest friends, family and writers group members. So far, it's looking like I'll have about 50 or so guests, with a bunch still MIA. (Why can't people rsvp???) Hopefully Mother Nature will give me a warm sunny afternoon and evening. My house cannot hold that many people! :) I wondered if I should even be having a party...the book is being released digitally at first...no books to sign or anything. Print release is still TBA. But I've worked hard for this and I wanted to celebrate. I'm officially starting my writing career...after this when people ask what I do, I can say "I'm an author!"

5 Diamond Review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am beyond ecstatic right now!!!!!! My first review on A Bitch Named Karma came in!!!

Check it out on Got Erotic Romance?

I love my story...my friends love my story....my editor and publisher love my story.....but strangers???? Readers who are just out there somewhere?????

They like me...they really like me!

Two weeks and counting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Two weeks from today, my debut- A Bitch Named Karma will be released!!

I am so so excited!!! Can't believe that it's been a year since receiving the email that changed my life and career! It feels so amazing to know my story will sound be out there for the world to enjoy!! (I hope everyone enjoys it anyway!!)

It will be available for sale on my publishers site: Lyrical Press. And here's my listing on Amazon.

So, of course there will be a mega celebration over here!! Not sure what we'll actually do that day. I am chaperoning my daughter's zoo field trip during the day but maybe a celebratory dinner out will be necessary??? :) We are throwing a party that Saturday and have invited all our friends and family and surely it will be fab! (Hoping mother Nature complies since it will be an outdoor party.)

WooHooo!! I love when I get a contract in my inbox!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sent my novelette to my editor over a week ago and wahlah...over the weekend I received a contract for it!!!

One of the great things about epublishing is the fact that all lengths of stories now have homes. In the print publishing world...who wants a 16,000 word story??? Yeah, there are anthologies and compilations, but in my genre, I think it's mainly established authors who can sell on name alone.

I remember when I started this story. I had written a flash fiction piece for a contest (and it placed top 10, BTW!). A friend had told me about a Romance magazine that was looking for pieces, max word count 10,000. So I decided to give it a whirl. I took this flash fiction piece and knew I could expand on. It felt VERY refreshing to work on something of this length, knowing I could not add in subplots or too many characters. I had to stay focused just on this one plot idea. I finished the story relatively fast and took it to writers group, got feedback, worked on editing it. I submitted to the magazine and started another story to be the same length- something I pulled from my idea file.

Never heard from them, and that was a good year and a half ago. After coming down from the high of my first publishing contract with Lyrical Press, (a year ago yesterday!!) I decided to go back to it. Lyrical publishes all sorts of lengths and I thought this was my chance to find a home for this story that I loved.

I had to keep setting it aside to work on edits for my novel, but I finally finished it about 2 weeks ago. Since Lyrical now has a 15,000 word minimum, I had the freedom to add more description. And I decided to change the POV from 1st to 3rd, which also gave me the chance to add in the hero's POV, which I love to do.

I submitted it to my editor and over the weekend, I received a contract for it!! I am so so excited to find a home for this story! I really love it and I can't wait to share it with everyone!! And it's a nice quick read...doable in an hour or so!

Finally found out my release date!!

And it's much earlier than I thought it would be!! Yippee!!!!! The big day will be:

June 7, 2010!!!!

I have a release date!!!! This is so huge for me!! Each step of this process is more exciting than the last and I still find it hard to believe that it is all actually happening to me!!

And make sure you go here and enter my drawing for one of three Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom books! Win it before you can buy it!!!!! Winners will be drawn this Friday!!

Chicken Soup for the Soul books arrived!!

Things were not going too well for me the other day. But I came home to this and it changed everything!!



Even though I only have a tiny part of this book, it still felt amazing to find a box at my door from Simon and Shuster! A big time publisher had sent ME something!!

I had made mention of the story being published in CSFTS here and on Facebook, but for the most part I kept it kinda quiet. I wanted it to be a surprise for my mom, since the book was all about moms and the story I contributed was about her. I knew the book was due to release on March 23, 2010...I figured it could be a fab Mother's Day gift.

Yeah....like I really thought I could actually wait that long after actually having the book in my hands.

I am really excited to have my 10 contributors copies almost a month before release day, so when I went over to my parents' house the other day, I took one of the books with me. I signed it, of course, and wrote a little message to my mom. I gave her the book and told her to turn to page 175. She was quite excited!! She knew the story existed...I'd entered it in an essay contest before and it placed top 10. She has it printed out and in a frame. But she was even more excited now...couldn't wait to take it to work and show her friends!

So...I have all these copies and I need to give some away!!! Anyone want one????? I'm gonna give away three copies- all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. You must be a follower! I'll give it till the end of next week, Friday the 12th, and then I'll draw 3 random names! Please feel free to share the giveaway on twitter, your blog, Facebook...wherever!!!

Final stage of editing....I can't believe it!!!

Wow. Can't believe this day is here. Today I start the absolute last stage of editing. I received my galley yesterday and now all that's left to do is go through and note any typos or other minuscule changes. After this there's no going back...no more changes. This is it!!!

I am in awe of how far I've come since starting this book. It had a different name back then and the original story idea was a bit different. It morphed as I wrote and I remember how fast I pumped out that first draft. Barely two months it took me...I was so excited...so inspired...I just could not stop. It was three years ago this month that I started it.

I remember how excited I was when it was finished and how fabulous I thought it was. I edited and perfected it and I queried. I received 9 requests...one of which was a full request from Red Dress Ink, one of the biggest chick lit publishers around. (this was when they still accepted unagented submissions). Devastation filled me when every single one ended in rejection.

But I loved this story so much.

It sat for a while, then it got an overhaul. I queried again and had no luck at all. Then I sent it off to a few digital publishers and that's when my story found it's home. My heart about burst when I found someone else who loved this story as much as I did.

And now here we are, after perfecting it even more...ready to publish and share it with the world!

My Cover Art: Here it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so unbelievably excited to share this with my blogger friends!!!!

As I said in my last post, it is a bit more racy than I would have liked, but option #2 was just not as striking. And honestly, the second model had WAY too much makeup on and she was kinda ugly! LOL! And her arms were positioned really weird. I think this cover will definitely grab someone's attention and hopefully once readers read the blurb, they will want to buy it! There is a warning that will post under my blurb, telling possible buyers that the story contains strong language. There is no mention of sex in my warning, so hopefully that will be enough to let readers know it is not an erotic novel. And it will be listed under Chick Lit not Erotica.

Sooooooooo......what do you guys think??????