Long Time, No See

Where has the time gone? Lordy, lordy, but I've been plotting and planning and writing and submitting and getting rejected for quite some time, now. 3 editors rejected me, and my first choice agent followed suit. But I've got it out with 2 more publishers and have moved on to work on my next project. I'm excited about 2011 and feeling good about what I've accomplished so far and what I have planned.

Now, if the government just stays open for business . . .

And if Mother Nature would cooperate and bring on Spring!

Sunday, September 5, 2010.

It is the third in a four day weekend, much to my sorrow. I have been productive, in a very non-writerly way. Perhaps a useful productivity - I have been culling (madly, insanely) all the materials, documents, papers, and "stuff" that has been accumulating over the last months (OK, I'll admit it, YEARS) while I was serving on RWA boards, trying to finish a novel and submit it, judging RWA contests and on and on. The result of 3 days is a good feeling of being unburdened, and the side discovery of all sorts of stories, ideas, and writings that I had "put away" and forgotten about.

There's nothing more thrilling than reading several pages and then recognizing that, holy smokes, I WROTE THAT! A nice little boost of confidence that, I hope, will see me through tomorrow as I wrap up this effort, and get started on the yard!

Despite the 4 days I have not addressed the short that I wanted to write for an anthology submission, nor did I read my novel again for any last, yes, again, tweaks before querying my "first choice" agent (who was not accepting queries until 9/7, so I WILL have my query ready to go at 12:01 Am on 9/7. Wish me luck!

September 3, 2010, Hey There, Earl

It's Friday before Labor Day. Ironically, my office closed for Friday as well, so I'm lounging about preparing to get up and at my day, whatever it may bring. Hurricane Earl is coming up the Eastern Seaboard, though at the moment the sun is out at 8:05 AM. It is humid, but unlike last night when the wind was quite whippy, it is still and quiet, with the sound of cicadas humming outside. I'm a bit nudgy today - I feel frustrated that I haven't stuck with my writing. After my big push to submit (and the subsequent rejection), I'm re-reading the MS again, tweaking, again, and then I'm going to be submitting to an agent (I'm thinking Trident Media will be my first target, but I've got Book Cents in my sights, too.). But I've got 4 days for lots of writing, and one real goal is a submission to Rachel Kramer Bussel for her upcoming anthology. I've even got the whole story plotted out. I've got motivation and the perfect fantasy - I'm calling it "Sanctuary". You'll see why! If she doesn't take it, there'll be some other places I'll try. Perhaps EC? Ah, well. I need a cup of tea. The first one went cold. Ta for now!

August 24, 2010 & Coping with LIRR Nonsense

I'm poised on the brink of yet another "first". My first query to an agent. I'm going to shoot the moon and query Trident Media. Not only do they rep several members of my local RWA chapter, but I have worked with them through my office, and so thought I could "name drop" a little - especially as we don't currently represent them anymore, so no one will get annoyed.

I figure that I can still continue to pitch to publishers - and will, though I've had to scratch Dorchester off my "potential" list, seeing as how they look to be crashing and burning - poor Chris Keeslar. A great guy, wonderful editor, enthusiastic dude and I'm sure he'll land on his feet, but it narrows my list.

Since some publishers say they take a year, or longer, to respond to even a query (though Baen wants you to submit the entire MS for consideration as a first step - which I'm a little feared of doing). So I'll have plenty of time while they consider, while I also try to find an agent. Perhaps then my "baby" can find the right editor, at the right house, as the right time!

Kismet!

August 22, 2010 - Forging Ahead Despite Rejection!

This week I got the rejection from Penguin's Ace/Roc editors. I'd submitted a cold query (i.e., no 'in', no agent, just hubris) to them on March 31 for my urban fantasy, and waited patiently (ok, not so much) for 4 months. I then received a request on July 26 to submit the full manuscript to them because they found my initial pages "intriguing". I was over the moon, beside myself, jumping on Oprah's sofa, what have you. Naturally I had to re-read, re-polish and generate a synopsis, but I sent it off with high hopes.

Which were dashed when I got the "thanks but no thanks" response. They liked some things, but had trouble with the opening pace (even though they liked the very beginning, I guess) and didn't "connect" with my protagonist.

Now, that, I knew, might be an issue. My kick-ass heroine has a potty mouth, is very snarky, and has a spanking fetish. She is tough and has taken care of herself all of her adult life. During the course of the novel I (think) I show her growth and her ability to learn to trust and love and bond with others. I don't know if the editor didn't read all the way through (didn't sound like they read the entire thing - all the comments referred to the beginning, so ...).

Anyway, as I wrote in an article for my RWA/NYC chapter newsletter, Keynotes, while I was disappointed, it did give me impetus to improve, to forge ahead, to submit elsewhere and investigate agents, so that I may have someone going to bat for me who knows just the right person, or the right house, to pitch it to.

Onward and upward!

July 8, 2010

We're having a heat wave. A tropical heat wave. And I hate it! When I am hot I can't do anything. Can't eat, sleep, can't even THINK. And grouchy? I'm a veritable ogre during weather like this when I am sweating constantly, and getting thigh burn from trudging the City streets going home on hot subway cars.

Yuck, yuck, yuck.

AND it isn't like I don't have a ton on my plate! I got my website up and running in June (Happy Birthday to ME!), along with a coordinated blog and Yahoo Group newsletter. I volunteered to write an article for my NYC RWA chapter newsletter (deadline July 15) on an erotic romance topic (don't you know I chose my fave, menage?!). THEN I succumbed to pleas for judges for RWA chapter contests and signed up for two. I got my entries just in time to further screw with my schedule.

On March 31 I submitted my very first query. To the Ace/Roc imprints of Penguin for my urban fantasy (first in a series), BETWEEN A ROCK & A BAD PLACE. 5 months to wait for the response, so I went merrily on my way, starting to work on my erotic romance project (having decided spicey is definitely "me").

Then I'm invited to submit a noir short story for a new Southern Noir crime anthology being compiled & edited by a friend. Color me tickled pink cause it came about on my birthday. What a gift!

But more was to come. The next day, while chatting with a gent at my place of business, a delightful guy I've known for almost 20 years, we got to talking about my writing and lo and behold, he's got a HUGE contact at the pinnacle of one of the NYC big "6" publishers and he says, "Give me your book and I'll get it to him!"

So HOLY COW, I'm totally psyched. I go back to my MS to pore over it and make sure every i is dotted, every T crossed, and that every subway my heroine takes actually goes where I'm sending her (mortifyingly embarrassing: THEY DIDN'T!).

So now, on top of my monthly newsletter, new erotic project, a newsletter article, and judging 2 contests, plus counting down til the end of the Ace/Roc period (August 31 will be the 5 months)I've got to get this sucker in pristine condition and pray to the literary gods for good fortune (and a 3 book deal and a movie option).

And it is TOO DARNED HOT!

Sob!

March 26, 2010 - TGIF!!!!!!!

The rain predicted for the day ended mid-morning and the sun came out bright and shiny. It's 4:50 on a Friday and I'm headed into a weekend where, please Gods! I can rest, sleep in, and address nothing more strenuous than my query letter, synopsis, and edits. My deadline of making my very first submission is 3/31 - next Wednesday and I'm a bit off target, but bound and determined (kinky, no?).

With the weather fairly cold this weekend in NY I won't be able to sit outside and bake as I did last weekend and will, instead, be able to sit inside and work on the edits.

A dinner date with friends that may well give me an extra dose of motivation is on tap when I break free in mere minutes.

Let's hear it for weekends!