Blog On Slip Into Something Victorian

I have a new blog up on Slip Into Something Victorian on Victorian hair jewlery. This was an important plot point in Erin's Rebel.

A Victorian brooch containing a lock of the hero's hair was the catalyst that sent the heroine, Erin, back through time.

Here's the link: http://slipintosomethingvictorian.com

Another Great Cover!

The Wild Rose Press did it again.

Here's my cover art for my Civil War time travel romance, Erin's Rebel.

Isn't it fantastic?

WICKED WOMAN

Every once in a while, I like to do a review of one of the great books I've read. I just finished reading Denise Eagan's WICKED WOMAN.If you haven't yet read this book, you're in for a treat.

The story's set in Victorian era Boston. The heroine, Morgan, is the daughter of an English Earl and has run away to escape an arranged marriage to a man she doesn't love.

She marries a sailor, who dies. She then quickly goes through two more marriages, both to men who also die. The last husband, who she lived with in Philadephia, abused her. Trying to avoid an attack, she hits him on the head with a statue and he dies. Afraid she'll be charged with murder, she flees to Boston and earns the reputation as the 'Wicked Widow of Philadelphia'.

The hero, Ward Montgomery, is a ship captain. He catches Morgan breaking into his office to steal food and recognizes her as the widow of two of the sailors who'd served under him. He takes pity on her, a girl of twenty-one, takes her to his home and feeds her. He hopes to lend aid by finding employment for her.

She suggests he take her on as his mistress. He doesn't know about her aristocratic background and sets her up with a house. And a sensuous adventure begins.

Morgan is a young woman with a strict upbringing in England, who now longs to experience all the wicked delights she's had to repress. She's young and reckless, but very believable. Ward is a society bachelor, who isn't ready to settle down with a proper wife. He delights in Morgan's nonconformity, until he finds out she's the daughter of an Earl.

This book is fast paced, Victorian-set romance, and a real page turner. If it weren't for time constraints, I never would have put it down. When I did have to put it aside, I looked for every opportunity to pick it up again.

My rating: 5 stars out of 5. And it's going on my keeper shelf.

Fantastic News!!!

I just got another contract from The Wild Rose Press for my full-length Civil War time travel romance, Erin's Rebel.

I've been submitting and entering this story in contests for the past five years, went through a major revision starting at the plot level, and received another rejection for it last fall.

I am so thrilled that everyone will now have a chance to read Erin and Will's story.

Here's a short blurb to wet your appetite: Philadelphia newspaper reporter, Erin Branigan, is engaged to marry an up-and-coming lawyer, but dreams of a man from the past, a Civil War captain, change her plans and start her on a journey beyond time. After a car accident, Erin wakes to find herself living in the 1860s in a Confederate army camp. The man of her dreams is now a flesh and blood Rebel soldier who sets her soul aflame. Can she correct a mistake made long ago that caused his death and denied her the love she was meant to have? A love that lives beyond time?

I'll keep you all apprised as this project moves along.

My Cover for Eternity Waits

Here's my cover for my short vampire story, Eternity Waits, coming soon to The Wild Rose Press.

Isn't it gorgeous?

Rejection

Just got my first rejection today for a partial I'd sent out after the holidays for Katie Rose .

They said my story didn't dazzle them. I got annoyed for about two seconds, then decided I really didn't care. Rejection wasn't going to ruin my day. I just filed the letter away and marked that publisher off on my itinerary sheet.

I think I've finally developed that thick writer's skin where I can put rejection in perspective. That publisher didn't like my story, but one day I'll find the one who'll love it as much as I do.

How do you all handle rejection?

February Goals

I'll make my February writing goals short.

The reason is, I'm taking an online workhop on Plotting via Character Motivation this month and want to be able to fully participate. I plan to use the workshop to help plot out my sci-fi romance, Moons of Cynara.

So here are this month's writing goals:

1) Complete (finally) outline for Moons of Cynara.
I'll use the workshop to move this plot along.

2) Start revisions for Katie Rose, my historical romance.
I've already revised and polished the opening chapters, sent partials and entered the Sheila contest, but most of the remaining chapters are still in first draft stage.

I'm sending chapters of this story to my critique group, so have started going over a few chapters, but noticed I started a subplot thread that I think I may have dropped in later chapters.

So, these are the two goals I want to concentrate on for this month.

What Happened to January!

This past month just flew by. Seems like it was just Christmas!

I realized it's time to review my January goals and see how I did.

1) Send out partials for Katie Rose.
I got them out and actually got the reply postcard back for one already.

2) Complete Moons of Cynara outline.
Well, I stalled out on this one, although I did make some progress. This month I'm taking a workshop on Character motivation and plot development, so that should movtivate me to get moving on this project. Hopefully, I can get the outline done by the end of February.

3) Prepare and enter Katie Rose in a late January contest.
Done! I entered the opening chapters and synopsis in the Valley Forge Romance Writers Sheila Contest.

4) Cut scenes for my time travel romance, Erin's Rebel.
Not only did I cut those scenes to bring the manuscript page count down, but I sent a query with synopsis, got a request for the first three chapters, then the request for the full from The Wild Rose Press. It's currently under consideration there. So, although I faltered on the outline goal, I got way ahead on this one.

Guess I didn't do so bad.

And February's a short month. I'll see what new goals I can come up with.

Blogging At Slip Into Something Victorian

I'm blogging over at Slip Into Something Victorian today. The blog's about my husband's search to find a Civil War soldier ancestor and the interesting results.

Here's the link: http://slipintosomethingvictorian.com

Starting Something New

I've finally found the time to get started on the outline for my sci-fi romance. For now, I'm using the title Moons of Cynara.

The love story is between two members of Earth military who are sent to the planet to prevent a war between Earth colonists and hostile aliens.

Although it's a lot of work--I have to create an entire world--I'm having fun working on a brand new project. My other stories are all either going through revisions or edits, and I'm waiting for responses from a few publishers.

So, I'm going to spend as much time in my new world as I can and see where my imagination takes me.

It's My Birthday and I'll Blog If I Want To

Today's my birthday. I won't say which one.

Another year gone by and I'm feeling really good about it. After years of writing, submitting, taking workshops and studying my craft, I've got a contract for my first romance. Eternity Waits, a short vampire story, will be released by The Wild Rose Press.

Although I've been published in the past, it's been quite a while since I've sold anything new. So, this year feels like a turning point for me.

Besides Eternity Waits, my Civil War time travel, Erin's Rebel, is currently under consideration by the same publisher.

I've just gone through my first round edits for my short story and feel like all the work and rejections I've dealt with in the past were worth it.

I think 2008 is going to be my year.

Feeling Good!

Here we are in mid-January and I just realized I've met all of my goals for the month but one.

I sent out my partials for Katie Rose, my historical romance, and already received the reply card from one of the publishers.

I cut scenes in Erin's Rebel, so it would meet my target publisher's guidelines, sent the query and synopsis, got a request for the first three chapters, and now they have the full under consideration.

Yeah, way ahead on that goal!

I sent out my contest entry for Katie Rose yesterday, well ahead of the January 31st dealine.

So, all that's left is that outline. I spent an hour world-building today. I would have done it yesterday, but my editor wanted me to get the manuscript information sheet in for my short vampire story, Eternity Waits, so the cover artist can start working on the cover and the marketing department can start planning how to promote my story.

A cover for my short story! Can't wait to see it!

Working It Out

While writing and promoting my writing are very important daily activities, the most important thing I do each day is spend an hour working out.

My morning workout consists of 25 minutes on a stationery bike, the last 5 minutes is my cool down. I spend the next 10 minutes stretching, then I alternate between one of two workout tapes that include exercises with small hand weights for my upper body, lower body exercises and abdominal workout.

I do this every day during the week to give me energy to get through the day, keep me healthy and keep those extra calories from creeping up on me.

No matter how much else I have to do, I always make time for my workout.

New Blog on Slip Into Something Victorian

I just posted a new blog on Slip Into Something Victorian.

Since most of my stories so far are set during the Civil War, I talked about the different weapons used during the war and how the war advanced the technology used both in weapons and in warfare.

By commenting there you also have a chance to win a gift basket.

Click on Slip Into Something Victorian and check it out.

January Goals

I posted my writing goals for 2008, but I haven't yet posted my goals for January.

Here they are:

1) Send out partials for my Civil War romance, Katie Rose.

2) Complete outline for Moons of Cynara, my sci-fi romance.

3) Prepare and enter Katie Rose in a late January contest.

4) Cut scenes from my time travel romance, Erin's Rebel.

I'll let you know by the end of this month how I did.

Those December Goals

I already announced my goals for the coming year, but how did I do on those year end goals?

1) I decided to hold out on sending my partials until January because I wanted to incorporate some great suggestions given by contest judges into the first two chapters. I did send one of my partials out today, though.

2) I applied for PRO membership in Romance Writers of America and got my acceptance email today.

3) On the contests for Katie Rose, I decided to skip the first one because it had a January 3rd deadline. With all the other things I had to do, I didn't want to add more stress around the holidays, but I do plan to enter the second contest. It has a deadline of January 31st. Much more doable, and I've already started to get that entry ready.

4) I looked over and made some notes on my sci-fi romance outline, but had to put it aside again to revise my short story. I plan to get back to the sci-fi romance after the New Year holiday.

So, although I didn't accomplish everything I wanted to do, I got a great deal done in a very busy month.

Now, I'm ready for the New Year!

Happy New Year!

I want to start the new year off right by announcing my writing goals for 2008.

I ended 2007 on a happy note by selling my vampire romance short story, Eternity Waits, to The Wild Rose Press. It's been quite a while since I've sold anything, so I hope to continue my good fortune into the new year.

1) My biggest goal of 2008 is to write more.
I've joined HHRW's Historical Hearts Writing Challenge loop and plan to set both weekly and monthly writing goals and try my best to accomplish them.

2) Make more time to read both in and outside of my chosen genre.

3) Mail out partials to my first choice publishers for my new Civil War romance.

4) Do some cutting on my time travel romance and try to find a publisher willing to look at it.

5) Step up my promotion efforts in advance of my short story's release by The Wild Rose Press.

6) Enter my Civil War romance in as many contests as I can afford.

7) Complete the outline for my sci-fi romance and finish the first draft by the end of 2008.

So, those are my goals for the new year.

Next, I'll post my goals for January.

Contest!

Hop on over to my group blog for a chance to win a Twelve Days of Christmas gift basket.

I also have a new blog up on Christmas during the Civil War. Leave a comment and you'll have a chance to win.

Details at: http://www.slipintosomthingvictorian.com

Merry Christmas!

I didn't get any writing done today and I'm winding down for the coming holidays. I spent today, after my workout, cleaning the house, baking and making my Christmas fudge. And now I'm exhausted.

We still have to put up our tree. We'll do that Sunday, then all that's left is Christmas dinner. I've got the presents under control, already packed in their gift bags. I stopped doing wrapping paper two years ago.

I hope everyone has a joyous and peace filled Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Rethinking Contests

I just received my latest contest entry in the mail today. I already knew I hadn't finalled, but am always curious to see how the judges scored my work and what they had to say.

And the results were typical. One judge gave me high scores, although she did find a few things to nitpick about. The other judge gave me a lot of low scores and had written all over the entry.

So, I decided to look over the high scoring entry first. She really liked the characters and story--as least what she could see of it from the first two chapters. And the few things she had problems with, I could agree with. I decided I would make a few changes before sending it out again.

Then I decided I had to look at the low scoring entry to see what she had to say.

To my surprise, although she'd given me some very low scores, she also gave me some very high ones. She also liked the characters and story, and made some very valid comments that I decided I also wanted to use.

The result was a very positive contest experience. This was the first contest I'd entered this story in and, although my critique partners loved it, I didn't know what kind of remarks I'd get from others.

I've decided to hold off sending the partials of this story out for another month, so I can take my time and go over those first two chapters again. I think this will give me a much better chance of getting requests for the full.

I'll also hold off on entering this in any other contests until I've made the changes. And these are changes I think are necessary to improve the mechanics of this story.

When I send this out again, I want it in the best shape it can possibly be. And after this experience, I really do want to enter this in future contests.