Monday, August 24, 2009

I'm Still Here!

I have not forgotten I have a blog - I swear! But the powers that be have blocked a bunch of websites at work so being able to post in my downtime or lunch hour has been curtailed and I didn't want to cut into my writing time since I'm trying to get revisions completed on both Salvation Falls and Invitation to Scandal before NaNo begins in November.

I'm still pondering what book to write for NaNo this year, but I'm leaning towards either Book 2 in the Brimstone series or Book 2 in the Invitation to Scandal series, just to give me a bit of a jump should one of those books get picked up for contract.

A bit of good news: I received a call last Thursday that I made the finals for Toronto RWA's Original Golden Opportunity Contest. My marks were 100, 100 and 98, which I was really pleased with. And when I say really pleased, I mean through the roof thrilled beyond belief. I wasn't sure how this book would be received. It was last year's NaNo book and maybe because the pieces all fell into place too easily I was wondering if maybe I was missing something. I had the top preliminary score in my category which also was a much needed boost in the writing mojo. Granted, that preliminary score means nothing when it goes to the final judge (Editor, Leis Pederson, Berkley), but it's nice to know the story did its job so far.

Leis Pederson was the final judge when I entered Brimstone. The manuscript is still with her, so I'm hoping maybe, just maybe, getting another dose of my writing might help with respect to having her take a look at that and make a decision. Preferably one that comes with a contract.

Meanwhile - I have resent Brimstone to Kensington. Hilary Sares had originally requested it but she has since left. I sent off a letter inquiring on the status and received a letter back indicating they didn't have a record of the request but please resend it and they would have a look. So off it went. Today I am sending The Outlaw Bride off to Harlequin Historical. Then it is back to revisions starting tomorrow.

Other than that, the vacation in PEI was awesome, Hurricane Bill managed to pass through town yesterday with minimal upheaval and no power outages at my end. And today I have the exciting prospect of having 10 years of top soil being delivered which will be shoveled when I get home. Oh joy...

7 comments:

Melissa Amateis said...

Congrats on the contest final!!!

Tess said...

Congrats on that contest final! You're so close, I can just tell :) My fingers are crossed.

I'm hoping to try NaNo this year, though with school, I may not really manage too much. But anything is better than nothing.

Glad Bill didn't do any damage to your place or cause a power outage.

Unknown said...

Congratulations again on the final and those terrific scores.

Great getting all those MS circulating.

Unknown said...

Congrats on the final and the subs. I finaled in YA, but your scores were way better than mine. 100, 97 and 57. Congrats on the subs too. Good luck in the final round.

Trisha said...

Good luck with your submissions! I know what you mean about not being able to get in posting at work. I used to do some there, too but now the business expanded and I have extra people around all the time and more work.

Lexi said...

Awesome on the final! Good luck in the final round. And all those books, wow! You are busy! I'm seriously considering joining NaNo this year. I should be done with my revisions by November and I have an AMAZING couple just chomping at the bit to get their story told.

MJFredrick said...

Congratulations on your final! Good luck with Leis!