A Polishing Till It Shines Checklist from Mia Marlowe

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming author Mia Marlowe to talk to us about polishing your manuscript. For all of you doing NaNoWriMo, this checklist of things to look for after you've finished your draft is going to be especially indispensable.

And if that wasn't enough, Mia is giving away an ARC of SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER to a lucky commenter! (open internationally) So be sure to leave your email address in the comments.


Now, over to Mia...

    Polishing Till it Shines

The manuscript is finished. Now what? Time to revise andpolish. And let me encourage you to be brutal. This is your last chance to makethe story as good as it possibly can be before you start submitting it. Youonly get one chance to impress an agent or editor. Make it count.

Start with the beginning. Does your opening sentence raise aquestion in the reader's mind, something to hook them into reading on? If not,work on it until it does.

Is your first chapter bogged down with back-story? Slash itnow. Hit the ground running and don't look back. You need to know what's comebefore. Your readers only need the barest hint. Don’t include more backstorythan is necessary for readers to understand well enough to continue. Keepingyour reader slightly off balance, wondering why something is happening or why acharacter is reacting in an unusual manner is a good way to keep the pagesturning. And that is your goal.

I often tell my husband he married a hooker. No, this isn’t TrueConfessions! ;-) I'm talking about writing hooks. These are tiny tantalizingbits of information that create a path for your readers. If you work it right,you can literally pull your reader forward through your story.  This is what keeps readers up nights.

Check your prose. Are you using passive voice? Hope not.Lots of helping verbs? Weak. Circle every word ending in "ly" and cutthem till there's no more than one or two per page. Use descriptive verbs andnouns instead of adjectives and adverbs.

Read your story aloud. You'll hear the echoes of over-usedwords your eyes may miss. Any sentence you have to take a breath to finish istoo long. Cut it in half.

Look at your pages. How much white space is there? Are you tooheavy on narrative and too light on dialogue? Do you need the tags on yourdialogue or can you tell who's talking based on their speech patterns? Do allyour characters sound alike?

Can you smell your scenes? Have you engaged all the senses orare you relying merely on visual? Your reader wants to walk in the heroine'sshoes. Give her enough to know where she is and how to feel about it.

Are you sticking with one point of view per scene or are youpopping in and out of your character's heads so much you'll give your readerswhiplash?

Do your characters have similar sounding names? Tolkien mayhave gotten away with Eowen and Eomer, but most readers prefer not to have towork that hard. Do your character's names start with the same letter? For thesake of clarity, change one of them now.

Use the spell checker. I mistrust the grammar checker, butthe spell check is my friend.
  
When your story is polished till you're sick of it, turn it overto someone whose judgment you trust--generally not a relative or someone whowants to continue to sleep with you. Don't be defensive. Prepare yourself forrequests for revisions. If you don't develop the hide of a rhinoceros, yourstay in Writerland will be painful and brief. Accept their comments andconsider them carefully. You didn't come down the mountain with the storycarved in stone. Revise if you find you agree with them.

Once you're satisfied your manuscript sparkles, do yourhomework. Don't send it to an editor or agent who doesn't handle your brand ofromance. Choose your targets carefully. Why set yourself up for a 'no?'

Print it up. Say a prayer. Submit and start working on thenext one. Don't even think about contacting them for a response before threemonths. Good luck and Happy Writing!



What special trick do you use tomake sure your final manuscript is the best version of the story of yourheart?



Mia Marlowe writes historical romance for Kensingtonand Sourcebooks. A classically trained soprano, she calls her adventurous,sensual stories a cross between Grand Opera and Gilbert & Sullivan…withsex!  Her Touch of a Thief(May 2011) received a rare starred review fromPublishers Weekly and January 2012 will see the release of her firstcollaborative novel with New York Times bestseller Connie Mason,Sins of theHighlander. Check out her blog at MiaMarlowe.com for RedPencil Thursday. Mia does an online critique of the first 500 words for anintrepid volunteer each week. She loves to connect with other writers andreaders and hopes you’ll join her on Facebookand Twitter.

Remember to leave a comment and your email if you want to be entered to win the ARC!

Thanks, Mia, for stopping by!

“...a sexy, sizzling tale that is sure to have readers begging for more!" –Jo Davis, author of I SPY A DARK OBSESSION

CRASH INTO YOU is now available for pre-order!
Read an excerpt here.

All content copyright of the author. Please ask permission before re-printing or re-posting. Fair use quotations and links do no require prior consent of the author. ©Roni Loren 2009-2011 |Copyright Statement|

Why No Sex Doesn't Mean No Tension by Author Jody Hedlund

Today I have the super fabulous Jody Hedlund with us. Jody is one of my favorite bloggers to read and is just an all around lovely person. I feel like I learn something every time I stop by her site.


And today she's going to talk to use about something I have no expertise in--writing romance with *gasp* no sexy scenes. :)  I love this topic because it shows how wonderful and diverse the romance genre is. There truly is something for everyone.


AND make sure and leave a comment WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS because Jody is giving away a copy of her newest release, The Doctor's Lady, to one lucky winner!


So without further ado, take it away Jody...




Are Sweet Romances Boring?

Does including sex in your romance novel help it to sell better?

There are those that might argue that, “Yes, sex sells.” And to some degree, that’s true. Why else would commercials use scantily-clad Victoria Secret-like models to sell everything from chewing gum to dish soap?

Okay. So I might be exaggerating just a tiny bit. But the point is that even in the book world, readers are attracted to covers with beautiful women who have lush bosoms and bare-chested men with sculpted abs.

But what about the sweet romances, books like mine, that have demure women on the front (literally covered from head to toe), and usually have limited (if any) sex in them? How do they sell? You might be asking, do they even sell at all?

My first book, The Preacher’s Bride (debuted in 2010), had to do with Puritans in England in the 1600’s. So even things like kissing and touching were fairly taboo. After my main characters get married, I depict them on their wedding night, sharing an intimate moment alone in their small house. But . . . I end the scene before they head to the bedroom.

Does that make my book boring?

Well, most of those who’ve read my book so far don’t seem to think so. In fact, my book has made the CBA best-seller list a couple of different times and has garnered first place in RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award and Award of Excellence.

Could my debut book have done even better though, if I’d thrown in a little sex?

I don’t think so, and here are three reasons why:


1. I’m writing for a niche market.

My publisher, Bethany House (a division of Baker Books), specifically targets readers of religious fiction. A reader who picks up a book with a Bethany House logo has certain expectations about the book, including that it contain some spiritual themes, and that it won’t have explicit sexual content.

In the editing of my book, my publisher has asked me many times to tone down especially passionate kissing scenes, because too much intimacy could alienate readers who expect a sweet romance when they open up a Bethany House book.  I realized those expectations going in to my contract, and even though I tend to push the boundaries every now and then, I respect the standards of my readers.

2. Diversity within the romance genre is important.

Roni and I are at the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to sex in our romances. While mine have none, hers are so hot the words sizzle off the pages. But the diversity between our books and within the romance genre is reflective of the diversity of life, the varying tastes people have in their reading, and their own personal preferences.
If writers were all trying to hit the “middle group” we’d leave out some readers who like more and some who like less. Besides, if we were all writing the same thing, our books and lives would end up being boring replicas.

3. Your characters don’t need to have sex in order to develop sexual tension.

What makes a story riveting and enjoyable isn’t necessarily the amount of sex it has in it. Instead, one of the key factors in making a captivating romance is how the author develops the sexual and romantic tension.
I like stories best that keep tightening the relational tension—that enigmatic push and pull between the hero and heroine. The two continually grow more attracted to each other, but the obstacles keep growing too. Their passion is igniting, but insurmountable conflict keeps them apart.

Developing an intense emotional relationship, creating flirtatious and fun banter, and the tender building up of intimacy—those are the things that make a romance truly satisfying.

In fact, one reader said this about my new release, The Doctor’s Lady: “For a story with no sex scenes, you have some very sexy moments in there. Love that.”

What do you think? Do romances need to have sex in order to sell well? Have you tried a sweet (sexless) romance? Were you bored?


And don't forget to leave a comment and your email address to be entered to win a copy of The Doctor's Lady!

©Jody Hedlund, 2011

Jody Hedlund is an award-winning historical romance novelist and author of the best-selling book, The Preacher's Bride. She received a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, both in Social Work. Currently she makes her home in Michigan with her husband and five busy children. Her second book, The Doctor’s Lady released in September 2011.






CRASH INTO YOU is now available for pre-order!
Read an excerpt here.

All content copyright of the author. Please ask permission before re-printing or re-posting. Fair use quotations and links do no require prior consent of the author. ©Roni Loren 2009-2011 |Copyright Statement|

Standing Out in A Crowded Publishing Market by Jenn LeBlanc

Today I have a special treat for you guys--Author Jenn LeBlanc. We're all told that we're supposed to stand out, to think outside the box, and to provide the "same but different" in order to make it in the world of publishing. And Jenn has taken that advice and has run with it. I can't wait for you to read about what she's doing. And don't forget to leave a comment on today's post with your email because Jenn is generously offering up a copy of THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE as a prize!

Take it away, Jenn...



When I started writing The Rake And The Recluse, I never thought to finish it. When I did, I never really thought to publish it. When I started working on that, I realized I really needed a good hook to get people to pay attention. I thought it was a great story, as did my editors and beta readers, but convincing a stranger of that was pretty important. 

Romance is the number one selling genre last time I checked. That means there are a lot of books, and a lot of readers, and as a new author I really needed to stand out in order to survive. 

I decided to put together a package for my queries. Something that would set me apart from the crowd. I thought, as a photographer, shooting a great cover for my novel might do it. (What can I say, as a newb it sounded like a good idea.) Besides, I could always use it on my writers blog and try to get some buzz going. 

I started casting for a cover model, and found Derek Hutchins and we set up a photo shoot. It didn’t take long once we started shooting to realize there was something special happening. I called him in for a second shoot and started playing with some other scenes from the book. This was about a month before the release of the first iPad. As the shoot became more involved my brain kicked into overdrive and I wondered about shooting illustrations for the entire novel. I talked to Derek and he was game so I started doing page layouts and, well the rest is history. 


I queried my idea but most of what I got in response was ‘we love your voice, but we don’t know what to do with this.’ By then I already had the book, and the images. I was not turning back so I learned how to layout and export to ePub on my own. I designed five versions of the book so it could be read on any reader, and I self published it. 

It’s a fully illustrated romance novel. I suppose you could call it a cover on steroids. Romance covers are such an iconic 20th century thing, and it’s time to move on with the possibilities of the digital age of books. This book in print is expensive. The full color volume, of which there are exactly four copies so far, is about $140 retail. The trade paperback, with images, is $21.95. It’s beautiful, but if you want the true experience, it’s in the ebook. That is what it was made for. 

I have always tried to think outside the proverbial box, always wanted to have something different. That carried over into my book project. I wanted something new, something more, something eye-catching, an experience and not just a really good read. I wanted to utilize the new media to its fullest potential. 

My novel can be read on any reader--video and flash are not part of the book. The images are embedded in the text, so it flows properly and you don’t need special plugins or video to read it--that was important to me. I’ve seen the vooks and thought that the video might pull the reader from the story, particularly on readers where they would have to move to a computer or something else with video capability. 



I actually loved every minute of this project and as it gains momentum I’m having even more fun sharing it. I think it’s worth it just for the pictures or the story independently, but together you get a more lush and involved reading experience. 

I have done all my own marketing and promotion, and managed to catch the eye of the editors at Avon. We are still talking, but I’m not entirely sure I want to go that route now that I have done all the work myself. I truly appreciate the big publishers, and what they can offer to a writer, especially a first time author like myself, and weighing the benefits of a big publishing house, including their editors and experts and reach, against my own hard work and expectations has been monumentally difficult. It comes down to numbers and how much they would get from all of my hard work, considering it is complete, and would only need minor edits and modifications for them to publish it.

I think it’s fantastic, and it makes me feel great to be told the writing is on, and they would love to be involved, particularly since a year ago I couldn’t convince anyone to look at it. It’s a bit like my own personal Marilyn in the ice cream shop experience. 

In the meantime I’m working on restructuring the book to its original format, a six part serial novel. Something else nobody was interested in. I’m finishing edits on the second book, and preparing to shoot that in September or October for a February release. 

I’m also doing illustrations for other wonderful authors, and a few covers as well. I have found this great community that I love being a part of, and my own little niche to rest in- not that I get any rest. 

Standing out in the publishing market is difficult. There are very few people who can do what I have done. I happen to be a professional photographer, and that really helps. That is what gave my my niche, and what makes me who I am in the writing industry. You have to find yours as well. It isn’t easy. I did not plan this. I fell into it a bit backward, but here I am and I plan to keep going because this is quite honestly the most fun I have had in my entire life. Learning everything I can from other authors, both new and seasoned, has helped immensely. Now that I’ve done all the work the next one will be simple for me to get done.

Now it’s just a matter of staying on top of the new media curve. I have a few short stories coming out soon, and some free reads going on my website to help promote. Actually there is a hidden scene on my website, and you have to play around to find it. It’s pretty randy so fair warning. :) It’s an outtake from The Rake And The Recluse.



My book is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance eBooks and on iBooks from your iThingy. 

If you read it please track me down on Twitter, Facebook, or my blog to let me know what you think! I LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear from readers, both the good and the bad. That way my next book will only get better.

Thanks, Jenn! So what do y'all think? An illustrated romance novel, sign me up. :) What ideas have you had that you were afraid were too outside the box? How do you think your book will stand out? 


CONTEST: And don't forget to leave a comment with your email addy to enter the contest to WIN a copy of THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE!


All content copyright of the author. Please ask permission before re-printing or re-posting. Fair use quotations and links do no require prior consent of the author. ©Roni Loren 2009-2011 |Copyright Statement|

My Epic, Two-Year Blogiversary MEGA BOOK GIVEAWAY!

I realized last week that I had passed my two year blogging anniversary on July 13th. Yay! Time flies when you're having fun, right?

So in two years...

  • I've posted almost 500 posts.
  • Have written three books.
  • Have switched from writing YA to writing romance and erotic romance.
  • Have met thousands of other lovely online writers, some of which I know will be friends for life.
  • Have gotten an agent.
  • Have sold two books.
  • And have not (quite) lost my mind yet.

So I consider that a win all around. :)

And to thank all of you for reading this blog, for taking the time to make supportive and thoughtful comments, for retweeting me, and for just generally being awesome, creative people, I've decided to have a super fantabulous contest!

Here's what's up for grabs. There's something for everyone I hope!

CONTEST CLOSED

by Alyson Noel

Erotic Romance Prize Package

(must be 18+ for these): Includes 2 ebooks from the fabulous

Cari Quinn

and 2 print anthologies

Reveal Me

by Cari Quinn (ebook) AND

Provoke Me

by Cari Quinn (ebook)

Ellora's Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile I
Ellora's Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis Volume 3

Ellora's Cavemen 

Anthologies (2 print)

Historical Fiction Prize: (2 of these up for grabs)

The Summer Garden: A Love Story

by Paulina Simons 

Historical Romance Prize Package (2 paperbacks):

The Heir

by Grace Burrowes

A Secret Affair (Huxtable Quintet, Book 5)

by Mary Balogh

Contemporary Romance Package

(2 paperbacks):

The First Love Cookie Club

by Lori Wilde

Seduction by the Book (Harlequin Blaze)

by Stephanie Bond

Paranormal Romance Prize Package

(3 paperbacks):

Guest Blog: How Important is a Moral Premise with Jeannie Campbell



Today I'd like to welcome the lovely Jeannie Campbell to the blog today. I met Jeannie early on in the blog-hood because her job caught my eye--Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. For those of you who don't know, before I turned into a writer/stay at home mom, I was a licensed social worker who provided therapy to children and their families and did adoption work. So I was happy to meet another therapist/writer.

And I love how Jeannie incorporates her clinical background with writing. If you haven't visited her site The Character Therapist, you're missing out. Today, Jeannie's talking to us about stories having a moral premise AND she's giving away a copy of the Writer's Guide to Creating Rich Back Stories!  So be sure to comment and leave your email address if you'd like to be included in the contest.

Take it away Jeannie...

How Important is Moral Premise?

By

Jeannie Campbell, LMFT


I used to think characters were the most important aspect of fiction writing. (This from a character-driven novelist/therapist. Go figure.) But after doing some research, I’ve come to the conclusion that the moral premise might be the most important thing in a book outside of the actual story premise.

The moral premise of a story is a single sentence statement describing the lesson of the story as it reflects on real life. Filmmakers have gotten the hang of this quicker than fiction writers, but Aristotle knew way back when that there was a correlation between a play’s moral message and it’s popularity. (Read his Poetics.)

When the moral premise of a movie sits “right” with the audience, that movie does better in the box office. Word of mouth spreads like my white cat sheds hairs—prolifically. On the flip side, if the moral premise is deceitful, the movie doesn’t do so well and people don’t tell their friends to go see it.

The same can and should be said for fiction. 

There are three ways people learn: experience, observation, and lecture. Lecture has the least to recommend it, experience the most, or the reason that the learner is using more of their senses. The more senses engaged, the greater the emotional tension and physical/emotional risk, thus the deeper the learning.

But fiction is unique in that is puts the reader in the position of learning via vicarious experience. The reader is (hopefully) transported into a new world that should become real to them. The reader should put themselves into the protagonist’s shoes, feeling the butterflies before a first kiss or the building apprehension the longer the killer goes free.

Some authors are simply gifted storytellers, weaving a tale that enthralls us. Others utilize the moral premise as well as draw from their innate author skills, and these are the books that capture the nation and beyond.

I’ll draw upon the cult following of The Twilight Saga to make my point. This set of books took America by storm. Stephenie Meyer wrote a book that spoke to the hearts of women (and men who will admit it), both young and old. Why?

Twilight is about love conquering all and not being able to choose with whom you fall in love. It’s a modern-day fairytale. (Why do you think factories are still pumping out DVDs of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast? They know that little girls everywhere dream about a prince coming one day. It’s timeless.)

Meyer’s book is essentially about Bella finding her prince. True, he’s a vamp, which means they have a few obstacles to overcome, namely Edward’s lust for her blood. But what book wouldn’t be complete without obstacles? It’s the obstacles that become your story premise.

Hopefully this simplistic assessment of Twilight’s universal appeal through its moral premise will get the wheels turning in your head about your story’s premise. Can you narrow it down to one sentence? Is it something that people can relate to, that they will want to talk about on their commute into town?

If you need any assistance at all with deciphering the moral premise within your story premise, please visit me at my new website, The Character Therapist. I do free mini-assessments for characters and charge a moderate rate for full, detailed assessments.

You can also sign up for my newsletter, Case Notes, and receive a free Writer’s Guide to Character Motivation. I have several other Guides for sale at my Therapy Store, so check it out!

Thanks, Roni, for hosting me on your blog today. I’m grateful to you and your readers for your time. Hopefully I’ll see some of you again on my couch. 

Feel free to ask Jeannie any questions in the comments and be sure to leave your EMAIL ADDRESS if you want to be included in the contest! (Contest open until midnight tomorrow night. Jeannie will contact winner directly.)

All content copyright of the author. Please ask permission before re-printing or re-posting. Fair use quotations and links do no require prior consent of the author. ©Roni Loren |Copyright Statement|

Guest Post: Previously Published Authors & Their Decision to Self-Pub


Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Christine Bell/Chloe Cole, Dee Carney, Cari Quinn, and Dee Tenorio here at Fiction Groupie. These lovely authors are going to talk to us about their decision to venture out into the self-publishing world AND they have been kind enough to offer a big ol' contest along with it! So yay!

And before I turn it over to them, I just want to let everyone know that you should tune in to this blog on Friday because guess what? I'M GOING TO REVEAL MY COVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (**if I'm allowed, still checking on that.) I got it today and am SO EXCITED to share it with everyone. So don't miss that.

Now take it away, Christine...

The Decision to Self-Publish

Thanks so much Roni, for allowing us to take over your fabulous blog today! To celebrate the upcoming release of our erotic romance anthology, Undercover Lovers, Dee Carney, Cari Quinn, Dee Tenorio and I are going to talk about our decision to self-publish and give some insight into how we went about it. We’re also running a mega-contest and will be giving away an ARC of Undercover Lovers to TWENTY random commenters!

Dee Tenorio and I have been friends for a while and have talked endlessly about the recent shift in publishing, the phenomenon that is e-pub and the really great (varying, and often confusing) opportunities out there for authors right now. Self-publishing came up time and time again in these discussions. Not so much as an alternative to working with our current publishers, but as a way of increasing our visibility, offering a product that was entirely within our creative control (SO much fun!) and selling more books. Never one to let the grass grow beneath my feet, after several of these discussions, I said “Okay, I’m doing it. I’m writing a novella and by June 1st, I’m going to self-pub it. You want in?” and she said “Absolutely.”

I’d love to tell you that we had it all worked out from the get go. We didn’t. But we did have the basics. Dee is a tekkie (thank God) and volunteered to handle the formatting and cover design. I researched some tax laws and contracts, wrote up a two page contract and volunteered to handle the finances (as most retailers will not pay to more than one person for a single work*). We also settled on the parameters of the book. We wanted a four story anthology and we wanted it to have a unified theme. Dee suggested Undercover Lovers and I thought it was a brilliant theme. All the stories would be around 20k words, and would feature either a hero or heroine who was hiding their true identity from the other.

Now that we had our ducks in a row, it was time to find two more authors. After bouncing some names around, we settled on our choices and sent a professional email, letting them know that what we were looking to do, citing our publishing credits and asking Dee Carney and Cari Quinn if they would like to join us. They both said yes and we were thrilled! They came in with vigor and ideas and suggestions to streamline the contract and the process and we were off and running.

Because one of the biggest benefits to self-publishing is the ability to write and see your work on virtual shelves very quickly, we wanted to take advantage of that. We set up a tight deadline, allowing about five weeks for writing then another five for editing, formatting and cover art. Due to our collective experience, we felt we could edit for one another in a sort of round-robin fashion. This allowed us to each receive three passes of edits before doing one final pass for ourselves. It worked out really well because each of us has a particular strength in this area. Where one of us might be weaker in grammar, they would catch any timeline issues or plot problems. We had a lot of laughs during the process and aside from jitters (we all wanted to impress one another!) it was as painless as any editing experience I’ve ever had.

Now I’m going to turn it over to my writing partners so you can get an idea of why each of them made the decision to self-publish this time.

Q: Okay chicas, what made you decide to sign on and self-publish this book when it’s very likely that all of you could have sold them to one of your many publishers?

Dee Carney – Honestly, although friends have had great successes with self-publishing, I’ve been on the fence. Although I have one title that’s self-published, the experience wasn’t a great success. I work full-time as a nurse and honestly, don’t feel I have the time needed to dedicate to the marketing, editing, promotion, etc. that is necessary. However, when approached about this anthology--and the opportunity to share that burden--a smile lit my face. Not only was I asked to join a fabulous group of authors, I knew with our combined experience, we have the talent to make this seriously rock. So far, my prediction has come true!

Cari Quinn – I've been interested in self-publishing for a while, but it's not something you can jump into without doing some research. When Dee and Christine approached me, the timing was perfect. I felt confident that they had investigated a lot of the ins and outs and I knew what I was getting into. Best of all, I'd be able to test the self-publishing waters in an anthology with three other incredible authors and we'd be able to cheer each other on to write high-quality stories that worked well with the others. I think (hope!) we accomplished what we set out to do. Plus it was a ton of fun! I loved that we set the timeline and we were our own editorial directors. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again, especially with these talented ladies. All three are now on my TBR.

Dee Tenorio- Well, to be honest, as much as I love my publishers, I wanted to have something out a bit earlier than the slots they could offer. Currently, you're looking at a book out—at the earliest, six months after submission and you're competing with the other 4-6 titles released that week. Self-pubbing is a really exciting arena right now and the time was ripe for experimenting. You're competing only with yourself... You know, yourself and the other thousands of books that are out there, lol. But I try not to let odds like that bring me down. It's a new challenge, which, honestly, is why I started with epublishing in the first place. I'm a ground floor kind of girl. :) Getting to write with friends just put it over the top and I dove right in. Plus, well, I had this really great idea about a wounded hero and a woman risking everything to love him… Really now, who can turn down something like that?

Now for our contest! Undercover Lovers is out now, and we’re hoping to get some ratings and reviews cooking on Goodreads, Amazon etc. Today we’ll be giving away TWENTY ARCs of our anthology Undercover Lovers today here on Fiction Groupie! To enter, just comment and leave your email address and preferred format (pdf, epub or mobi) and you’re in. We would love it if, after reading, you would consider taking a minute to give it an honest star rating or review if you have the time (no obligation).

Thanks so much for having us Roni!

*I won’t bore you with contract details, but if anyone has any specific questions regarding that process, maybe pitfalls and things to make sure you include, feel free to ask questions via comments, or email me directly at rcbell64@yahoo.com. I don’t profess to be an expert by any stretch, but I think we all felt good about the end result. 

Thanks so much, ladies, for visiting! And now everyone go enter the contest! :) --Roni

The "THE END" Celebration - Win a Critique!

 

So after many, many (don't want to admit how many) months, today is the day I will finish my draft of MELT INTO YOU, the second book in my series! I still, of course, have a lot of editing in front of me. But drafting is by far the hardest and longest part of the process for me since I'm an edit as I go person despite my best attempts otherwise. So I always feel more comfortable and relaxed once words are on the page and I can change them and mold them into what I want my story to be.

 

This one is the longest book I've ever written. I'm typically an underwriter who adds words during edits. I think I added 5k to CRASH INTO YOU when I edited. This time, it's going to be interesting to see how it goes 'cause this draft looks like it's going to wrap up at 103,000 words. Eek! (The first book is 93k.)

But in honor of reaching the lovely words THE END, I'm offering up two 5-page or query critiques today!

So, if you would like to be included in the contest, just include your email address at the bottom of your comment. The contest will be open until midnight (central) on Sunday night. If you'd be kind enough to retweet it as well, I'd appreciate it. 


So do you prefer drafting or editing? What do you do to celebrate when you reach THE END?

Guest Post: Author Miranda Kenneally - Querying Isn't Algebra

 

Today I have a special treat for you guys. Soon-to-debut YA author Miranda Kenneally! She's sticking with your theme this week and giving us the low down on queries and her own querying experience. AND, if that wasn't awesome enough, she's giving away query critiques to THREE lucky winners. So make sure you enter the contest AND LEAVE A COMMENT! :)

Now over to Miranda...


 
Thanks to Roni for having me today! I’ll be up front with you all. I’m a TERRIBLE blogger. Seriously. I only blog if I have something semi-important to say or if I need to rant about something. I can’t just sit down and blog. Unless y’all want to hear about Star Trek or Mexican food or wine or The Beatles. Or want me to write a long list of books I think you should read.
So, naturally, I had a hard time coming up with something to discuss today. Therefore I’m going to expand on a post I did several months ago about queries. My agent (Like Roni, I’m also repped by Sara Megibow) said she agrees with my thoughts 100%. I hope most of you haven’t read it. And even if you have, I have a surprise at the end of the post after some other random thoughts.
Querying Isn’t Algebra: There’s No Set Formula
Recently I participated in an online chat about queries. Everyone was throwing their ideas out, so I decided to give some opinions, based on what worked for me.
First, some stats. I sent out 17 query letters. Based on my letter and sample pages, I received 9 requests for a full. Also, I broke just about EVERY query letter “rule” there is: I wrote in first person; I used more than 500 words; I used a freaking split infinitive; and I wrote a long paragraph about myself.
So during this chat, I said:

“I think it’s a good idea to compare your book to other books. It will show that you read in your genre and that you understand the market. For instance, if you’ve written a book about angels, you should say, ‘My book is different from HUSH, HUSH and FALLEN because _____.’ Why? Because everyone already has their angel book, so yours really needs to stick out if you want to get pulled out of the slush.”
This piece of advice, which worked for me when I queried, just set people off. Other chatters said, “You should never compare yourself to other writers!” and “Comparisons like that make agents mad!” and “You should never say you’ve written the next HARRY POTTER or TWILIGHT!”
That’s not what I said.
I’m not trying to tell you what’s right or wrong in terms of querying, but what MATTERS. All that matters is that you’ve written a crazy awesome good book that people will want to read. Who cares what you write in your query letter as long as you show:
1) A powerful hook
2) Originality
3) Voice
4) A command of English grammar
5) A link to your website/blog/Twitter feed
6) You aren’t a complete nutjob
** Of course, follow the agent’s/agency’s guidelines.
This is just my opinion, but I’ve seen other people who’ve broken all the “querying rules,” and have ended up getting agents and book deals.
Query what feels natural and forget the formula.
Spend the time you use looking for the formula to edit and make your book even more awesome.
Here are some random thoughts on writing, querying, the publishing world, etc:
·         I don’t critique queries very often (NO TIME), but nearly every time that I have read one my first impression was that the book itself wasn’t ready to go to an agent. For instance, someone will have written a 50,000 word mainstream novel for adults and I have to say, “I think you need to double your word count. Add more themes or subplots or something.”  Not only should you know your audience, you need to know what books in that genre read like.
·         Another problem I’m seen is too much voice. I know you’re wondering how too much voice can be a bad thing. I struggle with this myself, so I like to point it out when I can. This is using three or more sentences to tell something that you could show in one. Example:
“And then he kissed me. I didn’t like it. He didn’t know what he was doing. I wish we hadn’t kissed in the first place, because he’s obviously never kissed anyone before. Ugh. Gross.”
“And then he kissed me. I might as well have been making out with an eel, and it was that particular eel’s first kiss ever.” (Terrible example, I know, but I hope you get what I’m saying.)
·         Know the market. Read, read, read. I read a ton. At this point, I actually read more than I write. For enjoyment, and to study. I study plot arcs. I study character development. I study plot twists and upping the stakes. This is going to sound ridiculous, and it might lessen your enjoyment of reading, but you need to get to the point where you can basically tell what is going to happen in a book. You need to know how to pick up on clues and how they fit in with the overall plot and the author’s themes. There are only a few authors who can pull a fast one on me (e.g. Courtney Summers, and geez, Beth Revis just totally threw me for a loop with her new book ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.)
·         Social networking is a must. However, working toward perfecting your craft is the most important thing you can do. I spent a long time writing and writing and writing before I ever got involved in Twitter and the writing blogosphere. If you want to break into publishing and you can’t write, none of the blogging/social networking matters. So write, write, write.
·         It does not get “easier” once you have an agent. Sure, your access to the publishing world is a whole hell of a lot better, but that doesn’t mean you can slack off or stop being original. If anything, I’ve had to work a lot – a LOT – harder since I signed with an agent.
Anyway, if you’re interested, I’m giving away a query critique to three people. But you have to fill out the form AND in the comments, recommend a good young adult book to read, and tell me why you loved it and what sets it apart from the rest of the market. Roni will pick the three winners at random.
Thanks for having me today! J
 Miranda Kenneally is the author of SCORE, a contemporary YA novel about football, femininity, and hot boys, coming from Sourcebooks Fire in late 2011. She enjoys reading and writing young adult literature, and loves Star Trek, music, sports, Mexican food, Twitter, coffee, and her husband. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook. Miranda is represented by Sara Megibow at Nelson Literary Agency.





CONTEST CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT CENTRAL ON SUNDAY! Winners announced next Wednesday.




 

Get A Partial Read by Agent Sara!

 

I know I usually don't post on Thursday, but I had to pass along this awesome opportunity to you guys. My agency mate, author Ashley March is having an killer contest. The lucky winner will receive a partial read from my super duper fantabulous agent Sara Megibow!  How awesome is that? And to enter is simple:

 

 

Eligibility
1) You must have participated in NaNoWriMo this month.
2) Your work is either romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA, middle-grade, commercial fiction, or women’s fiction (seewww.publishersmarketplace.com/members/SaraMegibow or www.nelsonagency.com for more info about preferences).
3) You must comment on ASHLEY'S POST (not this one) by Tuesday, November 30th.
One random commenter will be drawn on Wednesday, December 1st to submit their first 30 pages of their completed NaNoWriMo project to Sara by Tuesday, December 7th (no query letter necessary).

 

So get your tushies over to Ashley's blog and while you're at it, buy her book Seducing the Duchess--it's made of awesome. : )

Good luck everyone!

Tweeting Interns: Helpful or Hurtful?

 

Want to know who won my birthday contest?  You'll have to scroll down to see.  But first, today's topic--the Twitter Queryfest/Queryslam debate.

 

For those of you who haven't heard about it, here's the gist: there was an anonymous intern on Twitter (InternAmie/Amy Cortese) who would tweet thoughts about the queries as she was reading them. No identifying information was given, but she'd give tidbits like: This memoir has a good premise, but the writing isn't there or sample pages had too much passive voice. It wasn't anything earth-shattering usually, but I know she had a lot of followers (including myself.)

Well, people began to react to it because, despite the vagueness, it still seemed like dangerous waters in terms of confidentiality. It's one of those things that when it's not about YOU, it can be interesting or funny, but then when you start considering it may be your query getting tweeted--well, then it starts feeling a little different. (Just like any other teasing--easy to be in the crowd, not quite as fun to be in the spotlight.)

Agent Janet Reid got wind of what was going on and did a post here on why we shouldn't assume all interns are operating that way and on the inappropriateness of that tweeting intern's actions.

People have a range of opinions. Penelope at Too Cute to Be Very Interesting (whose post sparked mine) found the tweets informative, so was disappointed that InternAmie is now shut down. Others feel very strongly the other way.

Now, for the record, I don't think this intern had bad intentions. I'm sure she thought she was being helpful. But I tend to err on the side of privacy and confidentiality. When I was a management recruiter, I would get hundreds of resumes a week. Therefore, much of my day was spent going through these things. Just like queries, some were great, many were awful. Some made mistakes so glaring that they were laughable.

And I'll admit, amongst my fellow recruiters we did discuss them. i.e. Can you believe this person put SexyHotThing@wherever.com as her email on her resume? Or, look this person's "reason for leaving" for their last job was "my boss was a jerk." Discussing it kept the job sane--it's what people do at work.

BUT, we were discussing it privately amongst ourselves. If we had tweeted that (if Twitter existed back then), we would've been in some serious trouble--written up, fired, etc. because those people didn't give us permission to discuss their information publicly.

Now, hearing agent and intern feedback on queries can be wildly helpful. The workshop I went to at RWA (also called Queryfest) was great. The agents gave honest feedback live as they heard queries read aloud. Some of the feedback was tough. Hearing where agents would stop reading was probably tough on the people who wrote the queries. However, the difference is that those writers VOLUNTEERED. They knew they would be discussed publicly and had given permission for that to happen.

So, in my opinion, I think that's where the line is. Did the person give permission? Because otherwise, you need to put on your empathy shoes and think--if I saw an intern or agent tweet about how terrible my writing/query was, how would I feel?

I think it's fine for agents/interns to tweet overarching things that are helpful. i.e. Too many of the YA queries we're seeing are about werewolves. Or something like that. But when it gets specific, it risks humiliating people and making the agent/intern look unprofessional.

But I'd love to hear all of your opinions. Do you find these kinds of tweets helpful? Did it make you nervous that one day your query would be the subject of that kind of tweet? Do you think people are being too overly sensitive about this issue?

And finally, the winners of last Monday's Birthday contest....

First place: KLM at Cove Awakening 

Second place: Diane at Diane Estrella


Congrats to the winners!!!!  I'll be emailing you about your prize. And thanks to everyone who entered the contest!

 

Birthday Contest!

 

So despite the fact that today is Monday, it's a good day for me. First, it's my thirty-first birthday (although, I'm considering counting backwards now and moving back to my twenties).

 

And second, my revisions for Agent Sara have been given a thumbs up, so I'm going on submission to publishers!  *throws confetti*  *bites nails*  *takes shot of tequila*  Okay, not really on that last one.  Tequila in the morning is not advisable.  *swigs orange juice*

Therefore, I figured a celebration is in order. And what better way to celebrate a birthday then to give presents!

So, here's what's up for grabs:

A brand spanking new copy of Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran

 

Wicked Becomes You

Here's the blurb (from Amazon): 
She’s been burned not once but twice by London’s so-call ed gentlemen . . .Gwen Maudsley is pretty enough to be popular, and plenty wealthy, too. But what she’s best known and loved for is being so very, very nice. When a cad jilts her at the altar—again—the scandal has her outraged friends calling for blood. Only Gwen has a different plan. If nice no longer works for her, then it’s time to learn to be naughty. Happily, she knows the perfect tutor—Alexander Ramsey, her late brother’s best friend and a notorious rogue.So why won’t a confirmed scoundrel let her be as bad as she wants to be?Unbeknownst to Gwen, Alex’s aloof demeanor veils his deepest unspoken desire. He has no wish to see her change, nor to tempt himself with her presence when his own secrets make any future between them impossible. But on a wild romp from Paris to the Riviera, their friendship gives way to something hotter, darker, and altogether more dangerous. With Alex’s past and Gwen’s newly unleashed wildness on a collision course, Gwen must convince Alex that his wickedest intentions are exactly what she needs.


Now, even if you're not one to read historical romances, how can you resist that blurb?

 

And the other prize available is:

A 5 pg. or query critique from little ol' me.

Two winners will be selected. First place will get their choice of the two prizes. Second place will get the remaining prize.

So what do you need to do to enter?

Just leave a comment with your email address below.  ONLY those who leave email addresses will be eligible for the prizes.  Entries will be accepted through this Sunday and winners will be announced next Monday.

*Book prize only available to those living in US and Canada.

Hope everyone has a great day!

 

**Today's Theme Song**
"Song 2" - Blur (the woo-hoo song)
(player in sidebar, take a listen)


 

Crit Groups v. Beta Readers: What Works For You?

 

If you stopped by on Monday, you saw that I am making an effort to streamline a few things in my life to free up more time for both my writing and my family. This involved the tough decision for me to cut down to MWF blogging instead of five days a week.  It also put another issue in my cross hairs.

 

So for about a year, I've been a member of the super fabulous Rumored Romantics critique group. The small membership has shifted and changed, but every person I've gotten to know through it has been an amazing writer and a great friend. I credit the big shift of "luck" I've had with my writing over the past year--contest wins, requests, and now an agent--in large part to the things I've learned being a member of this group.

However, the way the group is structured, we do chapter by chapter critiques. You get one chapter of yours critted per week and you're responsible in turn to critique one chapter of someone else's. This is great for those who are writing as you get critted--meaning you write a chapter, put it up for crit, start writing the next chapter and so on.

I, unfortunately, don't work that way. I have to write a rough draft in isolation first. I can't be getting critiques on something I'm currently drafting--it screws with my process. I think Stephen King said in On Writing to write the first draft with the door shut--meaning only for yourself. Then once you're done, open the door and share it with others. I don't think that has to be everyone's process, but it's definitely mine.

So I write the whole draft, then I start subbing to the group. But the problem with that is--then it's going to take 4-6 months for the group to make it through the novel. I don't have the patience for that. When I'm done with a project, I want to sub like now.

So with this most recent project, I sought out beta readers and found people who could read my complete book and give me overall feedback within a few weeks. Then I revised and submitted. When Sara offered me representation, my crit group was only on my chapter 3.

Therefore, I made the decision yesterday to step out of my group. It makes me sad, but the structure of the group just doesn't work for my style. I think my ideal situation would be to have two beta readers I trust to work with on full manuscripts. However, I'll be forever indebted to those ladies for whipping me in to shape and teaching me so many things I had no clue about when I first joined.

So, the good news for you guys is that, if you think the structure would work for you (and it does work for many) and you want a group that will give you the level of detailed feedback writers yearn for, there is going to be a contest to fill my spot!

Lynnette Labelle will be announcing details in the next few weeks, but if you write romance or something with romantic elements (no YA), then start polishing the pages you'd want to submit for consideration. The ladies are fabulous--two contest winning divas and an author with a three book deal with Tor, so whoever fills the spot will be a lucky gal (or guy!).

Also, in unrelated news, I found out Exposure Therapy is a finalist in the San Francisco RWA's Heart to Heart contest!

Alright, so how do you prefer to get your work critiqued? Do you like having a crit group that can offer detailed line edits or do you prefer beta readers and global feedback? Do you get critted as you write or do you have to finish a project first?

**Today's Theme Song**
"My Way" - Limp Bizkit
(player in sidebar, take a listen)


 

Totally Epic WINNERS!!!

 


Before I announce the winners of Roni and Julie's Totally Epic Summer Contest, I want to thank each and every one of you who entered and pimped this thing all over the internet.  Y'all were awesome!  I hope that beyond the prizes, you all enjoyed the interviews as well.  And speaking of interviews, thanks again to all the publishing professionals who granted us interviews and generously offered prizes.  And thanks to Julie for sharing the contest with me!

 

And just to remind you guys, here's what was up for grabs...

 

  • Hannah Moskowitz's Break

    •  

  • Lisa Desrocher's Personal Demons (ARC)

    •  

  • A query or first five pages critique from Fine Print Lit's intern, Gemma Cooper

    •  

  • A query or first five pages critique from Janet Reid's assistant, Meredith Barnes

    •  

  • A query or first five pages critique from agent Suzie Townsend

    •  

  • A query or first five pages critique from editor Brendan Deneen

    •  

    For those wanting to know the details of how winners were selected.   Here you go:  There were 991 entries (164 people, but each did a number of things to earn unique entries.)  Each entry was assigned a number, then I fed the numbers into random.org, which gave me the winners:
    Random Integer Generator

     

    Here are your random integers, generated without replacement:

     
     
     

    869
    223
    166
    717
    333
    500

    Timestamp: 2010-08-09 12:46:56 UTC

     

    And who were the lucky owners of each of those numbers????

     


    Congratulations to the winners!  I will be emailing you over the next few days so that you can select your prize.

     

    Also, because we were so grateful for all the promoting you guys did, we tossed the names of the people who earned ten points or more during the contest into a drawing for a honorable mention prize--a query or 5 pg. crit from me or Julie.  The winners of the "Best Pimp" prizes are:

     

    • Julie Ann Lindsey
    • Jessica Brooks


    Alright, that's all I've got for you today!  Join me in congratulating the winners and be sure to stop by tomorrow.  I'll be starting a series of blogs on the workshops and things I learned at RWA Nationals!

     

     

    **Today's Theme Song**
    "We Are the Champions" - Queen
    (player in sidebar, take a listen)


     

    Interview with Agent Suzie Townsend - Win a Critique!

     

    Today we're excited to welcome Agent Suzie Townsend of Fine Print Literary to the blog!  Suzie has kindly given her time to answer some of our burning questions and has also donated a query or 5-pg. critique as one of the prizes!  So without further adieu...
    Bio:
     

    Suzie is actively looking for fiction and non-fiction: specifically Middle Grade and YA novels (all subgenres, but particularly literary projects), adult romance (historical and paranormal), and fantasy (urban fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, epic fantasy).

     

    Recent sales include Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers (Tor, September 2010), All These Lives by Sarah Wylie (FSG, winter 2012), Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulsen(Harper, winter 2012), Sea Rose Red by Cat Hellisen (FSG, spring 2012), Zombie Tag by Hannah Moskowitz (Roaring Brook, fall 2011), andTempest by Julie Cross (St. Martin’s Press, forthcoming).

    She’s interested in strong characters and voice driven stories: she’s particularly keen on strong female protagonists, complex plot lines with underlying political, moral, or philosophical issues, and stories which break out of the typical tropes of their genre.  Some of her favorites are When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels series, and Jacqueline Carey’s Kushielseries.

    She drinks too much diet orange soda, has a Starbucks problem (those soy chai lattes are addictive), and lives in Brooklyn with two dogs who know that chewing on shoes is okay but chewing on books is not.
    Suzie keeps a blog at http://confessionsofawanderingheart.blogspot.com and can be found on twitter @sztownsend81.

     

     

    What would you like to see more of in your query inbox?  And on the flipside, what are you tired of seeing?
    This is also tough because I’m a little torn.  I love YA.  And I love paranormal YA.  But…I’m seeing so much of it that a lot of it seems to sound the same.  (And by so much, I mean probably over 90% of my queries are paranormal YA).  But I am still requesting paranormal YA if it sounds different and unique enough (like Ingrid Paulson’s forthcoming Valkyrie Rising). 
    But I’d love to see contemporary literary YA (like Arlaina Tibensky’s forthcoming Bell Jar Summer) and literary YA with a speculative twist (like Before I Fall, How I Live Now, and Sarah Wylie’s forthcoming All These Lives).  I taught rhetoric before I got into publishing, so I love when I read something where I can get lost in the story and later think to myself “wow, the way he/she used language to write that story” (I’m a nerd, I know). 
    I’d also love to see more YA science fiction projects (the science fiction elements have to be accessible though like in Julie’s forthcoming novel Tempest) with a romance.  And I love YA fantasies like Kristin Cashore’s Graceling, Melina Marchetta’s Finnikin of the Rock and Cat Hellisen’s forthcoming Sea Rose Red.
    And I would love love love to find a YA set in a historical time period – steampunk, magical realism, more time travel, just straight up historical.  But I love Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle series.
    Then outside of YA, I’d love to see more literary Middle Grade projects that have a great commercial premise but have a depth and complexity to them (like When You Reach Me and Hannah Moskowitz’s forthcoming Zombie Tag).
    And I’m also looking to expand into the world of adult fiction.  I’d really love to find an urban fantasy series, a paranormal romance series (J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series is akin to crack for me) and a dark romantic fantasy series (I love Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels series and Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series).
    And if anyone has a thriller like Patrick Lee’s The Breach, I’d love to find that too.

    Since I also have a lot of romance writers who read this blog--and because I'm self-serving and want to know for myself ;) -- what subgenres of romance are you open to representing?
    I love all things romance.  So really, I want to see it all.  Paranormal, historical, contemporary, fantasy.  I’m a sucker for romance.

    Different agents have different opinions on what a writer should do before entering the query phase—i.e. find critique partners, finish a second novel before querying the first, go to a writing conference, etc.  What do you recommend a writer do before taking that step? 
    For most writers, I have to say that critique partners are invaluable and a vital step in the process before querying.  (I do know a few writers, who don’t have critique partners, but they’re usually the brilliant exceptions).  It also helps if writers familiarize themselves with the industry before they start querying – either through research online or going to a conference or networking with other writers.  It’s important to understand how the business works before diving in.

    How important is it, if at all, for a writer to have an online presence before having a book deal or agent?  Do you find it’s more important for a YA writer vs. another genre?
    An online presence isn’t make or break at any stage.  The most important thing is writing a good book.  But before the book comes out, it will help if a writer develops an online presence and networks in order to get their name out there.  It’s especially important for YA writers since so much of their readership is also online, exploring social media.

    We hear the horror stories about writers following agents into bathrooms to pitch their stories or sending weird things with their queries.  So, tell us, what’s the strangest method someone has used to try to query/pitch you?
    I have gotten a bathroom pitch.  But the strangest method is the query I got in a Starbucks cup.  Yes – someone sent a Starbucks cup through the US Postal Service (I hadn’t realized that was possible until that moment), and inside there was the query and a bag of flour.

     

    Thanks so much to Suzie for the great information and don't forget to click over to Julie's blog to see the rest of the interview including what makes a manuscript stand out from the rest!

    And below is the daily Twitter bonus entry.  Remember, you have to have to have filled out the main contest form (link at top of page) before you can qualify for bonus entries.

    *CONTEST CLOSED*

    Behind the Scenes with Fine Print Lit's Assistant and Intern

     

    Today, I'm excited to introduce two of the women behind the scenes at FinePrint Lit--Meredith Barnes (assistant to Janet Reid) and Gemma Cooper (intern).  We really appreciate these two ladies joining us today because they are on the front lines of that infamous slush pile and have great insights to share.  Also, remember that two of the prizes offered in our epic contest this week (see link at the top of the page) are critiques from these ladies, so if you haven't entered yet--get on it!

     

    What storylines/subjects are you so tired of seeing in queries?

    Meredith: I think the usual answer here is “paranormal” or “vampires,” but I haven’t gotten fed up with anything—yet. Just write it well. For god’s sake, take your time. Don’t forget that it’s the character and his/her voice, not a particular paranormal ability or plotline that is going to make a good book.
    Gemma:  I’ll never say that I’m tired of any storylines, because a good voice will sell me no matter what. However, I would advise people to spend more time researching how to format a query – look at excellent resources like Query Shark (LINK - http://queryshark.blogspot.com/ ) and ensure you research the agents you are querying online (LINK TO FP website http://fineprintlit.com/ and NC website http://www.nancycoffeyliterary.com/submissions.cfm )

    What gets you excited about a submission?
    Meredith: A great voice in the query letter is what grabs me—and anyone else. I’m not narrowing my genre focus yet, since I’m culling the slush with an eye for several agents and because I haven’t decided where my list is going to focus yet. Plus I just love it all (specific recent focuses: thrillers and YA, literary stuff too). But feeling like I get to know the character that I’m going to potentially spend a lot of time with is key.
    Gemma: No matter what the genre, an amazing voice will always excite me. Plus, I’m a total sucker for good YA Boy POV.

    I'm assuming no one goes into this industry without a deep/love obsession fro books.  But when you're surrounded by books and submissions all day, do you still have time and desire to read for pleasure?  And if so, what's your go to genre or author?

    Meredith: YES! I love reading, no matter what. Even work reading. It feels so sneaky I can’t stand it. When I read for pleasure, it’s as mixed a bag as it is when I read for work. My last three reads: Jeff Somers’ THE ELECTRIC CHURCH (Dystopian SciFi Thriller. With the badest badass evah), Sean Ferrell’s NUMB (Off-beat literary fiction. With a circus and Texas in it. And a deadpan narrator with dead nerves. It comes out next Tuesday!), and Josh Bazell’s BEAT THE REAPER (Thriller. With a hospital and the mob. And some recurring sharks.)
    Gemma: I do have an obsession with books and of course still read of pleasure – nothing beats that feeling of cracking open a new book, even more so when you’ve been reading on the computer all week. My favorite genres are edgy/issue, any YA, urban fantasy, and quirky adult fiction. My go to authors are Jasper Fforde (who I met this year and completely fangirled over) and Robert Rankin. And my current obsession is making everyone I know read ‘When You Reach Me’ by Rebecca Stead and ‘Personal Demons’ by Lisa Desrochers.

    You can find Gemma and Meredith on Twitter: @gemma_cooper and : @mer_barnes
    Meredith also recommends: Suzie and Janet’s blog and also Judith Engracia’s (she’s a former FP intern who’s now an assistant at another agency): http://omnomnom-books.blogspot.com/
    Thanks to these ladies for all the information and don't miss the second half of this interview over at Julie's blog--where you can find out what exactly their jobs entail and maybe even a Janet Reid secret revealed.  :)

     And all week, remember if you've ALREADY entered the contest by filling out THIS ENTRY FORM and want a bonus entry, you can get one extra a day by tweeting and filling in the little bonus form below.

    *CONTEST CLOSED*

     

    Interview with Author Lisa Desrochers & Contest

    Personal Demons
    Today we have the privilege of talking with Lisa Desrochers, debut author of the upcoming YA novel Personal Demons.  I was able to read an ARC of Personal Demons this past weekend while I was at RWA and let me tell you, whoever wins Lisa's book this week is in for a treat.  Who can resist a love triangle with a kick-butt heroine, a sexy demon, and a drool-worthy angel?  Seriously--good stuff, people.

    Here's the blurb:
    If you had to choose between Heaven and Hell, which would it be?

         Are you sure about that...?
    Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance--even her closest friends--and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions--for Hell--and she possesses a unique skill set that has the king of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he's as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn't stand a chance. 
    Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn't get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul. 
    But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay...for all of them.


    Lisa, tell us a little bit about yourself.





    I scribe YA novels. Look for my debut, PERSONAL DEMONS, from Tor/Macmillan on September, 14 2010. My omnipotent uberagent is Suzie Townsend at FinePrint Literary Management. When I'm not writing, I'm torturing some poor unsuspecting patient, lecturing in some less-than-exotic city...or blogging...or maybe just sleeping, but that doesn't sound nearly as cool.
    Blog: http://lisadesrochers.blogspot.com/
    Twitter:http://twitter.com/LisaDez



    Was Personal Demons the first novel you wrote or are there manuscripts tucked under your bed?
    I started writing in the summer of 2008 on a total whim. I wrote a book for my daughter’s birthday and gave that to her in October that year. She’s the only one who’s seen that manuscript. Thing is, I totally caught the writing bug and wrote another book in November of that year, which I’ve since revised for my truly fabulous agent. Personal Demons was my third novel. I wrote it in February and March 2009.


    What was your querying process like?  Do you have any advice to those who are about to embark on the querying journey?
    I took a few months to clean up Personal Demons and started querying in June. What I realized almost immediately is that I didn’t clean it up enough. I got full requests from the first four agents I queried and panicked because I was suddenly sure it wasn’t good enough. In the end, I sent out 21 queries, had twelve manuscript requests and singed with Suzie in September.
     My best advice to those getting ready to query is 1) Don’t query too soon. Revise and polish until you can’t stand to look at your reflection in your manuscript another second. If your manuscript is as good as it can possibly be, you’ll have no regrets no matter what happens. 2) Research agents. I don’t just mean check their agency profile. I mean find out what they represent already and what they’ve sold. Read interviews they’ve done. Read their blog if they have one. Make sure they’re a good fit for your manuscript.


    What’s been the most surprising part of the whole process since you’ve landed your book deal?  The most challenging?  The most fun?
    The most surprising part was definitely when one of my very favorite authors, Melissa Marr, recommended Personal Demons. It never occurred to me that an author that was one of my primary roll models would ever read my book. The fact that she read it and didn’t hate it did wonders for my confidence. I don’t know if it really qualifies as challenging, but learning how the whole publishing process works has been a real eye-opener. The most fun is the foreign translation rights sales. We’ve sold Personal Demons in seven territories so far and are in negotiations in two others. It’s fun to think that there will be something out there in the world that I wrote but can’t read. =)


    What’s the best piece of writing advice you have ever received?
    Write your story. I think it’s easy for aspiring writers get caught up in thinking they need to write a certain type of book in a certain way. The road to publication is rough. It’s rougher if you’re not loving what you’re doing.


    Thanks so much to Lisa for spending some time with us today and be sure to hop on over to Julie's blog to see the rest of the interview to hear about Lisa's writing process, the challenge of planning sequels, and how she found her agent.  Also, don't forget to pick up a copy of her book September 14!

    And remember, one of the prizes for our TOTALLY EPIC (I just like typing that) contest is an ARC of Personal Demons.  So don't forget to enter.  And if you've already entered, you can still earn an extra entry each day by tweeting our contest.  Fill out the little form below for your bonus entry!

    Thanks to everyone who has entered so far and who has blogged/tweeted/facebooked about it.  We really appreciate everyone spreading the word!

    *CONTEST CLOSED*



    **Today's Theme Song (Author's Inspiration for this story)**
    "You Found Me" - The Fray
    (player in sidebar, take a listen)

    Author Hannah Moskowitz Interview & the Contest is Open!

    The interviews and contest are finally here!!!  Today, we have the pleasure of talking to author Hannah Moskowitz.

    Break

    Tell us a little bit about you

    I'm a YA and MG writer. My first YA, BREAK, came out in 2009, and my first MG, ZOMBIE TAG, is out in Fall 2011. I also have two more YAs, INVINCIBLE SUMMER and THE ANIMALS WERE GONE, coming in Spring 2011 and 2012, and another MG coming probably in 2012.

    In a more personal sense, I'm a student at the University of Maryland, and I watch enough TV for it to qualify as a specialty. I blog at http://hannahmosk.blogspot.com and I am literally all over the internet.

    What was your journey towards getting an agent and your first book deal like?  How many queries/rejections/etc. did you go through before THE CALL?
    Oh my God, millions of rejections. I queried for a year, with four different manuscripts, so that should give you an idea of how many. At the beginning, my journey was very typical. I queried for a long time, and eventually got an offer of representation in February 2008. I ended up getting four offers. I chose one, we went out on submission with Break in April 2008 and sold in July. The following June, I broke up with that agent when we just had different visions of where our relationship needed to be. I started querying again and signed with the fantastic Brendan Deneen, formerly of FinePrint Literary, in July 2009, and we sold Invincible Summer at mini-auction back to my Simon Pulse editor in August 2009 (the same month Break came out). In July 2010, Brendan left FinePrint to pursue editing, and I switched to Suzie Townsend, also at FP, who is my current fabulous agent.


    There’s a lot of debate out there about what is “appropriate” for YA—cursing, sex, violence, etc.  We’ve gotten into a number of debates about it here at the blog.  How do you decide what to do in your own stories?
    I just write my characters however they would sound if they were real teenagers. I don't sugarcoat, but I also don't do edgy for edgy's sake.

    What are some of your favorite books?  Do you continue reading while you’re drafting a project or does that muddle your process?
    I don't read during first drafts (I don't have time!) but I try to read as much as I can otherwise, especially while editing. Some of my favorite books are E. Lockhart's The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and her Ruby Oliver series, everything David Levithan does, particularly Love is the Higher Law and Will Grayson, Will Grayson with John Green, The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty, The Deathday Letter by Shaun Hutchinson, and everything by Garret Freymann-Weyr.

    What’s your guilty pleasure?
    Queer As Folk

    What is the single best piece of writing advice you received?
    Shut up. Stop talking. Stop bitching. That's not writing your book. Write your damn book.


    And for all of us who are still working toward getting an agent and a book deal, what writing advice would you like to share with us?
    My tried-and-true piece of advice is: never think you aren't good enough, and never think you can't get better. You need to push your books at agents like it is the best f***ing thing in the world, and you need to simultaneously ruthlessly write (WRITE NEW BOOKS. MORE BOOKS.) and rip your stuff apart like it's the world's worst.


    Thanks so much to Hannah for talking with us today!  Now, click over to Julie's blog to read the rest of the interview, including Hannah's writing process (and how freaking fast she writes!), her newest book, and how she juggles writing with college life.

    And, now, the contest is officially open!!!  Click here to go to the entry form.  You can enter this form once, but be sure to stop by for the rest of the week's interviews because you'll be able to earn extra entries each day.  :)


    Critique Group Contest: Romance Critter Needed!

     


    As I mentioned earlier this week, my online crit group is in need of a new member. My crit partner Lynnette Labelle is heading up the contest, so if you are interested in entering, please make sure to follow the directions below (DO NOT email your entries to me.)

     

    Just a bit about us:

    Three members (Lynnette, Gwen Mitchell, and me).

    What we write: Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, and Sexy Contemporary Romance.

    The group's personality: We're tough in our crits (see my Beta Club days for examples of my critting) but all feedback is delivered with respect and love. Everyone in the group is super supportive and we lean on each other to get through the tough parts of this business. It is a warm and friendly group, and when I won this very contest and joined last year, I instantly felt welcome.  Fair warning: If you do not have a sense of humor, you need not apply.

    Why would you trust us to crit your work?  Gwen and I have recently placed in RWA contests and both of us would be considered RWA PROs (if we’d fill out the forms).  Lynnette is a certified copy editor and proofreader and is in the process of starting up her own online manuscript editing/writing coach business.

    Alright, interested? Here are the rules (pulled directly from Lynnette's post):

    Are you a romance writer looking for a critique group? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Rumored Romantics has an opening and we’re going to fill it by hosting a contest starting TODAY! Isn’t this exciting?

    Note: Regardless of whether or not you’ve entered one of the critique group contests before, read the information below as some things have changed.

    The details:

    • This contest is only for romance writers of adult fiction who are seeking a critique group.

    • All entrants must be 18 years or older.

    • Entries should be 2-3 pages from an unpublished manuscript, double spaced, 12 pt. font, Times New Roman. Anything beyond 3 pages will NOT be read.

    • This is a three part contest. Part One, a 2-3 page writing sample, is open to all contestants. Finalists are selected to move on to Part Two. During this stage, the finalists will be asked to supply a longer writing sample and critique a short piece, which we’ll provide. A select few will continue on. In Part Three, the remaining finalists will critique a longer sample and fill out a bio/questionnaire. Sound like a lot of work? It is. Sorry about that. All of the above is necessary in order for us to see that our writing and critiquing styles are compatible with yours.

    • Entries will be judged on the quality of the writing and critiquing, but we aren’t expecting perfection. Please send us your best work without external help. We want to see how well YOU write and critique, not your critique partner or professional editor.

    • All entries for Part One of the contest are due by midnight Wednesday, April 28, 2010.

    • One entry per person, unpublished work only.

    • Send your entry in the body of an e-mail (She will NOT open anything with an attachment) to: lynnette_labelle@hotmail.com

    • You should expect an e-mail from Lynnette confirming I received your entry. If you haven't gotten one within 24 hours, check the e-mail address. Note: her name is spelled with two n's. LyNNette. If you don't spell it correctly in her e-mail address, she won't get the message.

    • The first round of finalists will be announced on her blog and notified by e-mail some time during the week of May 2.

    The PRIZE:

    • Membership for one lucky writer to a small, online, romance critique group*

    • Note: Rumored Romantics is looking for someone who is willing to critique at least ONE chapter a week. Chapters are no longer than 20 pages double spaced. So, the most your minimum required critique would be is 20 pages. To be clear, you’d only have to critique one chapter a week, not one per member. However, everyone is encouraged to participate as much as they can.

    If you have any questions about the contest or Rumored Romantics, ask away.

    *We reserve the right to not choose anyone if we don't find a good fit for our critique group.

    Hint #1:
    You must write adult romance, BUT we don’t actually want to read the sex scenes or romance scenes in your story (at least, not for the contest). You’ll have better results if you show us a piece that represents how different your work is from everyone else’s. Get it?

    Hint #2:
    When you submit your entry, it doesn’t have to be a complete scene. Don’t stress yourself out trying to find a 2-3 page scene in your manuscript and don’t cut important parts of a scene to make it fit. In fact, if you cut the end of the scene, we might be intrigued enough to want to read more. Hook us and you’ll have a great chance of winning.

    Hint #3:
    Here’s how we're going to read the entries. We’ll copy and paste from the e-mail into Microsoft Word. If the font isn’t Times New Roman, 12 pt, we’ll change it to that. If it’s not double spaced, we’ll modify it. Once the entry is formatted correctly, anything beyond three pages will NOT be read.

    Good luck!  And please, if this doesn't apply to you, but you know someone who may be interested, please spread the word via blog/twitter/facebook.  I'd really appreciate it!


    And if you aren't entering, I'd love to hear how you found your crit group members?  And what do you look for most in a member or beta reader?

     

    **Today's Theme Song**
    "Invitation" - The High Violets
    (player in sidebar, take a listen)

     

    Finalist! Yeah, Baby, Yeah!

     


    Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  Mine was jam-packed, but terrific.  Not only did I get to see Bon Jovi in concert Saturday night (sweeeeet), I also attended the DFW Writers' Conference--which meant ten workshops, plus one keynote speaker (NY Times Bestselling author Jodi Thomas), plus an agents panel (ten agents!) all in two days.  If you live anywhere near this area, you should definitely check out the conference next year.  This group really puts on a good one.

     

    I will try to compile my notes and pass along as many tidbits as I can over this week to let you know what I learned.  But first, I want to share my good news.  Last night I came home after the conference to a wonderful email.

    My manuscript Wanderlust is one of the five finalists in the contemporary category of Passionate Ink's (the erotic chapter of RWA) Stroke of Midnight contest!!!  So now my first thirty-five pages go to the editor at Spice Books (Harlequin) for final judging.  Winners will be announced at the end of July.

     


    I also received some superfabulous feedback from the judges to put in my you-are-not-a-total-hack-so-stop-feeling-sorry-for-yourself file that I pull out when I'm ready to toss the laptop into the wood chipper.

     

    There is officially no better feeling than having a complete stranger (who's there to judge you, no less) read your work and have them tell you that you've totally hooked them and that they love your characters.  It's like writer crack.  That is, by far, the part I look forward to most if I were to when (yes, universe, I'm putting you on notice) I get published--making readers feel something and connect with my story.

    Now, all I need is a book deal.  You hear that out there dear editors at Harlequin?  I ♥ you, please ♥ me back.  :)  (I'm not above begging, incessant flattery, or gifts.  Just let me know what you prefer.)

    Alright, how was your weekend?  Do you keep a folder of good stuff to get you by when you're feeling frustrated about writing?  What do you look forward to most WHEN you get published?

     
     
     

    **Today's Theme Song**
    "Song 2" - Blur
    (player in sidebar, take a listen)