New Update!
I am so pleased to announce that I have an agent!!! Woot!!!
Natalie Fischer of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency is now representing me. Yay!
And more good news . . . Bewitching The Beast has won the Paranormal Category of the Sheila contest, with a full manuscript requested by Alicia Condon at Kensington. So cool! I’m so excited!
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2nd Place! I’ll take it.
The American Title V competition has come to an end. It’s been a stressful six months, but I’ve learned a tremendous amount about marketing and the importance of getting your name out there.
A huge thank you to all who voted for “Once Upon a Masquerade.” I was amazed by the support I received in this contest, by family, friends, neighbors, fellow writers, and readers. Amazing.
I won’t lie. I was disappointed that I didn’t win, but looking back on it now, I really see this whole experience as another step down the path to publication. I’ve met some fine people along the way, and feel honored that Dorchester Publishing chose me to compete. That in itself is a validation that I can and will succeed.
With that thought in mind, I dragged my sister Tina to Orlando with me to attend the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention. I had a great time. I met a few of the Romantic Times staff, former American Title finalists, many readers and booksellers, and a few agents and editors too. And of course, I attended all the parties. Below are some of the pictures I took.
First of all, let me say Orlando is a beautiful place – lots of sunshine and palm trees.
As I mentioned, I met a few of the Romantic Times staff. Pictured here is Senior Editor Elissa Petruzzi, Review Coordinator Stephanie Klose, and Managing Editor Liz French (Liz was our contact throughout the contest).
Each day there were parties we attended, including the Ellora’s Cave Fantasy Party (a jungle theme), the Seelie & Unseelie Dinner and Dance Faery Ball, and Heather Graham & Helen A. Rosburg’s Comic-ula Vampire Dinner & Dance Ball. My sister and I tried to dress up for each, but some of our costumes were better than others. Here we are as a demoness and vampire.
And ooh boy, a Mr. Romance competition played out all week too. The competitors attended nearly every function, mingling for votes. Here are several at the Deidre Knight’s Gods of Midnight Party. After this picture was taken, two rousing games of musical chairs commenced, with the cover models acting as chairs for women brave enough to play. Tina and I watched (I know, pretty wimpy).
We also witnessed a “cover shoot” staged by former Mr. Romance Jimmy Thomas.
What a tough and exhausting week. Between parties and mingling with cover models…it’s nice to be back home.
