I knew it was Golden Heart and RITA "call day," and I was very glad that I'd already made plans to spend the morning volunteering in my dareling's classroom. You see, this is my 3rd or 4th year watching "call day" closely -- but the first time I've ever been entered in either of the contests. For those who may not know, the RITA and Golden Heart are nationwide contests sponsored by . The RITA is for published romance novels, and the Golden Heart is for unpublished manuscripts. Entries happen way back in November/December. Then the finalists all get phone calls on the same day in March, and around the world, writers are plastered to websites and blogs and Twitter feeds, waiting to see who gets "the call".
The stress! Yeah, I would rather be chillin' in kindergarten.
I brought my phone along, just in case, but kept it on silent. So there I was, happily cutting crafts and stapling papers, when my pocket started to buzz. I didn't answer. When I checked the number, I didn't recognize it. My phone told me it was a call from Texas, though (where RWA headquarters is located), so the next time my pocket started tingling, I ducked out onto the playground to take the call.
And it was a lovely lady from RWA Headquarters, whose name I will never be able to remember, calling to tell me that Surrender of a Siren is a finalist in the Regency Historical category! I was so excited! But I had to be very, very quiet. So I was quietly excited for an hour or two more, until I went home to get on the computer share the good news.
Oh, I did get a very exciting text from , letting me know her novella, This Wicked Gift, had be nominated in the Novella category! That just made everything sweeter. Congratulations, CM!
For that matter, congratulations to all the finalists in all the categories! If you see the other nominees in my category, you will understand why I am just thrilled to be anywhere on the same planet as this list. A list of all the finalists is .
2010 RITA for Regency Historical Romance Finalists
Surrender of a Siren by Tessa Dare Scandal by Carolyn Jewel Tempting Fate by Alissa Johnson A View to a Kiss by Caroline Linden Revealed by Kate Noble What Happens in London by Julia Quinn Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride by Elizabeth Rolls
Oh, and a big shout out to my Fanlit friend , who got the Golden Heart call this morning! Congratulations, Gillian!
Today, I refer you to a most unique and memorable interview. I've been interviewed by the resident were-llama at .
You all know the penchant I have for were-creatures, in particular ruminants. So this was great fun. And blogger CJ's husband even made me a Stud Muffin! Okay, a Stud Cupcake (even better, I say!) Check out the interview to learn the significance of that big, gold stud-emblazoned coin.
There are prizes to be won!
Oh, and the were-llama also coaxed an excerpt out of me -- if you've been curious to read more snippets of One Dance with a Duke, click on over!
This year, I am adding a new term to my publishing vocabulary: "crash". As in, "to crash a book."
Perhaps you already know what this means. I confess, I didn't. My agent called me a little over a year ago to let me know yes, Ballantine would publish the Stud Club trilogy. I said, "Great!" (Read: OMG, squeeeeeee!). She said they wanted to publish them in May/June/July 2010. I said, "Um, how is that possible?" (Read: massive internal freak-out) And she said, "Well, they will just crash the last book." And I said, "Oh, okay. I totally know what that means." (Read: a total lie.)
I still don't have a hard-and-fast definition for "crash", but I've gathered it means to rush a book through production. Sometimes this is unplanned, because the author for one reason or another turns in a book after deadline. In this case, however, the "crash" was planned in advance, as it was the only way to get the trilogy releasing back-to-back in the summer months. And since having a trilogy release back-to-back in the summer months is pretty awesome, I was down with this "crashing" thing, whatever it meant.
See, before this crashed book, I've always worked in my own little bubble between contract and deadline, then turned in the finished manuscript 9+ months before the book's publication date. Subsequent revisions, copy edits, page proofs have felt almost...leisurely, in retrospect.
But since we knew this third book would be a crashed book, turned in just four months before publication, the process has gone something like this:
My editor okayed a detailed proposal back when I got the contract, last year. We had some discussions about points of plot and character, and I rethought a few things before I even started writing. Almost like pre-writing revisions. ("Previsions"? Can that be a new word?)
Cover art was made. A blurb was written. The book was given an ISBN. All before I'd started writing this particular book. Urk. No backing out now!
As I wrote the book, I turned in parts of it to my editor at different intervals, to make sure she was okay with how the work was progressing (and probably so she could feel assured the work was progressing, period.) After I turned in the first section, she had some questions and we talked through them. When I turned in 2/3 of the book to her at the end of January, her only complaint was that the chunk I gave her cut off right before a love scene (I hadn't written it yet!). That's where I started to feel like everything would be just fine.
I worked like a fiend to finish. A few awesome critique friends read the draft on short notice, and I made some revisions before turning in the completed book on March 1st. I did need two extra days to get the epilogue done, but I still consider it a deadline met.
My editor read the book right away, was happy with how it turned out--by this point, there were no surprises, hopefully--and she sent it straight on to copy edits.
I got the copy edited manuscript back yesterday, barely 2-1/2 weeks after turning in the book. (Normally, it's something like 2-1/2 months.) I have a week to get it back to NY. Once I send it back, I assume the page proofs will be similarly rushed, and the whole shebang will be sent to print.
I know many authors work on this kind of a "crash" schedule routinely--sometimes on even tighter margins than mine--but holy cow. There's so little room for error. I'm so pleased that my publisher trusted me to deliver a good book on deadline, but the whole time I was writing Three Nights, I would have these horrible thoughts like, "What if I fall and break both arms, and I just physically can't finish the book on time? What will they do?"
Fortunately, no such calamity befell me. More fortunate still, I'm blessed with an editor, agent, critique partners, friends, and family who were all so supportive and inspiring and helpful along the way. My goal, of course, wasn't just to meet the deadline, but to write a good book on deadline. To that end, there were many false starts and do-overs and late nights spent rethinking and revising. I'm so happy with how Julian and Lily's romance turned out, but I'll be working up to the last possible minute to make Three Nights with a Scoundrel the best book I can. This weekend, I'm sharpening my colored pencils and immersing myself in copy edits - and after that, I think I will crash.
While I'm defining words, there any publishing terms you're curious to see defined? Or that you've learned the meaning of the hard way?
Well, I returned from the wedding (um, a week ago, but who's counting...)! My dareling made a precious flower girl, if I do say it myself. Actually, several other people said so, too! I'm glad she got to have the experience, and it was lovely to see all our family members.
As I look at my schedule for the next few months, I see it filling up with exciting travel and literary events and book signings. If you are anywhere near any of these events, I would love to meet you! Yes, you! (Okay, maybe not you, who stumbled onto this site while searching for topless pics of that Canadian ice dancer).
Saturday, April 10th - I will be appearing on a Romance panel and signing books at the event in Irvine, CA. This is an all-day event with panels, speakers, food, and book signings. The Romance panel will be moderated by and also features authors HelenKay Dimon and Linda Widsom. So, you could come to see me. Or you could come to see HelenKay and Linda and Wendy, or keynote speakers Dean Koontz and Karen Joy Fowler, and just pretend you also came to see me. Either way, it's all good!
April 28-May 2nd - I'll be in Columbus, Ohio for the . Woot! My first RT con. Time to see if all the rumors are true... I'm not on any panels or other official thingys, but I will be around all week and I'll be signing at the Book Fair on Saturday, May 1st (11:00 AM - 2:00 PM, I believe). The Book Fair is open to the public for a $5 admission at the door. And I will most definitely be attending the Reviewers' Choice Awards ceremony, because Goddess of the Hunt is nominated for the Best First Historical category. So exciting!
July 28-31st - I'll be in Nashville, Tennessee for the I'll be participating in two panels, one on (the 28th) along with none other than... ! (See Wendy's post about it . The two of us will also be seeing one another when she comes to visit my local chapter in May. I tell you, by August, me and Wendy are either going to be BFF, or not speaking. Or it may prove a tempestuous on-again/off-again affair. Time will tell...) The other panel I'm on hasn't been officially scheduled yet. More info on that to come. And of course, I will once again be signing at the on July 28th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. The book signing is free and open to the public, if you're anywhere in the area and want to drop by!
I'll be flying out for Nashville on July 27th. That's release day for Three Nights with a Scoundrel (my sixth novel in print) and two days before the one-year anniversary of my debut's release (Goddess of the Hunt came out July 29, 2009). That is crrrrazy.
I am so happy to report, the manuscript of Three Nights with a Scoundrel is all turned in to my editor. There will be revisions and edits and page proofs to come, but I can say now that I have authored six books. Hooray! I am so thankful to the wonderful friends and critique partners who helped me through this last stretch, and through the whole trilogy. You know you are. I could not have done it without your support. Mwah.
Yesterday was a big release day--so many great books hit the shelves! But a special shout out to my pal on her debut, ! I can't wait to find it on the bookstore shelves and buy it for my very own. By the way, I'm giving away copies of Too Wicked to Kiss and Sara Lindsey's Promise Me Always in my current contest.
This weekend, the dareling daughter and I are headed cross-country for a family wedding. She's going to be the flower girl! Awwww. Her dress is so precious, and she is so excited. I'm so glad she's getting the chance to do this before she grows too old. I never was a flower girl, myself.
So, any advice for mother or daughter from those who've done this before?
Whew! I have met all my deadlines (for the moment, ha), and just in time to enjoy the beautiful California spring. (My sympathies to those of you still shoveling snow in the East.) It's a busy family month for us, with weddings and birthdays and other fun. And I can't believe it's just a few months until the May 25th release of One Dance with a Duke!
I don't blog about the craft of writing all that often anymore. There are a few reasons for that. The first is that most days, actually practicing the craft of writing is just about all I can manage. Barely.
The second is that, the more books I've written, the less I feel I truly know. Paradoxically, it also seems like any advice I give should be actually useful advice--which kind of scares me, because I am not a teacher. Some people have a true gift for crystallizing points of craft and imparting them as useful nuggets to other writers. Sadly, I'm not one of them. Plotting systems, storyboards, character worksheets, articles that tout "The Four (or Five or Nine or Eighteen) Essential Elements to Story" just make me break out in hives. And when I say that, I don't mean to disparage them. For writers whose brains are wired that way, I'm sure they are lovely, useful things. To me, it's kind of like childbirth. I would not dare criticize a writer's process, any more than I would criticize a woman's decision to give birth in a swimming pool--whatever feels right for you and gets the baby (or book) out, it's all good.
When discussing my reaction to storyboards, I have often joked that I am allergic to squares. It's more like, I just don't think about stories spatially. Doesn't work for me. By the same token, I am very reluctant to put forth the way I write books as any kind of model--because what works for me might not work at all for others.
So, what am I getting at here?
Ah, yes. I'm here to expound on a point of craft. Hahahahaha.
Seriously, the other day I finally thought of something that I believe is actually, truly really good writing advice. And that is to read stories aloud. Preferably to an audience.
Before I had my own children and started writing seriously, I worked as a full-time librarian. And one of my librarian duties was children's storytime. Yep, I got to be that one with the puppets and the flannelboard and lead the little cross-legged children in endless rounds of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear". Tons of fun. It's a great job.
It also was great preparation for writing stories of my own. I don't think any writer would disagree with the statement that if you want to write stories, you should read as many of them as you can. The more stories you take in, the more you internalize that natural story structure (that then some clever people are able to break into five/nine/eighteen points). But the other day, as I was reading aloud to my eldest dareling from a children's book, I realized that so much of what I've learned about pacing, humor, suspense, and the like, I learned by reading and telling stories to others. In particular, preschool children. Let me tell you, 3- and 4-year-olds are a tough crowd. When they are bored, you know it. If they don't think it's funny, they won't laugh. But they are also free with their genuine, instantaneous reactions. They're the furthest thing from jaded. If they're amazed, they say, "Wow!" If they're scared, they burrow closer. If they're confused, they ask a million billion questions.
Now that I have my own kids, I have a captive audience. Muahaha. And now that they're getting a little older, we sometimes read longer stories ("chapter books," in kidspeak). Some of the books my daughter adores are mind-numbing for me (won't name names), but we also find a good many books that entertain us both. Lately we've been reading through Edward Eager's brilliant , and let me tell you, reading that book aloud is the best writing class I've had in a long time.
When you read (or tell) stories to an audience, you become a key part of their delivery. It's an entirely new experience--the difference between reading a play, and staging a production of it. You gain a sense for the rhythm of language. You can tell if the dialogue feels natural or not. You get a backstage view of the drama unfolding. You must make decisions about how fast or slow a passage should be read; whether it could be played for laughs; whether this is the moment to drop your voice to an ominous whisper and milk the moment for suspense...
And you also know when it's just not working. That's when you start to skim or skip pages.
Reading aloud gives me an appreciation for the author's ability to set up expectations in the reader's or listener's mind. I love watching how s/he nurtures those expectations, then meets/twists/exceeds/fails them in the end. I have a true admiration for authors like Margaret Wise Brown, whose enchanting prose casts a perfect little spell over my children, because I am never tempted to reword for clarity or skip pages. is Goodnight Moon is Goodnight Moon. A perfect little gem of a book that needs no polish whatsoever. Only a voice to read it, and a hand to turn pages.
Anyway, my point of this blog post was just to say, I think I have stumbled on a bit of craft advice that I can feel reasonably secure in recommending to all aspiring authors as an activity of benefit. And it is this:
Find some kids and read aloud to them.
Have you read aloud any great books lately? Have any surefire points of craft advice?
(No squares, please!)
The lovely readers at have voted me "Best Debut Author of 2009" in their . This is a truly thrilling honor to receive! I was also so excited to see that my good friend and critique partner, , was awarded Best Short Story for her novella "This Wicked Gift" in The Heart of Christmas. Congratulations to all the winners. I am just delighted to be mentioned in such great company.
AAR is coincidentally having a featuring debut authors - my three books are in there, all signed, and so is Courtney's amazing Proof By Seduction. Also in the prize basket are books by Lavinia Kent, Carrie Lofty, and Kaki Warner, plus a slew of other great prizes, including a $50 gift certificate to RedEnvelope.com. All you have to do to enter is visit the and leave a comment about recent debuts you've enjoyed!
And the winners of copies of 's PROMISE ME TONIGHT, as determined by Random.org, are....
Emily (#6)
and Willaful (#16)
Congratulations! Please use the contact form to send me your snail mail address. And if you didn't win, be sure to enter my current "New Authors" contest--I'm giving away copies there, too!
Thanks to everyone for a great discussion of the Best Friend's Little Sister trope. There were so many mentioned that I love (The Duke and I! sigh - Pleasure for Pleasure! yum) and several that were new to me, as well.
Today, I'm excited to go have lunch with some SoCal romance bloggers - assuming they brave the torrential rains for the drive to the OC. And then it's back to the cave to finish up THREE NIGHTS WITH A SCOUNDREL, which is not a Best Friend's Little Sister romance, but a Dead Best Friend's Grieving TWIN Sister romance. Oh, the guilt and heartache and forbidden pleasure! I'm loving this book.
Happy Superbowl, everyone. I know the Saints are a sentimental favorite, but I have to stay true-blue to my home team, the Colts. I expect it's going to be a great game!
Hope your weekend is drier than mine, and just as fun-filled.
