SQUEE! Plus, how to spend your $ this May

May
2009

Courtney Milan stole the blog post from my fingertips this morning. Huge squees of joy are in order for two more friends who have made their first sales: Maggie Robinson, who recently sold to Berkley Heat, and Tiffany Chalmers, who just sold this week to St. Martin’s Press! Congratulations, ladies! I can’t wait to find Paradise and Hidden Beauty on shelves in 2010!

As Courtney points out in her great post, Maggie and Tiff are just two more successes from the amazing circle of friendship and support that grew out of the 2006 Avon Fanlit event and the Eloisa James Bulletin Board. (Now also Julia Quinn’s BB!) Courtney does a great job of discussing how that network has led to success – through various friendships, critique relationships, and sub-groups, many of us have gone on to complete manuscripts, land agents, and sell.

But another thing many of us have had in common? The advice and critique prowess of Ms. Courtney Milan. Which is why her critique up for bids in the Brenda Novak Auction to benefit diabetes research just may be the steal of a century.

There’s no way I could have completed or sold Goddess of the Hunt without my critique partners, one of whom is Courtney Milan. Her comments on my manuscripts have always been insightful, useful, and unfailingly honest. And her expertise in legal matters is unparalleled. If you’re an aspiring author of historical romance, I don’t think you could spend your money any better than to bid on her critique and then (important step) make use of her brilliant advice. I wouldn’t be a published author today without it!

And if you’re curious to see the results of Courtney’s critique, a rare advance reader’s copy of Goddess of the Hunt is up for bids, as well. Upon request, I will furnish first draft scenes to the winning bidder, so you can see the “before” and “after”. 🙂

Courtney Milan
May 8th, 2009 at 6:48 am · Link

Thanks, Tessa–but as I recall, it was Tessa Dare who gave more of a critique to both Maggie and Tiffany. Let’s make sure that credit falls where credit is due. 🙂

Tessa
May 8th, 2009 at 6:52 am · Link

Um, no – can’t take any credit, really. I’ve never critiqued for Maggie at all (sadly, because I’m dying to read her stuff!).

Tiffany
May 8th, 2009 at 7:35 am · Link

Ah! Thank you so much for the shout out… and here’s to the EJBB and Avon Fanlit… where it all pretty much started!

I don’t think I couldn’t have gotten very far without my critque partners. They keep you going, they are there to cheer, or cry, whatever the occassion may call for!

And seriously people… Bid on that crit! Courtney is an amazing writer… I’m lucky enough to have read excerpts back in the day! 🙂

Elyssa Papa
May 8th, 2009 at 7:59 am · Link

Yay on all the fabulous success! Maggie and Tiffany are fabulous writers, and I loved CP’ing their books.

I have to say that both Courtney and Tessa have been absolutely the most supportive and nicest people to me. Their feedback and the fact that they always help me out speaks volume.

Bid on both of them!

And, if you win the bid on Courtney’s critique, you are one lucky person. Everything she says is spot on, and your story and writing will be the better for it. Mine certainly is.