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This weeks winner of Wild and Wanton is Cathy! (caity_mack) Email me and tell me the format you desire!  Britblaise@gmail.com

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The first story I sold to New Concepts came out in Feb. I remember waiting anxiously for my first review. It was a truly nerve racking experience.
You never realize when you are working away on your stories, trying  to sell, about all the stuff that cames after you sign the contract. The promoting, the reviews. It’s all a big learning experience. Writing the story is only part of the adventure. Selling your story sets you on a whole new course with many new things to figure out
Eye of the Storm is actually the first book I ever wrote. I wrote page one exactly four years ago. It took me eight months to write the 320 page paranormal adventure. Most of that time was spent just trying to figure out how to write a damn book Up until I started Eye of the Storm I had only writtten short stories for fun.

When it was done, I spent three months cleaning it up before I sent it off to Harlequin SIM line. Why HQ Sim? Because when I first started I had stumbled onto the HQ writers board and they had listed all the details on how to submit. I figured it was a good place to start. I sent in a synopsis and query letter.

Did I mention the synopsis took me three weeks to write and one rather large bottle of both aspirin and tequila. There is nothing I hate more in this world then to writing a synopsis. I have alot of writing buddies that love the things. They can sit down and pound out a rocken one in less than a day. Not me. Ever momennt of writing a synopsis is like pulling teeth. It is sheer agony. I don’t know why I have such a hard time with the evil things, but I do and I can’t imagine it ever changing since I have since written three more and each time it was hell.

The synopsis and query went off into the mail and three months later I got back a request for the full. This was great news. I celebrated with my writing buddies. At the time all of us were aspiring. Off the manuscript went, along with the required SASE and correct postage Eight months went by without a word. I had given up hope when one day I got a letter in the mail. It was a rejection letter. My first. At the time I had no idea there was such things as a good rejection letter. I mean someone tells you, hell no I don’t want to buy your manuscript, in my mind thats just not good news. But live and learn, there are all kinds of rejections letters. The form rejection letter being the worst. I didn’t have a form letter, instead I had one from the Editor telling me she liked the story, but the romance was not the main focus of the story instead it was a subplot. And HQ needed the romance to be the main plot. And then she went on to give me tips about things I needed to work on in the story. For instance she wanted more explantation of the powers, the justification of the way it all worked, didn’t work for her. And she wanted the bad guys stuff beefed up. At the end she told me she would be happy to see more of my work. My friends swore this was good news. I got to work taking her suggestions and reworking the manuscript so I could send it out to another house.

Out of the blue a Medallion Press editor asked to see the manuscript. That in itself is a very long story. Here is short form -  I network alot, talk to alot people and in one instance it actually worked in my favor and someone asked to see my work. So I sent in the partial. Six months went by and no word. I decided to inquire after the partial and was told it had some how fallen  into a big black hole. They had no idea where it was. By this time Medallion had a new Senior Editor. She asked me to send her the partial and I did and a month later I got a request for a full. I can’t remember the exact amount of time that passed, but it was about six or eight months when I got a revision letter in the mail.

Here you thought you were going to just see a review. Sorry I tend to ramble when tired and I have another vicous cold on this end. I blame my husband who spends his working days (he is a fireman/emt) going into all the houses of the sickest people in town. He swears he detoxes when he gets home but some how I always end up sick. He never gets sick. Bastard
Hmm, lets do short version. I did revisions and sent them in an then got another set of revisions. I did those revisions. And then I was asked for another set of revisions. For those of you keeping track thats three sets of revisions. Now one of my writing buddies has done in the past –three sets of revisions on three different occasions on three different manuscripts for a publishers who turned the final product down each time. It’s not that unusual to get one, two or even three sets of revisions. It means they like the story, but it’s not quite there for them.

The problem was I didn’t agree with what the editor was saying for the third set of revisions. Did I mention also that it was another new Senior Editor. Senior Editor number three sent me the second and third revision letters.

Everyone around me was telling me I HAD TO GET THEM DONE AND SEND THEM IN. I mean come on was I crazy. Obviously the editor liked the story or she wouldnt’ be working with me on it. If they don’t like your stuff they reject you, sometimes quickly and often harshly. Revisions means there is still hope. But I have to tell you my gut was telling me that this was the wrong move for me. I have always in my life followed my gut instinct. But this time it wasn’t easy because everyone thought I was nuts. Except for Todd. He’s attitude was do what feels right. That’s what I have always done. Even if at the time it seems like a crazy move. It so far has always worked out for me.

It was an agonizing decision. I was worried I was, for the first time, in my life doing something really stupid by listening to my instincts. After a month of stressing back and forth about it I just decided to do my own thing. I decided not to do the final set of revisions, but instead looked to send the manuscript out again.

My goal had always been to get as many rejection letters as possible for each manuscript. I mean you spend your time and effort into writing the thing, you might as well put as much effort into sending it around.

I was working away at editing the manuscript one more time. There were still a few areas I wasn’t happy with. When I got a request from New Concepts Publishing. I had entered a contest and they had seen the entry and requested it. I had heard nothing, but good things about New Concepts so I sent in the full. And two month later they bought the story. I had two stories in the contest. One story I had written with a friend. They bought that one first - Portrait of Death. Then in April they bought Eye Of the STorm.  And it came out in July.

There’s the story. Except for one last part I forgot to mention. The manuscript was called Queen of Chaos right up until I entered it into the contest. Then it had a quick name change and morphed into Eye of the Storm.

Okay as promised, finally here is a review for the story from FAR. It’s my first five anything
Rating 5 Angels from Fallen Angels Review

Eye of the Storm

Some people are born with extraordinary gifts. Those possessing varying mental powers are secretly known as “Talents”.

Despite a legendary father, testing hasn’t shown Katlin Campbell to be a particularly strong Talent. Unfortunately, that will not stop her from being unwittingly pulled into the middle of a huge conspiracy. One that could quickly get her killed.

Ryker Duncan is a man haunted by his past, and it has put him on a mission for vengeance. Thus far it has yielded minimal results. But he’s sure he has found an advantage worth exploiting when he stumbles upon Katlin and learns that she has inadvertently attained possibly invaluable secrets. Now he just has to protect her long enough to extract the information – from the depths of her mind.

On the run, Katlin only has Ryker to rely upon. But can she trust a man that seemingly has no qualms about selling her out? And how will Katlin and Ryker deal with the attraction brewing between them?

One of the best words to describe this paranormal romance is absorbing. Ms. Storm has constructed a plot filled with action, packed with the supernatural, heavy with sexual chemistry, and supplemented with a few surprises that will keep readers on their toes. As such, readers will be hard-pressed to avoid being quickly pulled into this conspiracy right along with Katlin and Ryker.

As far as great heroines with superpowers go, Katlin made for a wonderful addition and she provided a fun balance to the strong and sexy Ryker’s brooding nature. Ms. Storm built the romantic tension between Katlin and Ryker very well so that is was like a force to be reckoned with. Eye of the Storm was quite a fascinating read and I am already anticipating the next installment.

Reviewed by: Jen H., Fallen Angels Review

Samantha Storm - http://www.samanthastorm.com/
Eye of the Storm - Available Now!  http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/eyeofthestorm.htm
Murder, Mayhem & Mistletoe - coming Dec. ‘06 NCP

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Hi everyone.  2am and I can’t sleep, so I thought I’d blog, since I’ve been a big slacker lately.  It’s like I blinked and the last two weeks flew by!  Don’t you hate that?

Anyway - Fire Maiden is hitting the stores (it shipped Monday) and my publisher has challenged me to see how quickly I can get the first 1000 to sell through Borders.  We are trying different promotions to see what works and what doesn’t.  So, if you’d like to help (and I hope you’re looking forward to reading the book!) head on out to your local Borders store and pick up a copy or go to http://www.bordersstores.com/.  And to whet your appetite - scroll down for an excerpt!

For those of you not familiar with the series - it’s based around four sisters who are ex-warriors for God.  They are female gargoyle warriors who can turn to stone at will and glamour their wings as needed.  It’s now current day and they open a bodyguard agency, but since they still keep in touch with the Angel Gabriel and Alonna, the fairy of prophesy, they tend to get pulled into quite a few supernatural situations.  This book centers around Kefira and Dagan, the Paladin who broke her heart years earlier and has shown up back in her life.  He’s embroiled in the prophesy that affects her unborn newphew, the child of blood, and the balance of good and evil.  Dagan has been recuperating from being attacked by mysterious supernatural beings, and James, the Dark Redeemer (and now day walking vampire) is talking to him when they find out Fi’s in trouble and needs help…

Dagan distinctly heard Kefira’s voice echo inside his head.  “James, Fi’s in trouble.”  He jumped out of bed, ignoring the disorientation that came from standing too fast. 
      To James’ credit, he didn’t question how he knew.  He reached out a hand to steady Dagan.  “Where and what’s wrong?  Tell me.”
      “I heard something about her being afraid of dying pinned to a cow.  She must be delirious.”
      James’ brow furrowed.  “Knowing Kefira, I don’t doubt she’s out there right now pinned to some poor cow.”
      Before Dagan could reply, Dara burst into the room.  “Fi’s in trouble.  Odeda is on her way out there, but you take it easy or I will tie you to the bed!”  She pointed a threatening finger toward Dagan.
      Dagan ignored James’ growl at Deda’s comment, and ran out the door and down the stairs.  Dara stopped him at the bottom, handing him his boots.  “You have to have your shoes on.  Grab a horse from the corral, we’re flying over.”
      “What about James?”
      “He has to stay with Ariel—he’s the protector of the child.  His duty lies with them.”
      Dagan didn’t like this news, but he understood.  Hopping out the back door, he pulled on his boots and looked up to see Logan already mounted on a black stallion and holding the reins to a bay mare.  He nodded his thanks and swung into the saddle, even as he urged his horse into a full out gallop. 
Kefira’s life force flowed out before him like a golden-red path of energy, and he followed it instinctively.  He didn’t look back to see if Logan kept pace with him, all his thoughts centered on Kefira.
      “I’m coming, Fi.”  He prayed his frantic thoughts would reach her.  Never before had he been included on the psychic communications between the sisters.  Maybe this was just a fluke. 
The unmistakable sound of wings cutting through the air caught his attention and he glanced up to see Dara and Odeda headed in the same direction as he and Logan.  When he came to a fork in the path, he veered sharply right following his senses, while her sisters went left.  When he crested the hill, he blinked hard to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating.
A cow brayed loudly while bolting around the pasture in obvious distress, a trail of blood left in its wake.  Pinned to its side was Kefira.  His heart froze in his chest until he realized her life force still pulsed around her like a shimmering shield.  Logan rode past him, loosening a lasso from his saddle.  Before Dagan could recover his senses, Logan’s rope reached out like a greedy hand and closed around the poor animal’s neck, stopping its forward motion.
Grateful, Dagan vaulted from his horse toward Kefira.  Dozens of arrows protruded from her chest and stomach and streaks of blood stained her shirt.  However, her skin resembled nothing but pure white marble.  “Thank God she turned to stone, it probably saved her life.”  He heard her sisters land behind them, but paid them no attention.
      “Fi?”  He gently traced her cheek with his thumb.  Her stone skin cool and smooth under his touch.  “Speak to me, Fi.  Are you all right?”
      The stone on her face rippled as it returned to warm supple flesh under his fingers, and her large blue eyes snapped open to glare at him.  “No, I’m not freaking all right!  Do I look all right to you?  Get me off this damned cow!”  Her outburst caused the captive cow to bolt forward and Logan had to hold the lasso tight to keep it in one place.  Odeda moved toward the animal’s head and began to stroke its nose and speak softly to it.
      Kefira glared up at Dagan and he couldn’t help but smile in relief.  If she was feisty enough to argue, then she truly would be fine.  He took another dubious look at the arrows.  Well, maybe fine wasn’t the right word.  “Did you see what did this?”  He started to reach out to touch an arrow, but Dara slapped his hand away.
      “I saw…me.  At least I saw someone who looked just like me, and then suddenly I was going on a cow ride, but sidesaddle.  It was both vamp and succubus though.”
Dagan exchanged a worried glance with Dara.  Apparently, the rumors from the vampires had just been confirmed. 

Tina Gerow
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Sexy & Adventurous With a Twist of the Unexpected
www.tinagerow.com
Fire Maiden - Coming June 2006 in eBook & September 2006 in Print from Triskelion Publishing
Knights of the Magical Realm:  Warriors Gone Wild - Anthology coming October 2006 in Print & in eBook from Triskelion
Stone Maiden - Available Now in Print & in eBook at Triskelion Publishing
Into a Dangerous Mind - Available Now at Triskelion Publishing

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I never thought of myself as much of a procrastinator until I started writing.  I’ll find any excuse not to sit in front of the computer and WRITE.  Forget something like dinner.  Any little thing on my computer will do just fine.  Emails are a perfect delaying tactic, and if I start working on my web site, well, I can tell you, I’m not going to get any writing done for that day. I’ll even stare at the screen forever before I get a word done. 

 
When this web site started up, I thought ‘perfect’.  I can delay my writing just a bit longer by checking out the site on a daily basis.  As I write this, I’m delaying my writing just a bit longer.  It’s amazing that if I delay long enough, evening’s arrived and I’m so brain dead by that time, I can’t think of a word to write. 

 
Strange part, I can do this day after day. 

 
Carol

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We all have several sizes of jeans in our closets.  Come on, you know it’s true.  We all have at least two pair that remind us of the skinny self we were, or are planning to be.  I know I’ve bought a pair that I crunched into at the mall with the plan to fit into them by next week.  However, I’m still waiting for that glorious week to arrive. I have the day all planned out.  Here’s my dream…I will walk into my closet and and pull out the skinny jeans, dust them off because they’ve been hanging in there so long, step into them and “Holy c***!” they zip. My perfect day has arrived.  Everything will now fall into place. I’m beautiful. My hair will be perfect, my husband will have picked up his dirty laundry, the dogs will spend the day outside instead of shedding all over the house and even the cat will not throw up a hairball.  And the long awaited contract will arrive! Of ourse it will.  In my perfect world.  And all because I can fit into the skinny jeans.

I know this isn’t true. I know being thinner will not make my world better.  In fact, it might make it worse. My friends might hate me because I lost my weight faster than they did.  My husband might get jealous that I look so “hot”. Even my pets won’t like me as much since I won’t have all the extra food on my plate to give them.  I don’t think my dogs are fond of lettuce. And worse yet, I might get e-coli from eating all the spinach and lettuce.  And I’m sure not about to drink any carrot juice.  So, I think the skinny life style is over-rated. Yes, it’s important to be healthy.  We all need to go easy on the fried foods and get plenty of exercise. But I’m not going to be keeping a record of each tid bit of food I place into my mouth anymore.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  It’s much more important to be beautiful because of who we are and not because of what we look like. And I’ll get the contract because of all my hard work. 

Instead of keeping the diet log I’m going to start a writing log. I am keeping track of how many words I write each day. It doesn’t matter how many I write each day just as long as I write every day.  At this rate I should have something to submit by the first of next month.  November 1st girls, that’s my goal.  We’ll see how far I can go. Speaking of which, I still need to go out and buy some jeans. Or maybe I’ll just buy a pair of red high heels.  Yes! That’s it. Right after lunch. Sigh.

Cheers,

Antoinette

Butterscotch Martini Girl

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