More great news for CIRCLE IN TIME!

I'm so pleased to announce that I received a phone call the morning of the Golden Heart Awards ceremony at RWA in Denver letting me know Circle in Time is a finalist in the Unpublished Maggie Awards for Excellence. I couldn't be happier!!

And the week before I left for Denver, I learned Circle in Time was a finalist in the first round of OCCRWA's Orange Rose Contest!

More RWA 2018 News

One of the fun traditions among Golden Heart® Finalists is getting to know each other and choosing a name for that year's finalists and having pins designed to commemorate the class. It's a collective effort with input from all the finalists on name and pin design. And I couldn't be happier with the name chosen this year. Introducing the 2018 Golden Heart® Persisters!

See you in Denver my fellow PerSISTERS!

Embracing Lady Luck

I can't believe it. And I'm not just saying that to appear humble. I truly did not expect the call I received this morning from RWA Board member Priscilla Oliveras Kissinger telling me I was a 2017 Golden Heart® finalist. Unlike previous years when I entered, I really didn't hold much hope on this one because it had always scored so abysmally in the Golden Heart®. However, I also understand how subjective this business is. I figured I had nothing to lose to try it one more time. After all, it was my third try on my other Golden Heart® manuscript. Brace yourself, I'm going to get a little sappy here.

The bottom line: it's about more than writing skill and a good story. It's also about being lucky and having your manuscript land in the hands of judges who enjoy your voice and your story. Which is why I'm embracing Lady Luck today, and I am beyond thrilled. There are many phenomenal writers out there who also entered this year and didn't get that call today. I'm here to tell you it doesn't mean what you've written isn't worthy of making the finals. It means this is a subjective business and luck plays a role, whether in contests, or finding the right agent to represent you, or in finally finding that perfect editor who adores your story and voice. Of course, you have to do the work to hone your craft and develop a great premise that hooks the reader; but beyond that, it's out of your hands. It's all about timing and a healthy dose of luck. So congratulations to all the lucky finalists today! This is going to be a fun ride.

To those who entered and didn't get that call--NEVER give up! I have to remind myself daily, so here's a little motivational penguin to help.

BIG NEWS!

So there's nothing quite like stepping out of the shower and discovering you have a voice mail from one of your favorite authors, and an email to boot. Last Friday, I was fortunate to receive the news that I was a 2016 Golden Heart® Nominee from none other than Tessa Dare. Unlike last year when I didn't realize it was "The Call" day and thought it was simply Walgreens calling, I didn't scream in her ear. You are welcome Tessa!

I waited to do that until after I disconnected.

via GIPHY

It was even announced in USA Today! Now I need to hustle and get back to painting so I can make that trip to San Diego! I can't wait to meet all my 2016 Golden Heart Sisters.

So THIS Happened!

New York now has a piece of my heart. What a memory, my very first RWA Nationals and a Golden Heart Finalist on top of it. My first day walking into the hotel, I happened to ride up the escalators with none other than the gracious and lovely Eloisa James who promptly invited me to join her for a cup of coffee. What a way to start my first conference!

From that second on, it was a whirlwind of activity that never let up. Attending workshops, trying to absorb all the incredible opportunities, meeting writers I'd admired for many years, and meeting my fellow nominees--it was a blur that went by too fast. On Friday, the Golden Heart and RITA nominees were honored at a reception where I was presented my certificate for making the finals. Thank goodness for the photo, because it all seems like a dream now.

In so many ways, it was almost too much to absorb. It seems cliche to say that being nominated is enough, but it truly is for me. I'm now a part of a group of writers who've become friends in this shared experience, the 2015 Golden Heart "Dragonflies." Our sisterhood of 46 chat daily, and they are a source of support and camaradarie that is priceless. I so wish we had a photo of the entire group together, but I do have this one taken after the awards presentations. What an amazing night it was.

It doesn't require a win to thank people, and I have many people to thank. First on the list is the RWA and all the local chapter members who volunteer their time to sponsor contests, judge and provide writers with amazing feedback. The resources and opportunities the organization provides its members is unsurpassed. My local chapter, Music City Romance Writers tops that list. I have numerous critique partners who've helped me along the way, none more than Charissa Weaks, my plot and structure guru who convinced me I needed to toss my manuscript and start over. I have no doubt I wouldn't have the Golden Heart nomination without her pushing me in the right direction.


And last but not least, my amazing fellow 2014 Pitch Warriors who came to New York for a mini-reunion during RWA. For me, the absolute best part of this trip was spending time with these friends and valued critique partners I'd yet to meet until New York. And best yet, having them with me for the Awards ceremony. Hopefully, this first reunion will be the first of many to come.

Never. Give. Up.

My mantra for five years now. Through rejection after rejection, through failures to final in too many contests to count, through self-doubt and endless frustration: Never. Give. Up.

I didn't initially return to writing fiction with an end game of publishing. I returned to writing for the creative joy I found in it. Something changed along the way; I wanted to see my stories in the hands of readers. Of course, I had no clue to the long, hard path of traditional publishing. And that's what I wanted. I knew it meant educating myself, learning the craft, putting my work out there for critique, and being open to listening and learning. I cut my teeth on many RWA® local chapter contests, the feedback from which has helped shape my writing as I honed my craft. And for three years, I entered the mother of all contests for unpublished romance writers: The Golden Heart®.

And each year I'd wait for the phone to ring on the designated date, disappointed when it didn't. After my third try, I decided it was time to hang up my dream of being a Golden Heart® nominee. It wasn't in the cards for me. Then December rolled around. I'd just come out of an extensive rewrite of my first book, the one I refused to give up on. It was tighter and more polished than it had ever been, and the temptation of trying "one last time" was a siren's call. I entered on the last day, primarily because I didn't want to regret not trying one more time. Then I let it go.

A month in advance of the announcements, I booked a job so I'd be on a scaffold with a trowel or paint brush in hand on the date the calls went out to the Golden Heart® finalists. I needed my mind elsewhere, not jumping with every phone call, and ultimately sinking into despair at the end of the day when the call didn't come. This wasn't my first rodeo, and my work schedule was hectic, so not thinking about the outcome was fairly easy. If I thought about it, I pushed it aside. Somehow, I got it in my head the call day was on Friday. I know this might be hard to believe, but I was too covered up with work and other responsibilities to dwell on the excitement leading up to the Rita® and Golden Heart® announcements. I wouldn't make the cut, anyway. Why torture myself?

So when my phone rang early Thursday morning the 26th of March, my heart didn't jump into my throat. It was a call from Omaha, Nebraska, which meant Walgreens' automated refill service was calling. I ignored it since I was heading out the door; but then relented and answered, figuring I'd go ahead and get my refill set up to save time. Or I think I answered, I'm not really sure since I was awaiting the automated voice. Instead, a live woman's voice came over the line. I still didn't catch on. Until she said, "This is Victoria Alexander with the RWA® Board, and I'm calling to tell you THE HOUSE OF D'INNOCENZI is..."

I'm not sure I heard much after that for the ringing in my ears. And bless poor Victoria. I must apologize to her in New York City in July. I'm sure her ears were ringing, too. I think I screamed (at least my husband two rooms away said I did). I KNEW at that point why she was calling. To say I was shocked doesn't cover it--an absolute surprise and truly a gift to have forgotten it was THE day. The call was oh so much sweeter and the best kind of reward for staying the course. My reminder to Never. Give. Up.

On Perfectionism, People-Pleasing, and Writing Contests

One of my favorite blogs for writers is Kristen Lamb’s. It never fails to entertain and enlighten. Her post today was timely. She wrote of how writers cannot please everyone, and how the perfectionists among us fall prey to that old ‘people-pleasing’ habit that destroys our passion and our art—a reminder I needed since I recently entered the world of writing contests. She said:

“I’ve seen this happen time and time again… [Writers] rework and rework…trying to make it ‘perfect’—which is actually code for ‘making everyone happy.’ Here is the thing. Not gonna happen. Ever. One person will say our book is too wordy. Another wants more description. We add more description and then another person is slashing through, slaughtering every adjective and metaphor.”

Go read the entire post, my writer friends. You’ll feel better for having done so.

When I decided to join the Romance Writers of America® late last year, I did so unsure that I’d actually written a romance, but quite certain my stories included a ‘strong romantic element.’ The amazing array of resources the association offers their membership is impressive. It was only later I learned about the world of contests. Not all contests are created equal, but almost all offer feedback in the form of extensive score sheets from judges. The preliminary round judges are volunteers, members ranging from readers to published writers. Most chapters train their judges on how to review and score the entries, and the final judges are publishing industry professionals giving the finalists a chance to get their work before editors and agents.

Despite having put my first manuscript through a rather rigorous three-month-long, invitation-only revision workshop, and having many beta readers, both writers and readers, friends and strangers, I decided I might benefit from the impartial feedback of these contest judges. I entered my manuscript in a few, then a few more, also entering my sequel to see if it stands alone. Over the last two months, I began receiving my results. It has been, and continues to be, an educational and eye-opening experience—not for the faint of heart—but I’m confident no different from the range of response I would get from rank and file readers. I can say without hesitation, the process is well worth the time and expense if you can enter the contests with an open mind and a thick skin.

Which brings me back to Kristen Lamb’s comments—before you enter these contests, it’s important that you are confident in your story and your craft, enough to recognize and utilize worthwhile criticism and resist the urge to please everyone. My score sheets have ranged from perfect scores and high praise to embarrassingly low scores and scathing remarks. One judge wanted to “start a fire” with it and another proclaimed the heroine was an unlikable “uppity bitch.” But for every comment that kicked me in the teeth and made me shake my head, there were plenty that made me want to kiss the judge, especially the ones expressing a desire to see my manuscript in book form so they could buy it and read the full story. However, the most beneficial comment that I kept seeing over and over, on low and high scores alike, whether they liked the characters or not—they were intrigued and wanted to keep reading. THAT is what I want, and that alone told me I needed to trust my gut. That’s not to say I didn’t take a lot of great criticism and put it to use. I did and still do if I believe it improves the manuscript…and if it pleases ME.

I am happy to say the manuscript was chosen a finalist in two contests, WRWDC’s Marlene Awards and  Chicago-North RWA® Fire and Ice Contest, and went on to win and receive full requests from the final judge in each. Fingers crossed it pleases them, too.