It’s very rainy in my part of the world. No big surprise, because yesterday was our May long weekend (Victoria Day). It seems it always rains on the two big camping weekends of the summer, the other being the July 1st (Canada Day) long weekend (if it falls on a weekend). What’s Memorial Day like in the States? Is it the start of camping season like it is for those of us up north foolish enough to enjoy camping (I can take it or leave it…usually leave it, but I know people who adore camping). Do you have plans for the upcoming Memorial Day long weekend?
Because it was Eldest Son’s birthday on Friday and then a long weekend, my writing ground to a halt. However, a lot of overdue cleaning was accomplished. So, my only bit of writing-related news this week is that I received my first ever scores back from the RITA contest. I’m pleased to report that BORROWING ALEX received one 9 (the top score possible for those not in the know) and also an 8. However, it also received one upper-middling score and two “lower-middling enough that there’s no way this entry will make it into the finals” scores. However, that the book received such differing scores didn’t bother me. This was the first year that an author with a book published by a micro-press (I picked up that description from Natalie Damschroder) like Amber Quill could even enter the RITA, and, frankly, there wasn’t really an appropriate category for my entry. I did the best I could with my choices, which were to either enter a short book in Single Title, where it would have competed against books twice its length, or to enter it in Series Contemporary, which is really for category romance novels published in a series (Harlequin/Silhouette). However, the definition for this category is loose enough (employing words like “usually” quite frequently) that I felt it was the best place for my story. So, in actuality, I was very pleased that BORROWING ALEX snagged that 9!
Lastly, the managing editor of the Casablanca line for Sourcebooks, Deb Werksman, is taking questions today on the new Casablanca Authors blog. I’ve spoken to Deb on the phone, and she is very enthusiastic. This is an excellent opportunity to pick her brain, so don’t miss it. And, yep, I asked a question myself.
Memorial Day is BBQ day. lol Of course, my fam has plans to take the kids swimming and get the ladies a nice tan, so naturally there is rain in the forecast, even though it’s sunny and 95 here (TX) the rest of the week…
Let’s see, what can I tell you this Tuesday? I sent off my proposal last week. Terrified to hear what she has to say about that, but I could be waiting months for that response, so I’m trying to forget about it and finish up the full. Just in case.
Oh, Avery, I’m so excited that you got your proposal sent off! Way to go! Of course you’re terrified. Completely understandable. Just keep telling yourself, She WANTS to work with me. SHE WANTS TO. Because you wouldn’t have gotten this far if she didn’t.
Crossing everything for you.
I’ve been name-checked! *squeee!* I wish I could remember who I saw first use micro-press. I love the term.
Congratulations on the 9! I chickened out and didn’t enter, so I’m really proud of you for going for it.
I just finished a novella to submit to Spice Briefs. Other than that, I have nothing to Tell on Tuesday.
Good luck, Avery! Totally irrelevant, but your name is the same as the heroine of my latest WIP. 🙂
Oooh, a Spice Briefs novella. You’re ahead of me, Natalie. That’s one of my goals for 2008 – to submit to Spice Briefs (well, for my pen name to submit to them). We’ll see how it goes. I’m focused on a cindypk ST right now.
Thanks for the 9. I was quite thrilled.
Good luck on the submission, and keep me informed.