As I type this, I’m fervently looking forward to the holidays! Just under five hours until I’m finished with the evil day job for 12 whole days! I’m already dreaming of my cosy fireplace, can already smell the parsnips roasting alongside the plump turkey, and the mince pies laid on the tray ready to be warmed up once the feast has been consumed.
But one other thing I’m looking forward to over the holidays is catching up on my reading. In my towering TBR pile is -
The Lost Symbol (half read) by Dan Brown
Spanish Magnate, Red-Hot Revenge by Lynn-Raye Harris
Kept For Her Baby by Kate Walker
Whistleblower and The Bone Garden – both by Tess Gerritsen
This is Chick Lit by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (a birthday present from my DH)
Of course, in between all this reading I have to fit in some writing and ideally finish my two-year WIP, Vaia’s Destiny! But I am hopeful I will succeed. Ah, the best laid plans of mice and men, eh?
So, what books will you be reading over the holidays?
Maya
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Close But No Cigar...
First of all, cigar/cigarette analogies always scare me because I always think of those when I'm pregnant, LOL. But I haven't been able to get this line out of my head since opening my email this afternoon to find "Writing Competition" staring at me three or four lines down.
It was with trepidation that I opened this email. It started much like the letter I received after the Harlequin Presents comp last year from the Snr Editor..."Whilst we are sorry that your entry wasn't successful...your writing showed a lot of potential for Modern Romance...we loved your intense and dramatic writing style...your writing also showed you understand the appeal and flavour of the series..."
By this time my hand was shaking less and my heart wasn't threatening to jump out of my chest. Of course, I knew there was a BUT.
However, it was a good BUT! Although she pointed out one or two places where I'd gone wrong, the editor concluded by asking for 3 chapters and a synop of whatever I'm working on, plus she's asked me send it directly to her!
Whoooop!
As rejections go, this one ain't bad, in fact it's bloody good!
So I'm not going to take this as a rejection. Nooo, far from it. I'm taking it as a request for three chapters and a synopsis which will bypass the slush pile and land straight into an editor's inbox!
Now there's something to stick in my pipe and smoke! Oh, oh, another analogy. Mayhap this requires further investigation.
Ta da for now folks and happy writing!
Maya
It was with trepidation that I opened this email. It started much like the letter I received after the Harlequin Presents comp last year from the Snr Editor..."Whilst we are sorry that your entry wasn't successful...your writing showed a lot of potential for Modern Romance...we loved your intense and dramatic writing style...your writing also showed you understand the appeal and flavour of the series..."
By this time my hand was shaking less and my heart wasn't threatening to jump out of my chest. Of course, I knew there was a BUT.
However, it was a good BUT! Although she pointed out one or two places where I'd gone wrong, the editor concluded by asking for 3 chapters and a synop of whatever I'm working on, plus she's asked me send it directly to her!
Whoooop!
As rejections go, this one ain't bad, in fact it's bloody good!
So I'm not going to take this as a rejection. Nooo, far from it. I'm taking it as a request for three chapters and a synopsis which will bypass the slush pile and land straight into an editor's inbox!
Now there's something to stick in my pipe and smoke! Oh, oh, another analogy. Mayhap this requires further investigation.
Ta da for now folks and happy writing!
Maya
Friday, 11 December 2009
HP Contest Winners Announced!
And no, I wasn't one of them, or even a runner up! I sort of knew yesterday it wasn't going to happen when my phone remained silent, but it didn't stop the hope from building.
Writing for Harlequin Presents has always been my dream so this particular "rejection" hurts a little bit more.
But I won't lose hope. They've still got my requested full from last year's competition so there's something to look forward to! And who knows I might get another request from this year's competition (unless they never got my comp entry in the first place. Yes, that thought has crossed my mind, more than once, as has the thought that maybe I was disqualified for sending it twice!).
Anyway, commiserations to the 537 other entrants who weren't picked. Here's to hoping we get some sort of feeback, as promised by the editors.
A rather despondent,
Maya
Writing for Harlequin Presents has always been my dream so this particular "rejection" hurts a little bit more.
But I won't lose hope. They've still got my requested full from last year's competition so there's something to look forward to! And who knows I might get another request from this year's competition (unless they never got my comp entry in the first place. Yes, that thought has crossed my mind, more than once, as has the thought that maybe I was disqualified for sending it twice!).
Anyway, commiserations to the 537 other entrants who weren't picked. Here's to hoping we get some sort of feeback, as promised by the editors.
A rather despondent,
Maya
Sunday, 6 December 2009
An Amazing Find...on Amazon
While procrastinating, er, I mean researching...something that had to be researched immediately, I happened across this review of Hostage To Love. A reader's 4-star review! How awesome is that? Reader's reviews are in my opinion, worth their weight in gold and this being my first makes it more special. If you, like me, are procra---, I mean, reasearching, feel free to take a look (it's halfway down the page).
http://www.amazon.com/Hostage-Love-Maya-Blake/dp/1601544685/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260142318&sr=1-2
Happy reading.
Maya
http://www.amazon.com/Hostage-Love-Maya-Blake/dp/1601544685/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260142318&sr=1-2
Happy reading.
Maya
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
Waiting…..Waiting…..Waiting.....
It’s my own fault. I really should have checked more than one place for the announcements about the HP competition. NOW I find out, after risking serious RSI by clicking the Iheartpresents site every two minutes, that the winners won't be announced until 11 December. To make things worse, the post was at the same site, only in a different place. Grrr.
On a good note though, I managed (finally) to write a bit more of my sci-fi saga (not really a saga, but I can dream, right?). I’m now two scenes from the end. I know, I know, I’ve been saying this for a very long time, but this time I mean it. If only I can get it down on paper as clearly as it is in my head, then it’d be done by the end of the year and I’d be a very happy woman.
So, is anyone else waiting for something life-changing or otherwise? Fingers crossed for anyone else waiting for good news. For me, until the 11 December rolls around, the only other delivery I'm expecting is from the postman with my kids' fancy dress costumes.
So go on, tell me your news! I could do with some good cheer.
Happy writing and reading.
Maya
On a good note though, I managed (finally) to write a bit more of my sci-fi saga (not really a saga, but I can dream, right?). I’m now two scenes from the end. I know, I know, I’ve been saying this for a very long time, but this time I mean it. If only I can get it down on paper as clearly as it is in my head, then it’d be done by the end of the year and I’d be a very happy woman.
So, is anyone else waiting for something life-changing or otherwise? Fingers crossed for anyone else waiting for good news. For me, until the 11 December rolls around, the only other delivery I'm expecting is from the postman with my kids' fancy dress costumes.
So go on, tell me your news! I could do with some good cheer.
Happy writing and reading.
Maya
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