Onwards and Upwards

So the New Voices Top Ten have been announced. Mega congrats and huge glasses of bubbly to the lucky 10 who made the cut! I'm looking forward to reading your second chapters :)

I also know a LOT of people (813 to be exact) who are disappointed and who are thinking.....

To those brave souls, I raise an even bigger glass of bubbly in your honour because you know what? It took courage to submit your entry, have it read and commented on by the world and his aunt (sometimes not so politely) and remain sane without running screaming for the hills, or (more likely) throwing a giant wobbly! You all have my deepest respect.

BUT (you knew there was one, right?) now, it's time to concentrate on something different. By different I don't mean throw away your NV sub. No. I mean, pick yourself up, put NV behind you and use the momentum you had this time last week to finish that second, third, and last chapter and sub, sub, sub!

If this reads like a pep talk, it's because it is :) Going around blogland in the past couple of days, I know how disheartened people are. But it's time to put the chocolate to one side (ok, maybe not), ditch the wallowing and get back on that writing horse.

I wish you nothing but awesome ideas for your next story and fast fingers to write it with. If you've decided to do something completely different, that's ok too, but I'd love to know so tell me, what are your post-NV plans?

XOXO

Bits & Bobs & Freebies

Can you believe it’s just three months to Christmas? It hadn’t occurred to me how close the holiday season was until my daughter started a discussion about what she wanted for Christmas! It featured rabbits, hamsters and goldfish - don't ask! Seriously, where has the year gone? I was grateful for the reminder though, because this year, I’m determined to get ahead of the Christmas rush and get all my shopping done by 1st November. Famous last words? We'll see...

I’d like to say a huge, huge well done to everyone who entered the New Voices Contest. It’s been a series of highs and lows (mostly highs) for many of the contestants, including my lovely CPs and I take off my hat to them for hanging in there so admirably. I can’t wait to find out who the winner is, can you?

As the weather closes in and the nights grow colder, there are some things I look forward to – my favourite TV shows returning (Strictly, anyone?) and of course, snuggling under a warm duvet with a cup of cocoa and a book by my favourite author.

So, and this is best part, to make things even sweeter, imagine how thrilled I was to find out Harlequin are giving away FREE BOOKS!!! As a reward for entering, reading, voting and commenting on the New Voices contest, Harlequin are giving a free book from almost every line. How awesome is that? So what are you waiting for? Click on this link and download your free copies NOW! And as an additional helpful hint, Minx Romy posted a fab review of one of the books, Mia's Scandal, in the summer. You can read it HERE.

Enjoy and have a lovely weekend.

The End And A New Beginning

After weeks of wrestling with my never-ending-short-story-set-on-a-cruise-ship, I finally typed The End at the weekend, yaayyyyyy! This was supposed to be an exercise in writng a 15k word novella. I failed. It ended up being a 44k (and would probably end up longer once I'm done with edits!) Sigh. So if there's one thing I've learnt with this process, it's this - I can't write short *double sigh*

But I'm happy, happy, happy to be done with this ms.

While it's in the "breathing" stage, I thought I'd give my blog a makeover (that's the 'new beginning' in case you're wondering). It's something else I've been toying with for a while and as I've been told, it's good to reward yourself for goals achieved.

Also, what better way to freshen up a blog than with some man eye-candy?

Thanks to Jo C Minx, who's been extolling the virtues of Brother & Sisters, I've fallen in love with Matthew Settle. Isn't he yummy? .

What do you think? You like? Huh? The new look, I mean, not the man candy. Okay, go on, you can tell me if you like him too!

Have a great week, everyone! And besides Minx Lorraine's In Too Deep and Minx Jo P's Sequins & Secrets, be sure to look out for more Minx entries, coming soon to the New Voices Contest.

XOXO

More On New Voices Contest

Still unsure whether to enter the New Voices Contest?

Well, it's started and to date there are over 100 entries. Yes!!! So if you're still angsting over whether to push your baby out into the world, head on over to the Minxes Blog for some much needed encouragement.

There are some really great entries in there *cough Minx Lorraine's In Too Deep for example cough*, so your baby will be in pretty good company and won't feel so lonely. And if you're terrified of getting your baby bruised, I can tell you that most of the entries have received very fair comments so far.

So, go take a look at the Minxes Blog and send that chapter out!

You can do it!!!

Maya xx

Fairy Dust & Fingers Crossed...

In just two days, the New Voices Contest to find the new star author for Harlequin Mills & Boon gets underway.

Haven't heard of it yet? Where have you been?

Seriously this is such a wonderful opportunity for any aspiring M&B writer and if anyone's thinking of entering, I urge you to give it a go.

Anyone who visits the eharlequin board knows the editors have just finished an awesome one-month quest to find new Medical authors. This was a huge success and I get the feeling the New Voices Contest will equal that success.

To that I end, this post is to spur everyone on! I know a few
special people who will be entering (go girls!!!) and a
few others who are still...


But remember, you gotta be in it to win it!
You have to strike while the iron's hot (or the competition is running), you have to...well, you get my meaning :)




But just to add a few more sweetners, here's some fair minx magic dust on all entries and crossing my fingers for anyone who's brave enough to enter.



An especially big dose of luck to my special people (you know who you are!) I'm not entering myself, but I couldn't be happier for the potential new voice who will emerge in a few short weeks.

According to M&B editor Lucy Gilmour, the judges include Penny Jordan, Tessa Shapcott (Editorial Director) and Managing Director Mandy Ferguson! You couldn't find a better panel, ladies and gentlemen, if you tried. The mentor team is equally as fabulous!

So good luck everyone and I look
forward to reading all the entries
and seeing who emerges the lucky...

Maya xx