Alexa Bourne

Why Scotland?

2012-03-05T04:05:00.004-06:00

As you may already know, my 1st book is set in the Highlands of Scotland. If anyone wonders why I chose this for my setting, have a look at the pictures on this video. (And I LOVE this song too!) After scenery like this, how can I NOT set a story here?

I Swear....

2012-03-04T06:01:00.003-06:00

One of these days I WILL write a story that includes a body in a bag on the side of the road. I saw a bag of trash in the road last night and again thought, "Hmm, I wonder if anyone is in there!" The idea floats into my head more times than I can count. Mark my words. It WILL happen! (Ummm, the story, not the actual body in a bag.)

Just Strollin' Along

2012-03-03T15:15:00.000-06:00

I'm supposed to be working on the Unbroken partial to submit it in the next couple of weeks. I'm not. I know. Bad, bad Lexi! What am I doing instead? I worked for a couple hours this morning, I updated my website, I've answered emails and sent a few, and worked on some promo stuff for Champion. I know I should be focused on the novel, but my mind keeps drifting to guest blog spots, my posts and prizes for my virtual release party,and other submissions I should receive an answer on any day now. So, rather than feel guilty I've decided to give myself a break. At least I'm working on writing stuff, right?

THREE WEEKS!!!

2012-03-02T05:20:00.001-06:00

I'm kind of overwhelmed that in THREE short weeks my debut will hit the cyber shelves!!! Can you believe it???? I'm still working on lining up promo spots, finishing out my last day in hell (temp sub job) and working on the new project.

Have a Happy Friday!

Mush, I Tell You!!!!

2012-02-29T22:25:00.000-06:00

At the weekend, I thought I could survive at the temporary sub job. After a couple more days of babysitting, policing and getting pegged between the eyes by a paper airplane, I gave my notice to the principal. It's not worth it when I'm depressed, exhausted, physically sick and I'm only making a bit more money. (PLUS I haven't been able to write anything!) So, I've got tomorrow, the hell day, and Friday. THEN I'll be free to take other jobs!

Yesterday and today at the day job, while the kids chased each other around the room and ran in and out of the room, I worked on the new project, Unbroken. I'm determined to finish the partial in the next couple of weeks so I can submit it to the editor who requested it! It deserves to be read. I was going to share a pic of my inspiration for the hero, but the internet isn't working with me right now. Maybe later.

Have a good Thursday! It's my hell day since I have all my toughest classes, each for 1 hour and a 1/2, but I WILL SURVIVE!

My Brain Is Mush

2012-02-25T10:29:00.001-06:00

I've been at the temporary sub job for 8 days, 4 with kids, and it's HARD. I like the staff I'm working with and I love what I'm learning about myself as both a teacher and a human being. But the kids are difficult. Very difficult. In fact, some of the attitudes & behaviors are the exact reasons I left the last teaching job. But I'm taking things 1 day at a time, 1 class at a time and I'm focusing (as I always do) on the positives. For example, every time I start to think, "I can't do this" something positive happens--a teacher says thank you for staying, a janitor says thank you because the room isn't as messy as it has been, a student drops me a note that says thank you for teaching us. I can't help but think there's a reason I'm the one that's here in this class at this time. I won't try to explain it. I'll just go with it one day at a time.

With all the stress of this temporary day job, I've been so exhausted after work each night that I haven't done much else. I've been working on filling out the paperwork for the guest blog spots/interviews I have scheduled for Champion's release. I planned specifics about my online party. (Are you coming????) I'm always looking for other ways to promote my baby too.

Also with the day job I haven't had a chance to really think about how my publisher has the 2nd novella. At times I chew on my fingernails, but not for long because there's always something else to do.

This weekend I intend to get busy with revising my partial that's been requested as well. You've heard a bit about this story, Unbroken, on here. It was written last summer. I'd like to submit that before Champion comes out (so within 4 weeks!) so I can focus my attention on Champion.

Okay, I'm off to have another cup of tea and watch the last 1/2 hour of English soccer (Chelsea vs. Bolton) before I have to get ready for a staff meeting for my part-time job. Have a great day!

You've Got To See This!

2012-02-23T19:07:00.001-06:00

If you're interested in Scottish stories, check out this book trailer for my Celtic Hearts sister Victoria Roberts' book coming out in September! I just watched the trailer and LOVED it! Go here to see it!

The day job is kicking my arse, but I'll fill you in over the weekend!

First Comments On 2nd Novella!

2012-02-21T05:41:00.004-06:00

I sent Fractured Paradise to my beta readers Sunday night. The first reader sent her response back yesterday. She's a tough cookie so these words MADE MY DAY!

"WOW LOVED IT
I didn't stop reading till it was over - I want a man like that!!
Great job.... very well written - i'm in love

congratulations to having another hit!!!"

Celebrating Robert Burns

2012-02-20T05:00:00.000-06:00

I'm over at the Celtic Hearts Romance Writers blog today sharing my experience at a Robert Burns Supper earlier this month. Come on over!

Lift Off!

2012-02-19T15:29:00.000-06:00

Whoohoo! Time to celebrate! I JUST hit send on my submission! Fractured Paradise is now in the capable hands of my publisher. I'm THRILLED with how it came out and I really hope they want it.

But, no rest for the wicked. After a quick lunch, I've got to get started on the promo work for Champion, the work I've been putting off until I could get Paradise out the door. And then I've got to get busy with the other project, Unbroken, that needs some love and attention before I send its partial off to the awaiting editor.

BUT...I think I will bask in the glow of accomplishment for a few minutes first.

Be Careful What You Wish For

2012-02-17T17:52:00.001-06:00

On Tuesday, February 7th, I asked for good vibes, thoughts and prayers because I had a few irons in the fire. I quickly came back with 2 of them as a no. Since then, things have changed. The iron in the fire is in regular print. The update is underneath and in bold.

1. I interviewed for a long-term sub job that could turn permanent.
I got the job, but it's at a very challenging school. The kids have run off every other substitute. Yesterday, apparently a teacher got assaulted. I've been on campus for 3 days prepping. I start with the kids on Tuesday. My first class is the one that vowed to send me away crying on my 1st day.

2. I sent a pitch into an editor for a completely different project. I LOVE the story!
I got a request for a partial (3 chapters & synopsis). The book's written, but I'll still have to take some time to revise a bit before I send it.

3. I'm at 8 months waiting for a response on another book.
8 & a half months now and still waiting.

4. I had a person put an application in to rent my condo.
The person's background and credit check came back and my property manager couldn't approve. BUT the very next day she called me with another applicant who did get the "thumbs up" and he's moving in March 1st!

To be honest, I'm a bit overwhelmed because add to this I'm trying to prep for the release of Her Highland Champion next month too. Wonderful things are happening and I just have to learn to balance everything, but it will take me a while. Hope it doesn't make me crazy in the process!

My Longer Retreat Review & Other Stuff

2012-02-16T20:19:00.001-06:00

Okay, so I lied when I said I would post on Monday night. Sorry, but I've got lots of stuff going on!

My retreat weekend was wonderful and relaxing and beautiful. I got the 4th draft of Fractured Paradise done, got to know/visit with some of my fellow Austin RWA members and was thrilled to do nothing but write. The retreat is usually 2 nights. I wasn't going to be able to go at all due to my financial situation, but I won a free night through a raffle.

I got up and drove the hour and a half out to our location early Saturday morning. Things were already in full swing, with lots of people writing, when I arrived. Of course, I set my computer up, put my earbuds in and started working. BUT, I am a sucker for a good conversation and soon I was having a great chat with Jax Garren, another author who recently sold her 1st novella. We chatted about our novella plans, what we've learned so far, and how we're feeling. We also compared notes on our epublishers. Thanks, JC! Then it really was time to get busy. I stopped a few times for a quick break and a cookie (or two), but altogether I wrote for about 10 hours on Saturday.
When I couldn't write anything more, I went out to the "talking zone," grabbed a glass of wine, and joined the lively conversation. When my eyes started to droop, I called it a night.

Sunday morning I woke up ready to tackle the ending of the book. After breakfast with those who stayed, I got back to work and finished the draft. I was soooooooo excited! I considered doing a happy dance, but my limbs were stiff from sitting so long. So I settled for loading up my car at about 4pm, and I headed home.

When I got home, I was so "in" the story, I decided to start drafting my blurb for the book. Surprisingly, it came to me pretty easily. (My CPs have also said it was a good job!)

Now, the plan had been to complete the 5th draft before Tuesday, read the entire thing for last minute changes, and then submit it today. Of course, that didn't happen. Why? Because of my "irons in the fire" from one of last week's post. But that's info for another post.

Retreat Review In Thirty Seconds Or Less

2012-02-12T23:34:00.002-06:00

What a WONDERFUL weekend! I'm tired and I'll give you more details tomorrow, but I finished my 4th draft of Fractured Paradise AND wrote the blurb for it! I've got errands tomorrow and a few hours of work, but I promise to post my few pics and give you a rundown of the weekend tomorrow night.

This Just In....

2012-02-11T23:33:00.000-06:00

I'm blogging from the Austin RWA retreat in Central Texas. It's been a productive day, although I'm not moving as fast I'd hoped. Still, I'm down to a few scenes left to revise/write to finish this draft. I had hoped to finish today, but there's something simple preventing me from finishing. Of course I don't know what it is, but I know it's very simple! So, I'm getting off the computer, taking out my handy-dandy pencil & paper, and I'm going to handwrite my blurb so I can remind myself/remember my characters' GMCs. Maybe that will remind me what's important and shed light on what needs to be deleted or added to make that happen. Wish me luck! Update coming tomorrow night!

While I'm Busy Finishing My 2nd Novella....

2012-02-11T06:39:00.001-06:00

* * * Permission To Forward Granted and Appreciated! * * *

Contests: The Basics
Presented by Alexa Bourne
Dates: March 5 – 28, 2012
Deadline: March 2, 2012
Fee: $16.00

Course Description:

Students will explore reasons to enter contests, how to find the right contest for their work, how to follow the “rules,” how to deal with the results/feedback of contests, and finally choose contests.

Topics covered will include:

· Pros & Cons of Contests

· How to Find Contests

· How to choose Contests

· Rules of contests

· Contests vs. Publishing Industry

· Dealing With Contest Results

· Other advantages to contests

Instructor Bio:

Alexa Bourne has been working toward publication for several years. She entered her first contest in 2002 and has since finaled or won in 21 RWA contests with seven manuscripts. She has a Bachelor’s in English Literature and a Master’s in Education. She has been an English teacher for children and adults. She has also written various articles for RWA chapter newsletters and befriended the competition in a contest on more than one occasion.

You can register for the following on-line class through March 3. Each class is $16. FMI: www.lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/

Or email Online Workshop Coordinator, Veronica Alderson, alde02@knology.net using the Subject line: LRWA ONLINE WORKSHOP. To subscribe to LRWA Online Workshop monthly mailing list, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LRWAonlinecourses/join

Thank you.

Veronica Alderson,
LRWA Online Workshop Coordinator
LRWA Treasurer

Temporary Heaven...Lexi Style!

2012-02-09T22:24:00.001-06:00

It's almost Friday. I've got a sub job in a 4th grade classroom tomorrow and then NOTHING to do but focus on writing! (Well, I'll probably fill out some job applications tomorrow night, but that's it.) How am I so fortunate to have nothing to do but write, you ask? This weekend is my Austin RWA annual writing retreat. I'm getting up early Saturday morning to drive to a beautiful place for some quality time with some of my writer friends and my current FANTABULOUS characters. I'm so excited because I've been trying to finish the 4th & 5th drafts of Fractured Paradise for almost 2 weeks now. I expect to get tons done before I head home late Sunday afternoon. No, our retreat is not taking place in this location, but the way I feel when I look at this picture is EXACTLY how I know I'll feel Saturday when I arrive. Come on back Sunday. I'll post pics and details of my retreat experience AND deets about my universe plea from Tuesday. Have a great weekend!

PLEASE, Universe, Swing My Way!

2012-02-07T15:45:00.001-06:00

I won't get into details here, but if you've got thoughts, prayers, or good vibes to spare, PLEASE send them my way. I've got several "irons in the fire" on a professional and personal level and I could really use any one of the five things (or three or four, or all five...) to work out in my favor. I'll share deets when I can.

2/8-So far two of them are a big, fat NO! :-(

Ooops, I Did It Again

2012-02-05T22:36:00.001-06:00

Somewhere around 2001: I wrote 150 pages of a romantic suspense and realized something wasn't right. I liked my supposed villain way more than my hero. And the hero and heroine had little chemistry. So I revised the 150 pages with the original villain as the hero and the original hero as his sidekick (who would get his own story later). It was painful, especially after 150 pages, but once I made the change the characters sparkled.

November 2010: I was working on NaNoWriMo, writing my 1st ever bounty hunter story. I'd reluctantly started watching Dog the Bounty Hunter to see what the lifestyle was like. My hero and heroine were both great people, I eeked out 50,000 words and a lot of blood, sweat and tears. In the end, I realizd the hero and heroine were wrong for each other. The hero was the wrong guy. He was the brother of the correct hero. After NaNo, I revised with the correct brother and the couple exploded on the page. I LOVED the revising and it became one of my strongest full-length books.

November 2011: I started NaNoWriMo with my 2nd bounty hunter story and an AWESOME couple. (Yes, I'm still a Dog the Bounty Hunter fan!) I got through 50,000 words after some difficulty (some "real life", some writing-related). I liked the characters, loved the premise, but the spark wasn't there. No true chemistry. Over the last few days I started thinking, "Maybe the correct hero is one of the brothers." (I had a specific one in mind. There are 4 boys and a girl in the family.) I haven't gotten back to revising it yet mainly because I'm knee-deep in the novellas, but already the choice to change the hero feels right.

Now, the real question is, when I write the 2012 NaNoWriMo manuscript, will I switch the brothers again or will I learn my lesson and make necessary changes BEFORE writing the rough draft??? Is there ANY hope for me?

Line Edits

2012-02-03T16:52:00.000-06:00

On Wednesday I got my line edits for Champion. They looked relatively easy, mostly grammar (commas and I don't get along) and a few dialect issues, so I told the editor I would return them Thursday night before I went to bed.

Wow, I REALLY need to think before I promise to return stuff. Why? I left the house Thursday morning at 7, got home at 8:30 PM and then had to start my "relatively easy" edits. At 2:30 THIS morning (yes, FRIDAY morning-after 4 hours of editing!), I emailed them back to her. (Then I went to bed for 3 1/2 hours before I got up to spend the day with a class of 2nd graders.) I could've emailed earlier and said I couldn't finish at that time, but I felt I had to honor my word. It may not be a big deal at the moment, but if I let it slide now I run the risk of letting it slide later on and eventually that will come back to bite me on the arse.

Since I've been home today, I received my final edits before the story goes to the senior editor. I quickly started an email to my content editor and I had to literally take my fingers off the keyboard so I could think about my response. Can I really get everthing done before bed tonight and returned or do I need the weekend too? (For the record, I'm pretty sure I can.)

Now, as you know I've been knee-deep in revising Fractured Paradise so I can submit that to my publisher (yep, still smiling when I say that!) within the next 2 weeks. It's coming along, I'm pretty confident I'll submit it late next week and I'm absolutely LOVING everything about it. Well, when I started re-reading and editing Champion last night, what was in my head? Paradise. I kept having to remind myself to focus on the right story. It wasn't difficult, but it did feel very strange. This was the first time I'd done something like this because I usually work on one story at a time. (Not quite sure how that will play out when I have multiple contracts, but I can't wait to find out!)

So now I'm off to make a cup of tea and sit down to my final edits. I'll let you know if I get them done tonight!

Where I Am Right Now...

2012-01-31T17:48:00.000-06:00

ONLINE CLASSES: I had 2 online classes scheduled for February. Both got cancelled for not enough participants. I'm not too broken up about it. I figure I can use the time I would've spent on the classes on learning promo options for Champion.

BOOK PROMO: I'm very excited about my education so far. I've got some great ideas for my book's release, and I've been securing guest blog/interview spots on various blogs. I am learning, though, that promo does take an AMAZING amount of time. I've had author friends tell me this, but I don't think you can truly understand it until you're doing it yourself. And I'm not even doing much yet!

UK TRILOGY BOOK #2: Fractured Paradise is TOTALLY coming along. In fact, I might actually be able to submit it a bit early. I'm LOVING it!

REAL LIFE: I've lost 3lbs in the month of January and I wasn't even trying very hard. But that changes tomorrow. I signed up for the 40-day fitness challenge at my gym, from February 1st to March 11th. I'm already tired, but I'm looking forward to pushing myself. It works out well because it will end just before St. Patrick's Day & my release.

SO....tonight's dinner is courtesy of one of my brothers & sisters-in-law. They gave me a gift card to Olive Garden for Christmas. I'm going to eat something really bad for me, sort of like the last fattening supper!

I Have A Release Date!

2012-01-28T15:09:00.000-06:00

Her Highland Champion, a contemporary Scottish romantic suspense, will be released March 23rd!

It'll still be a while before I can share the official blurb & excerpt, but for now:

She needed a hero.
He had no courage to be one.
But danger from her past will force them to find courage in themselves...and each other.

Mark your calendars so you can pick up this splendid story in just under 8 weeks!

In Case You Were Wondering...

2012-01-25T07:04:00.001-06:00

This is how I'm feeling today:

Check back with me later for an update.

Time Crunch!

2012-01-24T08:52:00.002-06:00

It's January 24th. (Where did the first 3 weeks of the year go?????) I've got to buckle down and get busy.

I've got a completely new class that I'm teaching in February to write lessons for
I've got a 2nd class I'm teaching in February (1 I've done before) to prep for
I'm sure I'll have edits from the line editor for Champion
I've just decided to switch the submission plan for my next 2 novellas. Basically I have 1 I've been writing that's set around New Year's. I've decided to submit that one later so that if it gets accepted it can come out around New Year's. So, I'm putting that rough draft aside to focus on revising what was going to be my 3rd one. I want that one ready to submit by the middle of February.

And of course I'm still hunting for a "real job."

Interview With Tami Dee!

2012-01-22T12:10:00.000-06:00

Today I'm sharing time with author Tami Dee. Tami's in Celtic Hearts with me and we've been online friends for quite a while. I've read her AMAZING Viking books, which are bestsellers for her publisher Desert Breeze Publishing. Recently Tami branched out and wrote a Scottish historical romance, Innocent Deception. I'm excited to read this book because Tami's a great author and Scotland is my happy place, no matter the time period! So join me in learning more about Tami Dee!

LEXI: You've written stories about Vikings. What made you switch to Scottish historicals?

TAMI: As you know, I belong to Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, an RWA loop that is all things Scottish. I just love the Scottish 'feel' its history and my current CHRW warm friendships and support. Not to mention, I ADORE reading Scottish Historicals. What could be easier, or more fun, than writing my own?

LEXI: What was the most difficult part of writing this story? The easiest?

TAMI: Hardest: Picking a year and learning that year's history!!! Oh, my goodness, when I started out, I was like, 'I can do this, I've read thousands of Scottish Historicals" then, when I really got started...... oh, boy, the hardest thing I have ever written. lol. Seriously, knowing that so many who love Scottish Historical really KNOW their stuff, made me really try and get my story's FACTS right. hahha. I had to turn to my CHRW more than once for advice and crash course of history lesson! But, in the end, after I typed those last words, I felt really good about the story. I hope readers feel the same. *grin*

Easiest: The story of Innocent Deception itself. I let my story drive itself, and my hero and heroine went places that were full of adventure and love.

LEXI: What is something not a lot of people know about you that you wish more people knew?

TAMI: Most people don't know that I have dyslexia. Don't ask me to call a long distance phone number or I will be pushing wrong buttons all day before I get them right! I do okay when reading words, but when writing words, my brain, eyes, get all mucked up. I can spell the same word (wrong) six different ways, and not 'see' that it's wrong, or different than the last time I spelled it wrong. It gets sooooo frustrating and makes even fun things, like interview questions or chatting on a loop, difficult and sometimes embarrassing when the people you are writing to are so smart and bright. But, you know, I have so much to say, that I just plow on in and say it, hoping for the best and a bit of understanding from those I am writing to. :) Needless to say, I rely on my editor a great deal when it comes to the final edit of my books.

LEXI: Favorite vacation spot? (Where you've been or want to go)

TAMI: Lol, that's easy, Scotland!!!! I don't know if I will EVER get there, but oh I want to go so bad. The place I do get to, somewhat often, is Half Moon Bay, San Francisco. It is a perfect day trip and just being by the ocean takes the pressure of everyday life right off my shoulders.

LEXI: What do you wish you'd known before you got published?

TAMI: I wish I would have known how much support other authors gave to one another. I wish I had known that editors can unravel what my dyslexic brain tries to convey. I wish I had known how completely worth the effort of writing those happily ever afters could be. If I had known those things years ago, I would have started writing so much sooner than I did.

LEXI: What's next for you?

TAMI: A lot, actually! In June 1, 2012, my very first book, Under A Viking Moon, will be offered as PRINT ON DEMAND. I am sooo excited, and I hope I am not the only one who will 'demand' a print copy. hahhahhaa. Then, in August 21, 2012, I am co-writing the first in a series with Lynette Endicott, a fellow Desert Breeze author. The series is entitled Time after Time Saga, book one is Animal Instinct. This series is a fantacy romance, with ancestral memories sprinkled in the mix. Then, in October 1, 2012, my English Historical, Love's Fragile Embrace, will be released. (I am waiting to hear from my editor, the release date may be moved to a sooner date) I am super excited!

LEXI: And if you have any questions you wish someone would ask you in an interview that you want to answer....

TAMI: I would just like to thank you again for your support, you're the best of the best, my friend!

You are MOST welcome, Tami! Thanks for joining me today. Folks, you can find out more about Tami and her books (and where to buy this book!) by visiting www.tamidee.com. If you like Scottish historicals, take a chance on Tami! I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

Awesome Visit to My Happy Place

2012-01-19T20:28:00.000-06:00

I spent a good chunk of my day today working on Fractured Paradise. I buckled down and got busy. And you know what happened? My muse joined me. My characters came to life. My setting came to life. All was well in Edinburgh. In fact, it went so well that I'm going to be bold and say that I will have the rough draft of this story completed by Sunday night.

Back Your S**t Up!

2012-01-18T20:36:00.001-06:00

So, I was doing an editing assignment on Tuesday morning. I was 5 pages from being done when I had to stop and go to one of the day jobs. I shut the computer down. As the lights went off I thought, "Hmmm, maybe I should put that manuscript on my flash drive." I didn't bother. When I got home from work and wanted to finish those last 5 pages, my laptop wouldn't work.

Of course I was beating myself up about it. I emailed the client and explained why I wasn't sending the manuscript back. Then I panicked because that has become my lifeline. I do everything on that laptop- apply for jobs, search for jobs, accept sub jobs, research my books, visit blogs & websites, send and receive email, and write my own stories on there. (Which makes me wonder why I still have a desktop...)

For a while I even wondered if this was the universe's way of getting me to sit down and actually write that 2nd Scottish suspense novella. :\

Luckily, things will work out. The client was extremely unerstanding (even when I told him it wouldn't be returned today either). I'm able to use my friend's computer (dowstairs from me) for emails and posting here. I took the computer in to get it fixed and it started right up for the tech. (Of course!) I left it with him to have a cheap "tune up" since I bought it about 2 years ago and I've never done any kind of maintenance on it. (He talked about cookies, browser, defragging and a whole bunch of other terms I don't really understand. He assures me what they're going to do will make it work better.) I should get it back within 72 hours. I did manage to get the client's manuscript put on my flash drive before I handed the computer over, but the computer I'm on now has no place to plug it in. (Seriously, it's got a spot for a floppy disk, though!) So the client will have to wait yet another day!

Lesson learned. BACK UP EVERYTHING!

My Cover Faux Pas

2012-01-15T11:59:00.000-06:00

SO, you've all seen the AWESOME cover I have for my book. You've heard me rave about it. Some of you have commented on it. Now here's the story about the screw up...

When I first signed my contract with Decadent Publishing back in the beginning of December, I was over the moon and eager to get busy. I wanted to be a "good student" for my new publisher so I filled out all the paperwork and sent it back within the 1st week. There were some things I wasn't sure about, but I filled it all out as best I could. I was under the impression that the papers would be reviewed later on in the process.

This paperwork included the cover questionnaire. I filled it out as best I could. There was a question about the title and series if applicable. Well, I knew I submitted to the Honor Guard line, but I wasn't sure if that meant I should put Honor Guard Series on it. (I know. It seems obvious now, but at the time it wasn't obvious to me.) I checked the website to see what other types of series they had. I didn't worry about it since the paperwork would be reviewed later.

When I got my cover art package, I wondered why the final cover didn't have Honor Guard Series on it. (I had seen one other cover for the Honor Guard series and those words were on the actual cover.) So I sent an email to the lovely woman who answers all my questions and asked. I thought maybe the book had been rerouted and would not be part of that series. In her responding email, sh told me that my cover questionnaire didn't mention the Honor Guard series so the artist wouldn't have known to include that.

Ooops.

I apologized and claimed newbie excitement and status as my excuse for not including it on the paperwork. I haven't heard anything else since. I'm sure this will not be the last of my mistakes as I go through this process, but I know for next time!

My (Perfect) First Cover!

2012-01-13T22:49:00.000-06:00

It's here! It's here! It's here and I LOVE it! Thank you to the Decadent Publishing Artist who put this FANTABULOUS cover together!

Now all I need is a release date!

So, what do you think?

My Next Classes

2012-01-12T20:37:00.000-06:00

Because my life isn't busy enough with searching for a "real job", working several part-time jobs, writing and learning to promote my book, I agreed to teach TWO classes next month! Please feel free to forward these details to anyone who might be interested:

Finished Now What
Presented by Alexa Bourne
Date: February 1 – 29, 2012
Deadline: January 28, 2012
Fee: OIRW Member $20
Fee: Non-Member $25

Course Description:

Finishing a manuscript is a major accomplishment and it should be celebrated. But what happens when the celebration is over and you become overwhelmed with how much more is involved in getting published?

“Finished…Now What?” will give students real options for what to do once that manuscript is completed. They will understand the point of the submission package. They will also research industry professionals to query, learn about prepping and mailing their submission and realize the importance of getting busy immediately with the next book.

Instructor Bio:

I’ve been working toward publication for several years and have submitted 8 different manuscripts to several industry professionals. I entered my first contest in 2002 and have since finaled or won in 21 RWA contests with 7 manuscripts. (Most of those contests focused on the 1st few pages or the 1st chapter.) I have a Bachelor’s in English Literature and a Master’s in Education. I’ve been an English teacher for children and adults, and I have written various articles for RWA chapter newsletters.

FMI: http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/

Title: Contests: The Basics
Instructor: Alexa Bourne
Date: January 30 – February 24, 2012
Fee: CRW Member $20
Fee: Non-Member $25

DESCRIPTION: Students will explore reasons to enter contests, how to find the right contest for their work, how to follow the “rules,” how to deal with the results/feedback of contests, and finally choose contests.
BIO: Alexa Bourne is a teacher by day and a romantic suspense writer by nights, weekends and all school holidays. She recently signed her first contract with Decadent Publishing for a contemporary Scottish novella, Her Highland Champion. When she's not concocting sinister plots and steamy love scenes or traveling and exploring cultures, Alexa spends her time reading, watching brainless TV and thinking about exercising. To learn more about her, visit http://www.alexabourne.com/ or http://alexabourne.blogspot.com/ or follow her on Twitter @AlexaBourne.

FMI: http://crw-rwa.ning.com/page/2012-onlineworkshops

Cover Coming Soon!!!

2012-01-11T13:34:00.000-06:00

As I took a tea break from working on Fractured Paradise, I opened my emails and found one with the mock cover for Her Highland Champion. It is GORGEOUS! I can't wait to share it with you! Of course you know I will do that as soon as possible.

Back to novella #2!

On My Way

2012-01-10T21:56:00.000-06:00

Whoohoo! I've got the correct title, the right theme song and the perfect cast in mind for my latest Scottish novella, Fractured Paradise! AND today I figured out the plot! SOOOOOO.....now I can get busy with finishing the rough draft!

Caught Offside

2012-01-08T19:47:00.000-06:00

Caught Offside is a great story by Liz Crowe. It is part of Decadent Publishing's 1 Night Stand series. If you like soccer and romance, this is definitely a book for you!

Ramon Castillo is a soccer star who's had a career-changing injury. Instead of dealing with his situation, Ramon is holed up in his family's hotel so that he doesn't have to deal with the outside world.

Gillian Winter is the banquet manager for a major Las vegas hotel. She is a former soccer star herself and she has a young son. Gillian has thrown herself into her work and into raising her son so she doesn't have time to deal with the emotions of being a widow.

While in the lobby of the Castillo Hotel, Gillian's son flips out when he sees Ramon, his soccer idol. Gillian arranges, through Ramon's cousin, for Ramon to spend some quality time with her son. What she doesn't expect is that she may be the one who enjoys the time with Ramon more than the boy.

I really enjoyed this story. I think part of the reason is I love soccer so much, but I also thought Ms. Crowe did a great job showing how the characters changed through the story. Gillian and Ramon are attracted to each other from the start, but their personal, internal pains make them both reluctant to engage in any type of romantic encounter. The emotional journeys they go through and the relationship that evolves make the story believable and heart-warming. It is a fast read and a perfect way to spend a raining afternoon. This will definitely not be the last story I read from Liz Crowe!

Lessons From The Voices In My Head

2012-01-06T19:26:00.000-06:00

So, I'm still on the rough draft of my latest Scottish novella and I've been struggling with it for the last few days. It's good so far, but something was missing. Today I figured out why.

As I drive around town, I often hear Without You by David Guetta with Usher. I LOVE THIS SONG. When I first heard it I was working on one of my bounty hunter stories and it instantly became the "theme song" for the hero and heroine of a future story, a story that is currently scheduled to be written during NaNoWriMo 2012. Every single time I hear it I get a rush as I think of that couple, of the explosive chemistry I'll be able to explore later this year. And I always smile.

Today, as I came home from the day job, the song came on and it finally hit me. My Scottish novella isn't working because there's no chemistry between the characters. It's a great story and the characters are interesting, but there are no sparks between them. Obviously THAT'S not going to work for me writing a ROMANTIC suspense! So, this weekend I'll be hunting for new characters to complete the kick-ass story!

Hump Day

2012-01-04T23:21:00.001-06:00

I'm over my bout of doubt for now. It only lasted Monday. I've got a great story and it deserves to be shared!

Since then my editor has sent the manuscript up the totem pole to the Line Editor. There may be a couple rounds of revisions depending on what she suggests. I don't know how long it will be before I hear from them. It depends on what the Line Editor has on her plate.

While I wait for the response, I have plenty to keep myself busy. I'm still working on the rough draft of the next contemporary Scottish novella, Coming Home. I'm hoping to have it completed by the end of this weekend. Then next week I'll start draft 2! And of course I'm spending plenty of time each day learning about how to promote my book and me. Any suggestions?

Edits, Round 2- An Emotional Roller Coaster Ride

2012-01-02T22:20:00.001-06:00

I started my day feeling a little down. I had no sub job planned and few jobs I could apply for online. I figured I would spend the day working on Coming Home, my 2nd Scottish novella & prepping my lessons for my online class that starts tomorrow. THEN I got my 2nd round of edits for Her Highland Champion from my editor. So I switched modes and focused on the edits. They weren't terribly difficult. For the most part it was just accepting what suggestions she'd given me. But then in her email she also mentioned that I should be super careful because she would not be reading the entire manuscript again and this would be our last time working on it together for a while. After she goes over the changes I make, she'll be sending it up the chain to the Line Editor.

As I finished the revisions, I found myself feeling less competent and confident. Again I thought, "Seriously? Somebody believes in this story enough (besides me) to expect people to pay money for it?" I completed the edits quickly, but then I decided to reread the entire thing to make sure it flowed like I wanted and to catch any other typos or "bad" word choices my editor and I had missed. Of course, she'd already done a fantabulous job so I had little to worry about. But the rereading took a lot longer than I thought. (Granted, part of that might've been because I was watching the Rose Bowl game too. Yay Ducks!!) Well after dinner time I emailed the round back to my editor.

My low confidence continued because I also had to ask her what the heat level of my story is. I've spent so much time writing my full-length romantic suspenses that focused more on the suspense than the romance, and Her Highland Champion is so much more focused on the romance than I'm used to. Again, I was feeling out of my element. It didn't matter that after talking to my editor I realized my 1st guess for heat level was right on target. I still felt somewhat incompetent. I also started examining this who writing business as a business again, something I'm still getting used to.

I imagine I'll go through roller coaster emotions throughout this process from contract to cyber shelf and I've decided that's okay. This is ALL new to me. I'm supposed to need guidance. And, smart woman that I am, I'll keep asking questions so I can learn.

So now, at the end of my day, I feel better, more confident. (Of course, getting picked as Teacher of the Month at my part-time job didn't hurt either!) I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I can't wait to find out!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T08:10:00.002-06:00

With a new year comes a list of goals. I'm a MASTER at making lists and revising them when

something doesn't work out exactly as I'd planned. So without wasting time, here's a

condensed version of what I expect/hope to accomplish in the next 12 months!

1. See my first book published (You'll know the release date when I do!)

2. Sell at least one more novella, if not 2

3. Sell my 1st full-length novel

4. Make it to at least 1 conference

5. Visit my family & friends I haven't seen in 2 1/2 years

6. Find a "real" job

7. Look into and possibly "go back to school"

8. Get back to being healthy again

9. Get down to my goal weight & keep it (or most of it) off

10. Learn to be a PR guru

11. Build my critiquing/editing business

12. Read a book a week

So, there's my list. What's on yours?

Happy New Year's Eve

2011-12-31T07:01:00.002-06:00

As my last post for 2011, I thought I'd highlight the events of my year:

I began the year in my favorite place in the world, Edinburgh

I began teaching online classes. (I taught 4)

I got a request for a full from an editor (that I'm still waiting to hear back from)

I got a new part-time job (that I love) tutoring and a great 3-month review

I lost 18lbs and won the fitness challenge at my gym

I gained some of the weight back :(

I added more freelance editing gigs to my resume

I turned 40

I got back in touch with several friends from my childhood, including my 1st BFF

I applied for tons of "real jobs" while I continued substitute teaching

I moved out of my condo

I wrote 1 1/2 novellas, 2 full-length romantic suspense stories and revised another

I signed my 1st writing contract

Tomorrow I'll post my goals and hopes for the new year. For now, I'd like to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year. If you are celebrating the arrival of 2012, I hope you celebrate wisely and safely.
See you next year!

Lazy Day

2011-12-30T11:25:00.000-06:00

I sent my Round 1 Edits back to my editor last night. (I think I finally understand how to use Track Changes!) Today I plan to be lazy! I've had 2 cups of tea so far, have visited & commented on a bunch of blogs, and I've watched 2 episodes of Supernatural. At the moment, I have nothing pressing and it feels SOOOOOO good! For the rest of the day I plan to clean a bit, watch English soccer, finish reading Sworn to Protect, watch Iowa play OU tonight and anything else I feel like doing. Tomorrow I'll get back to business. I'll be posting my 2012 writing and life goals to share with you.

You Know You're A Suspense Writer...

2011-12-28T06:49:00.001-06:00

You know you're a suspense writer when you see a glove on the ground in the middle of the highway and you think a) is there a hand still in there? and b) where's the rest of the body?

Revisions-Round 1

2011-12-27T09:53:00.005-06:00

I had planned to do my revisions on Friday and yesterday. Then I got sick. The lesson I learned through this is get busy as soon as possible in case something unexpected pops up and puts a dent into my revision schedule.

Now, the revisions haven't been overwhelmingly difficult so getting sick didn't put me behind by much. I'll still have the story back to my editor on time. But what I wanted to mention was that they still have taken me longer than I expected. I honestly think part of that is due to this being my first time revising with an editor, and part of it is due to my learning how to work with track changes. I worked for about 4 1/2 hours yesterday. I still want to review everything one more time and I have another content concept I need to work into the book, but I'm hoping I can get it finished today. I'll let you know!

1:10 PM: I'm done! (After another 2 hours) But I'm going to leave it alone while I do to one of the day jobs, reread bits after dinner, write comments to my editor and then email it back tonight.
8:35 PM: Just emailed my editor with the revisions and comments (after another hour). Now to play for a bit!
9:15 AM (Wed): I got my edits back. Apparently I misunderstood part of the editor's directions. I have an extra round to do. No worries. Won't be so bad. I'll send the book back tonight. It's more an issue with me and Track Changes rather than me and my book.

A Win-Win Proposition Review

2011-12-26T07:17:00.015-06:00

A Win-Win Proposition is a fun story written by Cat Schield. Now, yes, I'm a bit biased since Cat and I have been friends for years, but this story is good in its own right!

Missy Ward has spent 4 years as Sebastian Case's assistant, 4 years falling in love with him, a man who needs to be in control of his world. Sebastian doesn't see Missy as anything other than an assistant...until they go on a business trip to Las Vegas.

After being dumped by her obnoxious boyfriend just before her 30th birthday, Missy decides to make some changes. She gets a makeover, quits her job and places a bet with her boss: if he wins, she'll stay on as his assistant. If she wins, she gets one night with him. Missy wins the bet and enjoys every single moment of her night with Sebastian. But she's not foolish enough to believe he'll suddenly welcome her into his personal life with open arms. She feels she doesn't belong in his world and that he could never commit to a girl like her. But Sebastian is hard to resist.

Sebastian's feelings for Missy make him crazy and take him totally out of his own comfort zone. But he wants her in his life and in his bed and Sebastian Case will do whatever it takes to convince Missy they belong together.

I found myself laughing and swearing at Sebastian and turning pages faster as the chapters went by. Cat has created complex and lovable characters. I could feel Missy's pain and insecurities. Sebastian is the perfect romance hero. He's annoying and stubborn, but he's got enough charm to make me want to root for him. I couldn't wait to see him recognize his love for Missy, to see her recognize her own worth and to watch their romance blossom. I'm so looking forward to the next book in this series!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T08:26:00.001-06:00

To all my friends who celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas full of love, laughter and happiness. Take time this weekend to be thankful for what you have, and know how much I appreciate you being part of my life.

Beneath The Starry Sky Review

2011-12-23T15:59:00.001-06:00

Beneath the Starry Sky by Jessica E. Subject is part of Decadent Publishing's 1 Night Stand Series. Both the hero and the heroine have suffered physical ailments that influence their belief that they can ever find someone to love them for the way they are. In this short novella, we see Josh and Tamara experience each other and learn to accept a happily-ever-after.

I enjoyed Jessica's story, although I wish it had been longer. I liked seeing Josh and Tamara deal with their own insecurities and learn to value themselves and each other. If you get a chance, definitely pick up this story!

Change In Plans

2011-12-22T07:30:00.004-06:00

So, I heard back from my editor again yesterday. I was surprised because I honestly didn't think I'd hear from her until at least the weekend. She had great things to say, which obviously made me feel good. (It's always nice when other people in the industry like your work!) and she pinpointed the exact content problem I was having when I finished the draft. I haven't looked at the manuscript and her specific page by page comments yet, but I am now expected to get the revisions back to her in one week.

Getting them done won't be a problem. I'm not really worried about them and I'm pretty confident I'll be able to get them done sooner than next Wednesday. But I hadn't expected to have to work over the holiday weekend. As I mentioned earlier this week, I'd planned to finish the rough draft of my next novella. (That's coming along...slowly.)

So, I'm out finishing up my Christmas shopping today. Then tomorrow I plan to spend the entire day working on revisions. I expect I'll do some work over the Christmas weekend, but I'm not going to push it. Then Monday I'll spend the entire day working and hopefully finishing my revisions.

Over the years I've heard countless writer friends talk about the sacrifices they've had to make to make deadlines. This is my first experience with an official deadline and I'm actually excited about it! (Okay, granted it's not much of a sacrifice on my part, but I do still have to rearrange some activities.)

My Editor

2011-12-20T00:24:00.000-06:00

I got an email tonight from my content editor! Yay! I'll likely get my revisions the week between Christmas and 2012, which will be perfect since I won't be subbing. In the email, my editor (yes, I'll be saying that A LOT!!!) explained the editorial process in a bit more detail.

I'm thrilled with this email because it starts pulling me out of my limbo. Now I have a direction. I have this week to finish the rough draft of the next novella, I'll have revisions to do next week (and beyond, if needed) and then I'll get an idea of when the book will be released.

(And really, it's only been 3 weeks since I first got the email offering me a contract, 2 weeks since I sent the book in after my Pre-edits. I know the people at Decadent have A LOT of other work to do, so I need to remember that my turn will come when it's supposed to come. I know, I know. Reeeeelaaaax, Lexi!)

My Books' Settings

2011-12-18T06:38:00.001-06:00

Her Highland Champion, the contemporary romantic suspense novella that sold to Decadent Publishing, is set in a place that looks a lot like this:

The second Scottish novella that I started yesterday (and hope to submit in January), Scottish Novella #2, is set here in Edinburgh. (The story has no title yet because I'm still learning what the plot is.)

Now, come on. You know you'll want to read both of these stories with sexy Scotsmen, beautiful scenery, and heroines worth rooting for, right? I'll keep you updated on both!

A Different Kind Of Romance!

2011-12-16T15:56:00.000-06:00

Today is the release day for Beneath the Starry Sky, a contemporary erotic romance from one of my fellow Decadent authors, Jessica E. Subject. Happy Release Day, Jessica!

I'm sharing this with you because this story's premise is close to my heart. The heroine is not your average heroine. She has an autoimmune disease that causes her hair to fall out. While I don't have this specific disease, I was extremely sick as a child and for a long time I wondered if I could ever find love despite my physical scars. Now, I haven't read this book yet, but I just bought it and I will be sure to give you my review once I finish it. If you're so inclined, feel free to learn more about this book, take a chance on a new-to-you author and share your thoughts. You can buy it here.

Consoling Angel by Denise Alicea

2011-12-14T11:25:00.001-06:00

Consoling Angel is a fun, YA short story from new author Denise Alicea. Ms. Alicea has found an interesting way to share her own fascination with James Dean in her story dealing with loss.

Mira is a high school student who has lost her father and thinks keeping herself busy will keep her from grieving. The story opens with a description of New York City and Mira’s memories of fun times with her father, which included watching movies of their favorite actor, James Dean. When Mira gets home, she gets dizzy and falls into a deep sleep in 2008. When she wakes up, she’s in 1952 where she meets the real James Dean. Through spending time with him, Mira learns that life is meant to be lived and enjoyed and that that is the best way to honor her dad’s memory.

Ms. Alicea has given us a cute story that anyone who has lost someone or anyone who has ever loved a celebrity can relate to. If you’re interested in a quick, sweet story, pick up Consoling Angel!

Who Am I? What Am I Doing? Where Do I Go From Here?

2011-12-14T06:04:00.001-06:00

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Okay, I'm feeling better. A little. I'm suffering from too long in limbo. I've got lots of irons in the fire, personal and professional, but now I've got to wait. And I am NOT a patient person. So, I'm going to write because that always soothes my soul. I'm going to work on a new idea I keep coming back to, another Scottish novella. I might give myself a few days to see if I can pull anything together. If not, I'll throw myself into revisions on another story. And wait some more.

A Review of Laura Griffin's Snapped

2011-12-12T20:47:00.000-06:00

Snapped is another winning Tracers novel from Laura Griffin. It is a great story with an interesting plot and a nail-biting ending. Don’t miss this book!

Sassy Sophie Barrett, receptionist at the prestigious Delphi Center, wants more out of life so she's attending college part-time. While on campus to register for classes, Sophie witnesses a gunman shooting at random people, including a pregnant woman close to Sophie. The gunman eventually takes his own life, and the press and the police rule the case closed, but Sophie is convinced there is an accomplice and she's determined to get people to pay attention. Unfortunately, she also gains the attention of the accomplice who intends to silence Sophie once and for all.

Detective Jonah Macon isn't about to let Sophie deal with this on her own. At first, he tries to get her to drop her amateur investigation until her theory begins to make sense. Fueled by his attraction to her, Jonah risks his career to keep her safe and to keep investigating. He wrestles with his feelings for Sophie as more clues unfold, but Sophie is beautiful and determined and amazing and Jonah can only resist the chemistry between them for so long. But will he be able to focus as a professional as the killer hunts Sophie down?

Once again, Ms. Griffin weaves romance and danger perfectly. She's created a couple to root for- a kick-ass heroine, and a tenacious, hot hero. I found myself on the edge of my seat more than once as the danger increased and the twists in the story unfolded. Ms. Griffin also brought in some other previous characters from the Tracers series as well, which felt like catching up with old friends. Jonah and Sophie have quickly become my second favorite couple of Ms. Griffin's. I'm already looking forward to the next book!

Burn, Baby, Burn!

2011-12-11T10:17:00.001-06:00

I'm hoping to have a rejection burning party at my brother's house while we celebrate my niece's 10th birthday. I always kept my rejections, printed them out if they were emails, and vowed that once I sold I would burn them all and never save another one again. It will be an amazing feeling to put each one in the fire pit. Of course, I'll count them before I do it so I can have an official account of how many I received before I got my 1st contract. I'll let you know later today! And maybe I'll take some pictures!

LATER: 63 rejections burned, no pics, but I did have a couple of beers to celebrate! The earliest rejection was dated September 1999.

Killer Openings Class Coming Up

2011-12-08T08:39:00.005-06:00

January 2012 (4 weeks January 3rd thru 31st)
Killer Openings
Instructor: Alexa Bourne

Many people browse through a bookstore, pull a book off the shelf and read the first page. They decide right then whether or not they'll buy the book. Killer Openings dissects those all-important elements. Students will learn the importance of a good opening and gain a better understanding of what makes a "killer opening." Students will study examples of good and bad openings and discuss why they do or don't work. Students will also submit their own opening lines/paragraphs/pages and receive a critique.

For more information, visit Celtic Hearts.

Paperwork. Lots And Lots Of Paperwork.

2011-12-06T23:27:00.000-06:00

In addition to the Pre-edits I told you about on Sunday, I also had a few other documents to work on for the publisher. 1 was an author info form, which is basic stuff of my contact info, my author bio, the book title, word count, etc.

Then there was the blurb/excerpt form, where I share what I think would make a good blurb and a good excerpt for the book. The blurb, I'm told, is the single-most important tool in marketing my book. (Yeah, no pressure there, right???) I was actually quite surprised how quickly and easily (in the grand scheme of things) the blurb was to write.

Then came choosing the excerpt. Ugh. I had a bit of a hard time coming up with this because I tend to focus on the suspense and my 1st choice for an excerpt was a suspense scene. But then I thought I should probably find an excerpt that showcases the chemistry between the hero and the heroine. I think I did a good job choosing. We'll find out.

The other form I had to fill out was a cover form. It was neat because I got to give quite a bit of information, way more than I thought I would. I had to describe the characters, the setting, write whether I wanted people or things on my cover, and add anything other suggestions I wanted to give. I also got to put my blurb on that form so the artist can get the gist of the story. I'm excited to see what they come up with!

Although I enjoyed every aspect of this work so far (except the brief panic I had about technology!), filling out all these forms did take me longer than I first expected. I imagine that's because I wanted to do a great job and I wanted to be proud of what I was sending back to my publisher.

Yes, I'm still smiling when I say my publisher or my editor. I imagine I will be for a while.

Pre-Edits

2011-12-04T01:25:00.000-06:00

The contract's been signed and sent back to the publisher. Now the work begins. I started getting a little overwhelmed when I realized all the things I'll actually have to do before (and after) this book hits the cyber shelves. But, as always, I'm taking things one at a time.

Today I decided to do the pre-edits required of me before my editor starts working with me on the content. I can best describe the pre-edits as formatting and simple grammar edits. I had to check the font, the spacing etc, and then I also had to do basic grammar check for typos, consistency, POV, "Show, Don't Tell," and the like.

When I got up this morning, I figured I'd finish my pre-edits today since the grammar edits are basically the things I have to find & correct with my CPs. This afternoon I had trouble with the technical aspect of my pre-edits because I have a desktop with Microsoft Word 2003 and a laptop with 2007. Since I'm such a technophobe, I panicked, asked for help of some techie people and then fumbled my way through.

But the pre-edits took a lot longer than I expected. I just finished. I didn't get done half the things I'd planned for today (or yesterday now).

Tomorrow I'll tackle my "To Be Done" list and then work on the other 3 forms I need to fill out for my publisher. (And yes, a smile still comes over my mouth with those last 2 words!)

SOLD!!!!!

2011-12-01T10:09:00.003-06:00

Yes, it's true! I received a contract for my sexy Scottish romantic suspense novella, Her Highland Champion!! I'm so excited! It will be epublished by Decadent Publishing. Here are the details:

"THE CALL" EMAIL: I left the house yesterday morning about 6:30 and didn't get home until about 7:30 last night. I still had NaNoWriMo words to finish, I was exhausted, but I decided to check my emails before I jumped in to win NaNo. I saw the email from Decadent Publishing and thought, "Damn, ANOTHER rejection!" I almost didn't open it right then because I wanted to be happy and focus on my NaNo words. But I did open it, read the words "would like to offer a contract" and immediately teared up. My first call was to my mother and then I started emailing and texting other family members and close friends. I almost couldn't focus to finish my NaNo words, but I did. I choked up quite often whenever I got a response from someone or when I thought about my story hitting the cyber shelves. I STILL can't believe it!

THE STORY DETAILS: Her Highland Champion began over 12 years ago, when I first decided to try my hand at writing a suspense set in my favorite place on the planet, Scotland. The story had so many flaws, but I've always loved the premise and the characters and always figured I'd rewrite it at some point.

My friend Camryn Rhys suggested I submit something to her publisher because they had this new series starting called Honor Guard, with alpha heroes in international settings. Since I'm a traveler and can put local details in my stories, she thought this was perfect for me. So, I took that beloved story, revised it and submitted it. Now my fictional Scottish Highland village has a home!

AND NOW: I had always vowed to blog about every step of the publishing process, from the moment I got THE CALL right through to the book's release (and beyond). So I hope you'll continue to follow my journey and get an inside look at one woman's dream coming true.

I'm A Winner!

2011-11-30T21:47:00.000-06:00

At the weekend I wasn't sure I'd be able to finish on time. I was at 37,834 words on Saturday. But the people around me kept saying, "Oh, you'll do it." For them, for myself, for my characters I did.

An Amazing Family

2011-11-29T23:21:00.001-06:00

Today as I worked on my Nano words, I found out that my hero DOES have a sister!

See, woman A was going to be the heroine for the oldest brother and I thought woman B was the sister. BUT then woman B made sure to let me know she was NOT the sister. She will be the heroine for one of the other brothers. Great. I loved it and the chemistry I could already feel between that couple made me excited for their eventual story. And so I kept writing and figured woman A would eventually be the heroine for the oldest brother. They've had some interaction, but there's been no chemistry. BUT today, woman A revealed to me that SHE is the sister to this family of 4 brothers.

Clear as mud? No worries! Here's the most important part: I now have my family of 5 siblings and each of them will have their own story. I LOVE each of them and these stories will be explosive!

Now, I'm off to continue my Nano words. I've got tonight and until midnight tomorrow to finish about 4200 words!

I Think I Can...I Think I Can.....

2011-11-28T23:57:00.002-06:00

For the first time this month I'm thinking I might actually be able to make the 50,000 words needed to be a NaNoWriMo winner! I'm exhausted and I'm bleary-eyed, but I've managed to write 8,681 words in the last 2 days. Send good vibes so I can get my last 5500 words done in the next 2 days!

Catchin' Up

2011-11-27T23:08:00.000-06:00

Hello! I spent Thanksgiving with family and no computer so that's why I haven't been updating. Not much to tell you. My move was successful. (I'm updating this blog at my new place.) I'm still behind on my Nano word count, but I have been writing some and I'm DETERMINED to finish the last 10,500 words I have by the November 30th deadline. I wrapped up my latest Killer Openings class before Thanksgiving and got some GREAT compliments from my participants. I'm LOVING my current hero and heroine a bit more each day. I'll keep you updated on my NaNo progress over the next few days! I'm off to keep writing!

Coming Up For Air

2011-11-22T23:12:00.000-06:00

I survived the move to my new digs! I've still got a TON of crap to do to make it livable, but that can all wait until after Thanksgiving. I need the next 4 days to relax and do as little as possible! I'm WAAAAAAAY behind on Nano again (about 4000 words), but I am DETERMINED to make it to the end. I'm jotting down a bunch of story ideas before I go to bed so I have somwhere to take the characters (until they take me!). I've got at least 3 hours of writing time tomorrow (and many hours over the holiday weekend) so I plan to use it wisely!

I Will Be MIA

2011-11-18T18:28:00.000-06:00

Lots going on here! I thought I'd pop in to give you a heads-up. I'm moving this weekend, working hard to keep up with my NaNoWriMo words (I'll be caught up tonight!), finishing up an online class, and prepping for Thanksgiving. So I may not be online much in the next week. Of course, if I have anything major to tell you I'll be here. But other than that I'll catch up to you during the American Thanksgiving holiday!

Halfway There???

2011-11-15T11:29:00.000-06:00

So today is the halfway point of NaNoWriMo 2011. Technically, participants should be at 25,000 words by the end of today. Will I be? No.

At first, this was bothering me because I HATE being behind. I know I'll catch up eventually (as long as my characters work with me) because I've "won" NaNo the 2 times I've done it and I'm NOT about to lose now. But also, I've been thinking about it this way. I'm almost at 21,500 words. By the end of today, I expect to be around 23,000. And you know what? 23,000 words in 15 days isn't too shabby!

Happy Release Day!

2011-11-14T16:32:00.000-06:00

Happy Release Day to my friend Jessica Scott! Folks, this woman has worked hard to get here and she's got one great story here! Trust me, I know. I've read it! Congratulations, Jess, and may this be the first of many! Find out more about Jess on her website: www.jessicascott.net!

Another Week Begins

2011-11-13T21:13:00.000-06:00

I'm now loaded with boxes so I have lots of packing to do this week! I start moving next weekend.

I'm making AWESOME progress on my NaNoWriMo word count and I'm hoping to be caught up sometime this week.

In writing this NaNo novel, I've been learning a lot more about my hero's family. At first, I tried to subdue the others so I could focus on Zack & Jamie, BUT then I realized that each and every scene I write, whether it ends up in this novel or a future one or on the cutting room floor, helps me to get to know my characters better. Today I've been working on scenes where Zack & Jamie go to a Christmas party with all of his brothers and some other friends. Learning how they all interact with each other is a great eye-opening experience and I'm psyched!

Of course, I've also figured out whose story is next. That brother and his heroine already have sparks flying and they've hardly had any scene time in this book! Yikes! Can you say, sizzling??????

Honoring Veterans

2011-11-11T00:17:00.000-06:00

To all the men and women who serve our country, keep us safe and allow us the freedoms so many of us take for granted: Thank you for your service.

Uh-Oh

2011-11-10T10:25:00.000-06:00

I was so excited about submitting my Scottish suspense novella to the epublisher, I sent the query off with a typo in the very first line.

The First Verdict Is In

2011-11-09T19:48:00.001-06:00

Squeeeeee! I got my first comments on my Scottish suspense novella today from my fantabulous beta reader who ALWAYS tells me exactly how it is. Ahem...and I quote:

WOW WOW WOW

THAT WAS AWESOME!!!

such a fast read - very very good -I'm breathless

great job
~~~~
Isn't she GREAT for my ego????? Hopefully the editors will like it as much!

Quick Update

2011-11-07T20:58:00.001-06:00

The novella is gone. I got the confirmation today that they received it. I should hear a yay or nay between now and December 18th.

I'm WAAAAAAY behind on Nano, BUT I am determined to get busy and kick ass! I'm already falling HARD for my hero, Zack. YUM!

A friend of mine offered to rent out her 2nd floor apartment to me for a bargain price! It could be an answer to my prayers!

Some sickness is trying to subdue me, but I WILL NOT GO QUIETLY!

My Killer Openings class is going GREAT! I LOVE teaching it!

SQUEEEE!

2011-11-06T20:02:00.000-06:00

The novella has been sent! I just hit the send button on the email for the epublisher! YAY! I could've spent another day on the query, but it was good enough (hopefully). I'll get a confirmation email within 24 hours and then I should hear a response within 6 weeks. I'll keep you updated!

Now it's back to Jamie and Zack and their lives.....

Almost Time To Celebrate!!!!!

2011-11-04T19:42:00.001-05:00

I'm pretty much finished with the novella, Her Highland Champion! I pulled an all-nighter last night and pushed on to the end. I'm thrilled with the way it's shaping up. I've got one snag to still work out sometime tomorrow. Then Sunday I'll reread the entire thing out loud, make any other corrections I want, and then I'll hit the SEND button Sunday night!

Whoohoooooooooo! THEN I'll be able to focus totally on Jamie & Zack. Sigh, I love Zack even when he's acting like a jerk, which is MOST of the time.

Progress Report

2011-11-03T20:38:00.000-05:00

NaNoWriMo- I've been able to meet the 1667 word count each day so far. Yes, I realize it's only been 3 days, but it's already a struggle for me.(Actually, it's 2 days. I haven't written today's words.) That makes me sad because I was so looking forward to Zack and Jamie's journey. Still, maybe when less crap is going on I'll be able to focus more.

Novella- I do declare to all that read this that the novella will be submitted to the epublisher by the time I go to bed on Sunday night. I didn't have a sub job today (LOOOOOONG story), so I was able to pretty much finish the latest draft. I have a couple of things to still work out (like the crappy 1st chapter & the epilogue I haven't written yet), but there's no reason for this to wait any longer. SUNDAY OR BUST!

Work- I've subbd 3 days this week, have a sub job tomorrow, I worked 7 hours tutoring and I had a 2-hour editing job.

Real World- I had a chat wih my financial adviser today (my logical stepfather) and I now have a plan. I will be moving out of my condo before 2012. I'll be renting out my place and moving into an apartment, which means I'll have even less time than I'd planned for NaNo & other writing activities. At least I'll be forced to toss out a bunch of crap I no longer need rather than haul it off to storage...like the shoeboxes of cassette tapes from high school, the birthday cards from my twenties, the tons of books I'll never read again.

NANOWRIMO!

2011-11-01T05:57:00.001-05:00

Let the insanity begin! Have you joined NaNo? Are you psyched? I'm so excited to write my next bounty hunter story, I Dare You. It's about a fun-loving, baby of the family whose choices bring danger to the door of the one serious, shy woman he can't charm into his bed.

If you've taken on the challenge to write 50,000 words in the month of November, let me know and I'll put you on my buddy list! Good luck and get busy! For those of you not enjoying the challenge, I'll update you with my progress on here throughout the month.

Veterans' Day

2011-11-01T00:13:00.000-05:00

To all the men and women who serve our country, make us safe and allow us the freedoms so many of us take for granted: Thank you for your service.

Epic Fail, Part II

2011-10-31T19:57:00.000-05:00

This is me.

The novella is not done.It's close, but there aren't enough hours in the day so it has to wait. Jobs that are paying me money now need to be priority. Maybe I'll get to a little of the novella tonight. Of course, then tomorrow starts the insanity that is NaNoWriMo. I considered not attempting NaNo because I don't feel I'm in the right frame of mind for it, but I REFUSE to let my "real world" infringe on this writing activity that I absolutely love.

Last Draft?

2011-10-30T10:49:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'm awake, I've had caffeine and now I'm buckling down to get busy with draft 5 of the novella! I have just over 2 hours to get a huge chunk done before I have errands to do and a movie to see (Moneyball). I debated whether or not to go to the movie at all since the novella is so important, but I think I can do it! If I can get at least 1/2 of the draft done before, I can do the rest tonight. Wish me luck!

And We're Off!

2011-10-29T12:56:00.008-05:00

Novella? Check
Coke? Check
Celtic music? Check
Story timeline & miscellaneous notes? Got 'em!

The push for completion, for the chance to type THE END, begins now! I'm going to work for an hour, then get up for 10 mins, work for another hour and then play for 10 mins. Hopefully my muse, my hero and my brain are ready to work together. I'll keep you updated!

2:33 PM: Making progress! LOVING this story! Just hit 14,000 words.
6:10 PM: Still at it! Just over 17,000.
6:34 PM: Yikes! The hero just called the heroine by the wrong name. :-O
8:39 PM: Just over 18,000! Whoohoo! I think I can, I think I can, I think I can....
10:54 PM: I'm over 20,000 and having a blast BUT I'm thinking I might have to have another draft just to make sure it's the best it can be. I'm hoping to finish this draft (4) tonight.
12:23 AM: DONE! And I've outlined what needs to be done in draft 5 tomorrow when I'm more awake.

I Am In Charge!

2011-10-28T16:34:00.000-05:00

I had a nice little chat with my hero this morning. I told him that we had to work out the kinks to his story today so that I can finish the novella tomorrow. He was skeptical, but he did listen.

I subbed with a 4th grade class today and when they had independent work, I pulled out my notebook and worked to compromise with my hero. He appreciated that and decided to work with me.

So now I've got next to nothing to do for the rest of today and all of tomorrow. I'm cautiously optimistic that I might actually...sorry, WE (he's very pushy!) might actually get this story done! Wish us all (because we can't forget his heroine) luck!

My Grand Morning?

2011-10-27T14:11:00.000-05:00

I've got work this afternoon only so I thought I'd get up early and work on the novella and get a HUGE chunk of stuff done on it.

EPIC FAIL.

However, the day is not over. I can still salvage a few more hours of work after the day job. Hopefully I can make up for some lost time. Maybe. If I can focus.

Get Out The Dancing Shoes!

2011-10-25T23:09:00.000-05:00

DRAFT 3 OF HER HIGHLAND CHAMPION IS DONE! TOMORROW STARTS DRAFT 4, THE FINAL PUSH TO GET IT READY FOR SUBMISSION!

I HOPE I DON'T KILL MYSELF IN THE PROCESS, BECAUSE NANO'S FAST APPROACHING!!!!

My Kilted Man Is Kicking Butt!

2011-10-24T20:41:00.000-05:00

So, this guy is definitely the one I keep going back to out of the lot on my previous post. Yum! I picture being between those arms, with my back to the wall and...{{sigh}}}!

Okay, I'll calm myself.

I've been hard at work for 2 solid days (well, in between a few other errands & commitments) and I'm TOTALLY loving this Scottish suspense novella! I'm going to be so bold as to say that I will have draft 3 done by Wed AND I'm aiming to submit it via email on Sunday!

In revising (rewriting) this story, I'd forgotten how much I miss writing about Scotland, since it is my favorite place in the world. I'm hoping this novella will sell so I'll be able to bring readers more of my contemporary Scottish heroes!

Draft Two Is Done!

2011-10-23T00:07:00.000-05:00

Whoohoo! I just finished draft 2 of the sexy Scottish suspense novella! Tomorrow I'll think about starting draft 3. For now, I'm celebrating with these lovely pictures. I hope you enjoy them too!

A Goal Met

2011-10-20T20:07:00.000-05:00

Some of you have followed me since I chose to leave my teaching job in June 2010. I thought I’d share the revelation I uncovered a few days ago:

Lately, I've had to cancel my cable/internet/phone, my RWA membership, my Scottish Life magazine subscription. Other sacrifices will be coming as well. I can't plan any vacations, not even to see my brother & sister-in-law in Houston. I've searched for a roommate and talked to a realtor about renting out my condo and finding me another place to live.

And you know what?

I'm okay because my reason for quitting was to focus more on my writing. By the end of 2011, I will have written and revised Tell Me No Lies (which was my 2010 Nano book) and it will be ready for submission soon, I've written the rough draft of my 1st Inspirational suspense story, I will write the rough draft of my 2nd bounty hunter story during NaNo 2011, I will have revised and submitted my 1st novella and I will hopefully have written/revised the 2nd novella.

Are things perfect? Of course not.

But it seems I have reached my goal.

Don't Believe It!

2011-10-19T05:37:00.003-05:00

The meter on the right says I'm only at 11% for my Scottish novella. DON'T believe it! I've been slaving away at the story all week so far and have made TREMENDOUS, EXCITING progress. I'll update you and the meter next time I'm on the computer!

UPDATE: It's halfway through the day and I've updated the meter! Yay, 27%! BUT I'm not done. I've got a couple hours of tutoring work and then I'll be jumping into the story again. I'm hoping to be at 50% of the 2nd draft before I go to bed tonight. I'll let you know!

Scottish Highlands & Sexy Scotsmen!

2011-10-18T06:58:00.003-05:00

This past Saturday I finished the rough draft of my contemporary Scottish suspense novella, Her Highland Champion. When I started working on the 2nd draft Sunday, I panicked a little because I thought I started to see that a lot more work needed to be done on it before I could submit it and I was hoping to send it off in about a week.Today I started playing with the scenes that were frustrating me and I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT! I was trying to keep the events in the order and location that I had them instead of letting the characters guide me through their story. Just because I created these characters well over 10 years ago doesn't mean I know what's best for their new (and better) story. So, I tossed out some more "favorite" scenes, started working with my characters and you know what? It's all flowing again! Maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to submit it as planned.

Killer Openings

2011-10-17T06:25:00.003-05:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KILLER OPENINGS

Registration Deadline: October 31, 2011
Class Start Date: 11/01/11
Class End Date: 11/23/11
Instructor: Alexa Bourne
Fee: $10/HHRW members, $20/others

Class Description:
Many people browse through a book store, pull a book off the shelf and
read the first page. They decide right then, based on the 1st line, 1st
paragraphs and 1st page, whether or not they’ll buy the book. Killer
Openings dissects those all-important elements. Students study good and
bad openings and discuss why they do or don’t work. They also submit
their own opening lines/paragraphs/pages and receive critiques from the
class.

For additional information, contact classes@heartsthroughhistory.com

Instructor Bio:
Alexa Bourne is a teacher by day and a romantic suspense writer by
nights, weekends and all school holidays. When not traveling around the
world or crafting thrilling romantic suspense stories, she spends her
time reading, watching brainless TV and thinking about exercising. She
has a Bachelor’s in English Literature and a Master’s in Education.
She has finaled in or won 21 RWA contests with 7 manuscripts. (Most of
those contests focused on the 1st few pages or the 1st chapter.) To
learn more about her, visit http://www.alexabourne.com/.

PERMISSION TO FORWARD

You Know You're A Suspense Writer.....

2011-10-16T18:13:00.000-05:00

You know you're a suspense writer...

when you walk into a bank, it's deserted and you wonder if everyone is held at gunpoint in the back.

A Week Later....

2011-10-15T17:51:00.000-05:00

Hi-ho, hi-ho! I'm still here. I've been visiting with the family, working and....WRITING! I finally cancelled my home phone (got my cell though), cable & internet in the house. Right now I'm using the internet at a friend's house who only lives a few doors down to me. It's been different without all that in the house, but I can't believe how much time I'm saving. I've been able to get back to the business of writing, which is so important if I actually want to sell something!

I'm so excited about my current story. It's the novella with an American woman and a Scotsman set in modern day Edinburgh and the Highlands. At the moment it's called Her Highland Champion and here's my latest blurb for it:

She needed a hero.

He had no courage to be one.

Can her love renew his confidence and make him her Highland champion?

Yes, I know that blurb isn't the best, but I'll be revising it as I get closer to submitting the story. I'll be sharing more about the story in the next couple of weeks. I expect to finish the rough draft tonight and then have it all ready to be submitted by the end of next weekend!

Happy Birthday To Me!

2011-10-09T17:55:00.001-05:00

Hello! I've had an amazing weekend! My family dinner was fabulous on Friday-good food, good drinks, good company! Everyone sang to me when they brought out a cookie & ice cream for me. Then yesterday was fantabulous! Okay, my Texas Longhorns CLEARLY did not get my memo that I needed them to play well, but other than that it was a good day. I got some gift cards (1 for Barnes & Noble!!!), a beautiful necklace, some money (always helpful, especially since my RWA membership is up for renewal), a happy birthday hat, Bunco game (I've heard it's fun) and some other neat things. Today we had some much needed rain in TX. I had leftover birthday cake & tea for breakfast, lunch with 2 of my brothers, my niece & 1 nephew, then dinner with the British relatives & the parents. Now I'm just reading birthday wishes on Facebook and emails.

If you have a free minute, you could give me a birthday present. The Mills & Boon New Voices Competition ends tomorrow. I'd love some more comments on my entry!

Let The Party Begin!

2011-10-07T14:08:00.000-05:00

I worked a 1/2-day sub job today and now I'M FREE TO PARTY! I've got my family b-day dinner tonight, then a bright and early start to my birthday party day. My Texas Longhorns (okay, they're not mine. I don't own them, but...) are playing the Oklahoma Sooners in the morning and then I've got friends visiting to celebrate with me! We'll be hanging out, listening to music I've loved over the last 4 decades, looking (and giggling) at pictures of me over the last 4 decades, eating, drinking, swimming and being merry! Then Sunday, my actual birthday, I'm having a nice breakfast, recovering from Saturday, hanging by the pool, then going out to a favorite spot for drinks at sunset.

A Slow & Painful Death

2011-10-05T20:20:00.001-05:00

Tell Me No Lies, my entry in the Mills & Boon New Voices Competition is now around 154 out of 624 entries. I've received 1 comment in the last week and a half and that was from my FANTABULOUS CP. I know the ratings don't really make a difference and I still don't have any illusions that I'll make the top 20. I really only entered to get comments & feedback, which I did. I'm thrilled with the reactions I've been getting. I really feel like I'm doing something right!

BUT I'm soooooooo ready for this competition to be over. I spend lots of time tracking comments on all the manuscripts, reading some entries (I'll never get through them all!) and obsessing with my own. Monday, the last day to enter, can't come quick enough. Quite frankly, I need to get back to actually writing my current novella so that it can be done and submitted before NaNoWriMo & my next bounty hunter story!

October So Far...

2011-10-04T23:09:00.005-05:00

No writing on the sexy Scottish contemporary, although I think about it quite a bit
Many beers have been consumed...I blame it on the visit from the English relatives who are here to celebrate my birthday.
No word from the Chinese recruiter (about a teaching job in China)
No rejection yet after 14 weeks on my last completed manuscript
I'm back to being a substitute teacher (but so far I'm managing to work only in the "good" school district)
Tomorrow I start training for a new PT job, tutoring with a well-known company
Still in the Mills & Boon Competition, managing to stay within the top 10%-20%, but haven't gotten many more comments since last week. Thank goodness it's now less than a week before it's over!

More later.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH TO ME!

2011-10-01T00:24:00.004-05:00

Yes, it's true! My 40th birthday is this month and I've decided to start celebrating right from Day 1!!!! How am I celebrating? I'm cleaning the house, grocery shopping....WAIT! No, that was last month.

This month I'm working on a brand new series of novellas. I'm hard at work on the 1st one, Her Highland Champion, which is set in modern-day Scotland. The hero is an operative in an international organization and the heroine is being hunted by her ex-fiance. When she has no one else to turn to, she relies on the hero. Too bad his choices put her in more danger. (For more information about the rest of the series, visit my Manuscripts page on my website!)

Other than that, I have English relatives coming in for 2 weeks to help celebrate my birthday. (Finally figured out where to have my family birthday dinner!) I foresee MUCH celebration in the next couple of weeks!

And now, I'll share with you a picture of me when I was about 4 or 5 from the 1st house I lived in. I LOVE this picture and used it for my party invitations.

Release Day For a Friend!

2011-09-30T17:56:00.001-05:00

My good friend, Jane Sevier released her novel Fortune's Fool today! Fortune's Fool was a Golden Heart Finalist. It's available on Kindle. She's got a GORGEOUS cover, a unique setting and a FANTABULOUS story! Go, purchase, read! Come on, show Jane some love!

Visit her here.

CONGRATULATIONS, JANE!

I FINISHED!

2011-09-28T14:18:00.001-05:00

I have completed the rough draft of my manuscript Unbroken! Whoohoo! Time to celebrate!

BUT...no rest for the wicked! I'm plunging into the revisions for a sexy novella called Treasures, set in modern-day Scotland. Yes, there's suspense in it, but this time I'll be focusing WAY more on the romance. My goal is to have it ready to submit by the middle of October. MUST get busy!

I Have An Urge

2011-09-27T14:49:00.000-05:00

I have the urge to break something....

I think I'll go work on a book.

Monday, Monday

2011-09-26T06:07:00.037-05:00

Well, I made it to 9 gym classes last week!

I started cleaning my house.

I wrote just over 4506 words on Unbroken.

I did cut down my time on the New Voices website. I'm still visiting, just not as much. (I'm still doing pretty well too!)

I have not picked up any reading for fun.

I didn't go to any temp agencies by choice. I decided to wait and go this week since this is officially my last week at the law firm.

I've spent some serious time on my writing detour-revising a very old and dearly loved manuscript for a completely new project. (More on it as I work on it.)

I've worked on finding the place for my birthday family dinner-haven't figured it out yet. (Ggggr. Don't ask.)

I entered the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood 1st line contest with 2 1st lines. The 10 finalists will be chosen & posted at 12:01 tonight! (Wish me luck!)

AND for this week I MUST:
Figure out where to have the family dinner!
Finish my rough draft of Unbroken
Visit 2-4 temp agencies
Complete a rough draft of the new novella (writing detour)
Finish cleaning the whole house
Hunt for a job
Hit 9-12 gym classes
Read and comment on at least 1 New Voices entry per day

What about you?

Progress and a Detour

2011-09-21T15:05:00.001-05:00

Here it is Wednesday, and I thought I'd update you on my progress this week:

I've been to 5 gym classes since Sunday so far (got 3 tonight!) and spent about 30-45 minutes with a trainer too (one of my prizes from that gym contest in July). Tomorrow's my next weigh in.

I haven't spent much time at all on the New Voices site. I'm not sure if it's because I got my 1st negative comment, I haven't gotten any more comments or because I burned myself out with all the hours I was on it last week. Honestly, I don't think it's the negative comment. I mean, come on. I've been submitting and getting rejections for over 10 years. That 1 comment isn't going to crush me. Plus, I did manage to get something positive out of the comment so that works for me! If you feel the urge to go read my entry, Tell Me No Lies, and give me some encouragement or constructive criticism, please do so!

I've written over 3000 words on Unbroken. Just under 4000 left to finish the rough draft!

I haven't even picked up John Hart's King of Lies. Sorry, John. It's DEFINITELY NOT you!

Cleaning???? What's that????

DETOUR: A friend of mine suggested I consider writing a short story (novella????) for her epublisher who is starting a new series of books that will be right up my alley. I'm pretty sure I'm going to revise my very first suspense, set it Scotland, and submit it. I'm just trying to figure out how to fit it in with my b-day, finishing up Unbroken, taking revision notes on Witness, the job hunt and resting up for NaNoWriMo.

I'll catch you later this week!

New Week, New Plan

2011-09-18T15:53:00.001-05:00

This week I hope to:

SIGNIFICANTLY cut down the amount of time I spend on the New Voices Contest website

Increase the number of gym classes I attend (Last week I only went to 1.)

Figure out where my birthday family dinner will be

Visit at least 2 temp agencies concerning work after my current job is eliminated (I REALLY don't want to go back to substitute teaching.)

Read at least a chapter a day of John Hart's King of Lies

Read and start to take notes on revisions to an earlier manuscript

Write at least 3,000 words on Unbroken

Clean the house

What about you?

Wanna See What They're Saying?

2011-09-16T18:15:00.001-05:00

I am spending WAY too much time following the Mills & Boon New Voices Contest. I'm obsessed with reading entries, commenting when I can and searching out comments on my own manuscript, Tell Me No Lies. Seriously, it's a HUGE time-suck and I'd forgotten about that.

BUT... who can walk away from comments like these?

1. I absolutely love the idea of these two working together! They already make a great pair, and all the little details and actions you've incorporated make them seem that much more real. Looking forward to reading more, I hope, and good luck with the competition!

2. Really really really good. Made me laugh with the line 'crushing her... assets'. You left the chapter on such a great hook, I definitely want to read chapter 2.

3. Wow. Wow. My absolute favourite story so far, this really resonated with me. Grady is a brilliantly portrayed hero/bad boy and I adored the last line of his POV: Rock. Hard place. His ass caught in between. Heroine is definitely a perfect match for him. I really hope you make it to the next round as I would love to read more. Well done and good luck!

4. Pretty sure I'm crushing on Grady lol. As someone else said there are some great asides here, and I'm liking the romantic tension you've already set up. Very easy reading. Good luck with the competition!

This is why I entered last year and entered again this year- for the feedback. To hear your friends and family tell you that you write well is one thing. To hear it from complete strangers is amazing!

Now, seeing how much comments mean to the writers, won't you consider visiting the contest and commenting? I'm not even talking about my entry (although if you want to that's okay with me!), but about the entries of some of the other 143 writers who have entered. Go ahead. You know you wanna.

New Voices Competition!

2011-09-14T14:48:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again. Mills & Boon have opened their 2nd annual New Voices Competition! It's where unpublished writers post the 1st chapters of their books and receive comments from anyone and everyone who wants to comment. It doesn't cost anything to enter and registering doesn't take long. They accept entries for a month, people comment and rate entries, and then in October the list gets whittled down to 20 entries that go onto the 2nd round.

I have entered this year in the romantic suspense category with my manuscript, Tell Me No Lies. Feel free to read it, rate it and comment! I entered last year and had a blast even though I didn't make it to the 2nd round. The comments were helpful and the compliments were amazing! (To have your family and friends tell you they like your writing is one thing, but it's totally humbling when it's complete strangers telling you how much they liked your entry.)

Even if you don't enter, I urge you to go to the website and support other writers. Rate or give constructive criticism. Last year some people had very few comments and sometimes the comments were downright cruel. If you want to read and comment or rate, you will need to register, BUT it takes less than a minute. The website is www.romanceisnotdead.com. Make your voice heard! (And if you enter, let me know so I can cheer you on!)