Okay, I’ve got to admit I thought this movie just looked silly. And I don’t mean silly in a good way. Oops, bad of me because this, fellow movie fans, is a great film. In a few weeks, loads of North Texas Romance Writers will gather for the NT Two Step, with guest speaker Michael Hague (screen-writer). Honestly, I don’t know what all great stuff he’s going to teach us, but I can’t wait. I do know that he will be dissecting the film ‘lars and the real girl’ during our Sunday morning workshop. To that end, I finally broke down and watched a movie that from the snippets I’d seen appeared too ‘silly’ for … Read more
Tag: North Texas Romance Writers of America
Writing . . . Margie Lawson . . . agent appointments
Wow! It’s been a busy time. For the past few weeks, I’ve been rushing to get projects completed for a local writing event. North Texas Romance Writers hosted their first Two-Step Conference. Margie Lawson was the guest speaker, along with Cori Devoe from 3 Seas Literary Agency and Melissa Jeglinski from The Knight Agency, who took a full-day worth of agent appointments. Simply said, “Two-Stepping was great!” Many of the conference attendees were experienced. Me . . . I was a virgin in the ways of Margie Lawson. Believe me, it’s a total immersion in writing. The woman is high-energy and she drags her student into the thick of learning with a smile. I understand … Read more
I’m finished . . . I’m finished . . . doing that happy dance!
This weekend, I typed The End on my 92,000 romantic suspense. This baby has been awhile in birthing — frankly, if I’d carried kids as long as it took me to finish this book, there would have only been one bouncing baby in my house. That said, this manuscript has seen me through a tough loss: my father’s year-long illness and passing, which seriously made me question whether I could ever finish this book. Then came my evolving literary skills: the dawn of my true Texas voice and the huge learning curve for any serious suspense plotter — as in I bit off more intrigue than I knew how to write at the time. Months … Read more
First page
NTRWA is hosting a conference in a few months. As one of the early entrants, I’ve been given the opportunity to submit my first page — for review — to the great Maggie Lawson. She’ll analyze — probably to pieces — the writing, then offer suggestions for making it better. Okay, I’m a little nervous to have Maggie Lawson read anything I’ve penned to paper. I’m posting it. Tell me what you think. What works . . . what doesn’t. This is actually the prologue tugged and tucked into one type-written page, so I may have deleted so much, it doesn’t make sense. Let me know, please, before I’m read in front of a room … Read more
Rosemary Clements-Moore
Here’s to Absolutely Thrilling News! Last week, Rosemary Clements-Moore won the most prestigious award, a RITA, given by romance writers from around the world. Romanace Writers of America (RWA to those who belong) selected HELL WEEK as a top finalist for the Young Adult category. This contest is judged by fellow romance writers and authors, a tough group to impress. Rosemary carried home the gold statue in honor of the accolades for her book, HELL WEEK. This is Rosemary’s 2nd book in the series. Truly top honors for a great author. Icing on the cake is that Rosemary’s 3rd book, when released, wasn’t even shelved by the big B & N. Yep, that’s right. They, … Read more
Friends . . .
Many of you are working fast and furious for the upcoming RWA convention — to all of you, I say ‘Hats off and may this be a wonderfully successful conference.’ To my lovely critique partner, L.A. Mitchell, who is up for her second Golden Heart, may this year be truly golden and you walk away with the trophy (and more importantly, a publishing contract). To critique partners Sherry A. Davis, (RWA National PRO Liaison and author of romantic comedy), Here Comes The Bribe, and Mary Karlik, fantasy and YA writer, may the publishing doors swing wide open for you at this conference. Fellow critique partner, Delores, and I will be sitting this one out. However, … Read more
Upcoming Speaking Engagement
Saturday, June 20th at 10:30am, I’ll be speaking at the June meeting for NTRWA (North Texas Romance Writers Association). The meeting is held at the La Hacinda in Grapevine. This is blurb I sent for the newsletter: I will discuss how and where to expend promotional money and effort. In addition, I will explore advertising areas from branding to blogging; from websites to words (keywords for web advertising, that is); from signings to speaking engagements and how to make the moments away from the writing add up to the most successful promotion possible. Several months ago I discovered in talking to new members of this group that the whole concept of promotion seemed overwhelming. The … Read more
MY CPs new book
I posted about HERE COMES THE BRIBE, a great romatic comedy release by The Wild Rose Press from my CP, Sherry A. Davis. The cover art is fabulous: And the book blurb certainly gets it done: A single administrative assistant accepts her temporary boss’s offer to masquerade as his fiancée to keep his matchmaking grandmother out of his personal life and out of the way while he negotiates a high-profile merger for his family-owned company. In exchange, she’ll get the down payment for the loan she needs to keep her ex from selling her condo out from under her. But neither of them counted on the lines blurring between real and pretend–or for the temporary … Read more
Good news . . . no, wait, great NEWS!
This Friday, that’s the 27th of June, one of my dearest writing buddies will release her first long contemporary from The Wild Rose Press. HERE COMES THE BRIBE, is a seriously funny romp between a too-busy, work-alcoholic, too-gorgeous-for-his-own-good boss who’s totally in trouble with his family and his female assistant, who’s saved him from drowning so many times it’s become habit. When he once again dives into the deep end, it’s up to this feisty heroine to keep him from going under for the third time. HERE COMES THE BRIBE is a great read at anytime of the day or night, and a perfect way to spend a little summer down time. Only don’t expect … Read more
Wahoo! LA Mitchell’s book-signing
Okay, it is really a book-signing for the anthology, Love, Texas Style, which is a great collection of short stories all written by member of North Texas Romance Writers of America chapter. (This just happens to be my home chapter.) This group of authors has done a tremendous amount of promotional work behind this release and this is their 4th book-signing, but just happened to be the first one close to home. So much fun! Pics of the signing . Pictured here are: (L to R)Arline Tood, Jen Fitzgerald, and Beth Shriver More authors: (L to R)Marty Tidwell, Mary Malcolm, LA Mitchell, Nikki Hollaway In addition, multi-published author Karen Whiddon (writes Romantic Suspense) was signing … Read more
