I'm rooting for you!

For all those of you sitting by your phone today, waiting on the edge of your seat for the call that will tell you you've finaled in either the Golden Heart or the RITA, I'm rooting for you.

I've been there (2 x GH finalist) and I know how you feel! Now, good luck and let the games begin!

You can keep track of the finalists as the notifications come in here.

Testing the waters

I've decided to try a little experiment, mostly because Eva Gale exerted serious peer pressure on me. ;o) I've published the first book I wrote (and a Golden Heart finalist in '05) on Smashwords. Years ago I had the first chapter of this book excerpted on my website and I still get the occasional email asking when it's going to be published, so after much thought, I've decided to do it myself.

This article had a lot to do with that decision. Who knows what this will bring, but like I said, it's an experiment. You can check it out here if you're interested. At $1.99 it's a steal and it's available in all formats.

And here's the cover I did for it:


And the blurb:

Eager to find her place in the world and understand the frightening gifts she’s been born with, Jessalyne Brandborn aches to leave her sheltered life behind and take on the job that's been promised to her. Apprentice to the most powerful sorceress in Shaldar, the king’s magewoman. Even if traveling to Castle Ryght means keeping company with the deadliest man in the realm to get there.

On the run, dark elf Ertemis Elta-naya doesn’t want to escort firemage Jessalyne any more than he wants the Legion to catch up with him. He just wants to vindicate his mother’s life before the price on his head results in a knife at his throat. Or in his back. Life as a mercenary has taught him to strike first and ask questions later.

And yet, within them lies the hope of the dying elven race, the renewal of Shaldar's beleaguered kingdom and an incredible chance at love. If they don't kill each other first.

What do you think? Would you ever try a form of publishing like this with your own work?

You Know That Publisher...

The one called Samhain? I sold them a book. Well, I didn't sell it, my agent did. Because she's AWESOME. My first sale in book-length fiction! Seems they liked my 2005 Golden Heart finalist, ALL FIRED UP. (It is made of win, so who can blame them?)

It'll be out in September of this year. So if you're into 1000 year old Viking chieftains who end up in modern day Manhattan and turn out to be really good at underwear modeling, this might be the book for you.

Let the partying commence!

The Day After

So the GH and RITA finalists have been announced. I haven't seen a complete list yet, but I know very few of the writers/authors I was rooting for made it. Disappointing, really. There are so many good books and great storytellers that get passed over. I know, I know, not everyone can be a finalist. (I didn't enter this year, so this isn't sour grapes, just an observation.)

For those of you who didn't get the call, my heart goes out to you. It sucks. I know from experience since the manuscript that finaled in the GH last year was the very same one that didn't final the year before. Hey, contests like this, regardless of writing, regardless of whatever secrecy is supposed to go into the judging, are really part crapshoot and part popularity contest. Google makes it possible for any interested judge to potentially find out who wrote the GH manuscript they're reading. (Heck, some people put their names on them to begin with!)

What I find interesting is that with the plethora of ebooks entered in the RITAs since this was the first year that was possible (they still had to be printed hardcopies in some fashion), none showed up on the RITA finalist list. If they did, I didn't see them. Please correct me if you know differently.

There are certain names I'll be rooting for in San Fran, but I don't want to list them in case I forget someone. You know who you are.

GH & RITA Day is here!

Today is the day the Golden Heart and RITA finalist calls go out. It's an exciting, nerve-wracking, awful, wonderful day. I know. I've been there the last three years. Thankfully, not this year. Being a two-time finalist was great, but enough was enough.

Now I am content to cheer on my friends. There are many I am hoping and praying get that call today. Best wishes! You know who you are!

And if the call doesn't come, so what. You're still the best bunch of writers I know. (And trust me, judges make mistakes. A LOT.)