And we’re back to the drawing board. M&B rejected our latest manuscript, which we thought they would. Since then, we’ve had very constructive and positive feedback from the competitions we entered so now we’re just getting my story ready for submission. I’m excited about it, and I’m glad we didn’t just go “Let’s pack it all in” after the first three rejections. Fourth time’s a charm, right?
In other writing news, my suspence novel succumbed to some kind of weird illness I had in November, but the idea is solid and the protagonist is becoming more and more solid in my mind while I’m not writing about his adventures, so there’s lots of positives there. Also, my little boy started kindergarten this week, which frees my nights up considerable. It’s not a crazy nighttime kindergarten, but I had been using the evenings to catch up on the work I wasn’t able to do during the day.
And lastly, I have rediscovered Lifehouse. I love them so much, and they definitely sing Annie and Caleb’s theme song, so once Sophie and Cal are sent off I can happily revisit those two and there more-angsty plotline. The song is “Broken” and is just heartbreakingly beautiful.
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
It’s coming up to 20 weeks since we first submitted to Mills & Boon. Really, isn’t it about time they replied? The 20 week mark is when you are allowed to get in touch with them to query the status of your submission so watch this space for our aggravating harrasment of various editors unnamed. In the meantime, like most writer mums, I’m very much struggling to find the time to give to my Paranormal Historical. I haven’t opend the document since last tuesday. Last Tuesday! I really want to write that ballroom scene, its’ going to be gold. But the time, alas, there is no time. Perhaps if I stopped doing this, I can squeeze in 10 minutes before bed?
For disappearing acts, it’s hard to beat what happens to the eight hours supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work.
As Susan has mentioned, we’ve started working on Other Projects while waiting to hear back from Mills and Boon. Since between us we’ve written three M&Bs and started two more, we can afford this little writing luxury. Mine is a little less to what I’m used, as I’ve gone with a thriller. I don’t often read suspense novels, but I do like them when I do and I suppose that I’m going to have to start looking around for more authors in the suspence genre that I can read. Any tips on that would be greatly appreciated
And now, for me, it’s back to the drawing board… or the keyboard, as the case may be.
Well, I didn’t really think I would do this but I am writing something other than Mills & Boon. It’s frustrating that it takes such a long time to hear back on a submission, we are looking at about 17 weeks now. It’s hard to keep motivated and writing when you don’t know where it’s going to go. So, I thought I would try something different. I had a lovely, handsome, Regency hero walk into my head the other night and since he doesn’t seem to want to leave, I’ve started working with him. If something happens with M&B in the meantime, well, I can always go back to that. Nothing’s fixed. But in the mean time, Sebastian is HOT! I’ve got a few plot ideas from the quote below, just quietly!
A cat is a regency gentleman–elegant of pose, exquisite of manner, with spotless linen and an enthusiasm for bare knuckle fights, rampaging love affairs, duels by moonlight and the singing of glees. He expects immaculate service from his domestic staff, and possesses a range of invective that would make a navy blanch.
Phew! Back to the blogosphere, the place on the Internet that doesn’t make me grind my teeth
In writing news, we’ve recently entered a competition in Australia for the series we’re targetting. That’s exciting. We don’t really mind about winning or losing (of course if we place, that’s awesome) but the feedback may prove invaluable. The Big One, the partial manuscript in the hands of the editors in England, is still in the hands of the editors in England. We are expecting to hear back soon, though.
In other news we’ve been working on some other projects, at least mentally, and trying not to think about M&B for a little while. I really, really hate having this many balls in the air. Really.
Well, I’m happy to say that the move is complete. I haven’t found Celeste yet. I’m thinking she doesn’t want to return until she’s sure all the unpacking is done. But, I can happily report that Celeste may have momentarily deserted me, but my muse isn’t completely without hope. Standing in my new(ish) kitchen, baking away while the kids were in daycare, I got a visit (in my head, alas, not at the front door) from one Jerome Lancaster. He’s got a slight crush on the cook who has a segment on the morning show, but he’s too busy feeling bitter about something, he hasn’t told me what yet. Of course, their worlds collide, but I have to wait for Celeste to come back before I can explore the idea further. I’m off to the Australian Romance Writers Conference, in Brisbane to meet and share ideas and experiences with fellow unpubbed romance writers. Got huge amounts of inspiration and information and a few good friends out of last years conference, so hopefully this one delivers just as much. I’ll keep you posted!
Cooking is like making love, you do it well, or you do not do it at all
I’ve decided that perhaps if I just keep writing about my writing, it will be things such as “Argh!” “Oh woo, I wrote a page!” and “Argh!” over and over so instead I’m going to write about something not writing related.
Rob Thomas brought out a new solo album in June and I am completely in love with it. It’s no surprise to anyone who knows me, I suppose, with Matchbox Twenty being my all time favourite band. I liked but didn’t love Rob’s first solo effort, perhaps it was too poppy for me following his music with the band. Wow, this album is seriously awesome. From “Her Diamonds” which Thomas wrote about his wife, who suffers from Lupus, to the hopeful, heartfelt “Someday” (my favourite lyric yet: “Maybe, someday, we’ll live our lives out loud…” I love it) this album really gripped me.
Also while I was listening, I was struck at the difference in quality between a CD and compressed music files (which you buy at places like iTunes) and have decided to always buy CDs from now on. They’re just better. And louder. And I don’t really like Apple because they whinge and moan about Microsoft’s alleged monopoly, and yet actively run their own. But that, I suppose, is a rant for another.
What music do you like? Which artist has really influenced you in your lifetime?
This weekend, from Thursday morning to Monday night, I was able to get away all by myself and duck over to Ireland for the weekend. It’s my second visit to Dublin, and I have the best time there. The best way to describe my feelings on Ireland is to say that were Europe my house, Ireland would be the den; the place where I can withdraw to be by myself, with a big comfy chair, a beautiful fire in the fireplace and my favourite music playing in the background. I was hoping for some inspiration, as many of my favourite romance novels are set in Ireland. Indeed, my favourite romance novelist sets many of her books there, obviously as enchanted by the Emerald Isle as I am.
Alas, it was a no go! That’s not entirely true, actually, I got inspiration for other stories. Just not for the one I’ve been trying to get started on for the last two months. Yesterday, I did some more on it and I have to keep reminding myself that it’s okay for it to be trudgery at the start. When I wrote my first book, I had their backstory half written before I realised I was on the wrong track. This made the start of the third or fourth draft a lot easier, as I knew them. I knew what made them react to each other the way they did, and the events in their lives that shaped them. I’m on a completely blank canvas with Annie and Caleb.
I guess I’ll work them out. And if I don’t, there’s always Ireland.
Oh, all kinds of lunacy happens in Ireland, all kinds of lunacy.
