Sleepless Nights, Editing, Rewriting, New Ideas

Week three of edits underway. I try to wake up at four, go to bed by eleven so I can get in mucho editing time before and after work. I find edits take more time than writing the actual book. I made it all the way to the halfway mark in Hidden Beauty when I had to stop and go back to page 50 because of a problem with the approach that chapter took—yes I realize that may only make sense to me.

Overall, sounds like an easy fix, right? It’s not. I also decided it in my best commercial—what? I do want to sell this beauty!—interest to avoid religious controversy with the book—there is only one religion in a harem—I am now editing OUT certain details to that part of the story line.

I’m happy to report third time’s a charm for books: My plot is solid, my conflict awesome, my characters motivations are clear. Did I mention I love all my characters—as do others? I’m doing fairly well in contests, not placing, but getting consistent marks, unlike my first book. Mind you I still get the odd hate-on right beside a perfect score [shrugs, can’t win ‘em all].

Happy to report that I still love this book, and I’m enjoying every stage of the rewrite.


Favourite cut paragraph from that scene: There was nothing to lose in lowering her head to the ground. She did not say the words Laila had, though she knew it was only a matter of time before she was taught them. Should she ask forgiveness for the sins she would commit? Or should she give thanks to the God who was generous enough to give her and her son a second chance? But which God should she give thanks to? She gave silent thanks to whoever listened as she pressed her head to the ground.

Oh and I have new ideas, the first is a mix of my two passions: Historical Romance and Romantic Classical Music. I have so many scenes already in my head, I’m anxious to start the story!

Is there anything you as a writer like about editing? Readers, do you ever see things in books you wished were edited differently?

Special Congratulations to Vixen Maggie!

We're so excited and happy to finally be able to shout it out to the world that our own Vixen Maggie Robinson has been offered representation by Laura Bradford of the Bradford Literary Agency!





JK Coi: Of course it's no surprise Maggie. We all knew that your time was soon. Your Paradise is a beautiful, evocative work that deserves a home, and we're so glad that you're entering the next leg of that journey. There's a lot of hard work ahead of you, but you're going to love every minute of it, and I CAN'T WAIT to see your name on that jacket cover. Between Tiff and I we're going to buy out every copy that comes across the border! Yay! Congratulations!

Tiff: YAY You! I'm so thrilled you have found the perfect agent! And when Paradise sells, I'm going to buy every copy of it at the bookstore, give it to my friends, and say, this is Maggie, she's brilliant! You will NOT be able to put this book down!!!! SQUEEEE!!!!!!!! Congrats to you fellow vixen!

Ely: WOOHOO! I remember when I first read Paradise and how much I fell in love with it. I knew that it would get you an agent; Paradise was too good and too rich in writing and story to not be published. I'm so excited that Laura Bradford offered representation, and I loved talking on the phone with you to squee some more. *g* I've just been so happy and thrilled and giddy with joy for you. It seriously could not happen to a nicer and more talented person. I'm going to be right there alone with Tiff and Kris buying copies of Paradise. I don't think I'm going to have to convince anyone to buy it though... I have a feeling that NYT list is in your future. *big grin* YAY!!!!! Congrats again!!!

P.S. Remember we get dibs on any ARCs.

Historically Accurate Hottie

He's got gold galore, a nation at his fingertips--but not for much longer... it's all going to fall. I'm pretty sure he loved his wife a great deal as they tried to get through difficult times. He could be a romance hero... and his virility was never under question.

Yay or nay for this historical catch?

Nobody puts Baby in the Slush Pile

Literary agent extraordinaire Nathan Bransford posted this video on on his blog last Friday. It's so funny that I had to share:



A) I love the woman's green dress.
B) I really love her shoes.
C) I love that the "editor" wears shorts---not saying that editors don't wear shorts in their daily work environment, but it just added to my moment of joy. *g*
D) And how many of us use to harbor this fantasy that writing would be this easy? (I still wish it was this easy). LOL

Any author knows how hard writing is, and how much more difficult it is to get published. But suspending belief and what we do know about how the writing biz works---and if this was your dream world---what sort of video (like the above) would you make?

Mine would involve the following:

1. Same steps as the author in the above.
2. Movie deals and awards galore!!!
3. Meeting a hot Hollywood hunk (not picky, as long as he's handsome, intelligent, and has some sort of personality). I guess that narrows it down to George Clooney. And yes, I want George Clooney to say: Nobody puts Baby in the slush pile.
4. Big Hollywood ending, maybe even a dance sequence like at the end of Dirty Dancing.



What would your dream scenario entail?

And a huge congrats to Courtney Milan, her book Proof by Seduction will be released by HQN in Fall 2009 and the second will be published shortly afterward! Everyone who's read Courtney's FanLit stories or Proof by Seduction knows that she has a long and prosperous career ahead of her. Congrats!!

The Big Misunderstanding

A man was on the edge of the bed as his wife looked at herself in the mirror. "Oh, to be six again," he heard her say.

Well, her birthday was coming up, and he got a brilliant idea for the best present ever. On the morning of her birthday, he brought her a bowl of Lucky Charms and told her he was taking her to Six Flags. When they got there, he put her on every ride---the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster. He bought her ice cream and cotton candy. On the way home he stopped at McDonald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal. Then he took her to the movies---a big bucket of buttered popcorn and giant soda, coming right up.

When she collapsed on the bed, sick to her stomach from being upside down and eating junk all day, he leaned over and asked, "Honey, what was it like being six again?"

She looked up at him and wiped that silly smile right off his face. "I meant my dress size, you dumb ass!"

Morale of the story: Even when a man is listening, he's gonna get it wrong.

Something like this happened to me once. Years ago, I coveted my stepgrandmother's sapphire and diamond wedding band. I told my husband how much I liked it. I might even have left a jewery store flyer with a sapphire and diamond ring taped to the TV so there was a chance he'd see it. Christmas came, and lo and behold, there was a ring box in my stocking.

I opened it. Inside was a pretty emerald and diamond wedding band. Like the rude ungrateful Vixen I am, I said, "But they're not sapphires!"

His first words: "You wanted sapphires? They would have been cheaper."

His second words:"You can wear it and think of my eyes."

His eyes are hazel green (like my heroes, come to think of it). I kept the ring, and think of him, the dumb ass.

The Big Mis is a big thing in romance. Are you a fan or not? Do you have your own Big Mis story, fiction or fact?

Historically Accurate Hottie of the Week

This painting by Gerard is of Jean-Baptiste Isabey (1767-1855). It's one of my favorites, showing the artist with his daughter. I used it on a Fathers' Day post last year, because there's nothing hotter than a dad who's good with his kids. Isabey was a miniaturist whose works were wildly sought after by royalty and regular people alike.

Yea or nay on Jean-boy?

Hidden Beauty ~ Done

Draft one is done. A week ago… yesterday.

You could say the last bit of my creativity is being sucked into the second draft so I must save my strength… I give you a peek at the query. I’m still tinkering, and yes this has been through my darling, ever helpful writing buddies, so it’s to them I must give great thanks… for your help and ear when I lost drive and inspiration in the middle of the project. I couldn’t have done it without you Vixens.

Lady Elena Ravenscliffe has been sold into a Constantinople slave market to pay off her husband’s debts. She is told that her husband is dead and given only one option: if she wants to see her infant son again, she must reconcile herself to life as a harem girl, where rich lords will bid on her favors. Her aristocratic English upbringing hasn’t prepared her for the customs she’ll have to adhere to, but she’ll do anything to protect the life of her babe.

Five years pass, and Elena has taken on the persona of Jinan—a Turkish princess—in an attempt to make this life easier to accept. She is the harem favorite. It’s rumored that gentlemen find heaven in her arms. But none are allowed to see the real woman hiding beneath the veil. She believes that she has succeeded in hiding from society and that she and her son are safe… but Elena’s secrets are threatened when a man she once loved recognizes her on the auction block.

The Marquess of Rothburn is not buying into the façade of Jinan—no matter how convincing. He remembers Elena, remembers wanting to marry her ten years ago. Knowing it is the only way to have her, he bids an outrageous sum to make her his mistress for a year. But once their time is up the Marquess has no intention of letting her go. He will stop at nothing to enslave the beautiful Jinan for himself, and steals her away from the harem hoping she’ll confess her feelings and desires for him… even if that means destroying both of them in the process.

I think with a bit more oomph and polish that will read like the back cover… does it intrigue? All those who’ve finished how’s your query letter writing been. If you haven’t written one do you dread it? Do you like writing them? I don't mind so much doing it now, helps make a project feel complete.

Now... I'm off to edit! I have a self-imposed deadline of October for draft two.