Too Hot To Handle Republished

Too Hot To Handle/Linda Sole is published on June 7th by Eternal Press. This is a contemporary romance, level three. the book was first published last year by another publisher that closed shortly afterwards. It went to number one in the contemporary section, but I never did get to know how many books sold. I am hoping it will do well for the publisher this time.

I have another book - Trial by Fire/Anne Ireland coming from Eternal Press in September.

The Homeless Heiress is out with HMB in July in paperback. I now have some books to give away. Visit my website at http://www.lindasole.co.uk/ and enter the competition to be in with a chance of winning. I have quite a few so you could be lucky!

LOL Linda

Patience, Premonitions, and Open Doors

I love my profession. I really do. But there's one thing I could do without: the waiting.

It's a simple fact that the higher up the "food chain" you move, the slower the process becomes. My first book, Svetkavista, was accepted for publication before it was even finished. I began writing it in February 2006, and it was first published in ebook late July of the same year. Leading Her to Heaven was published a few months later in September.

In 2007, I wrote "A Scandalous Arrangement," specifically for a submissions call at Freya's Bower, for a BDSM anthology. About a week after I submitted my story, I received an acceptance. That was one long week!

This past March, I attended the Southern Lights Conference here in Jacksonville, held by my RWA Chapter. I pitched my latest novel, Reckless Liaisons to a few editors and agents. One agent in particular seemed very excited about the idea, and requested a partial with a synopsis, which I rushed home and promptly sent out. The wait this time was over two months.

She got in touch with me last week and passed. It was disappointing, of course, but honestly I think it was the right thing. While she seemed to like my voice and style, she wasn't sold on some of the plot points, but she did ask me to send over anything else I might be currently working on to look at. Unfortunately, I don't have anything at the moment.

But here's why I'm not upset: every author gets rejections. It's a natural part of being a writer. When I was growing up, I rode horses. My trainer used to tell me, "you're not a horseback rider until you've been thrown off at least three times." You fall down, you get back up. I officially have my first rejection! Rather than being crushed I'm thinking, "phew, now that's over with." Will I get more? Probably. But at least that very first one is now out of the way.

Several months ago, good friend Stella Price was interviewed on a radio show, and for the life of me I can't remember the name of it. The host was a tarot reader, and Stella was talking about her own knowledge of tarot. I called in to say 'hi,' and they did a reading for me. The host (whose name I can't remember either) asked if I was working on a book currently. I was working on Reckless Liaisons and had been for some time. Her prediction, based on the cards, was that my current project would be a big stepping stone for my career, and would help take it to the next level.

Perhaps you don't believe in "that stuff." I do. I also feel in my gut that she is right. So rather than be discouraged by Ms. Agent's rejection, I set to work sending out queries to various publishers and agents that very afternoon.

Within two hours I had a response from a certain NY publishing house (which shall remain nameless for fear of jinxing myself), requesting the full, complete manuscript. I could hardly believe it. That old cliche whispered in my mind: When one door closes, another opens. In this case it was certainly true. I rushed into my office, laptop precariously balanced in hand, and printed out all 200 some pages (I'd just bought a new printer the weekend before. Coincidence?) signed my cover letter, scribbled "Requested Material" on the envelope and away it went.

I have hope. I have confidence. I could probably use a dose more patience. All I have left to do now is more of that blasted waiting.

Journals And Journaling

Back in the day, we used to write in diaries. Later, we journaled. It sounds so much more sophisticated to write in a journal than in a diary. My dad was a devote journal writer. I don't know when he started, but he must have started somewhere in his teens. I can't even imagine my dad as a teenager. Anyway, he wrote daily about things like the weather and when he went to work then added only those events that were most remarkable like birthdays, somebody died or someone was born. He was very succinct, no frills or personal opinions allowed. My dad believed so deeply in the importance of journaling that it became a tradition for him to give my sister, Mary, and I a leather bound pocket journal every year at Christmas in preparation of New Year's.

In the beginning, I wrote about boyfriends and the tyranny of my parents. Later, I attempted to write in French to improve my language skills and to keep my sister from being able to sneak a peak and tell my parents of any transgressions from house rules. I gave that up when I discovered I couldn't express myself as deeply in a foreign language.

I saved all my journals in my trunk until I discovered a breech in security and an invasion of my privacy and burned every single journal except the one I wrote in about my father's death.

I started a writer's journal. I find it very beneficial for story ideas. If I see something strange, hear a snatch of conversation that's interesting (yes, I ease drop-LOL) or I observe an intriguing situation, in my writer's journal it goes.

My personal journal has changed tremendously. I only write a few words now and then because the majority of my journaling is done with drawings. I'm no artist. Sometimes I use stamps and stickers but I do draw pictures. I don't do it every day, only when deep feelings come into play and I do most of it in artist's notebooks because they're big enough to really draw feelings. I use colored pencils often. I find that I can relinquish feelings that would otherwise fester and I can do it in a very satisfying way by draw-journaling.

Do you journal? What is your favorite kind of journal--a notebook, a leather bound tomb, a pretty pink journal? Have you ever tried different means of journaling? What kind satisfied you most? I'd be glad to hear your thoughts on the subject.

All good things to your corner of the universe.

Sarah McNeal

http://www.sarahmcneal.com/

http://amirapresssays.blog.com/

May Contest Extension...

Well originally I was going to choose a winner for my promo goodie package today, but I decided last week that I really want to add more goodies to the package. So...I'm extending my May contest to June 30, 2008 and I hope to get lots more entries and add lots more goodies! Some examples of goodies that will be included are bookmarks, and a CD with several desktop wallpapers created by me in Poser just to name a few. The rest will of course be a surprise! So if you like promo goodies or any kind of goodies and you like to win, then by all means enter my contest, you can find the details on my website in the contest section.

Oh, and don't worry if you live in another country, I don't discriminate. ANYONE can enter my contests. :-)

Check out the new Sensual on Ecataromance!

Check out Sensual!I’m helping to spread the word about the newly redesigned website Sensual.If you like your romance novels on the steamy side, you’ll love this site. It’s full of reviews, interviews, excerpts, information on the newest print and ebooks and lots more. You can even win books and other goodies. So check it out. http://sensual.ecataromance.com
Authors, you can spread the word too! If you’d like a chance to win one of 20 Cover Ads and get a shot at a fabulous grand prize (a 3 Pack of their huge billboard ads - a $100 value!) just repost this blurb on your blog or website. Then stop by Sensual and leave a link to your post. All authors are eligible to enter and win so why in the world wouldn’t you? See their site for more information and official rules: sensual.ecataromance.com/?p=688I\’ll see you at Sensual!

Writing takes over your life

Me enjoying myself in Spain last year - just so you know I don't actually write all the time.

I don't know how many other authors find that writing takes over their lives, but I certainly feel it does, because there is always something you have to do. If you aren't actually writing a book you are promoting, checking proofs or doing edits. We must love it or we wouldn't do it!

I am going on holiday in a few weeks and I shall take my computer with me so that I can continue to write a little and stay in touch with what is happening. I have almost finished the third book in a trilogy for Severn House. One more chapter and then revisions should do it, and then I have to start a Regency because a deadline is looming. However, I intend to take time to watch the final of the "I'll do anything" contest on TV this weekend. Three girls are left competing for the roll of Nancy in Oliver - a new production of the musical in London.

My new book with Eternal Press will be out next week. It is my first with them so I am looking forward to it. I have another coming in September. I have a new Regency for HMB in July.

Love to all, Linda

My view on Speaking to the Dead...

After reading Sarah's post on her thoughts of speaking to the dead I really wanted to do more than leave a comment, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if we get some serious dialogue going on this one. LOL

Like Sarah, I've had experiences where I've dreamed of relatives that have died where they've given me specific information. Unlike Sarah's dream where her mother came and told her where to find a pair of earrings, most of my information has had to do with my genealogy research. I've always been fascinated by the past, and particularly by the secrets that families keep. You know the ones where great-grandma ran a speak easy during the prohibition, or the uncle whose family were slave owner's but who married an ex-slave (that's a true story in my family history). In one instance, I was researching one of my Native American ancestors who had married a non-Indian. At the time I was trying to discover what tribe she was when I had a dream where her Uncle gave me further information to find the answers I was looking for. That dream led me on a path where I was able to find out what tribe she was. I don't believe in coincidences, and I know that the dead do use dreams to communicate with us.

Personally I plan on using some of this personal experience in a future book so stay tuned!

If someone has had a similar experience and would like to post their comments on either my or Sarah's blog post, I certainly hope you will. :-)