Just Published - Robin Covington (& giveaway)

Today I have fabulous debut author, Robin Covington on Just Published. I've known Robin for a quite some time from online communities and I've had the pleasure of meeting her in person. She's such a sweetheart and I couldn't be happier to see her a published author and doing so well. Robin's published with Entangled and I'm interested to see how it all came about.

The basics of Robin's first novel is as follows:

Title: A Night of Southern Comfort
Genre: Contemporary Category
Words: 54K
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Published Date: June 15, 2012

Blurb/Excerpt:

One night of passion... 

Detective Jackson Cantrell never imagined that one night with an irresistible stranger would turn his life upside down. He’s spent years living in the shadows, but Dr. Michaela Roarke awakened a passion inside him he'd buried years ago.

He never expected the woman would turn out to be the governor's daughter...and his next assignment. The governor blackmails Jackson to secretly watch over Michaela and protect her from a stalker, or kiss his dream job at the FBI good-bye. Swearing to keep things strictly professional, Jackson moves in with Michaela. Too bad his heart can't keep the same promise.

But when the stalker's attacks quickly escalate beyond mere photographs to bodily harm, Jackson must race to save Michaela's life. And he’ll have to figure out how to keep her once she discovers his lie.

So, let's get started with the specifics! How would you describe what you write? 
I write hot, sexy, books where the hero and heroine can't keep their hands off each other. They also think they can fool around and not fall in love and I love to prove them wrong.

LOL. Sounds like a great 'core story' concept. What’s your writing process in a nutshell?
I think up the first line - it pops into my head- and then I canoodle on it until I figure out what it's about and who it's about. Once I have that in my head I figure out the ending and I write a one-page, bulletized plot outline that looks like the rantings of a crazy person.  The I open up the Word document and start with page one and write in a straight linear fashion. I cannot jump around - Although I really wish I could!

And I wish I could write sequentially like that!What has your submission history looked like? Rejections? Manuscripts written? Number of years ‘seriously writing’, etc?
I started wriiting seriously towards publication three years ago.  ANoSC is my second completed manuscript (the first one was terrible dreck).  I had wonderful success with contests, many requests but was rejected many times for many reasons - "not a good fit" or "too sexy".  But, still, I firmly believe that contests are a fantastic way to get excellent feedback, improve your craft and to become acclimated to the submission process.  The comments will toughen you up for the rejections.  ANoSc was rejected twice before it sold to Entangled Publishing. 

I totally agree about contests. How did you pick your publisher?
I write category romance and there are only so many cowboys in that rodeo.  My choices of publisher were limted and once I was rejected there was only so much I could do with that book.  When I learned about Entangled starting a category romance line and that Lori Wilde and Alethea Spirison-Hopson were part of it, I knew I wanted to be a part of it.  I submitted it to them and crossed my fingers and toes.

What’s your ‘call’ story?
I'm a night owl so it was 11:30 pm and I checked my email and saw that I had one from Lori Wilde. It had only been one week since my submission and I figured that it was a rejection with that fast turnaround. I opened it up and had to read it about 900 times before I understood that she wanted to buy my book.  The Main Man was asleep and I woke him up to tell him and he went downstairs and popped a cork on a champagne bottle and we celebrated with a midnight toast.  He went back to bed and I didn't sleep a wink. ;)

Aw, how romantic! Did you have an agent when you sold? Now?
Nope.  No agent and I still don't have one.  I'm a contract attorney in real-life and I have an intellectual property attorney at my disposal, so I don't really see the need at this point.  If I ever branch out into single-title, I'll get one.

What’s it like working with a publisher and editor? Are revisions really as bad as you hear?
My revisions were not so bad.  Now, I trashed an entire chapter - yep, hit the delete key and let it go- because it just didn't work, I knew it didn;t work and my editor (the wonderful Ann Kopchik) was honest with me. Revisions were hard but you have to leave your pride at the door and do whatever you have to do to make your book the best it can be. 

And your ego, right? So, how did you feel the first time you saw your cover? How much input did you have?
I cried.  I didn't see my cover until the day before release because Entangled keeps them close-hold but I loved it on sight. I filled out the cover art form and gave descriptions etc but I actually found the photo and attached it as a "this one speaks to me" suggestion. I was psyched that my cover artist, Heather Howland, used it.  I LOVE my cover.   

Aw, that's so great. What was release day like?
I took the day off and ended up sleeping a lot because I was sick as a dog.  Every couple hours, I would check Amazon and B&N and then go back to bed. It went live around 6:30 pm and then I was on the computer answering emails, FB messages etc. from friends.  It was an amazing day even with the TheraFlu haze. 

Sorry to hear you were sick. At least it was memorable! How did you market your book?
Blogging. Lots of blogging - thanks Kaily!  My publisher has ads on FB and Goodreads and I have them on different romance review sites. I didn't have a huge fan base but I have been amazed by the word-of-mouth promotion for my book. The lady/friend who does my waxing (TMI?) has my cover up in her spa and lots of her clients have bought the book.

What’s the most surprising thing you learned during the publishing process?
That so many people really do want you to succeed. We hear so much about evil agents, terrible publishers etc but I have also met so many people who genuinely want you to succeed.  I try to surround myself with positive people like that and ignore the jerks.

That's a great approach. What do you think were the factors that got you published?
Timing. Timing. Timing.  My book literally landed on the right desk at the right time.  Entangled was looking for new authors and I pushed send on that email so fast, I looked like one of the slo-mo characters in the Matrix. I was ready and didn't hesitate.  Cherry Adair talks about working hard so that you are ready when the opportunity comes to you. I worked hard to improve my craft and I submitted my book knowing that it might be rejected but also that I had no chance of getting it published if it stayed on my computer.

Yeah, there is a luck factor BUT a book still has to be good. What’s your 5 year plan look like?
I think I would still like to write category romance because I just love the genre.  But, I think by then I will want to try my hand at single-title and see how that goes. 

Good for you and yeah! What’s up next for you?
I just sold a Christmas novella, "Secret Santa baby" to the Flirt line at Entangled.  I have two projects - a paranormal and a super-sexy category - in acquisitions for the Covet and Brazen line at Entanged.  And, right now, I'm writing the book proposal for the three sequels to ANoSC.  Each of the "The Boys" in that book get their own HEA.

Congrats!! I love series and connected books :). What’s the best advice you can impart to writers aspiring to be published?
Keep writing. Use contests strategically to ge your books out of the slush pile and on an editor or agents desk.  Finish the book, polish it and send it out.

Great advice of course. Now for some fun! If you were stranded on a desert island but could only take 1 thing from each of the following categories, what would it be & why:

Person: My husband.  I'd be guaranteed a fun time because he is so hilarious. (and he;s a former Naval Officer and went through survival training - we would be okay)
Animal: A chicken.  The incredible, edible egg!
Food: Ghiradelli caramel chocolate squares.  Why not?  You gotta have something sinful to eat.
Book: "Life After Joe" by Harper Fox.
Music: The Bruce Springsteen collection - not including anything post "Tunnel of Love" He became too preachy after that record . . . Just sing, dude. Don't preach at me.
Personal Item: A razor.

I hear ya on the razor! Robin, thanks so much for being here on Just Published today. It was so great to learn more about your journey and experience your path to publication with you. I'd wish you much continued and awesome success, but I know you're already well on your way. Big hugs!!

If you'd like to learn more about Robin and her books, please check her out:
website:  http://www.robincovingtonromance.com
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobinCovingtonRomanceAuthor
Twitter:  @RobinCovington
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/robincovington1/

AND Robin will be giving away a copy of her ebook to one random commenter through Thursday 5 p.m. EDT. Why don't we make it easy by asking: What makes a book a GREAT book for you?

Just Published - Taryn Elliot

Okay, I know. I haven't done one of these for awhile, but it's time to get the ball rolling on them again. I just LOVE to hear about newly published authors, their journey so far and how they've felt about their experiences along the way. I think it's incredibly uplifting for aspiring authors and just plain inspirational for any writer. This week I have the fabulous Taryn Elliot. Taryn just published her first book and I'm so excited for her!! Let's look at the specifics of the first book:

Title: Uncross Your Heart
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Words: 78,000
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Date Published:  March 23, 2012

Blurb:

Sometimes starting over means facing your greatest fears…

Miranda Lyons is adept at pretending to be someone else, someone without a past. She’s able to forget for chunks of time that she comes from a very wealthy, notorious family. She’s given up most of the party-girl vices from her old life, including sex. But that’s before Nathan Cross barges into her life.

To all appearances, Nathan Cross is a simple man—devoted to family and friends, committed to his work. But nothing is simple about Nate’s feelings for Miranda. Fascination quickly blooms to outright lust, and not just for her body. He wants all of her, even the parts she hides from the world. But Miranda’s secrets threaten to drive away the one man capable of both helping her come to terms with her past, and supporting a future with a love that’s all about truth.

You can read an excerpt here!

So, let's get started with the specifics! How would you describe what you write? 
I write contemporary stories showing that the sexy and dramatic can go hand in hand. That love and loss are two sides of the same coin, and that no matter bad things get laughter and strength will always get you through.

Sounds like a great 'core story' concept. What’s your writing process in a nutshell?
Me and a notebook--usually a separate notebook for each story--settle into my bed with my 138 pillows. (only a slight exaggeration) And I free write ideas that come to me. Usually in a list kind of thing that only I can figure out. I scribble in there...a lot. I don't really plot too much, but I usually try to do my Goal, Motivation, Conflict at the very least. Then it's onto the internet. Pinterest is my new playground for finding settings. I'm very visual. Even if the final version doesn't exactly go with a particular picture, it gets my brain humming. Then I set things up in Scrivener--it's a writing program--and as I'm doing that I go through music. Every book has its own playlist. Then it's off I go. I write with friends at coffee shops, by myself into the middle of the wee hours of the morning, and first thing as I wake up. (and then I cry to my CP. LOL Good thing she loves me.) We usually trade work every Friday during our weekly chats. It helps to hold me accountable. Then I try to put the story away for a bit before I revise.

What has your submission history looked like? Rejections? Manuscripts written? Number of years ‘seriously writing’, etc?
I waited a looong damn time to submit. I started writing with publishing as a goal around 2007. That's when I found Cari Quinn, my CP. My first submission was with Kelli Collins - head editor over at Ellora's Cave. It was a Twitter Contest back in September 2010. Unfortunately I wasn't chosen on that story, but she gave me a lot of awesome feedback. A lot of fear got in the way with a HEAVY dose of real-life that dereailed me for a little while. I got lucky with my 2nd submission about 10mos later. I have about 8-10 semi-finished stories in my 'junk-drawer' before I finally got this one right.

Don't we all ;)? How did you pick your publisher?
I decided to go with Ellora's Cave. It helps that my CP has been subbing to them for awhile, so she gave me some pointers. I did my research and based my submission on the house that I read the most at the time. I enjoy a lot of the stories that come out of EC. And I've met a lot of amazing authors through them as well which also swayed me their way. (Kaily, yes I'm talking about you!)

Aw, now I'm blushing LOL. What’s your ‘call’ story?
I was at work when I got the email. STILL have the email. I was hopping around like a lunatic. LOL Luckily my supervisor loved me and let me go squeal in a separate room and make my phone calls. LOL

I still have my first acceptance email as well. never gets old looking at it :). Did you have an agent when you sold? Now?
No, I don't think I need an agent quite yet. I have great resources in the RWA (Romance Writers of America) and my local chapter.

What’s it like working with a publisher and editor? Are revisions really as bad as you hear? 
I got really lucky with my editors. (Yes, that's 2 now.) I'm actually harder on myself for revisions than my editor was. I'll tell you one thing...Misplaced modifiers are the bane of my existance!! I'm better now thanks to Jilly. I'm just getting started with my second editor with another publishing house. He's a real trip. I think we're going to have a lot of fun.

Oh, your editor is Jilly? I LOVE her. How did you feel the first time you saw your cover? How much input did you have?
I had to fill out an 'art sheet' and give the specs on my people and the story. From my experience if you let the cover artist have a few vague parameters and trust them to make it amazing, you'll get your wish. I asked for my couple to be back to front and see some of San Francisco in the cover and voila! I got a great cover. OH and yes...another happy squeal when I got my cover. AGAIN at work. I had everyone at my desk. *blush*

But that's pretty cool. What was release day like?
Insanity!! I didn't think it would be as crazy as it was. There was no sleep, massive emailing and FB and Twitter. Everyone's been so freaking awesome. It was the best and most exhausting day.

LOL. I'm so glad it was memorable! How did you market your book?
I've been pretty lucky with people willing to help out. (case in point, you've been so supportive). And my CP, Cari Quinn has given me a lot of pointers. I've sent it out to a few reviewers and will be doing a few interviews. I haven't bought any ad space as of yet. I'm weighing the pros and cons of that at the moment. 

Aw, thanks :). What’s the most surprising thing you learned during the publishing process?
It takes time. It takes soooo long to get from contract to release date when you're starting out. At least it feels like forever. I've been told to be patient. Not my strong suit. LOL I've learned that I have to let the book go and focus on the next one until edits roll through or you can make yourself insane.

And epubbing is SO much faster than traditional for the most part! What do you think were the factors that got you published?
That I was ready. A lot of personal stuff happened at the end of 2009 into 2010. I learned that life is way too short not to go after what you want. Doubts and fears aren't going to get in the way of dreams if you have a really great bunch of people in your corner. That and Cari is a bulldog. She keeps me fighting through the doubt.

I agree a support network is a key factor. What’s your 5 year plan look like?
5 years ago I had a sure and solid game plan, but the publishing waters are a little murky these days. The big 6 are looking less of a sure thing and smaller houses are climbing the best seller lists because they are willing to take risks on new authors that are hungry to get their work out there. Right now, I just want to keep getting contracts and strengthen my readership as well as my craft. I think I'm going to try my hand at Romantic Suspense and possibly some paranormal. 

Good for you and yeah...publishing is certainly changing. So, what’s next for you? 
I've started working with Entangled Publishing. As a New Year's present I got another SQUEE worthy email from them for ASHES AND WINE which will be coming out in April from their Ever After line with a second book in the works thanks to a great supporting character that needs her story told too. I'm also working on book two for Ellora's Cave. Nate's brother, Matt, will have his story out later this year.

Congrats!! I've heard some good things about them so far. What’s the best advice you can impart to writers aspiring to be published?
WRITE. Write the story that moves you. Chasing trends will make you crazy, but if you write stories about characters you love and a story you can't wait to work on then I bet you'll find magic. And find people that believe in you. I definitely wouldn't have gotten this far without my family and friends. Lastly, you need to read. All too often when you get into the writing zone you think you don't have the time to read. You need to read. Not just to know what's going on in the publishing world, but it keeps you sharp. Sometimes it's just to see and absorb the storytelling side of things...plotting, character arc, etc...but also to see what NOT to do.

It's amazing how often this advice is similar. Now for some fun! If you were stranded on a desert island but could only take 1 thing from each of the following categories, what would it be & why:

Person: Cari Quinn, my CP. We'd never be bored. We'd tell each other stories all day long.

Animal: Stu, my dog. He's totally a mama's boy lately. He's technically my brother's dog but he sits next to me as I write all night long.

Food: Mac and Cheese, but since there's no stoves on a desert island...I'll go with Pineapple. ;)

Book: Born in Fire by Nora Roberts - I've read this book umpteen times. Maggie and Rogan are my happy place. Nora is why I'm a writer.

Music: Matt Nathanson's catalogue - He's my fave musician. He's a poet and absolutely enamored with music. All that passion comes through. And he's the sweetest guy ever. (I've met him.)

Personal Item: My Dad's wedding ring. I've been wearing it since he passed away.

Aw, that's so sweet. Taryn, I've really enjoyed learning more about you considering we've 'chatted' off and on online for awhile now! Thanks so much for being on Just Published and I'm so glad I've been able to cheer you on!! Good luck with the upcoming release!!

If anyone would like to learn more about Taryn or her books, particularly to find out what's coming up, you can find her here:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Just Published - Kelly Boyce

It is with great pleasure I welcome Kelly Boyce to Just Published this month. I stumbled upon Kelly on the interwebs and realized she'd recently had a release from Carina Press. I'd never included a Carina Press author on this segment before! Huh. How could that have happened? I made haste to rectify that as quickly as possible and here she is :).

The details of Kelly's first published book are:

Title: The Outlaw Bride
Genre: Western Historical Romance
Words: 79,200
Publisher: Carina Press
Date Published:  April 18, 2011

Blurb:

What would you risk to keep a promise?  Katherine Slade has two goals: to escape her outlaw husband and to find the family of the man who died saving her life. Taking the place of a mail-order bride isn't part of her plan—until she's forced to continue the charade and become Sheriff Connor Langston's housekeeper to stay out of jail. Pretending to be another woman is hard, but Katherine's real challenge is resisting her growing attraction to the handsome lawman...

Falling in love is the last thing Connor needs, even if the rest of Fatal Bluff wants him to. His hands are full with a band of outlaws threatening the safety of his town, and a child to raise. But Kate has a way of getting under his skin and into little Jenny's heart. Soon Connor can't get the fiery beauty out of his head—along with his suspicion that Kate isn't who she claims to be.

When Connor learns the truth about Kate, is there any way for this outlaw bride to become the sheriff's wife?

What an absolutely gorgeous cover. It really is beautiful. So...how would you describe what you write?
For the most part, I would say my writing is an emotional story tempered with humor. I like to explore some darker elements, but inevitably humor always crops up to keep things from getting too mired down. I love stories with a redemption theme and seem to be drawn to writing them. I’m a huge history buff, so my natural inclination is to set my stories in the past, however I read books across the board in all types of genres and styles and while I love historicals, I have no plans on writing strictly in the historical genre, but plan to branch out into others, mainly YA, which is where I started, and contemporary. I also have a legal thriller kicking around in my cranium that I may need to deal with eventually. I find this helps keep my writing and ideas fresh and the process more enjoyable.

Wow, that's awesome. I find myself a good story is a good story, regardless of genre. What’s your writing process in a nutshell?
I am a mad plotter. For me, plotting the story and the characters out beforehand is the fun part and it really helps me get a handle on these people and what their issues are. I often follow a story structure such as the 3 Act Structure and Blake Snyder’s Beat Sheet. I also like to story board my outline as well. I’ve just downloaded Scrivener and can’t wait to start using it. However, once my outline is complete, it is never written in stone. When I’m writing things will come up and I’ll realize there’s a better way to do something or a better direction to move the story in. When this happens, I’ll usually stop and map it out, to make sure I’m not getting off track and that the new idea works best. Then it’s back to the writing again. I never do character interviews, but I will do an extensive backstory on the hero and heroine and the villain as well.

I'm a supporter of the detailed character backstory as well :)! What has your submission history looked like? 
I started writing at age 8, but I wrote my first manuscript when I was 18. A YA murder mystery that I would still love to go back to and revise. My next manuscript was a western historical romance I wrote in my early 20s. It’s still a story near and dear to my heart, so that one will be coming back of storage for a revision sometime in the near future. After I finished that manuscript I really didn’t know what to do with it, or where to go. I entered it into a contest a publisher was having and didn’t win (might have had something to do with all the head hopping, backstory dump and the fact it was over 600 pages long!). After that, real life took over. I picked away at my writing here and there but it wasn’t until I was laid off from  my job of 15 years in 2002 I had a change in perspective. I realized writing was what I was meant to be doing and I really needed to get on that. My mom gave me an interview Julianne MacLean did  in our local paper. I tracked her down and asked for some advice and she led me to RWA and our local chapter Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada. That was a huge game-changer for me.  I started writing The Outlaw Bride. The manuscript won or placed in a few contests, I had requests, it was either rejected or the editor/agent changed houses, moved, left the business (I was starting to think I was jinxed!). Eventually I set it aside. Westerns were a hard sell and not too many publishers were buying them. No problem. I had this great idea for a 4 book Victorian series with an over-arching  plot of murder and intrigue linking the four stories together. I entered Desire & Brimstone in contests, won and placed in several, had requests, was asked to take part in a documentary, Who’s Afraid of Happy Endings, as one of the featured authors along with Kayla Perrin and Kathryn Smith. Eventually, the manuscript was rejected by a handful of agents and a couple of editors (or the editor/agent moved, left the business, etc). I realized the story still needed work, so I set it aside to write another western historical (currently under consideration) and the first of a 3-book series set in Regency England. I also wrote first drafts of a contemporary and a YA. The road to publication has not been easy. There is a big learning curve and a lot of rejection along the way. I think the key is to know this going in and accept it as part of the job. Learn what you can from it and move on. Understand it isn’t the end of the world, just a bump in the road. Drive over it and keep going.

I think there are very few authors who had an easy road to publication. I think it makes success that much sweeter. How did you pick Carina Press to publish your first book?
I really loved The Outlaw Bride and I knew it was a story worth telling and worth selling, but most publishers seemed to want regency and only a few were taking westerns. I’m a strong believer that a good story is a good story and will eventually find a home, so I never gave up the idea of selling The Outlaw Bride. I had initially been reluctant to go the e-publishing route, but as it started to gain a strong foothold I re-evaluated my opinion and realized it was a growing force and I wanted to be a part of it with a reputable publisher. When Carina opened for business, a friend, Lilly Cain, published with them and was impressed. I looked into them, liked what I saw with respect to the fact they had the Harlequin muscle behind them, a well-respected Executive Editor in Angela James, and a solid platform. I sent The Outlaw Bride to them as a full and crossed my fingers.

Well it worked! And how. What’s your ‘call’ story?
I was at work when I got the call. I was on my work phone talking to then boyfriend/now husband when my cell phone rang. I saw the number, hung up on my boyfriend and took the call. It was Angela James calling me to tell me they loved The Outlaw Bride and wanted to publish it. I think my first words to her were – “That was totally worth hanging up on  my boyfriend for!” (He’s since forgiven me!) Naturally I wanted to scream and jump around but since I was at work and didn’t want my co-workers to think I’d completely lost my mind, I was relegated to doing a happy dance in my chair along with a few arm pumps. After I hung up I sat in my chair in a total brain freeze for about five seconds staring at my computer screen and trying to figure out if that had actually just happened. Then, when the brain freeze wore off, I called my boyfriend back to let him know what had happened then emailed and called the rest of my friends and family to give them the news.

LOL. I love hearing call stories!! Did you have an agent when you sold? Now?
I didn’t have an agent when I sold. I didn’t need one for Carina Press. I don’t have one now either, although once I finish the manuscript I’m working on now (the regency historical) I will start shopping around.

What’s it like working with a publisher and editor? Are revisions really as bad as you hear?
My editor, Elizabeth Bass, was so incredibly awesome. She really made the process painless, and by the time I sent The Outlaw Bride to Carina, it had been through about 6-8 revisions already, so it was pretty clean. There were a few minor revisions, but nothing extensive. So my first experience in that regard was pretty good. Carina Press has been wonderful to work with too. They’re very pro-author, work to promote you, give you plenty of guidance on how to do things etc. Overall, my first foray into the publishing world has been very positive.

So glad you had such a great experience. How did you feel the first time you saw your cover? How much input did you have?
I filled out a sheet…which has a name that I forget at the moment! I’m not sure how much of it was used in the process, but I loved the cover they came up with, so it was all good. That was my main fear – getting a cover that made me cringe. So to get one I loved was a huge relief. I also loved the fact I was able to keep my original title too.

The cover really is awesome. What was release day like for you?
It was exciting to wake up in the morning and realize – Wow, today is the day my book is released! It’s a little surreal. But again, real life. I still had to get up and go to the day job and deal with all of that. It added a little perspective. We had my husband’s son that night so we couldn’t go out to celebrate – again, real life, right? But we had a bottle of wine and I had congratulatory emails from my friends etc. And the thrill of knowing what that day represented to me – the first release day of many!! – was a nice high that lasted all day long.

How did you market your book?
I will say marketing is not my forte. I’m working on it, and I’m learning as I go, but it’s an ongoing thing. Carina do a blog post and Facebook notices etc from their end which was great, but I also had to hit the social media market and get the word out there. I did a blog tour, I tweeted, my website had been revamped, my Facebook page was given a workout, joined Goodreads, attended the RWA National conference. I did a few marketing things locally as a group with my RWAC crew (strength in numbers!). I’m still working on the marketing as well all these many months later. I think it’s essential to keep your name and your book out there and find new ways to reach new readers. I’m currently reading up on new ways to market your book and hoping to get some new ideas.

Yeah, it's also one of those things that is impossible to assess what really works and what doesn't, right? What’s the most surprising thing you learned during the publishing process?
I’m not sure I learned anything new about getting published only because I had good friends who had gone before me and they were such a great wealth of information and advice. Also, working with Carina was a wonderful experience and an easy one. As for what I would do differently, I wish I had Book 2 in the Fatal Bluff series ready, or at least almost ready to go, when I submitted The Outlaw Bride, so there would have been less time between releases. But at the time I was in the middle of another book, then after conference I had several requests for other books, and I’ve discovered there are not enough hours in the day!!

Yeah, right? What do you think were the factors that got you published?
I think the first thing that worked in my favor was perseverance. I really believed in my book and that a good story would find a home. I never lost sight of this fact and continued to learn my craft, improve my writing and my knowledge of the industry and just kept plugging away until I found the right home for The Outlaw Bride. The second factor was having my manuscript in the absolute best shape I could get it in. By the time I sent it to Carina, there was nothing left I could do to it to make it a better story. That manuscript is going to be your calling card to publishers and it’s essential it is as good as you can make it.

I actually think perseverance is one of the most critical things for a writer to have. What’s your 5 year plan look like?
I just finished working on my writing plan for the next two years and it’s looking pretty busy. The Fatal Bluff series has 4 more books in it which need to be written. The regency series has a request on it, so that needs to get done, as well as Desire & Brimstone and a YA series. So all of those need to get done and get sent out. Another goal I am working on is to have enough product out in the market to justify dropping my day job down to part-time to allow for more writing time. But that will depend on what I can accomplish in the next two years. My plan is to target all areas of publishing – traditional, e-publishing, and eventually self-publishing, and as I said earlier I expect to be writing in several genres, not just historical. In 5 years my ultimate goal will be to be writing full time with at a minimum 3-4 releases per year in varying formats, to be a recognizable name in the industry, and to grow my craft so my writing continues to improve.

So, what’s next for you?
Next up for me is to finish Book 2 & 3 in the Fatal Bluff series, tentatively titled The Widow Bride and The Scandalous Bride respectively. These two books will tell the stories of the other two mail order brides on the train Kate Spade rode into Fatal Bluff on. After that, there is a certain bounty hunter and saloon owner who will each get their own books. I am also completing revisions on Book 1 in my regency series, An Invitation to Scandal, which will be sent out to a publisher on request. I also have a western historical under consideration with another publisher, so fingers crossed that works out.

That's awesome. What’s the best advice you can impart to writers aspiring to be published?
I think the best advice I can give is to treat it like a job. I get up at 5am every morning to write before work because that is the only way I can fit it into my schedule and make it a daily habit. It isn’t something you can just pick away at and hope it works out. Write every day, or at least 5 days a week. Hone your craft. Learn the industry. Don’t buckle under rejection, it’s a temporary setback, not the end of the road. And no matter what, keep going. Keep trying. Keep learning. And keep writing. Perseverance is key.

Great advice. I love that. Now for some fun! If you were stranded on a desert island but could only take 1 thing from each of the following categories, what would it be & why:

Person – I’d take my husband. He’s a lot of fun to hang out with.

Animal – I have a 2 year old golden retriever, Cedar, who is the biggest clown out there. I’d take him for the entertainment value alone.

Food – I’m trying to figure out how to combine wine, bread, cheese and chocolate into one word… I’ll go with cheese. I’ve never met a cheese I didn’t like.

Book – Oh wow…how do you pick just one?? Elizabeth Chadwick is one of my favorite authors so I would likely pick the next book of hers I had to read.

Music – I’m currently a big Adele and Christina Perri fan, so probably one of those. Of course that would mean belting out the tunes along with them which might have my husband swimming for the next island…

Personal Item – My knitting (it’s my other obsession next to writing).

You can find out more about Kelly from her website or connect with her on Facebook or Twitter!

Website: www.kellyboyce.com

Facebook: Kelly Boyce, Author - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Boyce-Author/167747449914858

Twitter: @KellyLBoyce -   http://twitter.com/#!/KellyLBoyce
Thank you, Kelly for being such a good sport and answering my totally unsolicited email! I've enjoyed getting to know you and I loved hearing about your journey so far and your fabulous plans for the future. I wish you wonderful successes moving forward!

Just Published - Wendy S. Marcus

It is with great pleasure I welcome Wendy Marcus to Just Published. Wendy has hung out here on my blog before and I was able to meet her in person at the recent Romance Writers of America (RWA) annual conference in New York. How awesome is that? Wendy published her first book with Harlequin this year and I'm sure she has some wonderful information to share with us about the process so far. First, the details of Wendy's first published book are:

Title: When One Night Isn't Enough
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Medical
Words: 52,000
Publisher: Harlequin
Date Published: June 2011 (UK), July 2011 (France, Australia)

Blurb:
Nurse Ali Forshay has found the perfect man for her. Dependable. Routine. Boring. Exactly what she wants to ensure a quiet, stable and anonymous life. Then his friend, Dr. Jared Padget, shows up and goodbye fairytale ending. The man’s a schmoozer. A womanizer. A whoo-a-woman-into-bed-using-any-means-necessary kind of man just like her father. And Ali wants nothing to do with him. But he’s so tempting. Thank goodness his temporary assignment at Madrin Memorial is over, and he’s heading out of town.

If only he hadn’t shown up at girls’ night out on the eve of his departure. If only he hadn’t taken her up on her drunken one-time offer. If only he hadn’t come back when he’d promised to stay away…

Sounds like your hero is a bit of a devil. I'm partial to that LOL. Okay, so let's get into the nuts and bolts of how it all came about for you!

How would you describe what you write?
I write fast-paced, sexy, contemporary romance. I’ve been told I have a sardonic wit and my characters have a real spark. I write banter and sarcasm, humor and emotion. My heroines are straightforward, and they go after what they want.

So what’s your writing process in a nutshell?
I am a pantser. I don’t recommend it! Sometimes, - usually in the murky middle of my manuscript -  I think it would be so nice to have an outline to follow so I would know where I’m headed. But my characters grow and develop as I write. Each one is unique, and while I know where I want the story to go, my characters decide how they’re going to get there.

As a contracted author with Harlequin, I must submit character profiles and a synopsis of each book for approval before I begin a new project. I am NOT a fan of the synopsis. How can I know specific details of a story I have not yet written. But I muddle through. (And usually stray from my synopsis by chapter two!)

Yeah, I hate the sucknopsis as well LOL. What has your submission history looked like? Rejections? Manuscripts written? Number of years ‘seriously writing’, etc?
I started writing seriously in 2007. I sold in October 2010. (During that time I took several months off after my father died.) WHEN ONE NIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH was my second completed manuscript. (But I also had two novellas and three short stories completed, as well as several other manuscripts in various stages of completion.) I can’t say I have dozens of rejections, simply because I was very careful where I submitted. But if memory serves, I was rejected by The Wild Rose Press, Ellora’s Cave, Samhain, Kensington, Harlequin Superromance, Silhouette Special Edition, Harlequin Spice Briefs, and Women’s World Magazine.

LOL that's quite a list! You said you were careful. How did you pick your publisher?
I targeted Harlequin because I liked their books and they have a great website with wonderful information for new writers. (And because you don’t need an agent to submit.) I submitted to my favorite lines. But it was purely by chance that I stumbled upon a pitch contest for Harlequin Medical Romance and decided to enter. At the time I didn’t know much about the medical romance line of Harlequin, but never one to pass up an opportunity, I gave the pitch my best shot. And was 1 of 5 winners!

Sigh.. What's your call story?
For me, ‘The Call’ came as an absolute shock. I’d been working on revisions for six long months and had completed the third version of my final draft on a Wednesday. So when my phone rang on Friday, my agent’s voice was the last one I’d expected to hear. She said, “How are you doing?” I said, “Good.” She said, “Real good?” I said, “Just good.” She said, “Well you should feel real, real, real good because Flo (my editor) wants to buy your book.” I don’t recall much after that. I didn’t scream or cry or carry on. All of a sudden the thought of being published, of people I didn’t know reading my book, scared the confidence right out of me! After I hung up with my agent I waited for my editor to call me from London. I don’t remember one word of that conversation. Thankfully she followed up with an e-mail so I knew it wasn’t just a dream.

In my post “call” excitement I made the mistake of getting out of the car when I went to pick up my then 13-year-old daughter from school. As soon as I spotted her I smiled and waved. I could tell she wasn’t happy about me talking to the teacher monitoring dismissal. When she got within hearing distance I yelled, “I sold my book.” (I’d waited years to scream those words. In hindsight, maybe yelling them outside the junior high school wasn’t the best idea.) Rather than a cheer on my behalf followed by a loving embrace, my daughter looked around like who is that crazy woman yelling at? I pity that kid. When she got closer she avoided eye contact and mumbled, “What are you doing out of the car?” as she walked right past me without stopping.

Reality slap. First sale euphoria put to an abrupt end.

LOL. Bet it still felt good! Did you have an agent when you sold? Now?

I hear of this happening all the time. I signed with my agent and finaled in the medical romance pitch contest in the same week. So technically, I did have an agent when I sold, but I’d already caught the interest of the editor I eventually sold to.

What’s it like working with a publisher and editor? Are revisions really as bad as you hear?
I love my editor. She gives me excellent feedback and is very attentive. She doesn’t tell me how to change things, just what isn’t working for her and why. And, while I’m not a fan of revisions, they are necessary to write a good story. Here are two of my favorite quotes:

“Writing is rewriting.  A writer must learn to deepen characters, trim writing, and intensify scenes.  To fall in love with the first draft to the point where one cannot change it is to greatly enhance the prospects of never publishing.”  Richard North Patterson

“Books aren’t written- they’re rewritten.  Including your own.  It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn’t quite done it.”  Michael Crichton

I've always loved that last one. How did you feel the first time you saw your cover? How much input did you have?
The first of my covers that I saw was the UK 2in1 cover and I LOVED it! I actually love all of the covers for WHEN ONE NIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH. I have them posted on my Facebook author page. (See link below.) I didn’t have any say in any of my covers – although there’s an art fact sheet authors or their editors fill out. Even so, my heroine doesn’t have blond hair, a pierced nose, or an affinity for sucking on heart-shaped lollipops.

What was release day like?
Release day was nothing special partly because my book first came out to Harlequin Medical Romance subscription members about 6 weeks before my official release. Then it went up for sale on the UK Mills and Boon website four weeks before release day. And on the day it went out on store shelves, it happened over in England. And I wasn’t there to enjoy it. (But friends sent me pictures!)

How did you market your book?

I market my book on my blog and I’m currently on a thirty-stop blog tour to promote it. At each stop I give away a book and have mailed them around the world! I also have bookmarks, business cards and pens. I set up two library book signings in my local area and I completed two magazine interviews, one for a Harlequin publication, the other for Love Letter Magazine, a German romance magazine.

Sounds busy! So, what’s next for you?

My second Harlequin Medical Romance, ONCE A GOOD GIRL, is coming out in the UK in December 2011. I’m still waiting for the U.S. and Aus/NZ release dates.

That's awesome. Congratulations! What’s the best advice you can impart to writers aspiring to be published?

Write. Don’t talk about it or complain about it. Just do it. Finish your manuscript, submit it to agents and editors, and while you’re waiting to hear back, start on your next manuscript.

Very sound! Now for some fun! If you were stranded on a desert island but could only take 1 thing from each of the following categories, what would it be & why:

Person  Channing Tatum. I think the reason is obvious.

Animal My dog, Buddy. Because he’s always happy to see me, he loves to cuddle, and he’s very protective of me.

Food Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Nuggets with Almonds. Because dark chocolate and almonds both have health benefits. (And if the chocolate melts I can spread it on….. I’m sorry, am I getting too detailed?)

Book I refuse to pick just one. And to tell you the truth, if I’m stranded on a desert island with Channing Tatum, I doubt I’ll want to spend my time reading!!!

Music Anything by Carrie Underwood. Because I love her music!

Personal Item Mouthwash. Because I’d want my breath to smell fresh for Channing.

LOL. Yeah, me too! You can read an excerpt from WHEN ONE NIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH here. The book is currently available for purchase at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Mills & Boon Aus and Harlequin. You can learn more about Wendy at her website. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter or Goodreads.

Wendy, thanks so much for being here today. I loved your call story!! Best of luck with your writing and your books. I look forward to keeping in touch with you. Okay, now Wendy has a question for YOU and a giveaway!

So what’s your experience with medical romance? Have you ever heard of them before? Have you ever read one? If so, what did you think? If not, why? And would you be willing to make mine your first? Do you watch medical drama on television? If so, what’s your favorite show? One lucky commenter will win at copy of the 2in1 UK edition of my book which includes a complete novel by Janice Lynn!