I got the news on Friday that my second book was accepted! CAVELLI'S LOST HEIR will be a Dec 09 release in the UK; US still to be determined. I'm so thrilled! The first book is the most special, of course, but to get past those sophomore fears and actually turn in something coherent and decent — and have my editor like it — is amazingly gratifying. I really thought I'd written the worst book ever when I sent that baby off. I'd been trying so hard and staring at it forever that I couldn't see the forest for the trees anymore.
(Though part of me optimistically kept insisting that it was good. And, while writing it, I DID love it. It was after, when I thought that what I saw in my head and what I got on paper were two different things that I went a little nutty.)
Writers, this is a lesson. It really is true that you are often a poor judge of your work — or a harsh judge, perhaps. We are harder on ourselves than anyone else is. We'll take praise, be happy over it, and brush it off while remembering every single word of a rejection or a contest judge's negative comments. You simply must get past those and press on if you are to get anywhere in this business. (Remind me I said this when I get my first negative review.)
Now, I'm working on a proposal for Book 3, and hoping to get that done today or tomorrow and off to my agent. CAVELLI'S LOST HEIR had a princess as a secondary character who I just fell in love with. She is the heroine in the proposal, so hopefully I'll get to tell her story. Naturally, she's getting her very own prince — and he is delicious! Prince Nico Cavelli was a bad boy — but I think my new prince is even badder. I do love a bad boy, especially when he's being reformed. 😉
Do you like bad boys? Princes? What are your favorite kind of themes or plots when reading?
PS Soon, my new website should be launching! I'm so excited about it! Keep visiting me because I'll start giving away goodies soon to celebrate. And thanks for sticking with me thus far. 🙂
Yay!
I just submitted mine for an online pitch contest at eHarlequin. The finalists will be announced a week from today. In the meantime, I’m going to take a red pen to the manuscript and see if I can turn it from “sucky” to “maybe not too bad.” I think you’re right about being our own worst critic. I know I am.
And yeah, I love a bad boy. My hero was a real bad one in his youth and by “The End” he’s such a good guy.
I still think we need to collaborate on that steamy seminary-based romance/mystery novel. 😉
And congrats!!! Sorry, up early today, meant to include this all in one comment. 🙂
Yay! I knew it was good…
Oooh, good luck with the pitch contest, PM! Yes, the key is not to give up and throw in the towel when you believe your book is the worst ever written. 🙂
LOL, Mark! Seminary and steamy just don’t seem to go together. *g* And thanks. 🙂
Thanks, PC! Lucky lunch rules!
Congratulations on selling book two, Lynn!!! I can’t wait to read both books! 😉
The third one sounds interesting. Of course, being a Presents, our new hero will be hard to manage for our princess, eh? I can just picture it now…
Way to go, PM! Good luck with the contest!
Memo to self: Need Lunch mojo!
Congratulations!
Favorite themes and plots? A story that hangs on humor as well as passion will suck me in every time.
Hey Lynn,
Congrats on selling the second book
Sri.
Yay for you! I’m so thrilled for your succes. 🙂
And yes, it’s true. I’m very harsh on my own work. In fact, just today, while doing a read-through of the 3/4 of the ms my new agent told me she LOVES and doesn’t want me to change, I found myself doubting that I truly nailed it.
*shakes head*
But maybe obsessing about excellence is what will make our books fly off the shelves.
Or drive me to a case of Hot Tamales.
We’ll see.
Lynn,
I look forward to hearing about your third sale soon. You’re on a roll, and I couldn’t be happier for you.
I’ll read a bad boy story once in a while (yours for sure), but I prefer beta heroes who can admit their weaknesses, albeit reluctantly.
Congratulations on the second acceptance, Lynn – that’s a big hurdle behind you. No second book blues!
And yes, we are all so very critcal of our own work – and I for one wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m sure that if ever I got to the point of easy confidence (I wish!) I’d lose the edge that uncertainty brings me. Well that’s my excuse for author paranoia anyway!
Hey, thanks everyone!
Kathy: absolutely. It wouldn’t be Presents if he was nice and biddable. 🙂
Jane: then you should check out my friend Kimberly Lang’s books! She writes humorous, passionate stories. Mine don’t have a lot of humor. 🙂
Thanks, Sri!
C.J., I feel your pain! But listen to your agent. Really. 🙂 It’s much better than you think it is.
Keli, aw shucks. I appreciate that you’re going to read my stories, but I’m not sure you’ll like my guys. They aren’t warm and fuzzy, though they do get their taming in the end!
Hi, Kate! (One of my favorite authors, y’all!) Thanks for the congrats. I think you’re right that if it ever feels easy, then maybe I’m not working myself hard enough. 🙂