Auntie Em!

Submitting, revising, promoting, Oh My!

The release of Piper’s Passion Cookies is nearing and my excitement is building. It’s hard to believe things are moving so quickly. The three rounds of edits are complete, and not only is my story stronger, but I’ve made a friend in the process. My editor, Valerie Mann, is incredible. She is knowledgeable, encouraging, and downright awesome!

[Dorothy] I'm going to miss the way you used to holler for help before you found your courage.

[Cowardly Lion] I never would've found it if it hadn't been for you... 

I’ve been following the yellow brick road and now I’m finally nearing the wonderful Land of Oz. I feel so blessed to have so many people along the sidelines cheering me on. You all know who you are! My sister has been one of my greatest supporters. We’ve shared a love of the writing world since we were tots, and here we are walking this publication road together. It doesn’t get much better than that.

I’m afraid there’s no denyin’, I’m just a dandy-lion, a fate I don’t deserve. I’m sure I could show my prowess, be a lion, not a mou-ess, if I only had the nerve.

Writing has always been part of my life, but to be honest, the thought of sharing my creations with the world sometimes fills me with anxiety. This journey to my first publication has been a wild one. My brain over-thunk, my heart skipped beats, and my nerves were rattled on a few bumpy passages, but it didn’t stop me. The nerve was always there, I just had to dig deep to find it.

[Dorothy] Weren’t you frightened?

[Wizard] Frightened? Child, you’re talking to a man who’s laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe…I was petrified.

The process of having my first story published has been very stimulating. (A wiz!) I never imagined it would be this much fun. The journey is exciting and the path ahead is endless. Having a dream is just the beginning. It is following that dream that leads to a happy ending.

Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue.

And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true…

Over the rainbow...that’s where you’ll find me.

Vote and Win a Chance For $25!

My quirky romance, Piper’s Passion Cookies, is a finalist in One Place for Romance’s Second Anniversary Summer Romance Novella Contest! (Wow that's a mouthful of romance!)  Let me break it up into smaller bites... 
Hot guy in swim trunks       þ

A touch of magic                   þ

Swarming passion                þ

Delicious kisses                     þ

Your vote?                             ¨ Priceless


VOTE HERE! You can vote by clicking the link on the site (this brings up your default mail client) or by sending an email to:  2011RisingStars@1PlaceForRomance.com  with Piper's Passion Cookies in the subject line. That's all you have to do.


WIN $25! One voter in the rising star category will be selected at random to receive a $25.00 gift code from 1PFR!

I pushed the send button. Now I wait...

Piper’s Passion Cookies has been submitted. Yay!

I completed the first draft on the due date, so I didn’t have much time to fret or edit. After a quick read-through, I rephrased a few sentences here and there with the help of two fabulous fellow authors. It is unlike me to spend so little time polishing my work, but with less than five minutes before the deadline, I pushed the send button anyway. Aaugh!

A blurb of my short story:

Piper Bell finds an old wooden chest in the attic while rummaging through her grandmother’s belongings. Inside is a book titled Granny Bell’s Magic Recipes. The cookbook couldn’t have come at a better time, for she needs to take cookies to the neighborhood pool party. With the touch of an enchanted easy-peasy ingredient, Granny Bell’s passion cookies promise to capture even the most reluctant man’s attentions—and her love life could certainly use a little magic.

She tests her first batch on the poolside bachelor partygoers, and Voila! The fruit cookies are a success. Men are swarming her like yellow jackets on watermelon, including Donovan Tate, the man on her mind since moving to Magnolia Acres the day before. The passion begins and things heat up… but Piper wonders if she should’ve stayed out of the kitchen.

I had fun writing my first humor-romance. Creating the quirky narrative and wacky characters was exhilarating, and I look forward to revisiting them in future sequels. Piper is already cooking up new magical adventures in my head.  

I’ll know if my story is a finalist in the 1PlaceForRomance summer romance contest by June 15^th. (Wish me luck!) Until then, I wait…

My First Publication

*~wiggle~ *~ shake~ *~ bump~*~shimmy~*

This is my happy dance. 

I received word about the submissions I sent out the end of March--one of my memoir pieces is published. And a free verse poem I wrote is scheduled to appear in the same magazine later this month! I’m stoked. I don’t expect to always get great news like this, or receive word so quickly, but it feels good right now. J

Kay and Mike, Co-Owners and Editors of The Cuckleburr Times, an online magazine for writers, are officially my favorite people of the day! (tee hee)

My memoir is titled The Summer of ’82, and is presently featured on the homepage of the magazine. You can read it HERE. I hope you enjoy it.

~A Writer’s Hart

Somewhere Out There

I submitted. Powerful words.

After years of writing quietly, I’ve now begun broadcasting my works. This week, I sent a few poems, memoirs and a short story to two online magazines; finally conveying and displaying my writing passion to the publishing world. I’m not anticipating a sudden outpour of praises and pleas for “More! More! More!” (although a fascinating visual of that just popped in my head) but I’m hopeful for a whisper.

A strange serene sigh just escaped my lips. I previously anticipated putting my work ‘out there’ would be frightening, but it feels oh so empowering. Go me!

Where is ‘out there’ you ask?

♫ “Somewhere out there… out where dreams come true…”

~A Writer's Hart

My Journey Begins

Today I begin documenting my journey to publication. That's not to say I’m not a little nervous about opening my writer’s closet to allow the world to peek inside, but every story needs a little tension, right? I’m packed and ready to hit the road—the proverbial writer’s highway—to destinations (and expectations) unknown. Come along with me. I’d love the company. Perhaps you can encourage me along the way? Be forewarned, the path will be bumpy, uphill, and we'll surely run into a few road blocks; but being a country girl, I know the side roads display unbeatable scenery.

Remember the song Put One Foot in Front of the Other from the animated Christmas classic Santa Claus is Coming to Town? Well, that’s what we’ll do. Let’s begin. Left. Right. Left.

Yikes! I’ve barely stepped out of the door, and I’ve already gotten my feet wet. Since I have to stop to pull on my galoshes anyway,  I might as well open my laptop and send off a few submissions. (I tried to make that sound nonchalant, but a few hornets just replaced the butterflies in my stomach.)   I peruse through my writing file and find several of my short stories, essays, memoirs, and poems. I also have three novels in my WIP file (works in progress). Hmm. I've decided to send a poem and a short story for now. Reaching for the send button… reaching… reaching… Done. (Eeek!) Now I'll try my best to disregard the hornet’s nest I’ve stirred inside. After all, I need to watch the road for more puddles.

Well, I've broken new ground. I’ve submitted. Mmm… I feel like a true pioneer!

~A Writer’s Hart