Jumping for Joy

So.... my children are demonstrating what their mother is doing right now (I couldn't post a picture of myself jumping on the trampoline as there are somethings that other people should just not see!) I got a lovely email back from the editor at Mills and Boon asking me to revise and resubmit my full. Again the revisions are entirely manageable. It will mean rewriting one full chapter and around one quarter of another. Along with that there are some general comments that I will have to check throughout the manuscript. So am I happy? Yes I'm jumping for joy.

She also asked for an approximate return date so I guess I have to realistic. Some items in the day job have recently swollen in size. I've had to bring some work home this weekend and I can predict that this could happen a few times this month.

What I really want to do is put my head down and focus on the revisions and nothing else. However life sometimes get in the way. Overall I am delighted to have some feedback and I also have to say that the feedback has been super quick. Most of the boards have people waiting for over 6 months for feedback (whether it's an R or revisions) so I do appreciate how lucky I am.

I also got my feedback from RNA New Writers Scheme. It was very positive and suggested a few changes, most of which were pretty minor. It is interesting to say that the suggestions don't match the ones which the editor has given me, but I can see where they have come from. And of course, it is all constructive criticism which I can learn from. I guess it just goes to show how subjective writing can be. I know that on occasions I have read book reviews that I just didn't agree with and I suppose it just supports the learning curve that tells me "you can't please every reader, every time." But guess what? There's one person that I certainly do want to please!

And finally, how glad am I that I booked a train for the RNA conference and chose not to fly Ryanair? After wanting to go to the RNA conference for nearly a year I would be devastated if I'd book a flight that never took off. And to think the only reason I went for the train is that my Radley flight suitcase didn't meet the hand luggage restrictions on Ryanair... It must be fate!

It's away!

So the revised manuscript was emailed on Friday afternoon to the far away office in London. Now the waiting game begins. I only hope I get a return email to let me know they received it, I have horrible visions of things being lost in cyberspace.
But on to other things check out www.brendanovak.com/auction.shtml This is a website for an American Romance Author who has an auction every year in aid of diabetes. Her son suffers from diabetes and she is keen to raise money for research. This is an area close to my heart as I have had diabetes since the age of 8. There are some fabulous things to bid for. For writers there is a chance to bid on critiques from various published authors around the world. This includes our own Kate Walker, Heidi Rice and lots of others. There is also autographed books and goody bags from various authors. The auction starts on 1 May with bidding similar to how it is on ebay. Have a look ladies!

Request for a Full!

I am officially the happiest girl in the world! I received an email tonight from one of the editors at Mills and Boon. Let me have a dreamy moment and quote "Susan, we absolutely love your voice - it's contemporary, lively and really fresh, and there are some utterly unique fabulous moments in your story such as the brilliant ending to chapter one!"
Have I told you yet that I'm happy? She has given me lots of detailed feedback - I've just printed it and it's three pages - asking for some revisions and requesting a full by the beginning of May. The revisions sound completely manageable and I'm going to start straight away.
I am so happy to have this opportunity. Someone from Mills and Boon has read my work and likes it! I didn't get a form R! I didn't think I was going to hear anything as I knew one my counterparts in the Medical Pitch had heard back already with a request, so I was sure mine must be heading for the bin.
Thank you, thank you and Please, please, please just let me do this right.....

Medical Pitch

This has been an eventful week. Took part in the Medical Pitch at eharlequin. Managed to get my times mixed up, it was set for 10am a question and answer session with Sheila Hodgson and 11am for the medical pitch with Lucy Gilmour. Tried to convert the american times into UK times and I thought I had done it, being 3pm and 4pm. But when I logged into the chat room at 250pm I found myself at the end of Sheila'a hour long chat with the pitch about to start! I got the fright of my life. Asked some of the hosts what time it was in their part of the world and it turned out they were all at different points in America and it was 8am, 9am and 10am respectively. Don't think I'm ever going to the hang of time conversion. One of the pitchers never showed for her pitch and I just can't help thinking about the missed opportunity. Haven't seen her on any of the boards since, so I hope she's OK. Anyway the pitch went well, and I emailed my synopsis and three chapters the next day direct to Lucy Gilmour. I know she's received it as I got an email back from her, plus another email later from the eEditors at Mills and Boon with a reference number, so at least I know my email isn't lost in cyberspace.
In the meantime I've sent my manuscript in to the New Writers Scheme at the RNA. It takes around 8 weeks for feedback so I hope to hear before the conference in July.
Now time to start something new......

Harlequin Medical Pitch

Finally managed to put a pitch together for the Harlequin Medical Editor Pitch and sent it in. Had reread it too many times and fiddled continously for days - so it's probably rubbish. Currently trying to write the most hated synopsis. I think I want to employ somebody to do that part for me as I hate writing them. Once I've finished that I'm going to have final read over my manuscript and send it in to the RNA New Writers Scheme. It can take three months to get feedback and I would kind of like to have it before I go the conference in London in July. Have heard back on all my chapters from one of my critique partners and am just waiting to hear back from the other who has the first three chapters. Isn't it amazing what a fresh set of eyes can see? And why is it when you get comments back you think.....of course, why didn't I see that!
I'm going to have to think about a new project and I've no idea where to start so I think I better do a little research, I've currently got about 20 medicals to read and that sounds perfect!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to me!
I'm now 37 and feel absolutely ancient. Never mind, good news is I've booked up for the RNA conference in London in July and am really excited about going. Can't wait to meet everyone.
The writing is ticking along nicely 35,000 but am kind of stuck around Chapter 8. I know how the book finishes - I just have to get there. Deadline is end of February as I need to prepare a pitch for the Harlequin Medical Pitch by 12 March. Could be really exciting...

Plans for 2010

Plans for 2010

This year I plan to submit more than once to mills and boon and will continue to target the medical line. The Independant Midwife is coming along nicely 17,034 (34%!!!!!!!!!!!!) I love seeing the percentage go up and up. I am aiming for around 5,000 words a week and hope to have revised the first three chapters for the end of Jan to send to my crit partners for some feedback. Have also rejoined the New Writers Scheme which is part of the Romance Novelists Association in Britain. Loved the feedback last year and who knows maybe this year I will get a second read? Also going to attempt the pitch for the medical line on eharlequin in March this year. Busy, busy all this plus a full time job and two demanding boys, there is just not enough hours in the day!