Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Book Brag II

Another book to brag about!

This time, it's an unforgettable Champagne Rosebud written by author Judy Rogers. (For those who may not be aware, Champagne is one of The Wild Rose Press's contemporary lines.)

If you're looking for a book that has an upbeat feel but really knows how to touch your heart, What Are Friends For? is at the top of my list.

With a hero who's so sweet and romantic he'll make your heart melt, and an adorable heroine who just can't seem to get it right, the story will warm you up on these chilly fall nights.

I'm so very excited to be able to announce this forthcoming release. Look for What Are Friends For? on January 20, 2010. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I do.


Excerpt:
Dooley couldn’t be falling in love with her; he’d known her all his life. Although, he couldn’t remember a time when he’d been so consumed by erotic fantasies. Even the raging hormones of his teen years hadn’t tied him in as many knots. If love felt like this, it was hell. He had married Cass to give her protection and support until the baby came, not to complicate their lives.

Suddenly, two hands began to massage the muscles just below his shoulder blades. Cass’s breath whispered across his neck, “I’m sorry. I know this is important to you. I’ll ask Robert to change the dates.”

He didn’t dare turn around. He could smell the familiar scent of her lemon shampoo. Her fingers prodded all the right places. In order to massage the top of his shoulders, she had moved close enough for him to feel the tips of her breasts against his back. His brain short-circuited under the sensory overload. Don’t turn around! Don’t turn around! The blood surging behind his eardrums drowned out the voice of reason.

With a groan, he turned to face her, his left arm slipping around her waist, pulling her against him. His right hand swept behind her head and pulled her face forward until his lips met hers. As kisses went, it wasn’t particularly gentle. He told himself to back off, to stay in control, but his overwrought system didn’t buy it. Hungry, needy, his lips moved over hers, nibbling at her bottom lip, tugging until her lips parted, and he deftly used his tongue, teasing her, willing her to respond.

At first she stood very still. He could feel the tension in her hands as they lay passively against his chest. Her fingers flexed, and his body stiffened, ready for her to push him away.
Instead, she sighed, and her arms slid up around his neck. “This isn’t good,” she whispered against his lips.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Things That Make My Email Happy

Waking up to find a resubmission an author has put a lot of time and energy into, that really shines, is almost better than my morning cup of coffee. Authors who take the time, who step back away from the attachment to their story and are willing to look at it from an objective angle are gems. We editors know it isn't easy to hear the word, "But..." It isn't necessarily easy for us to say that word either. We know the likelihood of how it will be received.

The author who can move past the gut-reaction of, "No way. It's right this way." is the author who wants to grow and has the best opportunity at seeing career goals met.


This morning, I had an even more pleasant experience than revised resubmissions. Every once in a while, I'll have a story come our way that is incredible in one fashion or another, but there's an aspect of it I can't contract. Several months ago, I ran into this and spent several long hours in discussion with the author. To my delight, this morning, after weeks of consideration, the author decided to go with my requested needs.

It's a treat to run into this email before coffee. Made my day, I tell you.

On another note, in the near future I should have two more titles to present to you. Waiting on our wonderful artists to finalize covers. Both are books that I read before coffee.

Hm. I believe there might be a pattern there.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Revisions and Resubmissions

I'm pretty generous with offering resubmissions to authors when I feel a there's merit in a story. However, I must say it never fails to concern me when I do reject a manuscript, offer a resubmission, and the manuscript comes back within 48 hours.

I'm sure there are those of you who can whip out edits and corrections in the blink of an eye. Particularly those who have the ability to be a full-time author day in and day out. That said, I have yet to see a resub turned around so quickly that has met approval.

Please folks, if you're given the opportunity to resubmit, take the time to do it right. Don't race to get it done unless you're told "I need this in x amount of time." In my case, you have 90 days to send it back to me directly.

Take the time to sit down with a trusted critique partner and compare the editor or agent's reponse to what's in front of you. See if your modifications have met the request.

Don't rush. You get one chance to resubmit as a general rule. Don't let a good project miss the proverbial boat because you were excited. Make sure it is as correct as you possibly can get it. Then send it back to us.

And if you are one of those miracle-working authors who can do good, solid edits in a very short time. You might stretch out your turn around time to a week so no one perceives it was rushed.

Just my two cents!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Book Brag

One of the things I feel is extremely important to my role as an editor with The Wild Rose Press -- and for that matter any editor -- is believing, and really loving, the books that we agree to contract. Lots of books can fit 'rules', and just not strike that chord of "Wow" within an editor. Those that do make editing enjoyable.

As such, I was extremely excited to find a first person narrative that I couldn't put down after it landed on my desk a few months ago. I'm not usually a first-person kinda gal. But Sleeping With the Lights On caught me up and as it went along I was very impressed with our heroine's journey. She's mature, but not by any means 'old'. She's saucy too, and her humor caught me off guard in many places. And our hero -- yummy!


Well, the weeks passed, slowly turned into months, and finally, Sleeping With the Lights On has a release date: June 25, 2010.


Excerpt:
“When do you go back to Vegas?”

He hesitated. “In a day or two.”
“You sound rather vague.” And still elusive. What could be the big secret about this charity gig he couldn’t divulge?

“I have a few more things to find out. I’ll be out of here as soon as I get all my questions answered. It’s complicated.”

“Carson, honestly, how complicated can a gig—”

Pulling me around, we stopped, facing each other. My head said run like hell, but my legs wouldn’t respond. Mushy from wine or the result of Carson and moonlight. I couldn’t be sure which.

“Have lunch with me tomorrow, darlin’.” His fingers slipped from mine to gingerly brush along my forearm. The moonlight caught in his eyes. “Another hour of your time with a long lost friend?”

“Yes.” My voice went all husky and come-hither. I wanted to kick myself for being so easy.

“Good.” Grasping my hand again, he led me toward the door. “What’s the address of your office?”

I struggled to shake off the moon shadows and to remember where I worked. Once inside the building, I took a scrap of paper from my purse and wrote the address.

“I’ll walk you to your door and say goodnight,” he said, tucking the scrap of paper in his pocket. “Unless you want to have me in for a goodnight drink.” I didn’t answer. If he’d only known the extent of my uncertainty at that moment, a little persistence might have made me cave.

“Okay, then—” His mouth gaped.

I followed his bewildered look to my apartment door.

TRAMP