I am happy to announce that Hearts of Darkness is a finalist in the Georgia RWA’s Maggie Contest and the New Jersey RWA’s Put Your Heart in a Book Contest. Both are pretty big chapter contests. The PYHIAB is judged by three published authors in the first round (3 published people liked my entry!!!) and judged by an editor, agent, and big name author in the final round. This year the paranormal final judges are Cori Deyoe, Three Seas Literary Agency, Holly Blanck, St. Martin’s Press, and author Deborah Cooke. The final judge in the Maggie paranormal/fantasy category is editor Esi Sogah from Avon.

This is the end of the contest train for me, unless I enter the Golden Heart (which is sadly not electronic). It’s nice to go out on a high note.

The 2010 Orange Rose Contest finalists have been announced, and I am happy to report that HEARTS OF DARKNESS is among them. The entries were judged by three published judges, and the top ten scoring entries, regardless of category, were selected as finalists. Entries now go to two as-yet-unnamed editors for the final round of judging. This contest judged the first 50 pages, as opposed to the usual 25. I’m glad that my difficult third chapter, which I’ve rewritten five billion times, is up to snuff. It’s nice to have good writing news in the midst of my writing dry spell. Motherhood has not been kind to my free time, and my 3.5 month old dislikes naps. Ah, for time to write again! I miss it.

There are two auctions for readers and writers going on now, both raising money for good causes.

Brenda Novak Auction for Diabetes Research

Advanced readers copies (ARCs), autographed books, critiques, lunches with editors and agents, gift baskets, one of a kind trips around the world…there is something for everyone in Brenda Novak’s annual auction. In past auctions I’ve purchased critiques of my first (sadly abandoned under the bed) novel from authors Candice Hern and Lori Handeland, and lunch in San Francisco at the RWA National Conference with author Jenna Peterson. This year I bid on a critique or two, but was outbid. The main item I’m excited about is the Brenda Novak mentorship contest. (Did someone say contest? sign me up!) With a $50 entry fee, the first fifty pages of one’s completed novel will be judged by Barbara Freethy, Cindy Gerard, Dianna Love, Susan Mallery, Karen Rose, Karin Tabke, Debra Webb, and C.L. Wilson. The winner gets a six-month mentorship by Brenda and a read by her agent and editor. As of today 65 people have entered. Better odds than the Golden Heart thus far, but the month is still young.

Do the Write Thing for Nashville Auction

The 2010 RWA National Conference was supposed to be in Nashville this year at the Gaylord Hotel, but flooding has moved it to Orlando. To raise money for flood relief, a bunch of writers and publishing people have banded together to auction off more books, critiques and the like. Every three days a new set of items goes up for bid.

Check these great opportunities out. Great prizes for a great cause. Bid high and bid often!

I got the call this week that Hearts of Darkness is a finalist in the prestigious 2010 Daphne du Maurier Awards! The Daphne is sponsored by the Kiss of Death RWA chapter and honors excellence in mystery and suspense. Winners are announced at the KOD Death by Chocolate soiree at the RWA National Conference in July. Due to flooding in Nashville, the National Conference has moved to Disneyworld! One more reason I’d love to go. The paranormal division reached maximum entries, 50, and the top 5 were selected as finalists. The final judges in the paranormal division are Heather Osborn, editor at TOR, and Paige Wheeler, agent at Folio Lit.

Congrats to all the finalists, but especially my Greater Seattle RWA chapter mate Ann Charles, whose entry Nearly Departed in Deadwood is a finalist in the mainstream mystery suspense category.

The 2010 Marlene Award winners were announced yesterday at the Washington Romance Writers retreat (the other Washington), and I’m happy to announce that Hearts of Darkness placed first in the paranormal category. My prize is a critique of my entry by 2009 RITA award winning author Gwyn Cready. So excited!

In other news, my baby is 3 weeks 2 days old today and getting bigger every second. She finally fits into all of her newborn clothes! The weather in Seattle is gorgeous and we have been getting out on lots of sunny walks.

I read Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs during late night feedings on kindle for the iPhone last week. It’s another solid installment of the Mercy Thompson series. My only complaint: the love scene at the end is a little over the top for Urban Fantasy. It wasn’t needed to move the plot forward. Otherwise, good read!

I am delighted to announce that Hearts of Darkenss has won First Place in the 2010 Great Expectations Contest! The final judge of the Specialized Category, editor Talia Platz of NAL, has requested the partial. Congratulations to my fellow finalists. This was a very well organized contest with good feedback. Thank you North Texas RWA for sponsoring it. Keep your eyes peeled for the contest winner announcement in the RWR–I intend to frame my copy.

In other news, my DABWAHA bracket is failing miserably. My friend Seattle Heather won round one and a lovely collection of historical romance novels. My mother (a doctor) has predicted that I will go into labor on the full moon, plus or minus two days, which is next monday. I think this is appropriate, as the hero of my novel is a werewolf. I expect a hairy, howling child. She will be cute.

I received the good news today that HEARTS OF DARKNESS is a finalist in the Paranormal Category of the 2010 Marlene Awards. The top three scoring entries were selected for the final round and will be forwarded to editor Katherine Pelz at Berkley for the final ranking. The First Place winner receives a critique of her entry by author Gwyn Cready. Ms. Cready won the 2009 RITA for Best Paranormal Romance for her Jane Austin-time travel romance, Seducing Mr. Darcy. The Marlene Award is  sponsored by the Washington Romance Writers (the other Washington).

It would be easy to become a contest whore–addicted to the rush of positive feedback. This is the third contest for Hearts of Darkness, and the third success. I wish there were contests that judged the whole book, not just the first 20-50 pages. If you know of one, please pass along the info!

You might assume the pin-up girl above is holding a love letter, but in our little world she’s showing off her winning manuscript.

In other news, Mr. Wonderful and I bought our first house and are madly packing for the movers to arrive tomorrow. I’d promise to blog more after the move, but that is a pie crust promise. There are 34 days left to prepare for our little bundle of joy. I’m working on making time to write book 2, which so far I like even better than HoD.

Off to pack…or take a “break” to read Nalini Singh’s ARCHANGEL’S KISS. I need lots of breaks.

More good news on this rainy Sunday morning: my manuscript Hearts of Darkness is a finalist in the North Texas RWA’s 2010 Great Expectations writing contest, Specialized Category (fantasy, futuristic, paranormal & time travel). I have two days to revise and resubmit my query letter and entry for the final round of judging. The Specialized Category judge is Talia Platz, an editorial assistant at New American Library (Penguin). Winners will be announced at the North Texas Two Step conference, March 19-21.

This business has cyclical ups and downs, validations and rejections, so we learn to celebrate every success. Skål!

Seattle is a hotbed of writers and readers, which means book signings and craft workshops galore. I’ve got my eye on the Valentine’s Day Victorian Tea–tea and romance novels? How can you go wrong? Also, Patricia Briggs will be signing the latest Mercy Thompson book in March. If I haven’t gone into labor, I’ll be there with bells on.

PNWA Craft Workshop: Story, Structure, Subplot, Scene, Style: Keys to Rewriting Your Novel by Robert J. Ray
Thursday, February 11, 7 pm
The key to rewriting your novel is a workable plan: Story first, then Structure, Subplots,  (Key) Scenes, and Style. The toughest rewriting task is fixing your subplots. Before you can fix a subplot, you must peel it away from the novel, using tools like Character Arc, Character Grid, Scene List, Scene List, Scene Profile, Scene Template, and Core Story. Learn how to use these tools and make your rewrite hum in a hands-on workshop (with writing in the room) led by Robert J. Ray, using techniques from his latest book, The Weekend Novelist Rewrites the Novel.
Participants should bring a prose sample, two pages, double-spaced.
Chinook Middle School. Non-PNWA members are allowed to attend two meetings. Please see the PNWA website for more information.

Saint Valentine’s Day Victorian Tea book signing
Saturday, February 13, 2-4pm
Join local authors who delight in creating romantic stories set in the Victorian era at the Bellevue Library. Music, refreshments and a book signing will follow the program. Sponsored by Bellevue Friends of the Library. Books will be available for sale at this event. Organized by the King County Library System.

author of Prima Donna	author of All He Desires	author of Promise Me

With the arrival of a new year–and especially a new decade–the webs abound with advice on making this year count. “This will be the year I lose X pounds.” (Not me, I’ve never weighed so much in my life!) “This will be the year I organize my life.” (Haha. Ha. Ha.) “This will be the year I get my dream job.”

Now that last one is a common resolution that I can call my own. This year I hope to get two dream jobs: published author and mommy. Let’s focus on the former, as I assume you understand the steps to achieve the latter. One Scottish Playboy’s Secret Love-Child coming right up! The best advice I’ve heard from published authors is the key to making a career out of writing is to treat it as a job. No writing only when the Muse inspires you. No letting writing time take a back seat to the demands of real life. No excuses, period.

“I assumed the burden of the profession, which is to write even when you don’t want to, don’t much like what you are writing, and aren’t writing particularly well.” – Agatha Christie

New York Times best-selling author Bob Mayer (coauthor of Agnes and the Hitman with Jenny Crusie) lives outside of Seattle and is a member of both my writing organizations, so I’ve had the pleasure of hearing him speak numerous times. A former Green Beret, Mayer tackles the career of writing with a single-minded determination that is a little scary to behold. Identify target…hunt target…neutralize  target…BAM! But really, it’s the same straight-talking, good advice that Cherry Adair, Susan Mallery and Donald Maass have shared: if you want to be a career novelist, you must set strategic goals and break each goal down into achievable steps that you have control over. You don’t have control over the whims of the market. (Or as Mayer says, “The Publishing gods are fickle.”) But you do have control over honing your craft and writing the best damn book you are capable of writing.

“The world is moving faster, change occurs constantly, competition is fiercer, and the one constant that stands in your way to achieving what you want out of life, both personal and professional, is fear.” – Bob Mayer

In the last Greater Seattle RWA chapter newsletter, Mayer outlined the hierarchy of strategic goal setting.

• Overall writing goal: I will be a NY Times best-selling romance author in 5 years
• Book goal: I will write and polish till it shines the second novel in my Hearts of Darkness series by October 1 (Cherry Adair’s Finish the Damn Book Challenge deadline).
  
• Business goal: I will research agents seeking paranormal romance and submit queries for Hearts of Darkness. This year I will attend two writing conferences and network will other writers (RWA National or PNWA, and Emerald City). I will also network by volunteering for Nationals/PNWA and Emerald City (I’m the hospitality chair this year for EC).
• Shorter range/daily tactical goals: I will write 8,000 words a week, every week, for the next three months. (I’ll reevaluate this goal in April for writing the second draft.)

What are your resolutions for the new year? What strategic goals do you set for yourself to accomplish your dreams?

The following books are highly recommended for the career novelist:

• THE NOVEL WRITER’S TOOLKIT by Bob Mayer
• WHO DARES WINS by Bob Mayer
• THE CAREER NOVELIST by Donald Maass
• WRITING THE BREAK OUT NOVEL by Donald Maass