An open letter from New York Times Bestselling author Cherry Adair:

I NEED YOUR HELP!
Many of us have been affected in some way by breast cancer. (just the words send a nightmarish shudder up my spine!) My mother Petal died in 1974 of breast cancer. And while treatments and medical breakthroughs have improved enormously since then, the dreadful anticipation of breast cancer still hangs over our heads. A close friend died of cancer last year, and two dear friends are going through treatment right now. Just the word cancer is terrifying to most of us.

Many of us have been touched directly and deeply by breast cancer, and this year I want to do my part in something that has nothing to do with writing. Something bigger and way more important.

This year I’m going to walk 60 miles to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s annual Three Day Walk for Breast Cancer.

In this crappy economy everyone is struggling to find their financial footing. I understand that only too well. And charities, no matter how well deserving, are feeling the brunt of everyone cutting back in a big way. I get that most of us don’t have disposable $$ this year, so I’m going to match all donations up to $5,000 for this truly worthy cause!

I’m going to walk that sixty freakin’ miles, yes, that’s not a typo, sixty miles to raise money to fund breast cancer research. Just thinking about me walking that far makes my feet hurt, but it’s worth it. 100% of the net funds go to research, 85% to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and 15% to the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. Even a few dollars adds up when we all work together.

Here’s the reality — either you’ve been affected in some way directly by breast cancer — you, or your mom, a sister, friend, relative or coworker, in which case you know how badly this research is needed NOW, or, you haven’t been personally affected by breast cancer (thank God!) but probably know someone who has. Either way, please help me raise $$ for this incredibly worthwhile cause. This is something that I feel passionately about, and every single dollar you donate will be greatly appreciated.

Think of it this way — if I had a new book out this year — I hope you’d buy it — could you perhaps donate the price of one paperback? Two paperbacks? A hard cover? More? (Remember — whatever you donate I’ll match it!! WooHoo – two for the price of one

HOW YOU CAN HELP

If you’d like to participate yourself (I’d LOVE for you to come and join me and my team and sweat & groan walk with us in Seattle or volunteer to help in a 3-Day walk near you, then visit their website or sign up by calling 800.996.3DAY.

I’ve formed a fun group called the PINK PETALS (in honor of my mom) and we’ll each raise money, and then walk together in the 3 day. Fortunately, I don’t have to beg people to contribute per mile, but I am asking (please, please, please!) for you to donate something, anything to help me help the fight against breast cancer.

HERE’S WHERE YOU GO TO DONATE (Thank you! Thank you!!)
To contribute or find out more about PINK PETALS, please click here

This weekend I had the amazing opportunity to attend a small writer’s retreat on plotting. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard or learned so much. The days were long, but the creative juices were flowing. Ideas flew. Dark moments were plotted. Love scenes were illustrated. Chocolate was consumed.

You too can learn plotting at the knee of New York Times Bestselling author Cherry Adair by bidding on her masterclass at Brenda Novak’s auction for diabetes research. At the moment the auction is going for $650, which is a little over $100 per person for you and your writing friends to chip in. Believe me, it’s well worth it.

A Writer’s Perfect Getaway and Master Class in One for up to Six People!

Two days of intense Master Class level workshops with New York Times Bestselling author Cherry Adair for up to six people would be amazing. But there’s more!

Author Cherry Adair opens up her beautifully appointed guesthouse just a few yards from Lake Morton with a huge deck overlooking the lake toward the picturesque Pacific Northwest icon, Mt. Rainer. With enough room to sleep six, a full kitchen, a fireplace, a small gym, and access to canoe and paddleboat, this getaway is only a short distance from shopping and less than half an hour from downtown Seattle. Learn plotting and layering techniques, character development, pacing and more with an author Romantic Times has dubbed “One of the reigning Queens of Romantic Adventure”, then lounge out on the deck with a bottle of wine and soak in the one of a kind view.

Package includes lodging and amenities only. You are responsible for your own food and transportation.

Plotting Boards and Sticky Notes

Plotting is more fun in a group. We all started out with plotting boards marked with 20 squares in 4 rows and 5 columns. Each square was numbered chapter 1-20. Chapter 10 is the midpoint. Chapter 17 or 18 is the Dark Moment. There are plot crises at the end of each row. Then we chose our sticky note colors. Orange is danger, green scene, hot pink sex, a color for the hero and a lighter shade of the same color for the hero’s backstory, likewise with the heroine, a color for the villain and other major characters. One thought per sticky note, for instance “Heroine goes for a hike.” The sticky notes are then layered, as you see on my board to the right.

Cherry starts with her orange notes for danger, but you can do whatever works best for you. Put down the first inklings of your idea, and your fellow plotters will help flesh it out. Most important: Goal, motivation & conflict (GMC). Why him? Why here? Why now? Cherry recommends starting with your Villain. What does he want? What motivated him in his nefarious scheme? What stands in his way? Construct GMCs for your hero, heroine and other important characters.

Remember that your characters need to transform from caterpillars into butterflies (as Blake Snyder put it). Why is this story important to the reader? What theme or lesson are you trying to convey by telling this story? Hope? Redemption? Courage? Love? Good will triumph over evil. Love conquers all. Every scene within the novel should have a reason for being included in the overall story. As Cherry would say, “What the F is the Point of This Scene?”

Plotting plotting plotting….writing writing writing. Where are you going? Why are you going there? What stands in your way?

Bid on Cherry Adair’s weekend plotting class. You’ll thank me later.

On Saturday local romance readers and authors gathered at the King County Library in the middle of nowhere Covington for a Romance Extravaganza!!

Jacquie Rodgers and Ann Charles: Pre-Published Promotion

Sadly, getting lost, roadwork on the freeway, and Seattle’s gnarly traffic conspired against my attendance at the morning meeting. I caught the last half hour or so… These are my notes, not theirs.

Jacquie and Ann spoke about developing a platform to expand your readership. These tools must include a website (buy your domain name now!), and can include workshops and speeches, mailing lists, and social networking sites like facebook, twitter, goodreads or group blogs.

Three questions to identify when creating your platform:

1. Who are you known as NOW?
2. How do others see you?
3. Where do you want to be a Year from now?

Agents and Editors want to see authors have current websites with interactive elements (such as blogs or newsletters). It needs to be updated frequently so that readers return to the site. A newslist is only meaningful if it has more than 2000 names. They want to see that you’re putting yourself out there. Headshots, which you will put on your website and in the back of your books, should be indicative of your subgenre and writing. Write paranormal? Your picture should be dark and mysterious. Write contemporary romantic comedy? Your picture should be bright, sunny and colorful.

Jacquie encouraged us to find author mentors who is a success in some aspect of promotion that you want to include in your business model. Hers are Stella Cameron for having some of the first book trailers (which are now common), Gerri Russell for networking and establishing a broad reader base, and Rowena Cherry for podcasting greatness. She recommended copromoting on your website by giving away friends’ books. Ann looks up to Jane Porter for always being gracious and kind, Yasmine Galenorn for her disciplen, JA Conrad who has a great publishing for newbies resource on his website, and Jacquie Rodgers for being a social networking whore. She stressed the importance of ALWAYS being gracious, courteous and kind.

The two writers have launched a new website for author and aspiring author promotion: www.1stturningpoint.com

Jayne Ann Krentz defends Pop Fiction

Author Jayne Ann Krentz, who writes Regency romance as Amanda Quick and futuristic romance as Jayne Castle, made an eloquent and uplifting defense of popular fiction. I wanted to stand up and shout “Yes! YES! THAT is why I love the romance genre!” If only I could bottle her speech to replay when needed. A former librarian herself, Jayne applauded librarians for getting romance into the libraries. Culturally, Americans think “if a book is in the library it is somehow a ‘real’ book.” She said that romance authors are not alone – no popular fiction authors feel they get respect.

The prejudice against romance is just a sharp part of the bias against pop fiction in general. The convention and standards held up in literary fiction is a masculine style of writing that abhors sentiment and strong emotion, but his is NOT the style of our historic heroic tradition. It is a relatively recent convention based on psychoanalysis and modern angst. Anything with wide appeal is highly suspect in our culture; it is taken for granted and treated with little respect. But popular fiction has it’s own place in our culture and society. It is NOT watered-down literary fiction. It stands on it’s own and draws its power from the historic heroic tradition – not modern angst. It is wrong to use the standards of literary fiction to judge popular fiction.

Popular Fiction “teaches us we need not be victims, but with courage and honor we can vanquish our fears and triumph over adversary.” – Jayne Ann Krentz

In literary fiction, the protagonists are victims. The genre focuses on their alienation and disfunction: the destructive aspects of the human condition. Popular fiction, on the other hand, pits good against evil on a broad scale. Its protagonists may be victims, but honor, courage, determination and love they triumph despite the hurdles in their path. Pop fiction holds up optimism over despair. It has an enormous survival value. Lit fiction does not hold these values important. It illuminates and examines human neuroses, but does not solve them.

Jayne’s Arcane Society is an effort to tie together her many personas and encourage readers of one subgenre to try the others.

Historical and Paranormal Romance Panels

You can tell we were having a great time!

Amanda Quick, Gerri Russell, and Library Goddess Deborah Schneider (RWA bookseller of year 09)

Stella Cameron, Alexis Morgan and Cherry Adair, (Yasmine Galenorn not pictured)

After the Romance Extravaganza, Cherry Adair invited everyone to a very delicious High Tea, while she regaled us with sage advice on writing, plotting and publishing. While some authors urge us to write the “book of our heart,” Cherry Adair urged us to write in a subgenre that we will want to stick with and continue writing in for many books to come. The food was amazing, the company divine. Looking forward to next year!

News from the Library Goddess, sponsored in part by the Greater Seattle RWA. Don’t you wish you lived here?

Romance Extravaganza

Meet some of your favorite best-selling romance authors on a day dedicated to romance readers and book lovers.

Saturday, May 2, 11:30am–2:30pm

Covington Library

Meet the Authors

11:30am – Keynote Address by Amanda Quick

Noon – Book Signing Party with all participating authors

12:30pm – Historical Romance Panel with Amanda Quick, Elizabeth Boyle and Gerri Russell

1:30pm – Paranormal Romance Panel with Cherry Adair, Stella Cameron, Yasmine Galenorn, Alexis Morgan

Sponsored by the Covington Friends of the Library and the Greater Seattle Chapter of Romance Writers of America.

Books will be for sale at this event.

Seattle romance authors were out in force last weekend at the Emerald City Writers Conference. Aspiring authors, published authors and avid readers converged on the Bellevue Hilton for three days of motivational speeches, writing workshops and more cake than any sane person could eat. Editor and Agent pitches, overflowing raffle baskets and career milestone recognitions rounded out the fun-filled frenzy. I met amazing women who speak my language. It was thrilling.

Highlight 1: In which Susan Mallery launches us on a glorious quest

Susan Mallery gave the best speech of the weekend, sharing her path to publication and urging us to “show up.” She has written over one hundred books, and finally hit the best seller list after 18 years. At one point she received over fifty rejections within twenty months. She has two secrets to success: 1) Set Goals, and 2) Show up and do the work. The goal to “get published” is different from the goal to “have a career as an author.” The former is the wrong goal; it is not the same as making a living as a writer. (Donald Maass shares the same advice in his landmark book The Career Novelist, as well as advice on how to build the latter.)

After Ms. Mallery achieved her first goal, getting published, it took her twelve years to set another one. She urged the audience not to repeat her mistakes. “Make sure your goal is clear,” she said. “Know the path to get there. Most importantly, write it down.”

She encouraged us not to sell ourself short, but to reach for the stars. “Put your goal in the universe and it will happen,” she said. “You must set an impossible goal and show up to do the work.” In my head I began to hum “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha: This is my quest / To follow that star / No matter how hopeless / No matter how far.

Publishing may not be hopeless, but it is quite daunting. Ms. Mallery shared numbers: one in one-thousand will sell her novel. Less than fifty-percent of those will sell a second time. “You must believe in yourself,” she said. Don’t let the fear of failure hold you back.

She provided note cards to the audience so that we could write down our goals. I wrote two I have control over, and then, with Don Quixote singing in my head, wrote two that feel terrifyingly far away. Wish me luck.

Highlight 2: In which I am attacked by a boa

This fabulous thing snuck up behind me and wrapped its soft, molting length around my exposed neck. My eyes rolled up in my head as it sank its long fangs into my jugular and released its Diva energy directly into my blood…

My confirmation to RWA PRO membership came just in time for me to be honored with a fabulous feather boa during the Key Note luncheon. I have joined, according to the RWA, the ranks of the “almost published.”

PRO focuses on the business side of writing rather than craft and offers many benefits to its members. To be eligible to join PRO, RWA members must either provide proof that they have completed a romance manuscript and that they have submitted the manuscript to a publisher or literary agent.

Here I am with my fellow fashionistas.

Highlight 3: In which Julia Quinn makes copious lists (and I take copious notes)

The Key Note Address was given by delightful regency author Julia Quinn, whose latest book, Mr. Cavendish I Presume, recently hit #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list. We raised a glass in her honor. Julia’s lists:

Top Four Things I Learned Before Getting Published

1. When setting up work space, make sure you cannot reach the refrigerator without getting up from the chair.
2. There is no substitute for knowing your market. (Ms. Quinn didn’t join RWA until after publishing her first book. She used a Joanna Lindsay novel to count how many words should be in a manuscript.)
3. The only way to finish a book is to write. Writing has to be a priority. Just do it. (swoosh!)
4. Rejection is part of the journey.

What I Learned After Publishing – The Practical

1. Hit save on your computer every time you pause to think and back it up every night.
2. People on the cover of your book will never look like your characters do in your mind. Authors are notoriously bad judges of what looks good on a cover, because they overanalyze. A good cover makes an impression in under thirty seconds.
3. Marketing departments know a lot more than authors think they do. Give them consideration before you freak out.
4. Word of mouth is a one-way street. A book can sell based on buzz, but buzz can rarely sink it.

What I Learned After Publishing – The Inspirational

1. Make friends with other writers: they are people with common interests whose eyes will not glaze over when you talk covers and marketing.
2. You Must have a life outside of writing: it will force you to remember there are people who don’t notice Point Of View switches every time they read a book.
3. You will never hurt your career by helping another author.
4. Learn the importance and art of setting goals. Set short and medium-term goals alongside long ones. Make them achievable. Celebrate every milestone and every small victory.

Top Four Things to Never Forget

1. Everyone needs an editor. When you find a good one cherish her; throw yourself around her ankles and never let go.
2. Your writing will determine how far you get, but luck will determine how fast you get there.
3. We do important work: romance novels make people happy. Don’t ever forget to be proud of what you do.
4. Have fun!

Highlight 4: In which I attack authors with my fabulous boa and flip cam

The Book Fair was well attended by local, and not so local, romance and urban fantasy authors, and raised money for DAWN. I took a few Desert Island Interviews, before the batteries died, and bought more books than I had cash for. Proud member of Book Whores Anonymous. Star-struck, I only remembered to take a handful of photos. (clockwise from top: GSRWA President Shelli Stevens, Christine Feehan and Katie MacAlister, Allison Brennan, Mark Henry, Richelle Mead and Christine Warren.)

Highlight 5: In which Cherry Adair kicks butt and challenges us to a duel Write the Damn Book!

Every year at ECWC, Cherry Adair motivates aspiring authors to finish their book by offering prizes to participants who can write the book they pledge to write in one year. Full conference fees for ECWC and RWA Nationals, including airfare and hotel, National RWA dues and first chapter critiques were some of the extremely generous gifts she handed out at this years ceremony.

I signed up for this years challenge, pledging to write a 90,000 word dark paranormal romance tentatively entitled The Gates of Hell by October 1, 2009. I honestly hope to finish it by Christmas (NaNo’s coming), but hey, who’s counting? If I’m really good I’ll have the trilogy completed by the deadline.

Today was the first day of the 2008 Emerald City Writers Conference. I met writing friends for breakfast, picked up an editor from the airport, volunteered at registration for five hours, met Cherry Adair, was motivated by Susan Mallery‘s welcome speech and ate too much cake. Tomorrow: Julia Quinn and the Book Fair. I’m verra verra sleepy and still have to blog over at the Desert Island Keepers Blog (come visit me!).

To tide you over, here are some pictures from Cherry Adair’s welcome tea. This year I’m planning to sign up for her “Write the Damn Book” Challenge.

Photo: If Mercy Thompson was a pinup girl.

So you may have noticed that I have a gazillion ideas and sometimes I fail to follow through with them. There simply isn’t enough time to do everything, so sometimes I’ll announce “upcoming” and you will never see anything come of it. It doesn’t mean I don’t try to do everything I say I am going to. Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.

1. New Design: Most of the pinup girls in the header are by Gil Elvgren. The chick on the broom represents wanderlust. That’s right. My other car is a broom. What do you think?

2. Upcoming Guest Post: I finally got one of my friends to read a romance novel and talk to me about it. My friend Scott has agreed to write us a book review of his impressions of DARK LOVER, the Black Dagger Brotherhood Crack sensation by J.R. Ward. Stay tuned.

3. Aspiring Romance Author Book Club: Our next meeting is June 7, discussing THE DUKE OF SHADOWS by Meredith Duran. I have heard fabulous things about this book and am looking forward to reading it.

4. Mercer Island Library Writing Workshops: Join us for a series of free writing workshops that will spark your creativity, get you organized and guide you through the publishing maze. This series is co-sponsored by Pacific Northwest Writers Association

• The Original Idea—The Core of Writing and Selling Your Book and Idea: Presented by Bob Mayer Mercer Island Library, Wednesday, June 04, 7pm. Can you say what your book is about in 25 words of less? This is essential to both writing a tight book and selling it. We will discuss ways to find and state your original idea so that you stay on course while writing the book and excite those you tell when trying to sell it.
• Get Organized–Get Writing!: Presented by Alexis Morgan. Mercer Island Library, Wednesday, June 18, 7pm. Best selling author Alexis Morgan shares tips on how to get organized to write. Learn how to set both long and short term goals that will help you achieve success in your writing career. Alexis is published in several sub-genres and her paranormal romances feature warriors charged with defending humans from an ancient threat. This August she will release her seventeenth full length book, Dark Warrior Unleashed, the first book in her Talions series, as well as her first short story.

5. Emerald City Writers’ Conference registration is now OPEN! Conference dates are October 10-12, 2008 in Bellevue, Washington.

Scheduled Speakers

• Welcome: Susan Mallery
• Key Note: Julia Quinn
• Closing: Allison Brennan
• “Write the DAMN Book!” Challenge: Cherry Adair

Agents and Editors

• Carolyn Grayson of Ashley Grayson Literary Agency
• Angela James of Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
• Kevan Lyon of Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency
• Leis Pederson of Berkley Books, Penguin Group (USA)
• Barbara Poelle of Irene Goodman Literary Agency
• Deb Werksman of Sourcebooks, Inc.
• Kim Whalen of Trident Media Group, LLC

Get out your popcorn! It’s time for the Oscars of the Romance Industry, folks. I, for one, am quivering in anticipation.

Finalists for the best published romance novel of the year, the RITA, and the best manuscript by an unpublished author, the Golden Heart, were announced today. Winners will be announced at the RWA National Conference in San Francisco on August 2nd. I have only read 4 of the books on the list, but this gives me the opportunity to run out and buy more. (Like I needed an excuse?) I am disappointed that some of the books I LOVED this year did not make the list; I have no idea if their authors submitted them to the contest in the first place.

Full RITA Finalist list

Full Golden Heart Finalist list

The beautiful Pacific Northwest is highly represented – no surprise! It must be something in the sparkling water, or the fresh air, or the friendly inhabitants. Who knows, but I will be rooting for the following books simply because I am highly prejudiced towards Cascadia (I have only read 3 of these):

2008 RITA for Contemporary Series Romance Finalists

• Snowbound by Janice Johnson
  (What- no website??)
  Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance – (0-373-71454-8)
  Laura Shin, editor

2008 RITA for Novel with Strong Romantic Elements Finalists

• Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter
  Grand Central Publishing, 5 Spot – (0446699233)
  Karen Kosztolnyik, editor

2008 RITA for Paranormal Romance Finalists

• He Loves Me, He Loves Me Hot by Stephanie Rowe
  (Delightfully yummy – I blogged about it briefly here)
  Grand Central Publishing, Forever – (0446619019)
  Melanie Murray, editor
• Prince of Magic by Linda Winstead Jones
  (But wait – she doesn’t live in Cascadia! No, but she’s Mr. Wonderful’s cousin.)
  Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation – (978-0-425-21448-0)
  Christine Zika/ Wendy McCurdy, editor
• Raintree: Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones
  (But wait – she doesn’t live in Cascadia! No, but she’s Mr. Wonderful’s cousin.)
  Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Nocturne – (0-373-61764-X)
  Leslie Wainger, editor
• Touch of Darkness by Christina Dodd
  (Dark and rich – I reviewed the 1st book in the series, Scent of Darkness, here)
  Penguin Group USA, NAL – (0451221842)
  Kara Cesare, editor

2008 RITA for Regency Historical Romance Finalists

• The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn
  (Miranda is a hoot!)
  HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books – (0061230839)
  Lyssa Keusch, editor

2008 RITA for Romantic Suspense Finalists

• White Heat by Cherry Adair
  (Awesome website, by-the-way, very James Bond)
  Ballantine/Ivy, – (978-0-345-47644-9)
  Charlotte Herscher, editor

2008 Golden Heart for Contemporary Series Romance Finalists

• Borrowed Stilettos by Rebecca Clark
• Under a Harvest Moon by Joleen Wieser