New Kids on the Writers Block

I'm over at New Kids today, talking about what scares me. Stop by if you have a moment.

http://newkidonthewritersblock.blogspot.com/

The picture here and at New Kids is from St. Louis's Lemp Mansion. A real haunted house. Did you know St. Louis is also the site were the real exorcism of the Exorsist happened to a little boy from Maryland?

What’s going on in my world?

A lot.

I sent my cozy off to the St. Martin’s Traditional Mystery contest yesterday. Murder Me Book is the story based off a picture of an old run down house in Cambia, California. I’d been visiting the tourist towns when I visited my sister ten years ago. The village had glass blowing shops, antiques, artists, ice cream shops, and this really old house that had seen better days. What was I drawn to? The old house.

As I was writing the book, I got the idea that the home was the site of one of the first discoveries of gold starting the California gold rush.

Great idea. Unfortunately the Gold Rush started in Sacramento. Miles from where I’d placed my little town.

Then I decided to add a Spanish Mission. More research, but this time, I had better luck matching the history of the area to my fictional novel.

I’m also pitching the book to Carina Press on Wednesday. Hopefully, I’ll be able to sound intelligent and my book sound interesting enough to grab the editor’s attention. Then the cozy will be out to two different publishers. And I’ll be waiting.

I’m still waiting to hear about my romance set in Idaho that I pitched this summer at nationals. The publisher has a partial of this story, so if they love the partial, they’ll ask for the full. Or send me a revision letter. And I’ll work on the book some more.

My first finished manuscript is on the laptop, being revised. And I have a second book in this Finding Mr. Right series that I’ve started. Events and Adventures was the chapter I sent to the Mills and Boon New Voices Contest. Although I wasn’t in the top ten, or listed on the follow up list, I’d like to think my story was number 51 out of 850. Tough competition that.

Finally, I’m working on a novella. I’m about half way through and I have a deadline of November 1st for the next half. This one is set in my new hometown of St. Louis and deals with the Forest Park and Cancer Center, places I spent a lot of time a few years ago.

In between, I’ve been judging contests and have to prepare more work for two additional contests.

And the day job’s been keeping me busy. Very busy.

Juggling a lot of projects in the air. Sometimes it feels overwhelming. But chasing a dream takes dedication. And a lot of work.

The Year of Me

Last year when I turned…mumble, mumble…on my birthday, I made myself a pledge. That this would be the year of Lynn. I’d do what I wanted the entire year.

And for the most part, I’ve followed that guideline.

I joined RWA and the local chapter, MORWA. I’ve attended most of the monthly meetings, even though I sat in the car before my first meeting alone and thought about turning around and driving the hour back home. Getting out of the car was the best thing I’ve done for my writing career yet.

I’ve read my work twice at our CORE meetings. It’s a critique group where you read fifteen pages then eight people tell you all the things wrong (and right) with the piece. My voice shook my first reading. And I learned, I don’t like conflict. On the page that is.

I flew to Seattle to see my only son get married and to meet my new daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Of course I had to stop at Pikes Market and get a reading from the fortuneteller in the box. Good things are coming my way.

I finished two manuscripts and started learning all I didn’t know when I started editing.

I went to Florida (first time) and attended the RWA National Convention. Being around people who live, breath and think writing for four days was amazing. I lived through my pitch session and got a request from my targeted editor. Now the submission is on her desk and out of my hands. And control.

I sold five short stories to the confessions market. Four to True Love and one to True Experience. Breaking into this market really boosted my confidence about the future of my writing and paid for the above-mentioned trip.

In and around all of that, I lived. I walked the dogs when the weather was nice. My hubby took me to the Grafton Winery and drank wine while the DJ played adult contemporary. We took a trip to Hannibal to see the Mark Twain cave. We drove to St. Genienve and saw a tiger exhibit. We went to a Red’s game and soon will be cheering on our favorite drivers at a Nationwide race.

I think this year on my birthday; I’ll set the same goal. To make this a Year of Lynn. I’m excited to think of all the adventures I’ll be able to report next year.