January 14, 2008
3:01 am • Filed under: Writing
Yes, I’m going to promo like a mad dog this week because you see I have this scorching hot book coming out this Friday, Virgin Jewels. My first book evah with Ellora’s Cave. Oooh yeah I’m excited!
Ellora’s Cave was my goal in 2007. I wrote like a crazy woman, submitting to their various calls of submission. Yes I received a few rejections, even one that said “almost but not quite.” That one was a bummer. But I kept on writing, kept working towards that goal.
In fact, one weekend I busted out a Quickie (about 14k words) and sent it off to submission land, aimed at the Jewels of the Nile series. I worked so hard to meet that July 1 deadline only to find out they pushed it to August 1! I was bummed that I could’ve taken the time to work on it a little more but oh, well. Such is life.
Imagine my surprise when I received an email in my spam inbox from an editor at EC. I thought it was a rejection but it wasn’t. It was a revise and resubmit letter and I was beyond excited! And worried. And nervous. She wanted me to expand on the characters, make the story a little longer, make it stronger. Eeek!
I worked HARD. My husband was out of town and it was August, it was just me and the kids. I got sick, terribly sick with a stomach bug that lingered for days. But I had to push through, finish that revision even if it killed me!
It just about did.
So a few days after I resubmitted it I get an email from the wonderful editor. As I kept reading, I noticed I was getting beat up. I even had a few bruises and I was like ow! She hated it! She’s rejecting me. But no…she said that even though this and that still needed lots o’ work she loved the characters and she loved the story and yes, she’d like to offer me a contract. But it was going to need a lot of edits and was I ready for that? I should think about it before I said yes.
Ha! Like I’d say no to that! And let me tell you, I’m so glad I said yes. I have a great editor who’s taught me a lot. Trust me, I just went through edits on the second book (a sequel of sorts to Virgin Jewels! Squee!). Whew! But all of that hard work was worth it.
I hope you find it worth it too if you’re kind enough to ever read my books.
Shelley Munro says:
Great story, Karen. I love my EC editor to bits. She’s great and has taught me a lot. All the best with your release!
Kelley Nyrae says:
Great story and congrats on your upcoming release.
Isabelle Santiago says:
That’s wonderful news! Isn’t it great when editors can see our potential?!
Congrats on the release, hun!
Red says:
I love your story, Karen, its just so inspiring and fabulous. I can’t wait to read your Virgin Jewels!!! And KK’s the best.
Wylie Kinson says:
Yeah Karen!! Persistence pays, and all that
Can’t wait to read it.
Keep pimpin’ girl
Val says:
Hi, I never knew, glad you told us readers what a writer has to go thru. Val
Stacy Dawn says:
Good for you! It takes a lot to stick with those dreams and work for them, you should be so proud of yourself!!
Ericka Scott says:
So proud of you Karen. What a rush! EC! That’s my goal for late this year, early next….