Every once in awhile I look back on the last year and feel like a truck ran me over. The morning of Dec. 14, 2004 I was an aspiring author. By that afternoon, I was contracted with Brava. Now, just a smidge over twelve months later, I can’t believe how different my life is.

I released 6 stories/books this year. A reader forwarded me a post from a loop where another reader had said she enjoyed one of my stories so much she bought my entire backlist. I grinned like an idiot. A backlist of published works. Wow. A year ago, I wouldn’t have thought that would be possible now.

In 2005, I hired an agent, fired an agent, hired another agent. I’ve signed 9 publishing contracts, and rejected three. I’ve learned to put together a proposal, but can’t write a synopsis to save my life. I’m still learning about craft every day, mostly due to the studious patience of my critique partners, without whom I doubt I’d get by.

I’ll finish my final contracted work by Jan. 15th and then, unless something happens in the next few weeks, I’ll have some time off. I’m going to take that time to figure out what the heck I’m doing. I don’t have a career plan yet. I’ve just been writing whatever I feel like, but pretty much, I need to narrow my focus. (And :pray: I get picked up for more contracts. )

In 2006, I have 5 trade paperbacks coming out (so far)–three of them are all mine, two are anthologies with other authors. I fully intend to release at least 6 e-books, hopefully I’ll manage more than that by fitting in some shorts. Some of the e-titles will come out in trades, usually by the 6-month mark so that will be more books on the shelves in 2006. I have one Brava scheduled in 2007.

What have I learned (or at least think I’ve learned) in my first year as a published author:

• 1.) Listen to the advice of authors who have been published longer. You don’t have to heed that advice, but listen to it and absorb it. They usually know what they’re talking about.
• 2.) What works for one writer will probably not work for another.
• 3.) Don’t torture yourself with deadlines in Dec., Jan., or Feb. This is the second year in a row that I’ve signed on for deadlines over the holidays. I don’t intend to do it again. I’ve realized that I just can’t get into the holiday spirit when I’m not involved in the process of preparing for it.
• 4.) Take the rose-colored glasses off. (I knew this from the get-go, but I’m sharing it with you) Publishing your book is your dream, not your publisher’s. You have to make the extras happen.
• 5.) Editors only answer the questions they want to and ignore the rest. They learn this in Editor Behavior 101 and they all got “A”s. It’s okay. It doesn’t mean they don’t like you.
• 6.) Don’t be afraid to break the rules or assert yourself.
• 7.) Don’t take a bad deal just because it’s a deal. Just like with dating, why buy the cow if you’re getting the milk for free? Trust me, the publisher is thinking the same thing.
• 8.) Writers are afraid to say what their strengths are. They worry that if they don’t appear humble, they’ll appear vain. Thing is, you’ve got to be good at something to do with writing, right? You wouldn’t try to get published if you truly thought your work was shit. You’ll need to have a core of strong confidence in this business or you’ll get squashed like a bug. Find something about your work that inspires confidence in you and keep it close to your heart.
• 9.) Reviews aren’t that important. Great ones are awesome to get, but the bad ones won’t kill you. I’m still learning this, but at least I’m now able to acknowledge that this is true.
• 10.) Don’t put too much effort into your title choices and don’t get attached to your titles. In fact, it’s probably best to just write “historical manuscript #3″ or “paranormal vamp in space #2″ in the header. Your editor is most likely going to make you change the title, whatever it is.

Happy New Year!!! :party: I hope 2006 is a year when some of your really big dreams come true. :hug:

which is not good considering how quickly the sands are sifting through the hourglass. But I had a great, fabulous, wonderful time at tea, so I don’t regret it. I am, however, going to bed early so I can get lots of writing done tomorrow.

The 15th is coming up quick…

Beverly Havlir and me

(top row)Heather Osborn (Senior Editor), Lena Mathews, Jennifer Martin, Donna (Line Editor)
(bottom row) Maggie Casper, Lisa Stoddard, me, Beverly Havlir

Tea conversation was as one would expect of a group of boisterous erotic romance authors. *g* And they gave us TONS of food. Good grief. But it was a great time, I enjoyed myself immensely. I’ll be signing with Jen/Lisa (who together are Ashleigh Raine) and Beverly in Feb. I know that will be a great time too.

Tomorrow I’ll be having High Tea at The McCharles House with some of the other Ellora’s Cave So. California authors and visiting out-of-town editor. It will be my first High Tea and I’m really looking forward to it, both for the company (I’ve loved every EC author I’ve ever had the fortune to meet) and for the experience.

Yesterday, as I drove my kids out to go to lunch (and to stop by the bookstore to hunt for the Feb. RT), I looked around at the other cars and drivers, and thought, “These people could care less if there’s a new issue of RT out or not.” And here I was (no longer) thinking desperately about what the review said. It made me realize again that I worry about things that are small fish in the big ocean of the world. It’s hard sometimes to remember because our seats at the computer and our online writing world is such a self-contained fish bowl. At least it seems that way to me.

I’m still working my way toward the end of this book, which has literally given me gray hair. I love it, don’t get me wrong, and I think my love for the characters shows. But it’s been draining. Partly because of the story. Partly because I’ve been doing promo for my other books at the same time. It’s hard (for me) to switch focus between writing the new while promoting the old. Two different parts of the brain at work, I think. And the new year is coming up and I need to get irons in the fire for that, too.

But first, High Tea.

“Bad boys and sensuality combine in a trio of delicious novellas by the up-and-coming Day.

This intertwined triptych is a sensual feast. Day’s heroines glory in their femininity and natural desires, and the alpha heroes are ideal men for them. Readers will relish each tale with joy and extreme pleasure.” - Kathe Robin, RT BOOKclub

Thanks to Joy for this!! :kiss:

At 82,250 words out of 100K, I consider myself in the home stretch of this WIP. I’ve got three weeks left to finish it off, run through it and polish it, and then send it off. :cafe:

What are you working on? And how far along do you have to be to consider yourself in the home stretch?

I received two Recommended Reads from Fallen Angels!! One for Wish List and another for Snaring The Huntress!!

It’s the first time I’ve gotten “Recommended Read” status with Fallen Angels and I’m very happy to have received it for these two stories!!

:cheer: :dance: :yay:

Merry Christmas to me!! *g*

So tell me, what did you get for Christmas that just rocks?

Oh, and Amazon is still saying that they’re shipping out Bad Boys Ahoy! today.

*************Warning: Shameless Campaigning Below************