Something for Jane Austen Fans

There's been an early Christmas present of sorts in my inbox--a contract from White Rose Publishing for my novella, Christmas With Miss Austen, as part of their 2011 Holiday Extravaganza.


I've been a diehard Austen fan since my early teens when I first read Sense and Sensibility, my all-time favorite romance book (though her other stories definitely place somewhere in the top 20).

The now much-battered and beloved copy was a Christmas present shortly before a freak ice storm cut our electricity for 12 very long days. Days in which Trivial Pursuit board games and some spotty radio reception were the only other activity besides shivering under a quilt (ugh).

But luckily, I had Miss Austen's book to break up the monotony, and I pretty much devoured the tale with its surprising plot twists and love triangles. I would read it right up until the light faded (which always seemed to come at a suspenseful part in true cliffhanger fashion).

I've been lucky enough to visit Miss Austen's home in Chawton...

And to see England's historic Bath district, a place that either appears or is referenced in most of her stories. So Christmas With Miss Austen is really my way of saying thanks to this favorite author for her unforgettable stories and characters, and the many hours of entertainment they've given me.

What about you? Are there any Austen fans reading this post--and if so, what's your favorite of her books?

New Indie Release for Romantic Comedy Fans

For those who enjoyed my novella, The Wedding Caper, I've just released a longer (107) page story with a slightly zanier edge to it. Called, Late to the Wedding, it's a road trip romance in the spirit of such films as Leap Year and Only You. Here's a quick blurb:

Evelyn Chase has just discovered her ex-fiancé still loves her–five days before his wedding to someone else!

It seems like fate to Evelyn when she finds the misplaced letter with Jared’s romantic confession. True, it was written four months ago, but could his heart have changed so drastically in so little time? Desperate to know, she packs a bag and plans to bridge the five states between them.

But a series of cosmic misadventures leaves her no other choice for her cross country journey than a gypsy cab driver who’s willing to take her the distance for a hefty fee. Sardonic, arrogant Brian Stoker is the last person likely to sympathize with a quest for last chance love. But he may be her only hope as a chain of obstacles and adventures threaten to become a detour from her destiny.

Will Evelyn be late to the wedding–or will she have a romantic rendezvous in time for a happy ending?

You can check out its Amazon page here, and read a special excerpt from the Sneaky Peeks section of this blog. Happy reading!

Idahope Christian Fiction Writer's Contest

Hello all! Thought I would post a link for this neat writer's contest, which has a September 30th deadline. I've entered the Idahope before, and it was a great experience. The fee is $25 for adults and $15 for those under the age of 18.

Every entry (which consists of the manuscript's first 5 pages) receives three scoresheets/critques from the judges. The prizes for the top three entries include: 1) A Kindle Wifi model 2) A $75 Amazon Gift Card and 3) A $50 Amazon Gift Card.

So check out the guidelines and see if it's the right contest for your unpublished piece!

COMING SOON...

Hello all! I'm excited to announce that I've contracted another manuscript with the lovely White Rose Publishing. Titled Ghosts of Romances Past, it's a lighthearted romantic comedy, with a bit of a fantasy feel. Here's an unofficial blurb:

Alice Headley has a solid faith, a strong sense of family, and a business partner who shares her artistic ideals–a guy who just happens to be her childhood sweetheart. But she also has a “perfect” boyfriend, the man she’s been dating for three years. So when he pops the question, she can’t believe the answer isn’t automatically ‘yes’.

Moments after his surprise proposal, Alice takes a tumble down the restaurant’s staircase. A fall which leaves her with a nasty bump and some very strange side effects. Visions of three female ancestors, figures who seem as real as the women she remembers from childhood experiences and family stories.

They must be illusions, but she can’t deny the truth behind their personal stories of heartbreak and love. Is this a trick of the mind? Or God’s way of saying her heart belongs with someone else–the youthful love she consigned to the past?


More details soon!

Submit a Christmas Romance Novella to White Rose!

Thought I would post a link to this great opportunity from the lovely White Rose Publishing. A Christian romance publisher who offers both print and kindle editions, White Rose has issued a call for novella submissions as part of their 2011 holiday book line. Stories can be a minimum of 15,000 words and a maximum of 25,000, and must feature a Christmas theme. The deadline for submissions is May 1st. For full guidelines, check out the original post from the White Rose Blog. Happy writing!

My Kindle Publishing Experiment

Happy Monday from the Paper Doll! I hope everyone's March is off to a good start--only eleven more days til spring :) Which means there will soon be a lot more distractions to compete with writing time. But what else is new?

So let's see...it's been almost a month now since I published a novella length eBook with Amazon's Digitial Platform Text. And you know what? Its actually been a pretty rewarding experience, one worth sharing a bit about on the blog.

First off, let me say that I am not an advocate of most forms of self-publishing. I realize this is a sticky issue and also a very personal one for those who choose to go that route with their work. But I've always felt it was a risky venture, in which the author invests heavily with little promise of breaking even, much less making a profit from their work.

Publishing with Amazon kindle is free, however and includes fair royalty options. It allows you to set your own price for the book and to view your sales at any time. And if you don't have the software or the inclination to design a cover for your digital book, the site provides free images to choose from.

Will you make a million? Probably not. Will you make an income even? Unlikely.

Most important, should it replace your efforts to establish a relationship with a publishing house or literary agent? In my opinion: NO.

But it does offer struggling writers a chance to get their work in front of potential readers. It also makes it easy for writers and readers to interact via online forums and the Author Central Page. And it teaches new writers how to handle PR for their books.

All very positive and doable. And who knows? If your writing is polished, professional, and enjoyable, you might establish a loyal fanbase. One willing to follow your work no matter where its publishing home lies.

Exciting Contest for Unpublished Romance Writers!

Hello everyone!

Thought I would share a link to the Great Beginnings Contest, which I submitted an entry to this very afternoon. Sponsored by the Utah Chapter of Romance Writers of America, this is a nice opportunity for both published and unpublished writers.

For a fee of $10, writers can submit up to the first 5 pages of their novel. The categories include: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense, and Young Adult. Hurry over and check out all the details--the entry deadline is March 1st!