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August Recap
In the midst of all that’s going on, I thought I’d do a recap of my little world over here.
August has been a very productive month for me. And I thank you all for sharing my joys and successes and of course, the little road blocks that only keep me going.
It’s been almost 6 weeks since I’ve been home in Hawaii and I’ll be traveling in a few weeks again.
For this month, I’ve had much wonderful news. Love By Action came out with Decadent Publishing yesterday, I’ve had a partial requested from Harlequin Medical that I’m still working on at this point, a few agent requests, and also the biggest one today is One Unexpected Night has been contracted by Cobblestone Press.
I’ve had a few rejections like any author, but those are only stepping stones to the next level.
Hope you guys hang around. I’ll be out and about these next few weeks, and may appear in the most random places. Please come celebrate my milestones with me! And check out Love By Auction. You won’t be disappointed!
Love By Auction is here!
It’s here! It’s here! Read all about it!
Love By Auction from Decadent Publishing.
Come meet Rebecca Hathaway and Mark Passmore as their love is reunited…under extraordinary circumstances.
About:
Intent on leaving the Date for Charity Auction, billionaire Mark Passmore vows not to bid, until he sees the gorgeous blond strut across the stage. Need overwhelms his senses and he has to have her.
With an etiquette drill sergeant and society snob for a mother, Rebecca Hathaway a.k.a Ice Princess accepts an extraordinary dare—one that lands her in the arms of her ex, except he doesn’t know it’s her.
After an explosive passionate night with Mark, Rebecca sneaks back to her mundane life of tea parties and book clubs. But she knows she’ll never be the same again.
Although he’s ended their relationship three years ago, Mark has never stopped loving Rebecca. When he learns the truth of Rebecca’s role in the action, will he forgive her for her betrayal or walk away again?
Excerpt:
Slave? Laughter bubbled to her throat. “What do you mean? Slave for what? Like a chauffeur or butler for the day?”
Erin shook her head. “A slave, Bec. Anything you want him to be. The rest of the night alone with this person to fulfill any fantasy you have.”
Rebecca gasped and shot off the seat. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
Erin smiled, a nervous glint in her eyes. “If I had told you, then you would have backed out, and Kelly would have won.”
Rebecca started to pace the small patch of carpet behind the chair to the door. Her life was over. Her mother was going to kill her and she’d never be able to show her face in public.
Oh, God. Her brother. She whirled around to face Erin. “You have to get Lucas out of here.”
Erin’s eyes widened. “I can’t. Then he’ll go and tell my parents.”
She glared. “Look, if I’m going down, you’re going down with me.”
“Bec, if your mother finds out I was involved, my mother is going to disown me, especially if she can’t go to any of Catherine’s garden parties.” Erin moved to the vanity table and threw the rest of the make-up back in the cosmetics Caboodle. “You’re right. We should just get out of here before Lucas and Mark sees us. At least, I know neither of them won the bid with Kelly.”
Rebecca froze. “You’re telling me that Mark bid on Kelly?”
Erin met her gaze in the mirror. “I heard one of them yell out a number from the back.”
Anger turned to rage. Her hand clenched a fistful of fishnet and lace as she stared at her reflection. Her blonde wig shined under the dressing room light, her done-up face emphasizing sultry eyes. Bright red lipstick covered her full lips. The swells of her breasts pushed to her chin, and fishnet garters peaked from under the frilly short layers of her skirt. The image in the mirror reminded her of Marilyn Monroe without the mole at her mouth. Though she looked more like a tramp in high-heels than an ice queen, her costume screamed seduction.
Power bloomed in her gut like a fierce energy uncapped.
A knock sounded at the door. “You’re up!”
Rebecca jerked her head toward Erin, whose gaze filled with dread. “Give me my tiara.”
“Yo—you’re going out there?”
With newfound confidence, she smiled at Erin.
“I’m taking Kelly down.”
And Mark Passmore is going to see what he gave up.
Hope you enjoy it! And thanks for stopping by!
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I’m blogging today at Passionate Critters.
Share your dreams, drop me a note, or just say hi!
The Countdown Begins…Love By Auction
It’s coming, it’s coming! Quick, run and hide! No, don’t do that. The countdown begins and only ten more days till release. August 30th! Doesn’t seem too far away, but let me give you a little nibble.
Blurb:
Intent on leaving the Date for Charity Auction, billionaire Mark Passmore vows not to bid, until he sees the gorgeous blond strut across the stage. Need overwhelms his senses and he has to have her.
With an etiquette drill sergeant and society snob for a mother, Rebecca Hathaway a.k.a Ice Princess accepts an extraordinary dare—one that lands her in the arms of her ex, except he doesn’t know it’s her.
After an explosive passionate night with Mark, Rebecca sneaks back to her mundane life of tea parties and book clubs. But her mother has different plans for her: Marriage.
Although he’s ended their relationship three years ago, Mark has never stopped loving Rebecca. When he saves her from a disastrous date, he realizes he’s made a mistake in letting her go and risks another chance, until he learns the truth of Rebecca’s role in the action. Will he forgive her for her betrayal or walk away again?
Look out for any contests coming up! Join the excitement. Be a part of it. Countdown with me!
Editor hat off…Author on the run.
It’s one thing to be an editor and make an author’s life hard, but it’s another to see edits from another editor and try to rationalize and accept the rightness of their suggestions.
I’ve been drowning in edits, mine, his, hers, just everyone’s. Is it possible to compartmentalize your brain in different sections while spending time with so many different characters?
Sometimes it’s hard to see eye to eye with another editor. There are authors out there who are positive their way is the right way, but when your work is put in front of an editor, consideration needs to be taken seriously. I’m not telling you to accept everything the editor says, but seriously think about it. Will the suggestions progress the story forward? Does it fit? Can you prove them wrong? Or is it really just a stubborn monster in you that wants to hold onto what you have?
Yes, sure, it’s your baby that’s on the table, but wouldn’t you rather that story be the best you’ve ever written?
I have a great editor for my upcoming release, Love By Auction and working on my own revisions has seriously opened my eyes. Sometimes when you read your own work, you don’t spot these things that the editor does. You don’t see the careless mistakes you make, but you’re able to find them in someone else’s MS.
After receiving my first round of edits, I contemplated the suggestions made. I dwelled on them for a few days, waiting for the answer to come to mind. And then there it was. For the first time in months, I wrote, adding more to my baby that’s coming out at the end of the month. It’s stronger, better, and much more reader friendly.
There is ALWAYS room for improvement.
Excitement is rising, knowing that the final product is coming to an end and into the hands of my readers. The amount of blood and sweat spent laboring over a story to make sure that it’s perfect, a piece of art, and the best ever written takes a lot out of a person. But the final result/response is the best thing that can ever come out of the process.
It’s funny when you hear people say that the hardest thing to do is write ‘the end’ of the story and finish, but I seriously think the real work starts after.
Don’t you agree? What are your thoughts?
Love By Auction coming to Decadent Publishing
It’s finally coming! I can’t stop gushing at my beautiful cover. Thank you very much Decadent Publishing and awesome cover artist, Dara, for putting up with me!
It’s one thing to be on the wall, helping writers find their dreams and improve on their writing, but another to actually cross the line and celebrate with them as an author. I remember I’ve been writing since I was nine and it’s a tough industry to break into. Nothing seems real until you lay eyes on a cover and a sense of rightness strikes you and you say, “Yes, they are my characters in my story.” It’s a profound feeling. The people in your stories start to become more and more real and the excitement of being able to share them with other readers are even more exciting. Alright, so maybe some of you are not only thinking about your characters, but the literal fact of having your name on a cover as pretty as mine.
I have to say, it took some time getting used to, but it’s all so much fun. (Even though I am probably driving people crazy. Hey, I’m entitled.)
Love By Auction will be out sometime next month. Will keep everyone posted. I just had to share my pretty cover.
I have great friends, authors, and crit partners. I revel in their success and admire people’s hard work and willingness to learn. And each time one of them shows off their covers, I HAVE to look. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. (Cliche, I know)
But what do you look for in a cover?
Follow routine or be spontaneous?
I’m back. At home. In Hawaii. Sounds grande, doesn’t it? I’ve lived here for almost two years and yes, it’s beautiful. It’s where my muse loves to vaca and roll around in the sandy beaches, watch little Japanese golfers run around in pink plaid on the golf course and see crazy birds attack the window screens. Just for a good laugh. But this is also the place where my muse and I have formed a pact to get along and be best friends in our little cave, until the next time I get island fever and jump on a plane and get off the island.
Going from fast paced New York to slow, sluggish Hawaii doesn’t help with having a routine at all. My muse hates New York, because it doesn’t have the time to wake up, enjoy coffee, smell the ocean breezes and frolick around the beaches with my characters. NO, she just runs right back to the airport every time the plane lands on the mainland.
When I’m in New York or California, I follow a strict routine. I go to a day job, get out of work, go home, be an editor for hours, and then allow my muse free reign on whatever she wants to do. It’s like being a divorced parent who can only spend time with their kid when the court deems it. And it’s not very fun and not very fair to her.
But in Hawaii, there’s room to be mischievous and spontaneous at the same time. Every morning, I wake up, make coffee and sit outside on my front porch with my laptop. Swaying palm trees, annoying birds flying over my head, golfers riding their golf carts, and a gorgeous mountainous view greets me every morning. Calm, relaxing, and very very lazy. But I sit here and get serious as the editor in me for hours. I love my job. I love the ability to work with authors, watch them grow and revel along with their success. Then my muse pokes me in the shoulder and glares at me and says, “What about me?”
As dusk falls, my ‘foster family’, muse and I go walking on the golf course with our adorable pup (who’s a terror and chases the golfers and birds once we step foot on the short grass). The walk fuels my muse. And I come home ready to write, until my eyes threaten to close or just eyeballs fall out from staring at the computer screen. My night time is reserved for my muse and she loves it. I love it. The days start to blend together. Monday starts to feel like Friday and everyone is happy, healthy, and smiling. So, I guess in a way, I do follow a routine, once I can get back into it. But there’s always room for spontaneity. I write when the mood strikes. As an editor and freelancer, I’m allowed to take days off when I want. But I do treat my writing career and my editor work like a real job, just as any job should be.
Success requires perseverance, determination, and motivation. And I have all three, except maybe the motivation flees off once in a while. The past three months have been huge for me. With routine, I’ve managed to receive a contract offer from Lyrical (which Bachelor’s Return will be released next year) and also Decadent Publishing (Love By Auction should be out sometime this year). I’ve also received a partial request from Silhouette Romantic Suspense from a conference pitch, and two revision requests for my stories. Yes, I’ve been busy.
On the forefront, I’ve acquired great authors to work with, who give me reason to wake up and look forward to the day.
My adventures have only just begun.
Routine is important for success, but there always need to be room to be spontaneous. Live life a little and enjoy your surroundings and the people around you. You never know what you’ll find with the amount of hard work you put it, but there’s always a reward at the end, even if it’s just a smile or a compliment from someone.
So, what works for you? Do you follow a routine or are you just one to be spontaneous and make things happen when you want it to happen?
Nerves of steel…Pitching experience.
The clock rang five minutes before. Sweating hands, mind racing, I picked up my folders and quietly left the conference room. Each step, each raise of the foot, my heart started to pound. I slowly pulled the door open and slipped out. My feet trudged across the carpet, down the hall to the reception desk.
The woman greeted me warmly. “Good luck. You’ll do fine.” She lifted a hand and pointed at the table across the room.
I swallowed hard and forced my feet to move. As I approached the table, dark brown hair peeked over the high back chair. A stack of business cards and a notepad with the hotel pen sat on the shiny mahogany table. The editor stood up and smiled.
My heartbeat skyrocketed, sweat ran down my neck, but I pasted a smile on my face and held out my hand. “Hi, I’m Clarissa.”
Pitching at conferences are scary. I don’t care what people say, but everyone has jitters before each session. I did my first pitch at the Capital Region RWA annual conference the beginning of the month and it was the best experience ever. As a writer and editor myself, I don’t get out of my little cave that often. Okay, never really, but with my travels, I forced myself to attend this function since I was home visiting the parentals and I am so very glad I did.
I walked to that table, shoved on my business thinking cap and got right to business. My hands were shaking, even though I felt power in my newly pressed professional gear. Not one to public speak or get out of my pajamas, I admit it, I was stuttering like an idiot, but the editor was so nice and pleasant. She EVEN tried to calm me. It’s different when doing pitches online in live chat rooms compared to being face to face with a live person. It was great. Now I have an image of the editor and the editor knows I’m also a real person.
After a successful pitch session, I realized I was glad I didn’t chicken out and not do the pitch even though I was tempted to. Pitches are great opportunities to get yourself in front of editors, to allow the editors the chance to get to know you. I had always thought the big New York editors are scary people, but no, they’re just normal people like you who are doing their job, helping you become better writers and giving you a push in the right direction in your journey to publication.
So if ever attending any event that offers the chance to pitch, grab it. AND BE PREPARED. Dig out your power suit, look presentable, and have your pitch memorized until you can recite it naturally. Whether it’s an elevator pitch, a live online pitch or even a face to face pitch, always be prepared. You never know. The big break you’re looking for may be right there.
For those who’s pitched, what has your experience been like? And what have you learned?
Summer is pitch time, so get those pitches ready and make it happen!
Chocolate melting in mouth, crunchy textures of nuts, chunky chocolate chips and smooth marshmellows–if only writing was as easy to enjoy.
Publication isn’t a simple feat and with the rise in competition and the change in trends, the industry is ever booming with writers and aspiring authors who look forward to reaching their goals.
There are bound to be many disappointments, but as long as you work hard, there will always be a sense of pride in what you’ve accomplished.
I choose to be optimistic. I think I’d rather grip onto that sense of accomplishment and say that I’ve attempted at something and will see to the end of that goal no matter what it is. Even starting a WIP is a great accomplishment, so open that word doc. Now!–its a start, a step closer than what you had before. Now you just have to forge to the end.
When you put your manuscript in someone else’s hand, it’s like holding your heart out and hoping the receiver will be gentle and give you good news. Sometimes that news isn’t what you want to hear, but you know what? It’d only make you a stronger person–a stronger writer.
Rejections are only a road block that every writer has to overcome and move forward. That’s where the tough skin comes in. Rejections are the ego-deflaters, but the only thing that matters is how well you, as a writer handles them.
My answer: Rocky Road ice cream, lots of chocolate and cake (preferably cupcakes). And wine. (Okay, maybe a little moping but not too much.) Then you start writing again. No excuse.
Disappointments and rejections are just a step in the learning process to publication.
I don’t think there would ever be an end to learning. There’s always room for improvements in a writer’s work and a writer, no matter published or unpublished should continue to make themselves better, no matter what roadblocks they face.
Sure, I’ve had my load of disappointments and rejections. I could remember my first rejection. It was like a knife gutted into my heart that twisted in different directions. Then I tried to be strong and thought to hang it up or frame it on a wall, believing that first rejection would only make me more determined to write. Sure, it did. I forged ahead and the more road blocks I came across, the more times I got knocked to the floor; I wanted to give up, especially when those rejections started to roll in like shocking waves that threatened to drown me. (I can’t swim.) My inflatable ego and dreams were lying pretty low.
But I’m still breathing. And writing. And nothing is going to stop that.
Every tidbit of feedback is a gold mine. It may not seem like much, but it could bring your MS closer to the end. I love giving my authors feedback and I love my CP’s who have only helped make me a stronger writer and editor. But being an editor and writer are two different things. I can never see all my flaws in my own work, which is why it’s important to have writers help writers.
Don’t be discouraged. Or disappointed. Journeys tough, but if you have determination, motivation, and will power and of course perseverance, it’ll happen. Have faith. Have hope.
Have your ice cream or chocolate and get writing!
What’s your excuse? How do you handle disappointments? Does it take one bucket of ice cream or two? LOL.
Clarissa Yip 