Last fall, eight writers from a variety of backgrounds, genres and locations were thrown together by fate to compete in the American Title V contest sponsored by Dorchester Publishing and ROMANTICTimes magazine. The journey began.
For some the journey spanned months, for some . . . weeks. No matter the duration, all of us learned a great deal, built a readership, relationships and gained some name recognition that will surely benefit our career goals in the future.
All of us thought it would be a good idea to take a look at what we’re doing now that ATV is behind us before bidding this blog farewell. I’d like to say that it’s been a real thrill and a pleasure to be thrown into the mix with such a talented group of writers. Congratulations to all of us, and may we all grab that brass ring very soon!
As for me, I’m concentrating on my newest work in progress. I’ve started entering the contest circuit again, and I’m happy to say I already have two finals under my belt. If anyone is interested in reading the first chapter of LEGEND OF THE DRUID LAIRD, please visit my website:
For now, I’ve queried TRUE TO THE HIGHLANDER to a number of agents and plan to begin submitting to editors once my school year ends.
How about the rest of you? What’s new and exciting in your life post American Title V?
Edie Ramer:
Edie Ramer:
It’s been great getting to know the other talented and terrific finalists. This has been an amazing ride, and I’m thrilled to have been a part of it. Though the contest is over, love is still conquering. I finished the first draft of my sci fi romance and I’m going through bouts where I’m ecstatically happy and know it will sell, and bouts where I’m scared that it won’t.
I can’t wait to tackle the revisions. I love revisions — catching plot glitches, adding insights and tension, polishing the writing until it shines. Thanks to classes by C.J. Redwine and Cindy Carroll, I have the query and the logline. Next month I’m going to a conference — and I’m ready! I’m like one of the American Idol contestants who says, “You ain’t seen the last of me.”
Evonne Wareham
It’s sad to say goodbye to something that has been fun – but I hope you haven’t heard the last of any of the writers who have contributed to this blog. Ladies, I salute you – great contestants, great internet friends and here’s to the cyber champagne when the day comes when we have all sold. Maybe we’ll re visit the blog, just for the moment.
What am I doing next? I have a cosy crime that I am working on, just for fun, a heroine who has her hands full with a portfolio of jobs, three prospective suitors and a serial killer with literary ambitions, set in a fictitious part of London, between the Embankment and the King’s Road in Chelsea. I am having a good time with it and hope that it may eventually have the potential to become a series. I also have the first outline of a brand new romantic suspense bubbling. I think this one may end up a block buster – a deadly treasure hunt, Victorian paintings, a hero who is trying to remake his life and a heroine who is trying to forget her past. Provisionally titled The Camelot Game. I have a whole lot of research to do before I can even start it – but I love research. It’s the writing that’s the hard part.
Qaey Williams
The last six months or so have been an amazing journey. I’ve learned a lot from these seven ladies and I have no doubt you’ll be hearing from all of us soon. Saying goodbye is hard, but we know where to find each other.
As for what I’m doing–I have my fourth book, Diablo Blanco Club: Under Control, releasing through Loose Id, LLC on May 26th and I’m getting ready for school to end so I can spend the summer researching and writing.
Currently I have two books I have to finish writing (both about 25,000 words long) and two more I’ve had sitting on the back burner waiting for attention.
Wishing you all a happy Mother’s Day and good writing!
Wow! This has been such an incredible journey for me and I’m sad to see it end (or at least take a hiatus). However, I know we will keep in touch and that our futures hold many great writing opportunities.
I have several projects in the works right now, including another novella about a sassy, unlucky-in-love siren who finds love in an expected place. I also have two short stories that are in the revision stage but will [hopefully] be ready to get shopped to a publisher within the next month.
Happy writing to you all!
Yes, what an incredible journey this as been and how honored I have been to have shared it with such talented writers. I can truly say that I have learned from everyone of them, whether from their posts on this blog, or from their success is the writing world.
What am I doing now? Well, I did fall of the face of the earth for a few weeks now after having been so visible in the last months and I feel extremely guilty about it, but it seemed I needed to refueled myself to keep myself going forward, and I usually do this by retreating into myself and journaling. Before I tackle the edits for Ancient Whispers, I am planning to finish the sequel, Ancient Whispers. And lately, I have been having some great brainstorming sessions with friends about a Steampunk Urban Fantasy I have been passionate about for a while. Blogging wise, I am focusing on my group blog Musetracks, geared to newer writers and I have teamed with a bunch of Steampunk writers for a group blog, called Steamed! at http://ageofsteam.wordpress.com/
Wishing everyone much satisfying writing!
Jessica Darago
Like everyone else here, I feel changed by the journey we’ve all been on. It’s been a bumpy but welcome transition back to “normal” life, whatever that means. I’m working hard on research for my next two novels and, to be honest, just putting my feet up and relaxing with some good books — reading them, that is. I’m so grateful for everything I’ve experienced, and especially for the friendship of the seven amazing writers I got to share this time with.
It’s been an honor to take part in the American Title V competition with such wonderful and talented ladies. I am sure someday we will each have books for sale.
Since the end of this contest, I’ve been focusing on my next book “Bewitching The Beast,” an urban fantasy romance. I also attended the Romantic Times Booklovers convention in Florida and had a great time. While there I met readers, booksellers, authors (both aspiring and published), the Romantic Times staff, agents, and editors. In fact, I had the opportunity to pitch to an editor, and received a request for chapters from my new book. This was an awesome conference, and I look forward to going again. www.tamarahughes.com
