Judi’s Journey Through American Title III and Beyond

Everyone always wants to know about The Call. The Call that says your dream is coming true.

Does The Email count? My editor couldn’t call me because she was in the editorial meeting, so she emailed.

I gasped. I squealed. I couldn’t breathe. I jumped out of my chair, ran into the family room, looked at my husband while my eyes filled up and I flapped my hands by my face to keep more air going in and just nodded.

That was my reaction to The Call/Email.

So, the next question usually is, what did I do to celebrate? It’s funny; I would’ve thought I would want to go out to dinner, get some champagne, call a zillion people…nope. The emotions are overwhelming. I had just read about someone else’s experience to her Call where she grabbed a book and took a bubble bath, and I remember thinking, “Really? The Call that changes your life and you go into hibernation?”

Yeah, well now I can relate. As a matter of fact, she handled it better than I did. I wish I’d had the energy to go upstairs and start the tub. Instead, I grabbed my current bedside read (which was in the family room) The Husband Trap by Tracy Anne Warren, and parked myself on the sofa, prone. For hours.

That was my big celebration. Oh, my husband did his wonderful thing for me, the kids congratulated me, my parents…but I just read.

Which, if you think about it, isn’t that odd. (Okay, maybe you have to reeeeeally think about it.) I’m a writer, about to be published. What better way to celebrate than with the very world I’ve wanted to be a part of for so long?

Thanks, Tracy, for giving me a fun book to celebrate with and thanks to all the other authors whose books I will eventually get to. Like getting into publishing, it was a lightning strike as to which one I’d be reading when I got The Call and would get a mention on my blog.

Maybe someday some other aspiring-to-publication author will be reading one of mine when he/she gets The Call.

         Daria Yanez, Stephanie Julian, moi                               

And the hour long ride back into the city can be just as fabulous for getting to know the industry folk on a personal level. I’ve grown several relationships in just such a way.

Add to this great food, superb champagne punch (and non-champagne punch, but really, why bother?), and the friendly ladies of LIRW, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a great way to spend a Friday.

So get that champagne out, because I plan to be there next year!

An online cohort, Nina Davis, was also at RT and has shared her photo with Adrian Paul who was at the Cover Model Reunion dinner benefitting charity.

Thanks, Nina, for sharing! You look like you had a good time!

American Title-ists I, II, III, IV

Janice Lynn, Lindsey Brookes, Michele Ann Young, Jenny Gardiner, Judi Fennell, Raz Steel, Trish Milburn, Kim Howe

          Fabio              Stephanie Julian  Steph& JR Ward        Cover Models         Lindsey, Jenny, Me, Helen

Me, Adele, LA Banks      Valley Forge          Gerri Rusell       Mr. Romance

                                  Romance Writers         and Mom                2008

Christy Craig            Trish Milburn & Janice Lynn     RT Staff                        EC Cavemen

Stephanie Julian’s star      Lynne Connolly’s sari    JL Wilson’s Poodle Skirt    My Ballgown

Judi and Kim Howe                           Donna Michaels       Eve Vaughn               Rayna Vause

       JL Wilson               Lynne Connolly         Adele Dubois                Stephanie Julian

So when I ran into Fabio last night, he was travel-tired and locked out of his hotel room and on his way with his luggage back to the front desk for a new key. But he graciously stopped for a photo.

Today, he was at an event I attended and we chatted before he went into the event. Well, okay, maybe I apologized for taking up his time when he was so tired and I thanked him for being so gracious. When it was my turn for the photos with him, he gave me a big hug and took a few shots with me.

A very nice guy. Sincere, gracious and patient. Thanks, Fabio!

 Fabio and Kathryn Falk of Romantic Times.

 Fabio and Pittsburgh Steelers Mascot.

 The video is Fabio’s comments at the SOS Mixer honoring our servicemen and women.

I’m at the RT Convention in Pittsburgh, PA and Fabio is here for the 25th Anniversary Cover Model Dinner for Charity. I just happened to meet him in the hallway and he graciously stopped for a photograph. And, yes, folks, the man still has “it.” He’s very nice, very gracious even after travelling and being given the wrong key for his hotel room.

T minus 12 and counting. Approximately 12 hours (barring any nasty traffic incidents) until my Critique Partner and I arrive in Pittsburgh for the 25th Romantic Times Convention. I can’t wait.

I couldn’t figure out why I was so hyper to go. I mean, I’m a mom. I’ve got lunches to make, food shopping and laundry to do before I can leave and that’s just for my family. Never mind getting my conference clothes and the costumes ready to go. And, of course, the peacock shoes.

So I thought about why I was so hyped and realized it’s because I haven’t been to an industry “thing” since the October New Jersey RWA Chapter conference in October. We’re talking six months! My schedule is busy for the next 6 months with the Bucks County event, the Long Island event, RWA National and then NJRW again, but I guess I’m suffering from professional withdrawal.

Conferences energize me, they motivate me. Meeting other writers and readers motivates me. Seeing my fellow American Title Finalists  energizes me. Chatting with industry people motivates me. So, while I need no motivation to get up ungodly early tomorrow to drive to Pittsburgh, I’m thinking my writing can use the professional motivation.

I’m going to try to blog from the convention. Don’t hold me to it - I might be having too much “motivation” at the parties.

There was a lot of traffic back here in the days following Tuesday’s calls, so I didn’t want to clutter up the blog with more posts. As you can tell from this blog, it hasn’t been utilized all that much (now THERE’S an understatement!), but I found that I had a great time on Tuesday with everyone’s comments. As of yet, I don’t have a book for readers to comment on, but I am working toward it.

Which brings me to this topic: WAIT. I’ve said that WAIT and HOPE are the ugly stepsisters of an unpubbed’s visions of a Cinderella career in writing. Who doesn’t want to send out that manuscript then get glowing reviews from editors, a possible auction then that wonderful word: SOLD?

But to get there, we have to deal with HOPE and WAIT. Sometimes they’re kind, like when you get that “I enjoyed the partial; please send the full” after a three week submission period. Sometimes they’re not so nice, “Not for me” which comes after six months or more.

And now the finalists, Golden Heart and Rita, are having their afternoon tea with WAIT and HOPE. At least for them, there’s a definitive end in sight: August 2. That’s only, what? 4 months? Piece of cake, right?

I’d love to hear from any of the finalists what it IS like over the next few months. Are you querying agents? Are you getting offers? Have any of the judges requested the full? Is a book deal coming your way? Was this a new series for Rita finalists and has it morphed into any other opportunity with your publisher or maybe even another?

Thanks for taking part in my Tuesday; it made the waiting go by quicker. Maybe chatting up your WAITING process until National can go by quicker with sharing comments.

Best of luck to everyone!

The biggest contest in RWA for unpublished hopefuls, the Golden Hearts will be awarded at the National Conference in San Francisco on Saturday, August 2, 2008. I’m hoping to get emails from those who final and list them here. So, spread the word and Best of Luck to everyone who entered!

The categories are taken from www.rwanational.org.

GOLDEN HEART FINALISTS                 

CONT. SRSS            Melissa James, REDEFINING MR PERFECT

                                Becky Clark, BORROWED STILETTOS

                                Diane Stoddard, SHE’S JUST RIGHT

CONT.SRS: S/A        Kelly Ann Riley, KITTY’S FIRE

                                Lynn Raye Harris, HOT PURSUIT

CONT. ST                 Amy Atwell, PUBLIC RELATIONS

                               Sarah Castleberry, BEAUTY AND THE GEEK

                               Theresa Ragan, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

                               Susan Seyfarth, THE PRINCESS PROJECT

                               Susan Seyfarth, MONEY, HONEY

                               Shelley Coriell, THE LOST

HISTORICAL            Kathryn Parker, MOSS SQUARE

                               Kris Kennedy, THE KINDS OF WANTING

                               Kris Kennedy, WANTING FINIAN

                               Beth Trissel, THROUGH THE FIRE

                               Courtney Milan, BREATH OF HONOR

                               Cindy Nord, NO GREATER GLORY

                                CJ Chase, EARTHBOUND PARADISE

INSPIR.                    Susan MAson, WYNDERMERE HOUSE

                                Denise Meinstad, THIS TIME FOREVER

NOVEL W/SRE        Liese Sherwood-Fabre, HEADS UP, ST. ANTHONY

                               K. McMorris/L. Yoshida, FLAHERTY’S CROSSING

                               Cathy Perkins, THE PROFESSOR

PARANORMAL        Tracey O’Hara, NIGHT’S COLD KISS

                               Kelly Gay, BEDKNOBS & BROOMSTICKS

                               Jennifer North, THE SEXTANT

                               Helen Scott Taylor, THE MAGIC KNOT

                               Kerry Allen, WISH LIST

REGENCY HIST.      Susan Gee Heino, MISTAKEN BY MOONLIGHT

                               Darcy Burke, GLORIOUS

                               Anne Barton, MIDNIGHT PROMISES

                               Pam Bolton-Holifield, LOST IN LOVE

R/S                         Kim Howe, ONE SHOT, TWO KILLS

                              Theresa Ragan, FINDING KATE HUNTLEY

                               Robin Perini, TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES

                               Joan Swan, SAFE IN ENEMY ARMS

                               Rachel Grant, MURDER IN SITU

YOUNG ADULT       Amanda Brice, PARTY LIKE IT’S 1899                            

                              Catherine Chant, WISHING YOU WERE HERE

                              Kelly Gay, BLIGHTED

                              Kay Cassidy, THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY

RITA FINALISTS

ROMANCE NOVELLA  Cheryl St. John, CHRISTMAS DAY FAMILY

                                   Vickie Taylor, ANGEL AND THE HELLRAISER

                                   Sylvia Day, MISCHIEF AND THE MARQUESS

                                   Maureen Child, CHRISTMAS CRAVINGS

                                   Jennifer Greene, BORN OF MY HEART

BEST FIRST BOOK    Terri Garey, DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY

                                 Rosemary Clement-Moore, PROM DATES FROM HELL

                                 Kelly Parra, GRAFFITI GIRL

                                 Helen Brenna, TREASURE

                                 Emily Gee,

CONT. SRS                Kristi Gold, FALL FROM GRACE

                                  Nina Bruhns, NIGHT MISCHIEF

                                  Elaine Grant, MAKE-BELIEVE MOM

                                  Natasha Oakley, THE TYCOON’S PRINCESS BRIDE

                                  Kelly Hunter, SLEEPING PARTNER

                                  Heidi Rice, MILLIONAIRE’S BLACKMAIL BARGAIN

CONT.SRS: S/A         Cindy Dees, THE MEDUSA AFFAIR

                                 Cindy Dees, THE MEDUSA SEDUCTION

                                 Samantha Hunter, UNTOUCHED

                                 Raeanne Thayne, HIGH RISK AFFAIR

                                 Merline Lovelace, STRANDED WITH A SPY

                                 Helen Brenna, TREASURE

CONT. SIN TTL           Toni Blake, TEMPT ME TONIGHT

                                 Leslie Kelly, SHE’S NO ANGEL

                                 Kristan Higgins, CATCH OF THE DAY

                                 Diana Holquist, SEXIEST MAN ALIVE

                                 Jennifer Greene - BLAME IT ON CUPID

HISTORICAL              Julianne MacLean, SURRENDER TO A SCOUNDREL

                                Jade Lee, TEMPTED TIGRESS

                                 Madeline Hunter, LESSONS OF DESIRE

                                 Laura Lee Guhrke, AND THEN HE KISSED HER

                                 Elizabeth Hoyt, THE LEOPARD PRINCE

INSPIR.                      Linda Goodnight, A TOUCH OF GRACE

                                 Susan Mae Warren, TAMING RAFE

NOVEL W/RE            Allison Brennan, SEE NO EVIL

                                 Emily Gee,

PARANORMAL          Terri Garey, DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY

                                 Linnea Sinclair, GAMES OF COMMAND

                                 Linda Winstead Jones, PRINCE OF DARKNESS

                                 Linda Winstead Jones, RAINTREE: HAUNTED

                                 J.R. Ward, LOVER REVEALED

                                 Christina Dodd, TOUCH OF DARKNESS

                                 Stephanie Rowe, HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME HOT

REGENCY HIST.       Anna Campbell, UNTOUCHED

                                Anna Campbell, CLAIMING THE COURTESAN

                                Julia Quinn, SECRET DIARIES OF MISS M. CHEEVER

R/S                          Karen Rose, DIE FOR ME

                               Allison Brennan, SPEAK NO EVIL

YOUNG ADULT        Simone Elkeles, LEAVING PARADISE

                               Kelly Parra, GRAFFITI GIRL

                                Melissa Marr, WICKEY LOVELY

Yes, it’s been over a year since my last post. From the title of this post, I think it’s pretty self-explanatory why.

Sad, I know.

On the upside, it’s also been a productive year. I entered the original Gather.com/Simon&Schuster First Chapters contest with Beauty and The Best. It finished in the Top 20 out of over 2,700 entries and was the only Romance in the bunch. Then, Gather did another First Chapters contest, this time strictly for Romance. My latest story, In Over Her Head, finished in the Top 5, but more importantly, garnered me multiple agent offers and I signed with my agent - all in approximately two weeks. What a great two weeks that was!

So now I’m in wait mode as the manuscript makes the rounds in NY and I’m working on edits to other manuscripts and the muse is chatting away with new ideas.

I’m so thankful for all the support from those who emailed me to enter the First Chapters Romance contest - people who had only known of me through the original First Chapters contest and who embraced In Over Her Head every bit as much as they did Beauty and The Best. I write because I have to, but it’s so gratifying to have people enjoy my stories.

Here’s hoping by next year this time I’ll have book news to share. If not, I’ll still be writing.