Posts Tagged ‘first novel’

SYTYCW: Off to the Races

if you need help imagining what a man looks like in his underwear thought balloon

It was a long weekend in this writer’s house.

There was a lot of frantic revising. More than one navel-gazing, woe-is-me social media post. And even some tears.

But in the end, I loaded up my chapter to the So You Think You Can Write contest entry form and hit publish.

After all, what do I have to lose? At worst I suffer a little public humiliation. But you’re talking to the girl who just performed a face plant in the middle of her open-plan office. Humiliation is the name of my game.

At best, I end up with a publishing contract.

And at the very least, I get all the motivation I need to finish this thing.

So far, reviews have been good.

“I love the humor in this, and spicy it is,” said one reader.

“I can’t believe the shy and sweet Amber Page wrote this awesome filth,” said another.

A third said, simply, “RAWRRR!”

In case you hadn’t guessed, it is in fact quite spicy. After all, the whole premise of the story is based on a one night stand. A little sexy time is required.

All that to say…if you know me, and are uncomfortable knowing how filthy my mind can get, you may want to skip the second to the last scene. Or even the whole thing. I promise not to be offended.

Still with me? Alright.

Enjoy the first chapter of Winner Takes All. And feel free to leave me a comment when you’re done. The editors may or may not be taking comments into account when choosing the 50 submissions that will make the first cut.

Here’s hoping that this is just the beginning of  the journey and NOT the end of my story.

Fingers and toes crossed.

SYTYCW: The Journey Begins

it was a dark and stormy night on a notepad

It’s been a little more than three months since I did something that scared me silly (like posing as an expert and speaking at a conference).

It’s been a little more than four months since I read as part of the Listen To Your Mother Show (which tied my gut up in knots for months).

And it’s been a whole two weeks since my latest website launched (which deep fried my brain for a while there).

So, of course, it’s time to try something new. Something terrifying. Something like submitting the romance novel I started three years ago during NaNoWriMo into another contest. This one with a publishing contract on the line.

It’s called So You Think You Can Write, and it’s put on by Harlequin. The winner takes home a publishing contract. Everyone who enters gets an editor’s eyes on their first chapter.

I’m going to enter.

Which means I have to have an ass kicking first chapter done by September 23. I also have to re-work the whole manuscript and get it whipped into a polished 50,000 word manuscript sometime before October 14. Easy peasy, right? Riiiggghhht.

It’s a good thing I love the adrenaline rush that comes with an insane deadline.

Can I do it? Sure. Will it be good enough? I have no idea. But I’m going to find out.

The working title is Winner Takes All. And here’s what I imagine the back cover might read:

Becky’s single-minded focus on her career has made her the hottest copywriter in town. But even the most driven career woman has needs… which Becky decides to satisfy with one hot night in Vegas. When she discovers the magnetic stranger who shared her bed is the new creative director of her advertising agency, she has to decide: is their undeniable attraction worth risking everything she’s worked for?

Mark’s brand of charming ruthlessness has made him one of the advertising industry’s most successful men—and Madison Avenue’s #1 heartbreaker. But when his latest conquest turns out to be his new agency’s star copywriter, it will take every ounce of charisma he possesses to convince her that they can have a successful business relationship—with benefits.

But when life takes an unexpected turn, he’ll have to decide: is he ready to go all in?

Wish me luck.