Posts Tagged "Thrilling"

  • Release Day = Graduation + First Day of School

    Blog

    I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it. Heiress Without a Cause has been quietly available on Barnes and Noble all last week, but today is the official launch. It’s like the first day of school, my birthday (before the stupid terrorists ruined it forever), and graduation all rolled into one.

    In many ways, it’s like a graduation — the culmination of a lot of work over several years, ending in one lovely day full of celebrating and laughter and merriment. Some of my friends are taking me out tonight, which will be a great way to end the day, and I’ve gotten some wonderful emails and tweets and comments from all over the world. So today is truly a day to celebrate and reflect on everything that’s happened over the last few years (preferably with some champagne and possibly a mani/pedi).

    But in other ways, it’s more like the first day of school. Will the other kids (readers) like me? Am I wearing the right clothes? Am I smart enough to handle the work? What’s that smell in the cafeteria? (I’ve been shamefully neglecting my kitchen this weekend…). While all the work of getting my book out in the world has culminated in this, the next phase of work — connecting with readers, writing to deadlines, mastering the art of juggling writing and promo — is just beginning.

    Still, it’s an exciting day, and I’m going to enjoy it. Thank you for celebrating with me, and I’m so glad you’re here as I kick off the next phase. If you want to stay updated when the book launches everywhere, or if you want to be invited to signings/events/launch parties, please sign up for my mailing list.

    And really, if my outfit is a wreck, promise you’ll tell me?


    Posted on 23 January 2012 * 2 Comments
    Tags: Awesomely Ridiculous * Ferguson and Madeleine * Real Life * Thrilling * Writing Life *

  • Heiress Without a Cause – 4 Stars from Romantic Times

    News

    I won’t admit that I’m scouring the web looking for reviews (bad author), but I had to share: I just found out that Heiress Without a Cause earned a 4-star review from RT! (RT = Romantic Times, for those of you who aren’t avid industry followers).

    I won’t post the entire review yet since I’m not sure what’s fair use to post, but I will give you this tantalizing quote: “Book one of the Muses of Mayfair begins a promising new series with tales of artistic women who must perform their vocations as males.”

    And I’ll show you the stars, which is more exciting: RT Rating

    Since today is Heiress‘s official release day, this is thrilling news. Thanks, RT, for the stars!

    Posted on 23 January 2012 * Add a Comment
    Tags: Accolades * Thrilling *

  • Guest Blogging Today at History Hoydens

    Blog

    The official release date for HEIRESS WITHOUT A CAUSE is one week from today (although I’ll whisper to you that it’s technically available as of this morning for the Nook at Barnes and Noble) – and I’m a nervous wreck. Luckily, I have very kind friends who are willing to hold my hand (virtually, at least; physically, my hands are chapped from too much dishwashing in the aftermath of a dinner party last night, which makes me feel less like a Regency heroine and more like a charwoman).

    My friend and fellow San Francisco RWA chapter member Isobel Carr interviewed me for the History Hoydens blog today. I talk all about my favorite bits of Regency history, my hatred of the word ‘pantaloons’, and how Ferguson’s hair used to be red until I was told that people were picturing Carrot Top instead of a hottie mchotterson as I intended. Check it out here – and a random commenter will get a free copy of HEIRESS!


    Posted on 16 January 2012 * Add a Comment
    Tags: Interviews * Nerves * Thrilling *

  • HEIRESS WITHOUT A CAUSE Selected as a Nook First Pick

    News

    I’ve kept my lips zipped about my latest news for awhile, but it’s time to share — my debut novel, HEIRESS WITHOUT A CAUSE, was chosen as a Nook First pick! The people over at Barnes and Noble want to get my book out to their readers, and I am thrilled to reach the awesomely ravenous Nook romance community.

    HEIRESS will be available exclusively on the Nook for one month after its release. If you have a Nook, you can read HEIRESS as soon as it launches, on January 23, 2012 (cue champagne and fireworks). If you don’t have a Nook and can’t wait for some fun, lovely drama between a spinster-slash-actress and the duke who loves her, you can download the free Nook app for iPhone, iPad, Android, or PC/Mac. HEIRESS will release everywhere else, including in paperback, on February 23, 2012.

    Happy reading! I can’t wait to share Madeleine and Ferguson with you.


    Posted on 5 January 2012 * Add a Comment
    Tags: Ferguson and Madeleine * Lucky * Thrilling *

  • Coming in January – My First Two Books!

    News

    I am utterly thrilled to announce that I am publishing my first two books on January 26, 2012! Heiress Without a Cause and Scotsmen Prefer Blondes are the first two books in my Muses of Mayfair series, featuring a secret club for ladies with scandalous artistic ambitions. Heiress was a 2011 Golden Heart finalist in the Regency category, and Scotsmen won the Golden Heart in 2009. You can read more about both books below. Pray, tell me more! →


    Posted on 2 November 2011 * 4 Comments
    Tags: Ferguson and Madeleine * Real Life * Thrilling * Upcoming Books * Writing Career *

  • ONE NIGHT TO SCANDAL is a 2011 Golden Heart finalist!

    News

    I’m so excited to report that my latest project, ONE NIGHT TO SCANDAL, is a 2011 Golden Heart finalist in the Regency historical category! I got the call this morning from Sylvia Day (after some back-and-forth due to the fact that I live in a strange cabin-like house in the ‘woods’ of Palo Alto and have poor cell reception), and have been celebrating like a crazy person for the past hour.

    More to come on this project in the next few weeks – it’s finished and in the hands of my agent, so hopefully we’ll start submitting to editors soon. For now, it’s on to the next book, with some much-needed downtime to celebrate and regroup.

    Congrats to all the other finalists in both the Golden Heart and RITA contests – I’m looking forward to meeting all of you in NYC!


    Posted on 25 March 2011 * 2 Comments
    Tags: Accolades * Lucky * Thrilling *

  • RWA 2010 Day 2: Eloisa, Agent, Etc.

    Blog

    I volunteered to report on today’s happenings at the Romance Writers of America convention for the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood (my fellow 2009 Golden Heart finalists), so I’m not going to repeat myself; you can read it here.

    I will say that the post is slightly misleading because I didn’t attend most of the events that I reported on. I know, I’m terrible. But, I had lunch with Eloisa James (squee!) and was too nervous beforehand to eat. Then, I had a meeting with my agent, and was so hungry after that that I returned to my room, ordered room service, and talked to my parents before going out for dinner with some fellow writers.

    Pray, tell me more! →


    Posted on 30 July 2010 * Add a Comment
    Tags: RWA Nationals * Thrilling * Writing Life *

  • RWA Nationals: Golden Heart Win!

    Blog

    Today was a fabulous day — at the RITA/Golden Heart Award Ceremony tonight, I won the Golden Heart in the Regency Historical category!

    This came as a huge shock, and my whole body was shaking for at least twenty minutes after the announcement. According to my friend Terry, who was my date to the event, I at least managed to sound coherent, so I consider that to be a great accomplishment. Obviously, I’m tremendously grateful for this honor, and I think it will still take a few days for it to sink in.

    I will blog again in the next couple of days with a recap of Nationals and, better yet, my plans for my next books. But, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have stumbled across this site — publishing is a wild ride, and it’s always easier when you have supportive people cheering you on.

    Picture below, but I need to sleep if I’m going to get up in time to have fun before my flight back to San Francisco!


    Posted on 18 July 2009 * 7 Comments
    Tags: Accolades * RWA Nationals * Thrilling * Writing Career * Writing Life *

  • Snazzy New Name, Same Great Content

    Blog

    After much debate and back-and-forth with my agent, we have officially decided to shop my manuscript under the title ONE NIGHT TO SEDUCTION. I love it; while AN INCONVENIENT MARRIAGE amused me, mostly because it was an unexpected play on Al Gore’s INCONVENIENT TRUTH movie, it wasn’t quite what most readers are looking for. And, I can continue the theme with the next two books: ONE NIGHT TO SCANDAL and ONE NIGHT TO SURRENDER.

    You can check out the blurbs for all three books in the “Books” section above. Enjoy, and let me know what you think!


    Posted on 1 July 2009 * Add a Comment
    Tags: Thrilling * Writing Life *

  • The End of the Agent Hunt

    Blog

    I have fabulous news to report — my search for an agent is over! It all ended much more quickly and dramatically than I expected. Two weeks ago, I was worried that I might never sign (yes, I’m impatient — it often takes years to sign). But then, last Thursday, a totally wonderful agent called me while I was at work to offer representation!

    She was already at the top of my list based on her reputation, and her sheer enthusiasm for my work while she offered representation was enough to put her over the top. Still, I’ve read enough horror stories about failed agent/author relationships to be wary, and so I contacted the other agents who were considering my work to let them know that I had received an offer. By the end of the weekend, two other agents had made offers — and so as of Memorial Day, I was suddenly in the unexpected position of having to come up with interview questions so that I could choose between the three offers!

    I spoke to all of them on Tuesday, and while I felt that all of them could have been good fits for my work (and one in particular was the other top agent on my list, making my choice more difficult), I ultimately decided that the first agent was the best fit for my long-term goals. I mailed the contracts on Friday, and we’re talking again this week to discuss the process for submissions to publishing houses.

    So, it’s been a complete whirlwind, and obviously I’m very excited. However, I realized while I was on the phone with one of them that I’ve successfully scaled the agent mountain and reached the peak — only to discover that there’s another, bigger mountain looming in the form of beginning the search for a publisher. Happily, my agent (I love saying that!) will be my partner on that climb, so I’m not alone — but this is by no means a done deal. I spent the weekend brooding over that sobering fact, but I can’t brood for long; the excitement of continuing to make progress towards my goals will pick me up again.

    This means that, as of tonight, “The Agent Hunt” will be retired as a label — staring this week, “The Publisher Hunt” will begin! Stay tuned…


    Posted on 31 May 2009 * 3 Comments
    Tags: The Agent Hunt * Thrilling * Writing Career * Writing Life *