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L.J. McDonald

Goodreads author profile

url

http://www.goodreads.com/Ljmcdonald

born

December 29, 1970 in Canada

gender

female

website

http://ljmcdonald.blogspot.com/

twitter username

LJMcDonald1

genre

Romantic Fantasy, Literature & Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy

member since

January 2012

About this author

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I first started writing in 1986, when my grade ten English teacher read some of my poetry and said that I had talent. I was so floored at the concept that I started writing short stories. My parents weren't quite so thrilled that I was doing something that took my away from my schoolwork, so I arranged to write a novel for two school credits, thereby turning writing into homework. Those two credits resulted in the creation of the novel Cure for the Phoenix, which I haven't read in over twenty years and which will likely not see the light of day. Even now I remember it as being quite clichéd, though my husband likes it.
I did make some attempts to get published over the years, and almost made it at one point, but other things were on my min...more I first started writing in 1986, when my grade ten English teacher read some of my poetry and said that I had talent. I was so floored at the concept that I started writing short stories. My parents weren't quite so thrilled that I was doing something that took my away from my schoolwork, so I arranged to write a novel for two school credits, thereby turning writing into homework. Those two credits resulted in the creation of the novel Cure for the Phoenix, which I haven't read in over twenty years and which will likely not see the light of day. Even now I remember it as being quite clichéd, though my husband likes it.
I did make some attempts to get published over the years, and almost made it at one point, but other things were on my mind. To me, not submitting was easier than dealing with rejection slips, so I stopped trying. I did still keep on writing though. It's true that for writers, it's a compulsion. I just never considered the idea that anyone other than my husband would want to read any of it.
That changed when I picked up a book titled Moongazer by Marianne Mancusi. It had an ad in it for the Shomi Romantic Fantasy Novel Writing Contest, where the winner would get a guaranteed publishing contract in Canada and the United States. I mentioned it to my husband and he nagged me until I entered the first three chapters of The Battle Sylph in March of 2008. Sometime after that, I was wandering the Shomi site and found a link to a page detailing what features the judges were looking for. Other than my book being fantasy, I hadn't done a single thing on the list and figured I must have lost. My husband said, okay, wait for them to confirm that, then ship it out to the next company. You're not hiding for the next twenty years this time.
So, time passed, and the contest closed. The day after the winner was chosen, I was emailed by someone at Shomi who did confirm that, yes, I'd lost the contest, but the head Editor liked my three chapters so much he wanted to see the rest of the book. So I had a minor heart attack and sent it in. I then heard nothing until November 2008, when I was contacted by Chris Keeslar, Senior Editor for Dorchester Publishing, asking if the book was still available. I said yes, as were the four sequels. A week later, he bought the first three books in the series and I had another near heart attack. I also decided I needed an agent.
It's a lot easier to find an agent when you submit emails with subject lines that read "I have a guaranteed publishing contract for three novels - need an agent". Within a month, I'd signed with Michelle Grajkowski with the Three Seas Literary Agency, and the rest, hopefully, will be happy history for everyone.

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113 posts
L.J. McDonald's Blog

I have a new hobby and other excuses that slow down my writing

Apparently the knitting, drawing, painting, reading, and gaming isn't enough. I have a new hobby! (I guess I can't really call the writing a hobby anymore since I periodically get paid for it).

Now that I pretty much exclusively read all books electronically on my kindle, I've taken up bookbinding. I quite enjoy it and the books are useful since I write shorter pieces by hand and they do serve a... read more »

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Published on May 30, 2012 09:06 • 1 view

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combine editions
Books by L.J. McDonald

Average rating: 3.92 · 1,196 ratings · 246 reviews · 10 distinct works

	The Battle Sylph (Sylph, #1) 3.81 avg rating — 694 ratings — published 2010 — 9 editions	My rating:
	The Shattered Sylph (Sylph, #2) 4.08 avg rating — 305 ratings — published 2010 — 6 editions	My rating:
	Queen of the Sylphs (Sylph, #3) 4.16 avg rating — 111 ratings — published 2011 — 5 editions	My rating:
	Alphabet Soup for Sylphs (Sylph, #3.5) 4.29 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2012	My rating:
	The Sylph Hunter (Sylph, #4) 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings	My rating:
	Door to the Sylphs (Sylph, #6) 3.67 avg rating — 3 ratings	My rating:
	War of the Sylphs (Sylph, #5) 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	My rating:
	The Battle Sylph (Sylph, #1) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	My rating:
	The Lord of Winter 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2012	My rating:
	A Midwinter Fantasy (Strangely Beautiful, #2.5) (Sylph, #2.5) (The Magic Knot, #3) by Leanna Renee Hieber (Goodreads Author), L.J. McDonald (Goodreads Author), Helen Scott Taylor (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 67 ratings — published 2010 — 4 editions	My rating:

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Series by L.J. McDonald

Sylph (6 books)
by L.J. McDonald (Goodreads Author)

3.92 avg rating — 1,192 ratings

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L.J. McDonald's Writing

The Battle Sylph (Science Fiction & Fantasy)

1 chapters — updated Jan 29, 2012 08:40am

Description: Prologue to the first book in the Sylph series

L.J. McDonald is Currently Reading

L.J. McDonald gave

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Change of Heart (Change of Heart, #1)

by Mary Calmes (Goodreads Author)

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May 12, 2012 06:20pm

L.J. McDonald is currently reading:

Loki

by Mike Vasich (Goodreads Author)

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Apr 29, 2012 12:03pm

L.J. McDonald is currently reading:

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)

by Suzanne Collins

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Apr 29, 2012 11:37am

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L.J. McDonald's Recent Updates

L.J. McDonald gave to: Bambi by Felix Salten	My rating:
23 hours, 34 min ago
L.J. McDonald gave to: A Russian Bear (Russian Bear, #1) by C.B. Conwy (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
May 19, 2012 11:28am
L.J. McDonald gave to: War Horse (War Horse, #1) by Michael Morpurgo read in May, 2012	My rating:
May 14, 2012 04:47pm
L.J. McDonald gave to: Change of Heart (Change of Heart, #1) by Mary Calmes (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
May 12, 2012 06:20pm
L.J. McDonald gave to: The Hobbit: Or There and Back Again by Chuck Dixon	My rating:
May 12, 2012 06:13am
L.J. McDonald liked Rachel Haimowitz's review of Duck!: " Duck! is, hands down, one of the sweetest and most insightful explorations of 24/7 total power exchange that I have ever read. It's also one of the most highly recommended books I've ever read, and though I didn't quite understand why at the begin... " Read more of this review »
May 10, 2012 04:37pm · see review
L.J. McDonald gave to: Duck! by Kim Dare (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
May 10, 2012 09:36am
L.J. McDonald added: The Lord of Winter by L.J. McDonald (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
May 08, 2012 04:58pm
L.J. McDonald is currently reading: Loki by Mike Vasich (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
Apr 29, 2012 12:03pm
L.J. McDonald is currently reading: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins	My rating:
Apr 29, 2012 11:37am

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Urban Fantasy: Challenge # 1: April 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010	408	657	Jul 01, 2010 11:33am
Cover to Cover Ch...: Ronda Tutt's 144 Books for 2010	154	126	Nov 07, 2010 08:35pm
Paranormal Romanc...: December 2010 Reading Challenge	458	432	Jan 10, 2011 01:46pm

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Quotes L.J. McDonald Likes

“I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”
― Marilyn Monroe

tags: attributed , best , life , love , mistakes , out-of-control , truth , worst

53,377 people liked it