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L.J. McDonald

Goodreads author profile

url

http://www.goodreads.com/Ljmcdonald

born

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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L.J. McDonald's Blog

I have reached a new first

Wow, even for me, this is a long time to go without saying anything. Sorry about that. I haven't posted because there hasn't been anything happening that I can really talk about.

That does mean that yes, things have been happening, but no, I still can't talk about it. Not much. Well, I'll try.

Moving to Amazon has been interesting. They actually pay on a regular basis, which is quite amazing. The... read more »

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L.J. McDonald's Books

Average rating: 3.89 · 1,816 ratings · 287 reviews · 10 distinct works · Similar authors

	The Battle Sylph (Sylph, #1) 3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 avg rating — 1,046 ratings — published 2010 — 10 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Shattered Sylph (Sylph, #2) 4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 464 ratings — published 2010 — 6 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Queen of the Sylphs (Sylph, #3) 4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 avg rating — 184 ratings — published 2011 — 6 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Alphabet Soup for Sylphs (Sylph, #3.5) 4.24 of 5 stars 4.24 avg rating — 25 ratings — published 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Door to the Sylphs (Sylph, #6) 4.33 of 5 stars 4.33 avg rating — 6 ratings	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Sylph Hunter (Sylph, #4) 5.0 of 5 stars 5.00 avg rating — 5 ratings	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	War of the Sylphs (Sylph, #5) 5.0 of 5 stars 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Lord of Winter 5.0 of 5 stars 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2012	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hunting the Rapture 0.0 of 5 stars 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	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) 3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 avg rating — 81 ratings — published 2010 — 5 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Series by L.J. McDonald

Sylph (6 books)
by L.J. McDonald (Goodreads Author)
3.890909090909091 of 5 stars 3.89 avg rating — 1,815 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 rated a book 5 of 5 stars

The Silmarillion

by J.R.R. Tolkien

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L.J. McDonald said: "I've read The Lord of the Rings trilogy many times. I've read the Hobbit twice. But until now I've never read this book. I'm only about 7% of the way in at the moment, but oh, I wish I'd read it decades ago. Ah,Gandalf, all the many things I'd never...more "

Jan 22, 2013 06:41pm · see review

L.J. McDonald is currently reading:

The Hawk and His Boy (The Tormay Trilogy, #1)

by Christopher Bunn (Goodreads Author)

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Jun 30, 2012 08:14pm

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L.J. McDonald's Recent Updates

L.J. McDonald wrote a new blog post: I have reached a new first I have reached a new first Wow, even for me, this is a long time to go without saying anything. Sorry about that. I haven't posted because there hasn't been anything happenin... read more »
May 13, 2013 03:53pm · like
L.J. McDonald marked as to-read: The Complete Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 22, 2013 06:57pm
L.J. McDonald marked as to-read: The Mark Of Zorro (Townsend Library Edition) by Johnston McCulley	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 22, 2013 06:57pm
L.J. McDonald marked as to-read: The Dangers of Fairy Compacts (Love is Always Write) by Katey Hawthorne (Goodreads Author)	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 22, 2013 06:56pm
L.J. McDonald marked as to-read: Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 22, 2013 06:55pm
L.J. McDonald marked as to-read: Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M. Barrie	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 22, 2013 06:54pm
L.J. McDonald marked as to-read: When the Wind Blows (When the Wind Blows, #1) by James Patterson (Goodreads Author)	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 22, 2013 06:50pm
L.J. McDonald rated a book 5 of 5 stars The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I've read The Lord of the Rings trilogy many times. I've read the Hobbit twice. But until now I've never read this book. I'm only about 7% of the way in at the moment, but oh, I wish I'd read it decades ago. Ah,Gandalf, all the many things I'd never...more
Jan 22, 2013 06:41pm · see review
L.J. McDonald made a comment on Latest News: "Thanks. :) "
Jan 22, 2013 10:04am
L.J. McDonald marked as to-read: The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, #1) by James Patterson (Goodreads Author)	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 01, 2013 12:41pm

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Urban Fantasy: Challenge # 1: April 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010	408	665	Jul 01, 2010 11:33am
Cover to Cover Ch...: Ronda Tutt's 144 Books for 2010	154	128	Nov 07, 2010 08:35pm
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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-no-source, best, life, love, mistakes, out-of-control, truth, worst

87,198 people liked it