Judi Fennell's Blog, page 3

FIRST OFFICIAL: Copy of Genie Knows Best in my hands!

"They" say a picture is worth a thousand words…

Genie Knows Best, November 2011

 

This one, to me, is worth almost 200,000. That's how many I had to write to get this thing in my hands.

Why so many? Well, this is The Book That Tried To Kill Me ™, aka: TBTTTKM-2 ™ (kudos to my friend Lisa Brackmann for coining that phrase; hers is the original TBTTTKM.)

I'd written Genie Knows Best and turned it in a few days before my deadline. (yay, me!) Unfortunately, it turned out that my editor didn't like it. At all. Now, normally, there are a few points we need to change/clarify/fix and I do some revisions and the book is ready. But this one, for various reasons, didn't work for her. So it was Back To The Drawing Board. Ugh. Can I just say that again? Ugh.

I had to start over. Had to come up with a different spin on the story, a different spin on the world, and a new way of doing things. The only things I kept from the original book were the main characters' names, the love scenes, the basic idea for the world, and the ending. I love this ending; I truly do.

So, okay, maybe we're talking 150,000 words.

Was this what I wanted to do? No way. Was it what I had to do? Yep. Am I satisfied with the result? I am. It's a whole other story about the same characters, whom I love. Kal is an alpha male in a beta role, or maybe even a gamma one. I had fun trying to contain him within The Service he's been in for four thousand years with the end in sight for him. Samantha Blaine was someone I wanted to help. All she wants is someone to love her for her (and not her inheritance/bank account) and to find herself being used at every turn… well, she deserved a happy ending, too. As did I. Honestly, I was never so happy as when I turned this new story in because it's one thing to write a book under contract and know that it's going to go into production; it's quite another to write that book only to have to completely re-write it.

I haven't really spoken about this bummer of a year writing this book because, of course, you want to put your best foot forward in the marketplace. "Sure, I write books and they all go on to win awards!" is a good image, but the reality is, writing and publication are hard work–and this is why you need an editor. Mine could have tried to fix the original version up with me, but who knows what the result would have been since she had such an adverse reaction to it. She wasn't "feeling" it, and therefore, she couldn't get excited about it. Trust me, you want your editor excited about your work.

So, I pulled up my big girl panties, took a deep breath, and started off on story #2 for this couple. And, like I said, I love the result. It's a fun story, a lot of action with the largest cast of characters I've ever written. I had a blast writing the fight scenes (try orchestrating a fight scene with centaurs, trolls, leprechauns, dragons, and gnomes and keeping all those body parts straight!), and loved creating Harv's lair that was inspired by Riley's comment in National Treasure, "Who wants to go down the creepy tunnel inside the tomb first?" And, of course, I got to spend more time with Kal and Samantha and learned more about them, what made them tick. That journey is always fun, so I really can't complain (though I did, loudly) about having to spend so much time with them.

And I recently turned in Leave It To Genie and am waiting for my editor to read it. You can bet (and the leprechauns in Genie Knows Best already are…) that I'm waiting with baited breath.

Now these ARCs go out to the reviewers and I have another reason to wait with baited breath to see if this version of Kal and Samantha's story is as well received as Eden and Matt's was (starred review in Publishers Weekly). That's this business: hurry up and write, revise, and wait.

I Dare You Not to Smile

A friend sent me these. http://icanhascheezburger.com/

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On Sale for $2.97! I Dream of Genies!

Lots happening these days. First, and foremost, for a limited time, Amazon is offering both the paperback and Kindle versions of I Dream of Genies for $2.97 and $2.82 respectively, so grab 'em while they're hot:

Links :

Kindle for $2.82 at: http://amzn.to/muzMfY

Paperback for $2.97 at: http://amzn.to/knEkvi

This book received a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly:

"Cute as a pink Persian kitten, this scamper of a romance is populated by a whimsical cast of characters: Humphrey the baby dragon, Obo the talking cat, a villainous vizier, a cross-dressing High Master genie, the Egyptian goddess Bastet, and a hunky carpenter. Centuries-old genie Eden (her name one of several nods to the book's namesake TV show) escapes her bottle only to fall for Matt Ewing, the handsome jogger she's been watching from her glass prison's position in the window of Murphy's Antiques. When Eden's magic malfunctions, the nonstop cinematic gee-whiz results will keep the reader enraptured. Fennell (Catch of a Lifetime) also tosses in sultry sex scenes, a bubble-gum–sweet but passionate romance, quick-moving action, and a variety of puns and riddle-making beasts, many of which are sure to reappear in the two planned sequels."

Also happening:

I, and many other authors, editors and agents are offering critiques for bidders in Brenda Novak's Online Auction to benefit Juvenile Diabetes. The auction runs for the month of May and has some AMAZING items: 2 tickets and Meet & Greet with Celine Dion, Hawaiian Getaways, iPad 2, vacations, autographed books, crafts, jewelry, etc. There are daily one-day special items to bid on and so many wonderful things I can't list them all here.

Plus, of course, a 30-page manuscript critique from moi.

This is the 7th year for Brenda's auction and last year, it broke the $1M mark. This is my 3rd year participating both donating and bidding, and I can tell you, it's a lot of fun on both ends.

Stop by, take a look, and maybe you'll win that critique that will start you on your career or break out the one you already have.

FIRST OFFICIAL: Sighting of Genie Knows Best on Amazon!

I had no idea it was going to be up for pre-order today. To say I'm thrilled is definitely an understatement. This book was a labor of love and I'm so excited for it to hit the shelves.

I'm also excited because I figured out how to do an Amazon page of my books, grouping all of them together. A lot of authors have started doing this – Amazon actually gives us a kickback, which, in this world of shrinking advances and print runs, really helps. Thanks to whomever ordered a Kindle copy of In Over Her Head through my Amazon store.

And thanks, once again, to the incredibly talented Anne Cain for the AWESOME cover! I incorporated Samantha's cover outfit into the story because I liked what Anne came up with better than my original idea.

Let's Get This Party Started!!!

The Rita and Golden Heart nominee calls go out today. Come join us at Rita/GH 2011 to "squee" along with the nominees.

And you just might find an editor or agent (or two, or three or four…) hanging out.

Did you enter the contest? Did you get the call? Do you know someone who did? Post it in the comments, or email me at JudiFennell (at) JudiFennell (dot) com!

Let's chat about it on the Rita/GH 2011 page!

Fall in Love Like a Romance Author… I'm in this!!!

My friend and fellow Sourcebooks author, Amelia Grey, put together 67 romance authors for a book of true-life love stories, or what love means to each one. AND SHE ASKED ME TO PARTICIPATE!!!

I'm told my copy is shipping to me tomorrow and even though I wrote, and lived, the story I put in there, I canNOT wait to see it in print. Take a look at the gorgeous cover.

Maybe some day I'll be a big enough name to make the front cover, but I'm just THRILLED to be a part of it all!

 

Here's the blurb and list of authors:

 

Amelia Grey unveils the secrets to real romances from the masters of the fictional world.

This book goes beyond the fictional love stories to uncover the real romantic relationships of more than 60 beloved, bestselling romance novelists.

Linda Lael Miller, Mariah Stewart, Robyn Carr, Heather Graham, Karen Robards, Joan Johnston, Kat Martin, Pamela Morsi, Sabrina Jeffries, Eloisa James, Rachel Gibson, Susan Anderson, Bertrice Small, Jennifer Blake, Mary Balogh,Teresa Medeiros, Cathy Maxwell,Victoria Alexander, Laura Lee Guhrke, Mary Jo Putney, Jill Marie Landis, Meryl Sawyer, Stella Cameron, Stef Ann Holm, Elizabeth Hoyt, Kasey Michaels, Julianne MacLean, Loraine Heath, Gaelen Foley, Haywood Smith, Wendy Corsi Staub, Elizabeth Boyle, Christie Ridgeway, Jane Porter, Elizabeth Grayson, Amanda Scott, Gayle Callen, Annette Blair, Amanda McCabe, Jean Brashear, Suzanne Forster, Karen White, Stephanie Bond, Judith Arnold, Patricia Potter, Barbara Samuel, Dee Davis, Robin Lee Hatcher, Shana Galen, Leigh Greenwood, Deb Stover, Linda Wisdom, Jasmine Cresswell, Shirl Henk, Judi Fennell, Jo Ann Ferguson, Michele Ann Young, Nicola Cornick, Kate Austin, Geri Buckley Borcz, Cheryl Brooks, Nicole Byrd, Sharon Lathan, Jade Lee, Terry Spear, Jannine Corti Petska, and Ciji Ware tell about how they met the love of their lives, or how they made their love last through the years, or what they believe makes love and romance timeless. Some of the stories are heart-warming, some are inspiring, and others are filled with humor, but they are all sprinkled with that magical feeling of being in love.

Readers will enjoy glimpsing into the exclusive and private world of their favorite romance authors. Humorous, poignant, and entertaining from beginning to end, Fall In Love Like a Romance Writer reveals what it takes to have your own happily ever after, just like the ones your beloved writers are creating…and living.

on sale February 1!

 

Fabio Is In The Building

No, unfortunately, not THIS Fabio…

(always looking for a way to post that picture LOL).

And definitely NOT this one (sorry, but nicknaming him Fabio is just WRONG!!! He's Jud from Survivor Nicaragua)

 

But THIS Fabio is in my home:

Some of you may remember the Christmas gift that couldn't be: Hubs had ordered it and the manufacturer (in Japan) kept shipping the wrong one and by the time they shipped the correct one, they'd upped the price by a good $600, so it was priced out of our range.

Hubs, wonderful man that he is, found another one. And it was delivered today. And I've been in it for the last five hours or so and I think I might just sleep here.

It does your back, your neck, your legs and your feet. And it's a comfy writing chair when not using the massage function. A home run for Hubs in the gift-giving department. [And you can make of THAT sentence what you will ]

So now I have my very own Fabio, so named by my Writing Wombat friends and I can honestly say that since I can't have the real one give me a massage, I'll take this one.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays to all!

It's Official

'Cause the boss said so.

 

Some of you know I recently got a full time day job. It's with a growing company whose owner thinks outside the box. He's even given himself the title of "Senior Dreamweaver." There's a "Dreamweaver in Training," a "Duke of Sales,"  and the engineers are "E1″ and "E2." You get the picture.

So, when he recently asked what my title should be, I jokingly gave him the one my sister gave me a few years ago on a tshirt for Christmas. He loved it and dubbed me:

 

 

I quite enjoy that, thankyouverymuch. It's now outside my office.

Carry on.

FIRST OFFICIAL: Look at I Dream of Genies

The ARCs are here! The ARCs are here!

That's Advanced Reading Copies. I have a few authors lined up to read the story for quotes, so my publicist sent me a few copies to send out.

Of course I had to hold the ARCs in my hot little hands, and, okay, maybe I snuggled with them a little, but they're now all off to their respective readers.

I have to say, this STILL hasn't lost its thrill after the 4th book!

And a special shout out to Kate Douglas for her awesome quote that my publisher put on the...

Harry Potter World, Part II… HOGWARTS

(Part I of Harry Potter World)

Hogwarts is amazing, both inside and out. Not built to scale, but a good size. You go beneath the hill for the recreated classrooms/halls/offices. I really hope they expand this because it's just great for us fans.

The approach...

walking alongside it

First order of business, though, someone needs to redesign the free lockers where you put all your stuff. You can't bring it with you on this motion-simulated ride. Note: I do NOT do well on motion-simulated...