Kimberly Hunter's Blog: Working, page 2
January 7, 2012
Kindlegraph!
Being an e-book author, I've had quite a number of readers ask for autographs. So far, the only way to achieve that was bookmarks. Now, however, I have signed up with Kindlegraph. Finally, a way to put my works and my autograph together. It's a great feeling, one many authors strive to achieve. And for a relatively unknown author like myself, well, it means a lot. So for those who have read my books and would like a little something extra, I am now on Kindlegraph. Squeeee!!
Huggles!!
Kimberly
http://www.kindlegraph.com/authors/ki...
Huggles!!
Kimberly
http://www.kindlegraph.com/authors/ki...
November 24, 2011
Now Avaliable!
From Cobblestone Press ~ MY HOUSE BOY ELF!
Donovan Eliot recieves a little Christmas magic from two of Santa's elves. A house boy.
Donovan Eliot recieves a little Christmas magic from two of Santa's elves. A house boy.
October 28, 2011
NEW RELEASE ~ 11/9
A new M/M short from Cobblestone Press ~ ESCAPE TO LOVE.
Running from an abusive ex, Sebastain Kynser flees to Alaska and finds something he never expected: LOVE.
Running from an abusive ex, Sebastain Kynser flees to Alaska and finds something he never expected: LOVE.
July 16, 2011
New Release!!
ONE MATCH, the 2nd book in my COSMIC INTERVENTION'S series is now out from Cobblestone Press.
June 19, 2011
Coming Soon!!
"Destiny's Path" was my first complete book. It had a different title then and was previously pubbed with another house. Now, however, it has gone through a lot of changes. The story is still there, as are the characters, but now it's richer and more solid. This is how I wanted it to be when I first wrote it. But being new to the publishing world, I had to learn a lot about it and my writing style. Now that it has a second chance, I'm happier than I can say. And I'm glad that Breathless Press has given it a home. So stay tuned folks. Coming soon from Breathless Press - "Destiny's Path"!!!
April 23, 2011
Website Update
Here's the update with a new cover. Was asked to be a part of a great anthology with 13 great authors. My short, "Got Lemons?" will be in it. For all those who haven't read it, this will be your opportunity plus 13 other stories to add to your library. It will be out June 3rd! Happy Reading and Enjoy the Fantasy!!
http://www.kimmipoo38.webs.com
http://www.kimmipoo38.webs.com
March 27, 2011
Rejection Letters - Next Step Motivation
I wrote this little article a couple years ago as a way to help the new authors in the writers group I had been a part of at the time. There were, and still are, some authors that are a part of that group, and many others, who have let rejection letters stop their career in writing before it has ever started. So to help, I wrote this article. I hope it continues to help others who need a bit of motivation.
The Rejection Letter. The most feared correspondence known to aspiring authors. So feared that we have formed a love/hate mentality with regards to it. We love the fact that someone, finally, has seen our work, but hate that it wasn't accepted. We have also come to like, even grudgingly appreciate, the helpful comments, while in turn find the critical ones depressing. Of course, even the helpful ones can bring us down at times. Especially when we have polished that manuscript to a mirror shine and out of the ten submissions sent, all were rejected. Not a good feeling when we know we have a great story needing a home and an audience to appreciate it. So what do we do now? Give up? Call it quits? We've tried our best and it just wasn't good enough?
Absolutely not!
You don't give up a dream because of a little adversity. And you certainly don't throw in the towel because of a few rejections. If that happened, then we wouldn't have half the number of great writers we do today.
Writing has been a passion of mine since early school age, but I didn't get serious about it until eight or so years ago. I knew I wanted to write Romance and I knew what genre I wanted the Romance to be in. Knowing that, I did a little research on the market, joined the local chapter of RWA, and got the tools and help I needed to get my manuscript finished, submit it, and, God willing, get it published. What I failed to factor in was the number of rejection letters I would receive before that monumentous day occurred. It was an eye opener, to say the least.
Now, I had heard a few of the horror stories, and a few of the good ones, before my first submission, but you really don't understand until you receive a letter of your own. And I got my share, good and bad. But the thing is that with every one I received, it didn't feel like a rejection, per se. I mean, yeah, the house I submitted to didn't accept my story, but they took the time to explain why, and in some cases, even going so far as to give valuable advice. Advice that they didn't have to give that I in turn used to make my story stronger so I could send it out again with the hope that my next submission would result in the coveted contract. Of course, I'm not saying that all the advice I received I used, no, just what I thought would make my manuscript better. And like most advice, you take it or leave it, but these people are professionals. Most have been in the business for years, so it would be kind of ignorant to just ignore the words of one so experienced.
Continuing to use these tools, I stopped thinking of the rejection letter as a "Rejection Letter". To me, they were the next step toward further motivating myself to get that manuscript out there. And let's face it, the more motivation we have, the better. So, I renamed the rejection letter, Next Step Motivation. Not exactly catchy, but when your trying to keep your spirits up against such odds, well, every little bit helps.
Thus renaming a negative to a positive, I started to really think about the varied feelings most authors have concerning rejection letters (next step motivation). And I could see the obvious, no contract offered for whatever reason. But what we all have failed to notice is that in receiving one of these letters, it really is the next step. That having received it, we have gotten our names out there, someone has seen, and even read, our work. It's, in a way, our foot in the door. So the contract wasn't offered this time around, doesn't mean that it won't next time, or the next time. But you still got someone to notice your work and see your name attached to it. And getting someone to look at our work is half the battle.
Talking with different authors, I came to understand that not many realized this. I certainly didn't. I thought like most. Oh, my manuscript wasn't accepted and all I got was a few critical comments for my efforts. Yes, I was professional and thanked them for their time, but after a while, it finally started to click that, hey, they actually took that valuable time to look over my manuscript. And after attending several workshops and lectures, I discovered that this wasn't the norm. My submission was just one of thousands, thousands, so to have it actually looked over, and even read, well, that was a feat in itself. It was also a good feeling in a way. My manuscript was really read and commented on when it could have went to the slush pile without any comment at all, just a sorry, not interested at this time. Kind of depressing getting a reply like that, but why not use it, and other comments, in a positive light? Apply them to make my manuscript better, stronger? Use the advice as the tools they are? It certainly couldn't hurt. I even went so far as to purchase a cork board and pin all my rejections to it for further motivation. I know, sounds more like being a glutton for punishment, but by pinning the letters up, they let me know that I may not have achieved the goal of a contract yet, yet, but I have solid and undeniable proof that my work is getting out there. That someone is looking at it, seeing my name attached to it, and even taking the time to read some of it. And that feels good; to be acknowledged though the house I submitted to didn't offer a contract. It also feels good that the more I send, the more I know, the more I learn of this business. So this house wasn't interested in the manuscript I sent, but liked my voice and could I send something else. Sure, I have something else. Who knows, that something else could be just what they were looking for.
This is a tough market and knowledge is power. So all you aspiring authors working hard to get published, use your rejection letters (next step motivation) as the tools they are. Use them to make your work stronger, to motivate yourself to keep sending your work out there. And realize that nothing worth having was ever gotten for free. All the major published authors were once in our shoes, they too struggling, getting their share of rejections. No doubt they felt just as down with every one. But they persevered and we should too. Examples of that perseverance are found every time we pick up a book from our favorite author. So use your rejections as the next step and keep at it. Believe me, the reward is worth it.
Kimberly Hunter
The Rejection Letter. The most feared correspondence known to aspiring authors. So feared that we have formed a love/hate mentality with regards to it. We love the fact that someone, finally, has seen our work, but hate that it wasn't accepted. We have also come to like, even grudgingly appreciate, the helpful comments, while in turn find the critical ones depressing. Of course, even the helpful ones can bring us down at times. Especially when we have polished that manuscript to a mirror shine and out of the ten submissions sent, all were rejected. Not a good feeling when we know we have a great story needing a home and an audience to appreciate it. So what do we do now? Give up? Call it quits? We've tried our best and it just wasn't good enough?
Absolutely not!
You don't give up a dream because of a little adversity. And you certainly don't throw in the towel because of a few rejections. If that happened, then we wouldn't have half the number of great writers we do today.
Writing has been a passion of mine since early school age, but I didn't get serious about it until eight or so years ago. I knew I wanted to write Romance and I knew what genre I wanted the Romance to be in. Knowing that, I did a little research on the market, joined the local chapter of RWA, and got the tools and help I needed to get my manuscript finished, submit it, and, God willing, get it published. What I failed to factor in was the number of rejection letters I would receive before that monumentous day occurred. It was an eye opener, to say the least.
Now, I had heard a few of the horror stories, and a few of the good ones, before my first submission, but you really don't understand until you receive a letter of your own. And I got my share, good and bad. But the thing is that with every one I received, it didn't feel like a rejection, per se. I mean, yeah, the house I submitted to didn't accept my story, but they took the time to explain why, and in some cases, even going so far as to give valuable advice. Advice that they didn't have to give that I in turn used to make my story stronger so I could send it out again with the hope that my next submission would result in the coveted contract. Of course, I'm not saying that all the advice I received I used, no, just what I thought would make my manuscript better. And like most advice, you take it or leave it, but these people are professionals. Most have been in the business for years, so it would be kind of ignorant to just ignore the words of one so experienced.
Continuing to use these tools, I stopped thinking of the rejection letter as a "Rejection Letter". To me, they were the next step toward further motivating myself to get that manuscript out there. And let's face it, the more motivation we have, the better. So, I renamed the rejection letter, Next Step Motivation. Not exactly catchy, but when your trying to keep your spirits up against such odds, well, every little bit helps.
Thus renaming a negative to a positive, I started to really think about the varied feelings most authors have concerning rejection letters (next step motivation). And I could see the obvious, no contract offered for whatever reason. But what we all have failed to notice is that in receiving one of these letters, it really is the next step. That having received it, we have gotten our names out there, someone has seen, and even read, our work. It's, in a way, our foot in the door. So the contract wasn't offered this time around, doesn't mean that it won't next time, or the next time. But you still got someone to notice your work and see your name attached to it. And getting someone to look at our work is half the battle.
Talking with different authors, I came to understand that not many realized this. I certainly didn't. I thought like most. Oh, my manuscript wasn't accepted and all I got was a few critical comments for my efforts. Yes, I was professional and thanked them for their time, but after a while, it finally started to click that, hey, they actually took that valuable time to look over my manuscript. And after attending several workshops and lectures, I discovered that this wasn't the norm. My submission was just one of thousands, thousands, so to have it actually looked over, and even read, well, that was a feat in itself. It was also a good feeling in a way. My manuscript was really read and commented on when it could have went to the slush pile without any comment at all, just a sorry, not interested at this time. Kind of depressing getting a reply like that, but why not use it, and other comments, in a positive light? Apply them to make my manuscript better, stronger? Use the advice as the tools they are? It certainly couldn't hurt. I even went so far as to purchase a cork board and pin all my rejections to it for further motivation. I know, sounds more like being a glutton for punishment, but by pinning the letters up, they let me know that I may not have achieved the goal of a contract yet, yet, but I have solid and undeniable proof that my work is getting out there. That someone is looking at it, seeing my name attached to it, and even taking the time to read some of it. And that feels good; to be acknowledged though the house I submitted to didn't offer a contract. It also feels good that the more I send, the more I know, the more I learn of this business. So this house wasn't interested in the manuscript I sent, but liked my voice and could I send something else. Sure, I have something else. Who knows, that something else could be just what they were looking for.
This is a tough market and knowledge is power. So all you aspiring authors working hard to get published, use your rejection letters (next step motivation) as the tools they are. Use them to make your work stronger, to motivate yourself to keep sending your work out there. And realize that nothing worth having was ever gotten for free. All the major published authors were once in our shoes, they too struggling, getting their share of rejections. No doubt they felt just as down with every one. But they persevered and we should too. Examples of that perseverance are found every time we pick up a book from our favorite author. So use your rejections as the next step and keep at it. Believe me, the reward is worth it.
Kimberly Hunter
March 18, 2011
Blog Interview!!
The ladies at Naughty Nights Press have graciously asked me to answer a few question about myself and writing for their blog. Of course I said yes!! That interview will be up March 19th, so be sure stop by. I had a great time and it was a lot of fun. I also share a bit more about my latest release, The Highest Bidder, as well as upcoming projects.
See ya there!!
http://naughtynightspress.blogspot.co...
See ya there!!
http://naughtynightspress.blogspot.co...
February 27, 2011
Release Date!!
"The Highest Bidder" will be available March, 4th. You can purchase it at Cobblestone Press. I also have a very steamy excerpt posted on my website. You can read it here: www.kimmipoo38.webs.com
I hope you'll take a peek into Trey and Renji's world and follow along as they discover how love is worth it, no matter the price.
I hope you'll take a peek into Trey and Renji's world and follow along as they discover how love is worth it, no matter the price.
January 18, 2011
WIPlash ~ Diagnosis & Treatment
Do you have more than 3 WIP's you're working on? Do you stop a WIP only to start another one? Do you have more than 3 WIP's in various stages of completion because you came up with the idea for another one? Do you find yourself working more on all your WIP's instead of completeing them? Have you produced more WIP's in a year than completed MS? Do you feel a sense of helplesness that you'll never complete any of the WIP's you've started?
Then you're among the many who have WIPlash. This is a common disease associated with authors who have too much imagination and too little time.
Symptoms are or may include -
Irritability
Insomnia
Headaches
Fatigue
Writers Block(which caused you to start another WIP)
Indigestion
Ulcers(from worrying about completing just one WIP)
Premature Baldness(from pulling hair out)
Shortness of Breath
Loss of Appetite
Increase of Appetite
Odd Cravings(coffee and pickle to get the creative juices flowing)
Aversion to Sunlight
Mood Swings
Memory Loss(forgeting to bathe, clean house, feed dog, etc.)
Procrastination
Alcoholism
Schizophrenia
Back Ache
Eye Strain
Hemmorrhoids
Suicidal Thoughts(for characters)
Feelings of Inadequacy(never going to get WIP's done)
Hearing Loss(can't hear hubby or kids for all the scenes playing out in your head)
Frequent Use of Profanity(because you will complete at least one %$#@&*%# WIP this year)
ADD
OCD
Jaw Pain(from grinding teeth becaused you have an idea for another WIP)
Hand & Finger Cramps
Muscle Tension
Sore Throat(from screaming)
RLS(restless lover syndrome-neglecting sweetheart)
Nesting Tendencies(keeping WIP's close in case you have more to add to them)
If you are an author and suffer from any of these symptoms, then you may be afflicted with WIPlash. It's an insidious disease that effects many authors today. Some, sadly, unknowingly. Unfortunately, there is no cure for WIPlash. Those that suffer with it, have it for life. But there is treatment for this terrble disease.
1.) Motivation - Self or Group
Any kind will help.
2.) Chocolate - Preferably Godiva or Dove
The cheap stuff will do in a pinch.
3.) Alcohol - Red or White Wine
A glass of wine is always good to relieve tension.
4.) Aromatherapy - Bubble Bath
Great for letting go after a long day of thinking.
5.) Sex - Who couldn't use an orgasm(or two)
6.) Caffeine - Coffee or Soda
Preferably coffee(Starbucks is best)
7.) Punching Bag - When all else fails
For those days when nothing else will work.
Like all treatment methods, individual results may vary. The FDA nor any doctor has approved these treatments. All medications should be taken in moderation. Except for chocolate. Never can have enough chocolate. If one treatment doesn't work, then combining them should help.
Thank you for your attention of this terrible affliction. With more knowledge of the symptoms and quick treatment, we can help authors everywhere with WIPlash.
God Bless!
Kimberly Hunter
Then you're among the many who have WIPlash. This is a common disease associated with authors who have too much imagination and too little time.
Symptoms are or may include -
Irritability
Insomnia
Headaches
Fatigue
Writers Block(which caused you to start another WIP)
Indigestion
Ulcers(from worrying about completing just one WIP)
Premature Baldness(from pulling hair out)
Shortness of Breath
Loss of Appetite
Increase of Appetite
Odd Cravings(coffee and pickle to get the creative juices flowing)
Aversion to Sunlight
Mood Swings
Memory Loss(forgeting to bathe, clean house, feed dog, etc.)
Procrastination
Alcoholism
Schizophrenia
Back Ache
Eye Strain
Hemmorrhoids
Suicidal Thoughts(for characters)
Feelings of Inadequacy(never going to get WIP's done)
Hearing Loss(can't hear hubby or kids for all the scenes playing out in your head)
Frequent Use of Profanity(because you will complete at least one %$#@&*%# WIP this year)
ADD
OCD
Jaw Pain(from grinding teeth becaused you have an idea for another WIP)
Hand & Finger Cramps
Muscle Tension
Sore Throat(from screaming)
RLS(restless lover syndrome-neglecting sweetheart)
Nesting Tendencies(keeping WIP's close in case you have more to add to them)
If you are an author and suffer from any of these symptoms, then you may be afflicted with WIPlash. It's an insidious disease that effects many authors today. Some, sadly, unknowingly. Unfortunately, there is no cure for WIPlash. Those that suffer with it, have it for life. But there is treatment for this terrble disease.
1.) Motivation - Self or Group
Any kind will help.
2.) Chocolate - Preferably Godiva or Dove
The cheap stuff will do in a pinch.
3.) Alcohol - Red or White Wine
A glass of wine is always good to relieve tension.
4.) Aromatherapy - Bubble Bath
Great for letting go after a long day of thinking.
5.) Sex - Who couldn't use an orgasm(or two)
6.) Caffeine - Coffee or Soda
Preferably coffee(Starbucks is best)
7.) Punching Bag - When all else fails
For those days when nothing else will work.
Like all treatment methods, individual results may vary. The FDA nor any doctor has approved these treatments. All medications should be taken in moderation. Except for chocolate. Never can have enough chocolate. If one treatment doesn't work, then combining them should help.
Thank you for your attention of this terrible affliction. With more knowledge of the symptoms and quick treatment, we can help authors everywhere with WIPlash.
God Bless!
Kimberly Hunter
