Catherine Bybee's Blog, page 41

Win a FREE Nook!

Talk about a simple contest! And since I already have a nook, and I love it, I thought I'd share this with all of you!

Check it out!
First, sign up to the Nookboard forums - which is a great place to talk to readers!
Second, LIKE Rachel's Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nookboardscom/127047354016116?v=wall

Third, link to Rachel's info on the nookboard forum about this contest and let Rachel know you've done it. http://www.nookboards.com/forum/index.php?topic=4109.msg52488#new


Simply simple. I love it!

And remember, my contest is ongoing - comments here put you in the hat to win a free download of Embracing the Wolf - sign up for my newsletter, too.

Halloween Shifter Tour is Coming

Okay, everybody... just a heads up on what to expect on the final days of October here on my blog. As most of you know... I've been having a month long contest where the only rules are
1.) sign up for my newsletter

Click the link if you haven't done that!!

Click to join CatherineBybee

2.) Leave a comment or two on any of my posts during the month of October. On November 1st I'll be putting your name into a hat for every comment you left and then drawing one lucky winner for a e-copy of Embracing the Wolf.

Now, on Thursday and Friday me and several other shifter authors out there have joined forces for you to jump around on line and get some great ideas for Halloween reads. Many of us are giving stuff away so it will sooooo be worth your time to play! Come back on Thursday! TTFN!

Pantser vs. Plotter

Oh, boy... this is a question I've been asked a lot since I started writing. To date, I've always said I'm a pantser - never an outline to be followed. Well, okay, I have an idea of where I'm going with a story, but truly, I've not written a synopsis and then sat down to write a book. I just kinda wing it... go with the flow... let my characters create the story.

But hold the phone, stop the presses... I think I'm one foot over the fence and leaning toward the other side. Why? You ask...
As some of you know, my goals are lofty. Big goals, big houses, big sales etc. etc. So in my quest to do bigger and better with every book or story I write, I set out to come up with an idea, write an outline then a synopsis... send this proposal out to the publishing world, either via agents or publishers... then "gasp" write the book.

And you know what?
Drum roll please...............
It's working. I've managed 20k in 4 measly days and I think it's because I have an outline to follow. As long as each chapter moves my characters forward, and the plot unfolds, this plotter thing has a real chance at working for me.
Me, the constant pantser. The woman who had nothing but an opening scene in my brain for Binding Vows and made three full-length novels out of said opening scene.

Does this mean that all my books will now be outlined before I start to write? I don't rightly know. Maybe, if it keeps me on track and has me cranking out the pages.

Anyway... those are my thoughts this weekend, oh and hey... I'm over at Maries today. She's highlighting Embracing the Wolf so click HERE and link on over and say hi.

Quick, name two agents on your short list.

Okay authors, this blogs for you. Name two agents on your short list of 'you want'. Tell me why they have made it on your short list.

If you have representation already, tell me who it is and why you like 'em.

Okay... that's all I have for today... post a reply and your name goes into a hat so I can pick one lucky winner for a free download of Embracing the Wolf. This contest runs the entire month of October.

Happy Halloween.

Published... or not published...

You're thinking... what?
Let me 'splain my title.

I'm busy typing away, in between my naps after my busy week, and I'm writing queries and sending them off to the world of agents and publishers alike on one of my latest WIP's. The book is finished and I'm wading through some edits now before I send it off to my critique partner for review. Then, as some of you know, it will come back to me for even more edits.

Then, if I think it's done, I'll put it away in my hard drive and continue to roll out queries and get to work on other projects.

So, published or not published. Obviously i'm a published author. You can see that by my list of currently available books. But, unlike New York Big Publishing House published, some agents and publishers still don't want to see my queries or submissions on work that isn't complete.

Some are very accepting of a query on work that isn't completed, as long as it is in process.

I'd love to ask the agents out there why is it that a Big House author has to only write a proposal to sell a book, but a Small House author has to complete the book?

Isn't the point of a proposal to see if the 'idea and plot' for a book is workable... is a winning idea? And isn't the point of a never before published author having to write the entire book first a way of making sure that author can actually complete the job? I know lots of people who start, but never finish, a book.

A full length novel takes me about three months to write. Maybe less. Novella's can take only a few weeks. And short stories... Kilt Worthy took me four days.

I guess with the world of e-books busting the doors off of brick and mortar stores, the rules will be changing.

Anyway... I'm sending out my queries now anyway. And have been sending out proposals on books not yet written, too. I'll let you know how it pans out. Until I sign with an agent, I'll have to act as my own. lol

Oh, boy... that kinda sounds like a lawyer who has himself for a client. ugh.

Monday Fun!

OMG!!! My 14 year old showed me this one. Lord this has me in stitches... of course, my son isn't driving yet, and I'd probably smack him silly if he were the one to pull this stunt, but this kid has some serious balls!

Happy Monday Everyone!

I can only imagine what these poor people have to go through in a day!

Meet Lucien St Clare from Shelley Munro's latest release.

Shelley has graciously added me on her latest blog tour for her debut Carina Press release, The Spurned Viscountess. For those of you who don't know Shelley, be prepared to be wowed by her talented pen. Mega-Multi-Published in everything from mainstream romance, paranormal romance, erotic romance, paranormal erotic romance and even M/M romance... Shelley will have something in her back list that will entertain any romance reader.

Today she is introducing us to her hero, Lucien. And can we give a quick AMEN to this stunning cover or what?




Name: Lucien St Clare

Title: Viscount Hastings

Age: mid-twenties

Appearance: Tall, over six foot. Long dark black hair. Mahogany brown eyes. Tanned skin since he spends a lot of time outdoors. His face is scarred, the puckered scar running from his left eye to his jaw.

Hangouts: He currently lives at Castle St. Clare in East Sussex, England. Prior to this, he lived in Italy, near Naples on the Bacci estate with his wife, Francesca.

Reason for the move: Fragments of his forgotten memory have started to return to him, memories that place him in England. He can't remember much about St. Clare at all. Yep, he has nasty amnesia.

Reason for staying: Someone from the area murdered his wife and their unborn child. He's desperate for revenge.

Big problem: The Earl of St. Clare expects him to go through with an arranged marriage to Rosalind, a small English mouse of a woman.

In Lucien's words.

"Everyone tells me my name is George, that I'm the long lost heir, Viscount Hastings. I could leave and return to the Bacci estates in Italy, but I burn for revenge. Those bastards who murdered my wife and unborn child must pay for their crimes. Someone called Hawk ordered her murder. It seems a coincidence there's a Hawk operating the smuggling ring—too much of a happenstance in my opinion. I'm investigating, looking for clues, but meantime I have to deal with my new wife. She's small, blond and reminds me of a mouse. I tried to put her off the idea of marriage to me, but she was set on the marriage.

She's not very good at following orders and I'm forever running across her in places I told her not to visit. Trouble is her middle name. She's stubborn, frustrating, irritating and she's getting under my skin. I find myself thinking about her at the oddest moments…"



The Spurned Viscountess Blurb:

She must marry him.

Cursed with the sight and rumors of witchcraft, Rosalind's only chance at an ordinary life is marriage to Lucien, Viscount Hastings. She doesn't expect love, only security and children of her own. Determined to go through with the wedding, she allows nothing she encounters at the gloomy Castle St. Clare to dissuade her.

He wants nothing to do with her.

Recently returned from the Continent, Lucien has no time for the English mouse his family has arranged for him to marry, not when he's plotting to avenge the murder of his beloved Francesca. He has no intention of bedding Rosalind, not even to sire an heir.
Dark secrets will bind them.

Though spurned by her bridegroom, Rosalind turns to him for protection when she is plagued by a series of mysterious accidents and haunted by terrifying visions. Forced to keep Rosalind close, and tempted into passionate kisses, Lucien soon finds himself in grave danger of falling in love with his own wife…

Purchase and download The Spurned Viscountess at Carina Press click HERE
Visit Shelley's website click HERE

Rejections... Responses...

Every writer out there has a certain feeling that passes over them when they see a note in their inbox from a publisher or an agent. If I'm sending out a new project to find a publishing home, or searching for the perfect agent, I check my inbox daily hoping to see something from someone.
So lets talk rejections and responses for a few minutes. I recently found a post on the BookEnds blog talking about a standard rejection letter that Jessica Faust wanted feedback on. I can't imagine what it would be like to open my inbox and find 100 queries a day. How on earth does an agent weed through the pile and ever find anything? But alas, they do. So the question she had was about standard rejections and how they make an author feel.
I've been in the business for a while now, and I've had my run of rejections. Every author who puts themselves out there is going to get them! So I thought I'd post some of those rejections I've received over the last couple of years and dissect them.
"Thank you very much for your query, which I have read with interest. Unfortunately the project does not seem right for me, and I am sorry I cannot offer to read your work.

I do wish you all the best on finding more suitable representation, and thank you again."

Obviously this is a standard rejection. How does it make me feel? * I'm sure glad the agent took the time to send it! So many don't bother, which to me is a little rude. Did this agent 'read with interest?' - Probably not. They probably read something in the first paragraph that made them pass. Am I upset about that? No. I want an agent that is excited about my work and wants to help make things happen.
"Thank you for thinking of me with this project; I appreciate the chance to have a look. I'm sorry to say I won't be pursuing representation at this time, but I hope you have every success in finding the perfect agent and publisher for your work."
Okay, again, a standard rejection. I liked this one for two reasons. One, the agent realizes that I've chosen him or her. And I do. I don't send out masses of agent letters. I look at the agent, the agency, what books they are selling and the clients they work with. I try and find a fit before sending the letter. Two, nothing about the book that makes me think she wants to see it again. WHAT? You're asking! Let me 'spalin... When an agent uses words like intrigued, or interested, or fascinating and then doesn't go on to say anything else, I wonder what part did they like, and what part didn't they like. I ask myself if I can fix something and send it back or what? This rejections politely passes on the project so I can move on.
"Thank you so much for writing me about your project. I read and consider each query carefully and while yours is not exactly what I am looking for, I would certainly encourage you to keep trying. I know your work is important to you and I am grateful that you wrote to me."
Love this one. Why? Lets face it... it's not me, it's her. LOL * but think about it for a minute. This does say it all... It says 'no thanks' 'not for me' 'keep trying' 'thanks'
And themes go on and on... Nearly every agent has said keep looking. Finding the perfect agent or publisher is about finding the right fit.
Some of you are saying... But, Cathy, don't you get discouraged? Don't you want feedback?
Duah, of course I would love feedback, but did you see the '100 queryies a day bit I posted above. If an agent or publisher is going to give feedback, they'll ask for revisions. If they spend all day tailoring each rejection, they won't have time to work on sales for their clients. And baby, that's their job. When I find the right agent, I'll want them to do it even more. Another thing... are they sorry? Damn right they are. They want the next best writer in their house nearly as much as you want to be that writer.
So, Dear Agent... Thanks for taking the time to send the 'auto response' that you even received my query... and again for sending me 'form rejection'.
For those agents who don't bother... My guess is you find a lot of "Did you get it?" mail from lots of authors. A little communication will probably clear out your inbox. Hint... hint...
Of course... this is the next best response:
"I read your sample chapters with interest, and I would like to invite you to send along the first 100 pages for review."
OR
** Most recent from Harlequin:
Hi Catherine,

I did receive it, and I would be interested in looking over the full manuscript...

October Contest ~

Okay folks... I, being the lover of fall and October, have decided to have a month long contest. One lucky winner who posts comments on my blog will walk away with a free download of Embracing the Wolf.

You have to do two things. One, you need to sign up to receive my newsletter: Click on the yahoo link and sign up. This loop is a newsletter loop only... no chatting and yadda yadda... I click in one in a while and tell you about my releases and newsletters but that's about it.

Click to join CatherineBybee

Second... comment on my blog during the month of October. I'll pick a name at random and announce the winner of the copy of Embracing the Wolf on November second.
The more you comment, the more chances of winning.

Booo, it's October

I love Halloween, just love it. Love the kids running around getting stupid crazy on sugar and candy. (you know the dentists love this time of year - Sadists that they are) LOL

Did you know that next to Christmas, Halloween is the most commercial holiday? Yep, that means that you probably spend money on this holiday and don't even realize it. Now, I'm not talking candy and costume sales... I'm talking spooky decorations and the like.

So tell me, what is your Halloween splurge? What candy do you only eat this time of year? (Candy Corn is mine)

Do you go to an annual Halloween Party? Do you dress up, drag your hubby (who whines about the costume, or refuses to wear one) to said party?

Obviously the voices in my head are jumping ahead of me... But leave a note and give me a little bit about what you love about this time of year.