Welcoming In 2014
Welcoming In 2014
I’m not sure where 2013 went, but it feels like it flew by with the speed of the space shuttle at lift-off. Since it was one of the best years of my life, I wouldn’t have minded if 2013 had stuck around a little longer.
It started with my signing a contract with The Wild Rose Press for two of my Regencies, The Letter and The Training of a Marquess. In January, I was walking around in a daze while I’m going to be published, I’m going to be published, I’m going to be published were the only words racing around in my head. In February I got my first edits from my new editor and it started to feel real.
Then in March, my first cover arrived and, OMG, I had a cover and it had my name on it. My name! It wasn’t the best cover ever, but it was mine and I loved it. As if that wasn’t enough, March had even more in store for me. On March 26th, I received a call that I’d finaled in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart®.
The published author who called me, woke me up. But hey, Claudia Dain, feel free to wake me up anytime you wish with news like that. From then on, it was a world wind of activity. More edits, a second cover, new loops I was invited to join that I never knew existed, but best of all…the very best of all, are all my new friends. Like my 2013 Golden Heart® sisters, The Lucky 13s. These ladies are beyond awesome. Their talent, their support, their funny emails…God, I love them.
My two Regencies appeared on Amazon, B&N, kobo and other places in late spring and it was another OMG moment. OMG, people are reading my books. Then I started getting emails via my website from readers who loved one or the other book and I’ve since connected with some beautiful people around the world like Hanny in the Netherlands and Carol in England.
I can’t even begin to list the ones from America (like Gina, Nancy, Lindsey, Sandy, Melanie, Miranda, Jan…and, oh Lord, there’s so many others I should list, but then this would go on forever). One I would like to mention is Danny C. Hill who wrote one of the best indie books ever, In Search of a Soul. Thanks, Dannie, for giving me hours of reading pleasure and for being a friend.
This writing business is sometimes hard, sometimes lonely, sometimes tear-your-hair-out frustrating, but getting an email from someone who loved your book, getting five stars and glowing reviews from book bloggers—those kinds of things—makes every single challenging, hair-pulling nanosecond worth it. Trust me on this.
In July, I attended my first ever Romance Writers of America’s national conference. Wow! That was just…well, wow! I got to meet Jenny, my critique partner from Toronto (we not only share the same agent, but she’s just freaking awesome). I got to meet Grace Burrowes (another OMG when she invited me to have dinner with her and yes, I immediately accepted), and so many authors I’ve read over the years and admired from afar. At the risk of repeating myself, wow!
By the time I arrived back home, I pretty much thought I’d experienced the best of what 2013 had to offer.
But, no, 2013 wasn’t done with me yet.
In September, my Golden Heart® final, Crazy For Her, went to auction. OMG. Seriously, OMG. My fantastic agent, Courtney Miller-Callihan, did her thing and when she felt she’d taken the offers to their limit, she said I had to decide who to go with. Well, let me tell you, that was the hardest decision I’ve ever made. It involved vast amounts of pacing (to those who know me, yes, there was wine involved) and numerous phone calls with questions, along with more hair pulling.
In the end, I went with Montlake Romance. They offered a two-book deal for Crazy For Her and Someone Like Her, the second book in the series. The negative was that I won’t be in the brick and mortar book stores, but every single Montlake Romance author I talked to loved them…with an exclamation added at the end, as in, “I love writing for them!”
The “I love writing for them,” pretty much sold me. Any day now, I’m expecting to get the edits for Crazy For Her. Can. Not. Wait. Can’t wait to start my new journey and see what 2014 has in store for me. Can’t imagine it’ll be anything like 2013, but that’s okay. I’m a very happy author.
So, I hereby designate 2013 as the year of OMG. My New Year’s wish for all my friends—writers or otherwise—is that you have a 2014 OMG year.
Bring on 2014!
#sometimeblog
I’m not sure where 2013 went, but it feels like it flew by with the speed of the space shuttle at lift-off. Since it was one of the best years of my life, I wouldn’t have minded if 2013 had stuck around a little longer.
It started with my signing a contract with The Wild Rose Press for two of my Regencies, The Letter and The Training of a Marquess. In January, I was walking around in a daze while I’m going to be published, I’m going to be published, I’m going to be published were the only words racing around in my head. In February I got my first edits from my new editor and it started to feel real.
Then in March, my first cover arrived and, OMG, I had a cover and it had my name on it. My name! It wasn’t the best cover ever, but it was mine and I loved it. As if that wasn’t enough, March had even more in store for me. On March 26th, I received a call that I’d finaled in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart®.
The published author who called me, woke me up. But hey, Claudia Dain, feel free to wake me up anytime you wish with news like that. From then on, it was a world wind of activity. More edits, a second cover, new loops I was invited to join that I never knew existed, but best of all…the very best of all, are all my new friends. Like my 2013 Golden Heart® sisters, The Lucky 13s. These ladies are beyond awesome. Their talent, their support, their funny emails…God, I love them.
My two Regencies appeared on Amazon, B&N, kobo and other places in late spring and it was another OMG moment. OMG, people are reading my books. Then I started getting emails via my website from readers who loved one or the other book and I’ve since connected with some beautiful people around the world like Hanny in the Netherlands and Carol in England.
I can’t even begin to list the ones from America (like Gina, Nancy, Lindsey, Sandy, Melanie, Miranda, Jan…and, oh Lord, there’s so many others I should list, but then this would go on forever). One I would like to mention is Danny C. Hill who wrote one of the best indie books ever, In Search of a Soul. Thanks, Dannie, for giving me hours of reading pleasure and for being a friend.
This writing business is sometimes hard, sometimes lonely, sometimes tear-your-hair-out frustrating, but getting an email from someone who loved your book, getting five stars and glowing reviews from book bloggers—those kinds of things—makes every single challenging, hair-pulling nanosecond worth it. Trust me on this.
In July, I attended my first ever Romance Writers of America’s national conference. Wow! That was just…well, wow! I got to meet Jenny, my critique partner from Toronto (we not only share the same agent, but she’s just freaking awesome). I got to meet Grace Burrowes (another OMG when she invited me to have dinner with her and yes, I immediately accepted), and so many authors I’ve read over the years and admired from afar. At the risk of repeating myself, wow!
By the time I arrived back home, I pretty much thought I’d experienced the best of what 2013 had to offer.
But, no, 2013 wasn’t done with me yet.
In September, my Golden Heart® final, Crazy For Her, went to auction. OMG. Seriously, OMG. My fantastic agent, Courtney Miller-Callihan, did her thing and when she felt she’d taken the offers to their limit, she said I had to decide who to go with. Well, let me tell you, that was the hardest decision I’ve ever made. It involved vast amounts of pacing (to those who know me, yes, there was wine involved) and numerous phone calls with questions, along with more hair pulling.
In the end, I went with Montlake Romance. They offered a two-book deal for Crazy For Her and Someone Like Her, the second book in the series. The negative was that I won’t be in the brick and mortar book stores, but every single Montlake Romance author I talked to loved them…with an exclamation added at the end, as in, “I love writing for them!”
The “I love writing for them,” pretty much sold me. Any day now, I’m expecting to get the edits for Crazy For Her. Can. Not. Wait. Can’t wait to start my new journey and see what 2014 has in store for me. Can’t imagine it’ll be anything like 2013, but that’s okay. I’m a very happy author.
So, I hereby designate 2013 as the year of OMG. My New Year’s wish for all my friends—writers or otherwise—is that you have a 2014 OMG year.
Bring on 2014!
#sometimeblog
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Thanks, Lindsey, and you're one of my best 2013 new friends. :-)
You've had an awesome year, Sandy. May 2014 be even better!
Thank you for the mention Sandra. Getting to know you a bit has been an honest, helpful, for me, inspiring relationship. Your review of my book filled my heart with the joy of writing. And then I found out you too are a writer. I've read all your books and each one touching me with your talent and made me smile and humbled that I know you. I look for greatness for you throughout the new year!
Congratulations on a fantastic year, Sandy! I'm so honoured to have deserved a mention from you!!
Dannie wrote: "Thank you for the mention Sandra. Getting to know you a bit has been an honest, helpful, for me, inspiring relationship. Your review of my book filled my heart with the joy of writing. And then I f..."Happy New Year, Dannie
Carol *Young at Heart Oldie* wrote: "Congratulations on a fantastic year, Sandy! I'm so honoured to have deserved a mention from you!!"And I'm honored that you read and loved my book Carol. Hope 2014 is an awesome year for you.
Congratulations on a fabulous year!