Monthly Archives: July 2010

As promised, I wanted to describe my “road to publication” in a series of blog entries. This will be the first in that series.

In 2002, I began writing short stories. Most of them were amateurish at best, but a few of them showed promise. I submitted them to local contests– (the first one I ever submitted to the Charlotte Writer’s Club won honorable mention). I was excited, but I wanted more. Also, I wanted to know more. How do you get published? How do you get a literary agent? How can I improve as a writer?

Over time, I found the answers to my questions. I studied, participated in writing critique groups, wrote more, and read books in several genres. Soon, I had one particular short story which my writer friends suggested I flesh out into a full novel. I worked on it for several months, and began submitting it to literary agents, who were kind enough to give me suggestions for improvement. I spent several more months revising the manuscript, sent it to new agents, and received more rejections than I care to admit, but I learned a great deal in the process. One important lesson learned, was that I should begin writing the next novel– take what I’d learned from the first one and create something new. Move on.

Next post: What happened to novel number two…

Personal shopper to the stars, Judith Collington, refuses to spend one more day in LA, answering the whiney demands of her Hollywood clientele. To escape, Judith and her seventh-grader, Shannon, give up their lucrative lifestyle to run a bed and breakfast in central Illinois. Judith prepares to purchase the property, until it changes hands in a poker game. New owner: Hollywood actor and part-time egomaniac, Ren Spencer. Judith installs Ren into the nearest guest room, where he insists on heated towels and meals on a tray. She would love to hate him, except he’s pathetic in an endearing sort of way. Oh, and did I mention he’s about to become engaged?

If you really want the latest, just read Shannon’s private computer journal. Her bedroom wall is plastered with posters of her all-time favorite star, but Shannon could care less if Ren Spencer’s a has-been at 35. He’s so hot, she can’t stop writing love stories about him. So what if Ren drinks too much and has to sober up in jail? And why can’t Shannon just have a normal mother like everybody else?

CELEBRITIES FOR BREAKFAST is a romantic comedy told through Judith’s voice, but sprinkled throughout are Shannon’s journal entries and Ren’s two cents.

Cover photo by Amy Snyder. Cover design by Mauricio Portasio

To read the first chapters of Radium Halos and Celebrities for Breakfast, click on the boxes above.

To order Radium Halos:

Click here to order paperback

Click here for Kindle

Click here for other eBook formats

To order Celebrities for Breakfast:

Click here for Kindle

Click here for eBook formats

Just when I thought I knew who I was, my persona as an author is about to undergo a drastic change. Or is it?

My first novel is historical fiction. My second novel is a romantic comedy– (Celebrities for Breakfast, soon to be released as an ebook from Girlebooks.com). Vastly different genres, yet both written by me, at different times in my life.

Switching genres isn’t anything new, but more often, you hear about well-known authors (who already have a huge following) taking this leap of faith. Since I only have a small-to-medium following, I’m hoping to expand my brand awareness in the marketplace by reaching out to a slightly different audience.

I’m still me, although with a wider reach. –I hope.

I always knew if I ever created a blog, I would use it to describe two things:

1. How I got published,
and
2. My marketing and promotion methods.

In the upcoming weeks, I intend to do just that in a series of blog posts. As always, I welcome questions from aspiring authors and hope to learn from all of you!

Please join me at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Saturday July 10 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for my next book signing.

Here’s a little about me:

I’m originally from a suburb of Washington, D.C. called Annandale, VA. Currently, I live in Charlotte, NC where I am an outside sales rep by day, and a writer by night. Being a writer includes online book promotion, setting up book signings, and working on new novels/articles. Whew, I’m already exhausted.