Facing the blank page of a brand new story gives me the same feeling.
I’m busy on a new one now … and I have that quirky mixture of thrill and trepidation in my stomach. You plan to come out in one piece, without falling too hard along the way …. but you never know what bumps lie in the road, or what side trails will beckon.
Plus I’m on another tight deadline, so I don’t exactly have time to pause at the top either 
DD does her thing.
I haven’t been able to get onto those trails for well over two weeks now due to a knee injury. I’m going to try a walk tomorrow — wish me luck. It’s making me antsy not being able to move, and I find I’m getting all sorts of odd little aches and pains sitting at the computer all day without an active break.
Some random Friday marketplace snippts:
Silhouette Romantic Suspense is looking for YOUR manuscript and Editor Patience Smith will be on hand at eHarlequin to take your pitch!
To enter, send a 2 paragraph blurb of your manuscript to Hosty Rae by March 9th.
Five entries will be chosen by Patience Smith and be announced March 12th.
Pitches will happen March 15, 1pm EST. Rules and details on eHarlequin.
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VERY COOL new site: Romance Novel Television at romancenovel.tv – TV for romance booklovers has launched!
It’s a place to connect with your favorite authors. Every week romancenovel.tv features exclusive on-camera interviews, behind-the-pages stories, and special features all dedicated to romance novels. New videos daily, contests and giveaways.
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What’s selling in Women’s Fiction?
This past week’s deals from PublishersMarketplace :
Maura Hamilton’s debut SHADES OF PASSION, a paranormal historical romance with Gothic overtones, and an untitled historical romance, to Ellen Edwards at NAL, by Evan Marshall at the Evan Marshall Agency (world).
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Debby Mayne’s IF THE DRESS FITS, about a bridal shop owner who faces challenges of the heart when a businessman makes an offer she can’t refuse - but must, to JoAnne Simmons at Barbour, in a nice deal, by Tamela Hancock Murray of Hartline Literary Agency.
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Jodie Dittman writing as Jo Davis’s debut romantic suspense series, centered around the A-shift firefighters of Station Five, to Tracy Bernstein at NAL, in a three-book deal, by Roberta Brown of the Brown Literary Agency (world).
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Kerry Reichs’ debut THE BEST DAY OF SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE, following one woman through a year and a half of weddings and changes, looking at friendships, relationships, and family bonds, and at growing up and sometimes growing apart, to Carrie Feron at Avon, by Lisa Grubka at the William Morris Agency (NA).
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Jane Tara’s debut FORECAST, about a psychic weatherwoman who lives with her other-worldly mom and grandmom and falls in love with the very down-to-earth weatherman she’s replacing, to Leah Hultenschmidt at Dorchester, for publication in November 2007, by Ken Atchity at AEI Literary Management (NA).
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Cathryn Fox and Sylvia Day’s SPELLBOUND I: MAGIC AND MAYHEM, two intertwined contemporary paranormal novellas about a fantasy lover spell gone awry, again to Lucia Macro at Harper, in a nice deal, by Bob Diforio at D4EO Literary Agency for Fox, and by Pamela Harty at The Knight Agency for Day (world).
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Author of SECRET SOCIETY GIRL and the upcoming UNDER THE ROSE Diana Peterfreund’s next two books in the series, following an Ivy League senior’s spring break on her society’s private island, and her final challenges in tapping a new class of knights, graduating from college, and maybe even falling in love, again to Kerri Buckley at Bantam Dell, by Deidre Knight at The Knight Agency (NA).
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Diane Whiteside’s THE BLUE-EYED DEVIL, in which a man’s deadly skills are needed to keep an intellectual woman safe in early 1900s Europe after she steals secret plans which could trigger a war, THE ARIZONA DEVIL, where the values of the old west collide with the greedy extravagance of Victorian Newport society during a family feud, and one other historical, to Kate Duffy at Kensington, in a very good deal, by Elaine English of Elaine English Literary (world).
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TREASURE and DAD FOR LIFE author Helen Brenna’s new novel for Harlequin’s NASCAR series, to Tina Colombo at Harlequin, for publication in May 2008, by Tina Dubois Wexler at ICM (World).
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Anne Stuart’s untitled novella for Christmas anthology, to Marsha Zinberg at Harlequin, in a nice deal, by Jane Dystel at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management (World).
From Publishers’ Lunch – Marketplace Deals:
12 February, 2007
| Fiction: Women’s/Romance |
Elizabeth Bevarly, Wendy Warren, Kristin Gabriel, Joanne Rock, Barbara Dunlop, Kathleen O’Reilly, Maggie Price, Ken Casper, Jenna Mills, Loreth Anne White, Margot Early, and Bethany Campbell’s twelve novels in a new contemporary romance series set against the backdrop of the Kentucky horseracing community, to Marsha Zinberg and Stacy Boyd at Harlequin, in nice deals for Bevarly, by Steven Axelrod at The Axelrod Agency; Warren by Laura Blake Peterson at Curtis Brown; Dunlop by Evan Fogelman at Fogelman, Underwood, Perkins & Ralston; O’Reilly by Kim Whalen at Trident Media Group; Price by Pam Hopkins at Hopkins Literary Associates; and Mills by Roberta Brown at the Roberta Brown Literary Agency. |
Cool :). But then I’m such a pleb, aren’t I?
I still haven’t left the house. Still haven’t left my office. So by default, I bring you the view from here — my office window. Only one more day of (this) deadline to go …. maybe I can spare you all photos of writer food 
Aren’t they adorable? The frontrunning tykes start hitting the Finish Line in the kidlet division of today’s Whistler Loppet.
Congrats to DD for placing third in her division
Congrats to my friend Irene for finishing 30 kms in 2:30!
Moi? I didn’t race. I was watching my desk fern grow. It was was watching me type (see yesterday’s post). I do, however, have it on good authority I would have come last if I had, BTW. That would be - Stone. Last.
Welcome to my slice of life in B.C.’s wild and wet coast mountains. This ’running commentary’ is less about writing than it is a small window – often visual — into the life of a romance writer, on the run.
I hope to get to know my readers this way, and I hope you get to know me … just a little better.
From The Romance Reader:
“THE HEART OF A RENEGADE is a skillfully crafted novel, packed with complex characters involved in a well-used plot line; however, it is innovatively done. Loreth Anne White’s pacing is superb, maintaining ever mounting intensity as the story plays out. This story is rich with detail, and a plot that could be expanded to a 450 page hardcover. That said, it does not feel as if it were condensed but evolves in the expected manner only to twist and turn a bit adding interest and suspense. The dynamics between Jessica and Luke are extraordinarily well handled.
White is a very gifted author and whose future novels will be sought out by this reviewer.”
–Thea Davis
A TOP PICK from Romantic Times BOOKreview for THE HEART OF A RENEGADE
“Luke Stone is just like a stone. After his pregnant wife is murdered, he closes up emotionally, until his employer asks him to protect Jessica Chan, who’s a target of the Chinese Triad Dragons for attempting to expose their atrocities. Luke doesn’t want to be responsible for anyone, and he’s surprised to find a kindred spirit in Jessica. When they’re on the run with only each other to lean on, their emotional barriers crumble. The Heart of a Renegade (4.5) is an action ride full of thrills and surprises and a love story that will make your heart beat faster.
Loreth Anne White has expanded her Shadow Soldiers series, and intriguing and dynamic characters continue to make it compelling.
—Sandra Garcia-Myers
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And a five-star review from CataRomance.com:
From the instance THE HEART OF A RENEGADE starts, one will take an indrawn breath and continue to gasp until the explosive ending. The danger is believably suspenseful with heart-pounding threats, and how they are carried out is terrifying realistic. Just when one thinks all is going smoothly for the hero and heroine, more peril crops up and they must once again fight for their lives.
Luke and Jessica are one of the most endearing couples about whom I have had the pleasure to read, and their compelling story profoundly touched me. Whether they are fleeing from the enemy or expressing exactly how they feel on a subject, their actions are authentic and make them seem very true-to-life. Ms. White had me caring for this couple and what the future holds for them, causing numerous tension-filled moments during the story. THE HEART OF A RENEGADE masterfully evokes images and feelings to create an enthralling plus emotional story which never disappoints.
–Amelia Richard
SEDUCING THE MERCENRY earns Cata award
I am thrilled to learn SEDUCING THE MERCENARY has been named a CataRomance Reviewers Choice award winner for 2007. Thank you to the Cata team!
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HEART OF A MERCENARY EARNS CATA AWARD
I am honored to have been awarded a 2006 CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award for THE HEART OF A MERCENARY.
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SULTAN is NRCA finalist
A SULTAN’S RANSOM has been named a National Readers Choice Award finalist in the long contemporary category.
