Sorry for not being a good blogger right now. I’m up to my ears in edits, life, etc. right now. Plus, I’m designing a new website and have a graphics designer creating new graphics that I will use.

In fact, that’s why this blog looks slightly different again. I did something by accident, thought I had saved the files but hadn’t and couldn’t get it back the way it was – and since I’m redesigning anyway I didn’t want to waste too much time on it. Granted I already have, but let’s move beyond that.

I will be at Romancing the blog this Friday. Surprise! LOL I had forgotten. That’s not like me. Normally I would have already written my post, but alas I have been sidetracked by life.

Anyway, I have a lot going on and some of it actually involves writing. I will be back here regularly,but it will likely be when my children are back in school after the Labour Day weekend.

What’s new with all of you? Stop by and let me know what you’re up to. I always love visitors.

I’ve been wanting to post this since last week, but I had to wait. I have been contracted by Cobblestone Press for their Vampire Oracle line. My card is Harmony.

As soon as I’m allowed I will post the cover art and blurb.

In the meantime, let’s party!

I’m going to talk about *gasp* writing. I know, something new for a change! LOL Well, I’m not really talking about writing, but about submissions.

There are a several reasons for this post:

1. I have two things submitted right now, at separate places
2. A post I saw at RD got me thinking
3. I am an editor at an epub (for those that didn’t know and no, not under this name, and most often I won’t talk editor stuff here)

If you are a writer who wants to be published (AFAIK that’s the goal for most of us) then you will, at some point, submit your work to a publisher. Amazing, but true.

The thing is, when you do submit, you need to follow the rules of submission for each publisher you submit to. They are not all the same. If you are doing multiple submissions you may need to reformat multiple times.

Most publishers have their submission guidelines clearly stated on their websites. Make sure, before you submit, that you are familiar with them. If the publisher asks for a synopsis (most do) then send one. Yes, as a writer, I am not a fan of writing a synopsis, BUT, as an editor I like to have them. Why? Well, most submission guidelines ask for a minimum of 1-3 chapters, plus a synopsis. If the editor likes the chapter they may refer to the synopsis to see where the story is going, and how it will wrap up.

And here’s another thing about the synopsis. Don’t end it with a cliffhanger. The editor actually needs to know how the story ends. Cliffhangers won’t entice them to ask you for the entire ms, more than likely they’ll just find it annoying.

There’s no trick to submitting and catching the eye of a publisher. Just follow the rules and write the best you can. I know of some editors that won’t even read the submission if the rules aren’t followed. Why should they? You haven’t done what they requested.

This is your job interview. Would you just chuck your resume at a prospective employer and say “have at ‘er, let me know when I can start”? I don’t think you’re going to get a lot of jobs that way.

Listen, as a writer, I am just as scared every time I send a submission. Recently, I made a typo in a query letter after checking it a hundred times, and only noticed AFTER I had hit send. I did follow it up with an email to the editor advising her that I was aware of the typo and that I was sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that, maybe that was over the top, but at least she is aware that I realised I made a mistake and I was willing to fix it.

As an editor, I want to see the best in every submission and I want to see that our submission guidelines have been followed. I know that the writer is nervous about their submission. However, there are genuine mistakes and then there is blatant disregard for following the guidelines, or even deadlines. If the deadline is Aug 1, why is it ok for you to submit on Aug 2? It’s only one day, but it doesn’t matter. You are too late. Even if the dog ate your computer.

This is longer than I intended, sorry. Point is… put your best foot forward. It can’t hurt, and it just might pay off. Wouldn’t you rather get that contract email/call because you followed the rules, rather than a decline because you didn’t? Wouldn’t you rather it be about the writing, than because you didn’t bother to check if they wanted three chapters, instead of one?

Back from my vacation where I mostly cooked BUT, we had the most wonderful lunch at a new to us restaurant yesterday. It was an Italian place but great for the whole family. Good food, great portion sizes, fantastic service and kids menus. The name was Johnny Carino’s in Burlington, WA – will have to find the receipt. Anyway, so I thought I would do a TT on the things I have eaten, mostly weird, some not so weird.

1. Witchety Grub – look it up. Someone elses TT (last week I think – was it you Elle or ??) talked about grubs. Yeah. I had this baked in the dirt at a Corroborree (sp?) I attended in the Northern Territory, Australia. Had I known what it was at the time I would never eaten it. As it was it just tasted a bit like peanut butter, just more pasty, less sticky.
2. Lizard – same event as the witchety grub, baked in the dirt. Tasted like chicken.
3. Crocodile – also in Australia, although in a restaurant. Also, tasted like chicken, although fatty chicken. Really fatty *shudders*
4. Kangaroo – guess where? OK, yes, I likely ate all my weird stuff in Australia. This one may be weird but it was unbelievably good. And it cut like butta. And, funny enough… it had witchety grub sauce on the side.
5. Caribou – no, not in Australia, but again oh so good. I do like game meat apparently.
6. Buffalo – can’t remember where, just remember I didn’t like it. It was super dry. Blech.
7. Deer – my ex-boyfriend’s family used to hunt. They owned a Greek restaurant and would shut it down and cook deer for all of us. It was yummy. Too bad he was a jerk.
8. Feta rolled into and baked in fresh bread, like a cinnamon roll, except with feta. Same Greek party with the deer. Again, yummy.
9. Salmon – I love salmon. Truly it is my perfect food and, really, so versatile. Mmmmm.
10. Cannoli – had my first one yesterday. Loved it.
11. Ooey gooey cupcakes – I swear to you these are the best cupcakes on earth. Google them. I think the recipe originated with Emeril Lagasse. Definitely NOT low fat.

Calamari – deep fried with tons of tsatziki. So good.

Poutine – do you know what it is? LOL

14. Mister Linky returned an error instead of the Autolink widget content: Click here to display the links for this post.
    Blog Owner: You may upgrade to display more than one Linky at a time.

We’re going away on Friday and I’m excited. Here are thirteen things about my vacation:

1. We’re going to a beach house – well technically it looks out over the beach but still, I can see water and ships so it’s all good.
2. We’re travelling by car and it will be the longest trip #3 has had in the car, I believe. Should be interesting
3. We’re going to (hopefully) spend a lot of family time at the beach. I love beaches. Mmm, beaches.
4. My children will all be wearing life vests, and/or body glove suits with built-in floaties, at all times on the beach. They will have weird tan lines but I am paranoid. I have read three separate child drowning incidences in the last two months.
5. There is a hot tub at the house – my kids are all in bed/asleep by 8 pm.
6. We hope some friends will come join us for one of the nights. Our friends are tons of fun to hang out with and they like the same wine we do (red ) . We spend a lot of time laughing when we are with them.
7. I have to take my laptop to do some work. I hope to write while my baby is napping.
8. I have no idea if there is internet there
9. There are enough rooms for all of us – even if our friends join us. Last year when we rented a place we all shared one room. No we’re not rich we just caught a good deal (that I searched and searched for after contacting about twenty different places). It is only about $20 more per night than the place we had last year and the area is prettier.
10. The area has tons of artisans and little coffee shops and cool places to browse.
11. I don’t really plan on hanging out or browsing much but still good to know that it’s a cool area.
12. I’m very excited, I’m not sure I know what to do first.
13. Yes, I do. RELAX
Mister Linky returned an error instead of the Autolink widget content: Click here to display the links for this post.
Blog Owner: You may upgrade to display more than one Linky at a time.