Publication Announcement!

Image purchased from Dreamstime

Image purchased from Dreamstime

This is the blog post I’ve been waiting four years to write. I’m excited to announce that you will be seeing four (maybe even five) books from me in 2016!

That’s because I’ve made the decision to become an independent author. I’m even in the process of setting up my own company, which will be my publication house.

Here’s the publication schedule:

  1. Daughter of Destiny (Guinevere’s Tale: Book 1) – January 1
  2. Camelot’s Queen (Guinevere’s Tale: Book 2) – March 23
  3. Been Searching for You (formerly He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not) – May 23
  4. Madame Presidentess – July 25

And if the stars align, I’d love to have Mistress of Legend (Guinevere’s Tale: Book 3) published by the end of 2016, but that may be a bit ambitious, so I’m not making any promises yet.

All of these books will be available in e-book, print and audio formats. (Audio may come later than the others, depending on the production schedule. I’ll keep you updated.)

These books are the beginning of three series that I’ll continue in years to come:

  1. Arthurian Legend – Obviously, this includes the three Guinevere’s Tale books, but I also plan to write Tristan and Isolde’s story (Isolde demanded it when she walked into my head all those years ago), as well as several novellas. I’m also planning a companion book that tells you more about the details of my Arthurian world – you know, all the stuff that didn’t fit into the books.
  2. Love in the Windy CityBeen Searching for You was supposed to be a standalone novel. However, my beta readers immediately came back and demanded more, as have several contest judges. I’m pretty sure that there will be two more books in this series. I don’t want to give away more than that until all of you get to read it and tell me if you agree there’s more to Annabeth and Alex’s story (and Miles, Mia, and Nick).
  3. Heroines of the 19th CenturyMadame Presidentess (about Victoria Woodhull) is the first of four books about three feisty, mostly unknown, real-life women of the 19th century. Victoria was the first female to run for President in the United States. Another woman I will write about was a Morman with dreams of a new life in California, who unexpectedly became involved with Indians in the Wild West (I think her story will be two books). The other is a French woman who made a certain brand of high-end wine a household name in a time when women simply did not work. Though they are from vastly different worlds, none of these ladies lived the traditional role set out for women of their time and the world is better for it.

Which one will I focus on once the third Guinevere book is out? I have no idea. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I have 22 books floating around in my head, so it will really be up to the muse and the characters what comes next. Well, that and how all of you react to the books once you can read them.

As many of you know, this has been a long journey with many ups and downs, and I want to make sure you know how grateful I am for all of you sticking with me, whether you’ve been here from the beginning or are just hopping on for the ride. I plan to keep you apprised of every step in the process and will give additional information as soon as I can. Look for cover reveals, early sample chapters, giveaways and more as publication dates approach.

Eventually I’ll get to the fun stuff like scheduling book signings and virtual tours (hope to get to meet some of you via Skype!), but right now I’m working on securing a cover designer, map illustrator (for the Guinevere books) and editor. Plus learning everything I can about self publishing. Before long it will be time to firm up the audio deal. Every day brings a new challenge, but it’s something I am having so much fun learning. For me, this is a career and a business, so I want to get it right.

Curious as to why I chose to self-publish? Find out my reasoning on Thursday, August 28, over at Spellbound Scribes.

Are you excited that my books will finally be out there? Which one(s) are you most looking forward to? Anything in particular you want to see in terms of marketing?

I’m a Linda Howard Award of Excellence Finalist!

This is the news I’ve been sitting on, but now I can finally announce: He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not is a finalist of the Linda Howard Award of Excellence in the Single Title category. This award is sponsored by the Birmingham Chapter of RWA. Final placement will be announced in July. I’m especially excited about the final round judge for this category, Alicia Condon, editor at Kensington Publishing. Wish me luck!

(For those of you keeping track at home, this is final #5 for this book.)

 

Final #4 for He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not!

FFL_WHO_FinalistYou guys may get tired of hearing this, but I never get tired of saying it: He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not has finaled in another contest! This one is the Fool For Love contest, sponsored by the Virginia Romance Writers. The category is long contemporary and the final results will be announced in mid-June. Wish me luck!

I’m sitting on one more piece of similar news…will reveal when I can.

We Have Another Final!

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not is on fire! It’s now also a finalist in the Fab Five contest in the Single Title Romance category – its third award this year. This one is sponsored by the Wisconsin chapter of RWA. As with the Cleveland Rocks contest, final placement will be announced in June. I’m very excited about the agents and editors who will see it for both contests.

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not is a Great Expectations Finalist!

Finalist_Medallion_GreatExpectations_v1_2015I am so excited to announce that my romantic comedy, He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, is a finalist in the Great Expectations writing contest, sponsored by the North Texas chapter of the Romance Writer’s Association (RWA).

This means my book is one of four books in the Single Title Romance category that will be judged by an editor at a major publishing house. Results are due the third week of March, so I will be sure to keep you updated.

Just like the Academy Awards, even though everyone wants to be that one winner, it is such an honor just to have gotten this far, especially since I didn’t set out to write a romance. I just set out to tell the story that was in my mind, so it doesn’t necessarily follow all the traditional conventions. But it means so much to know that readers believe I have talent and want to see this story on the shelves!