Originally published September 13, 2007
I'm still working on various avenues for a new publisher, but in the meantime to keep the momentum going at least for myself I've created a website devoted to my work, both current and future. Go check it out at: http://www.spunkyheroine.net !
As always, comments are appreciated!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Next!
Originally published August 21, 2007
Okay, Samhain Publishing doesn't want to offer me a contract for "Kingdom," so it's back to writing some more query letters... keep those beacons lit, my friends! This was a bit of a blow today - I had high hopes! But I know it will get published. It just won't go as smoothly as I'd originally planned.... sigh...
Okay, Samhain Publishing doesn't want to offer me a contract for "Kingdom," so it's back to writing some more query letters... keep those beacons lit, my friends! This was a bit of a blow today - I had high hopes! But I know it will get published. It just won't go as smoothly as I'd originally planned.... sigh...
Still Playing a Waiting Game
Originally published August 13, 2007
The manuscript is still with another editor from a different online publisher, so I'm trying to be patient while waiting to hear back from her. Any beacons, prayers, good vibes, etc. for its acceptance would be MOST appreciated!
The manuscript is still with another editor from a different online publisher, so I'm trying to be patient while waiting to hear back from her. Any beacons, prayers, good vibes, etc. for its acceptance would be MOST appreciated!
A Bump in the Road
Originally published August 6, 2007
I got some disappointing news at the end of last week - the publisher who offered me a contract last winter to publish "Kingdom" has unfortunately decided to close down their Young Adult line as of September 1st - which effectively means that my book won't be released on October 27th as I previously announced nor will they be publishing it at all.
It was a blow, naturally, but I'm not discouraged. After talking with my friend (and editor) Susan, I have a few avenues to pursue other publishing houses (and yes, I checked with MGP to make sure that I can now submit it to other publishers). In fact, that same day she was able to put me in contact with another online publisher who is currently reading the manuscript. So my fingers and toes are crossed very tightly that this new editor likes the book enough to offer me a new contract. I have faith that it will be published - it will just take a little longer than I previously thought!
As for Dyana's brilliant cover art, I'm still not sure what the parameters are to be able to use it at another publisher. As the artwork belongs to her and I'm not privy to her contract with MGP use of it is uncertain.
Keep good thoughts for Lark and Iain and the gang that they'll get their big release sooner rather than later!
I got some disappointing news at the end of last week - the publisher who offered me a contract last winter to publish "Kingdom" has unfortunately decided to close down their Young Adult line as of September 1st - which effectively means that my book won't be released on October 27th as I previously announced nor will they be publishing it at all.
It was a blow, naturally, but I'm not discouraged. After talking with my friend (and editor) Susan, I have a few avenues to pursue other publishing houses (and yes, I checked with MGP to make sure that I can now submit it to other publishers). In fact, that same day she was able to put me in contact with another online publisher who is currently reading the manuscript. So my fingers and toes are crossed very tightly that this new editor likes the book enough to offer me a new contract. I have faith that it will be published - it will just take a little longer than I previously thought!
As for Dyana's brilliant cover art, I'm still not sure what the parameters are to be able to use it at another publisher. As the artwork belongs to her and I'm not privy to her contract with MGP use of it is uncertain.
Keep good thoughts for Lark and Iain and the gang that they'll get their big release sooner rather than later!
A Prince of a Guy
Originally published July 31, 2007
The third member of this triangle is Prince Benedick of Ardancor. He's handsome, he's young, he's engaging - all the things a girl wants in a beau. If Larkin can just get him to believe in himself!
Ben is the younger son and often finds himself in a scrape. It's not until he meets Lark that he understands what his role as a prince can be, but does he owe his allegiance to his father King Niklaus? Or will he pledge his service to Larkin instead?
Like Larkin, Ben must go through the growing pains of young adulthood. Will he be ready for the consequences of his actions?
The third member of this triangle is Prince Benedick of Ardancor. He's handsome, he's young, he's engaging - all the things a girl wants in a beau. If Larkin can just get him to believe in himself!
Ben is the younger son and often finds himself in a scrape. It's not until he meets Lark that he understands what his role as a prince can be, but does he owe his allegiance to his father King Niklaus? Or will he pledge his service to Larkin instead?
Like Larkin, Ben must go through the growing pains of young adulthood. Will he be ready for the consequences of his actions?
A Knight's Tale
Originally published July 24, 2007
With all due respect to Chaucer's great work... I'd like to introduce you all to Sir Iain Struan, Knight-Protector of Evenlake.
Sir Struan is a young man who takes his commitment to the royal family, and to the king in particular, very seriously. He has been in the king's service since he was the tender age of nine years old. He knows no other life besides serving Evenlake. When both he and Princess Larkin must flee, he is determined to hold his duty as Knight-Protector sacrosanct by serving Larkin.
Because of his utter devotion to Evenlake and the king, Sir Struan has led a solitary existence despite living and working among the court. Larkin even has joked that he is her father's "big monk." That is a particularly amusing comment as his older brother Wulf is actually a monk at a nearby monastery. Choosing to follow Larkin and serve her in the same capacity as he did her father completely turns his taciturn life upside down!
If I were to compare Sir Struan to another well-known knight, I would say he has a lot in common with Sir Lancelot in the Arthurian legends.
With all due respect to Chaucer's great work... I'd like to introduce you all to Sir Iain Struan, Knight-Protector of Evenlake.
Sir Struan is a young man who takes his commitment to the royal family, and to the king in particular, very seriously. He has been in the king's service since he was the tender age of nine years old. He knows no other life besides serving Evenlake. When both he and Princess Larkin must flee, he is determined to hold his duty as Knight-Protector sacrosanct by serving Larkin.
Because of his utter devotion to Evenlake and the king, Sir Struan has led a solitary existence despite living and working among the court. Larkin even has joked that he is her father's "big monk." That is a particularly amusing comment as his older brother Wulf is actually a monk at a nearby monastery. Choosing to follow Larkin and serve her in the same capacity as he did her father completely turns his taciturn life upside down!
If I were to compare Sir Struan to another well-known knight, I would say he has a lot in common with Sir Lancelot in the Arthurian legends.
Meet Larkin
Originally published July 20, 2007
Now that I've given you a bit about the story of the book I thought I'd introduce you all to the main "players" (I have a BA in Theatre - I think of the story in theatrical terms much of the time!).
So the first, most important "starring role" (to keep up with the theme) is Larkin of Evenlake. She is a young, rather naive and bookish middle child of the ruling family of this pleasant, verdant country. Having older brothers and a stunning younger sister, "Lark" (as she is come to be known) has given little thought to her future. One of her brothers is destined to be king after her father, and her charming sister would certainly make the most advantageous match. Lark imagined she would likely end up in a convent somewhere, but she was still young and her whole life was still ahead of her. There was time enough to decide her future...
Or so she thought. In one fell swoop her destiny is set before her and she must follow a path for which she was unprepared or untrained. The story follows Lark on this journey from grief to growing to womanhood, from statesmanship to romance - and at the end triumph! But it does come at a cost, a cost that will affect her the rest of her life.
When I've had a few friends read and comment, they compare Larkin to Anastasia or St. Joan of Arc - I'd even throw in a bit of Shakespeare's Henry V as well!
You'll get to know Lark a bit more as you "meet" the other characters.
Now that I've given you a bit about the story of the book I thought I'd introduce you all to the main "players" (I have a BA in Theatre - I think of the story in theatrical terms much of the time!).
So the first, most important "starring role" (to keep up with the theme) is Larkin of Evenlake. She is a young, rather naive and bookish middle child of the ruling family of this pleasant, verdant country. Having older brothers and a stunning younger sister, "Lark" (as she is come to be known) has given little thought to her future. One of her brothers is destined to be king after her father, and her charming sister would certainly make the most advantageous match. Lark imagined she would likely end up in a convent somewhere, but she was still young and her whole life was still ahead of her. There was time enough to decide her future...
Or so she thought. In one fell swoop her destiny is set before her and she must follow a path for which she was unprepared or untrained. The story follows Lark on this journey from grief to growing to womanhood, from statesmanship to romance - and at the end triumph! But it does come at a cost, a cost that will affect her the rest of her life.
When I've had a few friends read and comment, they compare Larkin to Anastasia or St. Joan of Arc - I'd even throw in a bit of Shakespeare's Henry V as well!
You'll get to know Lark a bit more as you "meet" the other characters.
Check out the Cover!
Originally published July 17, 2007
It's here at last - and I must say that I think it looks stunning! And having a cover for the book makes it all the more real... Many thanks to artist Dyana Lunaris for creating such a fantastic image for "Kingdom!"
And this train keeps moving along... I IM'd with the publisher on Monday and she set the date for the e-book release - October 27th! It also happens to be a fairly significant birthday for me... now in more ways than one!
Alas, Wherefor a Kingdom - So What's it All About?
Originally published July 13, 2007
"Kingdom" is a Young Adult title to be published by Mardi Gras Publishing in October 2007. While the novel is targeted for tweens and teens, I believe it is a mature enough story to be enjoyed by adults as well.
The following is the "blurb" I submitted to MGP - how much of it (or any of it) that will end up on the back cover hasn't been set at this time, but I think it's a pretty good description - if I do say so myself!
Next time, I'll tell you all a little about the main characters! Do feel free to comment or ask questions as I'm happy to discuss the book (with probably more minutiae than you really want!).
In, Alas, Wherefore a Kingdom, the uncommon visions that visit Sir Iain Struan and his young charge, Princess Larkin of Evenlake, often point to sinister consequences for the teen-aged royal and her realm. Larkin is curious about these images and works to develop them, but the older and more judicious knight finds them increasingly plaguing.
Princess Larkin is the quiet, introverted middle child in a well-loved royal family. However, when her entire family is assassinated in front of her disbelieving eyes, Larkin must flee her home with Sir Struan, the Knight-Protector of Evenlake. The knight delivers her to the safety of his mother’s borderland estate, but it is soon apparent that “Lark” must depart Evenlake entirely. Along with the noblewoman and Struan’s older brother, a monk from a destroyed and disbanded abbey, the pair travels to the border realm of Ardancor where the Struans are related to the royal family there.
As she grows to womanhood in her adopted country, Larkin discovers the challenges of ruling a kingdom, a position for which she was ill-equipped, in preparation for reclaiming the throne from her usurping bastard brother. With her burgeoning visions and with the trials merely of becoming an adult adding to her lessons in statesmanship, Larkin finds she must take on a more dynamic role than she ever imagined before leaving her home.
In the meantime, her Knight-Protector’s visions trouble him to the point of distress. He has seen disturbing images that he cannot share with anyone, most particularly with his young protégé. Larkin returns to Evenlake to win back the realm, but learns the costs of leadership come at a very high price.
"Kingdom" is a Young Adult title to be published by Mardi Gras Publishing in October 2007. While the novel is targeted for tweens and teens, I believe it is a mature enough story to be enjoyed by adults as well.
The following is the "blurb" I submitted to MGP - how much of it (or any of it) that will end up on the back cover hasn't been set at this time, but I think it's a pretty good description - if I do say so myself!
Next time, I'll tell you all a little about the main characters! Do feel free to comment or ask questions as I'm happy to discuss the book (with probably more minutiae than you really want!).
In, Alas, Wherefore a Kingdom, the uncommon visions that visit Sir Iain Struan and his young charge, Princess Larkin of Evenlake, often point to sinister consequences for the teen-aged royal and her realm. Larkin is curious about these images and works to develop them, but the older and more judicious knight finds them increasingly plaguing.
Princess Larkin is the quiet, introverted middle child in a well-loved royal family. However, when her entire family is assassinated in front of her disbelieving eyes, Larkin must flee her home with Sir Struan, the Knight-Protector of Evenlake. The knight delivers her to the safety of his mother’s borderland estate, but it is soon apparent that “Lark” must depart Evenlake entirely. Along with the noblewoman and Struan’s older brother, a monk from a destroyed and disbanded abbey, the pair travels to the border realm of Ardancor where the Struans are related to the royal family there.
As she grows to womanhood in her adopted country, Larkin discovers the challenges of ruling a kingdom, a position for which she was ill-equipped, in preparation for reclaiming the throne from her usurping bastard brother. With her burgeoning visions and with the trials merely of becoming an adult adding to her lessons in statesmanship, Larkin finds she must take on a more dynamic role than she ever imagined before leaving her home.
In the meantime, her Knight-Protector’s visions trouble him to the point of distress. He has seen disturbing images that he cannot share with anyone, most particularly with his young protégé. Larkin returns to Evenlake to win back the realm, but learns the costs of leadership come at a very high price.
July 10th
Currently I'm working with my editor Susan on cleaning up the manuscript to "Kingdom," but she's at a writers' conference this week, so I'm left to my own devices until she gets back!
In the meantime I've been corresponding with Dyana,the cover artist, for my book in regards to the illustration on the front and I have to tell you, I'm pretty excited with her first pass! I'll be very eager to show you all when it's ready!
When last I spoke with Teresa at Mardi Gras Publishing (YA), we settled on an October 2007 release - keep your fingers cross that all the edits continue to go smoothly!
Until next time...
In the meantime I've been corresponding with Dyana,the cover artist, for my book in regards to the illustration on the front and I have to tell you, I'm pretty excited with her first pass! I'll be very eager to show you all when it's ready!
When last I spoke with Teresa at Mardi Gras Publishing (YA), we settled on an October 2007 release - keep your fingers cross that all the edits continue to go smoothly!
Until next time...
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