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What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
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Interested in writing for Love Inspired?

Speed Dating with Associate Editor Emily Rodmell

Update: They're capping the list at 100 but sign up anyway so you can be put on the waiting list!

Tired of searching and searching for the right match...for your manuscript? Ready for your characters to get the love and attention of a good editor they've been waiting for?

Well, Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense and Love Inspired Historical are looking for new authors, and Associate Editor Emily Rodmell will be listening to your ideas in a new pitch opportunity we like to call: Speed Dating with an Editor.

This opportunity is open to anyone not published with the Love Inspired lines and only requires that you have a synopsis ready and a desire to write for the inspirational (Christian) romance market. You'll have the chance to pitch her your idea in one paragraph, and she'll respond by filling out a comment card like the one below that shares her first impression of the idea.

Check one:
__I'll cry if you don't send me your manuscript (requested full)
__I'd like to get to know your manuscript better (requested proposal)
__I'm not sure if there's a spark between your manuscript and me, but I'm willing to give it a chance to convince me (requested synopsis)
__There's just no connection between your manuscript and me (no request, but isn't it great to know the idea won't work before you spend time writing it?)

Comments:

Just like with speed dating, polish your pitches and put your best foot forward. Start those manuscripts now, so that if you get a request, you can send it in. While full manuscripts aren't required for the pitch, just like real dating, the more you have to offer, then more interested she'll be. Please make sure to mention in your pitch how much of the manuscript is written.

How this will work:

--Sign up in this thread: http://community.harlequin.com/showthread.php/281-Speed-Dating-with-Associate-Editor-Emily-Rodmell stating your intent to speed date Emily by Friday, June 15th. (Camy here: Do not sign up on my blog, you must go to the link above. You will need to register for Community.Harlequin.com to post to the thread, and also I’ve noticed that if you’re already registered, you may need to click on the link TWICE because the first time will log you in and take you to the homepage, not the link.)
--On Tuesday, June 26th at Noon Eastern, we will gather in the chat room. Emily will go into a separate room, where she will hear individual speed dates.
--Pitchers will be called in the order they signed up to give Emily their pitch. Though we will try to make accommodations for people on break from work, we cannot guarantee a specific pitch time.
--Once Emily gives her feedback, the next pitcher will be called into the room.
--We will be quickly going through each pitch in order, so be prepared with your pitch.

You must register by Friday, June 15 in order to participate. The pitches will take place Tuesday, June 26th at noon Eastern time.

Emily's Speed Dating Profile:

Emily Rodmell is the Associate Editor for Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense and Love Inspired Historical. She's looking for heartwarming romance stories, fast-paced romantic suspense stories and historical romances that sweep her away.

Turn ons:

* Well-developed characters with intriguing romantic conflicts
* Well thought out plots that keep the reader turning the pages
* Good faith elements that are intrinsic to the plot
* Strong sense of community

Turn offs:

* Episodic writing
* Books without enough conflict
* Stories that are preachy or didactic
* Unlikable or unrelatable heroes and heroines

Guidelines: Take time to read the Love Inspired guidelines to make sure your story fits in with what Love Inspired is all about.
Love Inspired
Love Inspired Historical
Love Inspired Suspense
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Comments

Susan F. said…
Thank you for this Camy. I've wanted to do this for years and keep letting fear rule. I could sure use many prayers. :)
Mon Apr 30, 12:02:00 PM 2012
Camy Tang said…
Awesome! I'll send a prayer up for you!
Mon Apr 30, 05:12:00 PM 2012
Anonymous said…
I signed up!!!! I *think* I may have made the cut. If not do you think it's wrong to pray a few drop out, if I pray that they sell a book before then?! ;-) Regardless, this will motivate me to get to gettin' with my writing.
Mon Apr 30, 05:58:00 PM 2012
Camy Tang said…
LOL I don't know! I'm really glad this is motivating you with your writing!
Mon Apr 30, 06:00:00 PM 2012
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