Thursday, February 25, 2010

ABNA contest


I'm happy to announce I made the 1st cut in the Amazon ABNA (Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award) contest after a month long grueling wait. The entry period started Jan 24th, 2010 and ended Feb 7th. My book wasn't even close to being ready when I found out about it mid Dec, but after putting EVERYTHING on the back burner, I painstakingly edited the rest of my novel, THE EMERALD TALISMAN. And thanks to my lovely and wonderful editor, Dori Ohnstad, who did the same thing, we stayed up many late nights to finish on time.

The worst part though I have to admit was the 300 word pitch. You'd think after writing close to 84,000 words, I could sum up my book in 300 words. It's not as easy as you think. Ask my brother Nate who I talked his ear off for an hour about the plot when he asked "what's it about". Bless his heart for pretending to listen.

It also didn't help to know that the pitch would either make or break me to move to the next level. I read through the posting boards and found a "template" of sorts and followed it. I guess it was what they were looking for since I passed. So when the day arrived, I logged on at 5:30am to see the winners. Nothing was posted anywhere and I lurked the forum as rumors of last years horrors filled up the posts. I felt like a girl waiting for a phone call from a boy she liked and it was painful. Needless to say, all the girl scout cookies are gone. But it was worth it as I ran out of the house and hugged my husbands neck when he drove in the driveway at the news that finally came at 3pm.

So, now I wait again. But as uncanny as it is, the date for the next cut is March 23rd, my favorite number. The list will be cut from 2,000 to 500. It's based on the first 5,000 words of the novel. Cross your fingers for me.

Hugs, Brenda

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Welcome to my blog

I'm happy you stopped by. This is going to be my blogging journey of getting my book off the ground and into as many hands as I can.

Thanks for your support!

Hugs, Brenda

Saturday, February 6, 2010

The Official Emerald Talisman Site

I created the book promotion site for The Emerald Talisman today. So stop by and read an excerpt. Copies will be available Spring 2010.

I'm also including a FAN page in the back of the book. If you'd like to buy a spot, it's $1. Click the "support" link and follow the instructions. Proceeds are going towards publishing costs.

Thanks for your support!

Hugs, Brenda