In Support of the Personal Rejection...

Well, lots of good news has to be tempered with a bit of bad news...right?

I got a rejection today for one of my tales. So, it's off in search of a new home. However, as rejections go, this has to be the nicest, most constructive rejection letter I've ever received. It didn't even feel like a rejection. Which made me think about the discussion a week or so ago on Romancing the Blog about form rejections versus personal rejections.

There are lots of cons for the personal rejection for the editor's POV --

It takes time to write them and a few minutes here and there do add up. Especially when dealing with a towering pile of submissions!

It also seems to bring out the worst in some writers who berate the editor for not viewing their manuscript as the masterpiece they think it is. Or who want to argue minutiae with the editor in hopes of changing their mind. It also seems to open the door for the writer stuck in the infinite loop of submitting. They change three words, and send it back in uninvited, two, three or more times!

Yep, I see lots of cons for the editor -- and I'm sure all editors out there could add more to this list!

But there are Pros to that personalized rejection letter. As a writer, I love them. In many cases, the editor has taken the time to tell me where I fell off the track (e.g., your hero/heroine is simply too stupid to live [TSTL], or there were too many spelling and grammar errors, or the writing was too dull and pedestrian, the plot was not well thought out, or the conflict not big enough to sustain the story, etc., etc...)


For me, a form letter is the worst. It takes hold and makes my imagination fly off into all sorts of directions. Especially the "politically correct" rejections. You know, the ones that adopt the "sorry it's not you, it's us" format. These form letters don't help me as a writer at all. I don't know if the story sucks, if the editor just bought the same plot line, or if the editor knows my ex-husband's ex-wife and just has a really low opinion of me. After receiving one of those (and I've had my fair share, believe me)...I'll simply proceed to torture other publications with the story until someone finally has the guts to tell me my hero is walking around with toilet paper stuck to his shoe and my heroine is TSTL.

As you can tell, I'm all in favor for personalized rejection letters -- however, as a writer, it leaves ME with the responsiblity of what I do next.

1. I do NOT write the editor and tell them they must have read the wrong book because they couldn't possibly be rejecting MINE!

2. I do analyze what the editor said and determine whether I, as the author, agree with their assessment. I can then choose to change the story or not.

3. I do NOT make the changes to the document and send it back to the editor without an invitation to do so.

4. I do NOT publically berate the editor or the publisher by name on my blog for all the world to see. Blogs are PUBLIC people -- and the words you type can last an eternity in cyberspace.

And my last responsibility is to look at this rejection as an opportunity to seek out new publications, editors, or agents to submit the work to. What's wrong for one may be oh-so-right for the next one.

"Sin" City

Did you miss me?


We went to Las Vegas with my husband on business last weekend and didn't get back until w-a-y late last night (yawn).

Since we went with the whole family, we stayed at Circus Circus and had a blast. The amusement park inside is small, but since it was during the week and not busy, the boys got to ride, and ride, and ride the little railroad rollarcoaster~

The sad part was that the wireless card for our laptop simply would not connect with the wireless service at the hotel. I felt a bit disconnected...but came back to some really great news.

I got new cover art for a 2008 release from Cobblestone Press titled Fool's Gold.


And it looks like I have a new home for The Werewolf Whisperer! I'll make a formal annoucement about it once the contract's been received and signed...but it's a relief to know it'll soon have a publisher. What it really means is I need to get cracking on writing the three sequels to it as well ~ LOL!

All the time without the internet meant I did a lot of writing. I have one final scene to write for The Vampire Oracle: Chalice and then I can type THE END on the first draft. I'm probably a little off target for hitting submit by 31 October, but it'll be close.

My next project is going to be a time travel...it's part of an idea I've been thinking about for years and all the details are finally beginning to gel. I have to have it written and submitted by the end of the year but am shooting for 15 December so that I can take a bit of a breather during the holidays and start thinking about what projects I need to tackle in 2008.

Anyway...that's what I've been up to. What about you? Have you met your goals for 2007? Are you even close?

Chasing the Vile Witch Contest & Scavenger Hunt

Buried at PhotoCasket.com

Take a moment because it is almost here.
The night when cyberspace shivers with fear.

A witch has escaped, she's stalking the net.
Where will she visit? What authors to be met?

She's vile and tricky, a withered old crone.
She'll be here and there leaving traces of sinew and bone.

Hope for a hero, someone to stop her cold.
Tell T.J. where to go, let the story unfold.

* * * * *

Join T.J. Killian and a long list of authors on October 20, 2007, as
she chases the vile witch across the internet. An interactive game
full of fun, some surprises, and of course, lots of prizes.

Immediately following the chase will be a scavenger hunt for the
grand prize of a 25.00 gift certificate to Dark Eden Press.

Who is invited? - everyone
When - promptly at 9 PM EST on October 20, 2007
Where - Love Romances Café Yahoo Group and Dark Eden Press Readers' Yahoo Group.

I'm giving away a Linda Biggs Fantasy Art Print as my prize. The other authors participating are also throwing in free e-books, candy and other great prizes!


Chase contest runs from Oct. 20, 2007 until Oct. 27, 2007.

Scavenger hunt runs from Oct. 22, 2007 until Nov. 10, 2007.

Twice the gaming, twice the fun.

I've been Tagged

Okay...I've been tagged by not one but three different people to do this...so I'd better comply!

Here’s how it works…

Players offer eight random habits/facts about themselves. If you’re tagged, you need to write your own blog about your eight things and post the rules. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose eight people to tag–and list their names. If you participate, don’t forget to leave your people a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

These will truly be 8 random facts...

1. My favorite holiday is Halloween (can you say CANDY!)

2. My favorite drink is Diet Pepsi. I don't drink coffee so I've got to get caffeinated somehow!

3. I love camping. My favorite spot to camp is Death Valley.

4. I also love the beach. Beach camping is one of my other favorite places to camp...

5. (geez, am I almost there yet?)...I love scary movies. In fact, An American Haunting is on tap for tonight.

6. I collect ghost stories...I have a whole shelf of paranormal research books that include local ghost story books from places I have visited.

7. I've had one paranormal encounter with a ghost. A little girl who sang her ABCs.

8. And last but not least, my mother would probably croak and turn into a ghost if she knew I wrote erotic romance...

I think everyone I know and lots of people I don't were tagged with this one. So, consider yourself tagged if you want to participate!

A few minutes of fame...

Hopefully this interview didn't use up my entire 15 minutes!



Click here to read the interview.

Octoberfest Week 2

You know what happens at parties, right? There are gifts and this party will be no exception. Stop by an author's blog during thier week and comment and you'll automatically be entered to win a copy of their Octoberfest title! Woot! And you'll be able to read excerpts, some that may not be seen anywhere else.

So let's get to the good stuff. We got off to an excellent start last week!

The winners of Octoberfest Week 1 were:

Shelli's Winner: Bluecat

Sable Grey's Winner: Iron Eyes

Ericka Scott's Winner: Renee Lynn Scott

So from today October 8th to Friday, October 12th stop by their blogs and leave them a comment. The winners will be announced here on the CP Blog and on each authors blog.

October 8th to October 12th, 2007:


Minx Malone's Blog
Prize: ebook copy of Hell Baby
Blurb:
All Helena plans for Halloween is to visit her father in Underworld. Instead she finds herself captured by the gatekeeper, Abaddon. He offers her a deal, her body for her freedom but can she convince Underworld's fiercest Enforcer they can have more than three nights? With luck, maybe even forever?


Anna Leigh Keaton's Blog
Prize: ebook copy of Chailali's Curse
Blurb:
Brought together by the guiding hand of a matchmaking ghost, Christy and Mike face their inner demons and find solace in each other as lust blazes and hearts unite. But love and passion aren't always enough to see them through the darkness of their pasts. They must find the courage to persevere.em>


Crystal Jordan's Blog
Prize: ebook copy of Season of Change: Open Season
Blurb:
Leigh Granger is on the run from her violent past when she takes a job at Still Waters resort. A drunken one night stand ends her up in bed with her commanding new boss, Aidan Lassiter...and they accidentally marked each other as mates. When her vengeful ex-fiancé tracks her down, she bolts. Will Aidan let the best mistake he ever made slip through his fingers?em>

Check back here for some surprises and updates. The blog party invites will go out every Monday and the next one is scheduled on Monday, October 15th!

And the Winner is....

Renee Lynn Scott

Please e-mail me at ericka_scott @ sbcglobal . net (minus the spaces) and let me know what format you need your e-book in.

Thanks for making a little mischief with me! I'll post next weeks invitation on Monday and you can blog surf for chances to win next week's new releases!

Cobblestone Press Octoberfest Trick-or-Treat!

It's October already and you know what that means...yes!

It's time for Cobblestone Press' 2nd Annual Octoberfest Celebration. Shifters, vampires, ghosts, and everything in between. Octoberfest is about celebrating all things paranormal and in celebration of their Octoberfest releases the authors of Cobblestone are having a MONTH long Blog Party.

You know what happens at parties, right? There are gifts and this party will be no exception. Stop by an author's blog during thier week and comment and you'll automatically be entered to win a copy of their Octoberfest title! Woot! And you'll be able to read excerpts, some that may not be seen anywhere else.So let's get to the good stuff.

Here's the schedule for the first week. Starting us off with releases this coming Friday, October 5th are Sable Grey, Ericka Scott and Shelli Stevens.

So from today October 1st to Friday, October 5th stop by their blogs and leave them a comment. The winners will be announced Friday, October 5th here on the CP Blog and on each authors blog.

October 1st to October 5th, 2007:

Sable Grey's Blog

Prize: ebook copy of Something Wild

Blurb: London is a city drowning in fear as a barrage of gruesome murders plague the streets in Whitechapel. Detective Baden Sikes is out to find the ripper but will his own secrets destroy him and those he loves most?

Ericka Scott's Blog (you are here!)

Prize: ebook copy of Postcards from the Dead

Blurb: The dead don’t speak to her; they send her postcards. When Cassandra Moore receives a cryptic postcard from her dead husband, Drew Brinkman offers to help her discover the meaning of the postcard. But she doesn’t know he’s an investigative reporter out to prove the ghostly postcards are fakes.

Shelli Steven's Blog

Prize: ANY ebook off of her backlist (Octoberfest release is titled: Primal Attraction)

Blurb: Old Centuron should have been a forgotten colony, but when Sarina arrives to do research, she confronts the brutal reality of how wrong she was. Now prisoner to a man who is both wolf and human, she faces a shocking truth and an undeniable passion.

Check back here for some surprises and updates. The blog party invites will go out every Monday and the next one is scheduled on Monday, October 8th!