After last night’s good news on my contest final, I got more excellent news this afternoon.
One of my writer friends had asked to read “Beauty and the Ballplayer.” She’s read a couple of my other manuscripts (“Blind Date Bride” and “Operation Snag Mike Brad”). She’s always busy, though, as a grandma of I don’t know how many … so I didn’t expect fast feedback.
Boy, was I surprised. She called today and said she read the whole thing in one day.
That in itself is a great sign … and she also said she loved pretty much everything about it. (Another excellent sign.)
She does, however, take issue with my poor hero, who refers to his — ahem — male part using a word that begins with “c.” I figured he’s a guy, and that’s what he’d be likely to think of it as, when he’s thinking of it (which is often). Besides, I already used my favorite name, “Mr. Happy” in Kari and Damien’s story. Two different heroes can’t have the same … er … pet name for their anatomy.
Pat steadfastly maintains Matt would not use such a crude word … so she made up a list of alternatives. We’re getting together Tuesday morning to go over them. I can’t wait.
… Ah, the life of a romance writer! Where else can you have a breakfast meeting to discuss the male anatomy?
P.S. Now that my creative juices are flowing, I’m thinking I might lobby Pat for something like “Li’l Slugger.” It’s a little more creative than the C-word — and it fits. Matt is a baseball player, you know. 😉
What do you do when you get great news at 11 p.m., when everyone who cares is sound asleep? I have to share it with someone … I already tried texting the Boyfriend, with no response. I shared it in my Facebook status and got one “like.”
But I’m still too excited to settle down, so now I’m going to shout it to the blogosphere: The gals at the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood picked my first line as one of 10 finalists in their “Make It Golden” contest.
I was thrilled — and a little stunned, because I read the competition. There were some fantastic first lines. Many of them made me want to read more.
For the next round, I give them the first 250 words. I was pleased when I discovered my first 240-ish ended on a mini-hook.
The grand prize is my $50 Golden Heart entry fee. Not too shabby!
But even if I don’t win, I’m excited to have finaled. There were 79 entries. Yes, 79. I’m not great with math, but I think that puts my first sentence in the top 12 percent — and that has to be a good place to be.
I’ve been so busy writing on Beth and Cody’s story and thinking of a new title for Bree and Mike’s that I haven’t done any editing on my Golden Heart entries.
What is that about? I need to get busy … that deadline is going to be here before I know it.
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