April 2006

Woo-hoo! BY THE BOOK, the sequel to my 2003 Golden Heart Finalist, BY THE BLADE, is also a Golden Heart finalest! It felt pretty good, since this is the only contest I entered this year, and the first this book has seen.

BY THE BOOK is sitting on an editor's desk at St. Martin's Press waiting for a decision on it. My agent, Pamela Harty, and I have our fingers crossed with this one. Since it combines time travel with suspense, it has a good shot at getting picked up in this round of submissions. I'll take all the good vibes you can send on this!

November 2005

I was hoping to update this sooner, but between returning to Korea from the States, dealing with jetlag, the start of the semester, and one crashed computer (thank God I backed everything up!), I just haven't been able to keep up with everything. But enough of my excuses - let's get down to the news!

I attended the RWA 25th anniversary conference in Reno, Nevada in July. I roomed with my perennial buddy, Celeste Bradley, who is moving in the big leagues now. We had a great time catching up and attending all the events. Of course, we ended up exhausted, but that's nothing new!

The Knight Agency sponsored a luncheon for all their clients attending the conference (see photo). I FINALLY got to meet my agent, Pamela Harty, face-to-face and see what a great lady she is. She and Deidre took us to the historic Thunderbird Lodge on the banks of Lake Tahoe (see photo). Not only that, they gave everyone an engraved silver bookmark from TIFFANY'S(!) to celebrate a record-breaking year for the agency. (I caught Celeste petting the little blue and white box in the hotel room later.)

I attended the TGN reception with a pack of the Posse (see photo). I even performed in the skit this year as memorable Editor #2. That was a lot of fun, and my first chance to catch up with some of the other Noodlers.

What else? I had a breakfast meeting with Pamela that went very well. We discussed revisions to BY THE BOOK and what projects should be worked on next as well as just getting to know each other a little better.

Had a BLAST at (and after!) the St. Martin's party on Friday night (see photo). Celeste always takes me as her date, even if I haven't sold to them yet. Got to schmooze with Kim and Monique again, and meet Jennifer Enderlin for the first time (who had a brand-new son and STILL looked great!).

Afterward, Celeste, Susan Donovan, Delilah Dawson and I went out for a night on the town. I've been sworn to secrecy on the details (What happens in Reno stays in Reno), but let's just say it was a WILD time! The next morning at the St. Martin's signing, Monique told me, "Susan says I HAVE to sign you now, 'cuz you know too much about my authors!" Hey, blackmail works for me!

Upon returning to Korea, I hid in the revisions cave until the first week of September. They're done now, and back with Pamela. Whew! Started mapping out a new series, so that's keeping me mentally occupied while I handle the stress of mid-term exams.

Well, that's it until next time. Keep the faith everyone!

July 2005

Sorry it's been so long, folks! I guess I've got a lot to catch up on.

In April of '04 I found myself an agent! I signed with Pamela Harty of the Knight Agency. I guess that makes me official! You can see their website at www.knightagency.net or visit their blog from that site.

That's the good news - the bad news is that St. Martin's publishers passed on BY THE BLADE. So did a couple of others. The first one hurt, but I'm getting used to it. (Sad and pathetic, huh?) But BY THE BOOK is finished (excerpt) and waiting for revisions. And so is the partial of BY THE BED, by the way (excerpt).

I've also been working on a screenplay - a new and exciting venture for me. Maybe someday I'll be seen at a theater near you. (I am ever optimistic, am I not?)

I also have become part of a webzine put together by a group of writers who were all Golden Heart finalists in 2003. Somehow we developed a connection none of us had ever experienced before, and bonded into a very solid group. We forced anyone harboring negative thoughts about themselves to endure a whipping with wet noodles - and thus the Wet Noodle Posse was born.
We started the webzine to help spread this positive reinforcement to other women, and we all contribute to update the site monthly. Check us out at:
www.wetnoodleposse.com

At the end of the month I'll be at the Romance Writers of America (RWA) conference with my buddy, Celeste Bradley. Plus I'll get to meet my agent for the first time. Pictures and news will be forthcoming!

May 25, 2004

Well, they didn't say 'NO' and they didn't say 'YES'.
St. Martin's Press has requested a second round of revisions on BY THE BLADE. Got a lot of positive comments, but the crux was that I'd written a great adventure story, where they wanted a great romance. So I'm rewriting and revising, hoping to get it done before the end of July. My husband, instead of grousing about the amount of time I'm devoting to this, is instead grousing about the hunky pin-ups on my bullentin board that I've declared 'research'.

April 1, 2004

At first I thought it was an April Fool's Joke, but NO!
I now have an agent!
That's right, I'm now "official." The agent is Pamela Harty at the Knight Agency in Atlanta. That's extra fortuitous since my sister lives in Atlanta and it's within driving distance of my parents' house, so no extra flights to meet with my agent when I go back to the States! For those of you who aren't familiar with the biz, agents represent you to editors in NY to get your book sold.

And speaking of editors, I heard from St. Martin's Press that BY THE BLADE has gone to the head honchos for approval. I should hear the result by mid-April. What an April Fool's Day!

October 2003

After scheduling delays, downed email systems and God-knows-what-else, the revisions letter from SMP (St. Martin's Press) finally arrived! I was prepared for the worst (okay, a lie. I wasn't.), but it was great. It told me what I already knew — that I needed to strengthen the characters and their sexual tension — but didn't touch the plot at all! I gave myself two weeks to get the revisions done and I beat my deadline. Yeah! Now to wait. Must keep myself busy working on the sequel cuz they're going to want to buy that, too. (Repeat to self every hour on the hour.)

July 2003

Just got back from the RWA conference in the Big Apple (New York city). What a great time! Click here for photos. Would you believe I was so busy meeting editors and agents and attending events for the Golden Heart finalists, I never got out to see the city? Well, except for the St. Martin's Press party that was in their offices in the historic Flatiron Building overlooking Fifth Avenue and Broadway.

The conference was exhausting, but I accomplished so much. I met with two agents, one of whom has the full manuscript of BY THE BLADE, and was very impressed with them both (which is not a common occurance, despite what you might think). I also met with an editor at St. Martin's, and she has requested to date: revisions on BY THE BLADE, the full of BY THE BOOK, and a 3-chapter submission for a 7-book series I pitched to her. I'm going to be VERY busy, but since it's busy with something that might land me a contract, I'll take busy!

Oh, and I heard back from the last of the contests BY THE BLADE was entered in. I placed first in Romancing the Ages' paranormal division, 2nd in their "Most Memorable Hero" special award, and 2nd in the long manuscript category of LARA's Foot in the Door. Sadly, I have not been as lucky in the LOTTO this week as I've been in the contests!

May 2003

A record breaking month for me! I have both an agent and an editor at St. Martin's Press looking at BY THE BLADE. The editor loved the partial of the sequel, BY THE BOOK and seemed very excited about the idea of a time-travel series. Here's hoping! (And I have a dress for Nationals. I feel so 'together' suddenly.

April 2003

Just received emails telling me I finalled in the Romancing the Ages contest! But it doesn't end there! I finalled in the paranormal category, AND in the special LEGEND category for most memorable hero. Woo-hoo! Very excited about that since it was the last contest for this manuscript and the awards presentation will be at the conference in NYC. (Still have not bought a dress.)

March 2003

Was at the hospital with my son (who was sick with a stomach flu) when I got a call on my cell phone. It was RWA board member, Nancy Fraser, calling to tell me I was a Golden Heart finalist!!!! At first it didn't really sink in -- I was too busy dealing with poopy diapers and upchucked-upon pajamas. It wasn't until 12 hours later when I called my mother and my critique partner, Celeste, that I started getting excited. I can't really afford to go to the conference this year, but dang it! I'm going to. It's in NY with all the editors and agents in their own backyard and I'll get to meet all of them as a finalist. Now I have to get a publicity photo and a dress for the awards ceremony. YIKES!

August 2002

Was just notified that BY THE BLADE was named a finalist in THE MOLLY's "Unsinkable Heroine" competition. Wow! Something new to put in my cover letters to editors!

E-mailed query to Avon and received a request for a full in just two days! Will send it off next week.
In the meantime, I'm up to my neck in revisions!

July 2002

Went to RWA conference in Denver. Had a fabulous time.
Met with an agent that had requested a full, but it wasn't a match. Good news is that paranormals are on the upswing!

My roommates were Golden Heart-nominated Cheryl Lewallen and Rita-nominated Celeste Bradley. It was a 5-day slumber party.
Want to see a PHOTO of us at the awards ceremony?

March, 2002

Mailed out tons of queries to agents. Two bites so far!

 

 

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