Too hot to handle

Summer in May

Apparently summer is upon us and it's only... May!?

Yes, you see that correctly.  It was 102 yesterday and 100 today. If it's only May right now I hate to think of what the actual summer is going to be like! Looks like many trips to the beach and staying indoors or being by the pool will be my main activities when not working this summer.

Do you like the heat? I know some do, but I'm definitely a cold weather fan.

On to other news... like Mothers Day yesterday. Did you send your mother a card and wish her Happy Mothers Day? I did, but I must have misjudged the speed of the postal system and it didn't make it there on time. Maybe I'm a bad daughter...or maybe I'm just extending Mothers Day an extra day for her ;)


Exciting Writing News

I do have a few exciting things to announce that are writing related! My very first post for Her Glory (and online magazine and blog) is LIVE!  Check out my article titled "The Heart of Beauty" and let me know what you think! Show Her Glory some love as well and like them on Facebook [here] and follow them on twitter [here]. 

Also, I recently participated in a fun little thing called Happily Editor After sponsored by Harlequin Love Inspired division of Harlequin books. This was an exciting event where you could sign up to pitch a book in 100 words to one of three Love Inspired editors. The editor would then respond with one of the following responses (taken from the Happily Editor After page):

__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?)

As the day approached (or should I say, the night before) I honed my 100 word pitch.

Yes. Just 100 words!

I don't know about you, but trying to capture interest for an entire manuscript of 55-60k words by only using 100 words was intimidating to say the least. I though and re-thought what I would say, which parts of the book I'd highlight, and the feel I wanted to give within these two short paragraphs.

The morning of the pitch I was more nervous that I had expected! I mean, here I was sitting in front of a computer not even face to face with the editor of my choice and I was shaking! But, when my name was called (it was all done through chat rooms online) I jumped in and pasted my pitch with a shaky hand and a breathless prayer.

The minutes seemed to pass like hours.

Finally, when the editors reply came through I blinked several times... I couldn't be seeing this right. Were the words "full manuscript" really at the end of her response? Yes, yes they were! A full manuscript was requested!

I am still in shock. I think to myself, "My manuscript? You want to see my manuscript?" and then I remember the prayer I sent up in the brief minutes before I received a reply. I asked the Lord to do what He would - knowing full well He would. It was offered more as a prayer to remind myself of this than anything else, and with that prayer came a great peace. Sure, the editor has asked to see my work but that isn't a guarantee. I have a few months to finish writing and perfecting my book with the hopes that it will make the cut, but even if it doesn't I know it will be a worthwhile experience! I'm anticipating where this story will take me and looking forward to every aspect.

Hope you have a wonderful Monday - if you're in SCV, don't stay outside too long or you might evaporate ;)