Link This | Email this | Blog This | Comments (17)

This, that and the Other Thing Monday

December 1, 2008
Can't believe it's December 1st already.  Time to put up my little guy who counts down the days until Christmas.  You know, every year we know exactly when Christmas will be, so why does it always seem like such a surprise that it came up so fast and we don't have time enough to get everything done?


Well, until then, here's the news I heard about this week:


From Cynthia Eden: 

The romance community is banding together to support one of our own–author Jo Leigh lost her husband to cancer earlier this year and is being swamped with medical bills (writers are generally self-employed and often do not have medical insurance). In an effort to help Jo Leigh pay off some of these bills, an online auction is being held. And this auction…well, it's got some terrific gifts.  Critiques from editors, authors, and agents. Books–lots of books.

So many gifts–especially if you've got writers on your Christmas list. (These gifts would be perfect for 'em!)  I'm donating autographed copies of Hotter After Midnight, Midnight Sins, When He Was Bad, and Everlasting Bad Boys to the auction.  I've also offered a partial critique of a manuscript (the first 60 pages).  Check out the auction–I think you'll be surprised  by the great assortment of items.  (People helping people is especially strong during this holiday season, another reason was romance readers and writers rule!)

From Karin Tabke:  This will be the fourth First Line Contest. The prize? The five finalists will have the opportunity to send 10 pages of their story beginning with their original first line to Senior Grand Central Editor, Amy Pierpont.

Here’s how it works, on Monday December 8th, at 6 p.m Pacific time, I’m going to give the go ahead on my blog to post your first line. The first 100 people who post a first line in the comment section will be entered, those not getting in in time don’t get to play. Last time it took less then 30 minutes to get 100 + first lines!

During the first week, I’ll ask one of my judges (all of my judges are anonymous, New York published authors) to cull 20 lines. The 80 lines that remain will be posted sometime the following Monday. Each person who made it through will have until midnight that Friday to post their original first line and a second line. I’ll have another judge cull another 20 lines, the 60 who make it go up on my blog Monday. From there we’ll cull 5 lines each week. Each week those who make it will add another line, and 5 will be culled, until I get down to the final 10. Then I will have all of the judges who judged pick their favorite 5, the 5 with the most votes then get two weeks to polish up the first 10 pages of the story that finaled in the First Line Contest, than off they go to Amy. She will read and rank them and hopefully ask for more!

It’s a huge amount of fun! I have had agents contact participants asking for material and a few requests from the final judges. Many of the finalists have gone on to sell. I love doing this. As we all know New York is a tough gig right now, and anything I can do to help get someone in the door I am more than happy to do.  (And we are all about helping everyone who wants to, get published!)


From eHarlequin:  Are you ready for the Annual Holiday Open House?  Roughly 100 of your favorite authors will be meeting with you, LIVE, December 11th, 2008 on our Chat Page! We'll also have Post Parties on our Message Boards that run through every time zone so that our overseas authors and members can meet on their own time zones! Then, in the evening, Eastern Daylight Time, we'll have three full hours of live chat! Don't forget, there'll be oodles of door prizes and wild fun!

So, check the list for your favorite authors---and we'll be updating as more come on board!---and don't miss the party! (Over 100 authors in one place is a readers dream)





From authors Keira Soleore, Magdalena Scott and Heidi Betts I received the I Love Your Blog award.  (Apparently this award makes it way around the internet like a chain letter.  Once you get it, you post the icon and name 7 of your favorite blogs.  I love way too many blogs and feel between a rock and a hard place to name my favs, so I won't). 

Keira:  The Babs always has something fun and interesting to say, whether it's her blog or on Twitter or on one of the other social networks. She is one of the most connected professional of the publishing world. She even had drive-by videos of the events around her while waiting out a hurricane in an airport with hundreds of other people.

Heidi:  My blog, WIPs and Chains, was recently awarded an "I Love Your Blog" award by a reader and was instructed to pass the award on to seven of *my* favorite blogs.  Well, yours happens to be one I check out on a regular basis and quite enjoy, so I'm passing the award on to you.   (Barbara) is not only a fun super lady, but she’d done amazing things for the romance industry & it’s authors.  Thank you, thank you.  (Ok, this was a ditto, but sincere)

Magdalena:  I've tried to give you seven of my favorite blogs with links that you could click on and go exploring.  I have posted that twice, and, well, it hasn't quite gone as planned.  So let's punt: Take a look at the right column here. You'll see some of my favorite blogs. Pick seven of them, and go investigate.  (I'm number one on her list, so I'll take that as an award)

Thanks to all to have awarded me this very special honor.  I've printed it and it holds a place of honor on my bulletin board in front of my computer. 

If you've won the award, feel free to post your blog in the comments section (just skip the http part).



From Mark Kristol:  The most famous Ian Fleming signed book in the world, a first British edition of You Only Live Twice, inscribed by Fleming on the front free endpaper, "To the real James Bond from the thief of his identity. Ian Fleming, Feb. 5, 1964, (a great day!)" will be offered as part of Profiles in History's Auction 33, which takes place December 11, 2008. This is the ultimate James Bond association and Fleming's acknowledgment of the source of secret agent 007's name, and is expected to sell for $60,000-$80,000. Worldwide bidding begins at 12:00 pm.Bids can be placed either in person, via mail, phone, fax or live on the internet via eBay Live Auctions.  (While I would love to own this, I think I'll have to wait until I win the lottery.)


And from me, a few announcements about upcoming events.  This Saturday I'll be posting another addition of Christmas book blurbs since there are a lot out this year.  Then on Sunday's I'll be starting a new feature called Sunday Matinee Book Videos.  Get your popcorn ready because I'll be featuring several book videos for your viewing enjoyment.

You can send me news, kudos, awards won, special events and just fun announcements.  And now you can submit your book video and I'll try to get in as many as possible.  barbaravey@gmail.com and label it "Blog This" or "Book Video."

Ok, not a book video, but to put you in the Christmas spirit, here's John Denver and the Muppets singing The Twelve Days of Christmas. 



Bottom Line:  Please tell me when this classic Christmas Special will finally be out on DVD.  It's one of my all time favorites.
  

Posted by Barbara Vey on December 1, 2008 | Comments (17)