RIVA's Back! And So You Think You Can Write...

RIVA is back with a bang!

If you haven't seen the gorgeous new covers click here to find the launch books and there is also a very cute Facebook App, where you can find out more about the RIVA titles, their authors, and enter a competition to win lots of RIVA goodies.

I am so happy to join the line at such an exciting time and can't wait to see what people think of its fabulous new look!

And talking of joining the line, I know without a doubt that if it hadn't been for Mills & Boon's New Voices Competition last year I would not be where I am now. Since New Voices has been amalgamated this year into Harlequin's global competition So You Think You Can Write, I want to recommend to anyone who might be thinking about having a bash at it, to put any doubts aside and go for it. You can find all the details here.

There is a ton of information and lots of writing tips to be found on the competition site and I will be checking out some of the articles myself - (I think because I have a contract I should know what I'm doing but a lot of the time I still haven't a clue. Writing is a massive learning curve and I am constantly making mistakes. Fortunately now I have a lovely editor to turn me round when I end up facing the wrong way but I still love a how-to book or a writing article!)

My advice to anyone taking part would be to immerse yourself into the experience as deeply as you can. When I entered New Voices, I read as many entries as I could, left lots of comments, watched all the podcasts and read all of the writing tips and articles posted by Mills & Boon. I literally squeezed everything out of the experience that I could. Even if I hadn't gone as far as I did in the competition, I learned tons in that couple of months. So if you are going to give it a go, loads of luck!

Back soon with an update on The Date Pool. :0)

The Call!!!

I can't believe I'm writing this post!

A few days after I heard back from my editor with her advice and revisions for Chapters 7-9 of the WIP, I pick the small one up from preschool. I eject Dave the puppy into the garden for a pee break where he stands shivering in the rain. Then I casually check my inbox, only to find another email from my editor. Am I about for a phone call, she asks. I assume she's had another thought about the revisions and wants to talk them over with me, so I mail back to tell her I'm around for the rest of the day. A few minutes later she calls.

I only remember bits and pieces of the conversation. While we were speaking the small one opened the door and let Dave in, whereupon he immediately peed on my kitchen floor, and I still felt nothing but euphoria!

 Mills and Boon RIVA want to buy my book!!

 It turns out that after sending me the revisions for Chapters 1-9, my editor (who I really can call my editor now, hurrah!) sent the chapters on to the Senior Editor for the line, and she liked them enough to make me an offer! My celebrations are only just under way because I've sat on my news for a few days. Mainly because they wanted me to finish the book very quickly as they have earmarked it for a publication slot in December. That meant completing the revisions and writing the end in a very tight timeframe for my normal ability.

 I managed not to have a meltdown. Instead my lovely family have said nothing as I've allowed the house to revert to pigsty while I fiddle with the laptop at all hours. And I have told myself that if I can do this in the time required then I can do anything they might throw at me in the future. Today I have emailed over my full ms and signed my contract, and now I can finally relax and celebrate. I know there are likely to be more revisions, but the bulk of the work is hopefully done. I am so happy and excited I cannot begin to tell you!

Huge thanks to everyone who has offered me support and friendship since New Voices. Also for advice that's really helped, thanks to Scarlet Wilson, Maisey Yates and especially to Liz Fielding, who has kept in touch since NV offering me support and encouragement, and has never minded my mad questions.

Right, now I've pressed SEND, I'm off to clean the hovel house!