June 2012
Monthly Archive
June 27, 2012
“You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.” ― Saul Bellow
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Musa Publishing’s Aurora Regency imprint is actively looking for submissions. If you have a sweet, traditional Regency romance, the editors would like to hear from you. They publish stories from 5,000 words to 120,000 words in ebook format. They are interested in all types of stories, but would especially like to see some Christmas and New Year’s themed books for release this holiday season. Submit these holiday stories by July 31, 2012. Find out all the details on how to submit here.
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Angry Robot Books, a publisher of science fiction in both the U.S. and the U.K. has plans to launch a new imprint, Exhibit A, which will focus on crime fiction. Editor Emlyn Rees is interested in all kinds of crime fiction for the line– mysteries, suspense, police procedurals, detective novels. Exhibit A is set to launch in Spring 2013 with two books each month for the first two months, and one book a month thereafter. All titles will be released in both paper and ebook format, in the U.S. and U.K. Right now, they accept only agented manuscripts, however, they periodically have Open Door calls where they’ll look at unagented work. Follow them on Twitter to find out when the next Open Door call will be. Find out the scoop on Exhibit A here. And be sure to check the writer’s guidelines here.
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If you write funny science fiction or fantasy, UFO Publishing wants to see your work. Unidentified Funny Objects has plans to publish an anthology of funny science fiction and fantasy stories. Editor Alex Shvartsman is looking for stories 500 to 4,000 words and will pay 5 cents a word. His reading period is July 1 through August 31, so don’t sent your story before then. Get the scoop here.
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Check out the new cover for my historical romance, Patchwork Hearts. 
Set immediately after the Civil War on the Texas frontier, Patchwork Hearts is the story of Lucy O’Connor, a young woman who plans to sew quilts and sell them to finance her dream of owning her own cattle ranch. Having witnessed the unhappiness of other married couples, she’s determined to remain independent. Trace Abernathy, a former Union soldier, has come to Texas to make a new start raising cattle. Burned by love to a headstrong woman, he wants nothing to do with independent Lucy. But love has other ideas for these two, and they find out together they are stronger than either is alone. Patchwork Hearts combines three of my loves – romance, history and quilting. I had fun weaving lots of quilting trivia, superstitions and traditions into the story
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As always, feel free to share the information in this blog with others. All I ask is that you credit me as the source, and include a link to the blog. Thank you!
June 20, 2012
“Tell the readers a story! Because without a story, you are merely using words to prove you can string them together in logical sentences.”- Anne McCaffrey
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Entangled Publishing’s editors have revealed their latest wish list of books they’d love to see cross their desks. Here’s a sampling:
Stacy Abrams and the team at Flirts, Ever Afters and Bliss: “unique” paranormal YA; high-concept YA historical with a strong hook; friendship fiction with a wide cast of characters and series possibilities; high stakes, high-tension suspense, both adult and YA; a horror novellas series for Ever-After. For Bliss, she’d love to see military or cowboy heros, reunion romances and Valentine’s stories.
Heather Howland: Books for the new Brazen line — friends to lovers, intimate strangers, revenge, enemies-to-lovers. Intense YA thrillers; a hero-focused, dark and gritty paranormal series; and contemporary YA romance.
Liz Pelletier is looking for paranormal submissions for Entangled’s new Covet line: dark, tortured heroes: a cross-species marriage-of-convenience; vampire enemies-to-lovers; light and funny paranormal.
Libby Murphy edits for Indulgence and Entangled: geek heroes; athlete heroes (especially hockey); stories with humor and emotion; witty banter; bad boys; quirky heroines. Anyone have Bridget Jones meets Indiana Jones? For Entangled single titles, she’d love strong women’s fiction, humorous cozy mysteries or high concept contemporary romance.
Kerri-Leigh Grady edits Flirts and Ever Afters: smart romantic comedy, Regency romance, romantic horror, a paranormal marriage or convenience, super sexy romance with strong tropes such as friends to lovers or marriage of convenience, and a protector/special forces romance.
Alethea Spiridon-Hopson is looking for these stories for Indulgence: political scandal, matchmaking, revenge. Crackling chemistry and a hero she can’t refuse.
Adrien Luc-Sanders acquires for Flirts and Ever Afters: chilling horror with a romantic twist; futuristic, hard sci-fi steampunk; mainstream stories with LGBT or POC characters that aren’t charicatures; “Twisted, gritty, entirely messed-the-hell up contemporaries that aren’t afraid to show the uglier sides of human nature, as long as they find redemption and romance.”
Ruth Homrighaus: Funny books with strong romantic tropes; cowboys!; forbidden love; a nanny and single dad story; road trips!; historicals — how about Australia, or early 20-th century U.S.? flappers or WWII anyone?
Tracy Montoya edits for Dead Sexy: stories with realistic forensic or legal detail; gritty, dark stories; intrigue and puzzles; reunion stories; multicultural stories; historical suspense.
Rochelle French is also looking for Dead Sexy stories: a small town, romantic thriller; cozy romantic mystery; quirky characters in a caper with a strong romance; winter holiday-themed romantic suspense.
For all the details, go here.
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If you have a Kindle (or a Kindle ap on your computer or phone) and you’ve been wanting to read my books, head to Amazon over the next fews days for some bargains. The Woman Who Loved Jesse James is part of Amazon’s Big Deal promotion. Through Sunday, June 24, you can snag the ebook for only $1.99 — normally $8.99. This intensely romantic story, based on the true story of the outlaw Jesse James and his wife, has been getting some really good review from both historical novel fans and romance lovers. And while you’re there, pick up your copy of West With the Wind, a historical romance set on the California trail and during the California gold rush, for FREE on Friday and Saturday only. And finally, if your taste runs more to contemporary romance, Always a Bridesmaid is still only $2.99. Hours of good reading for less than $5 for all three. 
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Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine is a quarterly magazine that publishes short mystery stories. The stories do not have to be related to Sherlock Holmes. Editor Marvin Kaye is interested in any reader solvable mystery or crime story and the occasional ghost story. Best length is 3,000 to 7,000 words, and he pays 3 cents a word. Send your submission to marvinnkaye@yahoo.com — attach your manuscript as an .rtf, .doc, .wpd or .docx file.
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As always, feel free to share the information in this blog with others. Reprint, repost and pass it on — all I ask is that you give me credit and include a link to the blog. Thanks! Cindi Myers
June 13, 2012
“Every writer I know has trouble writing.” ~Joseph Heller
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Avon Impulse is Avon Romance’s digital-first publishing program. The editors at Impulse are currently seeking 15,000 to 20,000 word novellas for the following themed collections:
Home for the Holidays — these sweet, romantic stories should center around the theme of being home for the Thanksgiving holidays. Stories must include at least one Thanksgiving-appropriate recipe. Quirky secondary characters, small town settings and a feeling of warmth, community and romance are welcome. Deadline for submissions is July 1, 2012.
Five Golden Rings — these historical Christmas novellas will center around a ring. This can be a family heirloom, a fairy ring — any kind of ring. Any historical time period. These should be moderately sensual to sexy. Submit by August 1, 2012
New Year’s Eve and Other Disasters — submit your romantic story centered around surprising things happening on New Year’s Eve. These can be historical or contemporary and may be moderately to super-sexy. Submit your story by September 15.
Submit using Avon’s online form.
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Author and editor Lisabet Sarai is soliciting submissions for a charity anthology to benefit Doctors Without Borders. The collection of erotic vampire stories, Coming Together: In Vein, will be published in December 2012, with all proceeds benefiting Doctors Without Borders. Send your 2,000 to 7,000 word story, in any erotica sub-genre, by August 1, 2012. Find all the details here.
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At BEA, Harlequin announced it’s increasing word counts for some of its lines. Superromance is moving from 70,000 words to 85,000 words; Nocturne is increasing from 70,000 to 80,000 to 85,000 words.
In February 2013, Harlequin will launch Harlequin Kiss, a new imprint that will be the North American version of the Riva imprint already popular overseas. Stories will feature various levels of sensuality. They’re described as “fun, flirty and contemporary,” featuring a “modern Alpha hero.” Senior Editor Bryony Green in Harlequin’s London office will be overseeing the line.
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Beginning this Saturday, June 16 , The Woman Who Loved Jesse James will be part of Amazon.com’s “Big Deal”. From June 16 through June 24, the Kindle version will be on sale for a reduced price (from $1.99 to 3.99 — sorry I don’t know which yet.) The book usually sells for $8.99, so if you haven’t gotten your copy yet, take advantage of this great deal. If you have a Nook or other e-reader, watch those sites for a price change as well – -they’ll often match the Amazon price.
June 6, 2012
“The long-lived books of tomorrow are concealed somewhere amongst the so-far unpublished MSS of today.”- Philip Unwin
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Amazon.com has purchased Avalon Books. Avalon published romance, mystery and westerns, primarily for the library markets. The short (50,000 words) books were sweet, with no sex, violence or cursing. Amazon purchased more than 3,000 backlist titles and as-yet-unreleased books. Amazon plans to release the books under its imprints in the near future.
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Crimson Romance is the new e-book only imprint from F&W Media. F&W is the parent company of publisher Adams Media, Writer’s Digest and Writer’s Market, and many other publishign ventures. Crimson romance will publish contemporary and historical romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance and spicy romance as ebook only releases, available at CrimsonRomance.com and from all major ebook retailers. The line launched June 4 with 25 titles and will release five titles a week beginning July 1. Editor Jennifer Lawler is actively seeking complete manuscripts of around 50,000 words in all subgenres. All manuscripts must be previously unpublished. Find all the writer’s guidelines for Crimson here.
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Author and editor Delilah Devlin is seeking short stories for a new romantic erotica anthology, to be called Smokin’ Hot Firemen, to be released by Cleis Press in the Summer of 2013. Submit your 1,500 to 4,500 erotic romance story featuing a smokin’ hot firemen by June 15, 2012. Payment is $50 and two copies of the anthology. Get all the details here.
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I’m wrapping up my blog tour for Always a Bridesmaid this week. On Friday I’ll have stops at It’s Only a Novel and Stella Ex Libris. Stop by and post a comment and you could win a free copy of the book.
As always, feel free to share the information in this newsletter with others — you can repost, reprint and copy — all I ask is that you give me credit as the source and include a link to this blog. Thanks. Cindi Myers
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