The Vigilante's Bride by Yvonne Harris

This week, the


Christian Fiction Blog Alliance


is introducing


The Vigilante's BrideBethany House (August 1, 2010)


byYvonne Harris





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Yvonne Harris earned a BS in Education from the University of Hartford and has taught throughout New England and the mid-Atlantic. Unofficially retired from teaching, she teaches writing at Burlington County College in southern New Jersey, where she resides. She is a winner and three-time finalist for the Golden Heart, once for The Vigilante's Bride, which is her debut novel.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Montana Territory, 1884...Is Her Kidnapper the Only Man Who Can Keep Her Safe?

Robbing a stagecoach on Christmas Eve and abducting a woman passenger is the last thing Luke Sullivan expected to do. He just wanted to reclaim the money stolen from his pa, but instead ended up rescuing a feisty copper-haired woman who was on her way to marry Sullivan's dangerous enemy. Emily McCarthy doesn't take kindly to her so-called rescue. Still, she's hoping Providence will turn her situation for good, especially when it seems Luke Sullivan may just be the man of her dreams. But Luke has crossed a vicious man, a powerful rancher not used to losing, and Emily is the prize he's unwilling to sacrifice.



If you would like to read the first chapter of The Vigilante's Bride, go HERE

Tips for Writers: Submitting Your Manuscript

After a year of revising and rewriting and rereading my manuscript, I've finally come to the point that I feel it is ready to be submitted to the requesting houses. As I gathered everything together, and researched the "How-to's" I realized there wasn't enough content on the web to guide a new writer. So here are some things I did and learned from fellow writers.
(As always, take any advice you find useful and shuck the rest)

*Read the submission guidelines for the publishing house or literary agent.
This may seem like an obvious suggestion, but it's very important. I found one literary agent wanted an author bio and information about how I could help market the book. Another literary agent didn't request as much information. The publishing house I targeted only requested a cover letter, in which I included a short blurb about me and my writing accomplishments.

*Don't forget the synopsis!
And, pay attention to the submission guidelines on the length of the synopsis. I found one Agent who preferred a 5-6 page synopsis, others didn't specify. I've been told a synopsis less than 10 pages is good.

The main points you want to place in your synopsis include introducing the characters and giving a clear picture of your storyline, in which the goal, motivation, and conflict of the characters and the manuscript is concise. This is giving the big picture of the story, with important elements highlighted in a small package.

*Securing the Manuscript
It is my understanding we are not to bind our manuscripts. The houses want them loose. I did, however, wrap one large rubber band around the pages to be sure they didn't get tossed about in shipping. The rubber bands that worked well for my manuscript were the OfficeMax 1/4lb 114g size 117. Perfect for a book of approximately 250 pages.

I also mailed the package using the USPS Tyvek envelope. It's thin, but durable. The manuscript fits nicely in there with room to spare.

I was advised to mail the manuscript "Media Mail." Unfortunately, the post office has other ideas. They informed me the manuscript didn't qualify as "Media Mail" unless it was bound. Meaning, the book had to have a spine of sorts. Fine. At this point in my career, I don't know the difference. I mailed mine priority. It was approximately $10 with delivery confirmation.

*Give yourself plenty of time to prepare the package
I'm talking to those of you who have children and are trying to do 15 things at once. Do not do this when you are preparing your manuscript to mail. Get up early if you have to, or stay up late. Proofread your work. Proofread your cover letter, bio, synopsis, mailing label. Write REQUESTED MANUSCRIPT on the envelope if the editor/agent requested your manuscript. AND, put which conference you attended where said manuscript was discussed. Slow down, take your time. Proof it once more...The point is, when you hurry, you forget things. Which leads me to my next point...

*SASE
I had been working on this book for a year to get it to a perfect stage to mail to an editor. Well, the day I was to mail the book, I had not finished printing it, I was out of paper and ink. I took the children where they needed to go, because I still had to go to work that day. I ran to OfficeMax, to the post office and then back home again to print the manuscript. My printer took so long, preparing the manuscript went from one hour to two. I still forgot to include the SASE(Self Addressed Stamped Envelope). Drat!

What this means is if the editor rejects it, I'll never know. The SASE is how the houses let you know they are not interested in your work. If they're interested, they call you.

**

I leave you with one more piece of advice. Do your research. Get How-To books on submitting your manuscript. The font, the size and quality of paper used, all matter. It's like showing up at a job interview in Corporate America dressed in ripped jeans and a T-shirt. Don't give them a reason to put your book aside. This submission is your chance to shine with the publishing world. You want them to be directed to the beautiful and interesting words you've put on that page, not to the editorial blunders you overlooked.

Good luck, and happy writing...

CONGRATULATIONS MAGGIE FINALISTS!

Finalists for the Georgia Romance Writers 2010 Maggies are:

UNPUBLISHED MAGGIE FINALISTS

CONTEMPORARY SINGLE TITLE

Sally Kilpatrick Beulah Land and the Happy Hour Choir
Ava Milone Dark Side of Overachievers
Nicki Salcedo All Beautiful Things
Susan Sands Misery, Alabama
Tracy Kelly Solheim Less Than Perfect
Sandra Tilley Call Me Cinderella
Olivia Ventura Miss Fix-It

PARANORMAL

Kimberly Dias Perpetual Light
Leah Hodge Breath of Fire
Heather Marshall Liquid Lies
Isis Rushdan Paradox
Ciara Stewart Hearts of Darkness

INSPIRATIONAL

Patty Smith Hall Flights of Freedom
Pam Hillman Terms of Indenturement
Debbie Kaufman Into the Heart of Darkness
Carol Post Whispers in the Night
Kayla Westra Kasey’s Secret

HISTORICAL

Kathy Altman The Debt Collector’s
Jeanne Dickson Her Secret Flyboy
Jennifer McQuinston The Widow Anabilla
Sally Orr The Rake’s Handbook
Donna M Warner A Scandalous Woman


CONTEMPORARY SERIES ROMANCE

Kasey Dillard The Border States DEA Taskforce
June Faver Tempting Fate
Deborah Kaufman Orchard County Killer
Tina Edwards Vaughn The Senator’s Scandalous Affair
Ami Weaver The Nanny’s Secret




PUBLISHED MAGGIE FINALISTS



CONTEMPORARY SERIES ROMANCE

Safe By His Side Silhouette
Linda Conrad Natashya Wilson, Editor

The Secret Mistress Arrangement Harlequin
Kimberly Lang Bryony Green, Editor

A Small Town Homecoming Harlequin
Terry McLaughlin Kathryn Lye, Editor

Her Very Own Family Harlequin
Trish Milburn Johanna Raisanen, Editor

Renegade Solider Harlequin
Pat White Allison Lyons, Editor


HISTORICAL

Captive of Sin Avon
Anna Campbell May Chen, Editor

Don’t Bargain With the Devil Pocket
Sabrina Jeffries Micki Nuding, Editor

My Unfair Lady Sourcebook
Kathryne Kennedy Deb Werksman, Editor

Knight of Pleasure Grand Central
Margaret Mallory Alex Logan, Editor

Desiring the Highlander Kensington
Michele Sinclair John Scognamigli, Editor


INSPIRATIONAL

Entertaining Angels Kensington
Judy Duarte John Scognamigli, Editor

A Silent Terror Steeple Hill
Lynette Eason Emily Rodmell, Editor

A Vote of Confidence Zondervan
Robin Lee Hatcher Sue Brower/Leslie Peterson, Editors

Fit to Be Tied Zondervan
Robin Lee Hatcher Sue Brower/Leslie Peterson, Editors

Dreaming of Home Steeple Hill
Glynna Kaye Melissa Endlich, Editor

Protector’s Honor Steeple Hill
Kit Wilkinson Elizabeth Mazer, Editor


PARANORMAL/FANTASY

The Strangely Beautiful Dorchester
Tale of Ms. Percy Parker Chris Keeslar, Editor
Leanna Renee Hieber

Sea Lord Berkley
Virginia Kantra Cindy Hwang, Editor

A Stroke of Magic Dorchester
Tracy Madison Chris Keeslar, Editor

The Magic Knot Dorchester
Helen Scott Taylor Alicia Condon, Editor

Immortal Wolf Silhouette
Bonnie Vanak Ann Tuttle, Editor


CONTEMPORARY SINGLE TITLE

Hot Flash Medallion Press
Kathy Carmichael Helen Rosberg, Editor

Whisper of Warning Pocket
Laura Griffin Abby Zidle, Editor

The Treasure of Venice Sourcebook
Loucinda McGary Deb Werksman, Editor

Pitch Black NAL
Leslie Parrish Laura Cifelli, Editor

The Lost Hours NAL
Karen White Cindy Hwang, Editor

Twilight's Serenade by Tracie Peterson

This week, the


Christian Fiction Blog Alliance


is introducing


Twilight's SerenadeBethany House (August 1, 2010)


byTracie Peterson





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 85 novels.

She received her first book contract in November, 1992 and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishings' Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership's vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row.



In December, 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers to co-write a series with author Judith Pella. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers.



She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research.



Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests.



Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family--especially her three grandchildren--Rainy, Fox and Max. She's active in her church as the Director of Women's Ministries, coordinates a yearly writer's retreat for published authors, and travels, as time permits, to research her books









ABOUT THE BOOK

Britta Lindquist left Sitka six years ago in an attempt to distance herself from the love of her life, Yuri Belikov. Upon her return, she finds Yuri absent and his wife about to deliver a child. When tragic circumstances ensue, Britta suddenly finds herself caring for Yuri's children--and her life intertwining with the man she's tried so hard to forget.



But Britta's other great love is for the violin, and her talent is recognized by Brenton Maltese, a conductor from England. He proposes she accept the coveted first chair position in his orchestra...and also his hand in marriage. At a crossroads, Britta must determine what her heart truly longs for--and if she's willing to fight for it.

At a Crossroads, Britta must determine what her heart truly longs for─and if she's willing to fight for it.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Twilight's Serenade, go HERE.