And now, please help me welcome my dear friend, Alicia Dean!
All struggling writers that I know have broken into the publishing world in various ways. My story is what I'd call a stroke of luck and part miracle. I am a member of Oklahoma Romance Writers of America and Sharon Sala is also in that chapter. A few years ago, she offered to read a book by each of the unpublished authors in our chapter. (An amazing and very giving gesture for someone of her success). She only meant to offer some general comments on how to improve our writing. There were a few of us whose books she liked well enough to help us get published, and fortunately, mine was one of them. She referred me to her agent, Meredith Bernstein. Now, Meredith wouldn't have signed me just because Sharon liked my book. She's a businesswoman and had to feel she could sell my MS. She did sign me and it took a year, but she sold my book Heart of the Witch (formerly Tin Man) to Dorchester. I will be forever grateful to Sharon, my miracle worker. I was able to skip all the queries and rejections and letdowns. I hadn't even really been submitting up to that point. Now, while Meredith was trying to sell my book, I suffered quite a few rejections, so no matter what your situation, it can and will happen if you do one thing. Never give up and explore every opportunity (Okay, maybe that's two things
I am holding a contest between my book's release date (November 24th) and the end of the year. The information isn't yet posted on my website, but will be soon. In the book, one of the character's names is a scrambled version of someone connected to the original Wizard of Oz movies. On January 1st, 2010, I'll draw one name out of all the correct guesses that are emailed to me. The winner will receive a 70th anniversary edition of the Wizard of Oz DVD, a $30 Amazon gift card, and a signed copy of Heart of the Witch. Check out my website for more details: AliciaDean.com (NOTE: My web site has been under construction, hopefully, it's up and running now.) If not, email me with any questions at AliciaMDean@aol.com. You can also use that email to enter the contest, but the subject line must say 'Name Scramble Contest'
Thanks for stopping by...I can't tell you how thrilled I am that my dream of publication finally came true and my 'baby' will be out there in the world in a matter of days.
There is a monster on the loose, a serial killer murdering young women near Oklahoma City. On each corpse he writes his name in blood:THE TIN MAN
But while the villain claims to be heartless, he’s not beyond making a mistake. This time he left his prey alive, and ex-homicide detective Nick Lassiter plans to use her to crack the case wide open. Yet, Ravyn Skyler is nothing like he expects. She remembers little of the crime, and for a victim, she has a deep reserve of quiet strength. In her eyes he sees both helpless waif and merciless vigilante, and in her kiss he tastes both passion and power. With a tale of a tin man, it only seems fair that there’s a witch. And this witch guards a secret that threatens not only their lives, but their souls.
Excerpt:
“You’re not making any sense,” Ravyn snapped. “I’d
give anything to find and stop this maniac. I don’t
know what you’re accusing me of, or why. Why?”
Nick sighed and shook his head. “Damn it, I don’t
know. I don’t know.”
She put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, Nick.”
He gave her a small, humorless smile. “Sorry for
what? Are you sorry Kayne is a dangerous fanatic? Or
are you sorry that I can’t stop thinking about you, can’t
stop wanting you? Sorry that my desire for you is stronger
than it ever was for my dead wife?” He grabbed
her once more and pulled her to him. “Do you have
any idea how crazy that is? How it makes me feel? I
want you every second of every day. Even with people
dying around me, even with the frustration and guilt
of not being able to stop this murdering psychopath,
I still want you. It’s . . . it’s like I’m under some sort of
spell.”
Visit Alicia Dean at her website: www.aliciadean.com
