AFRAID to Submit?

Some authors (and no matter what some say, as long as you write and continue to do so, you are an author) are afraid to send in their prized manuscript, the one they've slaved over to make every line perfect. I'll admit, at one point, I was one of those authors. But then a friend convinced me to give it a try. And even though I've now got enough rejections to paper my walls, it was worth it. 

So you've got an amazing manuscript, but you don't want to send it to an agent or editor at a publishing house. Why not?

Is it different?

Don't worry about that. There are some publishing houses that thrive on the different instead of the commercial. 

Are you embarrassed over what you've written? Or afraid someone else will be if they knew it was you? 

I have a very simple solution for you. Submit it under a pen name. The editor will still know your name, but you'll be stating that you're "writing as" so and so. Some authors (especially those writing erotic romance) will publish under a name that isn't their own. Don't worry about trying to operate under two separate identities. Over time, you'll grow accustomed to your second name. You'll grow into it. And there's nothing wrong with writing under a pen name—for one, you'll never have to change it if you get married or divorced. 

What else is stopping you from sending out your manuscript? Are you afraid you aren't good enough?

News flash: you won't know if your manuscript is good enough for a particular publishing house until you try. And I should remind you that even if you do happen to get a rejection, it isn't necessarily because your story wasn't good enough. That's doubly true for print publishers. Sometimes, it just doesn't fit with their program or it sounds too similar to something else they're publishing. 

But the only person who can tell you that your manuscript "isn't good enough" is you. Everything can be fixed with enough work. If you truly think that your story isn't good enough, you should find out why you think that way and fix it! If you can't find anything to fix (and neither can your critique partners or beta readers), it's time to send that story out. That is, if you have dreams of being a published author. 

I'll be honest, I once didn't. At one time, it was enough for me to write stories that I loved to read and tuck them away in a drawer—or hand them over to close friends and family members. But if you think your story deserves to be shared with more than just a handful of people (and most writers, at some point, do), maybe you should try sending out that prized manuscript. If you're a paranormal romance writer, chances are you're a paranormal romance reader, too. So research who your favorite authors have published with. Start there. Or view my useful links page at the side. You'll find plenty of places to submit to. All you need to do is choose the one your manuscript will fit with the best. 

Then you need to develop the courage to send it out. 

Join me next week as I talk about ghosts!

Clara.

Interview with Cindy Spencer Pape

And after the whirlwind of reviews from last week, I'm lucky enough to sit down with their author, Cindy Spencer Pape! Let's get down to it!

Clara: Why did you choose gargoyles for this series?

Cindy: I wanted something different, that hadn’t been as overdone as vampires, werewolves, etc. Also that year, my publisher was doing a special group of stories featuring birthstones. Garnets, January’s birthstone is featured in the first book, but I didn’t stick with that series for the others. Still, each book features a gemstone, so I thought gargoyles, who turn to stone, would be a good match for that theme.

Clara: How extensive was the research for this project? Did you look up myths about gargoyles or did you create your own mythology? 

Cindy: Mostly made it up. The bulk of the research was getting their French words and phrases right—my college French is a little rusty.


Clara: Did you find that there was a pivotal point in your career, a point where you said to yourself, "Yeah, I can do this!"?  

Cindy: Not really. I always doubt myself. In about 1999, I decided to sit down and try to write a book. I did, and finished it, even though it’s awful. But that gave me the courage to write another, and another, and another.


Clara: Was there ever a point where you almost gave up writing? How did you overcome it? 

Cindy: There was. In 2006, I’d been writing and submitting and collecting rejections for a while. I had three manuscripts I was trying to place, so I decided to try the e-publishers. I sent one to Ellora’s Cave/Cerridwen Press, one to Triskelion (long gone now) and one to The Wild Rose Press. I told myself if one of them didn’t sell, I was done. As it turned out, all three did, and I instantly had three publishers to juggle.


Clara: How do you come up with your stories? Are you a plotter or do you go with the flow? 

Cindy: Some of each. It’s very free form, but I do write enough of an outline that I kind of know where I’m going, though I rarely stick to it completely. My ideas come from everywhere—bits of overheard conversation, old fairytales, movies I hated the endings to, dreams—you name it.


Clara: What do you do to overcome writer's block? 

Cindy: Procrastinate. Then eventually, just sit down and make myself string one sentence after another until it’s flowing again.

Clara: Do you have a favourite story that you've written? Favourite character? 

Cindy: I can’t say I do. You have to fall a little in love with each hero, and identify a little with each heroine or you’ll lose interest in the story and that will show in your writing.


Clara: You cross genres—from contemporary, to historical, to paranormal. Did anyone ever tell you not to do that? Do you think that it's more difficult to create a "brand" when you cater to multiple genres? Or, conversely, do you find that your fans are broader?  

Cindy: Yes, I’ve been told I should focus on a single “brand.” But then I’d really upset the readers who love my westerns, if I wrote only paranormal. Or upset my paranormal readers if I wrote only historical. It’s also a way to keep my writing fresh and my interest level high—I need to vary my style now and then. I do find that most of my readers will cross genres and read my other books.


Clara: What advice would you give to aspiring writers? 

Cindy: Don’t. Give. Up. And enjoy what you’re doing, or don’t do it. If writing isn’t fun, you should probably look to something else.

Thanks so much for having me here. It’s been a lot of fun to talk about my gargoyles!

Clara: Thanks for stopping by, Cindy!

Cindy's Stone Heroes gargoyle series which I reviewed last week is now available in paperback form. Find it here. 

Clara.

Review: Stone and Sky by Cindy Spencer Pape

When Marc Armel, the prince of the gargoyle clan, finds a harpy washed up on the beach, he immediately takes her under his wing. But after her fall from a cruise ship, Aldara can't seem to remember why it was so important she come to Canada. In fact, the only thing she knows is how incredibly attracted she is to Marc. 

This fourth book of the Stone Heroes series made for a beautiful and alluring conclusion. Again, Cindy has crafted a charming union between Marc and Aldara, one that I couldn't put down. In this book, she finds the perfect balance between sizzling chemistry and touching emotion. Although I was sad to see the end come, the conclusion felt right—not to mention it left me with the hope that she will continue to write books in the world she's laid down for us.

In a word, it was:

Alluring.

Join me tomorrow as I interview the talented author of the Stone Heroes series, Cindy Spencer Pape! If you want to learn more about the fourth book in the series, you can visit her website or purchase it here. 

Clara.

Review: Stone and Fire by Cindy Spencer Pape

When Dana and Beau meet at their friends' wedding, the chemistry between them sizzles, but after an amazing night, Beau strides out of her life to deal with an emergency at his gargoyle clan. Months later, they meet again in London, both on the lookout for the same magical artifact, and their sexual attraction is rekindled. 

This book promised fire and it delivered! Cindy sure knows how to weave a scorching, emotional tale. I love a man who can't seem to resist a woman, and that seems to be exactly what Dana is to Beau. Add to that the complication of her magically mating him without realizing it, and I was hooked throughout this book. Dana was a well-rounded, complex character whose driven, kick-ass personality perfectly offset Beau's broodiness. Together, they made a pair I'd be willing to read over and over again. The third book of the Stone Heroes series started hot, with Dana and Beau's first encounter, and it only got hotter. 

In a word, this book was:

Scorching.

If you want to be seared by the chemistry, visit Cindy Spencer Pape at her website. Or you can purchase the book here. 

On Saturday, I'll be reviewing the fourth and final installment of the Stone Heroes series. 

Clara.

Review: Stone and Sea by Cindy Spencer Pape

In the second book of Cindy's Stone Heroes series, Remy is sent to Atlantic City to retrieve a cup. But first, he finds himself deliciously distracted by the alluring Marina, who drags him neck-deep into danger—danger of losing his life and danger of losing his heart. 

Marina's personality rocked me back on my heels from page one. A very dynamic, engaging character only matched by the mouthwatering Remy. In this fantastic book, Cindy weaves the perfect combination of danger, intrigue, romance, and of course steamy sex! In her second installment of this series, she outdid herself. This addicting book is sure to make you want to read on to the other two stories in this series. 

It was, in a word:

Dynamic.

If you want to find out for yourself what the hype is about, you can visit Cindy Spencer Pape at her website, or buy the book here. 

Join me on Thursday for a review of the third book in the series, Stone and Fire!

Clara.