Rules of engagement: Submitted

Hallelujah!

The worst of submitting the required documents to any publisher (or most) has been completed. These fun things include a one page synopsis of the entire book (everything summed up from first to last line in one page);

… the cover letter (Dear Agent/Publisher, thank you for … etc.); the sell page (how will I manage to help promote this novel?); market analysis (How does it compare to the ten million books in the same genre? And what makes it ‘better’ or different than all the rest?); the biography, the blurb (the back flap of the book that may entice you to read); the tagline (oh that funny littlie line that hooks the reader into reading the back flap, then the book).

And of course the first three chapters.

Here is my biggest recommendation to those who are ready to submit. 1. Don’t write it into the wee hours of the night when you are sleepy.

Not like I would ever dare do that. <cough>

AND 2. Edit mother-lovin’ everything before sending it to the agent/publisher or even your editor. Because if you don’t, you may send off an automatic rejection.

And your editor, should you (and please do) employ him/her to edit your work, will find those many, many mistakes that may potentially be extraordinarily embarrassing.

Not like that would ever happen to me. <cough>

I rarely edit my social media and I am sure it shows. But I am not a professional blogger so there’s a lil’ something in me doesn’t care if a comma is off. Should I? Probably. But I don’t.

ANYWHO the whole batch was edited because my editor DID laugh as did I (thank the good Lord I didn’t send that embarrassing bit), but now the whole shebang is into the ether.

FlippinFanFantastic, I say. Now I wait because rejection could be around the corner. At which point, I may have to start this process over.

For now? Imma gonna read. I have another novel in the pike, ready to be written, but my brain needs a break.

Am… Writing

Okay, can you say, ‘rewrite/edit?’

I am almost done with those pesky rewrites for “Rules of Engagement” (working title). The critique group is shredding it like mozzarella for me. My cover? Yet to be determined. However, if you wish to see some of what I envision, keep on reading. No, it’s not about weeping, mozzarrella, or Operation.

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Oww

That helpful process is great. Until you realize it’s like going into open heart surgery without anesthesia and car batteries are attached to the surgeon. Routinely zapping him awake or simply for fun. Who is getting his advice from the game, Operation.

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Yeah, like that

After that, it may go directly to the editor for giggles. Or I may withhold it until it’s as clean a copy so she doesn’t. Pretty much she will tear it apart. Re-shred.

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Editor’s motus operandi

Annnnnd this is me. Once she’s done with it.

That would be me

*The writing life*

Cover ‘in the works.’

“Writing is easy. Just put a sheet of paper in the typewriter and start bleeding.” — Ernest Hemingway

Thank you, The Superior Word!

I had the pleasure of listening to The Superior Word’s Easter Message, and Jim Dwyer mentioned “Romance Under Wraps.” Starts at min 4:42… Got the print screen time for ya. 4:42

‘Cause he’s a dude, he sees the cop side more than the romance side, and is almost done reading my first novel.

If you enjoy clean/Christian romantic suspense/police procedure you enjoy “Romance Under Wraps” … with the main character off the rail, Catherine Cade, an identity thief, wholly unlikeable, especially when dealing with Rick Calhoun, homicide detective.

Oh, he has plans for her all right. And she is not amenable to his offer but does she have a choice? Not even. Not if she wants to stay out of prison. And not if she wants to solve a murder — with or without the dirty cop.

How many laws will HE break and what will he sacrifice to keep her safe?

What will she do with that?

And many thanks to Linda Rodante for surprising me with a fantastic meme for one so technically challenged (me).

Purchase Here! https://www.amazon.com/Romance-Under-Wraps-Claire-OSullivan-ebook/dp/B08MB43BSL/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1TMNCJIF6EOUB&dchild=1&keywords=romance+under+wraps+claire+o%27sullivan&qid=1617746110&sprefix=romance+under+w%2Caps%2C260&sr=8-1

Interview up! Thanks to Ann Harrison from Ann Writes Inspiration

Many thanks to Ann Harrison from Ann Writes Inspiration, who posted her interview about Romance Under Wraps today!

Great questions, and really enjoyed spending time with her. Great questions and you can see me pondering hahaha.

(1) Claire O’Sullivan Returns to talk about her debut novel, Romance Under Wraps – YouTube

The Question

Yesterday, someone with a long history of working forensics asked me why I write crime fiction. Well, I write a combo of crime/romance or thriller/romance but that’s neither here nor there.

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I thought it through and it didn’t take long.

Here it is:

“I write (romantic suspense) crime fiction primarily because of the evil I have seen in the world, the crimes perpetrated by others, and people so hurt, so lost, that they need a message of hope. I write specifically to a crime or serial killer with an obstacle standing in the way of the main character’s ability to find the suspect as well as a subplot for the main character, an obstacle for him/her to overcome emotionally/spiritually.

Everyone has a wound, physically, emotionally, spiritually. Everyone has physical obstacles to overcome whether the huge stack of dishes caked with eggs, cheese, and no dishwasher or a crime, a villain, and the chase. These elevate people (I pray) that they see something in their mundane lives that they can relate to (the chase, the doing of, the dishes, whatever) and give them a message, one of redemption.  

I was a nurse practitioner and saw a lot of evil. Patients in need, ignored. I also have taken forensics classes and I give the main character a good pile of evidence for the main character through forensics (which is a lot like performing a history and physical, examining labs, imagining, diagnosing, chasing down the ‘villain’ of the body). Also I understand redemption and prayer, overcoming physical and emotional obstacles, as well as spiritual. 
And that’s why I write crime fiction.”

She emailed me back and said in her twenties she’d seen much of the same.

Yes, I agreed with her statement, “It’s heartbreaking.” Indeed it is, and folks, even by being entertained, often need a hope, for someone to understand, even if it’s on a subconscious level.

Perhaps some of you could relate on a level of fear from not knowing who you really are. Or running from abuse. The life of indecision or shame? If you are one of many who has backslidden, or never really made a decision, consider reading “Romance Under Wraps.” The message of hope and redemption are within your grasp.

 

Definitely having fun. Ahem.

With the debut of “Romance Under Wraps,” promoting, writing “Alex and the Very Dead Doxy” AND “Rules of Engagement,” I am having a riot!

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See?

I am pleased to see solid 4s and 5s popping up for “Romance Under Wraps,” and on Kindle, it is on sale in time for Christmas for 99 cents from December 24th to December 30th.

That’s what my main character, Catherine Cade, would call “easy as takin’ candy from a baby.” She’s a thief, and betting within this romantic suspense, she’d tell you to get it while it’s hot enough for the black market!

It’s Here!

“Romance Under Wraps” is available on Kindle Unlimited, Kindle (on sale), and paperback.

Yay! Yes, I finished off the Sparkling Cider.

Now, off to the next project (Rules of Engagement).

Read it right here or follow your heat to Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08MB43BSL?pf_rd_r=WYAA10532G4Z00FNTPDD&pf_rd_p=edaba0ee-c2fe-4124-9f5d-b31d6b1bfbee

Today’s Job

The first pass edit of How to Steal a Romance passed the publishing house’s editing team with three whole blips, which I call a win. Fixed in 3 minutes.

 

Ftw Win GIF

 

Made those corrections and sent the manuscript back, and it is ready for submission to be published.

 

boom boom whoosh | Tumblr

 

Whoosh!

And anxiously awaiting to see what the cover will look like. I know what my brain says, but let’s see what their graphics team comes up with!

 

So anxious GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY

 

So, what are you doing during the ‘stay-inside’ plague?

I am thinkin’ I need to distance myself from social media (mercy! I am already social distancing…!) to do some catchup reading and writing.

 

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Expect How to Steal a Romance on the shelves, KDP/Nook, etc., before fall. YEEEEKS!!

 

 

 

 

Inching Ever So Closer to August!

In roughly 5 months Elk Lake will be publishing and I will be launching ‘How to Steal a Romance.’

 

book open

 

Team is up and reading/reviewing already. I have one slot open. Just one free copy to give away for a confirmed helper to launch this romantic suspense… Facebook, comment here, or DM on Twitter!

 

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THE UPDATE :

Progress is being made. The publishing house/creative graphics department is working on a cover. Yeeks! Can’t wait to see it!

Next, a professional website is close to done and thanks to Bob Phillips, webmaster. This is Bob (well, not really). I am apparently a pain in the neck with my emails and requests…

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I am finally on Instagram. Soooo I don’t really know how to use it yet, gimme time.  *AuthorClaire1 – got a few pics up…

Expedition in the garage getting fixed up for some road trips. Yay!

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The launch team (minus 1) is so on it and I love you guys, you rock!

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Whew.

 

Hola Hello Gutentag

I should add perhaps… bon chance (GOOD LUCK!). Bon courage (roughly, be happy, don’t worry…).

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Have copyeditor, will travel. Before I sent her the MS I found a gazillion gaffs so… I fixed ’em, notified the agent who graciously let me dump the first submission of cover letter/proposal/synopsis/first 50 pages.

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That being a big, fat whew, I moved on. Now, it’s a condundrum.

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Should I really work on Murder in the Mist?

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Or… back to my romantic/comedy/suspense (noir), Glass Slipper? The immediate sequel to HTSR? A tough edit.

glass slipper2

(Image courtesy S. Spalletta)

What about the wee town of Olvegaart? Where a romantic/mystery occurs (some suspense)? Where the working title is Alex and the Very Dead Doxy?

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Yes… doxy means lady of the night. Or day. Or whatever.

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Just needs a cleanup, okay a lotta cleaning up.

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AIR, military suspense/romance? Note: Imagination in overdrive. Again.

(Image, courtesy my brain)

 

AIR

 

 

I mean, that is done! But not vaguely edited. At. All.