Halloween Blog Hop Winner

Congratulations to...

 Tracey D!!

I will email your copy of Starline later today :)

Again, thank you to everyone for participating.

Imogene

Starline - The Launch

Yes...

We held the launch last night. On a warm not quite Spring Evening. The place was rocking to the sound of the music as Diane Beer, author extraordinaire stepped up and gave her spiel. It was all really cool and somehow surreal.

Then it was my turn. What do you say though to people about how good your book is? Where the inspiration came from? How you got to this place. I have to admit to ad libbing. Just a tad, that is :)

So now, Starline is officially "out there"... the new battle ground unfolds. Marketing.

Gulp.

Once the story goes in the paper, I'll take a screen shot and upload it for all to see.

For now, though, you'll have to make do with a photo of myself and fellow/friend JL Addicoat and another friend as we enjoyed the company on the night.

Imogene

Pitching

Well, it isn't exactly a secret. Conference season is now upon us.

American authors are gearing up for the RWA in Anaheim (Gee... how I wish I was going) and the Aussies? Yes, our Gold Coast conference is looming. Even the New Zealanders are in final countdown.

Can't wait. Hanging out at the QT with my writing friends, a behind the scenes tour of Palazzo Versace and then High Tea. Dressing up like a 50's film star and the night of nights. Oh and so much to do!

But an essential part of any writers conference (well apart from the socialising and networking) is the Pitch. My previous experience of pitching has been internet based only, so I'm a little confused and nervous about the face to face action. But then, I reckon most of us will be. (RWA hope you have some scantily clad men ready to take our minds off our nerves...oh did I just say that? Naaaahhhh!)

Like many others, I have asked for a pitch appointment. Scary days ahead while I push through to finish that manuscript (because as anyone would know I've been tied up with my Warriors...)

Never fear though! I am about to go back into Vampire Head Space! Da Da Da Daaaa! (so be afraid. Be very afraid!)

But to prepare myself, not only in having a completed manuscript, I've been looking around the internet for resources which can help me prepare. Or not, as the case may be. Anyway, Fliterary has this fabulous you tube video that I just had to share!


I mean, I know that this isn't best practice, but hey, it is amusing and takes my mind off the level of anxiety I am currently feeling about the whole pitch process.

So today, I am asking what you think are the most important things a first time pitchee needs to know about pitching.

The best response wins a copy of my book Starline!

I'm going to leave this open until Tuesday 24th July. So start sharing those ideas!

Imogene

MidSummer Science Fiction Brigade Blog Hop!

Ru’Edan Home world

Timestamp 01-090-19-7298451

Scene – Zenith Solstice

Several high priestesses gathered around a single rock monument, in the middle of the desert sands of Fu’jar province. Women holding their naked, newly birthed daughters in their arms, waited for the ceremony to begin.  Other female priestesses take their places, squatting among the rocky outcrops, many holding ancient instruments in their hands.  They start chanting in time with the lowing horns of the beasts of burden, and the beating measure of drums.  A breeze blows warm air, faintly scented with the grasses being harvested in the distant fields.

Fiemanskar, the high priestess, steps from the circle of four practitioners positioned around the monument. The robes of her ceremonial gown, adorned with glittering gold and silver, drags on the dirt and rocks as she moves.  She takes an offered child in her hands, lifting the babe into the air; it wriggles and squalls in distress at the removal from its mother.  The child is an offering to the goddess who protects this planet; she is now destined to become one of the priestesses, virginal and pure, tending the sacred fires.   Her mother sobs piteously behind the priestess and for an instant a stab of pain moves through the priestess, knowing the long and lonely life the child will experience.  Then she brushes it aside.  The child is chosen.

The four priestesses around the stone begin to gyrate, their eyes closed as they move to the beat only they can hear.  The herbs they took before the ceremony have opened their minds to a higher plane of thought, allowing them to interact with the goddess in this time honored fashion.  

This single Zenith Solstice Ritual can only take place once in each solar cycle.  At the solstice, they gather before dawn, the cooler air refreshing before the heat of the day fills the air with oppressive warmth.  She nods as the child finally ceases its movements, as if it’s spirit has now absorbed the will of the goddess.  Slowly Fiemanskar lowers her arms, the precious bundle lying silent and still in her arms.  The act of the offering will bring the planet good fortune for the ensuing cycle.  The mother will be well compensated, entering into the band of handmaidens who serve within the temples.

“Eiis Ellane Vorgar Schevst Eiis Eiis Eiis” are intoned with great ceremony, the same words that had been spoken for generations at this time.  A handmaiden proffers her the ceremonial wrap of gold and silver, and the child is carefully enfolded within the soft folds.  A flying prey creature, squawks in the distance and Fiemanskar smiles, knowing the goddess has accepted this offering.

In this blog, I thought I would bring you just a snippet of what I imagine, would be a ritual that only takes place in high summer.  

Because most of my books take place either on a ship, or for the coming Star of the Fleet, on an inhabited asteroid, I wanted to paint a picture of something that takes place on the Ru’Edan home world.  I like to think that the planet-based citizens are similar to us, though.  With their religions and ceremonies, strictly observed by a public who worships them, they have little understanding of the daily life of a priestess, of the planet they inhabit.  

This is a planet that does not necessarily see women, as the equal of men, hence the reason for the interruption between the genders which shows up in the books.

You will notice none of the fathers are present.  The women, as I have imagined them, are secretive, considered lesser to the men, and the fathers take little or no interest in the upbringing of their daughters.  This is essentially borne out in the actions of Crick Sur Banden, who sees women as nothing more than breeders of his army. It is an intensely patriarchal society, although the more enlightened high class (caste) members are more likely to value their daughters.

As for the child who will become a priestess?  Her lot is to be taken back to the temple, her mother accompanying her for as long as the child needs her for the child is not yet weaned.  In this case, the child is only newly born, I imagine less than a month old, so her mother is required to feed  her still.  Once the child is old enough, the mother will relocate to another temple to serve another priestess. The child sent to a different province, maternal ties smashed, as the child’s future includes being brought up to be a priestess, immured in the roles and rituals.

This is  singularly, the most important ritual of the cycle for these women.  This is the only time when priestesses are chosen and only one can be accepted at each temple per cycle. This scene takes place in the main temple, where Fiemanskar resides with  fellow high priestesses, it is the most prestigious, situated on the main continent, making the child doubly blessed.  There is  no choice the mothers must present  their  daughters as offerings.

Once the ceremony has ended, the priestesses then commune back to the temple to participate in a feast and a solemn ceremony. Ancient and forbidden, it cannot be discussed with those outside the temple walls. (Which is why I can’t tell you any more about it.)  

In the streets people  celebrate the coming year, leaving offerings of food, clothing and even coin for the priestesses.  It is a general holiday among the populace.  Of course, such celebrations will only be for half the globe, as the other half will have to wait for their Zenith Solstice to occur.


Imogene

Buy Links

  

Warriors of the Elector books

Starline – Ebook or Paperback  World Wide or In Australia

The Star of Ishtar (Short Story) – Ebook

Starfire – Ebook (paperback releasing later in the year)

Where to Interact 

You can find me on any of the following sites:  My Website  Facebook Twitter

Thanks for participating in the SFR Blog Hop.  There are some fabulous prizes to be won.  Visit each one to go into the draw!  Just click on the image below for details of the prizes.  The list of the participants is below.

To visit the participants:-

1.	S. Reesa Herberth and Michelle Moore	14.	Melisse Aires	27.	Kitty Roads
2.	Pippa Jay	15.	Liana Brooks	28.	Debra A. Soles
3.	Misa Buckley	16.	A. R. Norris	29.	Marlene @ Reading Reality
4.	Arlene Webb	17.	L.J. Garland & Debbie Gould	30.	Rae Lori
5.	Pauline Baird Jones	18.	Sandra Sookoo	31.	Bella Street
6.	Frances Pauli	19.	Cara Michaels	32.	Kyn Hatch
7.	Imogene Nix	20.	Kaye Manro	33.	T.K. Anthony
8.	Natalie Wright	21.	Sheryl Nantus	34.	Jo Jones
9.	Greta van der Rol	22.	Diane Dooley	35.	A.B. Gayle
10.	Jessica E. Subject	23.	Kathleen Scott	36.	Sue Ann Bowling
11.	D L Jackson	24.	Ella Drake	37.	Hywela Lyn
12.	Kayelle Allen	25.	Cathy Pegau
13.	Joanne Elder	26.	T. C. Archer

Give Away!

Yes, as a thank you for visiting my blog today, I am giving away a single PDF copy of Starfire.  This is my newest title (Book 2 in the Warriors of the Elector Trilogy).  To enter my competition, please comment on my blog  -  simple really!  Enter before 24^th June to be in the running.  

Also, remember to leave your email address so we can contact you when you win the draw for the Grand Prize, drawn on the 24^th June!

5 Stars....

Yeah...I know.  I got up at 6 am today, while hubs took the dog out for his little walk, and wandered into my office to find....

A review!  Giving me 5 stars (or crowns!!)  Sad isn't it.  The little things that give us joy :D

Having been too sick to write for a week, it certainly got me down, so this was just the boost I needed.  So...below, check it out :D

When you find yourself in possession of a futuristic handbook anything can happen.

This was a very enjoyable read with enough twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat. I loved all of the characters in this story and thought they were really well written and seeing how these two very different people interacted with each other was interesting and fun.

Mellissa is your average bookstore owner/aspiring romance author and I found her to be a very relatable. It was really fun to get to know this character and see how she handled all of this sudden chaos in her life.

Duvall was an interesting character who I thought was a great match for Mellissa because he brought just the right amount of excitement to her life. He was also very noble and you could tell he would be a great captain. I loved the relationship between these two characters and felt it grew at a realistic rate instead of just insta love.

This is a great new fantasy story that alien romance fans are sure to love!

So, there is now a giveaway on the site...go check it out for yourself!  Enter the draw to win the prize!

http://curseofthebibliophile.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/starline-by-imogene-nix-reviewgiveaway.html#more

Oh and because I'm feeling very happy, I'm also giving away a copy of The Star of Ishtar.  To win, use the rafflecopter thingy below :D

Running Behind - Updates

Arrgghh. Life is never boring here. I feel like I am running so far behind myself, I just saw last week overtake me! Between kids, writing and all my other time consuming activities, I have barely got back to update what's going on.

News for the last couple of weeks.

Cover Art: Yes! The Cover Art has arrived for The Star of Ishtar. It is seriously awesome and another magnificent work from Dawne Dominique.

Ishtar will be available in April 2012 from Secret Cravings Publishing - and as soon as I have the date, I will let everyone know.

Banners:

On the note of the wonderful work by Dawne Dominique, I now have the most fabulous banner art. Just take a look at this!

Starline News:

You can now find Starline on Amazon, Barnes and Noble & All Romance EBooks.

Publicity:

I have just signed up for a virtual blog tour for the end of March, so watch out - Starline is heading your way soon.

Greta Van Der Rol - a fellow Darksider and the author of the successful Iron Admiral series is coming for a visit in the next couple of weeks. Watch out. Should be fun.

On the writing front:

Star of the Fleet is now complete in very rough draft format. Now this couple are a little different - after all they are older. Wait til you meet Julius and Kera. Woot!

Starburst the first scenes are written and it's shaping up to be HUGE! Well I suppose it had to be as it is the last in the universe.

Personally, this last year has been odd. From zero to three books, written, contracted and the first published.

Update 8 February 2012

Yay! Time for a quickie update.

Starline is currently running at number 7 on the Secret Cravings Current Best Selling List.

Star of Ishtar is still on track for the April release...and

Starfire went under contract this morning to Secret Cravings Publishing to release as an EBook in June and Paperback in October. Yes, there was lots of yahoo'ing and happiness.

Needless to say, I can't wait to see what Dawne Dominique comes up with for the cover art.

Oh...and a bit of a surprise - there will be one last short story between Starfire and Starburst. Not saying too much, except to say it will be called Star of the Admiralty. I'm writing it at the moment but soon...

Imogene

February has arrived!

Wow. It seems like yesterday we were in the run up to Christmas and January is already gone. Happy February!

Yeah...I know, I'm already late. *sigh* But life seems to be like that all the time for me right now. But, I do have every intention of improving this year. I have a diary and I am forcing myself to use it. Most days anyway. In fact I have been so good, I have used probably every second day or there abouts. Sometimes the comments are just "edited chapter 1" but hey, you have to start somewhere right?

February is already shaping up to be busy, so here is an overview:

Feb 2 - Raine Delights blog
Feb 9 - Paul Martin is visiting here
Feb 16 - Cynthia Arsuaga is visiting here
Feb 23 - Marie Rose DuFour is visiting here

• Somewhere in amongst all these opportunities, I have school photos to get ready for
  
• A daughter starting a new school based traineeship which means more running around 2 days a week
  
• My business to run
  
• 2 partners I'm critiquing for
  
• 1 novel and 2 short stories to tidy up (thinking about a couple of competitions
  
• Starbust waiting for me to write; and
  
• Starfire has been submitted so I'm waiting to hear from the publisher.

Somewhere in this morass I hope to read more books. I had 16 turn up in the last month and I have 250+ unread books on my Kobo. I think I'm ready for a holiday already. Not that I really mind all that much. It just keeps me on my toes

Quick Bites:

• If you haven't visited the website lately? I have a new link called Saucy Bits. That is where I am starting to put details of the short stories I am working on.
  
• Starline is now available at Amazon & Barnes and Noble - I will update as it is available in more places.
  
• I got my first 5 star reader review! Just click on the Review tab to read it!

So, remember to come visit regularly, I try to update my status at least weekly and have a weekly visitor too.

Anyway, it is nearly time for Mum's Taxi to be pulled out of the carport and make the daily run.

Imogene

Release Day...my journey through editing.

With less than 4 hours to release, I'm am sitting hunched over my computer, working on book 2, Starfire. In its own way, it is a much bigger story. I know, because I have learnt so much since writing Starline.

Anyway, I thought though it might be nice to get an insight in what happens once a book is finished being written (as in that really rough first draft on your computer.) Yeah, it may be written, but that is just the beginning of the tale.

So you have written a story. Fabulous. There is such a sense of accomplishment with that. So what do you do next?

For me, the next step is print it and walk away. Take at least a week, or if you can manage it, longer. Why? For me, it was purely a sense of being way too close to the story. I knew the story, deep in my bones. I could read and reread sentences without realising my spelling or grammar were wrong. Distance makes the heart grow fonder and blurs the edges of things you know. In writing it is the same. While the story is still sharp in your mind, every word, paragraph and scene stand out in sharp detail.

Go back to your manuscript and be hard. Given a week or longer, take one or more highlighters and go through. Highlight mistakes, grammar that doesn't read right. And read it out loud. Take your time, this baby of yours is precious. But it's still probably a pig in a poke if your write like me.

Once you have made changes, let someone else read it. And this is a really hard part. Don't pick family or friends who will tell you how nice it is. Sure that is great for the ego, but you need someone who is going to pick the thing to bits. Lots and Lots of bits. Trust me, this is the hard part of editing before you submit. Find someone who has good english skills and will be brutally honest with you.

Now what? You're going to feel either blue or bouyant. Be kind to yourself. Make the corrections if they feel right. If they don't, work out why you don't think they should happen. Be critical and honest about your work. If you are lucky and you can find a group of people who can critique for you, let them. A good Crit Partner will be honest but also supportive. :) (I know my main crit partner is!)

Let them read the corrected version. Talk to them about why you are making changes or not. Now here's the rub, though. Not every written work is fabulous. An excellent critique partner will tell you to your face if it's rot - nicely and kindly, but will let you know. We all need one of them. Oh, and this step may get repeated several times before you are happy. It's the old rinse and repeat cycle :)

Finally happy? Phew! Then you get to look around for publishing houses that are a good fit for your writing. You might like to consider entering a couple of competitions before taking this step though. The feedback is invaluable, I have found. It put me on the road to where I am now.

If you do, be prepared for honest reviews. Not everything is nice and palatable, but most judges are writers who have been in your position. They offer feedback, not to be negatively critical, but to help you become the writer you could be. Honestly, I can't stress this enough.

So you entered competitions, found a publisher and think they are a good fit. You send in your submission, checking that you have your synopsis, letter and manuscript attached, having followed their requirements to the absolute letter, down to the name of the manuscript file. You wait, and wait some more. You check your emails, and find...a rejection. Okay. This is part of the life of an author. Not every book will fit every publishing house. And you know what? That's okay. Some will give you excellent personalised feedback and others will say that they don't do that. Each house handles it in their own way.

Important tip. Accept their decisions. Your book may be a King Blockbuster in the waiting. You may know that in your bones, but if they don't accept it, arguing won't make them think of it any more kindly.

Once you find the right place for your book, then you get to edit it again. This is hard, because your editor will be looking at it critically. Not because they are awful. They want you to have the book as strong as possible before sending it off into the world. Some houses do more editing than others. You may have 2 rounds, you may have 5 or 6. (And this is really hard, because you will have a deadline to complete the edits by.)

Finally, the final edit is in, you get your final copies to check and send back. Take your time! Check thoroughly and when you are happy return it. Now sit back and wait. Slowly.

Really. Hard.

This is me. I'm waiting. But you know what? In less than 4 hours my baby will be out in the world.

Writing is hard. It's exhausting and at times even lonely. But you know what? I can't think of too much else I would rather be doing.

Imogene

Excerpt Number 2

Soo... I thought a second excerpt might whet your appetite, so here below is the next...

The pounding on the door pulled her from her thoughts as it echoed through the building. It interrupted her thinking, but given it had continued for a while, she just couldn’t ignore it any longer. She rose from her chair, and making her way toward the front of the store, she muttered under her breath, “It’s Saturday, people.” Couldn’t they see the shop was closed? Opening the blind on the door, she peered out to see a man on the step. “We’re closed!” she called. He looked at her and made a move to open the door.

“We are closed.”

She repeated herself, and then heard a mutter of “You have something…”

She lost the gist of what he said as she got a good look at the muscular man with black hair and piercing green eyes standing on the stoop. God, he looked so sexy!

“Can you let me in?” she finally heard.

“What? Oh sorry,” she said, quickly unlocking the door and opening it a crack. “Now what did you say?”

“You have something that belongs to me,” said the impossibly sexy man, and she wondered if he would think her nuts asking for a photo. He looked just like what she thought George would. She grinned to herself. Sure girl. Jem would ask something like that. She blinked away the thought and focused on the man in front of her.

“Ummm, I don’t think so,” said Mellissa, making to close the door.

“A pad…” And the memory twigged.

“Oh, right,” she said, sliding away from the door, just enough to let him in, and then re-securing the locks. “We are closed on Saturdays, so you are lucky I was here.” Motioning for him to follow her, she made her way to the back of the store. She stopped at the doorway and watched him look around the store.

“Please take a seat,” Mellissa offered, motioning to a seat. Casting around, she looked for the package. “I’m sorry, what did you say your name was? Mr…?”

“McCord, Duvall McCord,” the gorgeous stranger intoned. His eyes roamed over her, and uncomfortably she got the feeling he liked what he saw, but that seemed silly because she looked so very ordinary. Certainly not the sort of girl who would appeal to a buff and sexy male like this. All Alpha, she thought, and she embarrassed herself by blushing at her thoughts. She could feel the heat of the red tide rising on her cheeks.

Spying the package on a small table just behind her desk, she stretched for it, when suddenly a loud crash and whine came from the back of the building, and before she could blink, McCord reached for his pocket and some sort of device.

“Get down!” he shouted, leaning over her, covering her body with his. He grabbed her hand and the package together. “Two for transport NOW!” he shouted, and the world turned black.

Now, this time I have something very special...

Giveaway Time!

A copy of Starline as a thank you to you lovely lovely people following my blog. So to win, here is all you need to do...

Tell me, if you had a chance to visit anywhere in the future, Where and What you would like to see.

I am going to give this away on Thursday 19th January, so you have plenty of time to think up some fantastic answers. The competition closes at 9am strictly Queensland Time.

I'm bouncing, I'm jumpng...OMG I'm so excited.

With less than two weeks to release, things are getting really exciting here.

Earlier this week, my business cards with Imogene Nix turned up, and they looked fabulous. Of course so did my first batch of bookmarks...yes here is an image. They look seriously sweet - I was so pleased with them, as I designed them myself. Took many hours, but worth the pain, sweat and yes, even tears!

I was also thinking I was beginning to feel like I stalked the Secret Cravings website, looking for the book to be listed, visiting 2 and 3 times a day, not to mention Amazon, the Kobo store and even Barnes and Noble. Sad huh? Yep, I will be the first to admit to that!

No one ever told me that it went with the territory. Lol!

I am keeping busy, working on other projects, hoping they will help me to get to the 23rd, but really I'm kidding myself. I'm a bundle of nerves! And excitement. And anything else you care to mention, at that rate!

Then something comes along and heightens my excitement. My darling husband (dh) bought me a Kobo for Christmas and I have been soooo good. I started uploading my 150+ ebooks to it.

Then today in the mail, comes the most exciting gift from my friends. They do skins for computers, ereaders and phones. But they created a skin, just for me...with my cover art. Now I don't know about you, but I am soooo over the moon, I have this silly little lopsided grin thing happening. So I thought I would share it!

Life doesn't get too much better than this!

Well, another visitor will be along next Wednesday, and of course don't forget the drawing of the grand prize of the Kindle from Secret Cravings for the birthday blog hop. You have until the 17th to visit EVERY blogger who participated to be in the draw.

Imogene

First Excerpt of Starline

Okay Okay Okay!

Ready for a tasty tempter? I thought I would pop up the first excerpt today, another next weeks and then a last just before release...

Starline by Imogene Nix

“Sir, you have an encoded message incoming from Admiralty,” Engineer Corbin Jard stated. A young officer, new to Duvall’s team, he looked up expectantly at his Captain. His pretty-boy face showed eagerness, and he looked ready to jump up and grab something, anything his Captain commanded. Jard had joined the crew just as the ship prepared to make its maiden journey. A big promotion for one who had, until recently, served on the Star of Ishtar.

“I’ll take it in my office, Jard,” Duvall said, striding through the automatic doors and heading to his office. The crew of the Elector carefully trained for multi-tasking, and given the size of the crew and the status of a Stealth Ship, if one officer sustained injury, someone else could continue their role, and the crew while new, had started integrating nicely.

Hopefully this lead would take them to the handbook they sought, he thought, something to give them a break in the ongoing hunt for Crick Sur Banden. His neck itched, and while he didn’t consider himself superstitious, he never neglected to listen to what his senses told him, and right now they screamed that he needed a lead and quickly.

Once in his office, he secured the door and opened the secure link. “McCord here.”

“Duvall, I have a lead, or something, for you.” The earnest voice of WO Meredith Gentry came quickly. Much as he looked forward to hearing from her, he did not expect to. Meredith continued her work safely tucked away on Aenna. Didn’t she? “I don’t have a lot of time,” she hurried on. “I think they know I suspect something. I rigged the handbook with a tracking device. The secure code is—” He could hear the sound of voices behind her. “Quickly, it’s V422J53. That will allow you to access the secure feed,” she said as he jotted down the tracking device’s code. He could hear her taking quick breaths. “It moved through the gate outside Eris on code LX543GH4.” He knew that code. He had just generated one giving a similar time path.

“Meredith, are you in a secure location?” he demanded forcefully. Another hitched breath floated through the secure line. He gripped his table and leaned forward, not that he could do anything. The sounds faltered from thousands of miles away. “Meredith?” His sister was in danger, and here he listened on a ship so far away. Barsha! He should have protected her.

“Duvall, you need to access frequency…” Quickly she rattled off the information he would need to follow the device as he tapped into his unit. “Oh God! They’re here—” Abruptly the line went dead.

“Meredith? Meredith?” Now he leaned over the device. Quickly accessing the Admiralty, he demanded a connection to Gentry. A voice informed that Gentry could not be raised, and the voice asked if someone else could help with his query. His demands to talk to the Admiral met with a similar fate. Frustration welled upward, nearly choking him as he disconnected. He knew he couldn’t go back and didn’t know who else to contact. He had to maintain a chain of silence while investigating, especially when the Admiralty could be breached. Never had those words choked him so much.

His heart thudded as he sat back down. Could more than a single infiltrator exist? He hoped not, but the itching at his neck grew in intensity, and he feared the worst. Tapping the information Meredith had given him into his desk screen, he started toward tracking the handbook, thankful for the foresight of officers such as his sister.

The blip of the machine echoed through the room; an answer bounced back to him. A heading he would never have guessed. Toward the Time Port. Well, thank Eshra, if he couldn’t go back to help Meredith, he could at least work toward retrieving the item she had risked so much to track. Quickly he hailed the bridge. “Full speed toward the Time Port,” he instructed, just in time to see the blip disappear.

Okay...excerpt two pops up next week...so remember to come back then :)

Imogene

Happy First Birthday Secret Cravings Publishing

Firstly, I want to say, Happy First Birthday to Secret Cravings Publishing!

I struggled with my blog today. I mean what do I say? In the end, I thought I would share my story…so read on if you dare!

I’m a bookstore owner, specializing in Romance Books. Makes sense, right? I read romance. Lots and lots of romance. I know about the genres and what appeals to me, but for years I went through life with the attitude, I couldn’t do it. I mean, getting published is such a fierce thing. Rather like competition where only the very top echelon can achieve that brass ring. I still think it is extremely competitive…I doubt I will ever change my mind about that.

I attended a conference in Bondi, New South Wales in March 2011 and one of the sessions I sat in on, was with the super talented Lexxie Couper. Such a great lady – tons of fun!! Trust me, I sat with Lexxie and her fabulous friends at the dinner and had a ball! Even my husband, one of only 2 men to attend had a great night. (We had both the men at our table so it was a slightly more balanced table than it could be!) Anyway, I am digressing though…

So there I sat in the room, listening to these ladies talking about their journey. At that moment, the light bulb went on in my head. These ladies wrote what they saw and heard in their minds. Now given my over active imagination, surely there was a story in mine? Right? Absolutely. I mean, this is the person that has had dreams of flight and fancy for more years than I could poke a stick at.

So, we arrived home. Very tired after the flight and then a 4 and a half hour drive home. Pooped. But in the back of my mind, there was the seed of a story growing. That seed would eventually become Starline.

For the next 8 weeks, I barely moved away from the computer. I wrote, then wrote more, and then wrote even more again. At the end of 8 weeks I had about 55 000 words written and the basis for the story.

At this time, I did the best thing ever. I joined a writing group. Thank God for Romance Writers of Australia. I joined the paranormal group (super enthusiastic and helpful). They offered advice and friendship. I got a critique partner, (yes and I think I drove her mad with my requests) and I listened. I participated in the Clayton’s Conference (you know, the conference you attend when you can’t attend the conference in real life.) I was on a bender! I soaked up information like a sponge.

I edited, polished, rejigged. You name it. I did it with Starline. A bit like a dog with a bone, I kept worrying it.

By August, it was ready to do something with. I entered it in my first ever competition. (And did quite well, garnering a third place in the end.) I knew it had merit, I knew it wasn’t awful. I knew I could get it published.

I visited Preditors and Editors and started hunting. Who handled romance? Especially a first timer, who really didn’t know what they were doing? I made a list. I selectively submitted. I got requests, for the full manuscript. A couple of rejections – you expect that, don’t you? In October, I woke up to an email. Secret Cravings offered me a contract. Well, I think I screeched yahooed and generally bounced around in my seat. Then I sent a request out to the paranormal loop for advice.

Once more, these fabulous ladies came through. Keri and Tracey have my undying gratitude. Especially Tracey who talked to me about tin tacks and basics, listened to me warbling on about the contract and offered valuable and constructive advice. Thanks so much!

So now, here I sit, waiting for my book to release in the next few weeks. This part of the journey is just beginning, but I do have some suggestions to share with others on the same point of the journey. Please bear with me, though…

My thoughts on writing romance:

1. Write what you love.
Seriously, you need to love the genre you are writing in. If you do, the writing will flow. Trying to fit a square peg in a round hole never worked before, and it certainly won’t work if you are writing in a genre you don’t love.
2. Surround yourself with great, honest and knowledgeable people.
I can’t say this enough. Writing is a lonely journey. Sure you may have friends, co-workers and even husbands, wives, parents and children. But you need information to make it a success. Find people who are writing in your area. Learn from them, there is no reason to reinvent the wheel. Then pay it forward. Help someone else on the journey. Find a critique partner with experience and then one with less. Give something back to the writing world.
3. Research is key.
Not every genre is easy to research. In my case I had to find names of asteroids, planets and try to think how space travel could take place. Thankfully I am a trekkie with great internet access. But there is nothing worse than reading a historical and seeing something glaringly and obviously wrong in the historical context. Check and double check your facts. And if you are making up worlds? Write down what you know, because if you ever go back to the world you invented, you need to keep it straight.

Phew. This started as a quick blog… Ahh well. What does this have to do with Secret Cravings having their first birthday? Well, I am lucky. As a young publisher, so many people give you the advice to be careful. And yes, you do need to do your homework. I did and honestly, can I say that I am pleased I did? I don’t regret signing with SCP.

So, in honor of their first birthday, I am offering a $10.00 USD gift certificate with SCP as a prize!

The catch? You need to tell me about your journey – either as a reader or a writer. It can be as quick as you like. But you must leave me an email address so I can contact you, if you win.

I will be drawing this on 7th January 2012 (Queensland time) and letting you all know here on the blog.

However, there is a double dip here as well. As part of the birthday blog, you will also go into the draw to win the SCP grand prize draw to win…

From Secret Cravings
First prize - Kindle Fire
Second prize - Amazon GC $50
Third prize - SCP GC $25
Visit this page to find out more details http://www.secretcravingspublishing.blogspot.com/

Snakes, Kids, Christmas and Editing...what else can happen?

The title says it all, I think. :( The week has barely begun and I am running behind. A million miles behind.

Last night, I was editing chapters 13 & 14 until about 11'ish. I finally finished, saved and packed up for the night. Crawl between the sheets and hubby says, "Gee, I hope you're doing it right." Heart failure nearly ensued. That is NOT the question an aspiring author needs when she is running on not enough sleep, during edits. Let me assure you of that immediately. :) The funny thing is, I got the gist of what he meant, but, you know what? It's summer holidays here in Australia. My teenaged daughters are BOTH on holidays, less then 2 weeks to Christmas (so no cooking is happening just yet) and yes, knee deep in edits. My head is literally a mess. I haven't even finished the shopping...oh and one daughter has a birthday on the 23rd and the other on the 3oth of December. I really didn't plan that one well at all. Oh and I haven't made an appointment to see the hairdresser for Christmas. Think I might luck out on that.

Today, I needed to look through and finalise chapters 15 and the conclusion. Simple? No.I

n case you can't tell...this is so much harder than I expected. I'm not really sure what I thought edits would be like. I edited before submitting, so yeah, I thought I had a great handle on what I was doing. Now? Not quite so sure.

My editor is great though. She said she is going through and loving the story. That helps. LOTS. The other nice thing is, once this is cleared off my desk, I have 2 stories waiting for me to pre-submit edit them.

So, here I am, tapping out my blog, finally finished the edits and sent them through, waiting for hubby to come home and deal with the crisis of the snake, the kids are busy (the house is quiet - I probably should be worried, but peace is reigning supreme) so I am going to take the chicken route. Wait til I'm needed. Lol!

Emails, telephone and kids. Editing love scenes with kids wandering into the office is not easy. :) But the crowning glory? A snake. In the laundry. Long and gray and just sitting there. Right. Not doing ANY washing until it is gone.

Bright notes? Lots!

I'm visiting Barbara Westbrook for her Christmas Recipe Blog on the 15th December...

I'm blogging for the Secret Cravings Publishing 1st Anniversary Blog Hop on January 5 - lots of great giveaways and prizes, including a Kindle Fire.

January is also Choc Block full of visitors including:

• Dawne Prochilo
• Shannon West
• Raine Delight
• Natalie Bates

Oh and Australia Day (26 January) I have an Aussie SCP author Jan Graham

So, signing off for now. Remember to stay calm, eat lots of chocolate...and above all, have fun!

Imogene

2 in one week!

Yes, I know, 2 blogs in one week? How much can there be to say?

Well obviously tons, because here I am again. So let's start...

1. I finally got my results from Show Me The Spark - Heartland RWA Chapter ... a 3rd placing for Starline. Congratualtions to those who won. Given this was my first go, I am not too upset with the outcome :)

2. Yes a Trailer....Just what you wanted to see.....right? So click below to watch!

Lastly, I have such respect for women who manage to get their manuscripts right on the first go.....ohh my! I feel like my eyes are falling out of my head and my hands are cramping right now.... First round of edits, and it is HARD!

But you know what? I am sooooo looking forward to seeing my book out there for sale. It is so exciting now to be able to show people my cover art and go....See? That's mine!

So no matter how hard or taxing, I am going to keep going, because it won't be long and Starline will be available to purchase. So great!

Thanks to all my followers for letting me babble! Right, back to edits again!

Imogene

Cover Art

It is a curious thing. As a new author I didn't feel like it was "real" until I got my cover art.

What cover art I hear you say? The cover for Starline arrived in my inbox this morning. Now I'm supposed to work through the day as usual when something inside me is screaming with excitements :)

But I'm fairly sure you will all agree. It is pretty special. So for your delectation, I present....

STARLINE
by
Imogene Nix

With wonderful awesome artwork by Dawne Dominique

Okay, gotta do work now....

Imogene

There are just times when we really get excited..

What can I say? As a finalist in the Heartland Romance "Show Me The Spark" competition, which just happens to be my very first too, I finalled in the Futuristic/Fantasy/Paranormal category.

One of the really great things with this particular competition is that they send you lots of comments etc and you have a week to revise your entry and resubmit. So when mine came back, I took a good long hard look at the comments. Yes, there was certainly lots to work on.

So I did. I read, reworked and tweaked. Finally all done, I resubmitted this morning - I have to say I am pleased it is gone but my stomach is wobbling with, well not quite fright, but certainly lots and lots of nerves. So, being one of those people who just has to know, I popped back to the competition page, but instead of seeing the dates, I saw this. And this is where it gets really sad! Lol!



I actually took a screen shot to keep for posterity! But look! There it is ... Imogene Nix.

A huge grin is now firmly planted on my face.

I do hope your day is as pleasant as mine!

Imogene

Writing for fun? I love it!

Well writing in and of itself can be a very rewarding experience....but today I got rewarded....yet again :)

At the prompting of some of the ladies from the RWA Paranormal loop, I decided to enter one of the RWA (America) chapter competitions. The first 25 pages. I have to admit to a fair amount of trepidation. I mean, they could hate it? Right? What if they tell me it is so bad never to enter again?

Girding the loins and all, I put everything together and shipped off the entry. Sure I liked what was written but would anyone else? That was in the first week of September....tick tick tick to today....

About to head out to an Art Gallery Opening and I tell hubby...."hang on, just need to check my emails...." and to my eternal surprise there was an email there about the competition. And guess what? I am a finalist.

I have to tell you, I did woop a little, yell to hubby to come see...all the usual.

So here I am ... wine and currently popcorn in hand letting you know.

I passed the clouds sometime and am about to enter the ionosphere....don't worry I am sure I will come back to earth sometime soon.

But for now, I feel great. Hope you do too.

Imogene

Now it is official!

I have sold Starline to Secret Cravings!!

Woot!!

So now begins the next part. I am waiting to be assigned an editor to begin the preparations of the manuscript ready for printing. We have a projected date for ebook release and a projected date for print release as well.

How cool is that?

So why not pop along to Secret Cravings next time you are looking for an ebook to read?

And when you get the opportunity, grab your copy of Starline as well

Imogene

Welcome to My World

Here I am world...new to the fun parts of writing. I have finished my first manuscript....Starline and while it is currently in it's infancy I think it is fun!

Basic premise? Sorry I can't tell you that just yet, but what I can say it, my brain hurt continually until it was finished. Starline is the first book in a trilogy called the Warriors of the Elector series.

Now I have to say, the hardest parts of this book to write were thinking up words that might be used in the future....I wonder if the concept of marriage will still be around, or will we have moved on to other forms of formalised unions? The future intrigues me and so I have examined that within my story.

The hero is tough and uber sexy, and the heroine? Well actually she kinda reminds me a little of some of my personality traits and others I only wish I could have! lol.

Okay, so keep an eye out to see what more will be coming soon!

Wishing you a wonderful experience
Imogene Nix