RWA Nationals, here I come...

I'm not leaving yet, but I'll be there soon enough. I can't wait to learn tons, meet new people and see old friends. I'm excited about The Gathering party too. I get to meet all the FF&P groupies...should be fun.

Anyway, BURIED BONES, my romantic suspense with paranormal elements is hoping to find a home with an agent and then with a wonderful publisher. Now to get my pitch down to a science. I've only changed it twenty times. Must leave it alone. haha...

I'll have a couple USB drives (they have cute little skeleton heads on it) with a sample of the first 30 pages just in case. Must go prepared. One never knows when the opportunity will arrive.

If you see a brownish-blonde, curly hair woman - that might be me. Come say hello.

Have a great time if you are going. If not keep reading or working on your book.

Dawn
Nationals bound, baby!
NOT AN ANGEL, OUT NOW!
www.dawnchartier.com

First 5 Pages Contest - Sola RWA

I've been meaning to promote this writers contest, but I've been a little busy.

Anyway my local RWA (Sola) chapter is holding a writers contest and it's a wonderful opportunity to get feedback on your first 5 pages. The entry fee is cheap $15.00 (I believe) and the knowledge you learn is very valuable. Go to the website to find more information. Several unpublished authors are now published because of the great feedback from authors.

http://www.solawriters.org

Good luck to those who enter.
Dawn

Barbara Vey's question got me thinking...(scary, I know)

Barbara Vey posted a question on Publisher's Weekly "Beyond The Book" blog recently, asking when do you put the book down if you are not into it?

As a reader I replied that I put the book down after the first chapter. But then I started second guessing my answer. Sometimes I put the book down much sooner. Maybe 10 pages into the story and yet sometimes it gets a second chance when I'm in a different mood. Often I'm glad I gave the book a second look, but sometimes I can't get into it no matter what.

So how did this get me thinking you ask. Well it's because my mood changes all the time. Some days I want light and funny, like Janet Evanovich or Karen Wells. Other days I want my heroes torchered like in J.R. Ward's or Sherrilyn Kenyon's books. Some times I just want to read a cool YA such as P.C. Cast. And sometimes I want to read about a kick-ass heroine such as Karen M Moning's Fever series or even Charlaine Harris's Sookie series or maybe something serious like Jodi Picoult.

I'm trying to find a common thread in these book, and why sometimes I like the mystery, humor over a paranormal romance, and other times I want the dark paranormal romance over the light mystery. I'm guessing it's the same reason why one day we want to watch a scary movie or a comedy or a action packed thriller. It all depends on our moods.

So my thoughts is this. Do you think editors and agents have moods as well when reading submissions? One day they love your story and voice and then the next day they aren't in the mood for it? I know you are wondering where are these random thoughts are coming from. Heck, I don't know. Just some weird crap that goes through my mind is all.

Now on a totally different subject. If you are a TrueBlood fan, what do you think of Alcide Herveaux? OMG! I know. He is the hottest Mississippi redneck I've ever laid eyes on. (now don't get offended if you're from Mississippi and I called Herveaux a redneck, he's not really a redneck, he's a sexy-ass werewolf. Plus my dad's from Sugalock Miss. so I get the privledge of using the redneck term, and I once lived in Jackson for a total of 3 days. (grin).

That was all. I'm still counting down until I leave for RWA Nationals, and I'm super excited to meet some awesome agents, editors and new and old friends....(claps hands excited) One week from tomorrow!!! Yay.....

Dawn
NOT AN ANGEL, OUT NOW!
www.thewildrosepress.com
www.dawnchartier.com

Gearing Up for Nationals

RWA NATIONAL COUNT DOWN (15 DAYS)

Where has the time gone? Only two weeks and 1 day before RWA Nationals and I'm getting more and more excited. This will be my second time going, the first time was in Dallas. It was so overwhelming, but I had the time of my life. I made some wonderful friends and I know I'll meet many more.

Nationals is a great time to learn from the best editors, agents and authors. And if you have pitch appointments make sure you can sum up your story in one line, two lines and three lines. It helps if you can do this, at least thats the buzz. Make sure you point out why your romantic suspense (insert your genre here) stands out from the rest of the pack, and remember the editors and agents are people just like you - looking for a great book to entertain them.

Remember to talk to them - not "at" them. Tons of people will be pitching, you want to be the person who they remember. It's okay to be nervous, but don't forget to ask them questions too. Don't you want to know what their goals are too?

If you are shy this is the time to speak up. Don't waste all that money you spent (and maybe the best manuscript pitch ever) sitting in your room, wishing you were out there with everyone else. Get out there! If you don't know anyone, come seek me out. I'm shy too, but this is your career...you have to get over it.

Good luck to those pitching! Don't forget to have fun! Soak up all the workshops you can.

And even though I missed the sign up slot for pitches, I'll be looking for that special agent that fits me & my goals and crossing my fingers that I fit theirs too.

Hugs,
Dawn Chartier
NOT AN ANGEL, OUT NOW!
http://www.dawnchartier.com/

SOLA'S July meeting presenter is Dr. Jeffrey Long - Near-Death experiences

At Sola's July writers meeting Dr. Jeffrey Long will discuss his research in the area of "near-death" experiences. (See bio below)

Jeffrey Long, MD is a physician practicing the specialty of radiation oncology, which is the use of radiation to treat cancer, at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC. Dr. Long completed medical school and did his radiation oncology training at the University of Iowa. He moved here from Gallup, New Mexico where he practiced radiation oncology and also worked extensively, both professionally and in public service, with the Navajo Nation. Dr. Long lives in Houma and practices there full-time.

In addition to Dr. Long’s professional interests, he has an interesting hobby. Over 10 years ago he began studying near-death experiences. He recently published his research findings in the book “Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences”, which became a New York Times bestseller.

Dr. Long has discussed near-death experiences extensively with the media in the past, including appearances on ABC Evening News with Peter Jennings, NBC Morning Show, The O’Reilly Factor, Discovery Health, and The Learning Channel. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, and Time.com. In Houma, Dr. Long is a member of the Rotary and is participating this year in Leadership Terrebonne. He has given a number of community talks on both cancer and his research that led to his book.

The findings are presented in his groundbreaking book.

SOLA’s July meeting begins at 10am on July 17th, 2010 at the East bank branch of the Jefferson Parish Library at 4747 Napoleon Avenue in Metairie, LA.

Hope to see y'all there.
Dawn Chartier

Fourth of July Scare...

I know I'm supposed to post about writing stuff, but I had to share my excitement over the holiday weekend.

My hubby and I decided to take a last minute trip and we ended up flying to Sanibel Island, Florida. The hubby wanted to rent a car, but I said we probably wouldn’t need one.

I was wrong.

We ended up renting bikes. We rode the bikes a lot. Good for our health right? We rode to the movie theatre (8pm) and then to dinner which was a few miles away, and we had to ride through a beautiful scenic Wildlife Nature Park on this cute little trail. It was really nice. (above is a picture of it during the daylight)

When we got to the movies, we were 10 minutes late, we saw Eclipse because it was either that or Toy Story 3, and I already saw TS3. (loved it too!) After Eclipse we rode our bikes (in the rain) another block further to eat at a place called ??? (darn the name escapes me).

After dinner we got back on the bikes, and headed back. As we entered the nature Wildlife Park (four foot wide) trail it was pitch black and I couldn’t see sh*% - It hit me. OMG! Wild Animals live in Wildlife Parks!!! I told my husband I would rather take my chances with the cars on the highway then ride in the woods with alligators, snakes, wild bob cats, and lord only knows what else. He said, no we are safer on the trails. The old bikes we rode didn’t have reflectors and when I say it was dark, I mean I couldn’t see squat, only the back tire of my husband’s bike. Argh!

While we peddled quickly, blindly through the long dark trail with my heart beating out of my chest, my body shaking so bad that I thought I would fall off the bike, and I almost fainted from fright, I glanced up after hearing noises in the woods only a foot from me. I couldn’t see anything, panicking I knew a damn wild cat would jump on my back. My heart leapt into turbo speed, crawling up my throat, and my pulse beat frantically through out my entire body. To the left I heard another noise and I yelled “go faster - go faster” He couldn’t see either so it was hard to tell which way the trail curved. He kept saying he wasn’t scared. Well, I was. I knew we would run on top of an alligator. Then the crickets sang louder and louder and louder, and I kept hearing the bushes move. I glanced to my left and saw large perfectly round orange eyes staring at me at about the height of a child. I truly thought I would pass out. I found a clearing and jumped on the highway. Yes, a few cars were coming but at this point I’d rather die from a car. My husband said to get back on the trail once we found a clear spot. I was scared to death, but I eventually got back on the dark trail.

Needless to say we made it out of there alive, but I’ll never ever forget the how frightened I was and how the sounds of crickets gave me the creeps. And now this creates a big problem. I live on 3 acres of land with plenty of crickets. Every time I hear them, I think of that terrible horrible bike ride through the jungle, I mean Wildlife park. (grin)

Care to share something that scared you so bad you thought you would pee on yourself?

p.s. We ate at The Thistle Lodge at the resort, and it was the best Lobster Bisque I've ever eaten. Just thought you should know. (grin)

Dawn