Judi’s Journey Through American Title III and Beyond

An online cohort, Nina Davis, was also at RT and has shared her photo with Adrian Paul who was at the Cover Model Reunion dinner benefitting charity.

Thanks, Nina, for sharing! You look like you had a good time!

American Title-ists I, II, III, IV

Janice Lynn, Lindsey Brookes, Michele Ann Young, Jenny Gardiner, Judi Fennell, Raz Steel, Trish Milburn, Kim Howe

          Fabio              Stephanie Julian  Steph& JR Ward        Cover Models         Lindsey, Jenny, Me, Helen

Me, Adele, LA Banks      Valley Forge          Gerri Rusell       Mr. Romance

                                  Romance Writers         and Mom                2008

Christy Craig            Trish Milburn & Janice Lynn     RT Staff                        EC Cavemen

Stephanie Julian’s star      Lynne Connolly’s sari    JL Wilson’s Poodle Skirt    My Ballgown

Judi and Kim Howe                           Donna Michaels       Eve Vaughn               Rayna Vause

       JL Wilson               Lynne Connolly         Adele Dubois                Stephanie Julian

So when I ran into Fabio last night, he was travel-tired and locked out of his hotel room and on his way with his luggage back to the front desk for a new key. But he graciously stopped for a photo.

Today, he was at an event I attended and we chatted before he went into the event. Well, okay, maybe I apologized for taking up his time when he was so tired and I thanked him for being so gracious. When it was my turn for the photos with him, he gave me a big hug and took a few shots with me.

A very nice guy. Sincere, gracious and patient. Thanks, Fabio!

 Fabio and Kathryn Falk of Romantic Times.

 Fabio and Pittsburgh Steelers Mascot.

 The video is Fabio’s comments at the SOS Mixer honoring our servicemen and women.

I’m at the RT Convention in Pittsburgh, PA and Fabio is here for the 25th Anniversary Cover Model Dinner for Charity. I just happened to meet him in the hallway and he graciously stopped for a photograph. And, yes, folks, the man still has “it.” He’s very nice, very gracious even after travelling and being given the wrong key for his hotel room.

T minus 12 and counting. Approximately 12 hours (barring any nasty traffic incidents) until my Critique Partner and I arrive in Pittsburgh for the 25th Romantic Times Convention. I can’t wait.

I couldn’t figure out why I was so hyper to go. I mean, I’m a mom. I’ve got lunches to make, food shopping and laundry to do before I can leave and that’s just for my family. Never mind getting my conference clothes and the costumes ready to go. And, of course, the peacock shoes.

So I thought about why I was so hyped and realized it’s because I haven’t been to an industry “thing” since the October New Jersey RWA Chapter conference in October. We’re talking six months! My schedule is busy for the next 6 months with the Bucks County event, the Long Island event, RWA National and then NJRW again, but I guess I’m suffering from professional withdrawal.

Conferences energize me, they motivate me. Meeting other writers and readers motivates me. Seeing my fellow American Title Finalists  energizes me. Chatting with industry people motivates me. So, while I need no motivation to get up ungodly early tomorrow to drive to Pittsburgh, I’m thinking my writing can use the professional motivation.

I’m going to try to blog from the convention. Don’t hold me to it - I might be having too much “motivation” at the parties.

There was a lot of traffic back here in the days following Tuesday’s calls, so I didn’t want to clutter up the blog with more posts. As you can tell from this blog, it hasn’t been utilized all that much (now THERE’S an understatement!), but I found that I had a great time on Tuesday with everyone’s comments. As of yet, I don’t have a book for readers to comment on, but I am working toward it.

Which brings me to this topic: WAIT. I’ve said that WAIT and HOPE are the ugly stepsisters of an unpubbed’s visions of a Cinderella career in writing. Who doesn’t want to send out that manuscript then get glowing reviews from editors, a possible auction then that wonderful word: SOLD?

But to get there, we have to deal with HOPE and WAIT. Sometimes they’re kind, like when you get that “I enjoyed the partial; please send the full” after a three week submission period. Sometimes they’re not so nice, “Not for me” which comes after six months or more.

And now the finalists, Golden Heart and Rita, are having their afternoon tea with WAIT and HOPE. At least for them, there’s a definitive end in sight: August 2. That’s only, what? 4 months? Piece of cake, right?

I’d love to hear from any of the finalists what it IS like over the next few months. Are you querying agents? Are you getting offers? Have any of the judges requested the full? Is a book deal coming your way? Was this a new series for Rita finalists and has it morphed into any other opportunity with your publisher or maybe even another?

Thanks for taking part in my Tuesday; it made the waiting go by quicker. Maybe chatting up your WAITING process until National can go by quicker with sharing comments.

Best of luck to everyone!

The biggest contest in RWA for unpublished hopefuls, the Golden Hearts will be awarded at the National Conference in San Francisco on Saturday, August 2, 2008. I’m hoping to get emails from those who final and list them here. So, spread the word and Best of Luck to everyone who entered!

The categories are taken from www.rwanational.org.

GOLDEN HEART FINALISTS                 

CONT. SRSS            Melissa James, REDEFINING MR PERFECT

                                Becky Clark, BORROWED STILETTOS

                                Diane Stoddard, SHE’S JUST RIGHT

CONT.SRS: S/A        Kelly Ann Riley, KITTY’S FIRE

                                Lynn Raye Harris, HOT PURSUIT

CONT. ST                 Amy Atwell, PUBLIC RELATIONS

                               Sarah Castleberry, BEAUTY AND THE GEEK

                               Theresa Ragan, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

                               Susan Seyfarth, THE PRINCESS PROJECT

                               Susan Seyfarth, MONEY, HONEY

                               Shelley Coriell, THE LOST

HISTORICAL            Kathryn Parker, MOSS SQUARE

                               Kris Kennedy, THE KINDS OF WANTING

                               Kris Kennedy, WANTING FINIAN

                               Beth Trissel, THROUGH THE FIRE

                               Courtney Milan, BREATH OF HONOR

                               Cindy Nord, NO GREATER GLORY

                                CJ Chase, EARTHBOUND PARADISE

INSPIR.                    Susan MAson, WYNDERMERE HOUSE

                                Denise Meinstad, THIS TIME FOREVER

NOVEL W/SRE        Liese Sherwood-Fabre, HEADS UP, ST. ANTHONY

                               K. McMorris/L. Yoshida, FLAHERTY’S CROSSING

                               Cathy Perkins, THE PROFESSOR

PARANORMAL        Tracey O’Hara, NIGHT’S COLD KISS

                               Kelly Gay, BEDKNOBS & BROOMSTICKS

                               Jennifer North, THE SEXTANT

                               Helen Scott Taylor, THE MAGIC KNOT

                               Kerry Allen, WISH LIST

REGENCY HIST.      Susan Gee Heino, MISTAKEN BY MOONLIGHT

                               Darcy Burke, GLORIOUS

                               Anne Barton, MIDNIGHT PROMISES

                               Pam Bolton-Holifield, LOST IN LOVE

R/S                         Kim Howe, ONE SHOT, TWO KILLS

                              Theresa Ragan, FINDING KATE HUNTLEY

                               Robin Perini, TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES

                               Joan Swan, SAFE IN ENEMY ARMS

                               Rachel Grant, MURDER IN SITU

YOUNG ADULT       Amanda Brice, PARTY LIKE IT’S 1899                            

                              Catherine Chant, WISHING YOU WERE HERE

                              Kelly Gay, BLIGHTED

                              Kay Cassidy, THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY

RITA FINALISTS

ROMANCE NOVELLA  Cheryl St. John, CHRISTMAS DAY FAMILY

                                   Vickie Taylor, ANGEL AND THE HELLRAISER

                                   Sylvia Day, MISCHIEF AND THE MARQUESS

                                   Maureen Child, CHRISTMAS CRAVINGS

                                   Jennifer Greene, BORN OF MY HEART

BEST FIRST BOOK    Terri Garey, DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY

                                 Rosemary Clement-Moore, PROM DATES FROM HELL

                                 Kelly Parra, GRAFFITI GIRL

                                 Helen Brenna, TREASURE

                                 Emily Gee,

CONT. SRS                Kristi Gold, FALL FROM GRACE

                                  Nina Bruhns, NIGHT MISCHIEF

                                  Elaine Grant, MAKE-BELIEVE MOM

                                  Natasha Oakley, THE TYCOON’S PRINCESS BRIDE

                                  Kelly Hunter, SLEEPING PARTNER

                                  Heidi Rice, MILLIONAIRE’S BLACKMAIL BARGAIN

CONT.SRS: S/A         Cindy Dees, THE MEDUSA AFFAIR

                                 Cindy Dees, THE MEDUSA SEDUCTION

                                 Samantha Hunter, UNTOUCHED

                                 Raeanne Thayne, HIGH RISK AFFAIR

                                 Merline Lovelace, STRANDED WITH A SPY

                                 Helen Brenna, TREASURE

CONT. SIN TTL           Toni Blake, TEMPT ME TONIGHT

                                 Leslie Kelly, SHE’S NO ANGEL

                                 Kristan Higgins, CATCH OF THE DAY

                                 Diana Holquist, SEXIEST MAN ALIVE

                                 Jennifer Greene - BLAME IT ON CUPID

HISTORICAL              Julianne MacLean, SURRENDER TO A SCOUNDREL

                                Jade Lee, TEMPTED TIGRESS

                                 Madeline Hunter, LESSONS OF DESIRE

                                 Laura Lee Guhrke, AND THEN HE KISSED HER

                                 Elizabeth Hoyt, THE LEOPARD PRINCE

INSPIR.                      Linda Goodnight, A TOUCH OF GRACE

                                 Susan Mae Warren, TAMING RAFE

NOVEL W/RE            Allison Brennan, SEE NO EVIL

                                 Emily Gee,

PARANORMAL          Terri Garey, DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY

                                 Linnea Sinclair, GAMES OF COMMAND

                                 Linda Winstead Jones, PRINCE OF DARKNESS

                                 Linda Winstead Jones, RAINTREE: HAUNTED

                                 J.R. Ward, LOVER REVEALED

                                 Christina Dodd, TOUCH OF DARKNESS

                                 Stephanie Rowe, HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME HOT

REGENCY HIST.       Anna Campbell, UNTOUCHED

                                Anna Campbell, CLAIMING THE COURTESAN

                                Julia Quinn, SECRET DIARIES OF MISS M. CHEEVER

R/S                          Karen Rose, DIE FOR ME

                               Allison Brennan, SPEAK NO EVIL

YOUNG ADULT        Simone Elkeles, LEAVING PARADISE

                               Kelly Parra, GRAFFITI GIRL

                                Melissa Marr, WICKEY LOVELY

Yes, it’s been over a year since my last post. From the title of this post, I think it’s pretty self-explanatory why.

Sad, I know.

On the upside, it’s also been a productive year. I entered the original Gather.com/Simon&Schuster First Chapters contest with Beauty and The Best. It finished in the Top 20 out of over 2,700 entries and was the only Romance in the bunch. Then, Gather did another First Chapters contest, this time strictly for Romance. My latest story, In Over Her Head, finished in the Top 5, but more importantly, garnered me multiple agent offers and I signed with my agent - all in approximately two weeks. What a great two weeks that was!

So now I’m in wait mode as the manuscript makes the rounds in NY and I’m working on edits to other manuscripts and the muse is chatting away with new ideas.

I’m so thankful for all the support from those who emailed me to enter the First Chapters Romance contest - people who had only known of me through the original First Chapters contest and who embraced In Over Her Head every bit as much as they did Beauty and The Best. I write because I have to, but it’s so gratifying to have people enjoy my stories.

Here’s hoping by next year this time I’ll have book news to share. If not, I’ll still be writing.

Yes, I’ve been a bad girl. It’s been over a month since my last blog, but what a month! I’m, of course, talking about the holidays. Gift shopping, meal planning, wrapping, of course work, and round 3 of American Title. Promo is sooo much work. But, boy is it fun to read emails from people I’ve never met who’ve heard about me through this friend, or that co-worker, or that alumnus…The absolute best part of this contest is hearing from people who say they like my story. It makes it all worthwhile. I really hope to someday have this story published and get comments like that from readers who’ve read the whole thing!

 But I digress. (I do that, just like my heroine of Beauty and The Best, Jolie.) The holidays - this year I didn’t have much on my wish list, just my new website and a ticket to the RT conference in Houston in April, both of which I got. But the best present I got this year was the look on everyone’s faces when they opened their gifts. It truly is better to give than to receive. Let’s just say, with all the holiday hoopla and who wants what and the budget and all that stuff, I done good. I got several “best gifts ever!” and there was even the cry of “Judi saved Christmas!” (Long story, lost gift cards, arguing family members…it wasn’t pretty.)

One of our friends lost his father Christmas Eve - that really puts the whole gift-giving thing in perspective. Truly, you can’t take it with you and what really counts are the memories you make. Those last a lifetime. All cliche, but so true. I’m a firm believer that it’s a cliche for a reason - everyone says it/knows it/thinks it so it becomes part of the vernacular.

So we’re on to 2007. Another year older, but then, age is just a number. Not that it’s how young you feel (another cliche that I totally get), but that it’s another number you’re around to celebrate. I’m thankful for every day with my family, every day seeing the sun or the clouds, the damp or the snow. Every day to worry over bills because at least I can. There’s so much to do in my life that I like to think I’m only 1/3 of the way through it, though statistics show I’m probably closer to 1/2. But that’s okay, because I’m where I want to be in my life, happy with the choices I’ve made, my family, my chosen career path (but that could move a little more quickly to suit me ), my friends and relationships. Even my part time job.

So I’m looking forward to 2007. Another writer friend said that this is “our” year. I hope. I really do. But if it’s not, that’s okay too, because I’m having such a blast writing these stories, getting the great feedback from readers and contest judges, and even editors and agents. The journey is half the fun of getting there.

 Thanks for sharing this journey with me! May 2007 bring you all you wish and keep you safe, happy and healthy!

 -Judi

Wow, it’s been a while. I’m amazed at the folks who can blog every day. I can barely get myself organized every day. This working thing stinks. Though I love my job - the guys are fun to work with. But writing, promo, blogging, physical therapy for the knee, house stuff, kids stuff, wife stuff, my stuff…I need more hours in the day. I just finished revisions on my time travel, Through The Leaded Glass, and man, what I wouldn’t give for my own time travel device. I used to do the train into the city thing BC (before children). Up early, shower, pack 1 lunch (that’s one, not 3), drive myself to the train, spend 45 mins on the train, another five to ten getting to the office and I’d be majorly productive by 8 am. Now, I’m lucky to have most of the kids off to school, myself dressed, the hours I need to work in and 3 lunches done. Thank goodness the DH is self-sufficient in the lunch department.

 How do you people who work full time and run a house and have kids find time to write? Heck, how do you people who work full time find time to do anything for yourself? My hat’s off to you.

 I have a friend who’s a single mom, works two jobs and is going to school. I don’t know how she does it. And her kid is well-adjusted. There’s a lot of love between the two of them, but honestly, I don’t know how she doesn’t collapse and call in sick for like a month. (Not that I advocate doing that, mind you, but talk about burning the candle at both ends!)

I guess the old adage is true - you do what you have to. But she, and others like her, have my full admiration. I “single parent” it every few weeks when the DH is travelling. It’s not bad with all the activities, but I have help. Grandparents are a good thing! Plus, there’s an end in sight. It can be done for a finite number of nights. With help. These folks who do it all alone, day in and day out, deserve medals of honor. Big, fat paychecks. The limelight. (Unlike some party-hopping heiresses who worry about which sparkly collar to put on their pet, but that’s another rant.)

Sometimes all the “to-do stuff” stresses me out about not having time to write is petty. And I probably shouldn’t even consider it stressful b/c, really, just don’t do it. Right? Well, yes, in a way, I guess. But then I think about it being my dream. My passion. What I want to be when I grow up. Then I say, “I’m allowed to stress out.” I want to do this for myself. I want to do it to show my kids that you can make your dreams come true, and, yes, most of the time, it’s through hard work and perserverance. It’s about making time for your dreams, but not taking time away from what’s important.

It’s funny, but reading what I just wrote, I realize that I do “time-travel.” I expand my limited hours to include what’s important to me, our family, our lives, work - and me. Kind of like each time you have a new baby. Your heart expands to include it without taking away from the others.

And on that thought, I’ll call it a night. It’s time for the “sleep” stuff.

Have a good Wednesday!