Do you think romance is dead....

It’s officially begun, the road of staying the course and putting everything on the line in a professional manner. The race to get published is on. Last week, a very good friend of mine forwarded a link to a writing competition. She had come across an article about a woman who had always been interested in writing and decided to enter a specific publisher’s contest in all hopes of potentially winning the Grand Prize. To get her work published.

When she saw the article, I am more than touched that she automatically thought of me. But, let’s take that one back for a second. Who in the hell else is writing a romance piece? Still completely gracious, always, to have someone looking out for our interests.

The contest is simple. You and the likes of several other writers are competing with a total of three chapters assuming that you get through the first round. It's not always unusual to see this type of competition from a publisher, but the fact that she saw the article at just the right time, is how the universe works sometimes. The publisher has opened it's arms to up and coming writers alike for what is being called 'New Voices.' I previously mentioned completing a short story for a girlfriend, that story sparked something inside of me that has been dormant for far too long. It sparked a love affair with the written word, with the endless ideas that go crazy in my muddled brain; it sparked a way to keep envisioning the way things could be within my hopelessly romantic heart. I am a new voice, and this voice is itching to be heard.

I entered the competition.

What better time than now to really push myself and follow a gut instinct? I know how I get the minute I have made a life decision. Determination fuels me, I become driven by an unknown force and ultimately have never failed. I’m not saying that roadblocks have not been a very uncomfortable friend all along the way, but certainly the minute I start to focus on one particular accomplishment or multiple projects-they move seamlessly and success typically follows.

This is not a bragging room, but was a reminder that we really can do whatever we want. There are no limitations, everything is within our grasps. Everything. Reading through the other submissions, it’s clear that the competition will be go either way but I’m honestly not bothered. It took a huge amount of courage to post on a publisher’s website, reach out to friends, family, and unknown people through social mediums to ask for support.

To support not just myself, but all of the writers. At the end of the day, this is not about winning a competition. It’s about understanding that you can do anything you set your mind to, regardless of the situation. I’m excited to see where the first chapter goes, and if it even takes off. Of course, I’m going to be stalking the mess out of the Mills & Boon website tracking the progress, but also sending out words of encouragement to all of the other writers.

Because that is what I would want. To be supported on one of the passions that we all share. To write, to share a story that was not meant to be published for monetary reasons. It was only meant to be written for others to take into their homes and enjoy.

So with that, if there is free time to spare and someone is craving a bunch of starts to stories—or rather the start to a certain one in particular….Please follow the link to the Mills & Boon site by clicking on the title 'Summoning Mr. Right' and rock the vote.

Summoning Mr. Right

Synopsis

With seventy-five cents to her name and no way to pay the bill should her date bail, Emmerson Nichols has hit rock bottom. With a wasted degree and a slew of temp jobs she finds luck in filling her bank account but not in her life.

Despite his booming career, Derek Westcott can’t warm the city officials with his broad shoulders and sexy grin. Not by a longshot. When fate plays with a woman trying to find herself and a man trying to hold his business together, who will win?

Getting down...and getting busy

I am writing.

I am writing a lot.

A very, no that's not right. One of my closest girlfriends is pregnant. This is probably one of the most exciting times ever right now, the lady is like a sister. We have gone through hell and back, laughs and belly laughs. (Okay, to be honest, the hell and back is so overrated. There was no hell, we laugh too much and life is too short) Booty shakes and last calls at the bar. And yet here she is, getting down and getting her mama on. I love this. Her husband is loving this. Her back is loving this even more.

A little bit about the Mrs. She is an RN, the minute she got credentialed she was assigned an overnight position in a major hospital. Night shift. I don't know if others are familiar, but working in a hospital is basically like working in a restaurant. Long hours of being on your feet all day. Throw in patients and you've got a handfull.

She has been placed on part time disability, which if you ask me. When a woman is pregnant, getting that has got to be a godsend. She and I were talking the other day and our conversations went from typical to really dirty. So very typical of talking one on one with your closest girls. She is basically a stay at home right now, she watches her bed to see if ripples move.

If she could drink, she would.

So in our conversation of her talking of boredom she mentioned my writing. And a thought popped up. A thought that turned into a request. That turned into a publication.

Shit.

I'm writing a story for a friend right now. I've pitched this story and it's getting published.

Taking a big sigh of relief. It's a non-paid publication, but who cares at the end of the day.

What's important is that my friend gets a story to fill her day, rather than having her check a made bed 100 times over, she can read a story. Where this story goes, I don't really know. I started the outline over the holiday weekend, holed myself up in my flat and cranked out about 56 pages. Even after going to a wedding!

So here I sit, trying to whip out another thirty pages in the third chapter to get edited this weekend. Trying to finish this story up in the next few weeks so that she can have it.

Because she's bored. Because she's fabulously pregnant. Because she is my friend and I love her like family.

So for the past week that is where I have been, in a place stuck I don't even know where. It's 90 degrees outside and I think I'll take my notes out to the lake tomorrow and have a go with it. We'll see if thirty pages gets cranked out.

The story...is about a football coach...and a teacher... She is an avid Seahawks fan. Seattle-ite even 2,000 miles away

I have to admit-this makes me cringe but it is what she wants so it's what she's going to get. Though secretly, I totally did not write in that team. I'll post a link up as soon as it's finished, edited and ready for business.

So that's where this not so blondie has been lately. Writing, working a lot, sitting out in the sun more and writing even more. Coffee is in there too, and Starbucks in town already makes my americano the minute I step in the door.

The shame.