RWA Nationals: The truth about "first sale"

Yesterday Laurie Green asked if I'd post about attending RWA as an author with a first sale. It was a lovely experience, and at least on paper it sounded like a good idea. But I hesitated.

I remember running into fellow Brigade member J.C. Hay in a Murdering Your Inner Critic workshop (okay, wasn't really the title, but that's what I'd have called it). As we were chatting he noticed my pink ribbon. His eyes went wide and he said, "You sold!"

I started bouncing and chirping, "I did, I did!" It was the first moment I really let anyone see my excitement. Why? Shouldn't I be walking on clouds and shouting it from the rooftops? (I think I'm up to my third cliche now, sorry.)

Marcella Burnard, Laurie Green, J.C. Hay

Nationals is an amazing environment when it comes to peer support. A couple thousand women (and a few hardy men) who truly get it. The hopes, the heartbreak, the joy in every tiny step forward…these people KNOW. And they are free with their enthusiasm and warm wishes.

But proud as I was of that ribbon, I didn't talk about it much. For me at least, there was an element of guilt, and I think probably many writers who've sold know what I'm talking about.

Every author knows how hard writers have to work, how we have to persevere through life's ups and downs, how we encounter rejection at every turn. There is bliss in that first sale, and a monumental feeling of accomplishment, but you don't ever stop thinking about your friends, critique partners, and peers who are still clawing their way up that muddy hillside.

You never forget the business of publishing is subjective, and hard as you work there is an element of luck in reaching the right editor with your story -- the editor who will love it enough to piggyback it through the flaming hoops on the path between editorial interest and actual publication.

What I feel more than anything is lucky, and blessed. For selling my book, but also for having the opportunity to share the excitement with the people who really get it. Despite all the discussion of lists, markets, and trends -- despite those high hopes on awards ceremony night -- fiction is not a competition.

When my editor told me the comparables she'd chosen for my book, they were other WRITERS. One writer's success opens the door for another.

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Now, just for fun, if you had to choose a hybrid of two other books or authors that describes your work, who/what would they be?

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Sharon Lynn Fisher Sells Ghost Planet!

Breaking news on The Galaxy Express!  One of our own, Sharon Lynn Fisher, has sold her two-time Golden Heart nominated Science Fiction Romance.  Get the scoop!

SALE!!!!

Although the news has already broken, I wanted to shout it out a bit in capital letters.  Sales are definitely something to celebrate!

Congrats to Brigader Lisa Paitz Spindler on the sale of her SFR novel (which she describes as a space opera with a heroine who's a space pirate!), PHASE SHIFT (to be retitled).

Want a taste?  Here's the blurb:

Starship Captain LARA SOTO left love-of-her-life Commodore MICHIO “MITCH” YOSHIDA eleven years ago when the Star Union forced all of her kind into mandatory military service — and he didn’t take her side. Lara’s kind are Chimerans, those born with a parent from each of the known parallel dimensions: Terra and Creed. When Terra’s S.U.S. Interlace goes missing with Lara’s brother on board, she must put aside the pain of betrayal and team up with Mitch to find him.

Sounds awesome, Lisa!

Look for it to be released in Spring 2011. 

Running to Catch Up...

I apologize for my absence on the SFR Brigade these last couple of weeks.  August is always devoted to an overwhelming "A" priority at my day job that sucks up most of my evenings and weekends in addition to my usual forty hours.  I should be back in full swing soon...and hanging around the Brigade Lounge as I burn umpteen hours of comp time.  Woohoo!  :)

Meanwhile, I'll step into Kylie Griffin's shoes while she's away at writers conferences Down Under and post some news and happenings.

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First of all, a hearty and very belated congratulations to member Katherine Allred for her PRISM win in the Futuristic category and for the BEST OF THE BEST!  The wins were for her wonderful SFR, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS.  Her second, CLOSE CONTACT was launched here at SFR Brigade after receiving a Top Pick by Romantic Times!  Definitely a series to check out.  Several members of the Brigade were on hand at the FF&P Chapter "The Gathering" event at RWA in Orlando to witness the win.  Many, many congrats for your huge achievement, Katherine.

In fact, SFR Brigaders swept the PRISM Futuristic category, with placings also going to Linnea Sinclair for HOPE'S FOLLY and Jess Granger for BEYOND THE RAIN.  Ella Drake also placed second in the Novella category with her FIRESTORM ON E'TERRA -- HEARTS AFIRE anthology. Congrats, Brigaders!!!!

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Secondly, a huge congrats to A.R. Norris for her FIRST SALE!!!  *thows confetti* DUTY AND DEVOTION by A.R. Norris is being published by Desert Breeze Publishing in June 2011! Please join me in congratulating A.R. on her sale and to Desert Breeze for acquiring a SFR! :) Here's a sneak peek:

DUTY AND DEVOTION follows sisters, Nettie and Rinny, through battle. Both rely on sisterly love and dedication to stay true to themselves and follow their hearts, no matter where fate takes them.

Older sister Nettie wasn’t sure what the militia thought she was, but she knew and it wasn’t a space fighter pilot on the front line. But Dad always pressed the importance of duty to your territory. Now she has to figure out how to survive in a place she never imagined ending up. Keeping things interesting is a very overconfident competitor, James. Through it all, she’s got her younger sister Rinny. Or so she believed until the moment she lost her.

As for Rinny, the Mars facility gives her chance to break family expectation and she thrives in ground combat training. She also learns life off the concert stage can be just as rewarding when she makes her first real friends and meets Daniel, who could just be “the one”. He’s a little more reluctant and it turns out he has a reason, a secret involving Rinny. After the enemy attacks her facility and kills her best friend, Daniel disappears. Now captured, Rinny must fight behind enemy lines to help her people remain free, and live to return home.

We hope to give DUTY AND DEVOTION a super send-off here on the SFR Brigade. Stay tuned!

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New member Darlene Reilly was recently honored as the Member of the Week on the Literary Gumbo site. Congrats, Darlene, and thanks for the mention of the SFR Brigade in your interview.

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We have many new members that I've been remiss in listing, so let me *try* to play catch-up.  (We've had quite a rush, so if I missed anyone, don't be shy about jumping around and waving your hands so we can acknowledge you.)  In aphabetical order by last name:

Erica Anderson
Julia Rachel Barrett
Misa Buckley
Gail Delaney (co-owner of Desert Breeze Publishing)
Jennifer L. Hart
Belinda McBride
Mandy McCartney
Darlene Reilly
Rachel Savage
Vijaya Schartz
Gary Starta

Welcome to our merry ranks, new members.