How's That for Fast?

As some of you know, one of my goals for the new year was to finish (Okay, okay, in reality write the whole darn thing, since one or two paragraphs wasn't exactly an auspiscious start.) my Halloween novella and submit it to my editor at Wild Rose.

The deadline for Halloween submissions is January 28. Yep that's tomorrow. And having only really gotten going on the entire project after Christmas, it left me a very short time span to write, edit, and submit the story. Now granted, it's just a short 10,000 word (about 50 pages) Miniature Rose, but still, an entire story in less than a month?! That's just insane.

Last week (or was it the week before?) I blogged about the fabulous progress I was making. Saturday had been a good writing day, and I was extremely pleased with my output. If I had just half as productive of a day on Sunday, I'd be home free. At least with the writing part. But alas, as those things tend to do...Sunday was not productive at all.

However, bottom line. I got it done! I finished that story last weekend. I even wrote the synopsis. I figured I'd have a decent week to edit, and I'd be able to submit by the deadline.

Well, I got a little antsy. I did a readthrough last Monday morning and decided the story was in pretty good shape. I tweaked a few things here and there, but overall, I felt it didn't need any major reworking. So, I typed up a query letter, added the synopsis, and sent it off to my editor Monday afternoon. About an hour later she e-mailed back and asked me to send her the full mss. We were off to a good start. So I figured I'd be writing here today asking you to keep your fingers crossed for me.

But wait...the story gets better. Thursday I got an e-mail from her saying she loved the story and had put in a request for a contract! (At TWRP all contracts need to be approved by the senior editor of the line.) Needless to say I was floored and extremely excited! The actual submission deadline hadn't even arrived yet and I was this close (thumb and forefinger less than an inch apart) to a contract!

Talk about a fast turnaround!

So, I'll still ask you to keep your fingers crossed for the senior editor to approve the contract. If all goes well, The Vampire and the Vixen (a contemporary tongue-in-cheek is-he-or-isn't-he Halloween story) will be available come fall.

Now how exciting is that?!

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com