A New Life by Morgan Mandel

A New Life Now Flourishes

We found it necessary last year to have two willow trees taken down near our Wisconsin summer cottage, since they were in bad shape and would have fallen and destroyed our property. We felt sad to see them go, since they'd been a part of the landscape there for as long as we could remember.

Much to our delight, one of the tree stumps began sprouting new life. It's growing into a beautiful willow bush and even needs trimming. The other remains dormant.

The same thing can happen with manuscripts. I'd written Two Wrongs when I'd just started seriously pursuing publication. The manuscript contained flaws and received rejections. I put it away and worked on others. During that time it remained dormant.

Then, armed with the knowledge I'd gained through ten years of participating in critiques at Chicago-North RWA meetings, attending conferences, reading articles about writing, and more, I went back to the manuscript. After some updating, tightening and corrections, I pitched my novel to Janice Strand, Senior Editor of Hard Shell Word Factory,at the Love is Murder Conference. The result was I received my first publishing contract.

If you have a novel that's dormant because it wasn't exactly right before, take it out and see if there are ways to make it better. You just might discover new life!

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com

Girl of My Dreams - Blog Tomorrow - Remember Love is Murder Con. By Morgan Mandel

I'm happy to report my new romantic comedy, Girl of My Dreams, is #1 at my publisher, Hard Shell Word Factory,www.hardshell.com, and #28 in the Romance category today at www.fictionwise.com.

For everyone who has purchased a copy in print or ebook, thanks a bunch. I hope you enjoy the read. Also, if you really liked it, I'd appreciate your putting up a review.

Thursday, which is tomorrow, I'll be guest blogging at www.simplyromancereviews.com If you have some extra time, stop by and read my blog about Living My Love Story. It would be great if you left a comment also so I know someone came over to read it.

I've also been promised a book review. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it's a good one.

My next stop after the blog is the Love Is Murder Conference, Feb 1-3, 2008, at the Wyndham O'Hare, in Rosemont, Illinois.

That Friday at 2pm I'll be a panelist on the Promotion Panel with Barry Eisler and Austin Camacho and that Sunday at 9am, I'll join Karen Syed, Terri Stone and Julia Buckley and speak about Media Frenzy, covering Internet marketing. That means Saturday I can enjoy the other panels! Anyway, we'll also be doing book signings.

You'll also be treated to words of wisdom from other Acme bloggers, Rob Walker, Todd Stone, who puts on a mean Novelist's Boot Camp, Margot Justes and Norm Cowie.

Last count, I heard 269 people had signed up for the conference, so it should really be something. I believe there's still room for more, so get on over to http://loveismurder.net if you've been hesitating to make a decision. With Tess Gerritsen and Lee Child as headliners, how can you lose!

I'm looking forward to seeing all the mystery authors and fans again, plus a great many romance authors will also be present from Chicago-North Romance Wriers of America, my local chapter.

If you see me there, stop by and say hello.

Gotta go now. I'm so far behind on my promo, it's unreal...and I'm on a panel about promo, wouldn't you know.

Morgan Mandel
PS Stop on by Barnes & Noble, Deer Park, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008, 7-8:30pm
to meet Morgan Mandel and fellow Acme blogger, DL Larson.
www.morganmandel.comhttp://bookplace.ning.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com
http://www.myspace.com/morganmandel
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com

Girl of My Dreams by Morgan Mandel Available for Order

Hi everyone,
After all the stress of the Holiday Season, you'll need a break. Consider ordering Girl of My Dreams, my new romantic comedy about an assistant turned reality show contestant, to be shipped after 1/1/08. (Guys, if you order early, you'll be set for a Valentine's Day gift!)

WHAT'S GIRL OF MY DREAMS ABOUT?
When food poisoning strikes the set of a new reality show, Jillian, the straitlaced assistant, steps in and becomes a contestant. The transformed Jillian is swept up into travel and adventure, as each round brings her closer to winning the millionaire. Too bad he's not the one she loves.

Order information for print books is at:
http://www.hardshell.com/Search.aspx?Keyword=Morgan+Mandel

If you prefer ebooks, at present Girl of My Dreams is also available at All Romance Ebooks. You can't miss it at:
www.allromanceebooks.com

I'll let you know when it also comes up at Amazon.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://bookplace.ning.com
http://myspace.com/morganmandel
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com

Fall Means Winter, So Get Cyber-Prepared - By Morgan Mandel

This is coming to you from the North Woods of Wisconsin. It's my last vacation of the season, which means closing down the cottage before I leave. This vacation brings mixed feelings as I take in the beautiful fall colors and breathe in the crisp, cool air. Right now I can walk around comfortably wearing a light jacket or sweater. The problem is, I know it won't be long before I'll need to bundle up. The days will be shorter and darker. It won't always be as easy to negotiate sidewalks and roads.

While I'm indoors, besides watching more television, I'll be on my computer writing and e-mailing and connecting with people through cyber space. While you're doing the same thing, you may wish to check out a few places of interest. (Or you may even wish to go to them now so you can get into the habit of checking them.)

One spot is my other group blog, where I've started a series called Back to Basics. I've posted a few excerpts here on this link. To view the entire collection, past and future (I post there on Wednesdays also) you're invited to visit http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com/ where I blog with other mystery writers from Hard Shell Word Factory.

Besides my Back to Basics series about writing fundamentals, you'll also find another series called Forensic Fridays, by Michele Bardsley, plus individual blogs by other of our mystery authors, covering a variety of topics.

The book network which I began less than a year ago, called Book Place, can be found at http://bookplace.ning.com/. It's alive and growing, with 829 members at last count. If you haven't joined, please do so. It's a wonderful palce for promotion and bonding with writers, readers and book industry professionals. It's great for gaining insight and input from people around the globe. I'm constantly amazed by how far the network reaches, even to such places like Australia and Germany.

MySpace is still a popular hangout. If you haven't already done so, please friend me.

My link is http://myspace.com/morganmandel

As always, I'm constantly updating my website. You never know what you'll find on my dark side or my light side at http://www.morganmandel.com/ You're more than welcome to drop in and find out.

Now, back to taking in the colors and enjoying the last of my vacations for the year.

All the best,

Morgan Mandel

http://www.morganmandel.com/

http://bookplace.ning.com/

http://myspace.com/morganmandel

http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com/

http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com/

GIRL OF MY DREAMS By Morgan Mandel

Just wanted to share the good news!!!
GIRL OF MY DREAMS, my romantic comedy about an assistant who becomes a reality show contestant, will be released next Summer by Hard Shell Word Factory.

This novel is a far cry from my still available mystery, TWO WRONGS, which deals with revenge and its consequences.

Too many years ago, when I was a young girl, my Dad would take me and my brothers to the library and we'd each check out a pile of books on what was called a Summer Loan. My favorite book, which I took out each year without fail, was Cinderella. Because of such wonderful experiences, it was natural for me to concoct a Cinderella story of my own. I had a great time writing it.

Not only does my heroine become exceedingly beautiful after her makeover, but she also gets into all kinds of embarrassing scrapes as she travels with the reality show from Hollywood, California to such exciting locales as Waikiki Beach, Hawaii - Venice, Italy - Las Vegas, Nevada & Paris, France.

I've added two handsome hunks for Cinderella to choose from, plus a sliver of suspense to spike up the action. Nothing too scary, since GIRL OF MY DREAMS is a comedy.

If you have some spare moments, hop over to my website at http://www.morganmandel.com/
You'll have your choice of Morgan Dark or Morgan Lite. Don't be afraid to try both!

See you there --
Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com/
http://bookplace.ning.com/
www.myspace.com/morganmandel