All posts in CPs

"Dianna Love"

By Kelly On 03/11/2008 In CPs, Romance Fic With Comments Off Permanent Link to "Dianna Love"Permalink

Hi all, I’ve got my nose to the keyboard writing a new proposal to get to my agent. So excuse the lag in blogging again this week. Plus, it’s the week before Spring Break–ack! That means lots of school activities coming up. :)

I wanted to give a shout out to one of my CPs–Dianna Love (formerly Dianna Love Snell) and previous RITA winner. She’s got two releases out this year under her new shortened name :) One is a collaboration with NYT best seller Sherrilyn Kenyon with the novel, PHANTOM IN THE NIGHT, out in June. Then a novella in the DEAD AFTER DARK anthology coming out in December. I’m thrilled for Dianna, she’s always been such a great friend and a wonderful advocate for writers.

Check out her spanking new website, AuthorDiannaLove.com. It’s very cool, and Dianna has all sorts of great articles available and with her new site. She’s also started a Romance Book Club contest, where spotlighted authors supply 8 books for a book club reading. It’s such a great idea! She’s also been kind enough to link to a few YA authors for those interested in books for their young adult readers.

So stop by her new site and take a browse!

"Hottie Week"

By Kelly On 01/14/2008 In CPs, Win Stuff With 4 Comments Permanent Link to "Hottie Week"Permalink

Just a quick note to let you know, it’s How To Hook a Hottie week over at YA Fresh this week! We’ll being chatting up Tina Ferraro’s novel, as well as have a giveaway at the end of the week, so stop by for a visit!

Thanks, kelly :)

"How To Hook A Hottie"

By Kelly On 01/08/2008 In Authors and Books, CPs With 8 Comments Permanent Link to "How To Hook A Hottie"Permalink

Isn’t that the coolest title? :) My CP, Tina Ferraro’s latest novel How To Hook A Hottie is now on bookshelves and ready to ship on-line. Woo-hoo!

I have to tell you this book is a fun, page-turning read, with awesome romance and a heart-felt heroine. Tina always keeps me hooked with voice and intriguing characters with each book.

Here’s a little about the Hottie:

At 17, Kate Delvecchio has one goal in life: to become a millionaire before the age of 20. And as far as she’s concerned, college will only slow her down. Unfortunately for Kate, the one thing her parents do agree on is that they totally disagree with her strategy. And so the deal is born. If Kate can raise five thousand big ones by graduation day, her parents will hand over the balance of her college account to invest as she pleases. No college, no degree, and no way she’ll ever be able to pull it off. But when Kate accidentally agrees to go to the sports banquet with the hottest guy at school, she stumbles upon a possible cash cow. The rest of the junior class is amazed that no-nonsense Kate could hook such a hottie, and one by one they approach her for help hooking their own. She doesn’t know anything about getting guys, but for $100 a pop, she’s more than willing to invent a six-step plan for How to Hook a Hottie. And how could that possibly backfire?

Read an excerpt on Tina’s website here. And order on-line here. Next week at YA Fresh, we’ll be celebrating with a book giveaway so be sure to stay tuned!

"The Value of CPs"

By Kelly On 11/16/2007 In CPs With 5 Comments Permanent Link to "The Value of CPs"Permalink

I haven’t chatted about critique partners lately, and I cannot express enough how valuable they are.

I’m not going to say, they are important to everyone because that’s not the case. There are certainly bestselling authors out there who write just fine on their own with only the help of their editor.

But for beginning writers, or newbie authors like myself, they are gold.

Sometimes a writer is just too into their work. They can’t step back and look at the story from a different perspective because they’ve lived and breathed this book for months.

A CP gives a fresh view from outside the cave. :)

And lets not forget everyone has their individual styles of writing, so where one writer has a strength in story plot, another may have a strength in characterization. Where one has an eye for detail, the other could know the ins and outs of grammar.

CPs can seriously balance out a book.

And lets step out of the book writing for a moment, and talk about support. CPs often grow to support each other in this tough business. The rejections are tough to take, and writers can sympathize. They can relate to contests, deadlines, and submissions. They are there to share in the bad moments and the happy ones.

Finding the right CP(s) isn’t easy.

I signed up with a critique service through a writing chapter years ago and it didn’t work out. I could not connect with the writer, and I’m sure she felt the same way. But I tried again and it worked out perfectly, and through the years I have met and critiqued with other writers who are willing to lend a helping hand whenever they can.

So where can you find these golden CPs? I always suggest on-line writing chapters and forums, or right in your local writing community. Research and you’ll find a service, that’s not an issue.

It’s all about finding the right match. :)

"Unlucky"

By Kelly On 11/01/2007 In Authors and Books, CPs With 5 Comments Permanent Link to "Unlucky"Permalink

Sorry, for the dead air. I was totally knocked off my feet by a 24 hour stomach flu. Ugh. I’m back on my feet today but it was not nice. :)

I just wanted to give a shout out to Jana DeLeon whose novel Unlucky hit stores on October 30th! Jana has a unique voice and knows how to make you laugh with her memorable characters and outstanding romance and intrigue in her novels.

I loved Rumble on the Bayou and I had the chance to read a good portion of Unlucky during the writing process and can’t wait to read the complete novel. But let me tell you, Mallory Devereaux is one unique heroine!

Jana will be visiting here within the next couple of weeks to share the backstory of her second sale and I’ll be giving away a copy of Unlucky so keep an eye out.

Here’s what Unlucky is about:

Everyone in Royal Flush, Louisiana, knows Mallory Devereaux is a walking disaster. At least now she’s found a way to take advantage of her chronic bad luck: by “cooling” cards on her uncle’s casino boat. As long as the crooks invited to his special poker tournament don’t win their money back, she’ll get a cut of the profit.

But Mal isn’t the only one working some major mojo. There’s a dark-eyed dealer sending her looks steamier than the bayou in August. Turns out he’s an undercover agent named Jake Randoll, and for a Yank, he’s pretty darn smart. Smart enough to enlist her help to catch a money launderer. As they race to untangle a web of decades-old lies and secrets amid a gathering of criminals, Mallory can’t help hoping her luck’s about to change….

"My CP’s Debut Novel"

By Kelly On 03/13/2007 In Cool Newz, CPs With 8 Comments Permanent Link to "My CP’s Debut Novel"Permalink

I can’t believe it’s finally here!

Tina Ferraro’s debut novel, Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress, is out today!! That’s right, TODAY!!

Here’s what I have to say about this awesome debut:

“Tina Ferraro spins a story filled with laughter and tears as we follow the lengths one teen will go to keep her life from falling apart. Top Ten Uses For An Unworn Prom Dress is any girl’s guide to best friends, hot guys, and one fabulous prom dress.”

It’s been such journey for both of us. Tina began writing Romance and she has sold something like 75 short stories. We matched up 4 years ago as critique partners with RWA’s Kiss of Death chapter CP service since we were both interested in writing Romantic Suspense. She had a lot more writing experience than me, and she really helped me with character journeys and to smooth out my writing. Okay, my voice will always be rough, but the woman can only do so much. :)

If you want to know some funny coincidences…

–Both of our RS full novels were read for the Bombshell line.

–4 Months after Tina signed with an agent, I did.

–6 months after Tina sold her YA novel, I sold my novel.

–Now our debut novels are releasing in the same year, within 2 months of each other.

I just want to say Congratulations, Tina!! And best of luck with your debut!!

"Presenting An Award"

By Kelly On 06/18/2005 In Authors and Books, Cool Newz, CPs With 16 Comments Permanent Link to "Presenting An Award"Permalink

I’d like to take a moment to present an award…

Ahem. Thank you all for coming. First, (cough) I put together a little speech here, so um, here I go.

We are gathered here today to celebrate– Okay, wait, that sounds like a wedding or something…let me try this again.

Hey, (waving hand) GET OVER HERE AND READ THIS!! There, that’s better.

Tina Ferraro is a mom, a friend, a writer, and one of the nicest people you’ll ever know. I met Tina through The RWA Mystery/Suspense Chapter Critique Service about 2 years ago. We introduced ourselves through e-mail. It was a happy and cheerful (to say the least) cyber meeting. We started critiquing right away, discovering we truly enjoyed one another’s writing. (At least I think she enjoys my writing. I mean, of course, I love hers, but I could have been torturing her for the past 2 years. Um, Tina, maybe we should have a little talk…E-MAIL ME.)

Um, where was I? Oh yeah, through these years we have shared short stories, books, contests, some hard rejections, and some good victories–like landing agents within months of each other. {{Boom-chicka-boom}} We cheered one another on, sent cyber hugs, and chatted on a few phone calls, and yet have not met in person. (We shall FINALLY remedy this in Reno.)

Tina is the author of 76 published short stories, and 7 completed novels. Her latest, Top 10 Uses For An Unworn Prom Dress, is her debut young adult novel about a girl who was dumped 24 hours before prom the prior year and now how has 2 hot guys after her. I don’t know who could deserve this award more, than my friend and critique partner–

Tina “The awesomely talented YA writer who sold to Random House” Ferraro!!

Here you go, Tina, I present you with the:


Major Congrats!!!

"10 Great Things About CPs"

By Kelly On 05/20/2005 In CPs With 3 Comments Permanent Link to "10 Great Things About CPs"Permalink

10) They tell you when your hero is acting like an ass.

9) They tell you when you forget a comma or when you stick one in the most total idiotic wrong place.

8) They replace wimpy adjectives and verbs for kick-butt ones.

7) They make sentences flow better. (Well, at least they try since apparently you’re a choppy writer, anyway!= ))

6) They help strengthen plots and characterization so your readers don’t fall asleep.

5) They read your “feeling sorry for myself” e-mails.

4) They read your “do you know what she said???” e-mails.

3) They cheer you on!!

2) They tell you straight up, “That’s so cliched.”

1) Best of all, they relate to the crazy ups, downs, sideway times of being a writer.