Confessions of an Improper Bride is releasing in a little under two months. It’s the start of a brand-new series for me, which is significant, I realized, because I’ve just started a new phase of my life. It’s been a year since I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and being given that diagnosis is definitely a life-changing experience. They say things will never be the same for a person after being told she has cancer, but that people eventually find a “new normal.” The year has been traumatic and busy (between treatments, 3 active children, and book deadlines)…and definitely “abnormal.” But now that it’s all over (except for the constant check-ups), I feel like things are finally settling down. Things aren’t exactly the same as they were before, but they’re pretty good, in a new way. 2011 has definitely started in a much more positive way than 2010 did, and I’m starting to understand what everyone means by a “new normal.”
So between my eldest son starting Jr. High next year (and he’s almost as tall as me–how did that happen!?), my new series, and my “new normal,” I feel like I’m embarking on a new beginning and a new journey. One that I definitely hope my friends, family, and readers will join me on.
Check out my new contest! For the month of June, I’m giving away a copy of my first trilogy: A Hint of Wicked, A Touch of Scandal, and A Season of Seduction!
Win a 3-chapter critique of your manuscript from my fantastic literary agent, Barbara Poelle!
Here’s how it works: Anytime from December 1st through the 7th (at 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time), tweet me a pic of your SEASON OF SEDUCTION book/receipt/ebook screen, and I’ll enter you to win.
The winner will be chosen randomly on December 10th. The winner’s Twitter handle will be posted on this site and on Twitter. One entry per person, please!
If you’re a reader and not a writer, I’ll enter you in my reader’s contest for an advance copy of my next book, CONFESSIONS OF AN IMPROPER BRIDE due out in 2011!
Whew! I’ll try not to quake in my boots at the thought of all those reviews!
Have a fantastic week, everyone! I’m sitting down to start writing my fifth book, the second book in the Donovan series. I can’t wait to write about this notorious rake who falls head-over-heels madly in love with the shy and reserved Olivia Donovan.
I love Christmas and I love romance, so I consider myself so lucky to be able to write about both of them. When my editor asked me to have my characters offer seduction tips to readers, though, I was lost… Seduction tips? I’ve known my husband since I was sixteen! I haven’t consciously thought about seduction…ever, maybe.
So it meant research. And it meant thinking about the characters from A HINT OF WICKED, A TOUCH OF SCANDAL, and A SEASON OF SEDUCTION and thinking about how they would think of seduction. Ultimately, I was able to find enough seduction tips for the 12 days prior to the release of A SEASON OF SEDUCTION, as well as a few more, besides! Some of it is common sense (and I realize I’ve been doing it all along with my husband, blush!) and some of it was brand new for me, but here are the 12 days of seduction:
Do you have any seduction tips of your own to share? Post one here, and I’ll be giving away a copy of A SEASON OF SEDUCTION, plus an extra seductive bonus from Slumber Parties: Body Dew Strawberry Champagne After Bath Oil to one poster on October 10!
Enjoy…here’s wishing for lots of love and wonderful holidays for all of us!
(Oh, and P.S., don’t forget to check out my contest and freebies pages for even more goodies!)
Congrats to Laura B., who won a copy of A Hint of Wicked in Japanese!
Check out my new contest to win a book by the incomparable Tessa Dare!
If you’d like a signed bookplate plus some extra goodies (including one of my beautiful new bookmarks), just go to my Freebies page.
A little update here–it’s been a busy, strange summer. Last week I went through my last round of chemo. When I recover from that, it’s on to radiation. I’m pretty home-bound, but enjoying the time with my family and dreaming up lots of new ideas for stories while I’m at it!
I want to thank everyone who has supported me along this journey. This experience has reminded me of how wonderfully kind and generous people can be. Thank you so very much…I appreciate every single one of you more than I can say.
Hi All. Wow, that was a tough decision. I received 12 first chapters and synopses and read them all. Some serious talent in there! And with such great stories in so many different genres, it was almost impossible to select a winner.
But I can only send one manuscript to Barbara, and the winner is….drumroll……
Chinese Bride by Bonnie Dee!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations, Bonnie! I’ll email you with more specifics.
Thanks so very much to everyone who entered. I had so much fun reading your awesome first lines and fantastic chapters.
Here were Bonnie’s first lines:
Title: Chinese Bride
Genre: Historical Western
First Five Lines:
Clouds were painted on the flat blue-gray sky, not even a gull disturbing the barren heavens. From great, black stacks, ribbons of white billowed behind the rapidly moving ship. Although the steamer cut steadily through the waves, it seemed it wasn’t moving at all—as though Huiann would spend the rest of her life standing on this deck, waiting for her new life to begin. When she imagined meeting her husband for the first time, she wavered between nervous anticipation and wrenching fear. Was he handsome, ugly, old, young?
Thanks to everyone who played! It was so much fun to read your fabulous entries!
Here are the semifinalists:
From Week 3
#10 Switched in Death by Sherry Foley
#19 Chinese Bride by Bonnie Dee
#81 (week 1 post) Southern Diversion by Celesta Hofmann
From Week 2
#14 Urban Secrets by Amber Leigh Williams
#25 In Pursuit of Love by Sarah Simas
#36 Rake Untied by S. Orr
#77 (week 1 post) Shadow Horse by Anne E. Kyle
From Week 1
#35 Assistant’s Secret by April Morelock
#39 Lessons from a Scoundrel by Christa McHugh
#50 Return to Me by Michelle (MG) Braden
#51 Shadow Dancer by Laurie Douglas Wicks
#57 CODENAME: DANCER by Amanda Brice
Congrats, everyone! This week’s semifinalists will be contacted individually on Monday, March 22 with instructions on how to send their first chapters and/or synopses to Jennifer for final round judging. The overall winner will be selected on or before March 28. That winner will be invited to send his/her manuscript to Barbara Poelle, who will read it for possible representation.
Questions? Feel free to go to the contact page and send them in. Jennifer will respond as quickly as possible.
Another great batch of entries! Here are the semifinalists from this week:
#14 Urban Secrets by Amber Leigh Williams
#25 In Pursuit of Love by Sarah Simas
#36 Rake Untied by S. Orr
#77 (week 1 post) Shadow Horse by Anne E. Kyle
The semifinalists will be contacted individually on Monday, March 15 with instructions on how to send their first chapters and/or synopses to Jennifer for final round judging.
Thanks to all who entered! If you did not final, you are welcome to enter again this week with a different manuscript. Otherwise, please continue to spread the word. Round Three begins right now! The rules are exactly the same as round one, so you can check them out on the Week 1 Blog. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me through the contact form on this site. Otherwise, good luck for round 3! More semifinalists will be chosen next Sunday, March 21.
Also, please respond to this blog entry for week three, not any of the earlier ones. I’ll go back and check (as I did this week–the semifinalists were chosen from every entry I could find on this blog that was posted after midnight on March 7), and I won’t deliberately penalize you for responding on another blog entry, but responding here is the best way to ensure your entry won’t get lost in the shuffle. Thanks!
Wow, what a fabulous bunch of entries that was! The judges had a heck of a time choosing just a few, but choose they finally did, and here are the semifinalists:
#35 Assistant’s Secret by April Morelock
#39 Lessons from a Scoundrel by Christa McHugh
#50 Return to Me by Michelle (MG) Braden
#51 Shadow Dancer by Laurie Douglas Wicks
#57 CODENAME: DANCER by Amanda Brice
The semifinalists will be contacted individually on Monday, March 8 with instructions on how to send their first chapters and/or synopses to Jennifer for final round judging.
Thanks to all who entered! If you did not final, you are welcome to enter again this week with a different manuscript. Otherwise, please continue to spread the word. Round Two begins right now! The rules are exactly the same as round one, so you can check them out on the Week 1 Blog. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me through the contact form on this site. Otherwise, good luck for round 2! More semifinalists will be chosen next Sunday, March 14.
How it works:
(1) Click “Leave a Comment” below and post the title, genre, and first five sentences of your fiction manuscript on the comments of this blog. Email entries will not be accepted; all entries must be made in the comments section of this blog.
(2) A group of semifinalists will be selected from the lines posted. The list of semifinalists for round one will be posted here on the blog on March 7. Round Two will begin on March 7 and semifinalists will be posted on March 14, and Round Three will begin on March 14 and semifinalists will be posted on March 21.
(3) The semifinalists will be invited to send their first chapter and/or synopsis to Jennifer.
(4) One overall winner will be selected on or before March 28. That winner will be invited to send his/her manuscript to Barbara Poelle, who will read it for possible representation.
(5) Questions? Feel free to go to the contact page and send them in. Jennifer will respond as quickly as possible.
Example Entry:
Title: A Touch of Scandal
Genre: Historical Romance (1823 England)
First 5 sentences:
A bothersome heat crept into Kate’s cheeks as she hurried through the narrow, dimly lit passageway. If only she could learn how to hide her thoughts.
Taking a deep breath, she forcefully slowed her step, squared her shoulders, and lowered her eyes. She was simply a servant, finished with her duties for the day, ready to take the three-mile walk home. Not a flustered woman rushing out to a secret secluded spot to watch a strange man—no, a god, more like—bathe in the nude.
The fine print:
You must be 18 years of age or older to enter this contest; no purchase necessary; void where prohibited. Judging is subjective, and judges’ names will not be revealed. If you enter this contest, you agree to be added to Jennifer Haymore’s newsletter list, which is sent out to subscribers quarterly. Personal information and email addresses are kept private and never shared. The semifinalists and winner’s names will be posted on the jenniferhaymore.com blog.
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