What to do?

I'm very excited that this year the rights to three stories will return to me. I love them all, but the question is: what now? Do I revise on my own and self-pub? Or sub to another publisher?

The first, Surfacing, had such promise. It was a 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel semi-finalist, and had some excellent reviews, like this one:
“I found myself drawn to her characters and their world almost immediately, and within a few pages I became completely lost in the story. Surfacing is a delightful, entertaining, and touching read that will have readers rooting for the young hero and hoping that somehow fairytales can come true. This is more than a romance: it is a coming-of-age story that will linger in my memory. I truly enjoyed every page.”.

But despite a catchy cover, readers passed it over. Maybe because it's more a love story than a romance? I've never received any complaints, so I have no idea. And at about 65k, it's too long for my current publisher.

Ground Rules is another story I'm uncertain about. Again, reviewers had wonderful things to say about it, like: "Ms. Masters took a simple love story and made it magical, drawing the reader into the world where angels can make your dreams come true. And the fact that Luke could make a mean margarita certainly didn't hurt, either. I'm a sucker for a Christmas story - throw in a hot angel on a Harley and we've got a party!” and “This fun fantasy tale will keep you reading and waiting to see just what happens next. I didn’t see this ending coming, and I consider that an accomplishment for the author.”

But the story never really took off. The cover didn't quite convey the story line, and I've toyed with new covers and really like one of them, so this is one short story I'm considering self-pubbing.

Last is Romancing the Hero, a fun little fantasy story. Much as I love it, readers found it confusing so I'll likely spend more time revising this time based on previous comments. I liked that the ending left things open, but some didn't. Others, however, loved the story as much as me:
“A steamy cast of characters pulls the reader right into Romancing the Hero, and doesn’t let go until the final page. Cate Masters’ romantic novella, an homage to the classic romance movie Romancing the Stone, will make you believe that your fantasies can come true.
The well-written characters--feisty Jody Feather, best-selling romance writer who’s dissatisfied with her love life and perfect hero Jake Emerson--are captivating from their initial meeting." 
and
"The novella leads you excellently right down the garden path--is Jake really an actor, or is he stud-come-to-life Jake? I really liked how Ms. Masters’ tight plotting keeps you guessing, up to the very end. Ms. Masters is a very good author and Romancing the Hero is a fun, well-written story.”

With every story, I have to block out my inner critic, and not think about what any reader might say. I have to let the characters dictate the direction of the story, and I follow - mostly.

Published stories are a slightly different animal. They've been out in the world for awhile. When the rights come back to me, I have an opportunity to improve them. So if anyone has read these stories and been confused by anything, please let me know. I am all about making the story the best it can be, and appreciate all feedback.

Thanks!

Giveaway today at TRR's YES

Do you love fantasies? Do the holidays make you warm and fuzzy inside despite the chill in the air? Then pop over to The Romance Reviews and enter the Year End Splash for a chance to win my Christmas fantasy, Ground Rules!

Last Halloween giveaway from me! And a TBR blurb fest

Thanks to everyone who entered!

The ebook of Ground Rules goes to...

Jess!

I will be emailing you - Happy reading!

 

It's treat time again! This weekend, I'm giving your Christmas spirit a boost a little early. Must be seeing all those decorated trees in department stores since September. :)

One commenter will win an ebook of Ground Rules, my Christmas fantasy. Comment before Monday, and be sure to leave your email address.

You can find the blurb and excerpt, book video, Casting Call and more here.

Reviews for Ground Rules

A perfect love story with a little hint of Christmas...

This was such a short, sweet, light-hearted story about finding love, even if you're not looking. Alice and Luke were both strong-willed and not easily intimidated. They had both been heartbroken and not looking to be hurt again. Ms. Masters took a simple love story and made it magical, drawing the reader into the world where angels can make your dreams come true. And the fact that Luke could make a mean margarita certainly didn't hurt, either. I'm a sucker for a Christmas story - throw in a hot angel on a Harley and we've got a party!

The Romance Reviews - 4

Luke is the Harley, hunky not-like-you’ve-seen-before Angel. Had his heart broken and doesn’t want to listen to his heart. In Ground Rules he shows Alice that others have worse circumstances.
I really enjoyed Ground Rules. It reminded me of It’s a Wonderful Life with a love twist. If you want a good book to get you into the spirit of Christmas and miracles I recommend Ground Rules.
- Sizzlin' Hot Book Reviews - 4

Ms. Masters has written a wonderfully magical story that is refreshing to read. This creative story gives us a new take on the Christmas guardian angel. Complete with romance and snow.
- Romancing the Book - Lovely Rose

 Halloween Blurb Fest at TBR

This weekend at TBR, writers of Halloween-themed stories are invited to share their blurbs in the first Halloween Blurb Fest! If you have a story about Halloween, or with a Halloween scene, I hope you'll share your blurb.

I still haven't come up with two themes for November - any suggestions?

SSS: Who is this gorgeous guy anyway?

Thanks to everyone who visits! And thanks especially for your comments, which fill me with as much cheer as Christmas. And that's a lot. :) 

Here's more from Ground Rules, my Christmas fantasy. Alice is a bit confused as to who, exactly, the handsome intruder really is:

“Are you here to…kill me?” The thought should have frightened her out of her mind, yet a cocoon of calm surrounded her.

He burst into laughter, tried to speak, but slumped over, hand atop his abs. Really great abs, from the skin showing where his black tee shirt had shifted, but that was beside the point.

Hooting, he took deep breaths and swiped his eyes. “Oh, that was priceless.”

Visit all the amazing authors of SSS.

Next Sunday's Christmas day! I'll be busy with presents and cooking and present cleanup and desserts and then hopefully dreams of sugarplums dancing in my head. May you and yours share a memorable holiday of joy, laughter and love. See you next year!

Wonderful review for Ground Rules

The Romance Reviews rated Ground Rules 4 stars! I'm so grateful to Vixhen for her review. Here's part of what she had to say:

A perfect love story with a little hint of Christmas...
This was such a short, sweet, light-hearted story about finding love, even if you're not looking. Alice and Luke were both strong-willed and not easily intimidated. They had both been heartbroken and not looking to be hurt again. Ms. Masters took a simple love story and made it magical, drawing the reader into the world where angels can make your dreams come true. And the fact that Luke could make a mean margarita certainly didn't hurt, either. I'm a sucker for a Christmas story - throw in a hot angel on a Harley and we've got a party!

Thanks again, Vixhen! You've sweetened my holidays!

You can find out more about Ground Rules here.

Another nice review for Ground Rules

Woot! Sizzling Hot Book Reviews rated Ground Rules a four-star read. Thanks so much!


Here's part of what the reviewer said:
Ground Rules is a cute story to make you in the mood for Christmas and miracles. Wish on a tree Angel seven times and receive a Angel in your kitchen.
Luke is the Harley, hunky not-like-you’ve-seen-before Angel. Had his heart broken and doesn’t want to listen to his heart. In Ground Rules he shows Alice that other’s have worse circumstances.
I really enjoyed Ground Rules. It reminded me of It’s a Wonderful Life with a love twist. If you want a good book to get you into the spirit of Christmas and miracles I recommend Ground Rules.


If your holidays need a little extra cheer, you can find more about Ground Rules here.

SSS: Alice has an intruder

Welcome back for another peek at my Christmas fantasy, Ground Rules, just released by The Wild Rose Press. 

Alice wakes up and finds a tall, hunky blond guy in her kitchen, rummaging through her liquor cabinet. She hurls a succession of objects at him, to no avail:

At his wave, a wall of light caught each item and held it. The bizarre sight of her belongings drifting in sparkles like dust motes in sunlight made her head spin. Clenching her fists at her sides, she released a primal scream of terror.

From behind the curtain of light, he shot her a scowl. “What are you screaming for? Your liquor cabinet’s practically empty, and I haven’t had a drink in decades.”

Check out the fab snippets of SSS authors here. 

Have a great week!

Nice review for Ground Rules

The Long and Short of It Reviews had some nice things to say about Ground Rules. My favorite is the wrap-up:

This fun fantasy tale will keep you reading and waiting to see just what happens next. I didn’t see this ending coming, and I consider that an accomplishment for the author.
Why not try this read for yourself. It’d be a great book to read while sitting in front of the fire and sipping a hot chocolate. Just don’t drink and read at the same time ... you might make a mess when you laugh out loud at the great humor the author shares.

I love that the reviewer recommends reading Ground Rules. If you'd like to, you can order it from The Wild Rose Press.

You can also check out the blurb, excerpt, book video, Casting Call and more here.

SSS: Meet Luke, a not-so-angelic angel

Thanks so much for visiting for Six Sentence Sunday! And thanks especially for your comments.

Here's another snippet from Ground Rules, my Christmas fantasy. Luke, a Watcher Angel, isn't enthusiastic about the holiday. He has his reasons. So he tends to avoid the scheduled seasonal get-togethers. 

Oh please. Luke would give anything not to have to attend yet another boring event. Stand around and sing, chat up the bosses, flirt with the seraphim—to no avail. He’d give anything to have a little one-on-one time with a girl. A real, in-the-flesh, warm-blooded girl.

Thoughts like that could get him demoted.

Check out all the amazing SSS authors here. Have a great week!

At Sandra Sookoo's today

Sandi's throwing a 12 Days of Christmas event on her blog. I hope you'll pop over and join me. You'll find lots of posts to put you in the holiday mood.

Casting Call: Ground Rules

Ground Rules was another fun fantasy to write. I love it when the characters come to such vivid life.

Alice Garner's a children's book illustrator who loves her job. She knows she's one of the best. But this year, despite nabbing a dream job illustrating a Christmas story by a famous children's author, she just can't deliver. So she wishes on her Christmas angel. Seven times.

Alice is caring yet feisty, vulnerable yet won't put up with crap. Even from an angel. Something about him tells her he has issues. Maybe a few she can help with. :)

Alice is actually named for the actress I had in mind while writing: Jennifer Garner. Jennifer always struck me as sweet, yet she could be a kickass heroine with the best of them.

Luke's a Watcher Angel. Not a very happy one. His job leaves him less than enthused. And Christmas - well, the holiday ranks even lower. Luke can't muster enough cheer to say 'happy holidays' let alone have one. So when Peter sends him to Earth on Christmas Eve to help Alice, he does what any unhappy angel would do. He mixes margaritas.

Luke hasn't yet mastered the fine points of his job either. He has no wings, no feel for humans' problems, and little sympathy for Alice, who seems to be doing just fine. Except that she's not. Knowing he'll catch Hell if he fails, Luke brings his unique take to the task. Helpful in a snarky way.

Since the first page, Luke has been Sean Bean. Ah, Sean on a motorcycle. In my kitchen, mixing margaritas. Sweet Christmas angel, yes.

Michael Goodman's an internationally known children's author, loved around by the world by his readers. Not by adults. Around them, Michael's surly, impatient, and downright unpleasant. Well, he too has an excellent reason. Two, in fact. But you'll have to read Ground Rules to learn what they are. :)

Ewan McGregor's the perfect Michael Goodman. Handsome, a versatile character actor who can play charming and surly equally well.

Check out more about Ground Rules here! Or make my Christmas wish come true and buy it here. :)

Release day for Ground Rules!

I am super excited! Not only is today the day that The Wild Rose Press releases Ground Rules, my Christmas fantasy, but it's also the day that Margaret Atwood is holding a booksigning in Carlisle! If Mother Nature tries anything today, she'll have to answer to me, lol. Ms. Atwood's my literary hero, a goddess of speculative literary fiction. I'll be there with bells on, come hell or high water.

And oh yeah, I'm also excited that Ground Rules is here! It always feels like release day will never come. Wish the excitement could last as long as the anticipation!

I can't wait for you to read Ground Rules. If you do, I hope you'll let me know what you think! Is Luke a lovable snarky angel? :)

SSS: First peek at Ground Rules, my Christmas fantasy

Thanks so much for visiting, and especially for your comments. I love 'em all.

Here's the opening of Ground Rules, my Christmas fantasy soon to be released from The Wild Rose Press! 

The first snow of December fell like a promise, full of sparkle and glimmer. Like hope.
From her desk by the tall, second-story window, Alice Garner watched, enraptured. This year, though, she'd stopped believing in promises.
Still, snow had been second on her Christmas list.  Today being Christmas Eve, she could almost believe someone had been listening.

Don't forget to check out the amazing offerings of other SSS authors. For those who celebrate it, have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'm sitting out the next two weeks to catch up on NaNoWriMo and share the holidays with my family. Have a good one!

Book video for Ground Rules

It's 11.11.11! Are you superstitious? I may go buy a lottery ticket, lol.

Or I'll just entice you with my new book video for Ground Rules, my Christmas fantasy coming November 30 from The Wild Rose Press!

You can read the blurb, excerpt and more here.