BACK TO BUSINESS - Making Time

The weatherman says after tomorrow we will see a break in the storm thread. I hated having very little time on the computer, taking care of the absolute necessities on-line between storms. I want to get back to the regular blogging schedule, the promoting time and visiting blogs of my author friends.

Some of those author friends ask how I get so much done in a day. How do I do it all? Secret? I don't. Getting EVERYTHING I would LIKE done in a day is just impossible. I pick my battles and go from there. Some things take rank higher on my To Do list than others.

I have two real passions: music and writing. No, I don't write music. I leave that to the amazing singer/ songwriters I promote and write about. I appreciate their hard work and dedication to their craft. I am blessed to know artists from a variety of music genres. Friends like W.C. Jameson, Mike Blakely and Kelly McGuire out of Texas. Where Mike and W.C. are also talented authors as well as singer/ songwriters in the Americana music genre, Kelly has more a island flair. Think Jimmy Buffet. I network with people out of Nashville like The Bellamy Brothers and newcomer Caylen Green. Then I jump to the opposite end of the scope to the more classical talents of Maestro Steven Byess and soulful composer Sara Graef.  I haven't worked with anyone in the rock and roll area yet, so I guess that tells you where my interests fall.

I spend my 'office hours' promoting music artists, writing blog posts, visiting other blogs and working on my shorter freelance or competition pieces. My personal fiction writing time comes two hours 'outside office time'. My husband is gone three weeks then home for three weeks. Part of the reason we chose for me to follow my dream is so I could set my own schedule... one that would meld with his. I am grateful he is so supportive and understands that although he's off, doesn't mean I can be. I just try to leave 'the office' a bit 

earlier in the day when he's home. 

The other thing I've started doing is taking the weekend off! :: gasp ::: I still need to work the artsy side of my brain. The part that leads my fingers through paint medium on an art journal or to dig in the garden. You know what they say about 'all work and no play'. I love my 'job' but I need play time too.

They key to 'doing it all' is identifying the areas that are most important then finding the best way to meld them into your life. If you want to be published, you have to treat it as your job - or your second job. This truly is the profession where you get out what you put in.

I would love to hear how you make time for your passions... whatever they may be!
Creative Blessings!
Angela

A FOOT IN THE DOOR - Boroughs Publishing Group results

Aside from the myriad of activities, parties, workshops and fabulous speakers (so I've heard about through #RWA13 on twitter), there was one open house I would like to have attended... the Boroughs Publishing Group event. On Friday night, they revealed the winners of the "What's in a Name?" competition. There were actually two winners - one by popular vote from the finalists and one by Editorial Staff pick. Both of these wins provided the opportunity to work with them to publish a FULL LENGTH manuscript. I only have one of those. Ozark Angel is finished, has been through an editing service, been submitted twice. One of those submissions resulted in The Call... only to have the editor drop the ball. Odd thing is, I've submitted first chapters in competitions since then with less than stellar (not bad) scores. So I really need to go back through that story again before moving forward.

What does all this mean for me? How do I have a 'foot in the door'?
Well, for starters, the people at Boroughs Publishing Group have had my name in front of them multiple times over the past eight weeks. I have signed with them to be a ARC reviewer (putting my name in their sights repeatedly), I'm on their newsletter mailing list and I comment on their monthly blog. (though I really wish they would take that off 'moderated'. Really?)

But one thing I failed to publicize before is that ALL FINALISTS will be offered a contract for their contest novella, with editorial assistance to make the book shine!  So in the coming months you may see five great stories available in digital format - Somewhere Down the Line included!

I also want to take a moment to congratulate Marilyn Puett. She was also one of the finalists and the story I mentioned in an earlier post that I really liked. Marilyn googled my song title + Boroughs publishing and found me. I was the only one out of four other contestants she was able to find. She emailed me, wishing me luck. We now keep each other company on FB, twitter and you'll see her link on my sidebar. So if you have a minute, please pop over to her site and congratulate her. She's pretty cool and very talented.

On to the next phase and the next project. I have twelve days to finish up my submission for the WETA Nichols competition. The chapter is with my crit partner and I should have his input tomorrow. If nothing else, I'm learning to work with deadlines LOL

Happy Writing & Reading!
Angela

I'M IN THE FINALS!

I had the most joyous call from a writer friend last night... about a quarter to midnight. She simply said, "I voted for you."  Several seconds later my heart stopped with the realization of what she meant. My novella, Somewhere Down the Line made the finals in the Boroughs Publishing Group, "What's In A Name?" competition! I could hear the happy in her voice. You have to love that kind of support that only another writer would truly understand.

So where do we go from here? I'm back to asking for votes. Yep, your votes stand between the Final Round and possible CONTRACT

For the next week I'm asking friends and family to step up one more time... okay 7 more times... and VOTE! Please! and SHARE on your FB, Twitter and other social media accounts.

http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/content/whats-name-voting

You may vote 1x per day every day through Sunday July 14th. The winner will be announced via their website, social media sites and at their Open House at RWA Nationals - which I will not be attending. :-(

While you are all voting and sharing, I'll keep reminding you and working on a second book to offer them.
Blessings!
Angela

BACK ON TRACK

After having my granddaughters for five weeks, which cut into my internet time more than I could have ever imagined, and then my modem crashing I am finally back on line. There is a hope and a prayer I will remain connected to all of you for a very long time. I've increased my internet package to the largest HughesNet offers and installed a shiny new G4 modem.

As I write this I am waiting for Boroughs Publishing to post the results of Round 2 of 'What's In A Name?' competition. There are three of us in the contemporary category and dare I say, one entry I am impressed with - and it isn't mine. Don't get me wrong... I have all the faith in Trey and Ali's story in Somewhere Down the Line. The fact I had an email this morning from the man who inspired Trey is a definitive boost to my confidence. But if another entry receives more votes than mine, I have my fingers crossed for the author and look forward to reading her story win or lose. I KNOW her story will see publication.

For several weeks I've been mulling over my next novella. Something else that might fit Boroughs Publishing. If I do land the contract with this competition, I want something else in the works to follow up with. In the event I don't, I would still like to work with Chris Keesler and his team so will need something else to submit.

In the wee hours of this morning while dreaming I hit upon a line I HAVE to work with.

"I've been doing promotion a lot longer than I've been chasing bad guys."

I hadn't planned on my next book being intrigue but maybe I need to think about the possibilities.
What do you do when you are presented with something that forces you to think outside the box?

Creative Blessings
~Angela

ON TO THE NEXT ROUND! - Somewhere Down the Line moves forward

WE DID IT!

My novella, Somewhere Down the Line has moved into the next round. Thank you all for voting many times for this story. Just as Alana and Trey deserved their chance, so does their story.

Now that the book is in Round Two at Boroughs Publishing What's In A Name contest, I'm back asking for your votes. Yeah, it's that 'American Idol' or 'TheVoice' thing. Without your continued support, Somewhere Down the Line may not see the digital recognition their story deserves.

Please go to... www.boroughspublishinggroup.com 
For Round Two, they have posted the first page of the novella. You can vote Once Per Day through July 7th.

Let's work together!
Love and Hugs
Angela

MONDAY MUSINGS - Comments

I am forever amazed by people who have nothing better to do with their time than harass other people in some form. Really? If you have time to leave ridiculous comments on a blog or facebook, why not put your time to good use. Write your own book, maybe?

I have always tried to have an 'open door' policy on my blogs. I don't have time to jump through hoops on other's blogs and I know others are as busy (or heaven forbid, busier?) as I am. Commenting should be easy and painless.

Today I'm taking time out of my already limited computer time to delete nonsense comments and change my settings. I apologize for the inconvenience but hope you will continue to read and leave love.

Happy Reading!
Angela

THE VOTING BEGINS!

I feel like a contestant on TheVoice of American Idol.

SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE is now in the hands of you - the voters. Without your love and support, my novella will not land in the top 25% and move on to the next round.

There are only fourteen entries and I have to say, I am up against some very good competition. Round Two (which begins on June 24th) will tighten the race when the first 300 words of each manuscript is revealed.

For you to read the first page of SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE, I need your help. Please go to:
http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/content/whats-name-voting and vote for my novella.

Don't let the name T.G. Shepherd throw you. Remember, these entries had to share the name of a song title. Authors names are kept confidential in the early stages so they have listed the recording artist with the book title.

Next, please share the link with all your friends. Tweet it! Share it on FB and even on Pinterest and anything else you can think of. I PROMISE... when you need me to reciprocate in some form, I'll be there for you. Supporting each other is what we do!

And in the words of Bartles and James....

Thank you for your support!

Love and Hugs!
Angela