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Well, it finally happened. February 2, 2010, came, and Winter’s Awakening is now available for sale!
What’s really exciting is Truly, Madly, a Lucy Valentine Novel, by Heather Webber, goes on sale today, too.
Why is that exciting? Because Heather is one of my critique partners…and she’s not only an awesome writer, she’s an awesome person. Heather and I met during a meeting of the Ohio Valley Romance Writers of America a little more than ten years ago. I was shy, she was too. I was confused and nervous. Until that first meeting, I had been sure that becoming a writer was just a silly dream.
Lucky for me, Heather had already sold a few short stories and needed a new critique partner. When she asked me to meet with her one morning at Borders, I jumped at the chance.
Ever since then, we’ve met every other week and traded papers. Heather taught me how to edit. She taught me about point of view. She taught me that it was okay to dream about big things-things like having a book with my name on it in a bookstore.
What did I teach her? My guess is perseverance. Or, maybe she had that already.
For the first three years that we were critique partners, we got lots of rejections. Then, slowly, we started getting lots of revision letters…then we finally sold our first books. Now, today, we’ve got books appearing on bookstore shelves on the very same day.
I can’t say it enough…I am blessed to know Heather Webber.
So, please join me in celebrating Winter’s Awakening’s release. And Truly, Madly, too. : )
Shelley
2 Comments
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Okay, you made me cry this morning! (In a good way.)
The thing is, we teach each other. You’ve taught me that goals can be reached (you sold first!) and that they can keep being reached. And that the harder you work, the more you’re rewarded. You’ve taught me not to stress so much about the little things, and you’ve taught me to trust myself and my voice. Most of all, you’ve taught me what true friendship is all about.
Love and hugs. XOXOXOXOXO