It's Real Now

August 2009 - The contracts arrive in the mail. I sign and send them off. The revisions for Book 1 are minor and the revised manuscript goes in early. I want to get back to work on Charlotte’s book. Oh, the hero is too fun. Again, Muriel’s trying to take over the book.

I’m working really hard to make sure Charlotte stands out but she’s just not a strong character. Kind and sweet but not strong.

Then I realize we see the hero through Muriel’s eyes. And there’s more foreshadowing for Book 3 than I thought might be there.

I’ve got to admit that the hero does not look good when seen through Muriel’s eyes. He likes to tease her. He has to win her approval, it seems that Charlotte can’t help herself but fall for him the instant she meets him.

Back to the Keyboard

End of July 2009 - After I return from the conference I figured if my editor liked Book 1, I best go forward with Book 2. I pulled out the notes and chapters I'd written.

I reread the chapters, browsed through the notes to reacquaint myself with the characters and the story. Charlotte, Muriel, Aunt Penny, and Edward the duke. Some of the suitors from Book 1 return, and then there are Charlotte's suitors . . . they make themselves known to me at once.

My editor calls me two weeks later and she’s going to buy the series.

What does she mean by the series?

"How many books?" I asked her.

"The whole thing," she says.

"What?"

The W-H-O-L-E thing!

I am completely speechless.

RWA National Conference – Washington DC

Mid-July 2009

I meet up with other writers, catch up, and share ideas. It’s a place where I can get together with other Avalon writers.

It’s also a place where we can see our editors and agents face to face.

At the Publisher’s party I saw my editor. She’d received my submission and liked it. The book, I asked. All of it, she said. She read the whole thing? And loved it!

I am thrilled beyond belief—but, I remind myself, it’s not a sale.

The Whole Vision

Early July 2009 - I’ve finished the first three chapters of Book 2 and Book 3. I also have a general idea of what the stories are for the last three books. Do I include them or not? Well . . . I’d like my editor/my publisher to see what I have planned for the entire series. I’m hoping for a nice series logo, similar covers . . .

I think they will like Book 1. Maybe they’ll accept Books 2 and 3. That would be pretty cool. They’ll also have a peek at the last three stories and maybe they’ll consider buying them at a later date. I really hope the publisher wants them. I see bits of scenes which include some characters from Books 1 through 3, they’re exciting story ideas and I’d love to write every one of them.

While I’ve decided on book titles, I’ve kept my Gentleman title references. I add those below the title in parentheses. The editors can choose whichever ones they think works best.

I’m submitting the entire Book 1, three chapters each of Books 2 and 3, and on a separate sheet of paper a brief synopsis of Books 1 through 6, consisting of a few paragraphs every one of them. In my cover letter I promise delivery a time period of 6-9 months between each book.

I mail it all off. I’ve met my self-imposed deadline of “before” the conference. Now I can enjoy myself in Washington DC.

Then it dawns on me . . . what if they don’t like it? I don’t have a Plan B. I’ve put all my thought and energy into this book . . . these books, this series for the last two years.