Today I am sending out HUGE thank yous to all of you who read my chapter in the New Voices comp. I know, there’s still two weeks to go till we hear about the finalists but honestly, I’m so grateful that I almost don’t care if I place or not (almost!). 😉
To say I’m thrilled with how many people like it would be a massive understatement. Really, it doesn’t get any better than having a whole bunch of people say ‘yeah, we like what you’ve written’. Having had polarising comments in other competitions, I truly didn’t expect so many people to enjoy it. I feel a bit like like Sally Field – ‘You like me! You really like me!’ 🙂
I also wanted to say big kudos to all my fellow entrants. It’s harsh out there and putting your work on the public stage for everyone to comment on is never easy. But if you’ve hit that submit button, shout it out with pride. Or if you’re not the shouty kind of person, be quietly pleased with yourself. It takes guts to put yourself out there.
This year has been horribly frustrating for my writing. I’ve felt like I’ve been standing still and not going anywhere for a large proportion of it. And I have to say, if not for my lovely CPs and blog friends, I would have given this whole thing away. Truly, without your support, I probably wouldn’t have written that chapter. So I’ve instructed Hoo to whip up a bunch of chocolate martinis to show my appreciation (there are a couple of virgin ones in there for those of you who prefer your chocolate unadulterated. Please help yourselves, you deserve it. 🙂
Jackie, I read your chapter and thought it was brilliant. I wanted to read more, and I don’t always or even often. Congratulations on a great chapter!
Kate
High praise from Kate Hewitt. I’d preen a little if I were you Jackie 😉
Could you write my entry? 😉
Kate – oh, thank you so much! I’m unbelievably flattered!! *blushes madly* And thanks heaps for taking the time to comment. All you Presents authors are so amazing. Go Presents!
Lacey – I’m SO preening!! Not to mention basking like a shark. 😉 Sure, I’ll write your entry – if you write my synopsis. Hehe.
I’m choosing to ignore the synopsis part and just see the first bit. So when do you think you’ll be finished?
PS Is the synopsis for IT girl? Because if it is that means I get to read it so hell yes?!
Really great job, Jax! I am so pissed because I have only been able to read the entries, but not comment. I have some glitch where it keeps sending me this email and saying I have to click on the link and log in. I do, and it tells me I need to check my email and the process starts over again. I emailed them and they said they are working on it. Until then I just scream my opinions into my monitor like a loon! I really wanted to comment and say how proud I was of you, GREAT chapter, and cannot WAIT to read the book!!!! Hopefully I’ll be able to do it on the new voices site soon too.
Lacey – ooooh, probably around the end of the year sometime. 😉 Yes, the synopsis is for IT girl. Cool, you write it and then tell me what happens ’cause I don’t have the foggiest. 🙂
Christine – thanks so much! A chocolate martini for you too. So happy you liked it! Guess I’d better get on and write the rest of it huh? 🙂
Lol I have a great visual of Christine screaming at her monitor. Poor Christine. Nasty technology gremlins.
Jackie I hope you realise you’re forcing me to write my own entry. What’s the world coming to? I thought IT girl was finished. How many chapters old is it?
Hey, Kate, fancy meeting you here. 🙂
Jackie, you know I’m so proud of you. You have it, girl, you so do! I fully expect us to be shelf buddies VERY VERY soon.
Lacey – Forcing you? Me? Never! 😉 IT Girl is about four chapters old actually (15K). Though I’m going to have to rejig those I think.
Maisey – you’re SUCH a star. And a generous, lovely person. Not to mention being a fantastic author! Really, it’s enough to make one extremely jealous. 😉 Seriously, you and the rest of the Sisters have been such a fantastic support. I appreciate it SO much. Would love to be your shelf buddy! But seeing as how Ashenden is A and Yates is Y…we are destined never to sit side by side. Sniff.
I’ll take a virgin one, thank you kindly.
I haven’t gotten to the site yet to read it but now that I’m feeling better I intent to remedy that very soon! Great attitude, Jax. jx
Jackie,
I thought it was absolutely brilliant.
It was new, and fresh, and it sparkled. As brilliantly as any diamond I have (never) seen… lol!
If you don’t place, there is something seriously wrong here.
Just a quick question….do you also submit a synopsis, or is that something the editorial team produce on your behalf?
Cheers, Liz.
cheers! reworking mine to submit on monday!
Jackie, I’m so excited for you to have all this lovely feedback. You deserve it!
And if Presents and MH shared a shelf (one then the other) then Yates might very well precede Ashenden. Can’t wait for the day I can go and buy both!!
Well done, Jackie. And on the shelf issue, won’t you just be bundled in under ‘S’ for sisters? I thought it would be nice if me and my crit partners make it, we all got filed under ‘M’
Ooh finally a chocolate martini!! I’ll keep the truth about them to myself, shall I?? *naughty grin*
It’s so wonderful to get great feedback for your work, isn’t it? And I just love blogland. Feel like I know everyone so well and they’re all my nearest and dearest friends 🙂
REckon you’re definitely in there with a chance 🙂
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I’m not registered to comment on the site yet, but wanted to drop you a note and let you know that I also loved your story. Very clever!
I’m hoping that I’ll stop fiddling with mine and get the nerve to submit by next week. *bites nails nervously*
I loved your chapter, Jackie. It was not only great fun but highly original in the way it was presented. I couldn’t stop reading it once I’d started, and trust me, stopping after the first couple of pages is a common response with me!!
Fingers and toes all devoutly crossed for you.
Jx
Jackie and Maisey, got a visual of a bookstore, late at night. The lights are low. Key the romantic music. Camera pans to the romance shelf where your books are “best seller climbing” their way across Nora Roberts and Allison Brennan. Until at last they meet somewhere around Elizabeth Hoyt. Cue sigh.
Woo-hoo Jackie, Heidi Rice has left you a comment… and she LOVES you !!! She wants to be your mentor. That should have you buzzing around the house this morning.
Jackie, I’m SO happy for you 🙂 You really deserve all the wonderful feedback you’re getting – you’re the most hard-working aspiring author I know! I’m so sorry that your confidence has copped such a beating this year – it would’ve been such a same if you had quit. For a brilliant author like Heidi Rice to comment that she would LOVE to mentor you, that has just gotta increase your confidence, right?!? You must be floating on clouds at the moment 🙂
Judy – Glad to hear you’re feeling better. Thanks for the support!
Liz – Thanks so much for your lovely comments. So pleased you enjoyed it. No, no synopsis required. You have to write a VERY short summary (about 40 words) of the book and a VERY short chapter summary (again, 40 words) but that’s about it.
Kerrin – go you!!
Robyn – cheers lovie! Hopefully that day will come. Not this year sadly.
Sally – Lol! That’s true! Hey, S&M…hehehe….
Rach – yep, don’t you breathe a word about chocolate martinis. 😉 Absolutely re blogland. Aren’t people fab! As is your good self.
Marcy – thank you so much for reading. Good luck with yours – you’ll have to let me know when it goes up so I can return the favour!
Jane – awww, such a lovely thing to say. Thank you so much! 🙂
Cat – LOL!! I love it!
Sorry typo – I meant ‘shame’ not ‘same’.
Finally was able to comment over there! And I got to see all the new comments as well. Everyone is loving it, as well they should! SO PSYCHED FOR YOU!!!
Jo – it did! Heidi is one of my favourite authors so I’m rapt!! Kind of took the sting out of the rejection I received this morning. 🙁 Will blog about it later.
Anyway, now it makes me want to get through to the second round – which is a pain because I wasn’t caring too much about that at first!
Angie – I would be (see R note above) but am floating a little under the clouds at the moment.
Thanks for much for your lovely words, they mean a lot to me. 🙂
Christine – Thanks m’dear! It’s lovely to get such wonderful comments. I’m very humbled by it all to be honest.
((HUGS)) I’m so sorry to hear about your R. I know how disappointed you must be and after reading your fabulous first chapter I’m shocked. I’ll pop back in later too but I hope you’re getting a little TLC. Take care of yourself xx
Lacey – Oh, thank you so much. Need hugs today. Yeah, well, I don’t mind saying I’m really p*ssed off about it. I’ve worked on that story with the editor for 11 months now and to not even get a full request for it makes me question a lot of things. Hmmm, might post a blog post now actually.
I’d love to know what happened because I really thought that it sounded like it was going up the chain so your editor must have really liked it and your writing has really grown.
I really liked your Feel the Heat entry but damn are you working those words now or what! I’m so disappointed for you.
Lacey – thanks. I don’t know what they want from me to be honest. It’s not a bad story – at least, I didn’t think it was. And it was a damn sight better than the revised full they really liked so I’m kind of going WTF? *rolls eyes*
Hi Jackie,
Read your entry – really enjoyed it! I hope we get to read the rest of the book! 😉
Talei – thank you so much! I hope you get to read it too. But first I have to write it. 😉