Karen Foley
Lynn Raye Harris
Ellen Hartman
Diana Holquist
Samantha Hunter
Shirley Jump
Dee Tenorio
Jeannie Watt
Brenda Novak's Auction
Hey folks, we have a free day here today, so I wanted to invite anyone who has donated offerings on Brenda Novak's auction to talk about them here, and let us know what you're donating to the cause. If you have never checked out Brenda's auction before, you are in for a treat, because there are so many once-in-a-lifetime shopping opportunities there. It starts on Friday and runs for the month of May, and it's a load of fun, but it's fun while supporting a terrific cause. You can find a link to the auction on the upper right hand sidebar here on Cigars.
For my offerings this year, I am giving away two bags, pictures below, with some goodies and a signed copy of my new book, Hard to Resist with each bag.
If you click on these images, you will go directly to the auctions, as well.
I believe all of the Cigars ladies have donated treats for readers and writers, though I didn't catch up with everyone to get info on their donations, so I will leave it up to them to post about what they are donating in the comments.
If you want to check out Ellen's offerings you can click here for books , and here here for a manuscript critique.
If you have won things or bid on things at the auction, let us know and feel free to discuss anything about your experiences with the auction on this thread. If you are a writer or anyone donating items to the auction, let us know, and feel free to post your item link in a comment. I can tell you right now, one of the things I will be bidding on is this beautiful mirror that Jeannie made -- wow. Jeannie is also offering a manuscript critique
The Juvenile Diabetes auction is a terrific event, for readers, writers, and the organization, so I hope you will check it out, and bid generously.
Sam
PS: I should also mention Jeannie's new cover is down on the right sidebar now, for her July book, and I have posted pictures of Jeannie and Dee on my Bag Addicts Gallery, with bags I sent both of them for being such wonderful sources of support and critique, especially in the last month when I was really up against it writing-wise. Thanks gals!
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Critique
I've told this story a million times, but way back when I was working up to the point of being brave enough to submit my book to a publisher, I bought a critique in an online auction. The author who donated the critique, Susan Gable, wrote for Superromance and her books resonated with me, so I thought I'd see what happened. What happened was magic. Susan zeroed in on a suggestion to change the opening of my book and I've always said she took it from technically fine to a HOOK!
I put that book into two contests, sold it to the final judge of one of them (Laura Shin from Superromance), and have been a firm believer in the power of Susan Gable ever since. ;-) (Plus this gave me a guaranteed friend at my first RWA convention. She couldn't very well ignore me since she is responsible for my career!) ;-)
Anyway, that's why I offer a critique in the auction. Susan knew things about how Super editors think because she'd worked with them. She generously offered her help to a new writer and I benefited. I like to think I might be able to give some helpful tips to another soon-to-be-published author.
If anyone is thinking of bidding on a critique, read the author's bio and check out some of their work. My style and Susan's style are relatively similar. I wouldn't have wanted to send my sensitive beta hero off to someone who writes alpha guys. Look for someone who will be able to offer the kind of insight you need for your work.
P.S. The fact that I'm encouraging people to bid on critiques is NOT blatant market manipulation on my part to steer people away from Jeannie's mirror or Sam's bags. Pinky swear. (heh)
Great points!
Ellen, that is such a great story, and this is all fantastic advice for writers bidding on crits. I have only won one crit, and it was on another auction, several years ago, with Janelle Dennison. I love her Blazes so much that I was just tickled to be able to talk writing with her, though she did give me some great advice.
Sam
Love this story...
And I'm sure Susan Gable loves it, too.
I don't think ANYONE should bid on the bags or mirror, either. They're MINE, all MINE....(cue evil laugh...)
A dissertation on critiques
Ellen is so right about the value of a good critique. My critiques were from editors because I managed to write well enough to snag their interest, but I couldn't plot well enough to sell. But with helpful hints here and there, and a lot of Why-didn't-I-think-of-that?s, I finally sold after re-writing the manuscript three times. Now I see so clearly the stuff I was missing before. (Oh, I need conflict?)
The thing about critiques is that they can get painful. After all, someone is prodding and poking at your inner self put on paper. An author I know, who now writes for Harlequin Romance, was an amazing submitter. She would submit her current manuscript, then immediately begin another one. The rejections never got her down. She asked a fellow romance author to critique her work. As I understand it, the critque was good--and painful. She cried. She debated about quitting. But she continued to write, using what she'd learned, and sold. And sold. And sold.
And as Ellen says, find an author who writes similar to the way you write--or want to write. The authors I read while honing my craft were Elizabeth Peters, Beverly Bird and Lori Handeland. I love their humor and the way they handle serious issues. I still read them and am still growing.
Love those bags!
I'm a bagaholic. Just ask my husband. Sam, those are too cute and I will be bidding. They'd make great gifts and that blue one would be perfect for my daughter.
Thanks Jeannie
One of my tiny pleasures with the blue one is the inside lining, I really matched it up in terms of putting the pocket in there, making the patterns match as well as I could. I don't know why that tickles me so much. Did it with the outer pocket, too -- sometimes I try to create some contrast, so you can easily see the pocket, but I was in a matching mood that day, I guess.
I keep going back and looking at your mirror. ;) It's really incredible.
Sam
Cool!
Sam, those bags are so SO desirable!
I've bid on some of Brenda's items before (no critiques for me, but I can see how that would be a perfect chance to get some valuable feedback from someone in the know!) and it was a fun way to support the cause and shop at the same time :) Because I'm all about seeing if I can get my TBR to fill an entire room ;)
Auction items
What a great idea to spotlight the auction...need to remember to do that myself.
I have a few things up for auction, including an ARC of my first Leslie Parrish book, Fade To Black. Plus the entire Santoris of Chicago series--2 Harlequin novella collections, and 4 Blazes.
For writers, I've offered a brainstorming session. I'll read a proposal, then either meet with the writer at RWA in DC or schedule a 15 minute telephone call to discuss the story and brainstormm ideas.
It's a great cause with some fabulous items this year!
Leslie Kelly-Parrish
www.authorleslieparrish.com
Hi Leslie!
I had already scoped out your arc... *G* I have a feeling this is going to be a real shopping fest, LOL.
A brainstorming session is such a fantastic idea...I really like that. I steered away from crits this year, as I just finished doing a crit of a full for the Jo Leigh auction, and it was a good experience, but time consuming. I think brainstorming would be fun, and productive. I know I often find myself more in need of brainstorming than crit, and I bet a lot of writers are like that. I think it's because I struggle with the start of books, but once I get rolling I am usually okay.
Great to see you here, and can't wait for your new series...
Sam
I've heard of this auction
last year, but didn't look to see what was offered. I've already browsed some. The critiques look interesting...I'll have to read up on how to bid and such since I am clueless.
I really like your bags Sam! I've seen the ones on your website too - very creative and useful! I'm really liking the blue one.
Giving away something a little different...
I decided that instead of giving away an autographed copy of a book, I'd give away a whole case! Why not? I'm excited to see what happens. I'm also doing a critique, but I'm not sure if it's on-line yet.
The auction rocks
I always drool and dream on a few items. The one I truly coveted was the mentorship with Brenda Novak herself. It sells for mucho dollars and it should! She's amazing. But there's always a few other list items that make me wish I were a little more padded in the wallet department rather than in the hips. :-) It's a great cause and I'm proud to be help in some small way.
I volunteered a crit for the first time. I hope someone wants me. LOL...
Jane Porter's Seattle and B.C. package
Did all the folks coveting a Northwest Vacation see Jane Porter's package? I did. :-)
Addicted...
OKay...so I go over to the auction and start bidding on like a gazillion things...had to stop. It's for a great cause though, so it's okay, right? :D
Totally okay
Tracey--totally okay unless you're bidding up the price of Sam's bags or Jeannie's mirror. In that case, you must stop. ;-)
By the way, I'm dying for the Cascade foothills writer's cabin getaway--is that from Susan Anderson? I'd love that one.
Ellen...
You crack me up! Sure I would not think of bidding up the price of Sam's bags nor Jeannie's mirror *snerk*. Let the games begin...j/k. It's all in good fun and prizes and donations.