Wanna hear something strange? Kharma or a watchful angel?

Yep, very strange.

I decided to work on an old contemporary romance I wrote years ago. Why, you ask? Mainly because I LOVE the characters. Also, the story incorporates a love in my life--Rodeo, horses and country people.

I've learned a lot over the years, my growth as an author has increased with each new story over the years since I first became serious about seeking publication back in 2001. At that time, I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting and becoming friends with Jean Walton. She gave me friendship, advice and honesty which helped me during this budding process. She read my contemporary romance and recommended that I send it to Wanda Ottewell at Harlequin American Romance. I sent it at the end of 2002 but Wanda had moved to a different division. The new Editoral Director, Jennifer Greene, (after 8 months of biting nails) sent me a full page letter explaining the strengths and weaknesses of the book. Can I can thrilled here? Not necessarily because she didn't accept the book (I don't blame her, it was not ready, I was not ready) but because she took the time to sit down and write the letter to me. It wasn't a generic form letter.

So I put the book aside and concentrated on my paranormal stories. But this novel has never left me alone. I have since rewritten it and will submit it again to the publisher. (Ran into Diane Moggy, a MIRA editor, at a conference. She informed me to resubmit the book since I received such a good response on the original copy.) This year I decided that I will put aside the insecurities of submitting to a large publisher. I will send this rewritten book to this publisher.

Well, as I was researching the different lines and trying to decide where this story would fit, I found the one where I feel it would fit and guess what? The editor for that line is none other than Wanda Ottewell. Go figure, right?

To me, it's like a brilliant light guiding the way. Adds to my confidence and makes me want to finish tightening this story so that it will be accepted.

Here's to the New Year, new goals, hopes and dreams.