More New Work from Clients!

First-time fiction author T. E. Baker has a new thriller out, She Blew into the Room.  Hopefully this will be the first of many Ben Slade mysteries.  

Former client G. S. Johnston, featured here previously, has released his second novel, The Skin of Water, as an e-book.  Check out his web site for more information, and make sure to review these books on Amazon or goodreads. 

Congratulations to Tom and Greg!  

The Year in Review

Over two weeks late, here is a roundup of 2011 by the numbers:

-       Manuscripts line edited: 10

• Of those, 7 were novels, 2 were memoir, and 1 was a business book.
• Of those, 8 have been published or are under contract.  (The remaining two are being revised by the clients.)

-       Book proposals written and consulted on: 1

-       Book proposals edited and consulted on: 2

• All three are still in progress, and all three are so amazing I can’t wait to send them off to agents.  One is days away from submission.  Wish us luck!

-       Synopses written or edited: 3 (all for novels)

-       Manuscript evaluations written: 11

• Of those, 10 were for novels, one for memoir.

-       Short projects done under consultation hours, such as editing for short stories, essays, or query letters, or general advice on publishing matters such as author platform and pitch: 7

-       Ghostwriting projects: 1 (a short memoir intended for the client’s family)

And here are the genres I worked with in 2011:

-       literary fiction

-       commercial/general fiction

-       historical fiction

-       experimental fiction

-       thriller/suspense

-       satirical fiction

-       memoir

-       business

-       true crime

-       religion and spirituality

Clients currently on the waiting list: 6

What an incredible year!  Thank you so much to everyone who chose to work with me and who referred clients my way.  I have the best job in the world.

Events with "Lady Leader" Mary Stier

Mary Stier, former President and Publisher of the Des Moines Register and now founder of Mary Stier Connects, has published a fabulous new book called Lady Leader: 10 Ways to Play in Big Boy Business.  Based upon her 25-year career in the male-dominated newspaper industry, Lady Leader is a distillation of some of the most important lessons Mary learned as an executive in a Fortune 500 company.  (And it includes some hilarious personal stories, too.)

If you're in the Des Moines area, shop locally and pick up Lady Leader at The Book Store or Beaverdale Books.  Better yet, meet Mary and get an autographed copy of the book at one of Mary's upcoming events:

December 6, 7 PM: Central College, Cox Recital Hall: Q&A, book signing, presentation

December 9, 12 - 1 PM: Lunch and Learn series at the Des Moines Public Library: Bring a brown-bag lunch and hear Mary share insights from the book.  (I'll be there!)

December 12, 6:30 PM: Book signing at Beaverdale Books

Check back at Mary Stier Connects for future events.  

Yes Ma'am

Husband Tim is out of town, there’s no kindergarten or preschool starting Wednesday, the in-laws arrive Thursday, and the children and I are sick.  I have an incredible amount of work to do—thrilling, wonderful, rewarding work—but three nasty colds under the above conditions has got to be Mother Nature telling me to ease up.  So I’ll be taking the week off to recuperate and spend time with family.  (Hopefully the latter won't cancel out the former.)  Happy Thanksgiving to all.  I’ll see you on the other side.

New Fiction from Paula Morris

Great news: Paula Morris's second YA novel DARK SOULS has been published and is now available in hardover or as en ebook.  Paula is an award-winning author of many books, and you can see a full listing at her web site.  I read and recommended her first YA novel, RUINED, on this blog previously.  The novel was so good, in fact, that I devoured it in one sitting, so I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of DARK SOULS.  Read an excerpt here, or purchase the book through Amazon here.