Jordan Summers

Well, I’ve finished editing the book. It came out to whopping 483 pages! Probably going to change it to TNR so that it doesn’t look so daunting. *g* The word count is similar to RED, which is good. I’m happy that it’ll be sitting at 368-400 printed pages. I’ll admit I’m exhausted. I’ve been pulling twelve hour days, editing this book.

I wish I had big news to share, but there isn’t much happening at casa Summers, but work. Today is Vivi Anna’s birthday! Everyone should drop by and sing her a happy tune. She is on holiday, but don’t let that stop you.

I’ve been thinking a lot about critique partners while working on this book. Probably because my mom was kind enough to read this manuscript for me and point out the problems. I have a really good critique partner, but there are certain projects that aren’t right for her. At one time, I had five critique partners. That number is a little high. I still have several people I can ask to read for me, but it gets harder and harder the longer you’re in the business.

Why, you ask?

Let me first note that there are two types of critique partners that authors use: One, is a reader. They don’t look for editorial things. They simply read for story. This is the category my mom falls in, although she’s terrific at catching missing words, too. The other, is another author. Most published authors (unless they had the same critique partner before they got published) only want their work read by other published authors. They don’t do this to be snobbish.There are various reasons for this, but the most common reason is that a lot of published authors refuse to read unpublished work. They’ve been burned and don’t want to repeat the experience. Unfortunately, when all your critique partners are published they have their own deadlines. So it becomes difficult to get critiques. It’s also hard to receive critiques, when you change genres or your writing shifts. That’s kind of where I find myself right now.

I’m writing things I could’ve NEVER imagined myself writing when I first started out. I think it’s a natural progression for a writer, but it’s also disheartening. You have to start over to a certain degree. Success hinges on how many times you’re willing to begin again. I know I’m rambling. That happens when I’m tired…and when I’m nervous…and when I have monkey brain…

I hope you all can forgive me. Have a great weekend.

Yes, that sound is me finishing this first round of edits. I’m typing the changes in as we speak. It will take a while. My typing skills aren’t great and I have a heck of a time reading my own writing, especially when you factor in the arrows. I love me some arrows. They point every which way.

This was a hardass book to write. Some are easier than others. Note: I didn’t say any of them were ‘easy’. But this one was hard. I had so many story threads to wrap up. I really hope I got them all because other than maybe a freebie novella/short story I’m not going back in to explore this world any more. I’m done. No mas. I’ve cried uncle and aunt. You get the picture. I’ve been typing in changes for HOURS and I’m still only sitting on page 54…out of 391. No idea what the final page or word count will be by the time I’m done. I noticed a missing scene during my edits yesterday at dh’s work, so I think I’m going to have to write it. Gulp. Did I mention the book is DUE on Sept. 1st? Yes, that sound is me screaming.

May tagged me for another Meme. I will do it, but it may take a few days. (ie until I finish typing) Bear with me. I’m dancing as fast as I can.

I’m still editing. It’s getting closer. Going to work through the weekend, then hopefully send the book to my mom for a read through. Yes, my mom reads my books and gives me VERY honest feedback about them. No sugar coating from my mom. *g* One of the many reasons I love her.

In the meantime, I thought about the MeMe I did yesterday and came up with one for myself and anyone else who wants to participate. Below list your top ten favorite romance books and top ten movies. Here are mine in no particular order:

1. Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss
2. Mine to Take by Dara Joy
3. Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens
4. Captain Jack by Stephanie Laurens
5. Desired by Virginia Henley
6. Dark Prince by Christine Feehan
7. Beast Within by Lora Leigh
8. Blood and Kisses by Angela Knight
9. Love’s Prisoner by MaryJanice Davidson
10. Fur for All by Christine Warren

And yes, I know I’m forgetting a LOT of books on this list, but those are the ones that popped in my head. Now onto movies. This one is TOUGHER, if that’s even possible.

1. Singing in the Rain (what can I say, I LOVE Gene Kelly)
2. Matrix
3. Lord of the Rings (all of them)
4. Pirates of the Caribbean (first one)
5. Stardust
6. Alien
7. Close Encounters
8. It’s a Wonderful Life
9. Gigi
10. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

I like musicals. Got a problem with that?

Yeah, I know I mentioned I wasn’t going to tag anyone, but I LIED. Sasha, Vivi, Amie, Raine, Charli, Bernard, Frances, and Lynn consider yourselves tagged. Lynn is excused if she’s floating away.

Copy the list below. Mark in bold the movie titles for which you read the book. Italicize what you’ve watched. Tag 5 people to perpetuate the meme. (You may of course play along anyway.)

1. Jurassic Park
2. War of the Worlds
3. The Lost World: Jurassic Park
4. I, Robot
5. Contact
6. Congo
7. Cocoon
8. The Stepford Wives
9. The Time Machine
10. Starship Troopers
11. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
12. K-PAX
13. 2010
14. The Running Man
15. Sphere
16. The Mothman Prophecies
17. Dreamcatcher
18. Blade Runner(Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?)
19. Dune
20. The Island of Dr. Moreau
21. Invasion of the Body Snatchers
22. The Iron Giant(The Iron Man)
23. Battlefield Earth
24. The Incredible Shrinking Woman
25. Fire in the Sky
26. Altered States
27. Timeline
28. The Postman
29. Freejack(Immortality, Inc.)
30. Solaris
31. Memoirs of an Invisible Man
32. The Thing(Who Goes There?)
33. The Thirteenth Floor
34. Lifeforce(Space Vampires)
35. Deadly Friend
36. The Puppet Masters
37. 1984
38. A Scanner Darkly
39. Creator
40. Monkey Shines
41. Solo(Weapon)
42. The Handmaid’s Tale
43. Communion
44. Carnosaur
45. From Beyond
46. Nightflyers
47. Watchers
48. Body Snatchers

As you can see, I’ve watched more of these than I’ve read. I should probably remedy that soon. I’m going to tag Vivi, Sasha, Amie, Bernard and Suzanne. You can thank me later. *ggg*

I’ve been meaning to discuss something that occurs at conferences. It’s something that is rarely brought up, but happens (I believe) quite frequently. Let me set up the scenario:

You’re sitting at the bar (or in the restaurant) of the hotel with your agent/editor and a friend walks by. You can tell the friend wants to stop, either to chat with you or to get an introduction to whoever you’re with. Your natural reaction is to say hi to your friend, which you do. This reaction is followed quickly by a gut check of extreme discomfort as your friend starts to slow and you see the expression on the agent’s/editor’s face change from happy-go-lucky to deer cornered by ravenous wolves.

The above scenario happens all the time at conferences. You’d think the decision to introduce your friend would be easy, but it’s not. The author who is chatting with the editor/agent is suddenly put in a very uncomfortable position. They don’t want to be a bad friend, but at the same time, they don’t want to make their editor/agent uncomfortable. And make no mistake, they DO get uncomfortable because they don’t (or do) know what the author approaching wants from them. This is especially true if the friend has submitted work to the agent/editor in the past. Hell, they might still be waiting for a response from the agent/editor. See how a simple introduction can become a complicated situation?

For those of you who’ve been in this situation, how did you handle it? For those of you who haven’t, what would you do if you were in either authors’ shoes?

The edits are coming along. Slower than I’d like, but they are moving. I should hit the halfway point by tomorrow. Hopefully I can finish the first round edits by this weekend at the lates. I need to do a final read-through before I email the book to Tor. It will get done on time come hell or high water.

Dh and I tried to get to the movies this weekend. Unfortunately, the day we arrived at the theater the line was SUPER long. A rarity for our favorite theater. We’d gone to see Tropic Thunder. We decided we’d try again this week. Probably tomorrow. We’re also going to catch the Dark Knight one more time at the theater before it leaves. We’ll do that this week, too. Has anyone watched Tropic Thunder? If so, what did you think? Are you going to go see Babylon A.D.? I’m still trying to decide. I like the fact it’s a futuristic movie, but I haven’t heard much about it.

I promise I’ll get back to blogging regularly once this book is turned in. Work first. Play later. Ciao!

Whether you’re sitting in the middle of edits, querying agents or chasing down a publishing contract, there comes a time when doubt will set in. You’ll question the moves you’ve made and wonder if you have enough talent. When that happens, you need to listen to this song, What if it All Goes Right.

Keep the lyrics Melissa Lawson is singing in mind the next time you lose faith.

I’m currently editing the final book in my Dead World trilogy. It’s due Sept. 1st. I have to admit that I’m really looking forward to finishing. I am ready to move onto new stories. And yes, I realize that each story is different, but I’ve been playing in the same world for three years on and off. I’m ready to explore new horizons. I already know what I’m going to work on next. I’m sure the closer I come to finishing these edits, the more antsy I’ll be to start something new. That tends to be the way these things go.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that I may be hit or miss with the blogging over the next three weeks. (Yeah, I know, what’s new? *ggg*) I have a lot of reading and additions to make. Wish me luck, I’m going in.

I rarely post reviews, but this one from Reviewer Kerensa Wilson at Romance Junkies made my day:

Jordan Summer’s RED is the best novel you’ll read this year! What can I say other than that from the moment I opened her novel I was completely absorbed in it. Her retelling of Little Red Riding Hood is nothing less than brilliant. Her characters and the world she’s designed will keep every reader anxiously glued to the page. No matter what you look for in a great book, you’ll find it in RED. I can’t possibly say enough great things about RED. What I can tell you is that if you read one novel this year make it RED!

I know not everyone is going to love my book, but it’s nice to hit it out of the park on occasion. I don’t know this particular reviewer. There is more to the review, but they don’t have a link up yet. Just take my word for it, it doesn’t get any better than this. Thank you!

A friend and I were having a conversation about the conference. We were discussing the workshops and the messages they send to unpublished authors. Well, one of the messages they send to unpublished authors. Unfortunately, it’s a very dangerous message. The (subliminal) message is IF you follow all these steps you will eventually get published. If only that were true.

The truth is there will be some people who study hard, write a lot, produce good work, make connections and will still NEVER get published.

They don’t want to tell you that because they aren’t in the business of shooting down dreams. They’re in the business of helping you better your craft. This goes for any professional writer’s group. They want you to succeed. It’s just that there’s more to it than following the steps (or in the footsteps of others). There’s a luck factor that can’t be ignored. You can increase your ‘luck’ by writing and submitting a lot of work, but you can’t control it completely.

I know that’s hard to hear, but I consider that info as important as any ‘class/lecture’ you could ever attend. File it away accordingly.