IN THIS ISSUE:
My monthly column update
Book Happenings
Q & A Time

Happy New Year!

Here we are two full years into the "new millennium" and almost every time I have to write a full date on something I’m forced to stop and remind myself the year starts with a “20” and not “19”. Do you ever have this sort of trouble? I hope not. I feel like I’m a magnet for trouble some days, but somehow things work out for the best in the end. You’ll see what I mean in this month’s “Every Day IS Mother’s Day” column entitled “Winning the Jackpot at the Local Post Office”. What did I win? Read this very true story and find out...

Click on the direct link to my column below:
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna/momsday_index.html

or go to http://www.jeannibrosius.com/MRMAG.htm and sign up to have the entire Miscellaneous Ramblings e-newsletter emailed to you in mid-month.

(You may have to copy and paste the above URL into your web browser in order to get the link to work.)


BOOK HAPPENINGS

This past month has been fairly quiet so far… As I pen this newsletter a little before Christmas, I realize there are a few days left in the month. Something big could happen to make me change my mind, but I’m not holding my breath. Yes, I did call New York to find out the status of my manuscript at Dorchester Publishing. The verdict? I didn’t find out much. About the only good thing I can say at this point is there’s been no rejection letter, so I have to assume it’s still under serious consideration. Let’s all pray for a good economic forecast for the publishing industry in the coming year and hopefully by the end of January I’ll know something more definite.

But I would be terribly remiss if I didn’t mention the wonderful book-signing I participated in on the Friday right after Thanksgiving. I, along with several other authors and series creator/editor Allison Gappa Bottke, signed copies of the “God Allows U-Turns” volumes one through four at the Open Book store in beautiful downtown Fremont, Ohio. Barbara Jeanne Fisher is a contributor in the third volume and owns and operates the Open Book. Barbara has all the GAUT inspirational anthologies and has stocked several copies of my romance novels as well. The next time I’m visiting relatives in NW Ohio, I’m going to make a point to stop by again and I recommend you do, too. Barbara is also a multi-published “Chicken Soup for the Soul” contributor and has written a novel called, “Stolen Moments.”

And be sure to read:
GOD ALLOWS U-TURNS ISBN 1-58660-300-0
MORE GOD ALLOWS U-TURNS ISBN 1-58660-301-9
Promise Press, an imprint of Barbour Publishing, available at fine book stores everywhere.

I’m a bit slow to announce that another one of my essays, entitled “Missing Y’all,” appears in THE NEW AMERICAN REVIEW, a highly praised literary magazine. Filled with short contemporary fiction and essays, thirteen authors from the South and the Midwest are featured in this second edition. It can be ordered from your local bookstore or via the Authorlink Press web site.

THE NEW AMERICAN REVIEW (Second Edition)
ISBN 1-928704-27-1
http://www.Authorlinkpress.com

More good news! You can purchase my novel, COUNTRY BOY, CITY GIRL, for 16% off the cover price at All Discount.com book sellers.

COUNTRY BOY, CITY GIRL ISBN 1-58851-918-X
Publish America Inc. (trade paperback edition) http://www.publishamerica.com or
All Direct.com book sellers:
http://www.alldirect.com/book.asp?isbn=158851918X&cartID=742651516910021219

If you received an e-book reader for Christmas, why not fill it up with both my romance novels available in electronic formats from Wings ePress? http://wings-press.com

THE FIXER-UPPERS ISBN 1-59088-984-3
Wings ePress (trade paperback and electronic editions)

COUNTRY BOY, CITY GIRL ISBN 1-59088-037-4
Wings ePress (electronic editions only)

Now it’s time for Q & A!

Q: What is the number one thing, in your opinion, that causes an editor to reject a manuscript outright?

A: That’s a tough question. I think each editor has his or her own “pet peeves” and these influences his or her final decision on a particular manuscript. But in all honesty, I believe the number one thing that causes “instant rejection” of a novel manuscript is the simple fact that the author has not followed the publisher’s submission guidelines to the letter, and I’m not talking about font size here necessarily.

You’d be surprised how many romance editors receive manuscripts that couldn’t even remotely be considered a “romance” and, therefore, the book cannot be published by their house no matter how well written it is. Children’s books are submitted all the time to publishers who only publish fiction for the adult marketplace. I’m sure other genre editors experience the same phenomenon on a regular basis, too. Along with not presenting a good “final draft” (that is a thoroughly proofed, finished manuscript), I would say not submitting your book to the “correct” editor is the most frequent cause of rejection.

But don’t fret—you can greatly lessen your rejection chances with a little online research. All you need to do is check out publisher sites and read their guidelines, or write/email them for guidelines. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact them for clarification. And be sure to read several books published by the house you’re interested in submitting to. What better way to discover what kinds of manuscripts the editors there like to read?

A comprehensive list of links to publishers can be found at the Missouri Chapter of the RWA web site at: http://www.morwa.org/pubs.html

If you have a question--any question, related to writing, romance writing, publishing or whatever--email me at cynthianna@hotmail.com.(Do not hit "reply" to this newsletter--your email will bounce.) Results guaranteed or double your money back.

Until next time—

Cindy
(a.k.a. Cynthianna Appel)
My web site: http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna

P.S. Feel free to forward this newsletter on to an email friend or ten. You'll be glad you did.