Another smattering of updates

So sorry I haven't been keeping to my weekly posts. Last week was busy with starting work and this week is busy with my boyfriend visiting.

Not a whole lot to report. Nothing new on the EUTERPE front sad to say. But that's the nature of the biz. I have set an absolute deadline for myself for finishing PHARAOH's LINK; Sunday June 20th. Even if it kills me, I'm going to stick to it!

Work has been really interesting so far. I've got several big cases I'm working on for several different investigators. I've been drafting interview questions for a 2-day onsite interview process for one case. I'm quite excited to atually go and participate in the questioning. How cool that they let us just dive in? Been doing some statistical analysis on another case. One thing I've learned fairly quickly is that even if someone seems sympathetic from reading their statement, you have to remain impartial and not take sides.

I sat in Tuesday and yesterday on a hearing for a Dept. of Agriculture case. Very fascinating to see the dynamic between the attorneys (who knew each other for quite some time) and the various witnessses. The judge is probably one of the most awesome people in the office. Got to sit in just by chatting with her at the copy machine on Monday.

As for keeping up with the blog this summer, I think I may work a little something out with Jen over at More TV, Please! about doing a TV rewind series on a show (probably a shorter show...like Merlin season 1). I've got the DVD set but haven't rewatched any of the episodes yet.

Well I need to head off to work...such is the life of the grown up (or summer intern).

General Update

So now that finals are over, I'm back! I've got a few days until I start work at the EEOC in the Enforcement Division. I'm quite excited about it. I'll be doing something good and it will be a totally different experience from anything I've done before.

As for writing, I'm slowly getting back to PHARAOH'S LINK. I'm still on track to finish the draft by the end of the month. I'll be sending it to betas and submitting it to my agent by sometime in July (whenever I finish my beta edits). And then I'm not really sure what I'll be doing.

I've read a couple of really good books the last couple weeks. Death's Daughter and Cat's Claw by Amber Benson. For those of you who've been following my blog, you know that I adore Amber. Her novels are both very good and I'd recommend them if you like fun urban fantasy with some mythology thrown in. I'm definitely awaiting the final installment in the trilogy.

I'm currently working my way through Timothy and the Dragon's Gate by Adreinne Kress. And next on the list is A Wizard of Mars by Diane Duane and The Red Pryamid by Rick Riordan. I'm quite enjoying being able to read something other than law textbooks.

Euterpe's Song update

Hey all!

As promised on Sunday, I'm back with a quick update on where EUTERPE'S SONG is in the publishing rounds.

Not much has changed. We've still only gotten one rejection. It was a nice enough one. I've learned that editors don't want to give you any really useful information in their rejections. I suppose it's because they don't want to appear foolish when the book actually does get published. But as rejections go, I'll take it.

By the end of the month we will be out with 5 houses, all top honchos in the biz;
S&S, HMH, RH, Penguin and HC. We'll see where things stand at the end of finals time.

Until next week. Cheers all.

Off and Running!

Hi everyone!

I hope you all had a good President's Day. If you had it off, yay you! If not, well I hope it was still a good Monday. Also, a belated Happy Valentine's Day to those of you who celebrate. Hope you got share a little something special with your some special.

Anyway, I've got some very exciting news to share. As of today (2/16/2010) EUTERPE'S SONG is on submission to publishers.

What does that mean?

It means that my agent (Roger) has sent out my manuscript and the TIP sheet (tune in next week for a Writing Tip on the TIP) to editors at various publishing houses. We should hear back on this initial round in a few weeks. I will keep you updated.

So now I'm going to celebrate this rather monumental step forward in the publishing process. See you next week for a fun and informative Writing Tip.

Status Update

Hey everyone!

This week is basically a status update on EUTERPE'S SONG. I've finished my final edits and my agent (and editor) are figuring out where to submit my baby. With any luck we'll be on the road (read: on submission) in the next couple weeks. I'll keep you updated as I know more information.

I have to say, I'm quite amazed by how much EUTERPE has changed since that first draft back in May. Sure, I'd had beta readers critique it and did a revision before I started submitting to agents in August but it wasn't quite where it needed to be. So, I did another revision in August before I sent it off to a new batch of agents (Roger included), getting it up to about 34,000 words. A better length but not quite strong enough still with some elements of the plot. Despite my overwhelming misuse of commas and my plethora of disembodied body parts, Carlie stuck with me and I think we have a beautiful little novel. Now weighing in at 35,000 words. She's ready to find a nice home somewhere.

So I will see you next week (possibly sooner, depending). Stay warm!