Well another year is coming to a close and what a year it has been for the Wink Girls. Let's hope that 2009 will be even more successful.
So where do I start. Well let's see it all started on 3rd January when Shona received an email to say that her short story had been sold to Wet Ink Publications. WOOHOO! Her story appeared in the 10th Edition which was released in March. I don't think there is a better way to start off other than that.
Unfortunately also in January Loretta received a set back when she receive an email rejection of one of her tender romances. But Loretta is not one to let that get her down, she just sent it on out again.
February marked the beginning of the web page brigade with Shona getting her web page up and running. February also marks the romantic day of the year "Valentines Day". Most of the girls head down to a fellow WA writer's house for a luncheon.
For the next couple of months we kept our hands on keyboards, well most of us did, *grin* and waited in anticipation for the Romance Roadshow that was coming our way in May. It was a really informative day and all the ladies that attended had a great time. Planning is underway for our next one in May 2009. Over that time Loretta also got her web page up and running.
June had a few of us hitting the keyboard in earnest with the challenge to write 50 words in 30 days. It wasn't the official "NANO" but it was an idea that was put out to the ROMAUS loop and snapped up by many of its members. Shona and I made our goal of 50k and Lesley did a fabulous effort and reached 10k. I know the only reason I made it was because my DH was away for most of the month so I had the time to write! Also at the end of June I entered a Desire Online Pitch contest. It was on the very last day that I submitted my two lines, I was hopeful but not expecting much.
By this time we had heard about the Little Gems contest and for the 3rd year in a row Loretta got a story published and for the 2nd year in a row so did Donna. YAY Girls. Three others also entered but unfortunately weren't that successful. We were also all gearing up to head to the RWA conference in August.
July rolls round and I receive an email to say that I was one of the finalists that will pitch to a Desire editor. I walked on air all day, that was after excitedly telling my DH what had happened. I did my pitch and got a request for a partial. OH Wow I had requested material. In between all of this Loretta had submitted a proposal to Avalon books - they asked to see the full. Very exciting for the group.
August comes and six of us head off to Melbourne Australia for the Romance Writers of Australia Conference. It was a great turn out with four editors visiting. Between our group we had 10 pitches all up. By the end of the weekend we had 10 requests. Boy was Wink about to get busy!!!
Come September the thrill of conference was still with us. We couldn't believe that all of us that pitched got requests. So the time had come to knuckle down and get working on our submissions. We want these babies to sparkle, after all why would you rush and just send something off - what a waste of an opportunity. By the middle of the month a letter arrives in my mail box. The address on the envelope was in my hand writing. I whipped that baby out of my son's hands so fast he had no idea he initially held it. I ripped the envelope open and my eyes feasted on the short letter. The words that stood out where 'I'm interested in seeing the full manuscript". OMG I had a request for a full!!! My first! I had a request for a partial at conference. I couldn't believe it. I was about to give up on this story before the Desire pitch and now they want to see the full. Boy did I have a lot of work to do. I basically have to rewrite the second half of the story.
The excitement level in Wink just a got a bit higher. Could the year get any better???
Well October rolls around and Kym launches her web page. Who will be next on the world wide web? Then something big happens for our little group, on the 16th October 2008 Loretta SOLD!!! Avalon loved her story Kiss and Tell and offered her a contract. We were all excited and happy and maybe just a little jealous of Loretta. We'd shared her journey and helped her through her rejections and now the ultimate prize - we couldn't be prouder.
It's now December and we are all still madly working on our conference requests. But what a remarkable year for the Wink Girls. It started off with a Sale and finished with a Sale - what can we achieve next year.
Watch this space and share our journey.
Take care over the holiday break and may 2009 bring you lots of happiness and may be bring the Wink Girls a few book contracts!
If not, well there are no other girls I'd rather share my journey with than the Wink Girls.
Nicki
