The Higher MIssion submitted again

My recent rejection of my science fiction novel The Higher Mission is now in the hands of Burst Books which is an imprint of Champagne Books. In the same day they acknowledged receipt of my submission package and assured me I would hear from them in two weeks.  At that time I'll know if they want to see the entire manuscript or not.  They have the first three chapters, a synopsis, bio and a promo plan.  I've included the scene of Saturn as seen from Iapetus, far orbiting moon of Saturn.  This painting by Chesley Bonestell is appropriate for the opening chapter of the novel as Cramer and Mona fly to Saturn's rings to mine the rings of the radioactive boulders dubbed "hot rocks."

Rejection

My science fiction novel The Higher Mission has been rejected by Crescent Moon Press after a six month wait. I have another place to submit it. I must check their submission guidelines before sending it along. Although they don't take sweet romance they do take science fiction. My novel is a combination of science fiction and romance of the sweet variety. I'm still waiting on word from eWings Press on A Change of Heart. I have more hope on that submission. That one features the characters Leroy and Jody from my first accepted short story Lab Partners.

Marcy's Struggle rejected

My short story Marcy's Struggle was rejected by Wild Rose the vintage line. The editor said my characters didn't come alive like my other stories. I still believe in the story and feel the characters do come alive. Marcy is a smart chemistry graduate student and is trying to convince Ross the quarterback that she is over Leroy. Of course she does in the end.
Also, I've just sent an email to a lady looking for a critique partner to see if she still is. I've decided to work on my Rescue novel and get it ready for submitting again. I still have not heard from the two novels I have out under consideration. One is a SF novel and the other is my Leroy and Jody romance novel. Waiting is difficult. I had predicted that Marcy would be rejected and that one of my two novels had a chance of being accepted. So far I'm right and hope I can score on one of the novels.

Excerpt pasing experiment

My chat date approaches with Coffee Time Romance. It is this Friday, February 17th at 5 PM to 9 PM EST. I have a lot I need to do to prepare for this and will no doubt fall flat on my face in trying to make effective use of this important scheduled chat. Okay I'm going to try pasting my Motorcycle Woman excerpt in this post.

His
motion slow and deliberate, he removed the blue felt, revealing a beautiful
jewelry box. She gasped. Johnnie’s workmanship, always topnotch, soared to a
new level on this project. It would command a high price compared to his other
efforts. Earlier, he showed her the router bits he used to put borders around
the box base and lid. He utilized his fanciest bit to place ornate curves,
channels, and edges along the base and lid of this box. The inlay of flowers,
which he had called marquetry, spread across the lid, different colors, red,
green, light brown giving it a realistic floral look. The wood, highly polished,
reflected Tess’ face from the soft sunlight illuminating the lid and sides. She
had not seen this kind of wood on the other boxes. Johnnie mentioned using
mostly walnut, some cedar, and some cherry. She slid her hand over its smooth
surface. It stood about four inches tall, six inches wide, and ten inches
across the front.
“This is the most beautiful jewelry box I’ve
seen you make. What kind of wood is this?” She looked at Johnnie a few seconds
then back at the box, continuing to feel its smooth surface.
“A
rare wood called teak. Open the lid, Tess.” He touched the front of the lid
with his forefinger, and then withdrew it as she moved her hand toward the box
lid.
Opening
the lid part way, she heard Beethoven’s Fur Elise begin to play. Raising
the top full open, she centered on the fancy cursive writing on the inside of
the lid. Tears came to her eyes as she read, “To Tess, All My Love, Johnnie.”
“Oh, Johnnie.” Her voice caught.
“Before you get onto me about getting
personal, I don’t remember you including the written word in that restriction.”
His
face told her he did not expect that excuse to hold up.
She closed the lid, the music stopped, and she
turned away from him, holding her mouth, trying to keep from shaking with sobs.
“Don’t you like it?” he asked, his voice
betraying his uncertainty.
She could not answer, only nodding, remaining
turned away until she managed to say, “Of course, I do.”
She could not hide her tears, her voice giving
her away. As she turned to face him, he took her hand. She did not resist as he
raised it to his lips and kissed it. Her breath caught, the sensation of the
kiss almost tearing down her defenses. She fought the urge to throw her arms
around him.
“I
never intended for this to happen,” she whispered.
“If
you mean me falling for you, the only way you could have prevented it was pass
me by in Minnesota,” he said, releasing her hand.
She continued to look into his brown eyes, the
eyes that had pierced deep into her soul from the start. He breathed deep and
asked with a dreadful fear in his voice.
“You’re leaving soon, aren’t you?” She
swallowed hard, nodding.
“I know I can’t talk you out of it. I just
want to say knowing you for these five weeks will be a time I’ll always
cherish.” His eyes filled with tears.
Tess turned away again, gritting her teeth.
Her eyes dwelled on her photo, the head and shoulders shot. The framed picture
sat on a shelf above a workbench where Johnnie did much of his work.

Well, the cover image didn't actually paste. I had to browse to get it.

Chat date for CTR on my new release

The release of my new romance short story from Wild Rose is set for February 15th. I have scheduled a chat at Coffee Time Romance for friday February 17th from 5 PM to 9 PM. I'll provide a link later but if anyone, author or reader would like to show please let me know who you are and I'll enter your name with Regina before the chat takes place. Showing for any length of time would be appreciated and I'm giving away a copy of my ebook End of a String. My new release as you can see is Beautiful, Inside and Out. It is about a sharp college engineering student named Bess Simpson who perceives she's overweight. Can she win the heart of Art Fuller who is dating Angie the petite drum major? So far Miss Mae, Gail Pallotta, Anne Patrick and Cindy Christiansen have agreed to show up on chat night. I thank them for that.

Marcy's Struggle final submitted

I've sent Marcy's Struggle to Wild Rose editor Nancy Swanson hoping this final version will make the grade. Our computer quit for several days and is going again although I fear it will go out again. I'm glad at least that all the files are intact at this point. Now again it is a waiting game.

Next Publisher and their request

After my rejection I sent a synopsis of A Change of Heart to Wings ePress and they immediately came back and requested my full manuscript. I spent a lot of time formatting my manuscript according to their instructions. It is about ready to go and I'm filled with hope. I've penned a blurb as they asked. Here it is:
Leroy Doyle has been hurt deeply when his childhood sweetheart leaves him. He enters college, resolved to avoid women--that is until he meets Jody Stinson. Jody carries past baggage herself that has left scars so deep that she continues to push Leroy away. Leroy pulls out all the stops to win Jody's heart, but how long can his persistence stretch?
Will Jody ever have a change of heart toward Leroy? After four years of college and two years in the work place, Jody wakes up, but is it in time? Leroy has quit his job and left.