So last Tuesday, Michele and Janice M. both pointed me in the direction of a First Romance Novel Competition. A site called Gather.com has teamed up with Simon & Schuster and Borders to hold a kind of American Idol competition for romance writers. (I know, I know.)
Only thing was, they wanted the first two chapters, and the competition closed the next day, Wednesday. I had one day to polish the first two chapters. Sure, I could do that.
Then I read the fine print. You also had to submit THE WHOLE NOVEL in email form. Which is why I spent last Wednesday writing and editing for nine hours. The ending was rushed, yes, but not as rushed as I thought it would be.
So the contest is now live. You can read the first chapter of this silly romance novel of mine (which has knitting! Lots of knitting! Spinning! Pretentious references to things that you, my dear readers, will understand — sadly, not in the first chapter, though) and vote for it. (Working title – Love Spun. Heh.)
This is how it works: The first round is the first chapter. People vote, casting a number from 1-10, 10 being the best. The fifteen chapters with the most number of 10s will proceed to the second round Votes of numbers 1-9 don’t even count, so if you DO like it at all, if you want me to proceed, 10 is the number to keep in mind. If you think I deserve it, that is. After that round, the five people with the most 10s cast for their second chapter will move on to the last round – The Gather.com, Borders, and Simon & Schuster people will decide on the winner, who will be published and featured prominently in all Borders stores.
Now, they’re tracking votes by IP and username, so you can’t vote more than once, or the chapter might be disqualified. Because I know you, dear reader, and you might pull something sweet like that.
You have to register for the site to vote, which is one of those "social" sites. They won’t sell/share your email address, and you can opt out of receiving any emails from them.
You wanna read it? Really?
My chapter (with an egregious typo or two – "Now way" should be "no way" and it makes me want to cry when I think about it) is HERE. And all the rest, if you’d like to vote on them as well, are here. Woot!
* And yes, this is the same book that I wrote for Nanowrimo last year, then facetiously titled Bleating Hearts —
you might already have read the excerpt here (turn the flash page at the bottom right to read it, but
don’t do that till you read the first chapter and vote! Hooray!).
** at noon, looks like their site is bogged down. Don’t give up…. Try again later? Please? xox
Sweet! I was thinking of asking you when we’d get to read your first ever novel, and here it is!
And so cool to be the first post.
Ok – I voted, I hope you win it…and I can’t wait to read more!
Blessings,
dude, I don’t wanna jinx you, but you are SO gonna win!! lovin’ it!!!
Ok i voted. I also read it. I also read the other excerpt (Bleating Hearts – ha!) and really really want to read more. I’m sure you’ll let us know when we can 😉
I wanna Alpaca!
Well, crap, now I want to keep reading!!
rachel, i love it! how exciting for you (and for me, because you’re one of my favourite bloggers!). can’t wait to see you move into the next round so i can read more.
🙂
read and voted – I may have voted twice because I wasn’t sure if the first time before I registered counted or not — not to mention it only took me 5 times to register – between taken username, using caps in username, and my normal not being able to read word verification…. I must really like you 😉
Well done!
and now i have to wait how long to find out about the cowboy????
😉
ok read and voted…..I’m actually looking forward to reading the rest of the novel and I haven’t read a romance in a long long time!
Seriously, it won’t let you vote more than once.
Check, 10 check check…sites fine now if anyone’s wondering.
The chapter’s smashing!
I voted! Its a fun read – hope you win.
Fabulous. I want more. and also. I voted. You’re a 10, baby!
do you read
http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/
Cuz you should! A little snark always makes the day brighter.
OK, when do we get to read the rest of it? It’s great, I voted and I hope you win.
OK, when do we get to read the rest of it? It’s great, I voted and I hope you win.
OK, when do we get to read the rest of it? It’s great, I voted and I hope you win.
seriously, I need to read some more, please. waiting patiently here.
Oooh, I want to read the whole thing now! Good for you for putting fiber arts into a book with making it forced or sound out of place!
Fantastic, what a natural voice you have. Perfect opening situation, sexual tension, conflict, great end to first chapter. All that and sheep too! Can’t wait to read more.
(oops– i forgot to vote. Going back to the site now)
Hey, I just heard a great one for retirement saving! How is your 40a(k)nit account coming (another name for stash)? Mine is in pretty good shape. http://knitnana.blogspot.com/2007/08/saving-for-retirement.html
Hey, I just heard a great one for retirement saving! How is your 40a(k)nit account coming (another name for stash)? Mine is in pretty good shape. http://knitnana.blogspot.com/2007/08/saving-for-retirement.html
Oops! I don’t know how that got in twice. I only hit the post button once.
I placed my vote. Be sure to give us a heads-up when you make it to the second round :-).
Hi Rachael! I voted and gave you a 10 because it pulled me in and I wanted to read more. Even though I never read romance. 🙂 Hate the cowboy, but I think I’m supposed to.