C.J. Miller

I received my first full manuscript request from an editor at Silhouette Romantic Suspense after sending the first 3 chapters (along with query letter and synopsis) at the beginning of June. The request came in the same envelope that normally delivers rejections (the one I send with my query), so I was expecting another rejection. I am thrilled to have made this progress, so while I know this doesn't mean this manuscript with be published, it does mean something in my writing caught the eye of an editor! In other good news, one of my critique partners told me that at the RWA conference, Harlequin was looking for romantic suspense. That's great news for me!

I write like Stephen King Analyze your writing! Not sure this is ideal for a romance writer, but how fun!

One of my dream agents is participating in MuseTrack's Agent Shop . Agent Shop is a way for writers to pitch their manuscripts electronically. The basic idea is at a predetermined time, the moderator of MuseTracks posts "GO" and everyone who wants to pitch their work emails their pitch. The first 30 (that follow the rules) pitches are posted. The contest was set to start at 10am. At 9:50, I had both my computers on - one with the MuseTrack website up and one with my gmail account open with the pitch prepped and ready to send. Due to some technical difficulties "GO" wasn't posted until 2pm. You'd think during that four hours (yes, some of which I thought it had been cancelled, I had missed it, I had internet problems in which somehow only that page wasn't refreshing, and/or I had the wrong date) I would give up. Nope. Didn't give up. For four hours (some of which, I had my husband take over the computer, so I could eat, etc.), I hit F5 on m...

I compared my query letter with the one that Kylie helped me write. There's a couple of things I noticed about hers. 1. It's creative: it tells the plot in a unique way uses clever phrases 2. It's snappy: it reads like the back of a novel - quick and to the point, but enough to make you want to read more 3. Formatting: she put the title and character's names in CAPITAL letters - reads easy 4. It's non-academic: this is something I struggle with in my writing. After 18+ years of formalized schooling, which required endless research papers, thesis, and term papers, breaking out of the formal style was hard for me. Going back to work on the query letter. I hope my next project will be ready to mail out by March!

In addition to all the Q&A, Kylie also helped me with a scene and a query letter. I can't put an exact value on that. Priceless? I hope that the information I've shared here (with Kylie's approval) is helpful to aspiring authors, especially those targeting Silhouette Romantic Suspense (SRS). A *BIG* thank you to Kylie Brant for taking the time to mentor me. Keep an eye out on her website for new releases and contest opportunities! Kylie's Books, Contests, and more!

Question: Anything you know now that you wish you knew when you were first working to get published? Anything about the business? About your craft? Kylie's Answer: Ummm, try everything I was woefully ignorant. Didn't belong to any writing organizations. Didn't know anyone who was writing. And the Internet hadn't been born yet :) I did know there was an organization around called RWA because I read it in several author bios. But had no idea how to go about contacting them. I just decided one summer to write a book. Did so, and then spent a few months polishing it before opening the cover of one of the IMs (Intimate Moments, back in the day) and getting an address for Silhouette so I could get their phone number. :) Called them up and told a very snooty receptionist that I had a manuscript I wanted to send in and asked how to go about it. She's the one who told me about tip sheets and query letters (very long sufferingly, I might add!) Soooo, yeah, I kn...

Question: What are your writing habits? With five children and a full time job, how do you find time to write? Kylie's Answer: I have no life, LOL. When the kids were home I was gone every night of the week to their sporting events but wrote on the weekends and all summer. Since they've left, a lot of my weekends are spent traveling to spend time with them. I'm adept at writing in the car and have had to start writing frequently on week nights, which I detest. But deadlines keep me honest. There's something about accepting an advance that reeks of expectation! When my daughter played volleyball and every Sat. was an all day tournament, I was the mom sitting in the bleachers with the laptop :) I just stopped writing when she was playing. Question: What are your sources of inspiration and motivation? At different points during the writing/editing process, I think, "this is terrible! No one's going to want to read this!" Kylie's Answer: I do...