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by Loucinda McGary
 Nancy has very generously let me take over her blog today and when I asked for suggestions on what to blog about she suggested I give my “Call Story” and “Advice for Writers.”
I never get tired of relating my “Call Story” because it proves beyond a doubt that truth really is stranger than fiction!
It actually started in an elevator at the 2006 RWA conference in Atlanta. My roommate and I were on the 20th floor. One morning when we got in the elevator to go to breakfast, a man and a woman were already in the elevator. The woman introduced herself as an editor. She noticed the Golden Heart Finalist ribbon on my name badge, and asked about my Golden Heart manuscript. I told her it was a romantic suspense and she said she would really like to read it and gave me her business card.
I sent her the manuscript and eventually she rejected it. But since it took her awhile, I sent her a “nudge” email asking for the status of manuscript. While I was at it, I pitched my current work-in-progress.
I distinctly remember when I emailed her because it was Valentine’s Day 2007. Three months to the day later, May 14, 2007, she emailed me and asked for a partial of my WIP. Then on July 27th (see above) she called my house and asked for the full manuscript. My poor DH was so rattled when he answered the phone (I wasn’t home) that he wrote down every word she said because he knew “Cindy will kill me if I screw this up!”
On September 14th at 8:45 am, my phone rang. Since everyone knows better than to call me before nine in the morning, I picked it up expecting bad news. Instead, it was my editor, Deb Werksman calling to say she wanted by buy “my Irish book!” I started screaming and jumping around! My DH wasn’t home, but my two dogs thought I’d gone crazy. I spent the rest of the day phoning and email everyone I knew. I had also planned to meet three friends for lunch that day, so I got to tell them in person and we all screamed and jumped around some more!
It was such a fun day that I swore from then on I would have my major holiday celebration on September 14th. And this year, I celebrated on board a cruise ship!
My advice for writers is this: Keep writing and keep submitting!
There are many things in the publishing business that are beyond the writer’s control, but these two you very definitely can control. As long as you keep writing and keep sending your work out, eventually you will get there! You must believe that and believe in your work.
 I also encourage all writers, but especially beginners to find a good critique partner or group. Getting another (and at least somewhat objective) perspective of your work is invaluable. Finding a good partner or group can be difficult and take some effort, but is well worth it. My first book, The Wild Sight, is out now from Sourcebooks.
For more information about the book and about Loucinda, check out her website.
22 Comments
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Buffie 
While I am not an aspiring romance writer, I do have a childrens book series splashing around in my head. The hubby keeps telling me to get it on paper, but I just feel like I don’t know where to begin. Guess I need to narrow down the age group I want to target.
PJ 
Fedora 
Helen 
Actually, I ran across a quote that expresses it perfectly for me: “I write for the same reason I breathe — because if I didn’t, I would die.” Issac Asimov
Thanx for hosting me on your blog.
Cassondra Murray 
Hi, Loucinda–
Thanks for joining me today and sharing this wonderful story. I can’t wait to read The Wild Sight!