First Impressions...

We all know how important first impressions can be. Like when we’re going to be meeting prospective clients or future employers. Maybe you’re having dinner with the family of your fiancé or special someone. The fact is, at some point in our life we all have people we want to impress. If you’re a writer that someone is probably an editor or agent.

As a first reader for a large publishing house I notice a lot of trivial mistakes new writers make. Things they might have caught if they’d spent a few hours proofing their work.

Now don’t get me wrong, there comes a point you have to turn it loose. It’s as big a problem to never send your work off for fear that it’s not perfect. (Preaching to myself here) It’s just sad to me when a writer has misspelled or forgotten words all throughout a story. Maybe a name or two has changed since the beginning of the book. Perhaps the heroine’s eyes were blue on blue on page 7 but on page 183, the hero gazes into her luscious chocolate eyes.

Little details matter. No, they don’t trump the story. If the story is awesome or you’re a proven multi-published author, who cares if you left out a couple commas and misspelled a half dozen words, but what if your story is pretty good, but the reader or editor sees you as a novice. Someone that needs a little time to grow as a writer. Maybe if that story was so clean it shined the editor might give you a chance to tweak the story and resubmit. It happens.

So here are a few tips you’ve probably heard before, but might not have taken the time to implement.

1. Have someone other than your close friends or family read the book before submission. Don’t be too shy to share it with them. Uh…what if it’s published? You do know people will read it, right?

Remember, you don’t need people who will stroke your ego. Also, don’t be too sensitive. Constructive criticism is meant to help you grow as a writer.

2. Keep track of character details. Names, ages, hair & eye color, etc…Those things are easy to let slip through the cracks, but they’re very important. Someone will find the inconsistencies. Let it be you.

3. Learn and implement a consistent Point of View. That’s one of the things acquisition readers are taught to look for when reading manuscripts. I always note whether or not the writer understands and is consistent with their POV.

4. Finally, know the line you are submitting to. Do not just cast your bread on the water and hope somebody will bite. I recently read a manuscript that was so wrong for the line it was submitted for I had to wonder if it was sent by mistake. I almost didn’t even finish it because it was so wrong for the line.

Basically, think of your submission as an interview and try to present the best work you can!

Now that I’ve made you all second guess your submissions, are any of you in the process of submitting or waiting to hear from an editor? Let’s hear about it? And remember to let us know if you have any good news!!!

Sabrina Fox-Butcher

Review of Quills and Promises and free book giveaway

-- Separated from Madison when he leaves to fight the French and Indians, Elanna Hanssen must choose between her heart and her head, especially when Madison's integrity is questioned. --

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not until thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Innocence paired with wisdom beyond her years. With these traits, Elanna Hanssen unwittingly captures the attentions of Major Madison Scott. Her honest desire to understand the war fascinates him, and he resolves to get to know this perspicacious young lady better. When his military duty separates them, they begin a correspondence, cautiously baring their hearts to each other. Elanna has never known emotions like this before, but she is drawn to the integrity she sees in her major. Wh a local news reporter questions the major's credentials and activities, however, will she allow her heart or her head to rule? Can true love grow over such distance and around such obstacles?

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Quills And Promises, go HERE.

SABRINA HERE: As Promised, here’s my review of Amber Miller’s newest book, Quills and Promises. If you’ve read my blog very long, you know I don’t read many Heartsongs. Not because I don’t like them, but I’m just not in their book club, so I don’t come across their books that often.

With that in mind, I was eager to read this one because of the era and because the author is in ACFW and I’ve heard about this books impending release.

As soon as I started this book, I was caught by the obvious research and love of history this author must have. The POV of each character was so steeped in the voice of 1756 I could almost hear their voices in my head as I read each scene. Very detailed and consistent to the time period.

We open with Elanna running into her dear friend Chelcy, who I presume is the main character in Miller’s first Heartsong, Promises, Promises. Though I’m not positive.

Elanna and Chelcy chat like young women often do. Immediately we witness Elanna’s quick wit and intelligence in her mannerisms and speech. Chelcy introduces Elanna to her cousin Madison, a soldier, who’s home for a short visit.

Madison and Elanna hit it off immediately. Madison is drawn to the quick thinking young woman and finds he doesn’t want to leave her. He asks her if she’ll write to him when he goes north to battle and she promises she will.

They have one more chance encounter before he leaves. Further sealing their attraction to each other, both are more than eager to correspond with the other.

Almost the entire book is spent with them apart. Only getting to know each other by correspondence. With each letter they send and receive, each falls deeper in love with the other. This is a good example of being deep in the setting and plot. As you couldn’t pull this off in a contemporary novel. It would seem unbelievable to have the characters fall in love just through their letters. But for 1756, it works.

I thought the most obvious pro to this book was the author’s knowledge of the time and place. Also, the ability to make us believe the characters were falling in love through letters.

As with all my reviews, I list a few small negatives if I can find them. With Quills and Promises, I wish they had one more in person meeting. Just to make it even more believable. Though, it was fine the way it was written, I just wanted to see them together one more time. Finally, I wish Heartsong had picked a different cover.

Maybe with a young woman at a desk writing or show Madison off at battle. Anything to capture the love story. I like covers and for me, they greatly impact whether or not I’ll buy a book. Looking at this cover, I didn’t know what the story was about. It actually looks like a very contemporary house. The cover didn’t do the author’s story justice.

I look forward to more by this author and would even love to see a longer historical by her as she obviously knows her history. :)

LEAVE ME A COMMENT TO BE ENTERED FOR A COPY OF THIS BOOK. :) I'll draw later this week.

Also, look for my review of The Faith of Barack Obama this week.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hi, I'm Amber, but my friends call me Tiff, short for Tiffany, my first name. I am in my 30's, married the love of my life in July 2007, and live in beautiful Colorado just east of the Front Range of the Rockies, but I love to travel and visit new places. Ultimately, my dream is to own horses and live in a one-level rancher or log cabin nestled in the foothills of the mountains. For now, I will remain where I am and do what I love—design web sites and write.

Amber's very first book, Promises, Promises, released in February 2008. It's a historical fiction set in Delaware during the Colonial period and the Great Awakening. The other 2 books in the series are this current one, Quills And Promises (July 2008) and Deceptive Promises (December 2008). In 2009, they will be repackaged for a state set entitled Delaware Brides. She has also sold another series set in historical Michigan during the Industrial Revolution. The 3 books in that series will begin releasing in May 2009 and will be repackaged in 2010 as Michigan Brides.