A Change in My Editing Fees

**Effective September 1, 2011 I will be changing my editing fees. I'm doing this because there's a big difference between the time it takes to line edit at 50k word manuscript and an 85k word manuscript (and 85k words falls under my 100k threshold!)
The price changes will be as follows:
Basic Content Editing $0.0006/word
Line & Content Editing Combo $0.001/word
Whole Manuscript Line Edit $0.002/word

The prices may look confusing. If you do the math (and I don't blame you if you don't want to), you'll notice that at 50,000 words, the prices for each remain the same. (I.e., it will still cost $30 for a Basic Content Edit for a 50,000 word MS; $50 for a combo edit for a 50,000 word MS; and $100 for a Whole MS line edit.) This change will allow me to keep my prices low so I can help out people who can't afford pricier options, while still compensating me for the time spent on longer manuscripts.

After September 1, 2011, when submitting the first 15 pages for review, please also include the word count so I can send you a quote for the full project.
Short projects and manuscripts over 100,000 words will still require special pricing. Please contact me for information.

**Projects submitted to me prior to August 31, 2011 will still receive the flat rate pricing ($30, $50, $100 for manuscripts under 100k words) even if I don't complete the editing until after September 1, 2011**


As always, please contact me if you have any questions. If you planned on sending me a project in the near future, but the project will not be ready for editing by September 1, 2011, please email me to make arrangements for you to take advantage of the flat rate pricing. 

Would You Want to Know More?

I noticed that a lot of authors post their work on their blog. I guess I'm already doing that over at the "Garbage" blog. (btw, you NEED to go check that out! The action is getting intense as the story races toward the ending!) But if you didn't know, "Garbage" is my first foray into dystopian. I'm usually writing YA fantasy or something similar.
Lately, while I pretend I don't need to study for the GRE, I've been editing "My Best Friend is a Superhero," one of my favorite WIPs to date. (Is it because the hero is named after my husband? Quite possibly...) So today for your reading pleasure, is the first chapter. Will you comment below and tell me if you'd want to know more?

Mom ran her finger along the corrugated lines of my forehead. She sighed. “Bek, at some point you’re going to have to accept that you’re going to Lincoln Academy this year and try to be happy about it.”

I looked up from the map full of tiny squares I got when I registered thirty minutes before. I’d been trying to locate my classes on the campus of one of the most prestigious private schools in the country even though school didn’t start until the next Wednesday. “I don’t have to be happy about it.”

She stared at the traffic jam that made Lincoln Boulevard look like a parking lot. “Fine. But having a bad attitude won’t change our minds about sending you there.”

I smoothed out my scowl and turned to Mom with wide, pleading eyes. “I’m a junior! Only two more years left at Whitson.”

“Bek, you have friends at Lincoln, too. Tessa, Josh, Adam…”

“Josh is my brother.”

Mom turned back to the road.

I didn’t give up. “Whitson is a good school. The kids there are just as rich as the ones that go to Lincoln. The curriculum is…good. Couldn’t we be grateful that Calvin made it possible for me to cross districts?”

“Bek, how many times do we have to have this argument? Lincoln is a top notch school, and the fact that I finally convinced Calvin to pay part of your tuition is not something we can turn our noses up at.”

I turned my face back to the window, my scowl returning. Mom maneuvered through traffic, the tall, shiny buildings of downtown Pride City passing slowly by. I folded my arms, and the registration folder on my lap fell to the floor of the car. I didn’t bother picking it up. I looked down the street. The suburban houses in the distance seemed too far away. Mom had several minutes at least to argue with me. “I don’t have to have everything Josh has.”

I could practically hear Mom’s teeth grinding together. “This isn’t about forcing Calvin to acknowledge that you are his child too. This is about you getting the best education you have the opportunity to get. We’re not changing our minds. You know that. I can’t force you to be happy about this, but I think you’d like your life more if you’d try to have a good attitude. Think about the bright side, Bek. You won’t have to see Dan every day.”

She had me there, but I wasn’t about to let on. “Whatever.” I leaned over and gathered the scattered papers off the floor of the car, frowning at the shiny map. A beautiful campus, top-notch classes and extracurriculars, a sports complex that rivaled most colleges, and even a food court and gift shop on campus—it was all worth leaving my friends at Whitson High School to go across town to Lincoln Academy where my brother and his friends went. But honestly, my I objected mostly because of my pretentious father, Calvin.

Mom cried out in surprise, and I turned just as she slammed her arm against my chest. It knocked the breath out of me. I couldn’t even scream when the car rose off the ground, flying backward.

The car landed, jolting me forward. I gripped the sides of my seat. The car dropped an inch or two, crushing the hood of the car beneath us. Mom and I sat there in silnce. We waited to see if the car would move again.

“Are you okay, Bek?” Mom asked breathlessly.

I stared in surprise out the window and tried to find my voice. “Is that a robot?”

“Looks like it.” Mom pulled out her cell phone and pushed a button. I frowned, confused when she shoved it back in her pocket. She turned and pushed against her door. The car shuddered again. The robot loomed over us, looking gigantic. It stood up, it’s head level with the third story windows of the Pride City National Bank. Shiny black metal reflected off the windows until the robot shattered half a dozen with its fist.

“Bek? I could use your help with this door.”

Mom’s calm voice broke me out of my thoughts. It didn’t surprise me she remained unruffled in the face of a giant robot making Honor Park look like a construction site. When you live in a town with a super-hero, I suppose you get used to weird stuff like that happening.

“How?” I asked.

“Get as close to me as you can and we’ll kick together.”

I scooted across the seat and braced myself against the steering wheel. “One…two...” I pulled my knees back. “THREE!”

We both jammed our feet against the door. It didn’t budge.

“Again,” Mom yelled.

We pulled our feet back. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a black streak. Was it The Fox? The door disappeared. We didn’t notice in time to stop the momentum of our feet. Mom tumbled out of the car. I grabbed the steering wheel.

“You okay, Mom?”

“Been better.” She stood up slowly, turning toward the robot. I looked out the windshield. The Fox—Pride City’s local super-hero—had jammed our car door into one of the robot’s eyes.

“Come on, Bek. Let’s get out of here.” The calm tone of Mom’s voice freaked me out.

I scooted out to the edge of the seat, preparing for the short jump to the road below. Out of the corner of my eye, the metallic gleam of the robot’s arm blinked at me. I threw my arms around the steering wheel as the robot scooped our car up and sent it air born.

I screamed. I closed my eyes, trying to somehow brace myself for when the car hit the pavement again. But it never came. My descent slowed. Then stopped. The car dropped softly next to the overturned swing set in the park.

Scrambling out, I tumbled into the sand. The Fox, in black spandex from head to toe, shot off the ground toward the robot. In one swing he decapitated it. Its head flew into the side of the shattered bank building. Its body crumpled lifeless to the ground. Applause met my ears. For some reason I grinned.

__________________________________________________________________

Okay, so I lied. That's not the whole first chapter. (It was sort of long for a blog post...) And I cheated and cut it off at a pretty good part. Sorry about that. ;) 

Review: "The Star Prophecy" by Joan Sowards

The adventure begins with the blog tour
for
The Star
Prophecy by Joan Sowards

We will be giving away THREE copies of The Star
Prophecy.

It's easy to enter.
1. Visit the fabulous reviews and leave a comment letting us know why
you're excited to read The Star
Prophecy. Remember to include your email address.
2. If you tweet about the blog tour, or post about it on your blog or
facebook, leave the link in the comments section and you'll receive an
additional entry.

Good Luck! Entries close at midnight (MST) on January 28.


*****
You are crazy. No Nephite has ever
returned.

Most people laugh when they hear of Enoch's dream of returning to
Jerusalem to find the infant Messiah. Even Enoch's future father-in-law
mocks him when he asks for a postponement of his long-awaited wedding to
his beloved Rebekah. A few take Enoch seriously - the shipbuilder Omnihah,
Enoch's teacher David, and the prophet Nephi.

Five years before, a Lamanite named Samuel had stood on the wall of
Zarahemla and prophesied that "five years more cometh" and the Christ
would be born in Jerusalem. Time is running out! Enoch knows he must set
sail across the great waters in search of his dream - to see the face of
the Messiah.

The Star Prophacy is a surprising
story of courage and love, faith and fortitude. Sail with Enoch and his
friends across the sea through hardship and adventure in search of the
Christ child.


January 10
I Am A Reader, Not A
Writer

January 11
Totally Tina

January 12
Peggy Urry

January 13
Tangled Words and Dreams

January 14
Kaylee Baldwin

January 17
Of Writerly Things

January 18
Writers Mirror

January 19
Bonnie Gets a Say

January 20
The Blessing of Family
Life

January 21
Anna del C. Dye's Blog
Renee S. Clark

Free Reviews and the inaugural (kinda) post: "The Guise of a Gentleman" by Donna Hatch

Every time I drive to Walmart I pass a church with a sign that says, "Evangelical Free Church." Until I asked my friends on facebook what they thought it meant, I always thought to myself, "Free...does it mean the church is free of Evangelicals? Is it free to go to church there? Are the people that attend the church free, as in not slaves...?" The mental ramblings went on for hours. What does this have to do with my post? The title. I don't want you to mentally ramble over it for hours. It doesn't mean I'm going to make you start paying for my book reviews....Okay, only if I get really famous.

What I mean is that there are lots of free books out there--in the form of ebooks for Kindle (which has apps for a lot of devices like iPhone, iPads, iPods, and Droids), and from sites like Smashwords. (And if you don't have a cool phone or device to use Kindle or whatever, don't worry. You can get Kindle applications for your computer.)
And while there are LOTS of free ebooks, not all of them are worth your time. That's where I come in. I'll read them, review them, and let you know if you should read it. SO without further adieu, the first Free Review--well, kind of.



Today I'm reviewing "The Guise of a Gentleman" by Donna Hatch, which was free for me because I won it in a contest. ;)
Elise Berkley enjoys her quiet widowhood in the English countryside; that is, until Jared Amesbury comes along and forcibly shows her what she's been missing.
I have to admit it started out a little slow and took me a few chapters to really get into it. Once I did, though, I didn't put it down for several hours, and only because my husband pried my iPad out of my hands and forced me to mingle with others at his family reunion. As someone who needs my dear friend Tracy Astle's help whenever I write a kissing scene, I can really appreciate it when someone writes it well. Elise's not-entirely-innocent-yet-still-sweet kisses with Jared really got my heart rate up. To me the mark of a good book is one that can get me so emotionally involved in the characters that I tear up. Yup, it happened. And you're going to love this part: it has pirates and lots of adventure! Jared Amesbury is one of those really great heroes that will keep you fantasizing...er, thinking about him after you've put the book down. And a tip; if you picture Gerard Butler playing Jared, you might actually swoon a couple times. (Which, thank heavens, Elise only does once in the book, and at a totally appropriate moment. I would've too.)
You can check out more by Donna (I sure will!) at http://donnahatch.blogspot.com/ or buy "The Guise of a Gentleman" at Amazon.
And if you want to actually read another free book online, head over to my other blog with my brother http://childoftherebellion.blogspot.com/ and read "Garbage."

Review: "Constant Hearts" by Donna Hatch

In two words: Worth it.

Donna's Austen inspired, "Constant Hearts" is only $1.99 at Smashwords. So of course when she told her ANWA sisters about it on our social group, I clicked right on over.

Her romance is about two long lost lovers (can I use that word innocently, like Austen always did...?) who have a shaky reconnection. Both characters have matured since their first encounters, but that doesn't stop their hearts drawing them together.

It's a simple novella, which means its a quick, enjoyable read; but that also, unfortunately means that it feels like it goes by too fast! I don't think you'll regret the afternoon you spend reading it. Preferably in a scented bath, surrounded by candles.

Agent Contest!

You need an agent? (If you don't, congratulations!) Whittle your pitch down to 140 characters and enter this contest!

http://monibw.blogspot.com/2011/07/details-about-agent-pitch-contest-with.html

Win Anna del C. Dye's ebook "Curse of the Elfs"

It's time for another "Garbage" give-away and this time the prize is a lot awesomer than a box of garbage bags--as much as I love Glad bags...Fellow ANWA sister Anna del C. Dye's ebook "Curse of the Elfs" is up for grabs. Head on over to the "Garbage" blog (http://childoftherebellion.blogspot.com/2011/07/another-give-away.html) to see how to enter, catch up on your reading, and/or get addicted to Eve and Micah's story. See you all there!

You can check out Anna's website at www.annadelc.com!