Guest Post by
Mimi Barbour
As a greenhorn, when I first started my ‘Author’ career, I
did some very dumb things. One of my favourite memories (I can laugh at it now)
was my first time pitching a book. I had signed up for a three-day convention
in Vancouver and the excitement of this new adventure made it difficult for me
to eat or sleep.
I mean, I was going to meet my very first editor for
Harlequin (imagine - bells of joy pealing here!) and I had signed up to pitch
my very first manuscript. (toll bells of doom here!)
I had been told that each person was to be given ten minutes
time to speak with the editor, and so I wrote out a synopsis. I was trying to
keep it brief so I whittled it down to a mere ten pages - double-spaced - and
proceeded to memorize that work diligently.
Having a rotten memory, that doesn’t work all that well
anymore at the best of times…and I’m talking a short grocery list, I knew I had
to practise this spiel as much as I could. Being too shy to try it out in front
of a live person, every mirror in the house got attacked by my earnest face as
I not only recited the words, but tried to do it in such a relaxed way where no
spittle or crossed eyes would mar the performance.
Finally the big day came and my roommate and I (a wonderful
friend) arrived at the hotel. She encouraged me to take in the first evening’s
workshop about pitching—I had finally told her all about my efforts and had
shown her my pages of carefully typed script. I did wonder why she’d had
difficulty with her expression. It looked a bit like horror to me and then a
person trying not to laugh!! Humm…I did sense something at this point.
Needless to say, anyone who’s taken a workshop about
pitching will realize that approximately half a page, well-written, is
sufficient information if presented in the right way. I’m sure you can understand that on one hand I
was ecstatic because I didn’t have to recite the work that I had spent weeks
perfecting. But on the other hand, what could I leave out as now all those
points seemed so pertinent.
I fell asleep around three in the morning surrounded by a goodly
portion of a notebook in the garbage can and one crumpled hand-written page
facing me. This would be my “piece de résistance”. And I had it down pat.
For the rest of the morning - my appointment wasn’t until
10:30, I sat in workshops, never heard a word, madly memorizing this new
script. Finally the moment arrived and I walked into the room, bravely shook
her hand (she looked very human and wasn’t 10 feet tall) and…
…And I promptly forgot every word I had worked so hard to
remember.
I’m so ashamed!!
I read the work and was treated wonderfully. She didn’t give
a damn if I spoke it or read it…all she cared about was the material and
whether or not it interested her. It did! She asked for me to send it in. I
did. Nine months later I still hadn’t heard back….sigh!! And to think it only
takes a baby nine months!
So I called their office.
But that’s a whole other story!
Do you have similar experiences that you can share? It’s
always such fun to look back now that one can laugh about these kinds of
things.
Ms. Barbour is the author of several romances, most notably her "Angels Love Romance" Series and her "Vicarge Bench Series"
Without the angel forcing him
to brake, Liam could have killed the gorgeous girl who ran in front of his car
to save a little boy. He owed the rescuer big time and would pay his debt no
matter that she acted cranky and became more difficult with every meeting.
After all, how hard could it be to walk a bunch of mangy mutts?
Men are scum and no one can
tell Sadie any different. It’s why she stays away from them. Until a crazy,
hotshot soldier runs her down with his convertible. Now because she’s bruised
and sore, she's stuck having to accept his help in her elite dog-walking
business. Just her luck that some of the expensive pets go missing, and Liam
decides the puppy-mill rumour needs to be investigated. And once they’re forced
to spend more time together, mutual attraction spirals out of control.
A spoilt model, Jenna McBride, sits on a bench in 2007, pricks
her finger on a rose bush and gets transported back to 1963 England to inhabit
the body of chubby Lucy McGillicuddy. As her spiritual roommate, Jenna’s
cynicism forces Lucy to adhere to a model’s lifestyle of sparse eating and
physical exercise. Lucy’s body changes, becoming svelte and beautiful.
Conversely, Lucy's kind-hearted, generous spirit leaves a lasting impression on
the temperamental fashion plate who exists inside her.
Lucy loves knowledgeable Dr. John, who has plans to help Jenna
return to her own body. Jenna’s Business Manager Jake assists and mistakenly
shifts into Dr John. Now the four spirits are vying over two bodies. Meanwhile,
Jenna realizes an attraction for Jake, who’s very endearing, and she falls
madly in love with him. While you giggle over their antics, these four
characters will steal your heart.
