I am so excited with my new website design. Check it out at www.RaykaMennen.com.
My heartfelt thanks to Carol Webb of Bella Media Management who was so professional and a real joy to work with.
Cheers,
Rayka
Monday, August 1, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Nationals
What an amazing week in NYC at the RWA Nationals.
First, I just have to gush - I actually got to talk to Nalini Singh for a few minutes - lovely, gracious woman - and I was so glad to tell her how much I loved her Psy and Guild Hunter books.
After that, I had breakfast with Lori Wilde, to start off my 6 months of mentoring with her, and if that hour is any indication, it's going to be an amazing six months.
Lunch with Laurie London, who was also so gracious with her advice and support, was also another exciting memory.
I have 2 sets of requests for Heart of an Eagle (the book formerly known as Druid) and for Book 1 in my new Amesha Spenta Angel series (Cold Fire).
To all the wonderful authors I met, I will keep in touch, and I hope you will also.
Good luck to you all with your submissions, and thanks for helping to make my first Nationals such a fun time.
Cheers,
Rayka
www.RaykaMennen.com
First, I just have to gush - I actually got to talk to Nalini Singh for a few minutes - lovely, gracious woman - and I was so glad to tell her how much I loved her Psy and Guild Hunter books.
After that, I had breakfast with Lori Wilde, to start off my 6 months of mentoring with her, and if that hour is any indication, it's going to be an amazing six months.
Lunch with Laurie London, who was also so gracious with her advice and support, was also another exciting memory.
I have 2 sets of requests for Heart of an Eagle (the book formerly known as Druid) and for Book 1 in my new Amesha Spenta Angel series (Cold Fire).
To all the wonderful authors I met, I will keep in touch, and I hope you will also.
Good luck to you all with your submissions, and thanks for helping to make my first Nationals such a fun time.
Cheers,
Rayka
www.RaykaMennen.com
Friday, May 13, 2011
Two new books - yeah
Can you do the dance of joy of with me? I have two books coming out with Entangled Publishing. September 1 is the release date for the re-release of my first paranormal novella, expanded and with a new title. October 1, the second in the series will see the light of day.
Cheers,
Rayka
www.RaykaMennen.com
Cheers,
Rayka
www.RaykaMennen.com
Thursday, May 12, 2011
I sold, I sold, I sold
Hot diggity dog! I signed a contract for two books with Entangled Publishing. My first paranormal romance, published in 2004, will be re-released, with an expanded story and a brand new title. If you liked Kat and Jake's story, stay tuned for more info on the release date of September 1, 2011.
And, the second novella in that series, Gina's journey to love and acceptance of her destiny will be released October 1, 2011.
I am so excited....and very pleased with my choice of publishing house. They have already been so welcoming, professional, and I think I'm going to gushing about my editor for a while!
Come back check for fun giveaways to celebrate the release.
Cheers,
Rayka
www.RaykaMennen.com
And, the second novella in that series, Gina's journey to love and acceptance of her destiny will be released October 1, 2011.
I am so excited....and very pleased with my choice of publishing house. They have already been so welcoming, professional, and I think I'm going to gushing about my editor for a while!
Come back check for fun giveaways to celebrate the release.
Cheers,
Rayka
www.RaykaMennen.com
Friday, May 6, 2011
Why is blogging so hard?
Now this may just be me, but I can't figure out why, when I'm as talkative as I am, blogging is so darn hard. I'd like to say its because I completed my magnum opus instead. But alas, that book hit a snag around Chapter 15 so it's back to plotting for me.
That said, I have some exciting news bubbling. Check back in a couple of days to see what's happening with my backlist.
Cheers,
Rayka
www.RaykaMennen.com
That said, I have some exciting news bubbling. Check back in a couple of days to see what's happening with my backlist.
Cheers,
Rayka
www.RaykaMennen.com
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Featured Guest Betty Booher speaks: The Summer of Continuous Improvement
It all started with a rejection. Two. A dismal contest score.
No.
That’s not exactly right.
It all started with Donald Maass. Washington DC. The Fire in Fiction.
Permission to get off the submit-submit-submit-keep-those-partials-rolling merry-go-round to stop, stare, play with my words again.
His advice, admonishment really, poked, prodded, needled through revisions, work on the next story, assorted conferences and writers’ meetings.
Then I decided to audition for the symphony.
I know. It was a crazy to compete with Conservatory-trained players from London, Paris, Iowa. But this wasn’t so much about competition as personal challenge. I practiced and practiced and practiced. Took private lessons. Examined every attack, every pitch, every release.
And I got better.
No, I didn’t win the audition, or even make it to the next round, but each time I pick up my horn I can tell. That intensive work, those hours in the little attic room, improved my ability, made the music better.
The tools to improve my writing weren’t nearly as obvious as playing scales and orchestral excerpts. Then Margie Lawson came to Portland to present her two day workshop. By the time that weekend was over, the reasons behind my rejections started emerging from the page like a ruddy sun ball through a coastal fog bank.
Ignoring the well-intentioned advice of some of my writer friends to return my story to the slush pile recycle bin, I made my way to the attic once more, this time armed with Margie’s lecture packets, a bag of highlighters, and coffee. A lot of coffee.
It wasn’t enough.
Don’t get me wrong. The coffee was great. It is Portland.
Margie’s lectures and exercises made me look at the page in an entirely different way. But I needed more. I needed to take the next step.
I needed to go to Colorado.
Immersion class was lecture packets on steroids. At 8888 feet.
I’m back in the attic now. Practicing scales and rhetorical devices and raising character stakes.
Margie Lawson armed me with a bucket full of new writing tools.
Donald Maass gave me permission to use them.
Thank you both!
No.
That’s not exactly right.
It all started with Donald Maass. Washington DC. The Fire in Fiction.
Permission to get off the submit-submit-submit-keep-those-partials-rolling merry-go-round to stop, stare, play with my words again.
His advice, admonishment really, poked, prodded, needled through revisions, work on the next story, assorted conferences and writers’ meetings.
Then I decided to audition for the symphony.
I know. It was a crazy to compete with Conservatory-trained players from London, Paris, Iowa. But this wasn’t so much about competition as personal challenge. I practiced and practiced and practiced. Took private lessons. Examined every attack, every pitch, every release.
And I got better.
No, I didn’t win the audition, or even make it to the next round, but each time I pick up my horn I can tell. That intensive work, those hours in the little attic room, improved my ability, made the music better.
The tools to improve my writing weren’t nearly as obvious as playing scales and orchestral excerpts. Then Margie Lawson came to Portland to present her two day workshop. By the time that weekend was over, the reasons behind my rejections started emerging from the page like a ruddy sun ball through a coastal fog bank.
Ignoring the well-intentioned advice of some of my writer friends to return my story to the slush pile recycle bin, I made my way to the attic once more, this time armed with Margie’s lecture packets, a bag of highlighters, and coffee. A lot of coffee.
It wasn’t enough.
Don’t get me wrong. The coffee was great. It is Portland.
Margie’s lectures and exercises made me look at the page in an entirely different way. But I needed more. I needed to take the next step.
I needed to go to Colorado.
Immersion class was lecture packets on steroids. At 8888 feet.
I’m back in the attic now. Practicing scales and rhetorical devices and raising character stakes.
Margie Lawson armed me with a bucket full of new writing tools.
Donald Maass gave me permission to use them.
Thank you both!
Welcome to the next guest Betty Booher
RM: Welcome to Betty Booher another talented IMCer and Emergineer. She was a working on a paranormal romance, complete with scary ghost and all. Betty has a great voice. She had also a graduate of several Margie Lawson classes so she was our go-to person when we wouldn’t quite follow something. And very patient she was too. Betty plays a mean oboe – I mean, who would have thought we would be deep editing to live music? Yes, she brought her oboe. AND, she just got her black belt…but I’ll save that for her tell you more about. She’ll be checking in to answer questions this week; don’t forget to comment so you can be entered in the contest which is on till Sep 15, 2010
Keep an eye out for this fresh voice in romance – I for one will be pre-ordering her book when it’s out!
Over to the next post and Betty Booher! Ta da.
www.RaykaMennen.com
Keep an eye out for this fresh voice in romance – I for one will be pre-ordering her book when it’s out!
Over to the next post and Betty Booher! Ta da.
www.RaykaMennen.com
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