MY WINGS HAVE ARRIVED!

Posted by: Amber Angel

I had to earn my wings? But I just asked Sable Angel to order them and they arrived yesterday! LOL!

Seriously, it took me fourteen years to earn my wings. That's how long it took from when I started my first serious attempt at a manuscript until I sold it. Of course, there's more to that story...

During that time, I found out how little I knew about the craft of writing. I knew what books I liked and didn't like, but when I sat down to write one, I floundered and fluttered--a LOT! Fortunately, I found Romance Writers of America very soon after I started writing seriously, and attended many meetings and conferences that featured speakers who had not only written books, but were bestselling authors. Each time I had an "aha!" moment of how to put a story together, I went back and rewrote that first book because I liked the characters so much. It was completely rewritten at least a half dozen times, then edited and polished for submission.

I don't think I took rejection letters as well as fellow angels, Allana and Sable. When a rejection arrived in the mail, I questioned my ability to write a coherent letter, let alone an entire book. However, in between doubts and rewriting my first manuscript, I also worked on several other manuscripts and amassed a couple dozen ideas for stories. I still wasn't sure I had the perseverance to become a published author, and had in fact decided to set aside my writing career indefinitely.

Then Allana Angel urged me to submit my first completed manuscript to Awe-Struck E-Books. Within a week and a half, Awe-Struck offered me a contract to publish SONGS OF THE HEART. I was dancin' with delight!

Encouraged, I submitted a spin-off manuscript titled, FEATHERS ON THE FLOOR, which was also accepted. Wow! I was ecstatic by this time. However, the third related manuscript was only notes and sketchy scenes. Could I pick up the writing pace and write to a deadline? I hedged by telling my editor I'd have it finished by the fall, and that was my third sale to Awe-Struck E-Books titled, STARS IN YOUR EYES. 

In the meantime, Awe-Struck changed owners and I didn't want to wait for print versions of my electronic books, so approached Allana about doing this through her new e-publishing company, Rogue Phoenix Press. SONGS OF THE HEART was already in print, but RPP has the print versions of FEATHERS ON THE FLOOR and STARS IN YOUR EYES. All three of these stories are intense drama with a sprinkling of humor and, of course, a happily-ever-after ending. 

Rogue Phoenix Press is also publishing my first romantic comedy, CHASING RAINBOWS, as part of A VALENTINE'S DAY ANTHOLOGY, to be released Feb. 14. This anthology also contains stories from Allana Angel and Sable Angel. Our book launch party is scheduled at the Willamette Humane Society in Salem, Oregon from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on release day. We're celebrating at the animal shelter because three "write-in" parts--similar to cameos on TV--were auctioned off for each story in the anthology. It seemed fitting to launch the anthology at the shelter and donate $1.00 from each sale to WHS. 

If you're in the area, come celebrate with us--we'll be wearing our wings!