The week ahead....

Phew! Is it Friday already?? I have no idea where this week has gone and no doubt next week will be even busier. I am happy to say that the 'dirty draft' (or first draft!) of novel no 6 is almost complete. I should definitely have it finished by the end of next week....she says.
So...did you enter my contest on Romance Alley like I asked you to? No? You bad, bad person, did I not ask you politely? Fine, well, the book and necklace will have to go to one of the entrants I have nicely stacking up in my little hat then. If you did, hold your horses! The 7th of February will soon be here and you will know if you are a winner, YAY!!
OK, what am I up to next week??
I am meeting up with my some of my local Romantic Novelists Association (www.rna-uk.org)friends on Tuesday for the very first time and I am SO excited (and nervous too!) at the prospect of getting to get to know them all and soak up all their wonderful knowledge! For any aspiring romance novelists out there, PLEASE visit their fantastic website to find out more about the group. If you are unpublished, they offer one of the best opportunities you will ever have. Check it out!
With regard to promotion, I am guest blogging on Coffee Time Romance (www.coffeetimeromance.com) on Wednesday so please pop over and leave a comment. I hate feeling lonely, people! I will be talking about all my books, my upcoming projects and the daily challenges of balancing work with family life. See you there!

Right, time for wine....

Visit me at www.romancealley.suzannahsafi.com

Just a short post to let you know I am guest blogging at Romance Alley (www.romancealley.suzannahsafi.com) tomorrow. As well as a feature spot of Get To Know The Book, I will also be running a two week contest where one lucky winner will win a paperback copy of The Sharp Points of a Triangle and a triangular rhinestone necklace!

I will announce the winner on February 7th - Good Luck!

Hint: The answer can be found in one of my previous blog posts.

See you all next week!

My Path to Publication

Since 'Triangle' was released nearly two weeks ago, I have been guest blogging and giving interviews to various reader and writer websites, in both the UK and US. In that time, I have been asked to talk about my path to publication. It's a question every aspiring writer and even readers are fascinated by. And my God, it's good to be considered fascinating once in awhile, LOL!

So I thought today I would tell my story here too in case any of you are still interested in how little ol' me started on this fabulous, compulsive, addictive (and often agonising!) career.

I started writing at a VERY young age - I was six or seven when my teacher would ask me to stand up at 'carpet time' and tell the class a story. I can remember standing there without an ounce of self-doubt and talking until my teacher told me to stop - for those who know me, they know that now that would be my worst nightmare! From there, school essays became stories, B+s became A+s and English was a subject I could not get enough of - yes, I was called a 'keener' and still very clearly remember my English teacher of five years, Mrs Bryant. Ahh, the awe of an inspiring teacher....

Anyway, I left school, worked in a bank for ten years (don't you know that is a must for any would-be novelist??) and then I gave birth to my first daughter. Daughter number one led to daughter number two and that was when I knew I had to do this now or never. Short stories were written....and short stories were promptly rejected. On and on I persevered, learned my craft until Hoorah!! I sold my first short story.

I wrote with babies on my lap, kids at my ankles, dogs on my feet until I was confident enough to pursue my ultimate goal of a novel. And I'm very proud to say, my first novel was written and sold to The Wild Rose Press in 2007.

And the rest, as they say, is history....

The Sharp Points of A Triangle is novel number three, set at a financial conference in the picturesque Cotswolds with novel number four soon to be released and set in Colerne, near the famous city of Bath.

A very happy lady am I....now if I could just get a 'yes!' from a certain agent....hint, hint....

YAY!!!! The Sharp Points of a Triangle is officially released!!!

Hellooooo!!! Great, fantastic, beautiful day today because my third and funniest novel, THE SHARP POINTS OF A TRIANGLE is now available to download at http://www.eternalpress.ca/ so head on over their and get busy, people, LOL!!

You could also sign up for the Eternal Press Readers yahoo group at http://www.yahoogroups.com/ and learn more about Hannah and Jamie's journey. I will be posting excerpts, sharing my experiences while writing the book and also holding a contest where one lucky reader can win a paperback copy of the book and a triangular rhinestone necklace!

Can't wait to see you there - be sure to leave a comment!

http://www.rachelbrimble.com/

See you all again soon!

The New Year is Here!

Well, that's it, the decorations are back in the attic and hubby has demolished the tree to little more than a stump - 2010 has officially arrived. What will the year bring? Lots of sales? Lots of contracts? Lots of fun and laughter? All three I hope...by the bucketload!

My goals this year are simple:

Professionally:

1) to land an agent who is as excited and believes in my work as much as I do

2) to release three novels

3) to have at least four short stories published

Personally:

1) to spend more time with hubby and kids (with a smile on my face, LOL!)

2) to lose that blasted seven pounds that never ever ever ever goes away

3) to start moving out of my far too comfortable comfort zone (this can be done in a number of ways....joining a writing group, signing up for a residential course, travelling alone on the train....sad but true, I am guilty of avoidance in all three areas.)

So onwards and upwards - keep a look out for my name on google because I have signed up for lots of guest blog spots and interviews over the next month or so to promote The Sharp Points of a Triangle. Also, of course, the reviews will start coming in thick and fast over the next few weeks, EEKKKK!!!

Have a Great New Year!!!