Each day during the hop March 5th to the 31st, I will pick the funniest comment left on my blog and put your name in a hat. (I'm serious) At the end of the month I will give away 5 copies of HOW HARD CAN IT BE? and 4 $20.00 Amazon gift cards!!! You can reply daily and end up stuffed in a hat more than once. I will draw the winner in my underpants. (it's my favorite way to write...) Good luck and enjoy the hop!!! Don't forget to check out the raffle copter giveaway at the bottom...MORE PRIZES!!!!
SQEEEHAW O'MIGHTY!!!!! Read on to find out how lying pays off......
The crazy, mixed-up tale of how my first
book came to be – also known as, WTF?
I'm getting published.
I’ve been asked how I got published. The answer is simple...I lied. That’s right, I lied.
I wouldn’t recommend it, although it worked for me. It certainly could have blown up in my face, but wether it was sheer will and determination or dumb luck, I’ll never know. Here’s how it went...
I pitched a very unfinished novel (as if it were done) to major NY publishers and agents at the Romantic Times writers conference in Chicago last April. I was shocked, delighted and appalled that everyone I pitched to asked for a full manuscript of HOW HARD CAN IT BE? After a brief and hopefully unnoticeable panic attack, I very logically explained to them that I needed to get the book professionally edited (real meaning--write it) and would have it to them in three weeks. What the hell did I have to lose? My sanity had been gone for years.
Having been an actor for umpteen decades came in handy. Clearly, pretending to smell delicious imaginary aromas in commercial auditions and becoming one with my inner lawn gnome in acting class, made my fear of telling ginormous lies nonexistent.
The next part of the story goes like this...I went home and wrote it. I didn’t sleep for three weeks, my family ate a lot of peanut butter and jelly and no one in the house had any clean underpants. I loved every minute of it. I ended up with several offers and went with a two book deal with Kensington Publishing.
That’s my crazy story, but the real answer to getting published is to write. Just write. Everyday. Every writer I’ve had the good fortune to know says the same thing. Oh, and read...tons.
I wouldn’t recommend it, although it worked for me. It certainly could have blown up in my face, but wether it was sheer will and determination or dumb luck, I’ll never know. Here’s how it went...
I pitched a very unfinished novel (as if it were done) to major NY publishers and agents at the Romantic Times writers conference in Chicago last April. I was shocked, delighted and appalled that everyone I pitched to asked for a full manuscript of HOW HARD CAN IT BE? After a brief and hopefully unnoticeable panic attack, I very logically explained to them that I needed to get the book professionally edited (real meaning--write it) and would have it to them in three weeks. What the hell did I have to lose? My sanity had been gone for years.
Having been an actor for umpteen decades came in handy. Clearly, pretending to smell delicious imaginary aromas in commercial auditions and becoming one with my inner lawn gnome in acting class, made my fear of telling ginormous lies nonexistent.
The next part of the story goes like this...I went home and wrote it. I didn’t sleep for three weeks, my family ate a lot of peanut butter and jelly and no one in the house had any clean underpants. I loved every minute of it. I ended up with several offers and went with a two book deal with Kensington Publishing.
That’s my crazy story, but the real answer to getting published is to write. Just write. Everyday. Every writer I’ve had the good fortune to know says the same thing. Oh, and read...tons.
And the story gets better!!!!
Cut to last week....Just found out I got a 4 Star review for HOW HARD CAN IT BE? in RT Magazine!!! I screamed when my publisher sent me a congrats! RT (Romantic Times) is, of course, where it all started for me. The wonderful and magical place where I pitched the big fat hairy lie that turned into a two book deal with Kensington!
Thank you to my new readers who think my characters are actually real people and have written me to find out what they're doing now.
Thank you to the gal who has offered me her children to get to read the sequel story before it comes out next December!
Thank you to the lady who wrote me and told me I should wash my mouth out with soap while promising to read everything I ever write!
Thank you to the woman who asked me if I'd spent time in an institution, because my brain was so warped! She also promised to read everything I ever write!
Enough of that....just Thank you! Please keep reading!
FASHIONABLY DEAD, my first snarky, sexy paranormal comes out the end of April!!!! Stay tuned to my website, the first chapter will be going up soon!
"A zany over-the-top rompfest." – LEXI GEORGE, author of Demon Hunting in a Dive Bar
You can order HOW HARD CAN IT BE? at these awesome places!!
Come visit me on:
My website http://www.robynpeterman.com
I should have maybe taken a garden gnome acting class. I got fired from being a secret shopper at a horse racing venue because I couldn't ask pretend questions of the cleaning people with a straight face.
ReplyDeleteYAY Teri!!! You made me giggle! I'm pretty sure you will get stuffed in the hat!!! Pass the word!
DeleteThis isn't really funny our driver chews tobacco; and he thinks this is an attractive, wholesome activity. Now, please picture two ladies, who aren't able to drive, having to turn their heads, a lot, because he is spitting and chewing, and not always hitting his spit container!
ReplyDeleteOMG!!! I feel your pain! Just the visual alone will probably get you stuffed in the hat!!! Pass the word!!!
DeletePlease forgive me for commenting again but I failed to include the logo
ReplyDelete"#MarchMadnessHop
Thank you for your comment!
bluebirdsub24 at gmail dot com
Hi hopping back by to like you on FB
DeleteThank you for the contest!
Looking forward to reading your work!
bluebirdsub24 at gmail dot com
You can hop by any time!!!
DeleteOMG! LMAO!!!!! I loved your story about getting published. I have added How Hard Can It Be to my GR wishlist and became a fan on both FB and GR. You are a new author for me and if your books are as funny as your publishing story, you've got another rabid fan. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for being part of the March Madness hop and for the chance to win. <^_^>
reneebennett35 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Thanks Nay Nay!! I luuurrve your name! You made my evening!!! Hope you enjoy the book!!! I shall definitely stuff you in the hat! Robyn
DeleteI happened to have already read How Hard Can It Be? and I can vouch for the fact that if you read it in public places, people will stare at you. It's hard to hold back the kind of laughs this book causes, so you will either laugh like a hyena in public, or you will try to hold it back (I do not recommend this) and you will snort (like a pig), silent-laugh (which looks really strange to others), and possibly blow soda out of your nostrils (it burns).
ReplyDeleteLove You, Hot Mamma!!!!
Delete....does writing the book in your PJ's mean you'll have to record the audio book in the nude? Bring a towel....those sessions are long. #MarchMadnessHop
ReplyDeleteUm, yes...yes it does. You have an awesomely rocking' voice...maybe we could wear towels together. And I'm putting you in the hat!!!!
DeleteHave you ever had the button pop off your jeans while at the grocery store and your pants begin to fall down? And then you try to pop the button back on (which looks super like a super inappropriate action to do in a store aisle)?
ReplyDeleteNope?
So just me then. Okay then
#MarchMadnessHop
xo_veronica16[at]hotmail[dot]com
veRONIca, kind of been there done that too....You are getting stuffed in the hat! Thanks for stopping by and spread the word!!!
DeleteOooh! Thank you! Your books sound really good!
ReplyDeletealinutza4u2004[at]yahoo[dot]co[dot]uk #MarchMadnessHop
Thanks Aly! Hope you enjoy it and thanks for stopping by!! Robyn
DeleteOh, Your book does sound great! I believe that one of my fave authors' recommended the book the first time I heard of it, before it's release (thanks Kally). I definitely love a good, funny story :)
ReplyDeleteJune
manning_J2004 at yahoo dot com
#MarchMadnessHop
Kally's one of my girls!!! Ask her what I did to her eyebrows!! Hope you enjoy the book and thanks for stopping by! Robyn
DeleteWhat kind of room can you eat?
ReplyDeleteA Mushroom!
#MarchMadnessHop
xo_veronica16[at]hotmail[dot]com
veRONIca, You have been stuffed in the hat!!!!! YAY! Robyn
DeleteI will have to ask Kally :)
ReplyDeleteHope everyone has a great weekend!
Happy #MarchMadnessHop
June
manning_J2004 at yahoo dot com
Hope you have a lovely weekend too!!!
DeleteWhat do eggs hate most?
ReplyDeletefry-day!
Haha sorry for all the kids jokes I've been minding kids all week
xo_veronica16[at]hotmail[dot]com
You are a nut!!!!!!
DeleteCoolness for you, Chicky-chick! With that warped brain, you created a favorite read of mine, so keep it coming!
ReplyDeleteGreat post on this #MarchMadnessHop
Thank you, Hot Mamma!!!!! You're no slouch yourself!!! Cherie Marks is a rocking' awesome writer!!!!
DeleteSorry, I am not a particularly funny person...but I just read Lori Wilde's blogpost about trying to make a tasty green smoothie...it was hysterical and no, I don't want to drink something that tastes like fruit and nut flavored grass clippings! Congrats on your success.
ReplyDeleteSign behind horse drawn carriage:
"Energy efficient vehicle. Runs on grass and oats.
CAUTION: Avoid exhaust!"
elewkf1 at yahoo dot com
Elf2060, You are silly and made me smile!!! I will stuff you in the hat!
DeleteAnd the winners are......Teri Ann Stanley, Lola Thomas, Nay Nay, June M, Stephanie Riggio, veRONIca and Elf2060!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGet in touch with me and leave your emails!!! WooHoo