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As Luck Would Have It...by Tracey Devlyn


I made my deadline. :) With only one day to spare, I turned in book 2, CHECKMATE, MY LORD, to my editor. Can everyone hear my ginormous sigh of relief? Have a peek at my pre-deadline office below—yikes!

Many times, I’ve heard authors talk about the difficulty they had in writing their “sophomore” book. I never really understood the message they were trying to convey—until this past year. Writing on deadline is a completely different animal from having years to polish one’s debut. And in some cases, writing several manuscripts until THE ONE catches an editor’s eye.
If you’re a pre-published author, I’d like to offer you one piece of advice. Discipline yourself to writing a certain number of words (or pages) a day, every day. Then, when you do sell (because you will), you can answer one vital question that your new editor will ask. How long will it take you to write the next book? 

It’s an answer you must know. Because if you get it wrong, you’re not only affecting your book’s release, you’re probably affecting many others. It’s not a great way to start your new, shiny career.

Off with the advice hat, on with the squee hat. I can’t wait to share CHECKMATE’s cover with you. A couple weeks ago, I got my first peek of the design and, let me tell you, it’s beautiful and lush and fits the tone perfectly. I loved how the cover artist pulled in certain elements of the story—a more “mature” hero, who happens to be holding an unfriendly pistol, a setback of a vast country estate, and an element of danger that penetrates each vibrant color.

I’m really looking forward to the next few months. Much of March and April will be devoted to promoting my April 1st release, A LADY’S REVENGE. Just in the last two days, I’ve enjoyed revisiting Cora and Guy’s love story. It’s rocky and heart-wrenching. Cora’s been through a lot, but she has a steadfast man dogging her heels. Why? Because he’s always believed in her. Lucky girl, huh?

Who’s dogging your heels? Tell me about the one person who believes in you—even when you don’t.

I have an autographed advanced reading copy (ARC) to giveaway to one commenter. Please include your email addy below your answer. I’ll announce a winner at 10:00 pm CST.

If you don’t win today’s giveaway, please hop on over to my website and scroll down to the Goodreads giveaway for a chance to win one of the three autographed ARCs.

Hugs,
Tracey

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Tracey Devlyn writes historical romantic thrillers (translation: a slightly more grievous journey toward the heroine's happy ending). An Illinois native, Tracey spends her evenings harassing her once-in-a-lifetime husband and her weekend torturing her characters.




A LADY'S REVENGE, Available 1, 2012
Romancing History One Defiant Woman at a Time
  

  

Comments

  1. Congratz for your release Tracy! Wish you all the best! Aretha, arethazhen(at)rocketmail(dot)com

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  2. Sorry forgot to answer the question. The one person is my mom. Cheers Aretha :)

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  3. Congrats, Tracy!!!Looks super! Hmm, my dad always believed in me, told the waiter in a restaurant as I was busy scribbling down a scene on a paper napkin that I would be a published author soon. I couldn't write after he died I was so upset. But then I wrote his story--The Thirteenth Mission for Ex-POW Bulletin about his being shot down when he was 16 over Germany on his 13th mission and that was it. I started to write for magazines and then again began to write novels. So Dad really made it happen for me.

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  4. congrats Tracey,

    cant wait to read this book ;)

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  5. Tracey, great advice! Congratulations on making that deadline. I agree, discipline is definitely the answer. Who drives me? I'd have to say my sister. She bought a fancy name plate for my desk years before I was published that says, Carolyn Brown, Author! She's believed in me forever.

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  6. Congrats! You finished! My husband always believes in me, even when he has no reason to. Sometimes I even have to defend my critics to him. But it's nice he has such blind faith.

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  7. My family has really come through for me in the last year. When I moved from Chicago to Seattle, my mom flew out to help me drive the moving truck.

    geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com

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  8. --> Writing on deadline is a completely different animal from having years to polish one’s debut.

    SO TRUE. My sophomore book, CHASE ME, is releasing in June, and being a perfectionist, I really wish I'd had time for just one more pass. ;-)

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  9. Congratulations! I'm glad to know that your office can look like mine. I loved what you said about the consistent writing on a daily basis

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  10. Aretha--Moms are the best, aren't they? I'm extra lucky in my mother-in-law, too.

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  11. Terry--Such a great story about your dad! Now I understand your military leanings. :)

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  12. Carolyn--Sounds like you have a great sis. I love it when one's sister is also one's best friend. Now you need to have her add "New York Times Best Seller" below your name. :)

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  13. Shana--we are both lucky in our spouses! Love that you get hero material every day.

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  14. Tamara--I'm with you. One more pass would have been ideal. I'm going to work hard to leave myself some extra wiggle room for book 3.

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  15. Renee--can't wait to clean my office this weekend. It's out of hand!

    Yep, by knowing what we can write in a day, we also know what we can write in a year. Throw in 6-8 weeks for revisions and you'll have a good idea of how long it'll take you to write a book. Don't forget to account for vacations and family stuff!

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  16. Congratulations! I would hate to have to write under deadline! My one daughter seems to think I can accomplish a lot more than I think I can or anyone else.

    catslady5(at)aol.com

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  17. Yay for your finishing your book in the nick of time. Time to rest a bit and celebrate. My family is definitely the people who motivate me and keep me going. I trust in them to dog me all the way ;)

    Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  18. The one dogging my heels and believing in me when I feel shakey about it myself would be my husband. Bless him.

    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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  19. Catslady--glad to hear your daughter is there for you. So nice to have a great support system.

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  20. Na--thanks for stopping. Sounds like you have a great "pack" at your back. :)

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  21. My husband believes in me, always has. That's why I fell in love with him.

    I totally hear you about writing the "sophomore" book. Working on mine right now as well as polishing my debut and it's a lot more difficult than I'd anticipated.

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  22. Lil--you have a keeper there! Hold on to him tight. :)

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  23. That person would be my husband. Whenever I am feeling down or I can't do something, he is there cheering me on. Congratulations on the release!

    jcalvert719(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  24. Congratulations on your sophomore release! You must be so thrilled!!!

    Fortunately my husband and my best friend always prop me up when I am feeling insecure and need a cheering section.

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  25. CONGRATS Tracey!

    I have a big family and they are all very supportive but I'd have to say my mom is my biggest support and has never not believed in me.

    yadkny@hotmail.com

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  26. JenniferK, Elf2060 & Brooklyn--love seeing so many husband acting as real-life heroes!

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  27. Yadkny--having a large, supportive family is such a blessing. My husband's family is like that. They're all such special people.

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  28. Congratulations to JenniferK! You won an advanced reading copy of A LADY'S REVENGE. I'll be in contact for your snail mail.

    Thanks, everyone, for stopping by and sharing a bit of yourself.

    Have a great weekend!
    Tracey

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  29. My adult daughter, of all people, is often my biggest cheering section. She comes out with insights about me that astound me, and delivers them in a way I can hear her. Better still, she calls me when things don't go well for her--and when they do. I'm loving this aspect of parenting in ways I could never have predicted.

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  30. Congrats on your new release Tracy! I guess one person that believes in me when I don't would be my sisters and husband and son. They are there when I need them. Anything I go to do the are right there behind me all the way.

    quiltlady110 at gmail dot com

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