Best ROW80 Update Ever - I've Finished Editing!

Wow!

As of this weekend, I've finished ALL the editing for Out of the Water, Rosa and Baha's story.

That's it! It's over! No more tweaking or tinkering! Now the querying starts...

Sort of. I'm going to collate a few query letters this week, but only start sending them out in January. Here's my pitch:

Eighteen-year-old Rosa becomes separated from her family as they flee their Spanish homeland – and the Inquisition. Now her life is in the hands of a stranger, Baha, an artist from the Ottoman Empire. He is her one hope of reaching Constantinople and reuniting with her family. As they travel together, Rosa's drive to find her loved ones is matched by a deepening desire for the man at her side.

Despite her family's refusal to accept her marriage to a man of a different faith, when janissaries arrest her father and brother, Rosa and Baha risk everything to rescue them. Together they will prove that their love can withstand their differences... if the Grand Vizier doesn't throw them both into the dungeons first.

I've come so far with these two. I do hope I can launch them into the world and share them with lots of readers.

Meanwhile, Kristen Callihan's Firelight is coming soon!


Publisher's Weekly (as an aside, I've paid attention to Publisher's Weekly reviews ever since I was a kid - I noticed early on that all my favourite novels always had a favourable PW review on the back cover) gave Kristen a starred review!

"Debut author Callihan pens a compelling Victorian paranormal with heart and soul. Miranda Ellis has an unearthly talent for creating fire from thin air. Lord Benjamin Archer has lived for decades under the influence of a dark curse and wears a black mask over his disfigured face. After Miranda’s family is ruined, she weds Benjamin for his money and is surprised when passion and romance follow. Shortly after the wedding, Benjamin stands accused of a gruesome series of homicides. As he and Miranda hunt the true killer, Miranda soon sees the innocent, passionate man behind the mask, while wary Benjamin begins to trust in his wife's love even though it endangers them both. Readers will cheer for the couple, especially when the obstacles piled in their paths appear unsurmountable. The compulsively readable tale will leave this new author’s fans eager for her next book."

In other book news, Kait Nolan's Red is out in paperback!


Here's my review of Red. Funny, I haven't reviewed Firelight yet. But Publisher's Weekly got it spot on with "Readers will cheer for the couple, especially when the obstacles piled in their paths appear unsurmountable." Add it to your wishlist!

Comments

Anonymous said…
Yay!! Well done! Special feeling, isn't it, to be done with the editing?

Wishing you the best of luck in your query quest - and I can't wait to read the finished product!! :-)
Jenny Maloney said…
I ditto the well done and good luck! I'm so excited for you. =)

Yay!!!!!
Nadja Notariani said…
Congratulations on the editing! You're ready. Best of luck.
Anonymous said…
Congrats! Love the blurb, completely sounds like something I'd pick up. Good luck with the query process.
Congrats on finishing! Love your pitch, it sounds so interesting.

Riya.
Anonymous said…
How exciting for you! Good luck with the querying. :)
Ali Dent said…
How good you must feel. Good luck with the query process.
Zan Marie said…
Whoo Hooo, Deniz! Way to go!
Old Kitty said…
Out of the Water sounds fabulous!! Adventure, romance, a feisty heroine...! Wonderful! I love it!! Good luck Deniz!!!! Take care
x
Deniz Bevan said…
Thank so much everyone!! Doing a little happy dance here, every once in a while.
You totally deserve a happy dance! It is such a great feeling to say "Done!"

Hope you have a great holiday, and give yourself a pat on the back and a little break between rounds. :)
Nas said…
How exciting! Congrats!
alberta ross said…
we are all doing happy dances for you - it's a great feeling to be finished isn't it - looking foward to meeting your Baha properly -all the best with your pitch - it sounds interesting so fingers crossed for you

enjoy the festivities and see you next year
LR said…
Good luck with querying! It's hard to stop that tweaking and tinkering. :) At least I think so.

Your plot sounds very intriguing.
Anonymous said…
I'll just say this: HOT DAMN! Well, and congrats of course ;)
Golden Eagle said…
Congratulations! :)
Trisha said…
Isn't it such a huge relief to get to that stage? Well, I imagine it must be...I've never got to the "right, ready to query!" stage as yet. hehe
Anonymous said…
Big congrats on the finish. Love the little teaser, too. Good luck with the query!
Misha Gerrick said…
Well done! I hope you found something worthwhile to do to celebrate. :-)

Your story sounds beautiful.
Missed Periods said…
I hope they don't get thrown in the dungeons! Good luck with the querying.
Deniz Bevan said…
Thank you thank you thank you everyone! It's ten times more exciting to celebrate when so many people are willing to happy dance with you :-)
Tia Bach said…
Congrats! What an amazing way to end a round and a year. *high five*

Wishing you a wonderful holiday and many blessings in 2012.

Looking forward to seeing you in Round 1 2012.
Robin M said…
Yah, way to go. Good luck with the querying. Will definitely check out Kristen's book and I have Red on the nook. Merry Christmas and happy writing for 2012.
Deniz Bevan said…
Thank you so much Tia and Robin!