Win an Advance Reader Copy of Award-Winning Historical Romance "Fire at Midnight"

I'm having a drawing on my website offering a signed copy of an advance reader's copy of my award-winning debut novel, "Fire at Midnight" as the prize.


This will be a bound, unedited, warts-and-all version as submitted to the publisher. The novel is scheduled for release on March 1, 2009.


If interested, please visit my website and fill out the online form.

http://www.lisamariewilkinson.com/

"Fire at Midnight," Medallion Press March 2009
"Stolen Promise," Medallion Press March 2010
http://www.medallionpress.com/blurbs/firemidnight.html

Writerly Stuff: I'm a Finalist in the Published Division of Utah RWA's "Heart of the West" Contest!

I learned last weekend that my current work-in-progress, "Forget Me Not" is a finalist in the "Heart of the West" contest held by the Utah chapter of Romance Writers of America. This is thrilling for me because I'm currently in somewhat of a limbo stage between being unpublished and published, therefore I don't qualify for the majority of RWA chapter contests. My debut novel, a historical romance entitled "Fire at Midnight" will be released by Medallion Press in March of 2009.


As an unpublished writer, I received a great deal of encouragement from contest judges during my stint submitting entries on the unpublished contest circuit. While most folks might think that finding a publisher and having two historical romance novels under contract awaiting publication might provide sufficient validation, I still find myself listening to that insidious inner voice that constantly says, "You're terrible. You stink. Why are you spending all your free time trying to write stories when you obviously have no talent?" So, finaling in a contest where I'm competing with other published writers provides the boost I need to think if I finish my current WIP, I might interest a publisher in it as well. I wonder: are all writers neurotic like this, or is it just me?



I'm going to publish the full list of finalists in the Utah RWA "Heart of the West" contest, both unpublished and published, because the difference between those two categories is often just that one serendipitous moment when a writer's work connects with the right editor and the phone call or e-mail happens.



Congratulations to all!



16th Annual Heart of the West Writers Contest Finalists



Historical

The McCUTCHEONS by Caroline Fyffe

THE MASQUERADING DUKE by Stephie Smith

DONNE WITH LOVE by Sally Orr

THE RANCHER by Kelli Ann Morgan



Contemporary

HOT BODS by Dara-Lee Snow

SOUTH OF HER BORDER by Cindy Nielson

THEIR IMITATION MARRIAGE by Kirsty Cleverly

THE NEIGHBOR UPSTAIRS by Anne Lum



Mystery/Suspense

GUARDIAN ANGEL by Rita Henuber

STEALING BEST IN SHOW by Elizabeth Pina

DANCE AWAY, DANGER by Lexi Connor

AFTER THE WAR by Jessica Dawson



Paranormal

THE IMPETUOUS AMAZON by Sandy James

TOUCH OF TWILIGHT by Clarissa Ellison

WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES by Maree Anderson

THE WIZARD'S ORPHANS by Rosemary Haggerty



Published

LOST IN LOVE by Kathy Johnson

PAYING THE PIPER by Rachel Brimble

DELICIOUS by Judie Aitken

FORGET ME NOT by Lisa Marie Wilkinson



Inspirational

THE QUEST by Dani Pettrey

SOURDOUGH CREEK by Caroline Fyffe

TURNING PAIGE by Kara Bonnevie

THE WALLET by Elizabeth Pina



Golden Pen- URWA Members Only

SOUTH OF HER BORDER by Cindy Nielson

THE RANCHER by Kelli Ann Morgan

THE SCARRED HEIR by Denise Patrick

CROSS MY HEART by Iamni Miller

Writerly Stuff: Do People Sometimes Predict Their Own Deaths?

Because I write historical novels, and they tend to be, ah, unusual, I've had the honor of being invited to become a regular contributor to the Unusual Historicals blog. My first article as a contributor falls under the category "Famous People," and I've chosen to create a fictional interview with inventor Henry Winstanley, whose wish to test the lighthouse he designed and built during "the greatest storm there ever was" proved to be prophetic. I also managed to work in an excerpt from my upcoming Medallion Press release, "Fire at Midnight," into the article as well. The famous lighthouse figures prominently in my novel. The following link will take you to the article:



http://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com/2008/07/famous-people-henry-winstanley.html