Getting published by Bold Strokes Books...

[cj2017]

I got the good news back at the end of December but I think it's safe to tell people now! 

Over the last four years, I wrote an original story. When it was finally finished, Cat and I both really liked it, enough to send it off to the LGBTQ publisher Bold Strokes Books to see what they thought. I figured every aspiring author should get a novel rejected at least once in their lives so I sat back and waited for the inevitable. Three months later I spent a good few minutes staring at the BSB response sitting in my inbox before finally clicking to open the damn thing. Let's just say that it wasn't quite what I was expecting... ;-)

So, Snowbound, my first novel is now scheduled for publication with BSB on December 13th, 2011 *happy dance*

The story is set up here in the North of England during a severe winter storm. Two women get caught up in the aftermath of a botched robbery and end up stranded and fighting for their lives. It's an f/f romance, adventure, thriller mix-up with a healthy dose of hurt/comfort (surprise *g*) and hopefully a decent sense of humour.

BSB already had a 'CJ' so I had to pick a whole new name (harder than you think once you try and do it!) Much scratching of heads, giggling and flicking through the telephone directory later and I'm now Cari Hunter - not too dissimilar to my own first name so with a bit of luck (even after a night shift), I'll remember it's me.  

After a whirlwind month of trying to get my head around everything (still trying, mainly failing!) I have an author's page over at BSB with a bit of a bio and a teaser on it and a new lj/author's blog set up. 

Oh, I also have a cover! Which is still making me smile... I have a COVER! For my novel. How the hell did that happen? ;-)

Comments

[sabaceanbabe.livejournal.com]

OMG! This is so EXCITING!!!!!! *twirls you madly*

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

LOL. Thank you. Woah, quit with the twirling though, I'm dizzy enough *g* I'd be lying if I said I wasn't giddy about it even though it's all a little surreal at the same time!

[missnyah.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! Obviously, keep us updated so we can get our hands on it.

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

Cheers hon and I certainly will do, December seems a long way off yet but I'm thinking it will probably fly by...

[gothamite66.livejournal.com]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Very awesome! :D

Do tell us how to get a copy once when it's released.

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

Hey thanks! Easiest place to get hold of it will be from the BSB website (it's coming out as a paperback and an e-book) but I'll give people a head's up closer to the time ;-)

[4tcleric-lynx.livejournal.com]

Congratulations, CJ! Now, if someone deserves it, it is the most certainly you, because your writing so damn good! To get that fact been admitted in public was just the matter of time :)

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

Awww, you're too kind. I definitely think the fic and the feedback gave me a push in the right direction!

[marygriggs.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! That is such great news!

Mary

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Having had a peep at your lj, I see I'm not alone in this ;-) So congrats right back atcha!

[esteven]

Came via Ferox, and just have to add my congratulations. Well done, for having evaded the rejection and gone straight on to being published.

May your book flourish!

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

That is so sweet, cross-fandom congrats :-) Soon as Ms Ferox has her exam out of the way, I feel the mother of all celebrations coming (so, for us: a meal out and then coming back to sit with our feet up in front of the tv *g*) We certainly do know how to party!

[illyria12.livejournal.com]

How Wonderful, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I too am an aspiring author, and to see this makes me so happy for you and authors everywhere!! YAY!!!!!!!

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

Thank you m'dear. Long may we all aspire to be authors :-)

[reversatility.livejournal.com]

Congratulations - very exciting! Will your book be available in the US?

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

Ta very much :-) I'm so excited *g*

The book will be very available in the US! BSB are an American publishing company, I just happen to have written them a book set in England but the majority of their writers are American. They do most of their business online (http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/), via specialist book stores or the Bella site http://www.bellabooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc
Loads and loads of femme-slash to be getting on with!

[valhallalilly.livejournal.com]

DANG CONGRATS!

OMG I KNOW AN AUTHOR

I'm more stupid thrilled by that than I maybe should admit.

Is this just in the UK then?

OMG You're writing is just so amazing. I knew you had to be published sometime

I'm flailing IDEKW
winwinwin :3

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

OMG I KNOW AN AUTHOR

LOL loon, you know a paramedic who happened to write a story ;-)

It'll be available in the UK but the publishing company are American and do most of their sales online, via specialist LGBTQ stores or bigger book shops with decent gay sections (it'll be out as a paperback or an e-book).

And after that brief bit of business, we return to our regularly scheduled flailing *g*

[life-on-queen.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! That's fantastic.

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly. I think the next few months will be interesting to say the very least!

[roxybisquaint.livejournal.com]

\o/ Girlie, I am so excited and happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

Woot!! \o/ \o/ Even a dose of plague can't keep me down! Well, it has a little *coughs* *hacks* *sneezes* ;-)

[mochalover13.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! I am not surprised AT ALL that you bypassed the usual "rejection" letters and went straight to being published. Your writing style is just wonderful -- it's about time the world gets to enjoy it. You so richly deserve this!

Please do let us all know how/where we can order copies here in the states. Congratulations again!

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

Thank you, you're very sweet :-) I've still got the editing to come so no doubt there's a lot of work to be done smacking it into shape but I love the story and I'm very proud of it and of getting it this far!

I'll be updating the carihunter page (thanks for the friending!) every now and again so I'm sure you'll get a head's up when the book is available to order. As far as I know, Dec 13th is set in stone as a publication date which is great because it's definitely a read by the fire in the depths of winter story!

[deslea.livejournal.com]

Oh, goodness, that's wonderful! Congrats!

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

Ahh, thank you :-) I am nervously awaiting my first look at my editor's comments!

[fig-aruna.livejournal.com]

Yay, wall of fantastic freaking love!! We love you, CJ! <3333 :DDDD

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Aww, you've always been my bestest cheer-leader! Thank you.

[morelindo.livejournal.com]

Oh wow! Coming over here from ferox's flist tosay congrats!

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

Well that is very sweet of you. Thank you so much :-)

I knew you were destined to great things!

[tackdriver56.livejournal.com]

Painful (H/C), but great! Congratulations Caroline!

Re: I knew you were destined to great things!

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And I think it was always destined to be H/C, I guess you really do write what you know, heh.

[laurel-hardy.livejournal.com]

That is just too fucking cool! Congratulatiest! (That's the superlative of 'congratulations'.) May I friend/be friended the better to keep up with your achievements?

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

LOL @ congratulatiest. I love that word. I might have to use it some time ;-)

Friend away (I've friended you already). Feel free to friend the cari h lj as well, I guess most of the book stuff/updates will be put on there (I have no idea what I'm doing with this author fandango really, as you may be able to tell!) But it's all good fun *g*

[lamaudite.livejournal.com]

How did I miss that? Goes to show how disruptive having the inlaws here for many weeks every year is! They left Tuesday and now I'm catching up...

Congratulations! How cool is that! Wow! You must be on a cloud up above somewhere! Heheheee!

[cj2017.livejournal.com]

Heh thanks. I think there was a big rush of glee and now it's like waiting for the other shoe to drop because I'm waiting to hear from my editor and I have no idea what she's going to say! That and the past 60 hours of days/nights have certainly been successful at keeping my feet firmly grounded ;-)