Within a few days I had a response from Lori Perkins informing me she had found “Jackie” entertaining and looked forward to reading the manuscript. I was ecstatic. I sent Sunday Girl to her with this note of warning: “While sex plays a pivotal role in the self-realization of the heroine, it is not the only element in her transformation from repressed matron to a free, ageless woman.”
Anxiously, I waited for a response having no idea how inundated agents were with manuscripts. Eighteen months later, I gave up and proceeded to self-publish. The day before the commitment was finalized I received an email from Lori informing me she had a publisher who might be interested in my novel if I was willing to rewrite it. She had my attention. Little did I realize how much re-writing was required.
Ravenous Romance is an erotic romance publisher. I had to sprinkle erotic scenes throughout and add a happy for now ending with a new love interest. Sunday Girl was over 100,000 words. Ravenous Romance wanted fewer than 50,000. After much angst and deliberation I signed the contract. I aborted two of the lead character’s sons, cut out the second half of the story, negotiated multiple love interests instead of just one, and elaborated on sex scenes which had only been alluded to previously.
Playgirl was born, and I have been very pleased with the result. My message came across more powerfully. The heroine learns to accept and embrace her sexuality that had haunted her for many years. I grew as a writer and a woman.
Ravenous Romance has been an outstanding and supportive publisher. They have cutting-edge ideas with endless energy to pioneer the e-book industry. Thank you to Holly Schmidt and the staff at Ravenous. Thank you, Lori Perkins!
Just found the comment area. I’m pretty new at this blogging stuff too. Anyway Love your latest postings. Hope your life has settled down some. So great you’re writing up a storm. I had the same revelation about my memoir writing. I decided to call mine historical fiction. Lots true, but padded, added and subtracted. Thought I might send my Caveman short story in to them. Saw the call for submissions for 2 girl things. This isn’t that, but pretty erotic. Maybe I should add a scene. Let’s keep in touch. Certainly let’s not miss each other upon my return first of July. Love ya, Jill
High priority for me to not miss you in July, Jill. Thanks so much for the comment. I value your opinions to the highest. Definitely submit “Caveman.” They accept independent short stories; it doesn’t have to fit into an anthology. I love your writing style. You will be an asset to Ravenous. Love you,
Regina
Regina~
Your travels from Sunday Girl to Playgirl is interesting reading (although I knew most of this story first-hand). If you ever decie to resurrect Sunday Girl, I think one line from your story tells it all:
“While sex plays a pivotal role in the self-realization of the heroine, it is not the only element in her transformation from repressed matron to a free, ageless woman.”
You did a great job writing the sex parts but the other elements are equally interesting and certainly more informative to the surpressed reader.