Editor Pitch: Silhouette Nocturne Bites

I've never participated in one of these eharlequin pitch programs. A nocturne Bites submission is on my todo list this year so this might be the perfect way to get my toe wet. I know others mght know the answer to this, but what does '2 paragraphs' really mean? Is there any other guidelines (pages, spacing, font size, etc.)? Also should this be a mini-synopsis of the story or more like a backcover blurb to intrigue more than tell?? How many entries are typically submitted for something like this? Just trying to assess odds

WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  Hosty Rae, I have been waiting for this opportunity again!  I'm in the process of a much better Bite than before...I think.  Well, I like it and my shih-tzu seems to like it...or maybe it is the oreos I've been eating while writing!  One never knows what's in the mind of a canine companion.  :)

Thanks, Hosty Rae!!

Hetal thanks so much for the info. I figured it would be a cover blurb type deal, but you never know. I love doing those! The synopsis? Not so much.

Nikki - that's very inspirational and enouraging and way cool! Congratulations again!!

I think I'm going to do it....

That sounds awesome. Thanks, Rae.

Abbi

Way to Go, Nicola!!  I didn't recognize you!  Great pic, by the way!  Are you in the process of writing another? 

I have been honing my skills for the past several months.  I have taken Ann Leslie's advice to heart and really put a lot of effort into my dialogue, minimizing my narrative, and strengthening my emotional conflict.  I have done a lot of reading and studying on all of these subjects, so I'm hoping for a payoff this time.  This is sooooo exciting!

 By the way, pitching is not as scary as it seems.  I was terrified last year, but Hosty Rae was there to hold our cyber-hands.  She is awesome, you guys!!!  And, I wouldn't mind "singing Ann Leslie's praises".  She is super nice. 

There are no torches or pitchforks in the chat room anywhere!!!  Good Luck, EVERYONE!!!!

Thanks a lot for the wonderful opportunity... This will be my first attempt at pitching and am currently driving to complete my story and keep it edited / ready before the required dates..

Except for the stomach that's constantly churning, and hands that are perpetually cold, everything is going well ;)

Before I side track let me ask : What is the word count limit for the "blurb" ?

3pm London time. UK is 5 hours ahead. :)

Dee

Rae, will you be posting the transcript of ALT's chat on this forum for those of us who won't be able to make it, pretty please? Thanks.

Was planning on subbing a Bite next week, but I think I'll wait a couple of weeks and do it this way instead.  What great timing!

trish 

Hi Rae I just emailed you my 2 paragraph blurb.
I also sent a second one as I wanted to correct a note that I had posted at the bottom. meaning the correct link that tells of the myth of a ghost vampire at the Wolf Creek Inn here in Oregon.
its here http://www.carpenoctem.tv/haunt/or/
as well as information on the Vortex and Mystery House in Gold Hill Oregon.

Corvallis, only has a covered bridge which I don't think is haunted, unlike other places..gee...lol

Blessings.

Rhyanna

Jeez...I haven't been around around for the last couple of months and so much is happening. Wow another pitch! I hope I'll have something ready in time but it'll be a stretch I think. I emailed NB about 6 weeks ago with a storyline that was going to be too long for a bite so I've been working on it for a full ms for Nocturne.

Question about the pitch....

When I click on the link for Hosty Rae I get a yahoo address. Is that the way we are supposed to submit the blurb, through that email address or is there something I'm missing?

Also...will there be a link set up for us to get into the chat room for the pitch? I know Dee had set up links in the past so that it would be easier for authors to navigate into the chat site.

Let me know...and thanks,

Marianne

Thanks Rae... and a big ?Duh? for me not seeing the link posted in blue! As a mother who's fond of telling her kids, "if it had teeth it would have bit you," I am humbled!

Back to my bite...

Marianne

Hi Marianne..

Regards to the whole pitch, what I understood is this.. (from wonderful ladies who have attended it earlier and picking the earlier forums)

We have to work with Winne's techniques and come up with a 2 paragraph blurb (see all the practice pitches out there in Winne's thread).. that gives a clear and concise picture of our entire story. Send it to Rae (email mentioned in the top) before Feb 1st. She'll pass it on to Ann Leslie who will go through all the entires and select 5..

Those 5 who are selected will have to chat with Ann in the given time..and she will ask questions about anything - either the story or characters or about our writing experience or .... Rae will be around to guide us in the chat room (where the link is given), if we are among the "chosen" 5.

After these chat sessions, Ann would decide what to do - like request for a full or partial or .....(I am not sure what else).

Everyone else would be cheering the winners :-) 

Hope this helps..

hi,

Just to introduce myself, my name is Steph and this is my first ever post on the forums! I discovered eharleguin after reading a luna book called 'the charmed sphere'. I loved this book and looked up the publishing company to see if I could find more like it. I have been overwhelmed by this site, its management and the opportunity it presents for people to write.  

As soon as I discovered nocturnebites i began to write my own. I do have a few questions about this pitch contest.

- Can you enter if you aren't from the USA? I'm from Australia and would love the opportunity to pitch my nocturne bite idea

- What is the deal with the chatroom thing? I don't want to miss out on my pitch being picked up. I gather I will have to be in the chatroom at whatever the equivalent australian time is? 

- if your pitch is liked and the editors want to know more, what happens next?

thank you so much for this amazing opportunity. I am nervous but exhilarated at the same time. this site, and the works it produces, are truly amazing.

I wanted to send a big 'Hi' to a fellow Aussie (although I currently live in the US). Welcome! These forums are truly amazing as are the opportunities (like this pitch) that come up periodically. I'll let Rae answer you formally, but generally for submitting, it doesn't matter where you're from!

First, did you happen to find the several books that follow the Charmed Sphere? I fell absolutely, madly in love with that series--I believe there are five books currently. Catherine Asaro is a personal hero, lol.

Secondly, you're totally welcome to enter the pitch, BUT you must consider if you can be available for the live chat with the editor because the time is set to the editor's convenience, not the members. So, you could find yourself up in the middle of the night to pitch. But other's have done it, so it's not unheard of. :)

 Hope that helps!

Dee

Welcome!

I am pretty sure that Anna Hackett, a Nocturne Bites author, is also an Aussie. She entered a previous pitch contest for Bites, and I read that she pitched *very* late at night-but she also got asked to submit her work and now she's part of the NB roster. So, the time difference didn't hinder her in the slightest!  Have no fear, it can be done-and with a great outcome!

She posts on the boards and she's also very nice so you might want to introduce yourself.

Congrats on hitting that submit to Rae :)

Anna's a gem and she can be found in 'Guidelines for Nocturne Bites 3' thread in "write stuffs". There Dee has answered your question as well. If this pitch is not selected, you can always submit through normal channels :)

Hence it is a win-win situation for all of us out here !

Well, I know that Perth is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Time (US), which is when the pitch will be taking place. So, consider your own time zone in comparison to Perth. (I have trouble with AU time zones because you have 4 of them and I can't keep up with your daylight savings time, lol)

So, a 12 noon pitch on the 25th would happen at 1am of the 26th, Perth time. :)

Hope that helps!

Dee

Thanks dee,

I think in general we are 2 hours ahead of Perth, ( I am on the east coast of Oz, not the west) but daylight savings might make us three. If i do end up being chosen to pitch i will just look up a timezone converter on the net.  

Hi All,

I'm just back from Christmas holidays (a long one, I KNOW!), and I got a shock when it was pitch time already!  I had a go at last years', and will try again this year...

Steph, the first LUNA I bought and read was the Charmed Sphere- a great read.  I also have The Misted Cliffs...  And there are five full novels in that series, Dee...

I agree, Anna Hackett is completely gorgeous - she's been so excellent to me as a newbie.  She did have to do a late-night pitch.  Two am, maybe?  But yeah, depends on where you are.  Ick.  Perhaps I'll worry about that if I get the nod...  :)

Hi Michaela!

Hi Nikki - looking forward to your upcoming Bites...

 Good luck to all of the pitchers, let's hope someone from here gets through to the finish line!

E x

No crush on Jarid is irrational...  :)  Jarid and Iris' story is fabulous. 

And Cobalt, what a fab name.  There are some great men in those books.  Sigh.  I might have to go back for a re-read, now that you've brought it up...