I didn’t manage to enter FtH either, but can say with no doubt at all that the 18 months since getting a big fat rejection for my Instant Seduction competition entry have been the best and most productive time of learning how to write in my life.

I’m sorry you didn’t get into the last contest, but I wish you good luck with this one!! As Tina Duncan proved, you don’t have to win to sell.

Thanks so much for replying. I’m happy if I’ve inspired you at all.

Just registered as new member today, though I’ve been lurking for quite some time, and I had to leave you a comment. I’ve just finished reading your debut novel and can I say WOW! It was a wonderful read. I really enjoyed it. Your characters were very believable on the page. I especially liked your heroine—she was so strong yet sweetly feminine at the same time.

I can see why the editors choose your entry as the winner. You and your story well deserved it—congratulations. I’m looking forward to reading more of your work.

It’s so exciting to see so many new authors making a name for themselves among all the wonderful established HMB authors. There’s nothing like “New Blood” to keep the line interesting and to inspire yet more would-be talent to try their hand. So glad you got the chance to share yours.

As for me, well, I tried to enter a chapter in the “Feel the Heat” comp last year, but I think my entry was rejected as being too late for consideration, which is a shame as I felt it was a good chapter. But I have no one else but myself to blame. I only stumbled across the competition the day before closure and rushed to meet the deadline, but to no avail…sigh! But I’m better informed now and won’t have that trouble this year. I’m working on a new entry, living in hope of winning…of getting that life changing phone call, too.

Congrats again, and thank you for sharing your journey with us all—I’m inspired.

Abby, you are a fabulous woman! Thanks so much for the compliments. I am quite pleased you enjoyed it, especially when you write such amazing tales of alpha heroes and their lovely heroines yourself! Thank you, thank you. It means a lot to me.

What a wonderful post. I particularly like your point 5: that not winning isn’t the end of the world. I entered the Instant Seduction contest. I didn’t win and I didn’t place but guess what? I sold as a result of that competition. I will be doing a guest blog later this month to tell everyone how that came about so stay tuned.