One Writer's Life -- Barbara Mountjoy

And it's true. Most importantly I have been working on The Elf Child, the sequel to this summer's The Elf Queen. Just a few days till the deadline for turning it in, and I believe in keeping my word to my publisher. But that's not all.

I received not only the contract for The Elf Child while I was away (that's the next part of the explanation--stay tuned) but also one for the third book, The Elf Mage. And THEN, I received a contract for the manuscript called Second Chances, a romantic women's fiction novel set in Pittsburgh, from Zumaya Publications. And THEN, I received an offer for my psychic vampire novel, Love Me, Touch Me, Kill Me, a NaNovel from last year, which I've now accepted.

So that's been a pretty heady run, to go from not being a novelist to having five novels in or on their way to print in five months.

In September, though, I did some different writing, at the Immersion Master Class with Margie Lawson in Colorado. I took the book of my heart, the one I've submitted all round without much success, and we started working on its next revision with Margie's expert assistance. Five days of intense workshop teaching with Margie and six other sister writers gave me a wonderful start and direction on how to polish this story into a diamond. While I was in Colorado, the picture above shows my workspace. The view? Mountains everywhere. We ate at the Dushanbe Teahouse, where I picked up some lovely chakra-stimulating zen tea, and we worked. And worked. While Captain Tom did most of the cooking and heavy lifting. (Thanks, Captain Tom!!) I highly recommend this program for anyone who's ready to take their work from "good" to "New York Times" level.

Then of course, there's the adventure of book promotion. Oh yes, my children, we all thought writing the book was the hard part! Not so, yet far otherwise. I've done two book signings, garnered half a dozen professional reviews, as well as a handful on Amazon (remember, if you read the book, you should stop by Amazon and leave a few paragraphs about it!!), done a TV interview, developed a blog exchange at the Clan Elves site to cross-promote with other writers, and now I'm settling in for the winter, wanting a few more in-person appearances to sell for Christmas gifts, but also looking for fantasy blogs and lists to join in the discussion and share the creative process.

All in all, I think this year is the tipping point; I've definitely become a writer. (E assures me I've been one for years, but somehow holding the book in your hands is much more solid.) To all of you out there looking to join me, don't give up your dream. Just keep working at it, and soon you'll find your niche too.