Disqus - Latest Comments for ErikaRae

Re: Monthly Wrap: Field Trip

ErikaRae — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:52:01 -0000

Thanks! I've been hosting a never-ending stream of family. (I love them, but I am exhausted!) I just joined up as a contributor on the TNB and saw your name on the list. Had to stop in and say hi!

Re: Monthly Wrap: Field Trip

ErikaRae — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 01:07:35 -0000

Hi Susan! Just wanted to say that I love the placement of the tree pic here. That - and I never was as bold as you as a child. Thanks for letting me live vicariously!

Re: Question of the Week: Rejection

ErikaRae — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:26:34 -0000

oh wow - that was harsh

Re: Question of the Week: Rejection

ErikaRae — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:43:04 -0000

You are an inspiration to us all.

Re: Question of the Week: Rejection

ErikaRae — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:39:39 -0000

amen, sistah

Re: Question of the Week: Rejection

ErikaRae — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:38:37 -0000

Thanks for this - am soaking up all words of encouragement I can find right now like a sponge. Well, maybe more like a big, jaded adult diaper.

Re: Question of the Week: Rejection

ErikaRae — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:34:48 -0000

Oh Lance, if I didn't love you so much, I'd be throwing. Haha. Instead, SO proud.

Re: Question of the Week: Rejection

ErikaRae — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:31:37 -0000

Wow - and on a day when I just received word of a few of them. i believe I've heard it all. Mostly form letters, but I've gotten some real doozies, too. In all, I have received something in the ballpark of 350+ rejection letters over the course of 7 books in my writer's life. (And still, I keep going back for more...)

In the early days of my writing: "I think you need to look up the word novel."

I got one query letter back, which had been edited - I had written the word "fiction novel." This was actually supposed to have read, "mainstream fiction novel" - but I had somehow overlooked it. Whatever the case, the word fiction had been circled in red with the notation "red" for redundant penned in the margin.

Once on a children's book on which I had done extensive research, some editor in "the final round" took it upon herself to tell me that I had my historical facts wrong (which, by the way, I didn't, but didn't feel that it was good form to send her a list of references.)

Once I sent a query to an editor I found in the Writers Market. Apparently, she sent me back a form letter that stated that she was no longer accepting unsolicited queries (which, of course, I don't remember receiving). Two years later, I submitted a different novel to her, having found her name wide open in the Writers Market. She wrote me back a handwritten letter telling me that she had my name on file from before and to stop sending her queries since she has clearly already let me know that she is not accepting unsolicited queries.

Of course, the most aggravating are, "It pains me to have to pass on this, but..."

I think I will find all of these much funnier once I actually get published!

Thanks for this, Susan. Today was a particularly aggravating day on this front - an hour ago, you would have found me in tears. I feel much better now. *sniff*

Re: Bridgett Davis

ErikaRae — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:58:19 -0000

As a sort of unrelated PS, I ran into this site and have to share. You can make up your own lyrics and then have Isaac Hayes "sing" them to your valentine by voicemail or email (for free). Sooo fun. (And really, I should be getting back to work now...)

http://www.sprintspecialoff...

Re: Bridgett Davis

ErikaRae — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:56:15 -0000

"I'm completely uninterested in blame or easy targets." This is a fantastic insight into the mind of an interesting writer.

Re: Question of the Week: Driving

ErikaRae — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:52:51 -0000

Safe - as in too safe. I have a tendency to make the passenger (read: my husband) nervous. I think I've seen Chuckles pass me on the road before. He wasn't too pleased.

Re: Weekly Wrap: Some Fabulous News

ErikaRae — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 09:38:40 -0000

Heartfelt congratulations, Lance!!!

Re: Weekly Wrap: We Can Say a Lot in Six Words

ErikaRae — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:21:34 -0000

I hope somebody put that one in the book! ( ;

Re: Weekly Wrap: We Can Say a Lot in Six Words

ErikaRae — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:19:14 -0000

Mistakenly slaughtered name. Brilliant drawing, nonetheless.

Re: Question of the Week: Six Words

ErikaRae — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:26:35 -0000

Oops - sorry, I was thinking six words or less. Maybe this question *was* too hard for me, Susan. Haha

Re: Question of the Week: Six Words

ErikaRae — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:04:54 -0000

Hi Erin! Love it.

Re: Question of the Week: Six Words

ErikaRae — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:45:17 -0000

OK...I have a new one now:

"I want your life, damn it."

( :

Re: Question of the Week: Six Words

ErikaRae — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:23:56 -0000

one breath at a time

Re: Weekly Wrap: Penn Station

ErikaRae — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:08:57 -0000

Ah, beet juice! Fabulous in a smoothie...however I'm getting a little creeped out. Everywhere I look for the last couple of weeks, it's beets beets beets. Beets in recipes. Beets in stories. As a matter of fact, I just broke a jar of pickled beets (don't ask...a little gift from grandma a few years ago) ALL over myself and my refrigerator the other day. Oh, yes - wicked red indeed... Is it fate? Is it zeitgeist? Is it some sort of message from beyond that I have an iron issue that I need to deal with?

Penn Station looks amazing - thanks for the insight into your world. Much different than the pine trees and aspens I look at every day. ( :

Sorry for being absent from the park for so long. Was sick, traveling, blah blah blah. Good to be back.

Tell Bach Boy that I think he's cool.

Anyway, thank you, Susan, for reminding me that I need to take my iron supplement! Ha!

Re: Reynald's Rap: Lance chats with Monica Drake

ErikaRae — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:07:28 -0000

Monica, I can't wait to read this one. Also, I am inspired by your ability to write withe the 3 year-old (have a 4 year-old and a 6 mo. old). Thanks for sharing so much about your craft. Inspiring.

Lance, another great interview!

Re: Top 5 with Chuck Collins

ErikaRae — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:56:28 -0000

My one and only discussion with Mom of anything that came close to sex was the day she came in and sat next to me on my bed and said, "You may have been wondering what that little blue box is for on the back of my toilet." Blushing painfully, I replied, "No, Mom. I'm good. They already told us all about it in school."

Re: Top 5 with Chuck Collins

ErikaRae — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:50:33 -0000

OMG - you can add me to that list. God, I hate that stuff. It's like I take it personally.

Re: Top 5 with Chuck Collins

ErikaRae — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:41:56 -0000

I was laughing until I kinda just realized...Oh my God. Wow. Group hug? Count me in.

Re: Question of the Week: Murder

ErikaRae — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:45:14 -0000

Sorry, that's Daniel Helminiak

Re: Question of the Week: Murder

ErikaRae — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:41:27 -0000

Hey - I don't know if you've already discovered it - and I reeeeally don't want to overstep any boundaries since I don't actually know you - but you might really dig a book by a guy named Helmaniak.