In an hour and a half the email will arrive in my inbox and each of the American Title finalists will know who has been cut and who has not.

What a pandora’s box of emotion and we haven’t even gotten the email yet!

If I’m cut, it’s not the end of my writing world, but I will be saddened. There has been a lot of effort expended here and not just by me! I want that to count for something. And dang it, I want that contract.

If I go on, I’ll be elated, but at the same time, sadness for those who didn’t will be present, as well. And then there’ll be the guilt. And gosh, I do guilt well.

Regardless of whether I go on or if my American Title journey ends here, the contest continues! November 13-26 is the next voting round and on the stage will the best Hero and Heroine.

I’m sorry I can’t tell you today if Rising Sin will be on the next ballot, but you can bet that if it is, I’ll be inundating your inboxes again in a few weeks.

Thanks everyone!

Round one voting for the American Title 3 competition closes midnight EST on Sunday.

Have you voted? I hope so!

It’s come to my attention that some of you are having difficulty voting from the Romantic Times website, so I encourage you to send an email directly to webmaster@romantictimes.com with RISING SIN in the subject line if that is the case.

Have you spread the news and asked others to vote? I hope so?

Are you guys the best support team around? I KNOW so!

Busy, busy days are swirling around our part of the country right now and my “to do” list keeps growing. Exponentially it seems.

Besides all of the American Title contesthappenings going on, I’ve yet to pull out the potatoes from the garden (yes, I know, I KNOW!) and my TBR (to be read) pile is growing (thanks for reminding me, Toni!), there are a lot of Girl Guide commitments taking place with cookie sales and enrolment ceremonies and catalogue deliveries (I mostly ran my daughter’s designated route yesterday, so managed to kill two tasks at once) and I could keep on going, and going, but everyone is busy right?

Isn’t that what makes it all good? Or maybe not for some of you. Do you like to be busy or are you so busy that you prefer to be idle? What have you got on the go right now?

I’ll be on the air with Kimberley Wilde at 95.3 FM as well so keep your ears open!

And tune into Wild Rose Country today around 12:15 pm to hear my interview with Donna McElligott of CBC Radio (740 AM Edmonton, 1010 AM Calgary).

Deep Breath Out.

SO. American Title 3 starts tomorrow at Romantic Times. You can vote there (and read the work) or you can vote by email …

TO:webmaster@romantictimes.com
SUBJECT: RISING SIN

I’m a little nervous, but I’m bearing up under the strain. Just in case you are not entirely sure what’s happening tomorrow these are the details…

At approximately 11AM EST Romantic Times will post the ten finalist’s biographies, pictures and first lines. THE JUDGES will have commented ala Simon, Paula and Randy style.

You then click on the voting link. Put RISING SIN in the subject line if that’s your choice…I’m not above begging at this point, so please do! Now press Send.

Tell all your friends about the contest. Tell all your family. Tell everyone. This is a wonderful thing to have happen and I’m delighted to share the experience with you all and delighted that you’ve come to support me. Thanks!

NOW a random sampling from the judge’s comments in the very first American Title contest…you can see how their approach differs.

FLAVIA KNIGHTSBRIDGE: Your previous entries really shone, but this one makes the story seem cliched.
HILARY ROSS: The mix-up that has the hero and heroine rooming together doesn’t seem credible, at least as presented. And the heroine’s “tick-list” that the hero helps her with seems a rather bizarre contrivance.
LESLIE KAZANJIAN: Kate and Nick sound adorable, the plot wackily wonderful. I fully expect these two to make major waves with their reluctant shipboard romance–and to tug on our heartstrings along the way. This story promises satisfying character development along with a fun plot–always a winner in my book.

I’m not sure what the judges will have to say about my entry, but I’m bracing for the worst and anticipating the best. That way I’ve got both spectrums covered.

Tune in tomorrow morning between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm (MST) as I give a little interview with Kasz and John on the Daily Grind brought to you by the fun folks at Border Rock 106.1 FM The Goat!