Marcus' book is up on Amazon

Yay!

For those who have been waiting for Marcus' story, I have good news!

The book is up for pre-order on Amazon now. (That always makes it seem "official" to me!)

So, if you've a mind to, check out the link below...

Engaging the Earl

Happy day!

Good News!

This time, I actually have a good reason for my complete lack of presence/updating on this blog.

Love Inspired Historical has contracted my next book.

So of course, there have been revisions, celebrating, some more revisions, and jubilation.

This time around, I don't really think my husband understood why I was still as excited/disbelieving as the first time (although, unlike the first time I didn't hyperventilate or have a near nervous breakdown...progress, I like to think). But the publishing industry is such a tight market, and there are so many fantastic writers out there, that one book contract doesn't guarantee a second. So, when in my earlier post I said I didn't think anything would be quite as exciting as that very first phone call, I'm thrilled to say I was wrong.

I don't have a lot of official details yet. But I can tell you the next book looks like it will be coming out early next year.

As soon as I have the okay to let you guys know specifics, be assured I'll be posting it up here.

So for those of you who have wanted Marcus to find his own Happily Ever After...

This is it!!!

Romantic Times Book Review for The Blackmailed Bride

The Blackmailed Bride by Mandy Goff

RT Rating (out of 4.5 stars)

I have to say I was really pleased with my first review from RT Book Reviews. Really pleased! =)

Here's a little snippet of the review, with a link to the full post below.

"This is a wonderful Regency romance. The characters are written with their imperfections showing and it’s wonderful to see a female character so full of spunk."

(The link to the full post on the Romantic Times Book Review site is here)

The after-holidays slump

Things have been very quiet around here.

All the presents have been unwrapped (although the tree may not have come down yet...not confessing or anything like that, though). The new year has been inaugurated. The vacation from work is, regrettably over.

But it is nice in its own way. I love Christmas. LOVE it. But it's also stressful, hectic, and a bit wearying from all the running around we have to do (three places to visit on Christmas day, in addition to opening our gifts here!)

So I'm reveling in the fact that I don't have to wrap any more presents, bake or cook anything else (we're back to take-out...I'm actually waiting on a pizza delivery right now ;o).

The only downside is that Brie's been sick the last several days. It was her first stomach flu and was pretty scary for her. I tried to imagine what it would be like to be three and not understand why you keep having to run to the bathroom...scared me too!

But she appears on the mend. No fever or bathroom-trips today. So that's a good sign.

Found out I got my first review. It's from RT Book Reviews.

I'll post about it later tonight. Right now, I want to be sure I'm ready when the delivery guy rings the bell.

I'm starving.

I pray everyone had a safe, happy, and blessed holiday season!

I'm still alive

I think.

In the interest of being truthful, I have to admit things have been crazy, insanely hectic. Deadlines are fast approaching and instead of moving forward and getting closer to meeting those all-important dates, I feel like I'm slipping more and more behind.

Ugh.

So, I've had to cut myself off from everything. (Although we notice I snuck on here to update. That's my dedication...touching isn't it?)

Well, my biggest deadline is this Friday, so hopefully I'll be back on here after that.

And thanks to all who have entered the giveaway. Keep the entries coming!

Welcome back...your dreams were your ticket out

Okay, let's try this again, shall we?

From now on, I'm going to make an effort to post regularly. Really I will. Or at least I'll mean to, have super-sincere intentions to do so, and then will never follow through.

It's kind of a toss-up.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a post up about where in the process everything is. For the few of you who read this and actually care about that kind of thing (not the people I've begged and pleaded with to hit the "follow" button =).

Until then, expect randomness. Because anyone who knows me knows that's what I'm best at.

Mandy

I'm officially the worst blogger in history . . .

Yes, I admit it.

So, it's been November since my last post. Some crazy things have happened since then.

1) I signed my first book contract with Steeple Hill. My historical Christian romance will be hitting the shelves next year!!! Squee!

2) I finished the rough draft of the sequel a week or so ago.

3) My friend Cheryl and I have begun a new women's ministry site at: Just for this Season

4) God opened more doors than I seem to be able to walk through at one time. I'm working on a series for another publisher right now as well.

There will be more updates to come. Just wanted to bring the blog up to speed.

Working, Working, Working

So, after pushing the deadline for revisions on my first book back. And back. And back some more, I'm committing to having it done by the end of the weekend.

And in the mail by the middle of the week.

Am I crazy?

Quite possibly.

I have so much left to do and feel a bit overwhelmed. But I know unless I get this off my back, I'll keep procrastinating and delaying until it's been too long.

So wish me luck! If I survive, I'll be back Monday to post.

If you never hear from me again, it would be safe to assume I've been buried until piles of paper somewhere. And you might want to come and find me.

Here goes nothing. Literally.

An Update

So, a few of you know (because I've called and gushed/ranted/talked incessantly about) where I am in this stage of the writing process.

For those that don't but read this blog anyway (so like the two of you), I'll give a brief rundown.

• I've completed 2 manuscripts
• I've sent proposals for both manuscripts to a publishing house (the same house for both books)
• I received requests for the full manuscripts on both books
• I sent the manuscripts in (after much hair-pulling, wailing, and gnashing of teeth)
• After waiting. More waiting. And then a bit more waiting, I received a four page letter, detailing all the revisions that needed to be made (to both manuscripts) before they were published.

That's what I'm working on now. I don't have a hard deadline, but the sooner the better. I'm wrapping up the changes to book one, but then I have book two left to do. Ugh.

But anyway, just wanted to bring you guys up to speed, perhaps to explain why I've been out of touch lately (I've been glued to my laptop).

So everyone, keep your fingers crossed in hopes I don't go crazy before this process is done. It's frightening and stressful, but in spite of the headaches, the tears, and frustration, I'm having a blast!