312 Words of My Manuscript

312 Words Birthday Bash!

I'm participating in a fun little birthday party event from the ever-so-awesome Gabriela Lessa (Happy Birthday!) from my critique group. Not only are we celebrating her, she wants everyone in on her party! Yes, she's that cool. She asked authors and writers alike to post the first 312 words of their manuscript on his or her blog. Today she'll review by going to each participant's blog. The top 12 winners get critiques from an awesome agent: Lora Rivera of Claire Gerus Literary Agency!!! How exciting, right?  So below is the first 312 words of my manuscript Wanted: Groom for my $100K Wedding. No less. No more. For everyone else, let me know if I have you hooked or if you're ready to take a snooze.

Title: Wanted: Groom for My $100K Wedding
Genre: Women's Fiction/Contemporary Romance
Status: Completed and querying!

First 312 words below....

Eyes fixate on the eighteen of us the moment we stumble in, frozen and sober. I force a cough. Anything is better than the glares tallying at record speed on the hundreds of guests’ faces. Their overwhelming reaction transforms the hairs on the back of my neck into cactus needles, and the experience serves to emphasize what I’ve been feeling most of the day: singled out. Empty beer bottles spill over the open bar and a handful of servers slouch in the corner of the grand hall, defeated. To a degree, I’m okay with the ring bearer wailing at the top of his lungs. Can’t the DJ play some music?

If only I had my BlackBerry, I could tweet instead…

A quick glance over my shoulder, with a clear shot of the narrow hallway, I spot an escape route—restrooms. Since our grand entrance no one appears near or around my safety net. And it’s only a matter of time before guests circle the bride and groom and start asking questions.

Frostbite manifests over my skin thanks to the short, cobalt blue bridesmaid dress and slingback heels I’ve been forced to wear in January. I continue coughing and dodge away quietly for cover.

Every muscle from my curvy backside pushes the lavish, oak door shut and I rest my head against it, inhaling freedom. The scents of fresh ivory and sweet pea fills the air and awakens memories of being a little girl, twirling in a wedding gown ten sizes too big in Gram’s pink powder room, my best friend Tony drowning in Gramps’ blue suit. And the promise he made.

The sound of a woman’s voice causes me to jump. “Who allows a caterer to run out of food at a wedding?”

As I make my way over to the vanity, three sets of shoes shuffle within the row of stalls.

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Star Tribune Blog - Destination: Second Chances

My latest Star Tribune Blog on our trip to Mexico, and giving it another chance! Let me know what you think.

Destination: Second Chances

Enjoy

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Chicken and Pasta in Peanut Sauce

Chicken and Pasta in Peanut Sauce
serves 4
(found on Better Homes and Garden Recipe Center)

8 oz thin whole wheat spaghetti
1 bunch of broccolini
1 medium red sweet pepper
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (I bought a rotisserie chicken)
salt and ground pepper (optional)
1 TBS olive oil
1/2 cup bottled peanut sauce
crushed red pepper (optional)

1. In a Dutch oven cook pasta according to package directions, adding broccolini and sweet pepper during the last two minutes of cooking. Drain. Return to Dutch oven and set.

2. Meanwhile, break apart rotisserie chicken and add to pasta and vegetables. Add peanut sauce. Sprinkle with red pepper.

Karl's thoughts: "Spicy, but I really like this! Yum, babe!"

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A Request for a Full!!!

The email came on Friday. "Kim is interested in seeing your full manuscript."

Now picture complete silence. My mouth dropping, eyes wide as saucers and complete panic rushing through my blood.

There was more to the email but that sentence was all I read before immediately calling my husband. I don't know what I said to him. I think I panted in the phone for awhile before making sense.

I was walking into Rainbow Foods, checking my BlackBerry (again) and almost passed out when the email came through. So I turned around and sat back in my car. My heart stopped. It really did. I felt it. A bunch of texts came through. Tears stung my eyes when my husband wrote, "no matter what happens, I'm proud of you." Who could top that? Nothing. Yes, he's amazing.

The first time I received a request for a follow-up email from my three-sentence pitch was in Wal-Mart while I bought groceries the week before.

Are you noticing a pattern here? I like food. And I guess I like to grocery shop. And Kim must know this. Ha. I could hear noises like never before. I felt like I was swimming in green beans and tomatoes. They were all I could focus on, and my breathing. For a second I thought I was back snorkeling in Mexico, listening to each sharp breath.

I stared at the blurry shopping list in my hands. Nothing made sense. What was produce again? How many onions? An old war vet raised his brows and smiled at me at least five times as I spun in circles wondering what the hell I was doing. I threw things in my cart. Went up and down the same aisle at least four times. Then I started talking to myself out loud. I'm sure I looked manic.

And for a second, for a split second, I felt it. A dream coming true. And I wanted to grab it and keep it. I wanted it to be mine forever. I've never been so close!!! All the dreaming, hard work, focus and determination were worth a tiny taste of knowing what this could really feel like. And I want it even more. I want this. I'm going to get there. And I've never been more sure of anything in my life (well, besides marrying my love Karl).

I could have floated out of the store. I wanted to keep the 'high' more than anything. I wanted to bottle the moment, knowing it would disappear faster than a damn blink.

My hands shook. My stomach ached. I needed to get away. And I forgot half the groceries.

Then just as fast as the pure joy and glory washed over me, doubt, worry and fear started to sneak in. I tried pushing it away. But it wreaked havoc on my stomach. And I can't figure out if I ate too much whole wheat pasta or if it was the overkill of asparagus...or nerves....lots and lots of them...

Is my stuff good enough?
Will it be exactly what she's looking for?
Will I hear..."yes"! or will it be "no"?
Will this be my only chance?
Will I become a 'published' author?
Will I be able to make my dream come true?

I don't know. It's all I can think about. And this is one of those times I wish I could fast forward into the future and know the outcome so I can prepare my emotions. But I can't. This is the story of life. I can bust my ass. I can research, learn and keep on writing. But only God knows and this is what makes each day precious. Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we fail. I guess it's what we do after that, that really defines us.

Here's to dreaming!




All that's worth cherishing, begins in the heart - Suzane Chapin

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Healthy Greek Chicken Surprise

Roasted Chicken with Olives, Feta and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
serves 4
(recipe found in Fitness Magazine September 2010)

3 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
4 4-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp dried oregano
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup pitted chopped Kalamata olives (about 10)
1/4 cup crumbled feta
3/4 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained
2 cups cooked whole-wheat orzo

1. Preheat oven to 375. Spread the oil over the bottom of a shallow roasting pan.
2. Place the chicken in the pan and season the top of each breast with the oregano and salt and pepper to taste. Top chicken with the olives, feta and sun-dried tomatoes. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.
3. Serve chicken with the orzo. (This needs flavor...I suggest lemon juice and pine nuts)

Karl's reaction: "Whoa...I think I bought the extra large sun-dried tomatoes! Still, it's good! Chicken is super tender."

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Easy, Healthy Burgers and Sandwiches

Around this time every year, I get spring fever. The snow and cold get painfully old. I can almost smell spring in the air. It's lighter out in the mornings and when I get home from work. I also long for grilling out.

That doesn't mean we can't make and enjoy our favorite 'summery' foods. We did after all get a George Forman as a wedding gift....

Turkey Burgers with Avocado
serves 4

I buy Jennie-O Turkey Burgers
Slice up avocado
Top with pepper jack cheese

served with Alexia Sweet Potato fries and pasta.

Ground Beef Burger with Mushrooms and Zucchini
(note: grass fed beef is better...less hormones)
serves 4

Grill meat
In a pan heat olive oil. Slice up yellow squash, zucchini and mushrooms until soft.
Place on top of burger and on the side
I also paired with Alexia Oven Red's potatoes

Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Sandwich
serves 4
(found in Women's Health - March 2011)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (organic....no hormones)
4 pineapple slices (1/2-inch thick)
1/4 cup pickled jalapeno slices
Teriyaki sauce
4 slices pepper jack
whole wheat buns

Combine chicken and enough teriyaki sauce to cover it in a resealable plastic bag. Marinate in the fridge for up to 12 hours.

Heat grill. Remove chicken and place on grill (cooking for 4-5 minutes). flip and immediately add cheese to each breast. Continue cooking until cheese is melted and chicken is lightly charred. Removed from grill.

Add pineapple and buns to grill. Cook rolls until lightly toasted and pineapple slices until they're soft and caramelized, about two minutes per side. Top each roll with chicken, pineapple, red onion and jalapeno.

Karl's reaction - "Yum, yum! Just don't give me any jalapenos."

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This is it...don't get scared now....

Drum roll please.....

I did it! I did it! I did it! I sent my first set of query letters for Wanted: Groom for My $100K Wedding out!

Am I panicking? Yes. Am I nervous as hell? Yes. Did I lose a bunch of sleep the past few days? Yes. Do I think I did the best I could? In my mind, yes, but note the emphasis on "in my mind". But as with everything in life, there are plenty of lessons to be learned. If I don't get any bites, then it's time to change up the query letter and see what happens.  

So what's next?
1. Perfecting my 2-3 page synopsis. It's done, but I like perfection...too bad I don't have this same mentality when it comes to cleaning our house.
2. Perfecting my 353-page manuscript for the millionth time. Yes, it's done...but see #1.
3. Continuing researching and querying agents until I'm blue in the face.
4. Updating Ella Dirk's (my main character) Twitter account (@never_says_no) and her Facebook account (Note: I won't be mad if you choose to 'like' it)
5. Waiting and hoping for that one agent phone call/email saying..."We love it! We want more!"
6. Putting tape on my fingers so I can stop the nail-biting madness. Karl now calls them cuticles...not fingernails. I honestly have NO nails. None. Gone. Gross.

So now you know where I've been hiding, that, and I just got back from a wonderful Mexico trip with my in-laws (I'm still working on a way I can thank them...any ideas would be appreciated). And there will be more to come on my thoughts on Mexico in my next Strib blog since I had such a bad experience there ten years ago and whined about it in a post on Blogger. You'll be happy to know that Mexico and I are back together. 

Please send all the good vibes you can my way. I'll be here living in my fantasy bubble and dreaming big things!

A quote from the calendar on my desk that made me smile:

Every person's life is a fairy tale written by God's fingers.
- Hans Christian Andersen

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