Author Heather McCorkle

Have no fear, my absence from social media has not been without fruit. But I've missed you all, oh how I have missed you! Determined to take this year by storm, I have been working my rear off (literally in some cases as I have started a serious workout regiment. Well, okay, serious for me. But it's paying off, so that's what matters!).  What type of fruit you may wonder? Then there are those of you wondering how we went from my derriere to fruit. Hang in there, we'll get back on track. You may have noticed my blog/site is now a .com, yay!!! It took no small amount of sacrificial locks of my hair and sanity to accomplish, but it is done! My website and blog are now connected. Whew. To anyone who has ever had to do this, I raise a glass.  In the writing arena: Two manuscripts are currently in my agents hands, one of which is hopefully a final draft after three of their fabulous critiques and re-writes (cross your fingers for that one peeps!), the second manusc...

To help myself keep on track for my goals for the year, I've decided to do a monthly report of how things are coming along. We'll see how this works or if I'm left cringing most of the time! After receiving Blind Hearts back from agent #2, I put it through another round of edits and sent it back polished (to what seems like a high shine, hopefully) just yesterday. Fingers crossed that they both love it and think it's ready to send out on pub sub. I also polished up the proposal for the second book, and a third in the series. I began an outline on a novel set around 1830 centered around the romance of a couple involved in the building of the railroad in America. Hopefully I'll get to write that one later this year. I wrote the first 13,000 words of a brand new novel based off another historical romance set during the civil war that is currently in the hands of agent #1, whose critique on said novel I should be getting back any time now. Fingers crossed again!...

For my writer friends out there, I have news of a great opportunity to get a critique. My agency sister Marisa Cleveland is hosting a first page critique contest . The fun part, it is completely non-subjective as it is based solely off random choosing. The fabulous part is that it is a critique with Lane Heymont, the newest junior agent at the Seymour Agency. And trust me folks, you want to represented by this fabulous agency, and not just because you'd then be agency family with me. :) Lane is looking for well-written science fiction and fantasy novels. Exceptional world building is a must. In the non-fiction, he is looking for the inspiring, intriguing, and mysterious. For more on Lane, click here . To enter this fabulous contest, click here . Best of luck to all of you!

This new year is absolutely going to rock. I'm expecting two projects back from my agents soon, yep two. They could both arrive at the same time, or weeks apart. Stressful, heck no, that's part of the fun. I'm psyched to have two projects out to them because that's two projects that will be out on editorial submission to publishers this year. Woo! And, because I simply cannot stop, I'm hard at work on a new book. This one is based off supporting characters in one of my books out to my agents. Want a hint as to what it is about? Check out my Pinterest board for it at this link . How is your new year going so far?

Photo Credit: McCorkle Creations I like making resolutions, especially on my blog where I can hold myself accountable. It's hard, knowing the evidence will be right there, so I work all the harder to bring them to fruition. With that in mind, here is a look back at last year's resolutions, along with honest answers as to how I did. 2014: #1  Focus on fitness. Results: I bombed this one. *Sigh* The weight I gained was not muscle. New Resolution: Work out harder, more often. Planned weekly regiment with activity on the weekend as well! 2014: #2  Write every day. Results: I ROCKED this one. Three novels written last year. Whoo! New Resolution: Write three more this year. Get them to my agents, sell them, hopefully this year as well. 2014: #3  Pursue traditional publishing. Results: So far, so good. See # 5. New Resolution: Get my manuscripts that are written highly polished along with the help of my agents, and sell them to great houses! 2014: #4 ...

Photo Credit: Turner Home Entertainment Survive Holidays: CHECK Finish Editing New Manuscript: CHECK Send New MS to Agents: CHECK It has been a productive year for me so far! This last week I finished the 'final' (nothing is ever final until it is in print, of course) edit of my latest manuscript, and I just sent it off to my agents. That means it's time to do a little happy dance, relax the brain, and try not to start writing another book until next year. This latest one is a historical romance about a nurse serving the all-Irish 69th infantry during the civil war. To see the images that inspired me while writing it you can check out my Pinterest board on it. How about you? How was your holiday, and what last minute things are you squeezing in before the end of the year?

Wishing you a safe, and very merry holiday! May you be surrounded by those you hold dear, and who hold you dear, and of course may there be plenty of books under your tree, or waiting in your eReader's for you on Christmas morning!