HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

I’m going to make this post very brief, it is, after all, a holiday.

I wanted to take a moment to talk about some of the friends I’ve made along the way–this road to publication. After the Avon Fanlit ended, Chris Jacobs invitedΒ  everyone to join a forum she created called Fanlit Forever. πŸ™‚ Many ex-Avon Fanlitters joined. Many dropped off shortly afterward, but there were a dedicated number of us who remained and were very active on board. I was one of the ones that stayed active for awhile. This group consisted of some of the bottom 503 of Avon Fanlit. None of us had ever finaled in the contest, none of us were even close to publication. What we all wanted to do was write.

What I really loved about this group of women was they accepted everyone, regardless of accomplishments, regardless of writing skill. I was so happy to find a group that literally opened their arms to me. At that time I didn’t have a contract, I didn’t have an agent, I hadn’t won anything, and they liked me anyway. And the feeling was very mutual. Anastasia, Christina, Laurie, Kellye, Alice and Kelly, thank you for being exactly who you are. If I never, ever told you before what that meant to find a ‘writing home’ after Avon Fanlit, I’m telling you now. It meant A LOT. Writing can be a very lonely existence and it would have been even more so for me in that year that followed Avon Fanlit if I hadn’t had Fanlit Forever to go to. THANK YOU.
Huge Hugs

So, now that I’ve finished blubbering, who wants my favourite Jane Austen movie, the Pride and Prejudice DVD?

Come back on Monday, January 4th, when the Bonus Gift will be Lisa Kleypas’s Wallflower Series.


63 Replies to “Day 4 – Countdown to SINFUL SURRENDER”

  1. Bev, are you out to make me cry this week? You are very special to me for the same reasons you just mentioned. I never knew that I could be a writer, I thought it was for professionals. You are a very positive influence and an inspiration to me!

    C

  2. Hi Bev,
    Happy New Year! I’ll admit i have never seen nor read Pride and Prejudice. I want to but have never gotten around too it. So this is an amazing giveaway and i’d love to win it.

  3. I LOVE this version of “P and P”! Colin Firth is cool, but sexy, and is perfect in the role of Mr. Darcy.
    Happy New Year, Beverley!

  4. Isn’t Chris J a doll?? The FanLit crew means so much to me for just the reasons you mentioned, Beverley. I LOVE running into any of the FanLit crew at Nationals. Will you be in Nashville? I wanted to get a photo with you in DC and missed the chance. We really should try to all get together in Nashville. SO many great romance writers have come out of that once in a lifetime experience and I know there are more to come! I have told everyone I know about your book, Beverley! I think you are going to be a BIG HIT in Alabama!

  5. After Avon ended, the formation of Fanlit Forever opened my world to writing. Bev, you and the others have given me so much inspiration, encouragement, and friendship, and I give thanks for every one of you. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to celebrate the release of your upcoming debut!!

    Happy New Year!!! 2010 is going to be a rocking year!

  6. Hi Bev, I love your title. Congratulations on your upcoming release. Thanks also for the story of your journey to publication. It gives me hope that I also may someday soon be a published historical romance novelist. Happy NewYear, and may this be a banner year of sales for you.

  7. Happy new year!

    Hope i win this, i actually haven’t been lucky enough to see this version of the movie! Looks great : )

  8. Happy New Year everyone I hope it is fabulous for all

    Beverley
    Isn’t it fanstastic when a group just click makes all the difference I am glad everything worked so well for you and I am soo looking forward to reading Sinful Surrender although I am sure I have said it before LOL

    Have Fun
    Helen

  9. I wish I had had more time to give to FanLit Forever and that I had stayed in better touch, because I do really miss that sense of community. But I still work for the company that ran it, so I guess it was a trade off.

    And speaking of (not) finaling, I think that in 2009 Susan Boyle taught everyone that sometimes it’s better to not win and that you don’t have to be the winner to have good things happen to you.

    Sarah

  10. Wow, I’ve not seen this movie nor have I read the book since I was in my early 20’s (many, many moons ago)! I would love for Colin Firth to refresh my memory.

  11. Happy New Year, Beverly & all!

    Thank you for hanging in there, Beverly! I think you’re awesome! Please enter my name in the contest.

  12. I remember Avon Fanlit! I wish they still did it, it was a lot of fun. And long live Pride and Prejudice!
    Margay

  13. Bev,

    Avon Fanlit helped me to remember my love of writing and to believe I might actually be good at it. Even though I didn’t win, the scores and the comments and the encouragement were amazing. I even kept your top ten lists from the board. lol πŸ™‚ Our group at Fanlit Forever has become part of my family–for writing, for friendship, for the important things in this thing we call life. Each success for each one of us is a success for all of us! πŸ™‚

    I am so thrilled to be able to celebrate your debut release with you!
    Like Laurie says, 2010 is going to be a rockin’ year!

    Huge hugs and a heartfelt Happy New Year! πŸ™‚

  14. Happy New Year! Thanks for this contest, Bev, and I hope to see your new book in stores across the country next week!

  15. Happy New Year, everyone!!! πŸ™‚

    Congrats, Bev, on your debut release. What an exciting time for you! Wishing you more success, special moments, and special friends this year.

  16. Bev, you keep on giving…gotta love that in a writer. I, too, know how important friends can be, especially writer friends. It’s a hard road, and if we don’t have support, how will we get where we want to be?

    Okay, so I’m one – out of the many – who WANTS THIS VERION OF P&P!!! Gads, I adore Colin Firth!!!!

    Also…I want your book, too, and even if I don’t win it, I’ll watch for it’s release and buy it myself!!! You’ve teased us way to much with this one. (grins)

    ~Phyllis~

  17. Happy New Year, Bev! Congrats on your upcoming book release. I am so happy for you and can’t wait to read your new book!!

  18. Happy New Year! I have never set down and watched the P&P nor have I read the book and I am a shamed of myself for not! Its just one of the things I never took the time to do!

  19. Congrats on the upcoming release of Sinful Surrender! Hope you have much success and joy in the coming year.

  20. Happy New Year to everyone! And how wonderful to have such a great set of friends as your sounding board! Thanks for the chance to win Colin–oh, I mean the movie!

  21. What an inspiring story. It brought tears to my eyes.

    I’ve never read or seen Pride & Prejudice and would love to both read and see it.

    Happy New Year and many successes for you.

    Joan

  22. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

    I hope you have a wonderful 2010.
    I have never seen this edition of Pride and Prejudice. I hear it is really really good though. Some people even prefer it over the only P&P that I’ve seen which is the one with Kiera Knightly.

    Hope everyone has a wonderful 2010 and Happy Reading! 4 more days till release day!!! Any plans for that day?

  23. Beverly,

    I am so glad you found the support you needed. You can never underestimate the importance of friendship, constructive criticism, and encouragement.
    I hope you have a Wonderful 2010 with great success for your book and a good start on the next one!

    I already have that DVD (My absolute favorite romance movie), so don’t enter me in the drawing.

  24. Aaaw, you’re a sweetheart! We were all so lucky to find a home where we could support each other after Avon FanLit.

    It’s been an honor and a privilege to be your friend and CP. I know 2010 will be a fantastic year for you!! Enjoy every second of your success, you deserve it!

    Oh! Don’t enter me in the contest either. I have the DVD. Unless you are giving Colin away, then ’tis another matter entirely. πŸ˜‰

    Hugs!!!

  25. BTW, Bev. As a major Janeite, I have all things P and P (lol) so please don’t put me in the drawing. I’d love to see someone else enjoy it as much as I have.

    It’s a GREAT prize to whoever wins. πŸ™‚ By far the best visual rep of this book. πŸ™‚

  26. I LOVE hearing stories such as yours Beverley! Also….who would not want to have Mr. Darcy?!! LOL!!

    Happy New Year to All!

  27. Hi Bev, counting down the days until release day. Yay!! Anyway, I just love Colin Firth in this special edition of Pride and Prejudice.

  28. I’ve seen tons of versions of this movie, but not with Colin Firth. He’s a hottie isn’t he? Happy New Year!!

  29. I’ve read the book and seen the movie but, I don’t own it. Great post and have a wonderful new year.

  30. Hi Bev,
    Happy New Year! Congratulations on your upcoming release. Please enter my name in the contest.

  31. Happy New Year! Congratulations on your upcoming release. I love what I have read so far and look forward to reading the entire book. Can’t wait for more from your talented pen! And P&P is one of my all-time favorite films! IMHO, the remake can’t hold a candle to the original Colin Firth edition!

  32. Count me in! I love those movies. I always say that I was born in the wrong century!

  33. I can’t read any other, modern books about Elizabeth and Darcy without comparing them to this wonderful TV show and how Firth and Ehle presented the characters.

    We had a Jane Austen marathon of 3 of her shorter TV shows on December 31 and I had a very hard time getting into those as well. Of course, they were much shortened in order to fill about 2 hours each. They were all made in 2007: Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion. My favorite here was Persuasion with a very good actress as the Anne Elliot. I’m not surprised that she won an award for her role.

    Anyway, I’d love to have this series. Please enter me.

  34. Renee, I was making myself weep. πŸ™‚ Thank you and if ever I can help, you know where I am. *hugs*

    Melissa, this version of P&P is a TREAT. If you win this, believe me, you won’t be disappointed. It’s very true to the book.

    Hi Deb, Happy New Year to you too. Yes, isn’t Colin Firth absolutely dreamy in this…sigh

    Happy New Year, Bonnie!!

    Hi Louisa, I sure do intend to be in TN this year. It will be a blast. And yes we need to set something up so we can all meet up and do something together. And Chris is a doll and she’s right here in GA but she’s so busy I never hear from her. And thanks so much for spreading the word in Alabama about SS, you’re a doll. πŸ˜‰

    Happy New Year Alexandra!!! Your day is coming pretty soon too and I, for one, can’t wait to get my hands on All Night With A Rogue. πŸ™‚

    Happy New Year Julie and Jane!!! And yes Julie, 6 hrs of perfection is exactly what it is.

    Happy New Year, Laurie!! We need to get together again, if not at National, then something more local or something. We need more time to just hang out. Thanks for all the support and the friendship. *hug*

    Carol Jo, thank you so much. Just keep writing and learn to write a kick-butt query letter. You will get there. Have a great 2010!

    Jen, you will not be disappointed in this one. This is THE BEST. It’s worth a buy even if you don’t win it. I’d buy the thing on Blu-ray if they had it. Happy New Year!

    Hey Josh, your fiancee is a lucky woman. πŸ˜‰

    Hi Helen!! *waves madly* You have mentioned it a time or two but like I’d ever, EVER get tired of hearing it. LOL.

    Sarah, that’s great you still work for the company that ran it. I thought your time with them was over. And yes, I’d like to think I won in so many other ways. SS being release is a dream come true so I’ll never EVER complain. πŸ˜‰

    Cheri, Colin is definitely worth a refreshing of those memory cells. πŸ˜‰

    Happy New Year Joan and Ginger! And Ginger I think you’re pretty awesome too. πŸ˜‰

    Hi Margay, I still wonder why they never did something like that again. I thought it was a smashing success (at least for the entrants).

    Hi Kel!! I’m so happy Avon Fanlit helped you remember your love of writing because the public deserves your talent. I’m so happy to be included as one of your friends and I know 2010 is going to be a rocking good year for you. *hugs*

    Happy New Year Susan!! I hope you do see my book in stores too. πŸ˜‰

    Hi Gannon, Happy New Year!!! Will be visiting you soon on The Romance Dish. And yes, Colin Firth…sigh.

    Happy New Year, Cheryl C!!! And thank you!!

    Hi Phyllis, Happy New Year!! Yes, the road is hard, even after publication, there is the challenge of remaining published. I feel very fortunate for the friends I have. πŸ™‚ And WHO doesn’t adore Colin Firth, especially if they’ve seen him in P&P. That’s when I started to TRULY appreciate him. πŸ™‚ And I truly hope you enjoy SS. πŸ™‚

    Hi Lisa, thank you so much and a Happy 2010 to you!!!

    Happy New Year, Sapphire!

    Thanks Barbara, the same to you!!

    LOL! Joder was that a Freudian slip??? Happy New Year!

    Hi Joan, and thank you so much. Friends are good aren’t they? Happy New Year!

    Happy New Year, Dorthy!! Yes, you MUST see this version. I leaves all others in the dust. Seriously. And on my release day I will be blogging all over the place:) But we’ll do something fun at home to celebrate and I will probably stop by a couple book stores and sign some book. πŸ˜€

    Thank you so much librarypat!!! And thanks for being a frequent visitor to the blog. πŸ™‚

    Happy New Year, Peggy, Estella, Kim and Linda!!! Estella, if you are a historical romance reader, you owe it to yourself to see this movie. Seriously. Kim, you must see THIS adaptation. It’s so true to the book, it makes the others pale in comparison, IMO. πŸ™‚

  35. Ahhh, Anastasia, my stalwart supporter and dearest friend. You’re the best. πŸ˜€ xxxooo *hugs*

    Happy New Year, Debra and Audra!

    Hi Mary *waves madly*!! Yes, that’s what I said, who wouldn’t want Darcy?!!Happy New Year!

    Hi Armenia, thanks for counting down with me.:) Happy New Year!

    Happy New Year, RachieG! And the thing about this movie is, he nor his family, thought he was good looking enough for the part. His brother actually laughed and said something like, ” don’t you have to be handsome?”

    Happy New Year, Mariska, Dena and Kimmy!! Thanks

    Happy New Year, Karen H! I hope the rest of the book lives up to your expectations. πŸ™‚

    Happy New Year, Kayla. I see I’m in good company. πŸ™‚

    LOL. Joye!! Good luck!

    Marjana, I hope you enjoy!!

    Hi Linda C! Although I write about that era, there are things in the 21st century I couldn’t do without.;) (modern plumbing).

    Hi Ranurgis! I’m with you, my second favourite is Persuasion followed very closely by Northanger Abbey! Love Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones (big sigh) in Persuasion.

  36. I hope it’s not too late to enter…I would LOVE a chance to win this! I’m a huge Jane Austen fan and Pride & Prejudice is my very favorite of her novels (followed by Sense & Sensibility at a close second!). I have the new P&P with Keira Knightly, but would love to add this one to my collection (Colin Firth is wonderful).

    Thank you!!!
    Isalys

  37. Hi Beverly….and Happy New Year!!! I love P&P and would be honored to win the DVD. Can’t wait for you new book……I know it’s going to be fantastic!!!

  38. Hi Beverly! This is my favourite version of Pride and Prejudice πŸ™‚ I just love how Colin Firth plays Mr Darcy.

  39. Pick me, pick me. My DVDs of this series got ruined (okay, so I played it too much and might have slept with it or something) so I deperatly need to replace it.

  40. Ooooooooh that is the best version of P&P. Nothing will EVER be as delicious as Mr. Darcy swimming in that pond!

    This would be wonderful seeing that a friend accidentally ruined my copy last year! =(

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