In December of 2004, I heard about two publisher-sponsored writing contests at the last minute and spent my Christmas holiday ignoring my family and gift-shopping to get my entries done. The publisher announcements were scheduled for the same day in January. When I checked my email that morning, fingernails gnawed to the quick and coping skills in place to deal with the sting of rejection, I was delighted to see that one pub was offering me a contract! There was lots of screaming and jumping around. My throat hurt. My heart felt like it would break out of my chest and dance along with me. Then came the second email that afternoon. By the end of the day, I’d placed second in Phaze.com’s Phaze One Writing Challenge *and* I’d made the cut in Amber Quill’s Heat Wave Contest. I still get a rush when I think about it, and any time I’m feeling bad, all I have to do is remember those emails

Laura Bacchi is a stereotypical librarian (glasses and all) who does research by day and more “research” by night to craft erotic romances that deliver both heat and sweet. For more about Laura, visit her website at
www.laurabacchi.com.

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