Guest Authors Blogging at PPP!

I'm very excited to announce Poetry, Prose, and Print will be interviewing and welcoming many authors to share their own journey to publication and dish about upcoming releases! Look for the first interview tomorrow with Sandra Sookoo!

Sandra may not know it, but she encouraged me before I even had a contract to keep writing and not give up on my dream of being published. I could always count on seeing her 'status' about writing or editing. Her commitment to writing has been an inspiration to me. I'm thankful to have 'met' her through social networking and I'm happy to have her as my first featured author!

(photo courtesy lusi)

Waiting and Writing

Around the beginning of October, I submitted my first completed manuscript. This YA novel will always hold a special place in my heart no matter what happens in NY. This was the baby that made it all clear to me that writing was what I was born to do besides sing. After almost two years in the making, two hundred and seventy-eight pages, countless rewrites and one busted computer later (it fell to the ground right when I could see the ending in sight), I shipped it off. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders as soon as I did, but then a few days later the weight was back and stronger than ever before. I got the email asking for the entire work and I rejoiced, but now I'm back to biting my nails.

What if I missed the mark with my target audience? What if I shipped it off to the wrong editor? And then the big one question … what if my novel is rejected? Literally, a million questions go through your mind. I know writers face rejection and what truly matters in the end is if you keep trying.

Yeah.

I get that, but looking out for every email or envelope in the mail is very, very hard! I haven't shared the details about my YA novel because I almost think it could jinx things. Crazy, I know and I'll admit to being just a little bit crazy. I was up to two in the morning thinking my writing and this book and what I would do if it is or doesn't get picked up. I know for sure I will resubmit and pull all of my hair out (that's a lot of hair)!

Once I was released from Mia's story, all the other characters that have been swirling around in my head began pushing and shoving to make it out next. I love short stories a lot as a reader and definitely as a writer. There is nothing like creating a tale in a week or less and enjoying the sweet success of completing a story. Waiting for word is tough, but becoming published in the meanwhile with my other short stories has helped. I can do nothing but wait and write and try not to wonder every few hours about all the 'what if's'.

I was pleasantly surprised to read the blog post of an editor turned author that finally submitted his own manuscript and discovered what it was like on the other side. His story is worth reading and you can find it here!

I'm live! Introducing www.angelanichelle.com!

Check out my website to find out more information about upcoming releases and what drives me to write the stories that I do.  I am so happy with the site and my talented sister for working with me to create a beautiful, user-friendly website!

Release Date!

Just in time for the holidays! A Christmas for Carol will be released on December 21st with Noble Romance Publishing! This will be the first sweet romance anthology for NRP and I'm very excited to have my short story selected for this special debut. This will be my first published work under my penname Angela Nichelle. I decided to use my middle name for all of my sweet romance and YA books in the future.


One of my favorite movies of the holiday season is A Christmas Carol, the timeless story about a man that has lost his love and joy for everything in life besides making money. The concept of losing your heart, struggling to trust in love and getting a nudge from the other side sparked the inspiration for A Christmas for Carol.

My story revolves around a beautiful young woman who's not crotchety like Scrooge, but has closed herself off to love just the same. She's experienced the worst kind of loss and believes her fragile heart can never recover. But holiday magic is in the air and so is a second chance at love for my sassy heroine!

I will be sharing a blurb and a sneak peek at the cover soon!

Manuscript Received!

Today, I got the postcard from Kimani Tru confirming that they had indeed received my full manuscript as requested. I still can't believe that almost two years ago I got serious about my writing and committed myself to finishing Mia's story. This has been such an amazing year for me in the sense that I finally decided to follow my dream of becoming an author no matter what.

With two young kids and a million distractions as a mother and wife, I finished not just the manuscript that's being reviewed in New York, but three other short stories. I've been offered a contract for two of those stories and I'm waiting to hear about the third. I'm thrilled! I'm humbled and happy.

We all have different dreams and some of them we reach for and others we just daydream about. All of us change through life as we grow older and experience new things and often times our dreams shift with us, but the core of your dream usually remains the same. It's the part of you that's truly you without the programmed fears and self-conscious hang-ups. For me, being creative is what makes me feel alive. Whether it's with my music or writing, I just feel like I'm the most connected with myself and the world when I'm in one of those two worlds.

This year is almost over, but I've learned so much about myself and what I'm capable of doing when I'm fully committed. What's your dream? Are you fully committed to it or is it just a daydream that seems impossible to grasp? Don't listen to those around you or the voices in your head that would have you to believe you can't do whatever your heart desires. You can because whatever your dream is...is a part of who you truly are. Be you...be brilliant!

Great Resource!

I have to spread the word about a fantastic site that helps take the time and energy out of submitting your work. Ever heard of WordHustler? This genius site has a wealth of information from finding the perfect query letter to in-depth interviews with authors, agents, editors already in the business. If you have work that is ready to submit, WordHustler can make sure it gets delivered to the right person. They will even track how many submissions you have out and let you know how long you've been waiting for a response.

After working so long on my first manuscript, I was nervous about using WordHustler. I read reviews and testimonials and played around with the site before actually submitting my work for them to ship for me. As a novice to the industry, it was wonderful using WordHustler's database to see thousands of markets I hadn't even thought of submitting work to. Prices are responsible and the customer service rocks! Seriously, I had a question and the gentleman helping me was competent and friendly sticking with me via email until I understood exactly what to do.

I am hooked! Using WordHustler, I can easily locate the right fit for my work. I've learned great tips on submitting to the markets and agents I'm interested in. Take a look at their site and I am positive you will want to use this amazing resource!

Believing in Your Gifts

I’ve always loved three things in my life: reading, writing and singing. But it’s taken me a long time to realize that writing and singing were my gifts. It’s not that I wasn’t told that they were or that in the back of my mind I didn’t know…the truth was I didn’t believe I was good enough to do either. It didn’t matter how well I sang or how many times someone told me how much they enjoyed my performance because deep down I never really believed them. I wonder sometimes what I would have done differently with my music in school if fear hadn’t held me back.


The same went with my writing that began at an early age. I remember getting my first journal and I believe my love affair with words started then. I moved on to stories, plays and poems that I’d scribble into notebook after notebook for only me to read. I was too scared to share any of it with anyone.


In college, I started sharing some of my poems and I can remember being told that I should pursue writing. I thought, “Who would want to read some of my stuff?” I focused on my music, but writing always popped up in creating songs and crafting poetry to express myself.

Now, almost ten years later, I understand that you have to believe in your gifts to really soar with them. You have to let go of your fear to let your gifts grow.

I’m not saying that I don’t still have off days as a writer, but I finally believe that…I AM A WRITER. That’s huge. I got serious about becoming a published author about a year and half ago and now within the last month I’ve been offered a contract for one of my short stories and asked to send in my full manuscript for my YA novel.


Validation does encourage the spirit, but you still have to know within your being that you are your gift to achieve any amount of success. Success is usually based on status and money, but I truly think it should be measured in realizing your gifts and honing your talent to share and enrich other lives no matter what the calling!