And more good news...

I've just been informed that my first novel, THE LEGACY, has a negotiated agreement for its first foreign rights sale! It will be going to France, which apparently appreciates my work and Jerry Lewis's, for what that's worth. LOL! Vive la France!

TJB

Performance Reviews in Hell

Because some days are just like this:

Some Good News

I guess it's okay to officially announce this now, and I'm glad because I can't keep it to myself any longer. I've signed with a fabulous new agent at a wonderful agency I've been hoping to be with for a long time. I feel like I landed the dream date quarterback and got crowned queen of the prom all in one. Lucienne Diver of The Knight Agency offered me representation, and I have accepted. I'm so excited to be working with this experienced, savvy agent, and I know she'll do right by me.

Lucienne's enthusiasm for my work is such a validation, as it is so easy to question one's talent when one hears more "no's" than "yes's."
To see a sample of this enthusiasm, check out her blog, which describes the process she went through when reading the manuscript she took me on for.

In addition to signing with the agency of my dreams, I also received news that my second novel, THE PROMISE, is a finalist in the Orange County Chapter of RWA's Book Buyers Best award. Rumor is there were over 100 entries,  so I'm flattered and delighted to be among the finalists in this prestigious contest.

So, despite having a broken kid in the rehab hospital, there are still good things happening in my life. I'm grateful for all my blessings.

Take care,
TJB

Winners of free books!

We have our winners, folks.

Christine, you are the winner of Gerry Bartlett's Vampires Hate Their Thighs!
Kara C, you are the winner of Colleen Thompson's Touch of Evil!

Both copies are signed by their authors and yours to treasure forever...provided you claim them by sending me an e-mail (tjb @ tjbennett . com) no later than April 19. I'll need your snail mail address to send them out to you. If you don't claim you book, I'll select another eligible winner.

Congrats!

TJB

Best Laid Plans...

Wow, life likes to throw curve balls at ya, doesn't it? Despite my best laid plans, I was forced to reschedule my workshop at West Houston RWA due to a family emergency (I will present in August instead). My broke kid got broken again (fractured his left leg in two places), which requires me to play momma nurse again. So, no extra books. Sighhhh.

However, I do still have signed copies of new releases by Colleen Thompson (Touch of Evil) and Gerry Bartlett (Vampires Hate Their Thighs) to give away. Leave a comment on this post if you'd like to win one of them, with your preference listed for the one you'd like most, and I'll pick two winners by April 15, 2010. So, if you win, tax day won't be all bad, will it? Winners will have until April 19 to claim their prizes.

Have fun!

TJB

Well, hello there!

I swear I'm not dead. Nor have I moved to outer Mongolia. Not even inner Mongolia.

But I have been busy. I'm in the middle of some transitions, starts and restarts, all occurring at the same time. And of course, it doesn't help that my computer crashed at the most critical point of that, because my new side business venture requires, of course, for me to have a working computer. Of course. I have some critical software that will only work with Windows XP, so I had to have a new one built from scratch with the XP operating system. Dang, nothing is ever easy.

Still, I thought I owed an explanation to those of you who might occasionally wistfully check this page to see if I'm running a new contest or featuring a new author.

So, just to let you know, I'm planning to give away some new, signed books after next week. I will be presenting a workshop at the West Houston RWA chapter on April 10, at which time I hope to acquire a couple of neato-beano books from some of my favorite authors at the monthly booksigning. WHRWA has some killer authors. Already I have in my possession smash new releases by Colleen Thompson and Gerry Bartlett. Who knows what I'll come home with after next weekend?

When I do, you know I will give them to you.

If you live in the Houston area, come on out and see me. I'd love for you to stop in. Details of my talk, "When Your Princess Isn't Perfect," a discussion of personality trait characteristics for romantic heroines experiencing conflict and stress, are on WHRWA's website.

And thanks for stopping in.

TJB