Acquiring Editor Donna O'Brien from Crescent Moon Press

Hey Donna, I am so happy to share my blog space with you today. Can we start off by having you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

Thanks so much for having me Micole! Let’s see condensed version…I’ve got four kids, and two grandgirls. My husband and I will celebrate our 25^th Anniversary this year and he is my real life hero.

Tell us about the publishing house that you work for, Crescent Moon Press.

Short version: Completely awesome! A little longer version: Crescent Moon Press was formed as an independent boutique publisher and prides itself on writing out of the box story lines as well as its professionalism. We support our authors and provide assistance with marketing, publish simultaneously in print and digital formats and allow considerable input as far as cover design and titles.

Does Crescent Moon Press accept non agented writers?

Yes we do. We believe that diamond in the rough deserves a chance as well as the polished gem. So both agented and non-agented writers are welcome at CMP.

Is there something specific you are looking for in a manuscript?

I am actively seeking urban fantasy, sci-fi, time travel, high fantasy, a great new twist on an old myth, anything dark, dangerous and full of beings with that something extra that bring make believe to life, fast paced YA, and New Adult (17-25 y/o protags) with more on their mind than school and dating. If the premise is powerfully unique, the voice unforgettable, and the writing pristine, then I want to see that story.

What do you not want to see?

I do not want to see the same old, same old or a fabulous plot poorly written. That’s sooo disappointing.

Once you have fallen in love with a manuscript, where does it go from there?

I send a desperate plea to my publisher to let me buy the manuscript with a description of the story and why I think it would be marketable. If I get the approval, then I send an offer to the author.

What does a day in the life of an acquiring editor look like?

BUSY!!! LOL Reading submissions and queries, requesting fulls if I like the query. Editing manuscripts. Responding to authors questions about the progress of their book. Calming their anxieties if they are a new author. Rejecting queries. E-mails galore! Attending a conference here or there to accept pitches. Approving blurbs and bios. Um….I’m sure I left something out. Maybe eating something once and a while and then there’s the mom stuff too. ;)

Thank you Donna, for spending the day with us here at Micole Writes Romance.

Thanks again for having me Micole! I’d also like to invite any of your readers out there who are going to attend the RT Convention in April, to look me up. I’ll be available at the Crescent Moon Press Publisher’s Spotlight as well as taking pitches on Wednesday!

And because I had such a busy week and didn’t get a chance to pick a winner for the contest yet, we are going to extend it until Friday!! So if you haven’t entered yet, get your first and last line entered!! Good luck!

Make sure to get those pitches in readers. I can’t wait to announce the winners!!! Thank you all for spending your precious time with Donna and I today. Take care and I will see you her tomorrow when we announce the winners!

Until then. Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Micole

CONTEST ALERT!!!!!!!!!

Good morning friends… WOW two blogs in two days!!! Pretty exciting right??? Well I thought you all might be interested to hear about a contest that is going on right here on my blog. My good friend, and acquiring editor, Donna O’brien has agreed to do a contest. The entrances must be ROMANTIC TALES OF FANTASY, SCIENCE FITCION, OR PARANORMAL stories. One lucky entrance will win a read of their full manuscript by Donna. Two lucky writers will get to submit their first three chapters. You will find all of the details below. And if you lose track of this blog post you can always check the side bar of my blog. All of the important stuff will be there! ;-) I am so excited. All of you writers out there get your first and last lines ready! Make sure to share the contest details with all of your writers friends and tell them to stop by the blog and enter. Good luck!!!!

How important is that first sentence? Extremely! But so is your final sentence because it’s the last thing your readers take away from your novel. Your final chance to make a lasting impression, if you will. ;) So enter your First Line AND your Last Line for a chance to submit the full manuscript to Crescent Moon Press!

1. Submit the first and last sentence only of your manuscript to Crescent Moon Press Acquisitions Editor, Donna O’Brien via e-mail: donna@crescentmoonpress.com by midnight on March 22, 2011.
2. Check the Micole Writes Romance blog @ http://www.micolewritesromance.blogspot.com/ on March 24, 2011, to see if you won.
3. There are three chances to win: 2nd and 3rd place will be able to submit their first three chapters and a synopsis and 1st place will be able to submit their full manuscript to Editor Donna O’Brien.
4. Crescent Moon Press publishes high quality fantasy, futuristic, and paranormal romantic fiction. See their website @ http://www.crescentmoonpress.com/ for more details.

If your full has that all important first line that will hook a reader and make them want to continue and a last line that will keep them coming back for more, then what are you waiting for? Submit them to Donna O’Brien, Crescent Moon Press Acquisitions Editor today!