New Synopsis--What do you think?

Hey guys and gals,

I thought I'd post my new synopsis out here for you all to take a look at. What do you think? Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks!

Synopsis—Beauty Secrets

Every Beauty Secret representative knows two things: never come between a woman and her lipstick, and always keep your client’s secrets. Unfortunately Keira Diaz didn’t get that memo.

While making a beauty delivery to Marion Siebold’s house, Keira finds her client unconscious on the floor. The police arrive as Marion comes to and it’s revealed that Marion’s playboy husband, Roger, is missing.

The police are quick to dismiss the case, assuming Roger ran off with a girlfriend. Most of the town, including the police, are more concerned with finding a kidnapped little girl. That is, until Roger’s body is found.

Strangled by a pair of black nylons and with red lipstick smeared on his collar, Roger’s murder was set up to look like a crime of passion. Keira recognizes the shade of lipstick, Goodbye Kiss, from last fall’s line, but unlike the police, she’s not convinced a woman committed the murder.

Suddenly, Keira’s job goes from selling lipstick to solving murder.
Keira is safe until she uncovers the murderer's secrets. She was right—a woman didn’t murder Roger, his business partner did. Seth Perez couldn’t risk financial ruin if Roger’s corrupt practices became public. Embezzling funds from the notorious Vincent Delgado was bound to ruin them both.

The plan had initially been for Roger to fake his own death and run off with his girlfriend, leaving the insurance money to settle his debt. But when the plan fell through, Seth took matters into his own hands—killing Roger and then setting Delgado up to take the fall. Seth even made it appear that Delgado used Roger’s playboy reputation to set the murder up.

Keira puts the pieces together when she finds the Goodbye Kiss lipstick from the crime scene at Seth’s house. Mastering the art of female persuasion, Keira seduces Seth into confessing. Things get dicey when Seth takes Keira’s flattery too far. Not understanding the word “no,” Keira is forced to knock Seth out with more than a kiss. Thank heavens for crystal vases and women who aren't afraid to fight.

#Fail

Yep, I totally failed my own genre challenge. Maybe I should've made it, "read a genre you haven't read before sometime this summer," because last week, it totally wasn't happening. I'm still committed to reading Steampunk though. I requested Gail Carriger's The Parasol Protectorate series from my library, so I'm at least off to a start.

Did anyone have better luck?

I'd like to say I'll have a chance to read this week, but I'd hate to be wrong again. My goal this week is actually to get some more editing done on BS. I have another partial request and I'd like to go through the MS one more time before sending it off. You know the feeling.

Genre Challenge--You in?

Confession: I've never read any steampunk. Nothing. Notta. No short story, novella, novel, zip zilch. And I think that's sad.

What about you?

Maybe you've read (or heck, even written) steampunk (Matt), but you've never read fantasy, YA, or romance.

Well, here's my challenge to you:

In the next week, read a genre that you've never read before and then come back here and blog about it. It doesn't have to be a whole novel, a short story will do. The point is to broaden your literary tastes. See what else is out there.

Who knows, you might fall in love with reading all over again.

So, I ask you again: Are you in?

The Revision Merry-Go-Round

As I readily edit Beauty Secrets for the umptenth time (minor edits, people. Characterization stuff. But if an agent has some suggestions, I'm all ears.) I realize that I'm not alone on this crazy quest for literary perfection. The editing process is cool when you can read the end results. As I've said before, the first draft is only the bones. It's the editing process that gives your work it's soul.

So, what about you?

How many times have you edited your current WIP?

Do you think this madness will ever end? :)

Writing Rocks

I'd like to take a minute to say "I love writing!!!!" Seriously, it's the coolest thing ever. And, if I could get paid to do all of this--writing, editing, blogging, tweeting--everyday, life would be so sweet. I mean, life's already pretty good, but being paid to write and promote my fiction would be the cherry on top of my sundae. Me likey the hot fudge.

Even when life gets crazy with moving, job hunting and house packing, I still have my eye on the prize. Yes, the rubber has hit the road, and I'm not stopping.