PW Loves D&G
Our first review is in, and Publisher’s Weekly loves us (although the talking dogs, not so much). We got a starred review! This is huge. We are very happy. The review:
Dogs and Goddesses
Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart and Lani Diane Rich.
St.Martin’s Paperbacks, $7.99 (400p) ISBN 978-0-312-94437-7Don’t be put off by the talking dogs; clever (human) dialogue and sassy heroines make this joint novel an amusing standout. After meeting at a local dog obedience-training session, coffeehouse owner Abby, Web writer Daisy and history professor Shar become fast friends. They also discover that the dog trainer is the Mesopotamian goddess Kammani, determined to rule the world like she did 4,000 years ago. Chosen as Kammani’s priestesses, Abby, Daisy and Shar aren’t quite ready to support the goddess’s destructive goals, even when she grants them magical powers including the ability to understand their dogs. Established authors Crusie (Charlie All Night), Stuart (Fire and Ice) and Rich (Wish You Were Here) turn this quirky charmer into an enjoyable paranormal romp that’s definitely not just for dog lovers. (Feb.)
This is the second hint we’ve had that D&G is giving good vibe. The first one was when our British publisher decided to publish the book uncut even though it’s too long for their line. We figured they must really like it to bend the rules like that. And now PW likes it.
So far, so great . . .
Ta Da: The Cover!
The tagline, in case you can’t read it, is “Dangerous men. Dark powers. Dog biscuits. They have it all.”
Update
No, we didn’t fall in a hole. Lani and Krissie just spent a week at my house and it was wonderful and we did nothing but talk and watch movies and play with Lani’s kids and go out to eat and to the Aquarium . . . we were slothful.
But now Lani wants to redesign this site, get it up to speed since we have to start promoting the book this winter. (I think it has a Feb pub date, but I can’t remember. Yes, I am a professional.) So any ideas you have for making this site better, let us know. Besides posting more often. We know that one.
In other news:
Chapter Three is coming up as soon as I have time to format it and then that’s all, folks. At least for actual text.
We have a cover. We’ll post it shortly. Like tomorrow maybe. We love it although one of us (cough Lani cough) has reservations.
And the cover has a tagline, but we’re not sure what to do about the contest since nobody’s entry won (Jen sent us an idea and we changed it and she changed it and we changed one word and we had it). Any suggestions you have for solving that would be good, too.
We’re going to be getting up to speed again soon. At any moment. Maybe tomorrow. Really.
D&G, the Tagline Contest
So we need a tagline for Dogs and Goddesses. Mollie will be sending out the prize: a fabulous tea set. I’d show you a picture of it BUT WORDPRESS WON”T LET ME UPLOAD PICTURES (yes, I did click the little media box; there’s a glitch in the programming and evidently many of us cannot upload unless we link to another site, which is not helpful). It’s a Tea Forté set that includes a café cup, wooden oval serving tray and tea tray with a sampler tin containing six Tea Forté silken tea infusers. It’s really lovely. You should see the picture.
Now the contest. If you’ve been reading this blog, you already know what Dogs and Goddesses about. If you haven’t, the Chapter One and Chapter Two are up here now, soon to be followed by Chapter Three. It’s about three women who find out they’re goddesses. Because their dogs talk to them. Trouble ensues.
So we need a short tagline because there are three names, a title, and the words “A Novel” on there already and it’s a mass market paperback cover which means it’s small. Deadline for entries is Monday 10 AM ET. Because that’s when I have to give them to Jen.
Oh and we have the first pass at the cover, but it’s not quite right yet. Really good start, though.
Dogs and Goddesses: the tagline. HELP.
Chapter Two
Aside from the stone walls and the harsh echo of Bailey’s toenails scratching against the floor, the inside of the step temple wasn’t as creepy as Daisy had expected. Even though it was June, the few students who stayed for summer classes gave it some life, and the recessed lighting that had been carved into the ceiling made the hallway seem a lot like all the other academic hallways on campus - slathered with the slightly intimidating air of academia, but otherwise normal. Continue reading Chapter Two…
Chapter One. Really.
Abby Richmond’s ancient, two-toned station wagon shuddered to a stop in front of the dust-covered windows of the Temple Street Coffeehouse, and the Newfoundland beside her sat up and barked.
“Bowser, I think we’re in trouble,” Abby said, peering through her windshield at the old building. “It doesn’t look like much of an inheritance.”
Bowser tried to lumber to his feet, but even in a full-sized station wagon there wasn’t enough room for a full-sized Newfie, so he settled back down again, looking up at her with his dark, gentle eyes.
“Yeah, I know, you need a patch of grass and something to eat,” Abby said. “The lawyer said there’s a place to park in the alley around back. Let’s reconnoiter.”
No, Really, We’re Done
The second revision letter came back with about half a dozen minor fixes and we fixed them. Lani’s getting ready to update the site. I’ll post the first chapter shortly. It takes a while because it has to be formatted by hand–argh–but it’s coming. And I’ve got the much improved Shar collage which I will post a picture of as soon as I find either my iPhone or the recharger for my camera. I’m in the middle of a massive remodel and I can’t find anything. But I’m looking.
So stay tuned. Things will be up here, swear to goddess.
But the good news is, our editor thinks Dogs and Goddesses is “a 100% amazing, stellar, funny, heartwrenching, sexy, powerful, soulful book.” We like it, too.
Oh, and Krissie made the New York Times list with her new book Fire and Ice!
And now we’re rewriting
We got our editor’s comments back and we need a new beginning. Major revision of the first act. Mostly my stuff (ARGH) but three new scenes up front.
I think it’s nice that we’re posting all the revisions. You can see how we pounded our heads on our keyboards AS IT HAPPENS.
CHAPTER ONE - Scene 1, Shar
Here it is in all its glory, as a reward to you loyal men and women who’ve watched us struggle through the birthing process.
Shar Summer opened the heavy doors to the storeroom of the Summerville College history department, pulled her reluctant black and gray long-haired dachshund into the dim interior with her, and stopped when she saw five women and their dogs sitting in a semi-circle of chairs around a platform stacked with old file boxes. They looked like they were worshipping some ancient goddess of archives.
CHAPTER ONE - Scene 2, Daisy
Some of you may notice that the man who used to be Jamie is now Noah. It started out as just a need to limit the names with the -ee sound at the end - we had quite a lot - and turned into a new layer of depth on the character. But it’s still the same guy… mostly. 
Enjoy!
“Bailey, heel!”
Daisy jerked on the leash as seventeen pounds of Jack Russell terror dragged her to the grassy patch behind the step temple, aggravating her tiny person’s complex. It was hard enough being four foot eleven without losing a tug of war to a dog the size of a Cabbage Patch doll. She leaned back and dug in her heels, trying to balance her purse, the ceramic bottle, Bailey, and her sanity.
“Heel! Heel! Heel!” Something snapped under her left foot. “What the– HEEL!”
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