In an attempt to show you how things really are beyond your control once you jump on that submission merry-go-round, I've timelined the journey of my first sale, Forgotten Marriage.  Take note that in between contest submissions and rejections, I was also editing that story, plus working on other stuff.

Wrote the first chapter (5,000 words) and entered it into RWAustralia's Opening Chapter 2000 contest as "Say You Love Me Again".  Bombed out in the 2nd round.

Entered it in RWAustralia's Opening Chapter 2001 contest as "Say You Love Me Again".  Made it to the finals and got some valuable feedback from final judge, Robyn Donald.

Entered it in Wisconsin Romance Writers Fabulous Five and Valley Forge RW's Winning Beginnings Contest.  It got nowhere.

Wrote the love scene (5,000 words) and entered it into RWAustralia's Love Scene contest as "Say You Love Me Again".

Placed first and got a request for the full by the final judge, Samantha Bell of Mills & Boon London

Sent partial with a promise to send the full by November.

Got a reply on the partial from Mills & Boon Presents (still hadn't finished the full) with helpful comments.  Some time later (I can't remember the exact month), I sent the full ms to Presents.

Got a rejection from Emily Woodfield of Mills & Boon Presents, but with helpful comments and a request for more work.

Following a rejection on another ms and a request for more work from Silhouette, I submitted the full to Diane Dietz.

Was rejected but with good feedback and a request to revise and resubmit to Stephanie Maurer of Desire.

I hear Stephanie Maurer has left Silhouette.

Bemoaning my luck about departing editors to Silhouette editor Shannon Godwin at RWAustralia's Sydney conference, she requests I send her the full.

I enter it into Romance Writers of Australia's Emma Darcy Award, where it got to 2nd round.

I enter it into Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart contest (short contemporary category), where I got disqualified for not double-spacing my synopsis, and numbering it as pages 1 and 2, starting Chapter 1 on page 3.

Shannon Godwin leaves Silhouette; I call Senior Editor of Desire, Melissa Jeglinski, who emails promptly and will hand it on to Jessica Alvarez.

Jessica Alvarez rejects it.

Now re-titled "The Wife He Never Knew" I pitch it as a Presents to Kimberly Young of Mills & Boon London at RWAustralia's Melbourne conference.  She asks for the partial.

I send the partial.  It's also entered in RWAustralia's Opening Chapter 2005 contest and the 2006 Valerie Parv Award.

I enter it in RWAustralia's Emerald Award for best unpublished manuscript (category section).

Enter it in the Magnolia State Dixie First Chapter Contest (short contemporary category). 

It places 2nd in the Valerie Parv Award.

I enquire as to the status with Kim Young... it's still being read.

Enter it in RWAustralia's QLS contest.

It's a finalist in the Emerald award, with the full being read by final judge, Patience Smith of Silhouette Books. 

It wins the Opening Chapter and final judge Mary-Theresa Hussey recommends I send the full to Demetria Lucas.  I email her to tell her that it's already on its way to Patience as part of my finalist placing.  M-TH says she loves "the energy" of my story (weee!)

It wins the QLS (along with my other two entries that place 2nd and 3rd) and is also a finalist in the Dixie.

It wins the Dixie in the short contemporary category.

It places 2nd in the Emerald. 

I email Demetria Lucas to enquire about the status.  She said she "loved it" and has sent it up the food chain to her Senior Editor, Melissa Jeglinski with "strong recommendations."

Silhouette Desire want to buy MY book!!

Of course, this isn't the end of this journey.  In the weeks that followed, I emailed Kim Young to withdraw it from consideration for Presents, I received my contract and then my revisions (with a 30th November deadline).  It got a new title by Marketing - Forgotten Marriage - and a release date of September 2007.  Exactly a year from acceptance to release.

After its release, Forgotten Marriage not only garnered a 4 1/2 star Romantic Times rating, but it also hit WaldenBooks' bestseller list,  and became a finalist in Colorado Romance Writers' Award of Excellence contest, and the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards (for Best Silhouette Desire and Best First Book).