Email marketing

A little additional info on the writing:

I am writing a young adult novel that is told from the point of view of the sixteen year old (female) main character. Anyone who I choose to critique my work will get a full synopsis of the plot and major characters to help them have a better understanding.

What I am looking for:

~Someone with prior experience, either as a published writer (preferably in the young adult market, but definitely in the fiction market), an editor or anything else that you feel is appropriate experience (let me know what it is)
~Someone who will give constructive criticism on the writing style, content and story.
~Someone who has a strong working knowledge of the English language. I have a strong knowledge myself, but-you know how it is-sometimes I am just too close to the work to catch everything.
~Someone who understands that this story is written from a sixteen-year-old point of view (and one chapter from a seven-year-old point of view). I am trying to write the way a sixteen year old would tell the story, so not everything will follow the correct guidelines for writing.
~Someone who is not afraid to hurt my feelings.

Also, I am looking for:

~One or two girls, fifteen to seventeen years old, to read over the writing to make sure that I sound like their age group. It has not been TOO incredibly long since I was sixteen, but it has been long enough that I want backup!

What I do NOT want:

~Anyone who has Ph.D. Syndrome and will have a hard time separating themselves from their formal education. This will make it too hard for you to look at this from the sixteen year old viewpoint.
~Anyone who does not have experience in the fiction marketplace. Non-fiction writing is just a different world from what I am doing.
~Anyone who cannot give criticism. Like anyone else, I love hearing that my story and writing are great. Feel free to tell me that, but criticize me too. I am trying to improve my writing, and I cannot do that without constructive criticism.
~Anyone who is just wanting to read the story. I need people who are really willing to give me their input.

Thank you all so much. If you are interested in helping me out, please answer with a little information about yourself and why you think you would be a good choice to help me out. Also, give me someway to get in touch with you–your email address; I will respond to all of you, whether I pick you to help me or not, just to let you know one way or another.

Thank you all in advance!
Combogal….

I am not looking for someone looking for a job. I am looking for someone who has a passion for this. For instance, Obidane and Cait both told me why they think they would be a good pick, regardless of experience (though Cait actually has some)

Kim-I have looked into fiction press and have found that I personally prefer to work one on one with someone through email-you get a better working relationship-instead of posting on a site for anyone to critique. Though I will admit that I have not looked at it incredible closely. I will go back and see if it is something that I am interested in. Thank you for the suggestion.

Can anyone tell me where to attempt to market a manuscript of about 450 pages that is a science fiction ******* novel? I believe most publishers would classify it as Paranormal romance these days. I am a first time author without an agent and I am not interested in POD or vanity presses. Feel free to email me through this site if you want to know more about it.

My Mother’s Stories

My mother felt a sudden shiver down her spine. Rapid electrical pulses flood her veins waking her from a dream of a baby being born. She took wild, rapid gasps trying to steady her pulse. Her golden eyes were wide in the dark night trying to figure out what was happening. The feeling that flows through her body is hard to explain, she herself cannot understand it. Stories have only been told to her about it.

She always knew this day would come, the day that a special human would be born. The human that she would live to protect until he was eighteen. She hoped that protecting him would be easy; her mother, my grandmother, had told her stories that it was hard for her to keep her father, my grandfather, safe. This boy would become my father.

Years went by as she tried to stay near without him seeing her. It seemed really creepy to her to be following him from town to town, but somewhere deep down she knew it was important to keep him safe. If something was to happen to him and he died, a part of her would die. At least that is what the stories from the family book had said.

The time came when she would meet my father; well officially meet him that is. The moment when she would approach him and let him fix his eyes upon hers.

She takes long graceful strides down the brick sidewalk towards him, her dress flowing in the wind and her corset tight. Her long, golden brown hair flowing down her back in curls.

The day is beautiful and sunny with chirping birds. The wonderfulness of it being exaggerated by the moment. New booths of flowers and baked goods were set up at the market. She could see him standing with his mother by the flowers, happiness radiating from him.

Finally she stood before him. He is shorter than her only by a couple inches. His hair is a dark brown almost black, which seemed to glisten in the sunlight.

“Hello,” she says.

“Hello,” he and his mother say in response.

He looks up at her face into her golden hazel with his bright green eyes. There is a snap and tightness in the invisible threads that always held them together over the years. His eyes grow wide.

“Do I know you?” he asks while watching his mother proceed down the walk.

“I am not certain,” she responds.

“Your face is memorable,” he says persistently. “May I ask your name?”

“But you recognize me, I thought.”

“You seem familiar, but I do not know your name. May I have it, Miss?”

“Alice. Alice Marshall.”

“Nice to meet you, Alice Marshall. I am Antony Edwards,” he says while taking a gentlemanly bow. My mother was not expecting him to act in this way. Thoughts of keeping him safe hold a steady flood through her mind.

“Nice meeting you, too.”

My mother told me these stories after I found out our family secret. I do not remember exactly what happened on their first meeting. They went on a brief walk down the brick walk. She said that their bond was unusually strong at first. It had been some time since a promise, or soul mate, had noticed their promise. This usually resulted in a powerful offspring, but this is not about me.

After their first meeting, my father courted my mother with old fashioned ways, which was the normality of the time. She enjoyed it, so she let him proceed. He was also very protective over her, even though she was the one destined to keep him safe.

The night is cool and pleasant. They are at the walk where they first met. My mother has plans to tell him her secret, and my father has plans to make her his forever.

“Darling,” they both say at the same time.

“Go on,” mother says.

“Darling,” he clears his throat, “I feel as if our souls were always meant to be connected. My love for you is profound.” He bows down on one knee, exposes a small black box from within his pocket, and opens it. Mother gasps at the beautiful ring. “My love for you will last eternity. I promise you that. Alice Marshall, will you do the honor of being my wife?”

Mother is speechless, not knowing how to respond to this question when Father did not have the opportunity to know the true her.

“There is something I suppose you should know before I answer that.” Father’s face grew grim. Then mother’s eyes grew wide.

“Stop right there. Mister,” a man from behind Father says as he holds onto a gun. Father turns his head slightly to look at the man.

“Now let us not be so hasty,” Father says to the man.

“Mister, just give me your money.” The man holds a pause. “That ring, too,” he says as he points at the ring in my father’s hand and shakes the gun.

“No!” Father exclaims as he puts the box back in his pocket.

“Now!” the man yells, walking closer to them.

***If you want to read more feel free to email or IM me. For some reason when I post additional stuff it puts it at the top.

I would like to freelance as a travel writer. I enjoy travelling, photography and writing and would love to be able to combine all of them.

I have a copy of the writers market with lists of magazine publishers in the UK. How do I approach the editors? Phone/Email…what should I say?

Thanks