The Sad Tale of Why "The Secret Ingredient" Will Not Be Submitted to Kindle Scout

 I was stoked to have made the decision to try out Kindle Scout for the next title you've heard me rave about, The Secret Ingredient, a culinary romance about a frustrated female television chef named Marcella and her sexy neighbor-for-the-summer, Max. Cella, ostensibly there to write her next cookbook is licking her wounds from a number of professional failures, and is itching for a break from her predatory agent, Liz. It just so happens that the guy who owns the house next door is the nephew of a late, lauded chef whose restaurant closed when she died. Max knows his way around a kitchen and he's on a month-long vacation from a job overseas. When Cella enlists him to become her kitchen assistant, he says yes!

All sorts of things happen from there, and I was so excited to share it with you. If all went well with the Kindle Scout voting process, you would have seen it release this spring.

Then something happened: Amazon announced that, effective immediately, it is closing its store to new submissions.

So, first, let me wallow. Just for a minute. I was truly on the brink of releasing the book. I even had this amazing cover done by Elizabeth Mackey, and I am more than in love with it. But it looks like the fates had other plans for me, and for this book.

So, here's what's happening now. I've been pitching it to agents and editors and I am actively trying to lock down a traditional publishing deal. I know that hundreds of you have signed up to be notified when it's available. Don't worry--when I find out where The Secret Ingredient finds its home, I'll let you know.

Even though I'm disappointed, I want to say a huge thank you to all of those who have shown excitement for the book. Even though you might see me take down some descriptions and promotional stuff that I have up now (because, if I sell it to a publisher, the publisher will have the rights), please know that I haven't forgotten about you and that the book will be published, hopefully, very soon.