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A Little Ruby History
 Posted by Liz Talley Jan 17 2012, 12:01 am in History of Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood, inspiration, liz talley, Winter Writing Festival, writing Long, long ago in a galaxy…well, right here in the Milky Way…calls went out from the National RWA Board that would knit a group of women together in a way very few can ever experience – in the quest to procure a little golden heart, the symbol of the best of the unpublished writers, along with all the wonderful accolades and opportunities such an accomplishment would bring. Little did those 59 women know that the knitting together of a group in 2009 would lead to such joy, inspiration, and dare we say, the hottest red shoes to hit RWA Nationals in Washington, DC? Sounds like a Hallmark card, huh? But the fact of the matter - it’s true. Almost three years ago, we became the Ruby- Slippered Sisterhood – a total mouthful for a group of women who constantly encourage other writers to keep description to a minimal. But it fit us like a glove gorgeous red shoe. We clicked. We fit. We bubbled over with enthusiasm…and it kept going even after RWA Nationals was an exhausting memory. Someone suggested a blog and our uber-talented sister Liz Bemis of Bemis Promotions raised her hand for the design project. In September, the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood blog was born. Our mission was to bring information and inspiration to other writers. This wasn’t to be a blog about our cat, dog or kid’s soccer team. Oh, no. Our blog was more about how to utilize the dog’s POV in a romantic suspense, or had someone read Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat, or comparing a promotional blitz utilizing a soccer gameplan. In other words, it would be about the art and business of writing, and this blog would be for writers at all stages of their career, providing posts on craft, career, industry and writer’s life. And it wouldn’t be just for the members of the Sisterhood – it would be for everyone who wanted to learn from our experiences on the yellow brick road to success….and the cornfields, scary woods and fool’s errands that went along with the journey. There have been many potholes along the way. Some sisters are snoozing in the poppy field…or merely ran off with a munchkin from the Lollipop League. Some hold oil cans. Some are putting out fires and some are clicking their slippers and taking off in hot air balloons sure to take them to the NYT bestseller list, but we’re all in that magical, terrible place over the rainbow where flying monkeys can scare the willies out of you, and wicked witches of doubt can set big traps to thwart you. I don’t know about you, but it certainly is easy to travel that yellow-bricked road, locked together in friendship. (Cue “We’re Off to See the Wizard”) So there you have it. Now you know. The Ruby Slippered Sisters’ history and why we feel so strongly about sharing the bonds we have with other writers. This Winter Writing Festival was born as a way to kick the year off with a serious intent to be productive and make progress on that road to wherever we’re heading. The destination may be different for everyone, but we’re hoping you’ll find there’s no place like the Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood when you need a friend. So, here’s the question for the day. Have you ever been part of a group that evolved into something wonderful you didn’t expect? If so, share. If not, well, now you are. Share:
              
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Loved this history lesson, Liz. I feel so lucky to be a part of the Ruby sisters — I’ve never met a more supportive and loyal group. We’ve shared so much together since March 25, 2009. I can’t imagine my life without you all!
Ditto! Sometimes things just work. Right peple, right time, right place – all things to create some ruby magic
About 4 years ago a small half dozen Aussies & New Zealanders (all unpublished) found themselves meeting up at the same annual conference the last couple of years and decided to make it a bit of a tradition.
We kept in constant email contact with one another, and with the RWNZ Clendon Award coming up (it’s the equivalent of the RWA Golden Heart), we decided to form a Book in 50 Days group (as that’s how many days were left to the cut off date to enter) and see who could polish, finish or get a manuscript done in time to enter.
I can’t remember off hand how many of us entered that year but it was the start of something amazing.
After the annual conference that year we decided keep the group going because it kept us so focused, and the support and friendship was so beneficial.
The group has grown over the last couple of years, we now have about 15 regular members, we hold a few Bi50D sessions, share information, chat, support, commiserate etc. etc. and all of us unashamedly acknowledge that we would be where we are in our writing journey’s if it wasn’t for this group (which has been renamed to BILD – still meaning Book in 50 Days but L is the Roman numeral for 50 and the word also has obvious connotations, we’ve all grown as writers!).
For the last few years we’ve met up to have dinner sometime over conference and we celebrate out achievements, big and small.
We made predictions and last year I kept track of how we went and some writing statistics and read them out at the dinner.
Just gotta share because these ladies are incredible.
Predictions (2011):
*we’re going to have a dozen finalists from the group (in various competitions)
* a minimum of 2 finalists in the RWNZ Clendon Award
* another half dozen will write a new book (not just edit an old one)
* we’ll have another 2 unpubbed members receive publishing contracts this year
* another member will find an agent
Achievements for the BILD group (for 2011):
15.5 books written
24 pitching appointments made by members
58 entries went into a contest (including commended/HC)
18 pieces of work placed in a contest
36 finalists
6 wins in a contest
48 individual pieces of work were submitted to agents
23 individual pieces of work were submitted to editors
12 partials requested by agents/editors
14 fulls requested by agents/editors
Rejections – no clear figure other than to say “multiple”
2 members offered representation by an agent
4 members offered a contract by an editor
11 books contracted to be published
7 issues of Heart To Heart articles written, edited, proof-read and laid-out
This was all done amidst:
approx.4000 earthquakes
3 sudden snowfalls
3 major flooding incidents
Our published authors have work published with the following houses:
Swimming Kangaroo Books USA
Carina Press
Whiskey Creek Press
Samhain
Noble Publishing
Penguin Australia
HMB
Kensington
Sourcebooks
Berkley
It’s an amazing thing to look back and reflect on where we started out a few years back and see how we’ve grown and developed.
And I wouldn’t swap what we have for anything. I love my BILD group!
So sorry this is such a long post but this article really resonated with me and I wanted to share the wonderful story of our BILD group.
That’s amazing, Kylie. Really special. I can understand your crowing. Treasure what you have. It isn’t everyday a person finds it.
You don’t have to apologize – this is exactly what I’m talking about. So exciting to see all that you’ve accomplished within your group. I always say that when one person is really focused, she can get another person focused and that’s a recipe for success. When you have 15 focused, you’re primed to burst through ceilings.
Thanks for sharing about your group
Love it!
What an awesome testament to the bonds of friendship, Kylie!!! So proud of you! And what fantastic achievements. You guys have something special, that’s clear. And you’ll cherish those bonds forever. What a great story!
What an amazing group, Kylie. I hope every writer can be part of a group like yours or like the Rubies.
Wow! What a great group!!
Zowie! What an absolutely amazing list of accomplishments congratulations to you all.
Great post, Liz! It really was a LONG time ago, wasn’t it. Can you believe nearly three years?
Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
In some ways it does feel “long ago” I think it’s because we grew to know each other so quickly. And the upside is that we have expanded and evolved so that the readers of our blog feel like one of us – that’s pretty cool when you can shift, shape and encompass. This sounds like a Vivi Andrews’ book – Ruby’s are shape-shifters. LOL.
Great post Liz! Time flies and lives cross, touching each other in a way you sometimes don’t expect. Not one of the original Rubies, even I feel a part of this awesome sisterhood. This blog is a place I come to gather, learn and share. You ladies/Rubies make the rest of us feel welcome and loved. Thank you! And the WWF . . . omigosh–I depend on it–look forward to it. Want and need it! The sprints are amazing and so are the frienships! So happy the lot of you got together to create this incredible home-place for us all. Hugs!
Exactly what I’m talking about. The Rubies are encompassing and we love having more sisters (and brothers) joining us each day, and especially during the WWF. There is something about community that allows us to be a part of something bigger, of something that’s moving ahead. With writing being so lonely at times, I like the various communities I share in each day to keep me feeling connected and valued. Gosh, that sounded kinda needy. Oh, well, I’m needy.
Thanks, Marian! Major hugs!!
Thanks Elisa–hugs back to ya! Rubies Rock!
What a wonderful post, Liz!!! I will be forever grateful for getting that call on March 25th as it brought all of you into my life!
Addison
Me, too, Addison! It’s hard to explain to my family how good of friends I am with people I may never even meet. It’s a different world and I’m glad to share it with this blog
Loved the walk down memory lane, Liz. The “almost three years” gave me a jolt. It’s seems longer than that. So much has happened during that time. I’m the Rubies are still going strong!
This is exactly what my CP and I were talking about the other day. She’s an 07 GH finalists and my other friend was in 99? Anyway, they were wondering why some groups like the Bandits and the Wet Noodles and The RSS seem to take off and why some just dissolve away. I think there are many factors, but one main factor is the blog. We started a blog when blogging was just starting to hit big. Just another example of right time, right place. Sure glad it happened that way
I don’t know about this, Liz. The 007 group had a blog, and it was doing well, but things fell apart anyway. Perhaps the focus on readers more than other writers when so few of us were published provided the last nail? I don’t know. What I do know is the synergy of this group is rare. I smile thinking about how tentative we were in the beginning, the names we suggested and disguarded (although I STILL think we should have kept the Shanghai! *G*), and that moment when, after Jamie’s astute observation, it all came together. Talk about magical. Going to conference that year was like meeting old friends.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, what a blessing it is to know all of you and to be part of this group. Hearts must be open to give, and in giving, open to receive. Golden Hearts are great. Ruby hearts are gems.
Love that last line. You a writer, or somethin’?
Ruby hearts are gems!! (smile)
I often wonder how I got so lucky. To have the Ruby Sisters. To get the call THAT PARTICULAR YEAR. I’m thrilled to be a part of this group. And more grateful that anyone can know.
Wonderful post, Liz!!!
This made me a bit dewy-eyed, doll. If I ever win the lottery (memo to self: buy a ticket!), there will be a house somewhere, a dedicated Ruby Retreat, where we can get together now an again to write, laugh, and just be. Every sister will have a key, so it’ll be available when time and circumstances allow.
Okay, so I know the odds are astronomical, but so what? One never knows . . .
Now that would be awesome! I think all Ruby’s should make the vow that if the lottery is won, the house is purchased. We just increased our odd by like at least 50! LOL.
If you’d told me on the day we finaled that we would evolve into such a community, I’m not sure I would have believed you. It’s been interesting to see how it’s just evolved on its own.
I agree.
I think some of it is that we are all so different, coming from varied backgrounds and ideologies. Yet, we are respectful of each other. Diversity breeds stability – something a biology professor once said in a class. Always struck me that the most stable of countries, groups, factions all have diverse beliefs and perceptions. I’d say the Rubies qualify
How fun to revisit the history of “us”!
I am so grateful for the 2009 call that made me a part of this wonderful group. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys! You have all been such a part of my journey–not just writing, but in life too–and it is so great to see how far we’ve all come.
What a great post, Liz! I still remember the giddiness as, one by one, we joined that Yahoo loop and chattered about dresses and what would happen next in the contest. It seems so long ago, and yet I think a lot of that early excitement has remained and is revived each time someone shares what’s happening in their lives and/or careers. It’s a wonderful group!
What a sweet post!! I can’t imagine not having the Rubies in my life!!
I’m SO lucky.
Thanks, Liz, for the review. It was a shocker to me to go in to schedule a blog post and see that we had so many posts already. I think we’re around the 700 mark? (Don’t quote me! LOL)
Oh, yeah, well over 700! And I haven’t checked how many comments at this point, but last I checked it was close to 40,000.
I’m with Gwyn, all misty eyed. SNIFF. I’m so happy to be a part of the sisterhood. You’re the most supportive and encourging bunch of women. I’m truly blessed knowing you all.
I don’t question why I just know that I’m freaking grateful to be in this group. Thanks for the walk down memory lane Liz. Hugs to all my sisters.
Popping in a day late to say that I am ever grateful to the fact that 2009 was my year to final in the Golden Heart. I cannot express what being a member of the RSS has done for me, professionally and personally. I love you all, and ow I’m going to wipe my eyes….