First Sale Stories 1:
Or When They Got 'The Call'!
Or When They Got 'The Call'!
Eve Silver
My road to that first sale was fairly long and rocky. For five years I wrote books
and submitted queries, partials and even full manuscripts to agents and
editors, and of course I have the dozens and dozens of battle wounds from all
the kind, and not-so-kind, rejection letters I received. One house kept my
requested full manuscript for over two years. An editor at a second major house
requested two full manuscripts from me, asked for revisions (which I completed)
and emailed me over the course of nearly two years (again!) telling me to be
patient... that the books were with a senior editor... that I should hear back
soon... that she hoped for a positive result. I waited, and waited, and waited,
each passing week eating away at my confidence and hopes like a disease.
Then I had the good fortune to connect with another editor at the same house
who was kind enough to help me. I found out that both books had been
rejected some time past, and somehow, the message had been lost in
translation. All those endless months of waiting and hoping and dreaming... all
those wasted months of holding off on submitting anywhere else... only to find
that there had never been any hope at all. I was devastated, but thanks to my
extremely supportive husband, kids, and critique group, I managed to hold on
to hope by a thin thread.
There was, however, a silver lining to that daunting experience. Despite
rejecting my work, the house in question sent back my books, and they were
kind enough to include a ton of post-it notes marking what they perceived as
problem areas. I read every one of those notes at least a dozen times, and then
I went back and read every single one of those rejection letters and contest
entries, and then I applied all I learned from them. Still, I must confess, I was
very close to giving up when my luck changed.
I researched agents and queried several. There was interest from some agents,
but no real connection. Then, eleven days after submitting my manuscript to
the woman who would become my agent, I received a phone call from her that
was so positive and enthusiastic that at first I thought I must be dreaming.
Could an agent really be saying that she loved my manuscript? Less than three
weeks later she had sold my historical gothic romance, DARK DESIRES, as part
of a two book contract. And thrill upon thrill - there were no revisions.
Funny thing is, after dreaming about it for so many years, I never got "the call".
My agent sent me the most understated email ever, pretty much a one-liner
that said "I have an offer on your book".
First person I called: my husband. And I was hyperventilating so badly that he
couldn't understand what I was trying to tell him. He thought I was having
some life-threatening experience and he almost called an ambulance. Then he
was so excited, he took his whole office out for lunch to celebrate the birth of
the bouncing baby book, while I sat at home and breathed into a paper bag. Of
course, I did get the celebratory dinner and flowers later that night.
I feel incredibly lucky and blessed to have my dream come true.
Click here to visit Eve's website
My road to that first sale was fairly long and rocky. For five years I wrote books
and submitted queries, partials and even full manuscripts to agents and
editors, and of course I have the dozens and dozens of battle wounds from all
the kind, and not-so-kind, rejection letters I received. One house kept my
requested full manuscript for over two years. An editor at a second major house
requested two full manuscripts from me, asked for revisions (which I completed)
and emailed me over the course of nearly two years (again!) telling me to be
patient... that the books were with a senior editor... that I should hear back
soon... that she hoped for a positive result. I waited, and waited, and waited,
each passing week eating away at my confidence and hopes like a disease.
Then I had the good fortune to connect with another editor at the same house
who was kind enough to help me. I found out that both books had been
rejected some time past, and somehow, the message had been lost in
translation. All those endless months of waiting and hoping and dreaming... all
those wasted months of holding off on submitting anywhere else... only to find
that there had never been any hope at all. I was devastated, but thanks to my
extremely supportive husband, kids, and critique group, I managed to hold on
to hope by a thin thread.
There was, however, a silver lining to that daunting experience. Despite
rejecting my work, the house in question sent back my books, and they were
kind enough to include a ton of post-it notes marking what they perceived as
problem areas. I read every one of those notes at least a dozen times, and then
I went back and read every single one of those rejection letters and contest
entries, and then I applied all I learned from them. Still, I must confess, I was
very close to giving up when my luck changed.
I researched agents and queried several. There was interest from some agents,
but no real connection. Then, eleven days after submitting my manuscript to
the woman who would become my agent, I received a phone call from her that
was so positive and enthusiastic that at first I thought I must be dreaming.
Could an agent really be saying that she loved my manuscript? Less than three
weeks later she had sold my historical gothic romance, DARK DESIRES, as part
of a two book contract. And thrill upon thrill - there were no revisions.
Funny thing is, after dreaming about it for so many years, I never got "the call".
My agent sent me the most understated email ever, pretty much a one-liner
that said "I have an offer on your book".
First person I called: my husband. And I was hyperventilating so badly that he
couldn't understand what I was trying to tell him. He thought I was having
some life-threatening experience and he almost called an ambulance. Then he
was so excited, he took his whole office out for lunch to celebrate the birth of
the bouncing baby book, while I sat at home and breathed into a paper bag. Of
course, I did get the celebratory dinner and flowers later that night.
I feel incredibly lucky and blessed to have my dream come true.
Click here to visit Eve's website
Sally MacKenzie
I decided in elementary school that I wanted to be a writer, but I didn’t get right
down to it.
I went to college, majored in English, wrote for and edited the college magazine,
went to law school--briefly--and went to work for the federal government writing
regulations for the school nutrition programs. (Alas, you don’t get “The Call”
when you’re published in The Federal Register.) I married a law school
classmate and wrote in the evenings. When we had kids, I retired from paid
employment, got a thick pad to muffle the sound of the typewriter, and finished
a book or two. About the time son number two showed up, we bought a
personal computer (an IBM XT!). Yahoo! Revising suddenly got much easier.
I switched to writing picture book texts during naptime, and actually sent them
out to publishers. I got some positive rejections, a revision request, and even
one call from an editor--but not The Call. (I can’t remember what she said, I
was hyperventilating so badly. I suspect she dialed the wrong number.) When
the youngest--our fourth son--was four, I put aside writing for a year until he
was in full time school. That “year” stretched to about eight. I was too busy
carpooling. My writing efforts went to volunteer projects--the annual family
newsletter, school auction programs, swim league guidance, class plays.
When the oldest started applying to college, I looked beyond the sport du jour
to an empty nest and decided it was time to pursue my dream or give it up.
I read all the writing magazines that had been cluttering the house for years. I
slogged through a first draft. I had two friends--a gay college English professor
who had never read a romance in his life and a neighbor, a former professional
romance editor--read the story. Many drafts later, I joined the Romance Writers
of America and stumbled onto the WritingRegency loop when they were looking
for manuscripts to keep the Golden Heart Regency category alive. I edited my
manuscript again, got help from loop mom and published author Susannah
Carleton to write my first ever synopsis, and entered the contest.
The story made it to the final round and one of the judging editors got my
contact information from RWA. I came home from running errands to find
Hilary Sares’s wonderful voice asking me to call her right away. I tried to
remain calm--well, at least coherent--when I called her back. She asked me to
FedEx her the complete manuscript, and we made an appointment to talk the
next day at 11 am. I grinned, danced around the kitchen for a minute, and
then ran upstairs to print out a copy and look up the nearest FedEx office.
Then I emailed everyone I could think of for advice. When Hilary called back the
next day to offer me a two book contract, I said yes, danced around the kitchen
a little more--and went off to the dentist to get a cavity filled.
My husband and sons were stunned--something had actually come of all my
typing away at the computer! In February 2005, The Naked Duke was
published by Kensington Publishing Corp. as a Zebra historical romance.
Click here to visit Sally's website
I decided in elementary school that I wanted to be a writer, but I didn’t get right
down to it.
I went to college, majored in English, wrote for and edited the college magazine,
went to law school--briefly--and went to work for the federal government writing
regulations for the school nutrition programs. (Alas, you don’t get “The Call”
when you’re published in The Federal Register.) I married a law school
classmate and wrote in the evenings. When we had kids, I retired from paid
employment, got a thick pad to muffle the sound of the typewriter, and finished
a book or two. About the time son number two showed up, we bought a
personal computer (an IBM XT!). Yahoo! Revising suddenly got much easier.
I switched to writing picture book texts during naptime, and actually sent them
out to publishers. I got some positive rejections, a revision request, and even
one call from an editor--but not The Call. (I can’t remember what she said, I
was hyperventilating so badly. I suspect she dialed the wrong number.) When
the youngest--our fourth son--was four, I put aside writing for a year until he
was in full time school. That “year” stretched to about eight. I was too busy
carpooling. My writing efforts went to volunteer projects--the annual family
newsletter, school auction programs, swim league guidance, class plays.
When the oldest started applying to college, I looked beyond the sport du jour
to an empty nest and decided it was time to pursue my dream or give it up.
I read all the writing magazines that had been cluttering the house for years. I
slogged through a first draft. I had two friends--a gay college English professor
who had never read a romance in his life and a neighbor, a former professional
romance editor--read the story. Many drafts later, I joined the Romance Writers
of America and stumbled onto the WritingRegency loop when they were looking
for manuscripts to keep the Golden Heart Regency category alive. I edited my
manuscript again, got help from loop mom and published author Susannah
Carleton to write my first ever synopsis, and entered the contest.
The story made it to the final round and one of the judging editors got my
contact information from RWA. I came home from running errands to find
Hilary Sares’s wonderful voice asking me to call her right away. I tried to
remain calm--well, at least coherent--when I called her back. She asked me to
FedEx her the complete manuscript, and we made an appointment to talk the
next day at 11 am. I grinned, danced around the kitchen for a minute, and
then ran upstairs to print out a copy and look up the nearest FedEx office.
Then I emailed everyone I could think of for advice. When Hilary called back the
next day to offer me a two book contract, I said yes, danced around the kitchen
a little more--and went off to the dentist to get a cavity filled.
My husband and sons were stunned--something had actually come of all my
typing away at the computer! In February 2005, The Naked Duke was
published by Kensington Publishing Corp. as a Zebra historical romance.
Click here to visit Sally's website
Lois Winston
When I was twelve years old, I wanted to be an astronaut. Motion sickness
(never put me in the back seat of a car, let alone on a roller coaster) killed that
career before it got off the ground -- pun intended. So I turned to my next love,
Broadway theater. There was only one problem: Broadway isn't interested in
singers who can't sing and dancers who can't dance. Scratch that career path.
So I went to art school and over the years have had a fairly successful career
as a writer and designer in the consumer crafts industry, designing craft and
needlework projects for kit manufacturers as well as magazine and book
publishers.
Then I got the urge to write.
It all began ten years ago when the characters in a dream I had took over my
brain and refused to leave until I promised to tell their story. That story
became my first romance manuscript. However, if someone had told me it
would take a decade to get published, I'm not sure I would have ever committed
that first word to paper. But once I did, the writing bug took hold and I
couldn't stop. So it’s a good thing no one ever told me the odds against
succeeding.
While trying to convince the publishing world that I'd written The Great
American Novel and was the next Nora Roberts, I discovered Romance Writers
of America and learned, much to my chagrin, that I'd actually written The Great
American Drivel . Nora needn't have worried. Point of view? What's that?
GMC? Ditto. I have a BFA in graphic design and illustration. It's been a long
time since I took an English class, and learning how to write term papers
doesn't exactly prepare you for writing fiction. .Undaunted, I worked to hone
my craft. I had no choice. Like I said, once bitten by the writing bug, a writer
can't not write (even if we do employ the occasional double-negative.)
My perseverance paid off. After a couple of years and a stack of rejections, I
was lucky enough to find an agent who loves my writing. However, had she
known how long it was going to take to sell the publishing world on my talent, I
think she may have thought twice about signing me on as a client. Most
agents would cut a client loose after a year or two of not being able to sell their
work. Mine stuck with me because she believed in my talent. Knowing how
strongly she felt about my writing has gotten me through many a rejection over
the years. When you have someone who believes in you as much as that, you
have a tendency not to give up on your dreams.
About five years ago I began entering writing contests. I finaled in
approximately a third of the ones I entered and won approximately a third of
those. I’ve been a Golden Heart finalist three times, a St. Martin’s Malice
Domestic finalist, and most recently, a finalist in Dorchester Publishing’s
American Title competition. Over they years I've had several *near* sales, but
either the senior editor who had to approve the buy didn't like the book or the
marketing department didn't think they could sell the book or the line the book
was intended for never materialized. I've had incredible luck with contests but
really crappy Karma when it came to crossing the finish line.
Until now.
As a result of coming in second in the American Title competition, I was
recently offered and accepted a contract with Dorchester Publishing for
RESURRECTING GERTIE, my combo chick lit/hen lit/romantic comedy. The
book will be released in April 2006 as TALK GERTIE TO ME. So now it's finally
happened, and I still can't believe it. I guess reality will settle in when I get
that revision letter I've heard published authors groan about.
Click here to visit Lois's website
When I was twelve years old, I wanted to be an astronaut. Motion sickness
(never put me in the back seat of a car, let alone on a roller coaster) killed that
career before it got off the ground -- pun intended. So I turned to my next love,
Broadway theater. There was only one problem: Broadway isn't interested in
singers who can't sing and dancers who can't dance. Scratch that career path.
So I went to art school and over the years have had a fairly successful career
as a writer and designer in the consumer crafts industry, designing craft and
needlework projects for kit manufacturers as well as magazine and book
publishers.
Then I got the urge to write.
It all began ten years ago when the characters in a dream I had took over my
brain and refused to leave until I promised to tell their story. That story
became my first romance manuscript. However, if someone had told me it
would take a decade to get published, I'm not sure I would have ever committed
that first word to paper. But once I did, the writing bug took hold and I
couldn't stop. So it’s a good thing no one ever told me the odds against
succeeding.
While trying to convince the publishing world that I'd written The Great
American Novel and was the next Nora Roberts, I discovered Romance Writers
of America and learned, much to my chagrin, that I'd actually written The Great
American Drivel . Nora needn't have worried. Point of view? What's that?
GMC? Ditto. I have a BFA in graphic design and illustration. It's been a long
time since I took an English class, and learning how to write term papers
doesn't exactly prepare you for writing fiction. .Undaunted, I worked to hone
my craft. I had no choice. Like I said, once bitten by the writing bug, a writer
can't not write (even if we do employ the occasional double-negative.)
My perseverance paid off. After a couple of years and a stack of rejections, I
was lucky enough to find an agent who loves my writing. However, had she
known how long it was going to take to sell the publishing world on my talent, I
think she may have thought twice about signing me on as a client. Most
agents would cut a client loose after a year or two of not being able to sell their
work. Mine stuck with me because she believed in my talent. Knowing how
strongly she felt about my writing has gotten me through many a rejection over
the years. When you have someone who believes in you as much as that, you
have a tendency not to give up on your dreams.
About five years ago I began entering writing contests. I finaled in
approximately a third of the ones I entered and won approximately a third of
those. I’ve been a Golden Heart finalist three times, a St. Martin’s Malice
Domestic finalist, and most recently, a finalist in Dorchester Publishing’s
American Title competition. Over they years I've had several *near* sales, but
either the senior editor who had to approve the buy didn't like the book or the
marketing department didn't think they could sell the book or the line the book
was intended for never materialized. I've had incredible luck with contests but
really crappy Karma when it came to crossing the finish line.
Until now.
As a result of coming in second in the American Title competition, I was
recently offered and accepted a contract with Dorchester Publishing for
RESURRECTING GERTIE, my combo chick lit/hen lit/romantic comedy. The
book will be released in April 2006 as TALK GERTIE TO ME. So now it's finally
happened, and I still can't believe it. I guess reality will settle in when I get
that revision letter I've heard published authors groan about.
Click here to visit Lois's website
Merrillee Whren
In my writing life, I consider myself a "poster child" for the adage, "Never Give
Up." I wrote my first novel and shared it with my friends when I was in high
school, but many years passed before I thought about writing anything with
publication in mind. In 1984, after reading dozens of romances, I decided to
write one of my own. During twenty years of writing, rewriting, lots of
rejections and unkind critiques, there were numerous times when I was ready
to quit, but I didn't. Because I kept writing even when the hope of selling
seemed far away, in July of 2003, I won the Golden Heart Award presented by
Romance Writers of America for my inspirational romance manuscript, A Place
To Call Home. Although I didn't sell that Golden Heart winner, on February 20,
2004, I got "THE CALL" and sold a different manuscript. The Heart's
Homecoming will be published in August 2005 by Steeple Hill for their Love
Inspired line.
Here's how it all happened. Friday morning February 20, 2004, I went to get
my haircut and pay our water bill. When I walked in the door, I saw the light
blinking on the answering machine. I punched the button to play the message.
"This is Diane Dietz from Steeple Hill. Please call me." My heart was racing, and
I was thinking this has got to be THE CALL. (I missed it!!!) Then I thought
maybe she's not calling to buy my book, but I thought surely she wouldn't call
unless she's going to buy the book. (Was I a little neurotic or what?)
My husband was on his business phone, so I couldn't even scream or talk to
him. Instead, I got teary eyed and waited around until he got off the phone. I
told him Diane Dietz called and I think she called to say she wants to buy my
book. He said call her. I said, "I'm afraid. What if she's not calling to buy the
book?" He just shook his head. I told him that I would call when I get myself
together. So I took a few minutes to calm myself down. Then I punched in the
number, hands shaking. She answered and asked me if I was sitting down. I
was. She said the words, "I'd like to offer you a contract on Second Chances."
At least I think that's what she said. I had to be very calm because my
husband is on his business line just up the stairs. I told her that was fabulous.
I think she was a little disappointed that I was so calm. I explained to her that
I'd taken plenty of time to calm myself down after I listened to her message.
Anyway, she went into details about money, time lines of revisions, option
book, publication, etc. And she explained some of the revisions they wanted.
After going over all this, I told her I would call her back that afternoon.
After I hung up and my husband wasn't on the phone, I screamed, "THEY
WANT TO BUY MY BOOK." A few minutes later, our younger daughter just
happened to call to talk to her dad about business stuff. I told her that I had
sold my book. I called my mother-in-law. She was thrilled because she knows
how long I've been at this. (She can't understand why they haven't bought my
Golden Heart book.) Minutes later, our older daughter called to say
congratulations. Younger daughter called her and just happened to catch her at
lunch. I was so excited I couldn't eat. My stomach was churning, but I decided
I'd better eat something or I'd faint away. So I ate lunch. My husband asked
when I'm going to call back. I say at 2 o'clock. So at 1:58 pm, I called and
accept the offer. We chatted for quite a while about all kinds of stuff.
During the rest of the afternoon, I sent emails to everyone I could think of to
let them know I'd sold. Then I went for my walk so I could burn off some of the
adrenaline. The weather finally turned nice so I could do it at the beach. I was
grinning from ear to ear, but I resisted the urge to go up to complete strangers
on the beach and tell them I'd sold my first book. I came home and did my
lower body workout. Believe me I had lots of energy. Finally I saw the flowers
my girls sent while I was out walking. I couldn't believe they had gotten there
so quickly.
My husband and I went out to dinner that night to celebrate. It was a day to
remember.
Click here to visit Merrillee's site
In my writing life, I consider myself a "poster child" for the adage, "Never Give
Up." I wrote my first novel and shared it with my friends when I was in high
school, but many years passed before I thought about writing anything with
publication in mind. In 1984, after reading dozens of romances, I decided to
write one of my own. During twenty years of writing, rewriting, lots of
rejections and unkind critiques, there were numerous times when I was ready
to quit, but I didn't. Because I kept writing even when the hope of selling
seemed far away, in July of 2003, I won the Golden Heart Award presented by
Romance Writers of America for my inspirational romance manuscript, A Place
To Call Home. Although I didn't sell that Golden Heart winner, on February 20,
2004, I got "THE CALL" and sold a different manuscript. The Heart's
Homecoming will be published in August 2005 by Steeple Hill for their Love
Inspired line.
Here's how it all happened. Friday morning February 20, 2004, I went to get
my haircut and pay our water bill. When I walked in the door, I saw the light
blinking on the answering machine. I punched the button to play the message.
"This is Diane Dietz from Steeple Hill. Please call me." My heart was racing, and
I was thinking this has got to be THE CALL. (I missed it!!!) Then I thought
maybe she's not calling to buy my book, but I thought surely she wouldn't call
unless she's going to buy the book. (Was I a little neurotic or what?)
My husband was on his business phone, so I couldn't even scream or talk to
him. Instead, I got teary eyed and waited around until he got off the phone. I
told him Diane Dietz called and I think she called to say she wants to buy my
book. He said call her. I said, "I'm afraid. What if she's not calling to buy the
book?" He just shook his head. I told him that I would call when I get myself
together. So I took a few minutes to calm myself down. Then I punched in the
number, hands shaking. She answered and asked me if I was sitting down. I
was. She said the words, "I'd like to offer you a contract on Second Chances."
At least I think that's what she said. I had to be very calm because my
husband is on his business line just up the stairs. I told her that was fabulous.
I think she was a little disappointed that I was so calm. I explained to her that
I'd taken plenty of time to calm myself down after I listened to her message.
Anyway, she went into details about money, time lines of revisions, option
book, publication, etc. And she explained some of the revisions they wanted.
After going over all this, I told her I would call her back that afternoon.
After I hung up and my husband wasn't on the phone, I screamed, "THEY
WANT TO BUY MY BOOK." A few minutes later, our younger daughter just
happened to call to talk to her dad about business stuff. I told her that I had
sold my book. I called my mother-in-law. She was thrilled because she knows
how long I've been at this. (She can't understand why they haven't bought my
Golden Heart book.) Minutes later, our older daughter called to say
congratulations. Younger daughter called her and just happened to catch her at
lunch. I was so excited I couldn't eat. My stomach was churning, but I decided
I'd better eat something or I'd faint away. So I ate lunch. My husband asked
when I'm going to call back. I say at 2 o'clock. So at 1:58 pm, I called and
accept the offer. We chatted for quite a while about all kinds of stuff.
During the rest of the afternoon, I sent emails to everyone I could think of to
let them know I'd sold. Then I went for my walk so I could burn off some of the
adrenaline. The weather finally turned nice so I could do it at the beach. I was
grinning from ear to ear, but I resisted the urge to go up to complete strangers
on the beach and tell them I'd sold my first book. I came home and did my
lower body workout. Believe me I had lots of energy. Finally I saw the flowers
my girls sent while I was out walking. I couldn't believe they had gotten there
so quickly.
My husband and I went out to dinner that night to celebrate. It was a day to
remember.
Click here to visit Merrillee's site
Chris Wenger
Twelve years ago I wandered into a local writer's conference. I didn't know a
soul, but I knew when I sat down (mistakenly at the head table!) I was home.
This was on Saturday, June 6, 1992, and it was the first conference of the
Central New York Romance Writers. When two real live New York editors spoke
(Catherine Carpenter and Melissa Senate), I soaked up every word. I took
copious notes. I was euphoric, floating. This was "it". I WAS GOING TO WRITE
A BOOK.
After the conference, I couldn't wait to go through all the stuff I got in a big,
plastic bag. I studied every bookmark, every tip sheet, anything and everything
they'd given me. In their speeches, they related what they liked to see in a
submission. Okay, no sweat. I could do this. I told myself I'd have a book out
in a year. What could be so difficult?
Duh.
Flash forward to January 21, 2004, at approximately 2:15 p.m. I am sitting in
my office at work and my husband, Jim, calls. He tells me that Susan Litman
from Silhouette Special Edition called and wanted me to call her back.
I interrogated Jim: How did she sound? Did she sound happy? What exactly
did she say? Did it sound like a sale? Tell me every word. Don't leave out a
thing.
"Chris, will you just call her back?" He laughed his dialogue.
After twelve years, I knew that if I were going to be rejected again, I wouldn't
get a phone call. The rejection would come in the mail like the other fourteen
or so manuscripts had (yes, fourteen). Two beats short of a heart attack, I
dialed Susan Litman. I got her voice mail. Damn! I left a message that I
wouldn't move from my chair until she called me back.
Minutes later she did. "Officer Wenger."
"This is Susan Litman from Silhouette Books." (Heart attack.)
"I have to know, did you move from the chair?"
"Not a muscle."
"I have good news for you..."
In my line of work, which is law enforcement/criminal justice, people get
nervous when they hear screaming, so I burst a couple blood vessels keeping
it all in. I babbled and gushed instead. Twelve years. Twelve years of trying
and failing. Twelve years of rejection and frustration. Twelve years of
questioning why me, a semi-intelligent person with a dual master's degree and
a successful thirty-year career,
couldn't pull together a publishable book.
Why didn't I quit? I did. Approximately 4,380 times. Why did I keep going
back to it?
Pride maybe. Maybe Polish stubbornness. Maybe it was all the money I'd
spent on conferences, books, workshops, computers and the like.
Maybe it was the wonderful people I'd met along the way. Writers, published
and unpublished, who generously shared their time and talent to help me.
They critiqued my work, gave me ideas, gave me suggestions, and
recommended writing books. They also gave brilliant workshops, let
themselves be taped so I could learn while driving my car during a snowstorm
or in a traffic jam. They wrote terrific books that I studied and highlighted and
talked to them about later. They were chapter officers, newsletter editors, and
worker bees.
I couldn't have done it without them. They all collectively helped me achieve
my dream.
I did my part. I worked. I studied. I pumped thousands of dollars into the
economy. I kept at it. I didn't give up, and I'm proud of that.
Did things change for me after "the call"?
Within a week of becoming an overnight success, I was asked to critique three
manuscripts, judge a contest because they needed "a pub", asked to be a
moderator at National, and asked to speak at a chapter meeting. I was a
whirling, but that was okay. I'm going to give back and help other writers
achieve their dream, too.
I've also done revisions, joined loops galore, joined PASIC, PAN and something
else that I don't remember. I called Erin at RWA to get a pink first sale ribbon
to wear at National. I got glamoured-up for a professional
photo, hired a website person, did art fact sheets. I received cards, flowers and
gifts. I wrote thank you cards. I toasted myself with enough Blue Nun to float
the QE2. I also started Diet Number 18,326.5 so when I meet Susan Litman
she won't think that Christine Wenger is a writing team.
I want to sell a second book, a third, a seventy-third, but I'm just too damn
busy being a published author.
How old will I be in the next twelve years?
Click here to visit Chris' website
Twelve years ago I wandered into a local writer's conference. I didn't know a
soul, but I knew when I sat down (mistakenly at the head table!) I was home.
This was on Saturday, June 6, 1992, and it was the first conference of the
Central New York Romance Writers. When two real live New York editors spoke
(Catherine Carpenter and Melissa Senate), I soaked up every word. I took
copious notes. I was euphoric, floating. This was "it". I WAS GOING TO WRITE
A BOOK.
After the conference, I couldn't wait to go through all the stuff I got in a big,
plastic bag. I studied every bookmark, every tip sheet, anything and everything
they'd given me. In their speeches, they related what they liked to see in a
submission. Okay, no sweat. I could do this. I told myself I'd have a book out
in a year. What could be so difficult?
Duh.
Flash forward to January 21, 2004, at approximately 2:15 p.m. I am sitting in
my office at work and my husband, Jim, calls. He tells me that Susan Litman
from Silhouette Special Edition called and wanted me to call her back.
I interrogated Jim: How did she sound? Did she sound happy? What exactly
did she say? Did it sound like a sale? Tell me every word. Don't leave out a
thing.
"Chris, will you just call her back?" He laughed his dialogue.
After twelve years, I knew that if I were going to be rejected again, I wouldn't
get a phone call. The rejection would come in the mail like the other fourteen
or so manuscripts had (yes, fourteen). Two beats short of a heart attack, I
dialed Susan Litman. I got her voice mail. Damn! I left a message that I
wouldn't move from my chair until she called me back.
Minutes later she did. "Officer Wenger."
"This is Susan Litman from Silhouette Books." (Heart attack.)
"I have to know, did you move from the chair?"
"Not a muscle."
"I have good news for you..."
In my line of work, which is law enforcement/criminal justice, people get
nervous when they hear screaming, so I burst a couple blood vessels keeping
it all in. I babbled and gushed instead. Twelve years. Twelve years of trying
and failing. Twelve years of rejection and frustration. Twelve years of
questioning why me, a semi-intelligent person with a dual master's degree and
a successful thirty-year career,
couldn't pull together a publishable book.
Why didn't I quit? I did. Approximately 4,380 times. Why did I keep going
back to it?
Pride maybe. Maybe Polish stubbornness. Maybe it was all the money I'd
spent on conferences, books, workshops, computers and the like.
Maybe it was the wonderful people I'd met along the way. Writers, published
and unpublished, who generously shared their time and talent to help me.
They critiqued my work, gave me ideas, gave me suggestions, and
recommended writing books. They also gave brilliant workshops, let
themselves be taped so I could learn while driving my car during a snowstorm
or in a traffic jam. They wrote terrific books that I studied and highlighted and
talked to them about later. They were chapter officers, newsletter editors, and
worker bees.
I couldn't have done it without them. They all collectively helped me achieve
my dream.
I did my part. I worked. I studied. I pumped thousands of dollars into the
economy. I kept at it. I didn't give up, and I'm proud of that.
Did things change for me after "the call"?
Within a week of becoming an overnight success, I was asked to critique three
manuscripts, judge a contest because they needed "a pub", asked to be a
moderator at National, and asked to speak at a chapter meeting. I was a
whirling, but that was okay. I'm going to give back and help other writers
achieve their dream, too.
I've also done revisions, joined loops galore, joined PASIC, PAN and something
else that I don't remember. I called Erin at RWA to get a pink first sale ribbon
to wear at National. I got glamoured-up for a professional
photo, hired a website person, did art fact sheets. I received cards, flowers and
gifts. I wrote thank you cards. I toasted myself with enough Blue Nun to float
the QE2. I also started Diet Number 18,326.5 so when I meet Susan Litman
she won't think that Christine Wenger is a writing team.
I want to sell a second book, a third, a seventy-third, but I'm just too damn
busy being a published author.
How old will I be in the next twelve years?
Click here to visit Chris' website
Janet Wellington
Like most of you, I had the lifelong dream of seeing my name on the spine of a
book. I loved reading. I loved writing...but, could I really write an entire
book...and get paid for it?
Come back in time with me to...
1991 -- That’s when I first started looking at the business of romance novels
and I learned about an organization called Romance Writers of America (RWA).
I am distracted by life and procrastinate a bit...take a children’s writing course,
read a lot, work, eat, sleep—the usual stuff—but the dream of being published
still nagged me and I decide to check out the romance genre a little more.
In 1994, I attend a Learning Annex seminar called "HOW TO WRITE A
ROMANCE NOVEL," which promises to teach me the secrets of Danielle Steel
and Barbara Cartland. I also attend an all-day workshop presented by the San
Diego Chapter of Romance Writers of America. I leave exhausted, buy more
"how to" books, and begin writing on my own.
January 1995. I realize I CAN'T do this alone and join the San Diego Chapter
of RWA.
July 1995. Since I have a completed manuscript, I decide to attend the
national RWA writing conference in Honolulu (where I manage to survive scary
agent and editor appointments).
I continue to submit proposals to many different publishing houses and learn
what rejection letters are (I prefer to call them decline letters).
I submit, submit, submit. I attend more national and regional conferences,
and complete a second manuscript. I try a few contests and learn how
subjective they can be. I learn there really IS such a thing as a "good rejection
letter.” Any rejection letter that has personal comments either about your
writing or the subject matter is like “gold.” My advice: just put it away for a
few days, sulk a little, then go back to it and look for helpful comments and
hints.
December 1997. Magic happens. To help speed the healing from a
disappointing decline of my second manuscript, I rework it and send it off to
Hilary Sares, an editor at Kensington Publishing. I had been researching their
Precious Gem romance line and had heard they were eager for new authors.
The Precious Gem romances were short, contemporaries and were exclusively
available in the book departments of Wal-Mart.
I knew they were non-royalty paying -- that they paid only a flat rate because
the deal with Wal-Mart also prevented what are called returns (these are
unsold books). In this case, a specific amount of books were printed and
would never be returned to the Publisher.
Within a month of my submission, I hear from Hilary Sares. She returned the
proposal -- telling me she liked the story and the characters and wonders if I'm
up to a rewrite. I am...I do...
March 2, 1998. I came home from a frustrating day at work and my dear
husband was sitting on the couch, reading the newspaper—pretty much
ignoring my complaints. Finally he mentioned there was “some kind of
message” for me on the answering machine. As I rewound the tape and hit
play, he had snuck up behind me so he could be nearby when I heard those
magical words, “I want to buy your book.” Believe me, I listened to that
message about five times before it really sunk in!
Click here to visit Janet's website
Like most of you, I had the lifelong dream of seeing my name on the spine of a
book. I loved reading. I loved writing...but, could I really write an entire
book...and get paid for it?
Come back in time with me to...
1991 -- That’s when I first started looking at the business of romance novels
and I learned about an organization called Romance Writers of America (RWA).
I am distracted by life and procrastinate a bit...take a children’s writing course,
read a lot, work, eat, sleep—the usual stuff—but the dream of being published
still nagged me and I decide to check out the romance genre a little more.
In 1994, I attend a Learning Annex seminar called "HOW TO WRITE A
ROMANCE NOVEL," which promises to teach me the secrets of Danielle Steel
and Barbara Cartland. I also attend an all-day workshop presented by the San
Diego Chapter of Romance Writers of America. I leave exhausted, buy more
"how to" books, and begin writing on my own.
January 1995. I realize I CAN'T do this alone and join the San Diego Chapter
of RWA.
July 1995. Since I have a completed manuscript, I decide to attend the
national RWA writing conference in Honolulu (where I manage to survive scary
agent and editor appointments).
I continue to submit proposals to many different publishing houses and learn
what rejection letters are (I prefer to call them decline letters).
I submit, submit, submit. I attend more national and regional conferences,
and complete a second manuscript. I try a few contests and learn how
subjective they can be. I learn there really IS such a thing as a "good rejection
letter.” Any rejection letter that has personal comments either about your
writing or the subject matter is like “gold.” My advice: just put it away for a
few days, sulk a little, then go back to it and look for helpful comments and
hints.
December 1997. Magic happens. To help speed the healing from a
disappointing decline of my second manuscript, I rework it and send it off to
Hilary Sares, an editor at Kensington Publishing. I had been researching their
Precious Gem romance line and had heard they were eager for new authors.
The Precious Gem romances were short, contemporaries and were exclusively
available in the book departments of Wal-Mart.
I knew they were non-royalty paying -- that they paid only a flat rate because
the deal with Wal-Mart also prevented what are called returns (these are
unsold books). In this case, a specific amount of books were printed and
would never be returned to the Publisher.
Within a month of my submission, I hear from Hilary Sares. She returned the
proposal -- telling me she liked the story and the characters and wonders if I'm
up to a rewrite. I am...I do...
March 2, 1998. I came home from a frustrating day at work and my dear
husband was sitting on the couch, reading the newspaper—pretty much
ignoring my complaints. Finally he mentioned there was “some kind of
message” for me on the answering machine. As I rewound the tape and hit
play, he had snuck up behind me so he could be nearby when I heard those
magical words, “I want to buy your book.” Believe me, I listened to that
message about five times before it really sunk in!
Click here to visit Janet's website
Wendy Roberts
I've been a writer for most of my life, a rejected writer that is. My rejection file
is massive and the biggest names in the agent and publishing world have had
the pleasure of sending me form rejections. However, the people in my head
wouldn't keep talking so the stories just kept on coming.
On August 8, 2003, at nine-thirty in the morning I was up to my elbows in
turtle poop. My husband had taken three of our four children our and I had
decided to tackle the disgusting job of cleaning the aquarium. My three year
old watched as our beloved turtle, Turdie, hissed and snapped his indignation
at my attempts. Then the phone rang.
With cordless receiver tucked under my chin I answered with a curt Hello and
kept on scrubbing away at turtle excrement. The voice on the other end of the
phone, obviously hesitant after my abrupt greeting, asked if this was a good
time to talk. I immediately thought it was some saleswoman bent on bending
my ear so I began to describe the revolting task I was undertaking in the
removal of turtle waste. After a poignant pause, Kathryn Lye from Red Dress
Ink introduced herself and I withdrew my hands from the filthy aquarium and
babbled my apologies.
The editor proceeded to tell me that she liked my manuscript. I blathered that
I was glad she liked it. Next she said that the other editors at Red Dress Ink
also liked it. I prattled that I was glad they liked it too. There was a brief pause
where I was waiting for the big BUT where she would say, we liked it BUT we
don't feel it's right for RDI. Instead she said that they would like to make me
an offer to purchase Dating Can Be Deadly.
I sputtered, blubbered, rambled and sobbed then apologized for crying and
cried some more. Kathryn kindly assured me that she was used to that kind of
reaction. Next she spilled details and I scribbled as fast as I could. After
hanging up the phone I did a whooping hollering happy dance around the
house that involved much screaming tangled with hysterical laughter. When
my three year old asked what was wrong, I told him that mom just sold a book.
His enthusiastic reaction, "Oh. Can I have some cranberry juice?" I shrieked,
"Yes! From now on you get the real thing! No more generic cranberry juice for
you!" He looked at me like I'd lost my mind. Which, in all fairness, was
probably true.
I spent an hour phoning and emailing. Afterward, still with a goofy grin on my
face, I returned to turtle poop detail. In the weeks that have followed I've
scrubbed toilets and cleaned the garage.
In the end, simultaneously, nothing and everything had changed.
Click here to visit Wendy's website
I've been a writer for most of my life, a rejected writer that is. My rejection file
is massive and the biggest names in the agent and publishing world have had
the pleasure of sending me form rejections. However, the people in my head
wouldn't keep talking so the stories just kept on coming.
On August 8, 2003, at nine-thirty in the morning I was up to my elbows in
turtle poop. My husband had taken three of our four children our and I had
decided to tackle the disgusting job of cleaning the aquarium. My three year
old watched as our beloved turtle, Turdie, hissed and snapped his indignation
at my attempts. Then the phone rang.
With cordless receiver tucked under my chin I answered with a curt Hello and
kept on scrubbing away at turtle excrement. The voice on the other end of the
phone, obviously hesitant after my abrupt greeting, asked if this was a good
time to talk. I immediately thought it was some saleswoman bent on bending
my ear so I began to describe the revolting task I was undertaking in the
removal of turtle waste. After a poignant pause, Kathryn Lye from Red Dress
Ink introduced herself and I withdrew my hands from the filthy aquarium and
babbled my apologies.
The editor proceeded to tell me that she liked my manuscript. I blathered that
I was glad she liked it. Next she said that the other editors at Red Dress Ink
also liked it. I prattled that I was glad they liked it too. There was a brief pause
where I was waiting for the big BUT where she would say, we liked it BUT we
don't feel it's right for RDI. Instead she said that they would like to make me
an offer to purchase Dating Can Be Deadly.
I sputtered, blubbered, rambled and sobbed then apologized for crying and
cried some more. Kathryn kindly assured me that she was used to that kind of
reaction. Next she spilled details and I scribbled as fast as I could. After
hanging up the phone I did a whooping hollering happy dance around the
house that involved much screaming tangled with hysterical laughter. When
my three year old asked what was wrong, I told him that mom just sold a book.
His enthusiastic reaction, "Oh. Can I have some cranberry juice?" I shrieked,
"Yes! From now on you get the real thing! No more generic cranberry juice for
you!" He looked at me like I'd lost my mind. Which, in all fairness, was
probably true.
I spent an hour phoning and emailing. Afterward, still with a goofy grin on my
face, I returned to turtle poop detail. In the weeks that have followed I've
scrubbed toilets and cleaned the garage.
In the end, simultaneously, nothing and everything had changed.
Click here to visit Wendy's website
Allison Brennan
I focused on finding an agent not an editor because I feel strongly that a good
agent is necessary to break into the New York publishing market, especially if
you are unpublished. In March 2004, a week after my agent sent out my
manuscript to several editors, Ballantine pre-empted my book and offered a
two-book contract. Needless to say, this was fast. My agent called me on a
Tuesday and told me about the Ballantine offer, they negotiated, and on
Thursday we had a deal.
I was at La Bou, a coffee house getting my afternoon iced mocha, when she
called me with the final offer. I stood on the street outside on my cell phone
and agreed to everything my agent said. We'd already talked about the
particulars on Tuesday, so I had a good understanding of the offer and what
it meant.
The Call came two years after I made my personal commitment to finish one
of my many books. I sold my fifth book, a romantic suspense.
While getting the Call was fabulous, I didn't really do anything to celebrate.
My agent and editor had to work through the details of the contract and that
took time. In addition, as I've discovered with this business, there's a lot of
waiting *g*. It was the second call that really changed my life.
My agent called me in September and said that my editor wanted to publish
my two books--and a third we hadn't even talked about--in consecutive
months. While this meant pushing back my publication date from 2005 to
Spring 2006, it also meant three books out in one year which would be a
fantastic career move. I put together a quick blurb to connect the three
books and talked to my editor and they loved the concept.
When I got my contract in early 2005, that was when I really celebrated. It
felt real. Although I had gone through copyedits on my first book and had
already finished my second book, it didn't feel like I was really published until
I received the contract. That weekend, my husband and I went out for
dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, then to a movie -- which is
celebrating since we have five kids and rarely go out!
I'm sure it'll even feel more real when I hold my book in my hand.
Click here to visit Allison's website
I focused on finding an agent not an editor because I feel strongly that a good
agent is necessary to break into the New York publishing market, especially if
you are unpublished. In March 2004, a week after my agent sent out my
manuscript to several editors, Ballantine pre-empted my book and offered a
two-book contract. Needless to say, this was fast. My agent called me on a
Tuesday and told me about the Ballantine offer, they negotiated, and on
Thursday we had a deal.
I was at La Bou, a coffee house getting my afternoon iced mocha, when she
called me with the final offer. I stood on the street outside on my cell phone
and agreed to everything my agent said. We'd already talked about the
particulars on Tuesday, so I had a good understanding of the offer and what
it meant.
The Call came two years after I made my personal commitment to finish one
of my many books. I sold my fifth book, a romantic suspense.
While getting the Call was fabulous, I didn't really do anything to celebrate.
My agent and editor had to work through the details of the contract and that
took time. In addition, as I've discovered with this business, there's a lot of
waiting *g*. It was the second call that really changed my life.
My agent called me in September and said that my editor wanted to publish
my two books--and a third we hadn't even talked about--in consecutive
months. While this meant pushing back my publication date from 2005 to
Spring 2006, it also meant three books out in one year which would be a
fantastic career move. I put together a quick blurb to connect the three
books and talked to my editor and they loved the concept.
When I got my contract in early 2005, that was when I really celebrated. It
felt real. Although I had gone through copyedits on my first book and had
already finished my second book, it didn't feel like I was really published until
I received the contract. That weekend, my husband and I went out for
dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, then to a movie -- which is
celebrating since we have five kids and rarely go out!
I'm sure it'll even feel more real when I hold my book in my hand.
Click here to visit Allison's website
Karen Mercury
In the late 90s I started writing whatever the hell I felt like. That turned out
to be a novel set in Zanzibar in 1872, and it involved a lot of stuff that would
now be termed paranormal. There was a bisexual secondary character who
was so charismatic he threatened to take over the book, a lot of astral
traveling, mineralogy, Spiritualism, and also gritty historical detail about the
city at the time, the slave trade, and some very hot sex. The characters kept
insisting upon being completely humorous, despite my perceived “control”
over them. “Stop being funny!! This is serious stuff!” In other words, I did
absolutely everything that was NOT being bought in the 90s.
In 2005, it’s everything that IS bought and selling like hotcakes.
I also refused to admit that I wrote “romance.” I thought I was writing very
hifalutin literary “aht.” While talking to my friend Karen Templeton, who
writes for Harlequin Silhouette, she told me the three cardinal rules of
romance. 1) Is the main story between the H/H? Check. 2) Is the situation
between the H/H the last thing to be resolved? Check. 3) Is there a HEA?
Czech.
Oh my God!! I’m writing a romance!!
So with this in mind, I set out to write a fresh story, keeping all the Romance
Rules foremost in my mind. “I am not going to mess this up! I’m following all
the Romance Rules!” Unfortunately, I still persisted in writing a romance set
in the Niger Delta area of 1897, a time and a setting not only not usually seen
in romance…but never before seen in romance. I toned down the paranormal
stuff (but allowed the character’s own humor to shine through). I titled it The
Hinterlands, because in all of my primary source document reading, that
phrase kept cropping up in letters and dispatches.
So I went through every single agent in the USA who was willing to look at
historical romances. I got a good percentage of bites for fulls (I think about
10%, in other words 5 out of 50) but ultimately, it was “sorry, tough setting.”
I was on the verge of tears when I remembered there are still some pubs you
can submit to unagented. Somehow I found Medallion Press, who were brand
new, but seemed legit. About two weeks later I got an initial call from their
editor, who asked if I had subbed to anyone else. Feeling like a dork,
because I do not do well on the phone (I’m sure that’s one of the reasons we
become writers in the first place), I told her uh, yeah, a few still have the full.
A week after that, I got the REAL call. “We’d like to buy your book.”
I wish I could say I did something outrageous, but I guess I’m too dignified for
that. (Yeah, right!) I called my little brother, but after my news he insisted on
telling me about his colon examination, so quickly got out of that
conversation. I ran down the street to meet my H driving up in his work
truck, and when I told him, he just smiled, and said something like “I knew
you could do it.” Hmm, in retrospect, this doesn’t sound very exciting at all!
The next day, I called the editor, and she told me that Medallion wants to
specialize in historicals set in unusual locations. Later, Leslie Burbank told
me that since they’d opened their doors my book was exactly the sort of thing
they’d been looking for. She told me they were tired of “the most notorious
rake in all of London.” Since then, I’ve sold my second Abyssinian book to
them and all I can say is, I look forward to a long and prosperous
relationship.
Medallion is truly far-seeing and visionary, and I think the future in
historicals lies in exotic settings and time periods that haven’t been done to
death before. During the most recent RT in St. Louis that’s all we heard from
pundits who were simultaneously proclaiming, as always, the death of the
historical.
And to think…we knew that before.
Click here to visit Karen's website
In the late 90s I started writing whatever the hell I felt like. That turned out
to be a novel set in Zanzibar in 1872, and it involved a lot of stuff that would
now be termed paranormal. There was a bisexual secondary character who
was so charismatic he threatened to take over the book, a lot of astral
traveling, mineralogy, Spiritualism, and also gritty historical detail about the
city at the time, the slave trade, and some very hot sex. The characters kept
insisting upon being completely humorous, despite my perceived “control”
over them. “Stop being funny!! This is serious stuff!” In other words, I did
absolutely everything that was NOT being bought in the 90s.
In 2005, it’s everything that IS bought and selling like hotcakes.
I also refused to admit that I wrote “romance.” I thought I was writing very
hifalutin literary “aht.” While talking to my friend Karen Templeton, who
writes for Harlequin Silhouette, she told me the three cardinal rules of
romance. 1) Is the main story between the H/H? Check. 2) Is the situation
between the H/H the last thing to be resolved? Check. 3) Is there a HEA?
Czech.
Oh my God!! I’m writing a romance!!
So with this in mind, I set out to write a fresh story, keeping all the Romance
Rules foremost in my mind. “I am not going to mess this up! I’m following all
the Romance Rules!” Unfortunately, I still persisted in writing a romance set
in the Niger Delta area of 1897, a time and a setting not only not usually seen
in romance…but never before seen in romance. I toned down the paranormal
stuff (but allowed the character’s own humor to shine through). I titled it The
Hinterlands, because in all of my primary source document reading, that
phrase kept cropping up in letters and dispatches.
So I went through every single agent in the USA who was willing to look at
historical romances. I got a good percentage of bites for fulls (I think about
10%, in other words 5 out of 50) but ultimately, it was “sorry, tough setting.”
I was on the verge of tears when I remembered there are still some pubs you
can submit to unagented. Somehow I found Medallion Press, who were brand
new, but seemed legit. About two weeks later I got an initial call from their
editor, who asked if I had subbed to anyone else. Feeling like a dork,
because I do not do well on the phone (I’m sure that’s one of the reasons we
become writers in the first place), I told her uh, yeah, a few still have the full.
A week after that, I got the REAL call. “We’d like to buy your book.”
I wish I could say I did something outrageous, but I guess I’m too dignified for
that. (Yeah, right!) I called my little brother, but after my news he insisted on
telling me about his colon examination, so quickly got out of that
conversation. I ran down the street to meet my H driving up in his work
truck, and when I told him, he just smiled, and said something like “I knew
you could do it.” Hmm, in retrospect, this doesn’t sound very exciting at all!
The next day, I called the editor, and she told me that Medallion wants to
specialize in historicals set in unusual locations. Later, Leslie Burbank told
me that since they’d opened their doors my book was exactly the sort of thing
they’d been looking for. She told me they were tired of “the most notorious
rake in all of London.” Since then, I’ve sold my second Abyssinian book to
them and all I can say is, I look forward to a long and prosperous
relationship.
Medallion is truly far-seeing and visionary, and I think the future in
historicals lies in exotic settings and time periods that haven’t been done to
death before. During the most recent RT in St. Louis that’s all we heard from
pundits who were simultaneously proclaiming, as always, the death of the
historical.
And to think…we knew that before.
Click here to visit Karen's website
Erin McCarthy
Getting published with Kensington Brava was something of an accident. For
several years, I had been trying to get published with Harlequin in category
romance. I felt like I was getting closer and closer, even doing revisions and
having the editor call me to discuss them, but in the meantime, everything
was at a standstill. One night I was bored, feeling restless with all the
waiting I was doing. I was online and decided to see what Lori Foster’s
upcoming releases were. I saw the contest she was running where 20
entries would be read by Kate Duffy for Brava, and thought I would give it a
try. I wrote the entry (750 words) over the next day or so and sent it to Lori
before I could change my mind. Lori emailed me that she loved it, and if I’d
written the whole thing, she’d love to read it. Well, of course I hadn’t written
the whole thing- I’d written the first three pages only the night before! But I
buckled down and wrote “Hard Drive” over the next few weeks, then sent it to
Lori.
Lori emailed me and said she loved Hard Drive and to watch my inbox.
Feeling pretty darn excited, I went off shopping at Target. I got home and
there was an email from Kate Duffy asking me to call her. I did, hoping that
she was going to request the whole novella of Hard Drive. Instead, she said
she’d read it, loved it, wanted to buy it. I about died! After babbling
incoherently, I then had to cut her off because I’m my daughter’s Girl Scout
leader and I had fifteen 9 year olds waiting up at school for me. They
brought me back to reality pretty quick. ;-)
Click here to visit Erin's website
Getting published with Kensington Brava was something of an accident. For
several years, I had been trying to get published with Harlequin in category
romance. I felt like I was getting closer and closer, even doing revisions and
having the editor call me to discuss them, but in the meantime, everything
was at a standstill. One night I was bored, feeling restless with all the
waiting I was doing. I was online and decided to see what Lori Foster’s
upcoming releases were. I saw the contest she was running where 20
entries would be read by Kate Duffy for Brava, and thought I would give it a
try. I wrote the entry (750 words) over the next day or so and sent it to Lori
before I could change my mind. Lori emailed me that she loved it, and if I’d
written the whole thing, she’d love to read it. Well, of course I hadn’t written
the whole thing- I’d written the first three pages only the night before! But I
buckled down and wrote “Hard Drive” over the next few weeks, then sent it to
Lori.
Lori emailed me and said she loved Hard Drive and to watch my inbox.
Feeling pretty darn excited, I went off shopping at Target. I got home and
there was an email from Kate Duffy asking me to call her. I did, hoping that
she was going to request the whole novella of Hard Drive. Instead, she said
she’d read it, loved it, wanted to buy it. I about died! After babbling
incoherently, I then had to cut her off because I’m my daughter’s Girl Scout
leader and I had fifteen 9 year olds waiting up at school for me. They
brought me back to reality pretty quick. ;-)
Click here to visit Erin's website
Charlene Teglia
I first heard of Ellora's Cave through my RWA group. I checked out the site
and I couldn't believe the books. Fun, imaginative, written by unbelievably
talented authors. Book after book I'd never heard of and couldn't wait to read.
I told my husband, "I want to be THERE!"
I submitted a partial of Love and Rockets and made a note in my calendar for
the expected response time. Before the time was up, I had a request for the
full. Whoopee! I sent it in and tried not to get too excited because I didn't
really think of myself as an erotic romance writer. A short time later, I
checked my email and there it was....compliment after compliment from the
editor about how much she loved the story and the fateful words, "Want to
offer you a contract"!
I read it twice to be sure, shrieked, and got up from my desk to run and tell
my husband the great news. And then I announced to my RWA chapter's
email loop that I'd made my first RWA-recognized sale!
Click here to visit Charlene's website
I first heard of Ellora's Cave through my RWA group. I checked out the site
and I couldn't believe the books. Fun, imaginative, written by unbelievably
talented authors. Book after book I'd never heard of and couldn't wait to read.
I told my husband, "I want to be THERE!"
I submitted a partial of Love and Rockets and made a note in my calendar for
the expected response time. Before the time was up, I had a request for the
full. Whoopee! I sent it in and tried not to get too excited because I didn't
really think of myself as an erotic romance writer. A short time later, I
checked my email and there it was....compliment after compliment from the
editor about how much she loved the story and the fateful words, "Want to
offer you a contract"!
I read it twice to be sure, shrieked, and got up from my desk to run and tell
my husband the great news. And then I announced to my RWA chapter's
email loop that I'd made my first RWA-recognized sale!
Click here to visit Charlene's website
Jenna Petersen
I have had the privilege of having two 'first sale' stories. The first came in
2003. It was an odd year for me. I had ended my relationship with my second
agent and gone out to sell my latest historical romance on my own with no
success. To say I was frustrated would be an understatement. So I pulled out
a story I'd started to write late in 2002 but set aside. An erotic romance set in
Victorian-era Egypt. It was also a novella. It was completely opposite to
everything I had been doing. I finished it in three days, tweaked it for a while
more and sent it off to Red Sage. Within weeks I had an enthusiastic request
for a full and then there was a dead silence. After such high hopes, I began to
think, "Well, here we are again".
Then, on Halloween, as I was cleaning my house in preparation for my
husband's return from a business trip, I got an email from the owner of the
company in response to a follow-up I sent her. She said they loved my book
and that someone would be in contact with me shortly. I flipped. What did it
mean? There was no mention of contract, but 'loved' sounded promising. So I
waited. And waited. And waited for eleven more gut-wrenching days until I got
a call. The Call.
It was a whirlwind of excitement. And honestly, it was the confidence boost I
needed at the time. I'd been so disappointed by my last experience pitching. I
had felt so close for a while and then I seemed to slip backward. Having a
book coming out and selling another to Red Sage soon after really made me
re-evaluate myself as a writer and believe again.
So in March of 2004, I steeled my nerves and sent out five queries to my
personal top literary agencies. I wanted to publish historical romance with a
New York publisher (actually, I wanted to publish historical romance with
Avon, but I never in a million years thought that was possible). I needed an
agent to meet that goal. Within a month, my current agent and I had agreed
to work together. Her enthusiasm for me and for my work, as well as her
staunch belief that I would sell bolstered my sagging confidence yet again.
Meeting her in person in Dallas at RWA also helped. But I still had this little
voice in the back of my head that kept saying, "Yeah, right." In fact, when she
told me she was sending out a second book to Avon after they passed on our
first offering, I actually thought, "Good luck with that."
So there it was, September 21, 2004. I had experienced one of the worst days
of my life the day before when my husband, who was on a dangerous white
water rafting trip, could not be found for a short time. Being a creative sort, I
imagined the worst for several hours. But he made it home and I was figuring
that was all the excitement I needed for the week (and possibly the rest of my
life).
Until the phone rang. It was my agent. And she asked me who I'd told her
was my dream publisher. I didn't answer her for a minute because I actually
couldn't breathe and my vision was getting blurry. When I did manage to
croak out Avon, she told me we'd been offered a two-book contract. The rest
is a blur or screaming and crying and my husband and I hugging while I sort
of sank down on the floor.
Everything happens for a reason. I think I sold to Red Sage not only because
I had a story worth sharing, but because I needed it at the time. It kept my
spirits up at one of the lowest points for me. It kept me writing. It got me
believing in myself again. If I hadn't had that confidence boost, I don't think I
ever would have pursued an agent again because my prior experiences were
not happy ones. I certainly wouldn't have pursued only my dream agencies
(like Irene Goodman, where my agent works). Without Miriam, I know I
wouldn't have tried Avon with the book they ultimately bought because they
rejected that story on query when I submitted on my own in 2003.
I don't know if anyone else can learn anything from my first sale(s). But
hearing my editor's voice on the other line the first time and especially
hearing Miriam's grin as she told me about Avon are some of the best
moments in my life as a writer. And since this is a difficult business, both
before and after you sell, those moments are priceless.
Click here to visit Jenna's website
I have had the privilege of having two 'first sale' stories. The first came in
2003. It was an odd year for me. I had ended my relationship with my second
agent and gone out to sell my latest historical romance on my own with no
success. To say I was frustrated would be an understatement. So I pulled out
a story I'd started to write late in 2002 but set aside. An erotic romance set in
Victorian-era Egypt. It was also a novella. It was completely opposite to
everything I had been doing. I finished it in three days, tweaked it for a while
more and sent it off to Red Sage. Within weeks I had an enthusiastic request
for a full and then there was a dead silence. After such high hopes, I began to
think, "Well, here we are again".
Then, on Halloween, as I was cleaning my house in preparation for my
husband's return from a business trip, I got an email from the owner of the
company in response to a follow-up I sent her. She said they loved my book
and that someone would be in contact with me shortly. I flipped. What did it
mean? There was no mention of contract, but 'loved' sounded promising. So I
waited. And waited. And waited for eleven more gut-wrenching days until I got
a call. The Call.
It was a whirlwind of excitement. And honestly, it was the confidence boost I
needed at the time. I'd been so disappointed by my last experience pitching. I
had felt so close for a while and then I seemed to slip backward. Having a
book coming out and selling another to Red Sage soon after really made me
re-evaluate myself as a writer and believe again.
So in March of 2004, I steeled my nerves and sent out five queries to my
personal top literary agencies. I wanted to publish historical romance with a
New York publisher (actually, I wanted to publish historical romance with
Avon, but I never in a million years thought that was possible). I needed an
agent to meet that goal. Within a month, my current agent and I had agreed
to work together. Her enthusiasm for me and for my work, as well as her
staunch belief that I would sell bolstered my sagging confidence yet again.
Meeting her in person in Dallas at RWA also helped. But I still had this little
voice in the back of my head that kept saying, "Yeah, right." In fact, when she
told me she was sending out a second book to Avon after they passed on our
first offering, I actually thought, "Good luck with that."
So there it was, September 21, 2004. I had experienced one of the worst days
of my life the day before when my husband, who was on a dangerous white
water rafting trip, could not be found for a short time. Being a creative sort, I
imagined the worst for several hours. But he made it home and I was figuring
that was all the excitement I needed for the week (and possibly the rest of my
life).
Until the phone rang. It was my agent. And she asked me who I'd told her
was my dream publisher. I didn't answer her for a minute because I actually
couldn't breathe and my vision was getting blurry. When I did manage to
croak out Avon, she told me we'd been offered a two-book contract. The rest
is a blur or screaming and crying and my husband and I hugging while I sort
of sank down on the floor.
Everything happens for a reason. I think I sold to Red Sage not only because
I had a story worth sharing, but because I needed it at the time. It kept my
spirits up at one of the lowest points for me. It kept me writing. It got me
believing in myself again. If I hadn't had that confidence boost, I don't think I
ever would have pursued an agent again because my prior experiences were
not happy ones. I certainly wouldn't have pursued only my dream agencies
(like Irene Goodman, where my agent works). Without Miriam, I know I
wouldn't have tried Avon with the book they ultimately bought because they
rejected that story on query when I submitted on my own in 2003.
I don't know if anyone else can learn anything from my first sale(s). But
hearing my editor's voice on the other line the first time and especially
hearing Miriam's grin as she told me about Avon are some of the best
moments in my life as a writer. And since this is a difficult business, both
before and after you sell, those moments are priceless.
Click here to visit Jenna's website
Sylvia Day
Publication for me started with a contest.
I was selected as one of twenty finalists in the 2004 Lori Foster Brava Novella
contest ten months after I first began writing. Two months after that I found
out I’d won the Reader’s Choice portion of the contest. I was stunned. When
Kate Duffy called the day after my win was announced, I was thrilled.
But the news wasn’t good.
I answered the phone and Kate immediately started out with, “Hi, Sylvia? Kate
Duffy.”
I almost fell out of my chair and when I answered in reply, it was obvious I
was expecting good news. Because of my elated tone, Kate, dear sweet Kate,
got straight to the point. While she loved the premise of my story, my writing
was “overwritten” or “too lush”. I was devastated.
Then she said, “The problem isn’t you, it’s me.”
Having gotten that out of the way so I knew where I stood (and God bless her
for that), she said I was an extremely talented writer and she knew of other
editors who would love my work as is. She offered to help me get published by
making some phone calls and putting in a good word. All I had to do was ask.
She congratulated me on winning the Reader’s Choice and pointed out that
obviously people liked my style. She said if she got her hands on me there
would have to be some changes.
So I asked, “Can you be more specific about what the problems are?”
“Absolutely.”
Kate offered to edit my three-page entry and fax it back to me within the
following two days, that way I could see what she was talking about. I took her
up on her offer. I also asked, “Are you saying that even if I were willing to
make the changes you’d require, my story still wouldn’t be right for Brava?”
“No,” she replied. “What I’m offering is a discussion. I’m interested in the
writer you can be, not the writer you are now.”
(That is when I fell in love with Kate Duffy.)
She called the next day and faxed over the edits. I looked them over and called
her back.
“I can do this,” I said. And I meant it. The changes were minor. She’d just
tightened it up a bit. “This is do-able.”
“Yes, it’s very do-able,” she agreed. “If you’re willing. I don’t want to ask you to
do anything you’re not comfortable with. If you like your writing the way it is,
stick to your guns. You’re going to be published, with or without me.”
But I knew after talking to Kate that she was the editor for me. So she told me
to pull up the story and start self-editing based on the edits she’d faxed me.
And that’s what I did. I worked my butt off tightening my prose and before the
week was up I sent her a brand-spanking new copy of my ms.
Within hours of receipt Kate called me and said that unlike her previous phone
calls, this call was THE CALL. She said, “A lot of other writers wouldn’t have
be willing to take my advice and you know what? A lot of other writers wouldn’t
have made the sale. You took what I said and ran with it and the end result is
a fabulous story. Write me two more and you’ve got your own anthology.”
My first sale. Yay!!
So what I hope you take away from this CALL story is to keep knocking on the
door and when it cracks open a little, shove your foot in and ask what you can
do to be allowed to come inside.
Click here to visit Sylvia's website
Publication for me started with a contest.
I was selected as one of twenty finalists in the 2004 Lori Foster Brava Novella
contest ten months after I first began writing. Two months after that I found
out I’d won the Reader’s Choice portion of the contest. I was stunned. When
Kate Duffy called the day after my win was announced, I was thrilled.
But the news wasn’t good.
I answered the phone and Kate immediately started out with, “Hi, Sylvia? Kate
Duffy.”
I almost fell out of my chair and when I answered in reply, it was obvious I
was expecting good news. Because of my elated tone, Kate, dear sweet Kate,
got straight to the point. While she loved the premise of my story, my writing
was “overwritten” or “too lush”. I was devastated.
Then she said, “The problem isn’t you, it’s me.”
Having gotten that out of the way so I knew where I stood (and God bless her
for that), she said I was an extremely talented writer and she knew of other
editors who would love my work as is. She offered to help me get published by
making some phone calls and putting in a good word. All I had to do was ask.
She congratulated me on winning the Reader’s Choice and pointed out that
obviously people liked my style. She said if she got her hands on me there
would have to be some changes.
So I asked, “Can you be more specific about what the problems are?”
“Absolutely.”
Kate offered to edit my three-page entry and fax it back to me within the
following two days, that way I could see what she was talking about. I took her
up on her offer. I also asked, “Are you saying that even if I were willing to
make the changes you’d require, my story still wouldn’t be right for Brava?”
“No,” she replied. “What I’m offering is a discussion. I’m interested in the
writer you can be, not the writer you are now.”
(That is when I fell in love with Kate Duffy.)
She called the next day and faxed over the edits. I looked them over and called
her back.
“I can do this,” I said. And I meant it. The changes were minor. She’d just
tightened it up a bit. “This is do-able.”
“Yes, it’s very do-able,” she agreed. “If you’re willing. I don’t want to ask you to
do anything you’re not comfortable with. If you like your writing the way it is,
stick to your guns. You’re going to be published, with or without me.”
But I knew after talking to Kate that she was the editor for me. So she told me
to pull up the story and start self-editing based on the edits she’d faxed me.
And that’s what I did. I worked my butt off tightening my prose and before the
week was up I sent her a brand-spanking new copy of my ms.
Within hours of receipt Kate called me and said that unlike her previous phone
calls, this call was THE CALL. She said, “A lot of other writers wouldn’t have
be willing to take my advice and you know what? A lot of other writers wouldn’t
have made the sale. You took what I said and ran with it and the end result is
a fabulous story. Write me two more and you’ve got your own anthology.”
My first sale. Yay!!
So what I hope you take away from this CALL story is to keep knocking on the
door and when it cracks open a little, shove your foot in and ask what you can
do to be allowed to come inside.
Click here to visit Sylvia's website
Teresa Bodwell
Every call story is special, but I think mine is pretty unique. Well, not
completely unique because I share the call part with 3 other wonderful
authors. Here is what happened.
I'd been working on a western historical romance and put it aside because
westerns weren't really selling. Besides that, I'd collected a couple of
rejections and poor contest results on the manuscript and I was discouraged.
I started working on another novel, but the characters in my western kept
calling to me. In the summer of 2003, I pulled Trail to Fort Mercy out of my
drawer and decided to revise it. I came up with a whole new beginning and
started submitting it to contests while I reworked the ending. I entered the
"Rendezvous With an Editor" contest sponsored by the VIC-RWA chapter in
January of 2004. Unlike most contests, this one requires you to be present at
the conference to win and the prize is a private interview with the editor judge.
Shortly after I entered the contest my mother died. Because my dad needed
quite a bit of help from me after that, I nearly cancelled my trip to Victoria, but
I finally decided I really needed the break. By the date of the conference, in
mid-March, I had nearly forgotten the contest. I'd collected one more rejection
and another poor contest result. Westerns still weren't selling much and I was
seriously thinking I needed to write in another genre. So, I took off for
Victoria, planning to learn as much as I could about other genres and what
my best chances were for writing a book that would sell.
When I arrived at the conference Friday night, the reception was in full swing
and I was greeted immediately with the news that I was a finalist in the
historical category. I couldn't believe it. Saturday morning I had a group
appointment with the editor/judge, Hilary Sares of Kensington. Outside of the
appointment I chatted with one of my writing friends, Leanne Shawler, who
was also a finalist. She's already read my manuscript, I said. I wonder if it's
even worth pitching? She probably already hates it. Now, there's a positive
attitude, right?
As I really didn't have another project ready to pitch, I went ahead with my
pitch of Trail. I was so nervous I babbled. I'm sure Hilary had no clue what I
was saying, but she stopped me when I managed to get out the word
"Abilene". Wait, she says, is this the book that starts, "Ya!"? Yes it is. You
don't need to pitch that, she says, I love that book.
I think at that point my jaw dropped for a few seconds before I broke into a
grin. I attempted to remain calm. I'd be happy to send you the full, I said. She
grinned back. Oh, you WILL be sending it to me, she says.
A couple of hours later at the lunch, the winners were announced. Trail had
taken first place. Alice Valdal took second, Leanne Shawler and Judith Laik
tied for third. As we walked back to our tables, the emcee asked Hilary if she
had any comments. She started as all judges do by saying how wonderful all
the entries were and how tough the choice was. Then, she nearly caused a
riot in the room by announcing that she wanted to talk contract with all 4 of
us who placed.
And she did. All four of us ended up with 2 book deals from Kensington. My
book, Trail to Fort Mercy, was re-titled Loving Mercy and released in January
2005 under the Zebra imprint. The sequel, Loving Miranda is set for release
in October of 2005.
Click here to visit Teresa's website
Every call story is special, but I think mine is pretty unique. Well, not
completely unique because I share the call part with 3 other wonderful
authors. Here is what happened.
I'd been working on a western historical romance and put it aside because
westerns weren't really selling. Besides that, I'd collected a couple of
rejections and poor contest results on the manuscript and I was discouraged.
I started working on another novel, but the characters in my western kept
calling to me. In the summer of 2003, I pulled Trail to Fort Mercy out of my
drawer and decided to revise it. I came up with a whole new beginning and
started submitting it to contests while I reworked the ending. I entered the
"Rendezvous With an Editor" contest sponsored by the VIC-RWA chapter in
January of 2004. Unlike most contests, this one requires you to be present at
the conference to win and the prize is a private interview with the editor judge.
Shortly after I entered the contest my mother died. Because my dad needed
quite a bit of help from me after that, I nearly cancelled my trip to Victoria, but
I finally decided I really needed the break. By the date of the conference, in
mid-March, I had nearly forgotten the contest. I'd collected one more rejection
and another poor contest result. Westerns still weren't selling much and I was
seriously thinking I needed to write in another genre. So, I took off for
Victoria, planning to learn as much as I could about other genres and what
my best chances were for writing a book that would sell.
When I arrived at the conference Friday night, the reception was in full swing
and I was greeted immediately with the news that I was a finalist in the
historical category. I couldn't believe it. Saturday morning I had a group
appointment with the editor/judge, Hilary Sares of Kensington. Outside of the
appointment I chatted with one of my writing friends, Leanne Shawler, who
was also a finalist. She's already read my manuscript, I said. I wonder if it's
even worth pitching? She probably already hates it. Now, there's a positive
attitude, right?
As I really didn't have another project ready to pitch, I went ahead with my
pitch of Trail. I was so nervous I babbled. I'm sure Hilary had no clue what I
was saying, but she stopped me when I managed to get out the word
"Abilene". Wait, she says, is this the book that starts, "Ya!"? Yes it is. You
don't need to pitch that, she says, I love that book.
I think at that point my jaw dropped for a few seconds before I broke into a
grin. I attempted to remain calm. I'd be happy to send you the full, I said. She
grinned back. Oh, you WILL be sending it to me, she says.
A couple of hours later at the lunch, the winners were announced. Trail had
taken first place. Alice Valdal took second, Leanne Shawler and Judith Laik
tied for third. As we walked back to our tables, the emcee asked Hilary if she
had any comments. She started as all judges do by saying how wonderful all
the entries were and how tough the choice was. Then, she nearly caused a
riot in the room by announcing that she wanted to talk contract with all 4 of
us who placed.
And she did. All four of us ended up with 2 book deals from Kensington. My
book, Trail to Fort Mercy, was re-titled Loving Mercy and released in January
2005 under the Zebra imprint. The sequel, Loving Miranda is set for release
in October of 2005.
Click here to visit Teresa's website
Copyright © 2005 by Authors
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