Friday, October 10, 2008

A Sale Celebration

For those of you that visit the Playground on a regular basis, you know Lynn Raye Harris. We celebrated with her earlier this year when she managed to final in the Golden Heart and win the Harlequin Presents Instant Seduction Contest in a week's time. A fellow HOD chaptermate and Honorary Playfriend, she hangs out with us almost every day. Lately she's been a little scarce as she battled through the revisions on her winning book for Harlequin Presents. All the hard work has paid off because on Monday, Lynn got THE CALL. Spanish Magnate, Red-Hot Revenge will be released in the UK, August 2009! Her official call story will be posted next week on the iheartpresents.com blog, so be sure to check it out.
Today, she's going to share a little about her journey and her love of the Presents line she's now a part of. Take it away, Lynn...



Every October, our chapter has a retreat. Last year was my first year to attend; I’d moved to Alabama and joined Heart of Dixie only a few months before. Y’all, HOD is inspiring. The meetings always make me want to write, and I just knew the retreat would be a fun and amazing experience.

Saturday afternoon, sometime after lunch but before the Murder Mystery party we were having later, I was sitting around talking with a few people. I remember that the Instigator was there, and Kelley St. John. They were discussing writing for Blaze. Somehow, in the conversation, Harlequin Presents came up. And I said, “I always wanted to try and write one of those.”

About a month later, Kelley forwarded a contest announcement: Harlequin Mills & Boon were having a contest to find new writers. The entry was a first chapter and two-page synopsis and the prize was an editor for a year.

The Instant Seduction competition opened on Jan 1 and closed at midnight on Feb 14. I sent my second entry, titled “The Spanish Magnate’s Revenge,” only hours before the deadline.

A month later, I got the call that I’d won. My Spanish magnate had beat out 600 other entries (including another one of mine) to take the top prize. Thus began my year with an editor.

Writing a book suitable for publication isn’t a cinch even with an editor in your corner. It’s hard work. There are revisions (I went through two rounds) and no guarantees you’ll succeed. What if you write a great first chapter, but can’t pull an entire book together to save your life? How many chances do you get?

These were the kinds of questions I asked myself as I wrote and rewrote. But the hard work paid off and I got The Call six months after I won the contest. You can look for those details at the I Heart Presents site next week as I share where I was and what I was doing when that magical Call came.

It’s a dream come true to be a new author for the line I first discovered as a twelve year old. I sure am glad my grandmother bought that box of Harlequin Presents at somebody’s yard sale. Who knew I’d end up writing for them many years later?


Thanks for sharing your story, Lynn. Now its time to PARTY! The chocolate fountains are flowing, the gorgeous, tan and mostly nude waiters are here to grant your every wish, the champagne and margaritas are just waiting to be sipped (it's 5PM somewhere), and the DJ is spinning fabulous dance hits. Let's hit the floor and celebrate Lynn's news!

26 comments:

Playground Monitor said...

There's a party goin' on right here
A celebration to last throughout the years
So bring your good times
And your laughter too
We gonna celebrate your party with you

Come on now

Celebration
Let's all celebrate and have a good time


I just love good dance music. Would you tell that half-nekkid cabana boy to please bring me a Teeter Totter?

Maven Linda said...

I have the half-nekkid cabana boy, thankyouverymuch -- but I'm so tickled over Lynn's news that I'll bring the Teeter Totter to you!

I'm keeping the cabana boy, though.

Christie Craig said...

Lynn,

Celebrate large. There's nothing like achieving your goal. And here's to many, many more successes.

CC

Playground Monitor said...

I thought we hired a troupe of half-nekkid cabana boys because we got a volume discount. So there should be plenty to go around. ;-)

Katherine Bone said...

Oh ye-ah! Oh ye-ah! Raise your hands in the air... raise 'em like you just don't ca-rah....

You deserve this partay, Lynn. :) Major congrats! Raising my glass. Salute!

Maven Linda's got the half-neked cabana boys. I've got Captain Jack! The rum is flowin', my hands are roamin', and the beat is grovin'... (Cue that regae beat)

Ah, the Caribbean sea, blue skies, and a pirate to share Lynn's fortune with. Good times!

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

SQUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
I'm so excited for you, Lynn. I can't wait to hold your book in my hand. Enjoy every last second of this experience.

Instigator

Lynn Raye Harris said...

Woohoo, partay!!!! Thanks for having a party in my honor!

Love them nekkid cabana boys! Pass the Teeter-Totters and cue the DJ. Let's dance on some tables today!!

Lynn Raye Harris said...

Thanks for the congrats! I owe HOD a lot for inspiring me. :) And several of the Playfriends for emergency reads.... :)

Anonymous said...

Many congratulations to you Lynn. I will look forward to reading this publication. And like you Presents was one of the first books that I ever read, summer before I started high school. So, let's party. One chocolate martini please and how about a medi/pedi? And turn that music up a little.
robertsonreads

Angel said...

Did somebody say chocolate martini? I hear PC makes a YUMMY one!

I'm so excited for you, Lynn!!! You've put in a lot of hard work and deserve lots of success. Enjoy your first sale time.

Can one of the half-nekkid cabana boys come clean my house for me? I've got luggage and dirty clothes everywhere...

Angel

Linda Winstead Jones said...

There has to be more than ONE half-nekkid cabana boy. :-)

Congrats Lynn! I'll definitely drink a teeter totter in your honor. And pass the chocolate.

LJ

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

Congrats, Lynn! I have to say the only words better than "We'd like to buy your book" are "two-book contract." :)

I'll take a chocolated dipped strawberry and a mimosa... fruit is breakfast food, right? Oh, half-nekkid cabana boy! Be a doll and bring me some, please?

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Lynn! Yep, that's me over by the chocolate fountain, champagne glass in hand, watching the half-naked waiter as he makes his way over to you with another Teeter Totter. Now, where was I? Oh, yes, another sip of champagne as I lean into the other very handsome waiter feeding me chocolate covered strawberries! Have an awesome time at the party! We're so happy for you!

Sherry Werth said...

Congratulations Lynn!! I'm so excited for you. Enjoy your party!

Oooh, here comes that hunky waiter with my drink. Gotta go!

Michele L. said...

Woohoo! Lynn! That is fantastic! A big applause from us all!

Part-ee! Hey, where have those half-nekkid cabana boys gone to? We have a party here to celebrate!

Oh, I caught one hiding behind the palm tree in the corner. Evidently he was swarmed by the ladies. There is lipstick all over his face!

Ooo...did someone mention chocolate martini's? Bring 'em on over!

Michele L.

Lynn Raye Harris said...

Thank you, everyone! It's so much fun to party with friends!!

I'm off to lunch with my mother, but will be back to dance on the tables again later! :)

mslizalou said...

Congrats Lynn! I think I'll wave down one of those half-nekkid cabana boys to bring me a chocolate martini in your honor!

catslady said...

Big congratulations! Let's party :)

Jane said...

Congrats on getting the call, Lynn.

Angel said...

Anyone want some wedding cake to celebrate the HEA? I have 2 of the round satellites from my sil's wedding on Saturday. The in-laws ran out of places to store stuff. :)

Now, let's take it easy on the cabana boys. Don't want to scare them off.

Angel

Lynn Raye Harris said...

I see the party is going strong and several of you are lying around gorged on chocolate, enjoying the massages given by the hunky waiters.

And isn't that how it should be?!

Party on! :)

Katherine Bone said...

Champagne? Massages? Chocolate martini's? Half nekkid cabana boys? What a partay!!

(Hint: We love to eat wedding cake, Angel. :)

Ah, Lynn! The champagne is bubbly but I'll take another dram of rum, please. Fact of the matter is, I've been having a wonderful time celebrating your fabulous two-book sale with someone quite keen on acquiring booty. Jack and I have been keeping uninterupted company behind the billard table and oh! what delights we have shared in honor of your wondrous news.

Captain Jack said...

Madame! How dare you impugn my fine reputation by insinuating untoward behavior behind the billiard table! What's this on my coat? Blue chalk dust?

Congratulations, m'lady, on your sale. Will ye be writing any books about handsome, heroic pirates? I'd be glad to model for ye.

Your obedient servent,

J. Sparrow

Unknown said...

A big congrats to you on your book. Lets get this party going. You just can't beat a party on the playground.

Anonymous said...

Man, I am so sorry that I missed THAT party!! I was busy with my own cabana boy.

I am so happy and excited for you Lynn!! I can't wait to read BOTH books. :-)

Stephanie

Anonymous said...

any winner from christie blog?/