“We’d like to offer
you a contract.”
After 10 years of
writing, I thought I’d prepared myself for hearing those words. I’d honed my
craft, listened carefully as the Playfriends, Mavens, and chaptermates
discussed the business side of publishing, and handled quite a few phone calls
about contest finals, including the RWA Golden Heart(R).
But on August 27, 2012,
I learned that nothing could prepare me for hearing those words. They came when
I least expected it.
I’d been working
with Shana Smith, Associate Editor for Harlequin, on a submission for the
Desire line. This was a book that Smarty
Pants had read for me and loved. When Senior editor Stacy Boyd put out a
request on Twitter for submissions, SP insisted I get it in. Ms. Boyd liked it and
passed it along to Shana Smith. I completed a full revision and received
another detailed email from her that I opened just knowing it was a rejection. I
kept searching for the line that said, “But this just isn’t right for us…”
It wasn’t there!
She requested
another set of revisions on the proposal and I found myself almost paralyzed. What if I screw this up? The Playfriends
and my sister, Ella Sheridan, assured me I wouldn’t and we brainstormed some
changes to fit the request. I received great editorial suggestions, too –
Shana’s notes were thorough, encouraging, and spot on. I turned in the
revisions just shy of my self-imposed two week deadline.
Now Shana had told
me she’d read it “quickly”, so I was thinking a few weeks at the earliest.
Imagine my shock when she called a mere 4 days later. 4 DAYS! I think my brain
short-circuited when I heard, “This is Shana Smith from Harlequin.” But I know
it did when she started talking about a contract and release date.
August 2013 – I’ll
actually have a book with my name on it in August of 2013, exactly a year from
now. Amazing. I think my exact words were, “Oh, wow.” The rest of the
conversation was sparkling on Shana’s end and only halfway intelligent on mine.
Definitely in shock.
The reality hit me
as I told family and friends. I’ll never forget the Playfriends and Mavens
excitement, thanking my sister for all her help, my husband’s hugs, and most of
all, my children bouncing all over the car on the way home from school,
squealing with joy. That was the moment I first teared up.
It’s been an
exciting ride ever since. Lots of celebrations! My family even got to celebrate
with me because they just happened to be visiting the following weekend from
out of state. The flowers below were from the Mavens. So much fun!
And today I get to
have even more fun with y’all! I’m pretty sure there will be cabana boys,
massages, and all manner of alcoholic beverages in cyberspace today, but I’ll
start us off with Krispy Kreme donuts (my fave!) and chocolate martinis. LET’S
PARTY!
Angel
writing as Dani Wade
