Champagne Celebrations
I'm celebrating today. Champagne, chocolate, tootie horns, the works! Its my "I Sold" Anniversary!! Two years ago, I was woken up to THE CALL from my awesome editor, Brenda Chin. Whoohooo, baby, I have loved the journey of the last couple years. I've learned about promotion and royalties, sold six books, agonized over reviews and had very interesting discussions about hot fudge with my father (don't ask). Its been amazing.
But I never realized how much would change after that sale. I spent the years (many looooooong years) before I sold "training" myself. I figured hey, I'd have deadline so I should prepare, right? So I'd set myself deadlines. I used contests, the Golden Heart, crazy promises to editors that I'd have something done by XX date all as my deadlines. I learned to write against a wall - albeit a very soft, and really easily moved wall.
Before I sold, I knew promotion would be vital, so I learned all I could. I took workshops, I created a website & blog. I networked, although I admit this wasn't so much a career thing as the fact that romance writers are some of the funnest, most interesting people to hang out with *g*. And I thought I was ready.
Hahahahhahahahahaaaaaaa. Hmm, I think I need a drink of champagne to dull the hysteria.
Okay, so I was sort of ready. Like when you take training wheels off a kids bike - I could balance and knew the motions, but I was so not ready to hit the mountain bike trails. The last two years have definitely been a training ground, and I'm still not ready for those mountain bike trails LOL. But its been an incredible ride and I'm loving it!
Because I want everyone to celebrate with me, I'm offering a basket of goodies to one of the commenters, including a signed copy of Does She Dare?.
All you have to do is tell me about something you really looked forward to, and if the reality was as good as you'd thought-- and if that reality was harder than you expected.
Last summer I heard Janet
Last summer I heard Janet Evanovich was coming to town. I talked a friend into going with me, and after waiting 4 hours for her to sign my book - I commented on her socks. I wanted to be original and not spew her greatness like the 400 or so people before me - even though I felt the same. I looked forward to this event, enjoyed it, and the hard part? Sitting on the floor of the B&N while waiting for my number to be called. It was worth the wait, even though I was the bumbling idiot who commented on her socks!
Unique is GOOD
Marcia, hey - you had an original comment :-) thats special. I'm so impressed and awed that you sat for 4 hours on the floor of the bookstore waiting to get your book signed!!!
And I'm really REALLY curious - what was her response? I mean, she probably realized that given your floor seating, her socks were the main thing you saw for hours LOL.
Hi, Tawny. How wonderful to
Hi, Tawny. How wonderful to be celebrating your two-year anniversary and have 6 BOOKS SOLD under your belt!
I really looked forward to retirement, but once it happened, I missed school teaching. Then I immersed myself in my writing and viola!--I'm happy again!
Happy Happy Joy Joy
I'm so glad you're happy again, Jo! You should be, you awesome writer, you! Isn't it funny how we think we want something soooo bad (lets say kids, you'd know about that) and yes, the experience is fabulous and wonderdful, but each one of those kids adds a twist that we had no way of expecting to our life :-D
Tawny, what a great post!
Tawny, what a great post! And congratulations on your anniversary. I for one am enormously glad you sold because it gave me a chance to read your fantastic books.
I had to laugh at your 'getting ready' comment. I didn't think I'd ever sell so I DIDN'T get ready! I SOOO wish I had. It's been an enormous learning curve over the past two years (my anniversary was the 17th April, 2006!). The weird thing is that a lot of what I've encountered since I was published has been completely beyond anything I imagined. Something lovely is the way readers contact you and say how much they love your books. I'd never written to an author in my life (apart from friends who sold) and now I wish I had. The amount of energy you can expend on promotion was another surprise. Honestly, you could promose 36 hours out of every 24 and still not do everything. So I've had to learn to work clever! I also thought the writing would be easy once I sold. You know, I'd got my validation, I should be ready to power on with confidence. Nuh! The writing is as tough, or perhaps even tougher because you have a commitment to produce something good, as it ever was!
Validation?
Oooooh, Anna. You and me, babe. You and me. My golden ticket of validation thing is still floating around out there like the carrot on the end of a stick LOL.
What I think is so interesting is that despite being surrouned by other authors, and their wonderful examples and willingness to share their experiences and advice, we just can't get a clue until its OUR experience.
And like you say, there is just not enough time each day for promition, and the most incredible thing is to get reader mail!!! Its so uplifting and amazing :-D
Thank you, btw on the congrats - and right back atchya!! You're one of my fave authors, for sure.
Congrats on all your
Congrats on all your success! I really looked forward to getting a ereader. Now I have one. I love it. It holds so many ebooks and I can take it anywhere with me. It even has a light so I can read in the dark. Now I have something to read all my ebooks on. Before I was using my desktop computer.
eReader
Thank you Amy :-D I appreciate it!!!
Which eReader did you get? I've heard fabulous things about them and am always glad to hear they are as good of an experience as people hoped for! It sounds like you're able to relax and enjoy the books a lot more now, too. (psst, btw, did you know all the Blazes are available in ebooks now? *ggg* sorry, couldn't resist the shameless plug)
I got the ebookwise ereader.
I got the ebookwise ereader. I love it. I'm reading a lot more with it.
http://www.ebookwise.com/ebookwise/ebookwise1150.htm
Thanks for the reccomendation
I'll keep this one in mind if I go reader shopping, Amy :-)
I use my Axim
It's great as an e-reading, with Mobi -- I set the background to black, and the text to an off-white, and makes it much easier on the eyes...
Although I found that off eHarlequin I have to be a careful consumer -- I like Books on Board, they have a good selection and reliable downloads, but I also see that a lot of their new releases are more than you can buy the actual book for at Amazon or B&N... or the same price, which is ridiculous to me. I wanted the new Lisa Scottoline in ebook, but I won't pay hardcover price for it.
So... there are some catches...
Sam
bummer
I didn't realize they weren't a killer deal, Sam. And from what I've seen, eformat of our Blazes on Amazon are only for the Kindle?
Interesting...
On Amazon
You can only download to Kindle at Amazon, that's all, they don't do any other eformat for any book. It was one of the reasons I didn't buy one -- that, and I actually got my Axim for less, and can do more with it (write, email, etc).
Sam
Axims rock
So I hear you on the right choice, Sam. I thought Amazon was pretty limited in their offerings - guess they're trying to corner the market, huh?
Woohoo!!
Congrats, Tawny! It's only been two years since you got the call!? You sound like a pro, so it's hard to tell! :) The training wheels have been off for a while!
Something I really looked forward to (and I know this might sound kind of old-fashioned) was being a mother--I really really wanted that, and thankfully my husband was open to coming along for the ride ;) (He's since changed his tune--he loves being a parent at least as much as I do. Usually. :)) Anyway, nothing truly prepares you for the reality--not the gazillion books I read or websites I surfed or unsuspecting parents I cornered... the reality is sometimes as good or better than I hoped, and the reality is definitely harder than I'd expected. Especially the nights... Aiyiyi... But it's pretty amazing most days, too :) Except when they get between me and my reading ;)
Congrats again, Tawny! More champagne all around!
I hear ya!
Fedora, you're so right about kids. I've always -since I was little- wanted to be a mom. Its definitely nothing like I imagined, but its for sure the greatest thing in the world for me :-) And you, too, it sounds like!
But preparing for it? ahhahahahhahaha - more champagne? *g*
and thanks ;-) I have trouble believing its only been 2 years myself sometimes.
Celebrations
The thing that comes to mind to me is when I got this job in an eye doctors office. I went to school for 18 months to learn this type of work, so when the offer came I was thrilled. I was ready to celebrate. I new it didn't pay much but was thinking it would be my start in an office. I had always done factory work. It was like I was starting my life all over again, a clean slat so to speak.
Well let me tell you it was the worse job I have ever had in my life! The doctor was very rude to the employees. To put it bluntly she was mean. I lasted a big two months and walked out one day. Something I had never done in my life, just walk out on a job. A person can only take so much and at seven dollars an hour it didn't take long for me to figure out it wasn't for me.
To quote Happy Bunny
Mean People Suck, huh? Thats messed up that the dr was mean - I just don't get why people think thats okay! I hope you did go on to gind something you liked in that field after all those months in school :-( Or that you were just happy to know it wasn't your gig - but buttom line, I'm glad you got away from that nasty situation.
Hand me a glass...
I'll celebrate traveling. :) I always wanted to travel, but never made it farther than where a car could take me until about 8 years ago, and then that was my first time in a plane! I was terrified. I'm still always a little terrified, but I love travel so much...Being in new places, different places, has to be in my top three favorite things to do, so I'll celebrate getting in a plane and going somewhere... anywhere. LOL
That first trip was to Key West, and it was better than I ever could have imagined. The next time was to the Grand Cayman, and that was a dream come true. The longest flight was San Diego year before last, and a few to Florida now... We're taking a short trip to Chicago in a few weeks for our 11th anniversary, and I can't wait. :)
Sam
Happy Anniversary!!
Sam - yay for 11 years :-) I hope you have a FAB trip.
I'm so not a traveler, but would definitely love to see the Grand Cayman. My longest flight was SF to Atlanta, and that was long enough. The idea of flying over water makes me ooogy. It rocks that you've overcome your flying issues and get to do so much travelling :-)
My Daughter's wedding
It was almost 3 years ago and it was everything I hoped it would be. Karen looked beautiful and the sun was shining, the ceremony wonderful and everyone had a great time. It was one of the best days of my life. And now Karen will be making us first time grandparents in the fall.
Happy Sigh
How beautiful - it sounds like your daughters been a lovely blessing. I love weddings - and all the fluff and romance that goes with them! And congratulations on your upcoming blessing!!!
Janet's comment about the
Janet's comment about the socks. I think I made her off-balance. She paused and then said thanks. My friend made a comment about Jersey (she used to live there) that was way more intellectual than mine. Sitting there for 4 hours was a bit much, but worth it. How hard for an author to sit there and smile for that long!
4 Hours - ugh
that is such a long wait, and you're right, its a long time for the author to smile. But I still giggle about the socks commment :-) But then again, I tend to get a lot of comments on my shoes so I don't think twice about foot-related discussions LOL.
Congrats Tawny!!!!
You summed things up so well. I really looked forward to being published and while I don't find it harder than I expected, there is certainly more to it than I expected. lol. It's all so worthwhile, though. I love it.
Thanks, Jeannie!
I appreciate it -and congrats right back :-D You're summary is perfect - its not harder, per se. But definitely MORE LOL. I love it too, I can't think of anything I'd rather do :-D
Tawny, it's great to hear
Tawny, it's great to hear about the way you prepared yourself for publication, and I'm LOL at the reality!! I did a lot of the same--with much the same result! What's that old saying? Man plans and God laughs. Ah well...my latest plan and the thing I'm so looking forward to is quitting my day job. I'm really paving the way for that glorious day, and you know what? I know I'm going to be so sad! Well, for about a minute, anyway. :-)
Major congratulations on your two-year anniversary! Woohooo!!
Thanks, Kate!
Love that saying -and there is so much wisdom in it, huh? Fingers crossed you get to put your 'quit the day job' plan into effect soon :-) I think its fab that you're paving the way and getting things ready to make that big move :-) I absolutely adore being a writer, but think being "just" a writer would be even more fun LOL.
Happy Anniversary!!!!
Happy Anniversary!!!!
Big Grins
Thanks, Karin!!!! I'm blessed to have some fab people who've made the entire journey an amazing trip ;-)
Happy Anniversary
Congratulations on your anniversary! I remember looking forward to buying a house and how exciting it was to actually own it until we found out all the work it takes to take care of it.
Ahhh, the joys of home ownership
I hear ya, Maureen! I love our house, but man, oh man, its a constant job. If its not something IT requires done, its something *I* want done. Either way, my hubby or I always have a project or two in the works. Right now its landscaping - just a tidy up here and there, for the most part, but one area of the yard we have to totally landscape since we put in a pool.
But, its worth it, isn't it? All the work when you know its yours :-D
Congratulations!
Tawny, congratulations!! I remember when I first met you at National last year, I was shocked to find out that you'd only been published for a little more than a year. Your name was already very familiar, a sure sign that you were (and are) doing all the right things! Here to a long and lucrative writing career!
Here here!
I'll drink to that, Karen - to all of us!!
:-)
I hope I'm doing something right - its definitely a work in progress LOL.
It was so fun meeting you in the elevator (thank you for saving me, btw *g*) last year -and hanging out at National. I'm looking forward to doing it again this year!
Cautious Cari...
I can't say I ever really "look forward" to things, not wholeheartedly, because I'm one of those nervous Nellies who's always waiting for the other shoe to drop. But I suppose writing itself, choosing it as my career, is harder than I ever expected. I love to write and when I don't do it for a few days, get super cranky. But it's not all fun and games and it's not all about following the muse...there are deadlines to worry about (when and if, but even as an unpubbed writer, there are contest and self-imposed deadlines) and I struggle with the feeling that I ever can't really relax. I should be doing this, finishing that, researching that...the "shoulds" need to be banished!
But I love writing and know there's nothing else I'd want to do more.
Congratulations, Tawny on your anniversary! You're an inspiration to all of us looking at you and seeing what can be accomplished. :)
Cari
Blushing
Thanks, Cari!!!
I do hear you on the 'shoulds' I beat myself up with those a lot! But the part about always thinking about the story, that might just be part and parcel of being a writer? I know my current story, and often my backburner story, are always lurking in my mind- character questions, lines of dialogue, curiousity over how things will turn out *g*.
GO you on getting in the deadline practice now, though! Thats a great practice :-) and good luck!
Congrats on celebrating your
Congrats on celebrating your two-year anniversary and having 6 books sold. What an achievement.
For me I so looked forward to getting married the second time around to a wonderful guy and his 3 kids. The 2 teenaged boys were going to live with us and his daughter was living with a grandma.
Let me tell you, it wasn't what I thought/hoped it would be. I had never had children of my own and now I had teenagers. They were good boys but they were teenagers. The biggest mistake was me trying to discipline them; apparently I never should have according to many people's advice and that I should have left it up to their father once he got home from work. In the end, it has turned out fine--we are married 19 yrs. this July and the boys have given us 5 grandkids.
Wow
I'd say your acheivement trounces mine! Go you on such a fabulous 19 years and oh wow, 5 grandbabies!!! :-D I'm thrilled for you. I'm sure that represents a LOT of hard work and dedication. Especially the teenager part :-)
Being married
For years when I was single, I would dream of finding the right guy and being married. I found my guy and it has been as great as I had hoped it would be.
Awwww
Crystal that is lovely :-) I'm thrilled that your dream is as wonderful in real life as it was when you imagined it! Congratulations.
Late to the party!
Sorry I'm late, Tawny, but a big woohooo and happy wiggle for your two year anniversary! I remember it well! May you have many, many more happy anniversaries and plenty to celebrate.
I'm still waiting for The Call, so I can't tell you how that worked out *grin*, but one day I'll be back to let you all know!
Marrying my husband - the ultimate romance hero - is one thing I wanted so badly, yet was so scared about because he'd been my best friend for so many years. The reality has way exceeded the expectations *sigh*.
Oh, and being a Golden Heart finalist too - it's such a whirlwind experience that truly does make you feel like a film star (or even a published author?!).
It's on its way
Your call is coming, Anna!!! You're an amazing writer, so I know its soon :-) I love your great experiences - especially since I love your husband LOL, but the GH final rocked for sure. Like you say, its like being a star, and so much fun :-)
Well I just got back from my
Well I just got back from my son's college graduation which was a highly anticipated event in my house. It was hectic, fun, emotional, and totally wiped me out. I think the reality of the weekend went as expected, though with so many of his friend's there, I missed having more one on one time.
Huge Event
Cathy, isn't that a huge big deal -congratulations on your son's success (and yours, getting a kid that far is definitely a parental coup) it sounds like it was wonderful :-) bummer on the lack of one-on-one time, I hope you get some soon :-)
Congrats, Tawny!
That's so very cool!!! What a great anniversary to celebrate, and what a great way to wake up!
Let's see...a few years ago I decided I wanted to go to a certain grad school in a certain city. Very competitive. I applied and spent the next 3 months imagining the call or letter (wasn't sure which). When the call came, I didn't believe the dean...thought it was a joke. Then I kind of shut down for a few days...the reality was pretty scary (and got scarier, to be honest) because I had no idea I could actually compete at that level of academia. So for me the hindsight of something I've longed for is often better than the actual moment, because 7 years later I remember the whole experience very fondly! ;)
Congrats again, and I'm glad I've got more books to look forward to!
Margaret
Gotta love it
Isn't it funny how we focus on a goal - visualize and work toward it -then when we get it we think its a joke LOL. My first GH final, I was SURE it was a friend playing a hoax. My editor I emailed and asked her to please confirm it in writing since I couldn't quite believe it was real and being able to read it over and over might help a little LOL.
It sounds like yours was just as incredible, Margaret :-D And go you for handling that level of academia!!!
Congrats!
Wow, has it been two years already? Happy Anniversary :-)
I really looked forward to selling my first book and yes, the reality was definitely as good as I'd imagined *g* Then I looked forward to selling again - I might've been even more excited when I sold those next two books :-)
But yes, the reality was/is harder than I expected. Writing to a deadline and learning how to promo my work was...well...a learning experience. But being able to write for Harlequin is a dream come true and so worth all the hard work!
Dreams Come True
Beth, I hear ya, babe. Your debut is amazing, but your follow up is even awesomer :-) As for all the rest, the writing to deadline, promo work, etc, you rocked it. But its such a nerve wracking journey to figure it all out -even if you thought you knew the ropes before you jumped :-D
University
All my life I wanted to become a doctor... and I worked hard all my teen life to have good grades, and then I got accepted... it was so great! I was in the clouds for weeks!
Now, I have done 4 out of 5 years, and I am finding it very hard, and sometimes I wonder why I chose this lenghty path, especially as I have no idea what speciality I like!
However, at the end of the day, it is what I really like to do, even if it is tiring... most of the time :)
WOW
Nathalie, that is such an amazing example of dedication to a goal :-) Congratulations, belated, for being accepted to medical school and go you on sticking with it despite the hard, tiring work. The world is lucky to have people like you!