“The Call” by Jeannie Moon, author of The Temporary Wife
I am so excited to be on Vicky’s blog to share with you about my debut release, The Temporary Wife. It’s especially wonderful because Vicky has been an amazing mentor since we met on Twitter and then in real life at RWA in New York City. I couldn’t ask for a better friend.
So, I’m going to share the story every author loves to tell over and over. I’m going to tell you about “The Call.”
There are many things that go through an author’s head when she gets the call. Honestly, I’d visualized the moment for years. YEARS. I’d had so many close calls, I was at the point where I thought I’d never be published.
And then, everything happened. Fast.
The whole thing started out innocently enough. At the end of August, my bright, shiny new agent told me that an editor I know at NAL had a story idea she wanted me to think about. I was asked to work up a proposal for a contemporary marriage of convenience story. I know…not easy and I was skeptical. I’d been down the submission road with this house before and while I had editors there who loved my work, I wasn’t able to make a sale.
But, I worked up a story—I wrote a synopsis and sent it to my agent. We worked on it and then it went off to the editor. I put it out of my head and went back to the single title I’d been getting ready for submission.
One week later…it happened.
I was sitting in the faculty room, having lunch 7th period. It was September 12th. (Around 12:15 PM, if you want to know.) My cell phone rang and I saw my agent’s name come up on caller ID. My stomach turned over. Truly. Everything inside me just knotted up, so I stepped away from the table and took the call. All I really heard Becky say after I answered was, “They offered a three book deal.”
Oh. My. God. There was this rushing sound in my ears and I knew she was talking about advances and contracts and what details would have to be worked out, but all I could think was…I sold.
Then I heard the words that would turn me into a sleep-deprived, writing-obsessed, caffeine addict, “She wants the book in six weeks.”
What? Six?
That’s right folks, I had six weeks to write a book. Amazingly, I did do it, even as I was directing a school play and getting through Hurricane Sandy, and now the book is right there and it’s real and I’m terrified. Selling is one piece of this writing game, but surviving the release is something else altogether.
The point I’m trying to make is that there’s no easy time when you’re an author. Don’t get me wrong, everyone should have problems like mine—I’m doing something I love. But I want to be a success. I want people to enjoy my books, but getting there from here really nips at your ego from morning until night. That part doesn’t get better after you sell, it gets different.
But there’s no turning back. I’m published and I’m holding on to all the good feelings that go along with that, trying to quiet my nerves as I go. Writing about the good stuff helps.
The other thing that helps is celebrating with the people who made it possible. And Vicky is most definitely one of those people. She encouraged me as I worked to make this dream come true. So that brings me to ask…who helps you with your dreams? Who pushes you and encourages you and listens when you need an ear?
Comment and let me know.
It was an offer she couldn’t refuse…from a man she couldn’t resist.
Kindergarten teacher Megan Rossi is devoted to being a mother to her best friend’s five-year-old daughter, Molly. When the child was orphaned, Meg became the little girl’s legally named guardian—over the objections of Molly’s wealthy grandparents, the Campbells. Now the Campbells are petitioning for custody, and Meg is faced with a long and expensive legal battle. The last thing she expects is for her former high school boyfriend—and the Campbells’ estranged son—to offer a solution: marriage.
Billionaire software developer Jason Campbell knows his parents don’t have Molly’s best interests at heart—it’s all about control for them. There is one way he can ensure that his sister’s last wishes are honored. He will offer Meg the protection of his name and lawyers until the custody arrangement has been finalized , then he’ll secure his niece’s future with a very generous divorce settlement. Jason’s considered all the scenarios, except one—that the sparks that once flew between he and Meg might reignite a burning passion. And that his confirmed bachelor heart might just melt away from the heat…
Jeannie is giving away an ebook copy of The Temporary Wife. Giveaway open to US readers. Ends 5/24.
If you have found this blog post on Vicky’s Goodreads site, please visit her blog to leave a comment.
Jeannie Moon began her romance writing journey in 2000. After several books and a few close calls, she finally sold The Temporary Wife and two other books in the Forever Love series, on proposal, to Penguin’s digital first line, Intermix. Jeannie is a career educator spending time as a high school English teacher and the last 17 years as a school librarian. Married to her high school sweetheart, Jeannie has three kids, two lovable dogs and a mischievous cat, and resides on Long Island, NY. If she’s more than ten miles away from salt water for any longer than a week, she gets twitchy. Visit her on the web at www.jeanniemoon.com.
Find Jeannie:
Author Site | Facebook | Twitter
