Friday 21 January 2011

The Call!

At 1.34pm today my life changed. The phone rang. The Call. As I was driving. The number came on the dashboard and I thought 0208???? is this a marketing call? But I pressed the button on the steering wheel and it was the lovely Sally Williamson from Mills and Boon.
Now at first I was worried. When other people have got the "The Call" they've usually had an email to arrange a time to talk. I hadn't had an email. But the day before I'd emailed Sally asking if she'd had time to look at my revisions and if she liked them or not. So I was worried. The crows of doubt were definitely circling.
My first thought was - she's phoning to let me down gently. So when I heard the words "We want to buy your book" I screamed so loudly I probably deafened her. Then I had to pull the car over as I started crying. Happy tears. Lots and lots of happy tears.
Then I heard the words "forward" and "two book deal". It was all a bit of a blur after that. I phoned my beloved and shouted "I can pay off the Visa bill!"
Then I ran into work and started shouting "I write for Mills and Boon!" The people I work with are wonderful and have known that I was waiting to hear for a while, so flowers and cake seemed to appear out of thin air.
Then I took two minutes to go and email my critique partner Nancy, my other online colleagues, Rachael, Jackie, Joanne. Then I emailed the poor Mills and Boon medical authors I've been stalking for a while Kate Hardy, Wendy S Marcus and Anne Fraser.
Then I had to go and tell my mum, dad and sisters. None of whom knew about my exploits to write for Mills and Boon - so that was fun.
So tonight I've finally sat down. I've read the confirmation email that Sally sent me. This ISN'T a dream. It is true. I've got to pick a pseudonym as there is another Romance writer in America called Susan Wilson. So what will I pick? I have no idea. But I have a whole weekend to decide. Feel free to make suggestions... Friends have already told me to call myself Scarlet, as I spend my life wearing red, but I'm going to take a bit of time.
Finally to say, that this all came about because of a Pitch on the eharlequin website in March last year. Wendy S Marcus, myself and two others won the chance to pitch our stories to Lucy Gilmour from medical romance. A partial was requested and then I was passed to Sally who requested the full. The rest as they say is history!
Now, to find the wine...........

51 comments:

  1. Susan,

    Oh. My. GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I cannot begin to tell you how wide my smile is for you, you only went and flippin did it!!

    YOU GOT THE CALL!!!!!

    Huge, massive congratulations on your success, it couldn't happen to a nicer person.
    I"m hoping that there have been champagne corks popping in your house tonight?

    Enjoy your special evening,

    Love Jo
    xx

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  2. Absolutely FANTASTIC news!!!! Way to go YOU!!!!

    Amy Strnad

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  3. Susan, what fabulous news!! Welcome to the family. ;) We're happy to have you! Celebrate in style tonight! And for the next few weeks...heck, forever. you've earned it! Wooohoo!

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  4. Blimey, I'm crying again! I'm so so happy for you, this is the best news ever!!

    I can't believe your parents didn't know you were writing, you secretive thing you!!

    Finally, how dare there be another writer with your name? That's just selfish ;-) but it does give you scope to think of something perfect ... just for you :-)

    Many many congrats on the call and also being able to pay off your Visa bill--that's a wonderful thing right after Christmas!!

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  5. I know I said it at subcare, but mega congrats! Great call story too. Can't blame you for pulling your car over! Scarlet could always work as a last name ;)

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  6. I know I've emailed you personally, but I wanted to come here and say publicly - Congratulations Susan! I am so so happy for you. Welcome to the family of M&B authors. I hope this is just the very first success of many. Good luck with choosing a pseudonym - just don 't go with Kate anything! There are too many of us!

    So looking forward to seeing your book in print
    Kate

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  7. I am so proud of you, Susan! Congratulations, and it was so lovely to get your news. (Stalking, my foot. It's been lovely making a new friend - AND meeting you in person at the RNA.) I do hope we're shelfmates. That would be SO cool!

    And LOL on what Kate W said. She, um, might have a point... ;o)

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  8. Susan, I am so happy to hear such wonderful news! Another SubCare graduate!! I am so truly happy for you! Enjoy every moment. :)

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  9. Many congratulations! Way to go! Speaking as part of the Harlequin family, welcome to that too. :)

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  10. Susan,

    CONGRATULATIONS! Ask the Sassy Sisters, I was thinking about you yesterday. I knew it was about time.

    Abbi :-)

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  11. AWESOME!!! Stupid New Zealand and time zones. I was asleep. Slept through Maisey's call too. Anyway, I am so STOKED for you, Susan!!! I knew you could do it. Going to be a fanstatic weekend huh? :-)

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  12. Susan, I think it is absolutely wonderful that you've sold to Mills & Boon! This weekend is going to be a beautiful one for sure. How awesome is this!!!!

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  13. I'm so thrilled for you, Susan, and I'm glad you had all those people to celebrate with irl. Love that your coworkers found cake and flowers for you. I hope you print that email and frame it.

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  14. Party at Susan's!!!! Wish I could be there in person. I'm sooooo happy for you. I knew you could do it, and now, finally, I can take part in a champagne toast to celebrate both our first sales!!! And you are not a stalker....you're my friend and I'm sooooo happy to have you! Oh, and for the record, put me down as a fan of Susan Swallows for a pen name!!!

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  15. Susan! Welcome to the family!

    It's all going to be crazy from here on in, so when you find your feet, drop me a line because we have a Call Story slot with your name on it at the Pink Heart Society. :-)

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  16. Congratulations! I love to hear of sales!!!

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  17. I am so excited for you! I had a good feeling about this MS the first time a read it. And it was fun watching the story evolve through every revision. I am so glad M&B decided to pick it up (and you)! Yay, you! You are an author for Mills and Boon. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it!

    I can't wait to hear what title they are giving it and I can't wait to hold your book in my hands! Congratulations!

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  18. Hi Susan,

    What an absolutely FANTASTIC news! Way to go YOU!

    Waka Waka, Girl! It's time for celebration!

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  19. Susan, over the moon happy for you and big grinning like an eeejit.
    Wonderful news. You'll have to change your About Me- not trying to write for M&B any more, you DO!

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  20. Susan, just read your news on eharlequin. LOVED hearing your call story. WooHoo!! Congratulations.

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  21. Man I go to sleep and something like this happens!! Just shows sleep is hugely over-rated! So stoked for you! You're an inspiration. And I feel so lucky to have already read your debut :)
    HUGE congrats! The words are just not enough to describe how fab this moment is!!!

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  22. Hi Joanne!
    I'm sorry to say I didn't come up with it on my own. I saw it on a Facebook post and just wanted to cast my vote!

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  23. Susan, I knew someone must have had the call when I logged into sub-care. I am so pleased for you. I loved your call story. Take the time to choose the perfect name for you.

    Congratulations.

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  24. Susan, how awesome!!! I lurk on the forums and get so thrilled when I see great news! I read HQ Medicals so I can't wait til yours comes out. :)

    Good luck picking a pseudonym.

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  25. Wow Susan !!! This is such a great news..and a wonderful call story. Almost had tears in my eyes as I read through it ! I'm glad you pulled over..hehe :)

    Congrats !!!!!!!!!!

    On a pseudonym, I saw the blog title and thought.. why not Rosie Wilson :) But.. well..that's just a thought.. Waiting to see what you come up with :)

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  26. I'm so incredibly happy for you Susan! Enjoy the flurry of activity that comes with publishing your first one x

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  27. YAY - Way to go Susan - good for you!!! Mega congrats - can't wait to read your story! Caroline x

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  28. Huge big thank you to everyone who posted congratulations. Had to pinch myself this morning when I woke up and check my phone again to be sure I got the call. My two sons have brought me down to earth with a bump by complaining all day!
    Many thanks to you all xx

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  29. Isn't bluetooth a wonderful thing? Congrats, Susan!

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  30. Brilliant news - congratulations!

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  31. Congrats Susan.
    Welcome to the HMB family of authors!
    The Medical lot are v supportative. I look forward to meeting you in person at one of the author do's.

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  32. Congratulations, Susan! Got sent over from Kate Hardy's blog. I've got medical revisions currently with an editor and am waiting to hear. Only been a week, but have tried not to gnaw fingernails down to elbows.
    Well done on your success! You must be thrilled to bits. Good luck with all your future books!

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  33. Michelle - always wondered what happened at the Mills and Boon author lunches, really really looking forward to finding out!
    Nicolette, well done on being asked for revisions. They really do seem to want more medical authors. I know someone else with revisions and another person with a full request. Best of luck!

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  34. WHOOHOO - FANTSTIC NEWS. MANY, MANY CONGRATULATIONS.

    xx

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  35. So happy for you!!! MEGA congrats on all that hard work!! Can't wait to read your book!

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  36. Congratulations, Susan!
    I've been giving your pseudonym some thought. You could be Sue Wilson or go by your full name of Susan ___ Wilson or go by your maiden name. I think I would keep as close to your original name so that you don't have to legally change it (and perhaps sign contracts as S. Wilson). Do you have a nickname? Do people call you Susie? Oh my! You could use initials like J.D. Salinger or J.K. Rowling!
    Oh dear. Coming up with a name could take more time than writing a book! Good luck with that! And congratulations again!

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  37. Truly, truly happy for you, Susan. And major kudos for hanging in there. You sooooo deserve this! Mega congrats :) :)

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  38. Yay! Congratulations Susan. I am so thrilled that I can say I met you before you became famous. And no matter what name you use, you know there are a lot of us who'll be supporting you and buying your books. You so deserve this success!

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  39. Popping over from the Writing Playground to congratulate you here. What terrific news!

    As for a pseudonym, see if you can keep Susan and use your maiden name or another family name for your last name. I have one friend who uses her husband's first name for her last name and another who used her hubby's name with "St." in front of it. As I've pondered pseudonyms, I've dug through the family tree and looked at the maiden names of grandmothers, great-grandmothers etc. Good luck with the search.

    And congrats again!

    Marilyn

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  40. I had another thought about your pseudonym. You might want to make sure there is a web page available with your new name on it before your name is "etched in stone", so to speak (like www.sjwilson.com).
    Like the others, I am very happy for your recent "call"! You must be doing the Happy Dance still! (I would be!)

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  41. Congrats Susan! I was so pleased to read of your acceptance on Subcare, I got chills! Looking forward to reading your debut!

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  42. Fantastically fabulous news Susan, I came over as soon as I heard the good news :-)

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  43. Congratulations Susan - very well deserved!
    I'm curious do you have to give up your day job now?
    Best wishes
    Sarah

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  44. Many thanks to everyone who posted congratulations. Sarah - if only!!!!
    I will be working full time for a long time. I remember Donna Alward saying it took her five years before she was earning a living from writing. Never mind!

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  45. I can't believe I missed this!!!

    So sorry, I've had a manic week and really OUGHT to have known you'd got THE CALL!!!

    WOO-HOO!

    And this couldn't have happened to a nicer person. It really couldn't. I'm so very pleased for you. Do keep us all posted on what happens next and how it all pans out.

    A SALE!!!!

    Sorry, I'll stop with the capital abuse now. Lol. Much love and very impressed thumbs-up signs. Jane x

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  46. "Many thanks to everyone who posted congratulations. Sarah - if only!!!!
    I will be working full time for a long time. I remember Donna Alward saying it took her five years before she was earning a living from writing. Never mind!"

    So this will call for some multitasking ! Good luck Sx

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  47. Awwwww Jane! Thanks!
    But you are forgiven for being late as I know you will be working flat out on YOUR big book deal. Can't wait to see your book.
    Hoping to see you at the conference this year

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  48. You'll have to wait ages for mine - March 2012 is the estimated pub. date!!

    Sigh ...

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