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This is what it feels like
Posted by Denise on September 10, 2008 under Books, For Writers, GuestsNo, no not that! Tsk, tsk. Anyone would think you read erotic romance…
This is what it feels like to achieve your heart’s desire, your greatest ambition. Unpublished writers refer to it as “The Call”. And here’s my good friend, Tracey O’Hara, to share every heart-stopping, squeal-out-loud moment with you.
It doesn’t really matter if you couldn’t care less about seeing your name on the cover of a book in Borders. Because everyone has something they want very, very badly, so much so that achieving it would fill them to the absolute brim (and over) with joy and delight. I bet you do!
This is how it feels. Live vicariously, my friends. *smile* You go, Tracey girl!
From Gold to Spice to Sold: The Diary of a New Author by Tracey O’Hara
Well, what a roller coaster ride I have been on in the last couple of months! Mainly the downhill, adrenalin-pumping, hands in the air while you scream with giddy delight kind of ride.
First, my manuscript Night’s Cold Kiss made the finals in the paranormal category of the Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® contest. I’ve had contest finals in the past - but this was the big one. The one I wanted to final in most of all. And hopefully my last contest. [This is a Humongous Big Hairy Deal, okay? DR]
So already on a high from my final, I sold my very first piece of writing in June -a short story to Harlequin Spice Briefs that I wrote on a dare from my very good friend, Melissa Haack. It was dark, it was scary and it was sexy with a capital SEX. Too dark, too sexy for Harlequin I thought, but I got my agent, Jennifer Schober of Spencerhill Associates, to submit it anyway. What was they worst they could do - say no? Editor Susan Swinwood read it and LOVED it! She loved it so much she offered me a two Spice Brief deal.
[I’ve persuaded Tracey to give us a tiny taste. This is from Tonight My Love, out May 2009, from Harlequin Spice Briefs. Oooh… DR]
Whitechapel, London 1888
Her eyes closed and a moan escaped as she slid down the leather seat, forcing him deeper inside.“What did you say this place was called again?” she asked, her breath coming in pants.
“Whitechapel.” He worked two of his fingers in and out, varying the rhythm, playing her like a fine instrument.
“Such a pretty name for such a filthy place, don’t you think?” She screwed up her face and he couldn’t resist dropping a kiss on the tip of her button nose.
“But every now and then you can find a diamond in the dirt. Now choose, my love,” he said.
Isabelle leaned forward a little and sighed. The movement changed the angle of his penetration, trapping his fingers in her hot, wet quim. She pushed aside the red velvet curtains just enough to see while he bent to run his tongue over the swell of her breast before looking out the window himself. Outside the carriage mist swirled low to the ground, caressing the skirts of the whores peddling their bodies for a few meager pennies.
I will be publishing the Spice Briefs under the pseudonym of Tracie Sommers. [Watch for it - and them! DR] I’m saving my name for when I publish my single title novels.
Wow - my first sale! It was only a short story - but I sold it to Harlequin. BIG TIME!
They welcomed me into the fold like any other HM&B author. I got to go the Harlequin party in San Francisco [at the RWA Conference. DR] - my first published author event. It was fantastic and wild and lots of fun. In fact, fun was very much on the agenda in San Francisco. I met new people, met up with people I had known both on and offline line. For a week I got to bask in the golden glow with my fellow finalists - the Pixie Chicks of 2008.
[Here’s Tracey (right) with Cathleen Ross, another great Aussie author published with Spice Briefs (left). DR]
And I hugged. Romance writers are such huggers and I loved it. Everywhere I turned there was an Aussie or a Kiwi. It was fantastic. I even ran into our fabulous Ms Rossetti with her famous shoes a couple of times.
I didn’t take out the Golden Heart - but I was not in the least disappointed. The experience was beyond everything I had ever imagined. I got home feeling exhilarated, but only for a few days. When you are that high, you have to come down sometime. And I did - crashing to a real low about four days later, suffering from PCSD - Post Conference Stress Disorder.
[Tracey with her “Golden Boot” Certificate - for Golden Heart finalists who are no longer eligible for the unpublished contest, because they got The Call. Happens often! DR]
It lasted for about three days - then I had the Australian conference in Melbourne to look forward too. This one I would be able to share with the Go-go girls (my critique group).
But after my first Harlequin dinner in Australia I sat up late drinking champagne with friends, courtesy of Robyn Grady, and crawled into bed at one in the morning. At 6.30 am I woke up and was talking to my roommate, Jo, about what we would be doing that day, and I was checking my emails on my phone at the same time. There were a number of emails marked Urgent from my agent and one that simply had “OFFER!!!” in the subject line.
And boy, what an offer! A three book deal from Eos Books (Harper Collins).
I screamed (I think). I scared Jo (I think) because she asked me what was wrong. Then I told her “I think I’ve sold!” We both got excited. I couldn’t tell people until the next day.
It was so hard trying to keep quiet. The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do - well maybe not - but you get the picture. I wanted to scream it from the rooftops but was reduced to random bursts of squeeeeing! when in private.
Finally, the next day my agent said I could tell people. She’d accepted the offer on my behalf and I could tell whoever I wanted. Anne Gracie (President of RWAustralia) announced it with the other first sales on the Saturday morning and I was able to go up to collect my first sale ribbon along with the rest of the girls. I was extremely happy to have been able to share it with all my writing friends. It really was the best place ever to receive The Call.
And now I get to publish under my own name.
Thanks, Tracey. So now you all know how it feels, huh? *grin*
Tracey writes dark, sensual paranormals - her books are shudderingly wonderful. You can keep up with all her doings on her website and blog.
Join with me in congratulating Tracey on achieving her heart’s desire, and in asking all sorts of nosy questions. For example, I’d like to know what Tracey did for her own private celebration… *smirk* Oh, and ask her to tell you about her gorgeous tattoo. Perhaps she’ll even let slip a little more about Night’s Cold Kiss, the first in her three book series for Eos Books.
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Congrats Tracy! Do you have a website? It’s always good to read success stories… it does my heart proud to see that people can succeed.
Thanks so much as having me as your guest, Denise. It’s great to be here.
Thanks JC.
Denise has a link to my website up above but it’s http:/www.traceyohara.com. I love reading people’s “made-it” stories and I have to pinch myself that it is actually mine this time.
Congratulations Tracey! It was lovely to hear about your success story.
Yes, thanks for sharing. I like having the process explained. Congrats and please post excerpts on your site. lindsey
Thanks Dani and Lindsey. I am not sure about the excepts yet - I have to talked to my editors and see if I can put them up. But as soon as I can - I will.
Tracey - I’ve emailed you about this before, but this is a great story and fantastic news. It inspires new writers like me to give it a go, even when it seems too hard. There’s always a chance that one day we’ll get “The Call”. Well done! Denise - thanks for putting it on your site!
Monique
What a brilliant call story, Tracey. A three book deal! That’s awesome. Huge congratulations.
A big welcome to Under and Over, Tracey my friend! How about you tell readers a little more about yourself? For example, what draws you to dark paranormals? What book/s did you read way back when that set you thinking you might write one?
Thanks Monique. I so loved reading these stories when I was a newbie. And I still feel like a newbie all the time. If I can do it - so can you.
Mel,
I was SOOOOOOOO happy you were there to share it with me. After all our years of saying “one day” - you turn next baby.
Thanks Cathryn - and yes - I am still waitning for someone to tell me it was just a dream and my arms are bruised from pinching myself.
Well Denise - I grew up reading Wilbur Smith adventure and Steven King horrors. Then my DH introduced me to fantasy. My all time heros in fantasy are Raymond E Feist and Anne McAffery, both who are with Eos - so this is more than a dream come true for me.
Hey, Tracey, I LOVE hearing call stories and yours I cannot hear too many times. What a year! What a trifecta!! What a future!!!
Bron
What a wonderful story, Tracey!! Congratulations, again. And wow, that excerpt was some kind of HOT!
Bron - thanks so much - that means alot.
. what can I say - it never rains but it pours. 
Thanks Nalini - you clever NYT bestseller you.
Ah Tracey, I still remember reading Feist’s “Magician” and loving it. I credit Feist (and Star Wars and Terry Pratchett) for getting my son into reading. And Anne McCaffrey! She’s just awesome, her Pern books are among my all time favourites, on my keeper shelf.
And I know what you mean about having such magnificent writers in the imprint that accepted you. Jim Butcher and Charlaine Harris are with Berkley Ace, like me. Gulp! To be frank, I find it terrifying. Not long after I signed with Berkley, I visited a city bookstore specialising in SF/Fantasy and crime. I had to leave after a while because I felt physically ill with nerves at seeing all those authors I’d admired for so long.
Performance anxiety, anyone?
Lovely to see you here, Bron and Nalini. And um, Nalini, that excerpt wasn’t as HOT as the one we started out with!
Mega-congrats on your NYT bestseller status - way to go! 
Thanks for sharing Denise and Tracey.
Tracey, that’s a brilliant call story. Mega-congratulations! And what’s this about a tattoo? Do tell…
Hey Tracey! I was only just thinking this morning that a year ago, you were just a name on a bunch of contest entries to me
I’m so thrilled we got to share Nationals and that massive Call in Melbourne. Can’t wait to read your stuff!
That’s right - I had to cut the opening paragraph to make it a bit less - uhumm - suitible to be posted on the blog.
Sussan - I said I was going to get another tattoo when I sold - I think I have changed my mind. Don’t know what my sold present will be now. I have a rather largish tattoo of a dragon on my right thigh. I love my dragons.
Paula - we did have fun didn’t we - what happens at the Harelquin party stays at the Harlequin party :mrgreen:. I still find it hard to believe this is where I am now.
okay I am on lunch and should be writng my Spice Brief but I thought I would tell you about Night’s Cold Kiss which is due to come out September 2009. I am very excited and will soon go into edits for this one. I am not sure how much I can tell, but someone once described it as a Paranormal suspence with Erotic Elements, almost like Buffy meets Tomb Raider and CSI. And it is definatly not for children.
Hi Tracey (and waving to Denise),
That story never gets old. You go girl.
Hey Tracey - love hearing the Call stories and yours was just fantastic. Congrats again!!
Knew there would be a sale soon for you …… 
Hey AJ - thanks for stopping by.
Elani,
You sweet talker you.
It’s a fantastic call story, Tracey.
When you called me from the Aussie conference I was so happy and excited for you!
I knew it would happen, especially when you got your dream agent. You’ve worked hard for it.
Many many hugs!
Anne.~
Ah Tracey,
It’s so exciting to see a Go-Go do well! Congratulations on your successes - we can’t wait to see your name (or names) in print.
Well done,
Kirsty
Woo Hoo! I can’t think of a nicer Spice girl!
Bet
Cathleen
Go Tracey!!
I see there’s a certain ‘part’ missing from that there excerpt, eh? You’re not cutting it from the final version, I hope?
E.
Fabulous call story Tracey! Huge congrats on your sales, look forward to reading your books soon!!!
Getting here late Tracey but mega, mega congrats. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer person!
xxx
Oh I have been slack. Thanks Anne for the kig Kisses. It’s been fun sharing the journey with you for part of the way.
Kirst - waving madly
Cathleen - son’t we look great in the picture
Erica - no the bit hadn’t been cut just teporarily removed from the chaqpter, a bit much to much as Denise said
Hey Christina - so happy to see y ou here :mad::wink:
Yes we do Tracey, says the ever modest Cathleen. Never-the-less, I’ve started my exercise and diet program. Summer seems to have come early this year.
Cathleen
Woohoo!! Congrats Tracey
So nice to finally put a face to then name 
MWAH!
Thanks Cathleen - and me too - well after tonight. And Lyn - thanks - and maybe one day we can meet in person.
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