Call Story: Jennifer Faye plus a Giveaway!

The Pink Heart Society is very pleased to welcome Jennifer Faye with her call story and giveaway today!

It was a week of surprises and celebrations.

The Monday before I received “The Call” I was notified that I had finalled for the second year in a row in Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write Contest. I had until that Wednesday to submit my FULL manuscript for the next round of judging. 

Once I hit the ‘send’ button, I began to relax. The next round was all done by the editors so there was nothing for me to do…but write something new. And there was a rumor going around that there would be no new sales until the editors finished their round of judging

.

The very next morning, Thursday, I received an email from the editor I’d been working with for the past year. She wanted to know if it’d be a good time to call. Oh my goodness!!! *cue fluttering heart* What could this mean? Was it the call? *cue denial* Did she want to discuss all of my submissions (at this point she had 2 FULL’s and my SYTYCW entry)? Was she going to clarify how we would proceed? That must be it. Because I never heard of an editor calling to say that someone was a terrible writer and they should find a different profession. At least I was hoping she wouldn’t say that. LOL. Okay so I was a little nervous and having the craziest thoughts. Then I realized I hadn’t emailed her back. *cue rapid keystrokes*

I couldn’t sit still. I couldn’t concentrate. I started cleaning my house at a furious pace. I had to keep moving, burning up nervous energy. Could this be the call? No, you’re crazy. But maybe. Nah…you’re dreaming. Yep, those were my thoughts. LOL.

On Thursday, October 18th @ 8:30a.m. EST my phone rang and my palms grew moist. I answered and all I could hear was static. Heavy static. Then like someone was shouting across the ocean I heard the faintest British accent. My editor got out enough for me to understand she’d try calling back.

*cue next phone ring / pounding heart* This time the line was clear, and let me tell you that Carly Byrne has the most beautiful voice and accent. I could listen to her talk all day. She said that she wanted to buy my Fast Track submission. SQUEE!

I was a nervous wreck through the conversation. But Carly promised to type up what we’d discussed and send it over. The thing was, in order to accept the contract, I had to withdraw from SYTYCW. So I had to tuck this all under my hat until the powers that be with the contest were notified. Talk about sitting on the BIGGEST secret. LOL.

BTW, I went on to sell my 2011 SYTYCW story. It is my second release, SNOWBOUND WITH THE

SOLDIER. It was be available October 2013.

So my biggest piece of advice for unpublished writers is to just keep believing in your dreams and keep writing. I’m proof that dreams really do come true. :-)

To celebrate my July 1^st debut, I’m giving away one copy of RANCHER TO THE RESCUE. Leave a comment, answering my question below and you will be entered.

Have you ever wanted something really bad and had it happen when you least expected it? If so, share with us what it was.

RANCHER TO THE RESCUE

Damsel in a wedding dress!

Jilted at the altar, celebrity chef Meghan Finnegan flees the scene--and the baying press--only to run straight into the muscled torso of Cash Sullivan.

The former rodeo champion knows what it’s like to have your life crumble in the spotlight, so he offers Meghan a place to lie low at his ranch.

Fresh air, no paparazzi and the brooding rancher's lazy smile are making Meghan not want to leave her sanctuary. But she and her unborn baby can't stay here forever...can they?

Read an excerpt

Buy at: Amazon   |   Amazon - UK   |   Barnes & Noble   |   Harlequin

Connect with Jennifer at her Website | Twitter | Facebook