Harlequin Moment

I have many favorite moments surrounding Harlequin, but one of the most special moments happened the first week of June in 2005. I had submitted a full manuscript to Harlequin Historicals, and that day, a slender envelope awaited me in the mailbox.

Synergy.

I am the new kid on the block in terms of years here at Harlequin. My debut single title from Spice, an erotic historical, Diary of Cozette is slated for release in October 2008. Though I have been writing for the last ten years, this will be my first novel with Harlequin and it goes beyond words, even for a writer, to describe the array of emotions that I feel.

Already I have gathered many “moments” that I hold dear to my heart. The first time I heard from my brilliant editor, Susan Swinwood who uttered those magical words, “We’d like to offer you a contract for your book…” Later meeting Susan and hearing first-hand her story of how she came to be at Harlequin and her vision on writing. Listening to the quiet and dynamic Randall Toye speak to a room full of aspiring writers about the future of romance writing, getting my author page up at eHarlequin and scrolling down that index list of legendary names and finding my name among them. A most recent “moment” for me was receiving my debut books. I held it in my hands as if it were glass. Even now, get a lump in my throat when I think of the journey of this project.

It’s so hard to choose a particular Harlequin moment that is worthy above all. I could go on and on about my favorite Harlequin books or authors among the various lines, but what has meant the most to me is eHarlequin. For an aspiring author, the community forum is priceless. Not only can we talk directly with our favorite authors, the Learn to Write section and articles are an absolute Godsend for newbies.

The wealth of information available for writers and readers alike is phenomenal. Reading and writing challenges, blogs, contemporary series, multicultural, inspirational, romantic suspense, hot and spicy or sizzling Desires, online reads, mainstream, paranormal and fantasy--so many great reads to choose from once I ventured out of my comfort zone. There is truly something for everyone.

OK, so my excuse is this -  I was at the eHarlequin Pajama/Pyjama party. In San Francisco. And as those two spellings of - er - of PJs might just tell you, I actually live in the UK. Lincolnshire UK to  be exact.

So to get to SF I had to travel a l-o-n-g way. So I was slightly jet-lagged. And then by the time I was at the PJ party I was a little bit more ‘lagged' because I'd not slept properly, and I'd been to several other parties - and by the time I was at  the PJ party it was heading for midnight. And I wasn't even sure what day that particular midnight was on.

So when Jayne and Dream asked for my Harlequin moment, I thought they wanted an eHarlequin moment. And I scribbled one down on a piece of paper. (It's the one under E below- the one with the crowing, if you're interested)  and went back to enjoying myself.

The next thing I know is that apparently I had  ‘volunteered' to be part of the Blog Bash. And it's not an eHarlequin moment - it's a Harlequin moment. And I can't manage that - not just one moment!  There are too many wonderful moments. After all, I've been published since 1984 - and that's a lot of moments.

Ah - but . . .  I can see a way round this - so here you are  my great  big, Harlequin MOMENT

I have to start this by targeting awesome author Debra Salonen with a tackle/hug/kiss combo. Not only is she one of the most wonderful humans in the world (and no, that's not my opinion, it's a fact.) but she inspired me with the theme of this blog. Her Top Ten Harlequin Moments were at once wildly funny, choke-up touching and as real and memorable as she is.

OK, so on to my own Top Ten Harlequin moments. In reverse chronological order.

You may have heard the expression, “You never forget your first.” Well, in the case of the first category romance I ever read, this is definitely true! The first series romance I read was a Silhouette Special Edition from September of 1991.

I had been writing novels for about a year, trying to find my voice, my niche, my direction, when a critique partner said, “Beth, you’re writing category romance. You should try to sell a book to Harlequin.”

For a Harlequin author, any mention of a favorite Harlequin moment brings to mind that all-important sale call catapulting an unpublished writer into the exciting realm of published author.  But I'm not going to write about all the ways I adore the writing career that started with that particular Harlequin moment.

Instead, I thought about this idea as a fan since long before I wrote for Harlequin, I was a reader.  And I don't read romance just for the "romance."  I read it for the triumph over conflicts.  The relationship discovery involved in seeing what makes two people right for each other.  And, oh yes, that all important first meet between the hero and heroine.

It's that moment in my own life that I'd rank as my personal favorite Harlequin moment.  Not the obstacles in our romance or even the getting to know you phase, but the time I first met my husband.

Harlequin is Like a Box of Chocolates.

Choosing my favourite Harlequin moment is, I've discovered, like attempting to choose my favourite chocolate from a ginormous multi-layered box. 

For the past week I've been poring -- or is that pawing? -- through the layers, sampling this one and that and dithering over my final choice.

How can I pick just one from the sweet diversity?  Every one is delicious.  Every one a favourite.

The moment I realised that the accented voice on the other end of the phone wasn't a telemarketer but Leslie Wainger from Silhouette.  The moment her "we want to buy your book" registered.  Walking outside and telling my husband; his arms around me, the tearful knowledge that this was not going to be such a bad year after all.

OH, THE PLACES YOU WILL GO....

Please forgive me if I butchered Theodor Geisel's phrase.  As a child, I was absolutely fascinated with the worlds Dr. Seuss created....But I digress.

When I first started thinking of writing this blog, I figured it would be easy to pick one defining Harlequin moment that stood out against all others.  Boy, was I wrong!

So I decided to narrow it down to places I had gone as a result of writing Superromances and Harlequin NASCAR Series books.  Easy, right?  NOT!  Even after eliminating the places I'd visited online and in my mind while researching my stories, I still had an impressive list of actual, honest-to-goodness, physical locations:

Being an author is the coolest thing.  We get to work in holey sweat pants and our favorite oversized sweatshirt.  Like it or not, we quickly become the center of attention whenever someone innocently asks what we “do.”  We receive paychecks to, well, make stuff up.  Let’s face it, for having such a solitary, unglamorous career, we sometimes get the best star treatment outside of Hollywood.

I have many favorite Harlequin moments racked up in the three years since I sold my first book.  Of course the biggest one was the first sale, but I’m betting a lot of authors will write about that because it’s such an unforgettable, mind-blowing moment.  So instead, I’m going to tell about my first dose of star treatment…the annual Harlequin party at RWA’s national conference.