My Favorite Harlequin Moment was when I realized I’d come full circle.
I’ve been reading Harlequin books since my early teens and loved them. I used to save my allowance to buy them at the local drug store, and as I’d get to the last chapter of one book, I’d hand my little brother cash to run up to the store and get me the next one. I’d have him get me a bag of barbequed potato chips, too. But that’s a different story.
When I decided to go for my dream of writing I knew I wanted to write for Harlequin. I mean, they rock, right? As soon as I found eHarlequin it was like finding Nirvana. OMG the information here. The support, the inspiration. The authors!
I spent the next four years working toward my sale. I wrote 5 books, I finaled in the Golden Heart 3 times, I hung out on the boards, learned and kept trying. In 2005 Harlequin sponsored the Blaze contest, and I won the unpublished category. Yup, that was a favorite moment when Kathryn Lye called to tell me that. There is no feeling more giddy than seeing Harlequin on the caller ID, let me tell ya!
Except when the call is actually THE CALL. I think if I only get to call one particular moment my absolute favorite then I’d pick this one. The day Brenda Chin called to tell me she was buying my book. OMG. Really really, she was buying Undercover Seduction, which was later retitled DOUBLE DARE. I’d done it!! I’d sold. And I’d sold to my dream editor at my dream house. It was a huge OMG moment and everything I’d imagined it would be, times ten. The next year was filled with more favorite Harlequin moments.My first revisions (hey, I admit it, I love revisions), my picture up on an eHarlequin author page, my first cover and then... Dum dadum--Holding my first book.
There’s nothing like it. My name. On a Harlequin Blaze. My words between the cover. I pinched myself black and blue. The first time I saw the book in the store, it was my little girl who saw the book first and yelled out there in the middle of Barnes & Noble, “Look, Mommy. It’s your book.” That rocked, let me tell ya! Almost as much as when my husband threw me a party, complete with cake to celebrate.
The favorite moments just keep coming, though. My second, then third contracts. My first royalty statement. The shoes I buy for every book I sell (I’m a sucker for rewards) Heck, as far as favorite moments go, this last RWA National Conference was filled with them. I had the giddiest fan girl time going to dinner with the Blaze Authors. To have people come up and tell me they love my books. They were all special and wonderful moments.
To sell to Harlequin was the culmination of not just a dream, it was like coming full circle to something I’ve loved all my life. From reader to writer to author. It’s been such an incredible time. So really, for me, every day that Ilive this dream is one favorite moment after the other.
How about you? Have you ever wanted something really bad, and once you got it found out that it wasn’t exactly what you’d thought it would be? Instead, it was so much more? What dreams are you nurturing right now?
About The Author:
Tawny's usually found dreaming up stories in her northern California home, surrounded by dogs, cats and kids. When she’s not writing hot, spicy stories, she’s testing her latest margarita recipe, shopping for the perfect pair of boots or drooling over pictures of Johnny Depp (when her husband isn’t looking, of course). Her alter ego, Mom, also spends a lot of time scrap booking and playing in the garden. Please visit Tawny at her home on the Web at www.TawnyWeber.com. She’d love to hear from readers.
Full circle
Tawny, what an inspiring post! I can't wait to read RISQUE BUSINESS, btw! It's on my TBR pile as we speak.
Selling your first book is such an amazing experience. i don't think anything in my life has quite compared with it. There's such a combination of imponderables--talent and luck and timing, along with just plain old hard work, isn't there? And once you do sell you don't get to rest on your laurels. There's always the next challenge around the corner. You have such a bright future ahead of you, Tawny. Good luck!
Hi Christine!
Hey Christine
Thanks for stopping by! I agree on the combination of everything coming together to make that sale happen! And it totally rocks when it happens. And like you say, there are always new challenges. I think thats one of the things I love best right now, figuring them out. Well, that and the great friends and support I've found on this ride 
I love that we're living our dreams!
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
Great moments!
Tawny -- what a great blog...and what great moments! Trust me, you've got many, many more great career moments ahead of you. You rock, lady, and I am so thrilled for you. I loved reliving your joys and successes through your post. And I never get tired of seeing your smiling face holding your first book. There's nothing like it. Enjoy every second and savor every special moment to come. And keep those awesome stories coming.
Christmas Confessions -- Harlequin Intrigue, November 2008
www.kathleenlong.com
www.writersatplay.com
Go Tawny!
Hi Tawny!
Great post. Somehow I think you're going to have many more moments of obtaining a sought after goal. Risky Business sounds fabulous. I'm soon going to have an entire shelf of Tawny Weber keepers.
What a great post, Tawny!!
What a great post, Tawny!! It's truly inspiring to read "call" stories. I think I've had three such situations. The first was the birth of my oldest son. I'd had wanted a baby for so long and then it was everything and more than I ever expected. The second was the birth of my second son. I'd had a lot of problems getting pregnant the second time so when he was born, it was simply amazing.
The third of course was the day my agent called telling me she had an offer for my book.
Yay, Tawny!!
What a great blog on catching your dreams! You've shown they don't come true without a lot of hard work. You're an inspiration. Looking forward to jumping in excitement through the years when I see more Tawny Weber books on the shelves.
Betty Hanawa
www.BettyHanawa.com
www.myspace.com/betty_hanawa
www.writersatplay.com
BBQ chips
I'm so having to follow up on this....next time I see you, I'll be sure to get the full scoop!
Jayne
Community Manager
"We cannot really love anyone with whom we never laugh." ~ Agnes Repplier
Great moments!
Wonderful post, Tawny, your excitement bubbled over onto me. I love the concept of coming full circle, like coming home again.
Darling cake, what a treasure your husband is.
I think we've all experienced times when we wanted something so badly and when we got it, were disappointed. But I love those moments when the reality exceeded the expectation. My Golden Heart win was like that for me. So magical.
Congratuations, Tawny, your success is so much deserved.
Great moments
Hi Tawny, I really enjoyed reading about your inspirational moments. Thank you for sharing them with us.
I got an extra chuckle over the BBQ chips comment. It just so happens that it was a lazy morning for me. My dd had watermelon for breakfast and I had a hand full of BBQ chips. It set my imagination off in so many different ways. Makes me really wonder what your story is.
Curator for Harlequin Historicals My Space , Facebook,
Great blog
Hi Tawny,
Wonderful post! I'm so excited for you and your accomplishments. You deserve every one and all the others that are sure to be yours in the future.
Oh, and guess what I got yesterday?? Risque Business. Woo hoo!!
Carla Capshaw
Be Inspired
www.carlacapshaw.com
Hi Tawny!
I Love this! Your daughter standing in Barnes & Noble and yelling "Look Mommy it's your book!"
That is so cool.
I'm in the cave but I couldn't not comment on that. What a great ride you're having on this publishing roller coaster! Go Tawny! I'm going out now to pound the desk for Risque Business. I LOVED Double Dare and Does She Dare. I'm tired of waiting for this next one.
Proud of you
You are a remarkable woman, Tawny, to be able to juggle your life and create these great stories. I am a great fan!
Paisley
Hi Everyone!
Sorry I'm a little behind getting in to play... morning comes later on the West Coast
Thank you all for dropping by!!!
Donna, You're so sweet! I am laughing about the Tawny Weber shelf. My gramma has one of those - a pretty little wood shelf she got just to hold my books. Not a single spine is cracked, but she dusts them and keeps them pretty. To be honest... I really do feel more comfy knowing she's not reading them LOL
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
Kath
Awww, thanks, Kath! I'm blessed to have such amazing friends along on this journey with me. They are what has made this extra special.
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
Great post!
Loved your blog, Tawny! Thanks for sharing some of your favorite moments *g*
You are truly an inspiration - your hard work and dedication really paid off and now all your readers are lucky because they get to read your awesome books!
btw, great pictures! And now I'm really hungry for cake
Not Without Her Family ~ June 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.bethandrews.net
www.romancebandits.blogspot.com
www.writersatplay.com
Betty & BBQ Chips
Thanks Betty! It was a lot of hard work. I envy the writers who sell right ouf of the gate. It didn't work that way for me, but I feel like I learned SO much on the journey - especially about things like perserverence (or stubborness... either way works)
Jayne said:
"I’d have him get me a bag of barbequed potato chips, too. But that’s a different story.
I'm so having to follow up on this....next time I see you, I'll be sure to get the full scoop! "
ROFL- definitely!! I'll tell ya, though, he had less issue getting the books than he did the chips.
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
Benita Jo
" I think we've all experienced times when we wanted something so badly and when we got it, were disappointed. But I love those moments when the reality exceeded the expectation. My Golden Heart win was like that for me. So magical. "
I hear ya, Jo!!! Isn't it wonderful when that happens? Like you say, though, it seems like more often, the reality doesn't quite live up to our dream. I know there is so much more work and pressure on this side of the dream than I'd expected - but I love them and the results they create. So- again, it totally rocks.
And I love that your Golden Heart win was magic for you! Its such a fabulous contest and the benefits can be so amazing. And it win it!! True talent and a GREAT book!! Congrats on that
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
Kim
Thank you so much, Kim. I was thrilled to share my moments here!
You said: "I got an extra chuckle over the BBQ chips comment. It just so happens that it was a lazy morning for me. My dd had watermelon for breakfast and I had a hand full of BBQ chips. It set my imagination off in so many different ways. Makes me really wonder what your story is.
"
LOL -YUM!!! Breakfast of Champions. Altho personally I would make sure I didn't take a little of DD's watermelon since I can't imagine its a nice mix with the chips *g*
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
Dreams and Cakes
Hey Tammy, my dream is to be pubbed by Harlequin as well. Isn't it wonderful to be able to dream?
Loved your post and the cake looks scrumptious. Was it airbrushed on or did they use a photo?
My NaNovel: Translucent Trust
www.anitamaedraper.blogspot.com
Carla
"Oh, and guess what I got yesterday?? Risque Business. Woo hoo!! "
Oh wow -I can't wait to hear what you think, Carla!
And thank you. I know you're having your own dreams come true lately - I'm so excited for you!!!
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
Hi Cassandra!
"I Love this! Your daughter standing in Barnes & Noble and yelling "Look Mommy it's your book!"
That is so cool. "
LOL -thank you! It was amazingly cool. And she finally recovered from her objection over the retitling of that story. She was so cute - she'd attended the Golden Heart ceremony with me and knew the title was Undercover Seduction. So when it sold and I got my cover and then author copes, she was a little upset. She informed me that SHE is going to write books now (she likes the gifts) and that they can't change the titles. But she also said it's okay for Brenda to changed mine, because she likes Brenda
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
Paisley
Awww, Marlene. You're so sweet. The juggle is just part of the fun, isn't it? Thank you so much for the support!!!
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
Hi Beth
LOL - Beth you rock! Thank you, for the great words and for being the bestest CP in the world
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
HI Anita Mae
You said: "my dream is to be pubbed by Harlequin as well. Isn't it wonderful to be able to dream?
Loved your post and the cake looks scrumptious. Was it airbrushed on or did they use a photo? "
Thanks for coming by! And hey, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your dream comes true, too! There's no place like the eHQ boards to help you make that happen, right?!
And the cake was OMG delish! It was chocolate with a raspberry filling. So good. They used a edible photo for it -- At the party, I cut all around it because I didn't want to eat that part, but my kids finally got impatient (and hungry) and we ate the cover too LOL
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
You go girl!
Excellent post, Tawny! Warm congrats on your much deserved success.
Fellow TrailBlazers,
Lori & Tony :> ;>
RECKLESS, Blaze Indecent Proposals Miniseries Book II , Nov
RESTLESS, Blaze Indecent Proposals Miniseries Book III, Dec
A FEW GOOD MEN, Blaze 4 Encounters, Jan
Enter to Win Godiva Halloween Chocolate at www.toricarrington.net
So proud!
I love seeing that smiley picture of you holding that first book! I expect to see lots more smiley pictures of you holding future books, too. :) It's so cool to read stories of authors going for their dream of publication--and even cooler when it's your pals and you got to be there!! Your excitement and joy come through in your words--which just goes to show how fabulous of a writer you are. I'd go on and on about how awesome your books are, but I might be accused of being biased as I love your voice. :) But your books are awesome...very awesome...wonderfully awesome...HOT awesome...okay, so my point is, YOU ROCK!! ;)
You deserve many, many good things! Can't wait to be there and celebrate--only next time you tell dh that he better save me some of the cake. ;)
The Doctor's Pregnancy Bombshell Harlequin Medicals 1/1/08
The Heart Surgeon's Secret Son 3/1/08
Big Sigh
Tori Carrington said: "Excellent post, Tawny! Warm congrats on your much deserved success. "
Awww man, total fan girl moment here! I'm a major huge fan of your books and am giggling like crazy to read this post
Thanks, Lori & Tony!!!
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
LOL Janice
You said: "You deserve many, many good things! Can't wait to be there and celebrate--only next time you tell dh that he better save me some of the cake. ;) "
Thank you so much!!! I think one of the most amazing things about writing for Harlequin is what you said -they get my voice and really let me run with it.
And you know perfectly well dh would give you an entire cake if you want one
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
Cake
Nah, tell him that's okay. I'll just have a piece of yours. ;) Congrats again on your fabulous books & to their success.
I've so got to go figure out how to update my footer. I figure it out and get it changed and then forget by the next time I need to. LOL.
The Doctor's Pregnancy Bombshell Harlequin Medicals 1/1/08
The Heart Surgeon's Secret Son 3/1/08
You deserve it!
I'm so proud of you and all you've achieved. Your books are awesome and you worked so hard to get that sale.
And you're an inspiration to those of us who have the same dream - and are still waiting for it to come true!
Okay, so I really want to be able to do the 'buy a shoe for every book' thing
www.annasugden.com
www.romancebandits.blogspot.com
www.writersatplay.com
Add me to the list of dreamers!
Your story sounds SO like what I want! And LOL about your little girl! Mine always says "Now, mama, WHERE is your book going to go?" THAT'S hopeful!
What wonderful moments! Thanks for sharing with us!
JodieG
Prepublished and workin' to change that!
A winner of the Big Finish 2 Contest, March 2008!
Participating author in Pass the Plot, Summer 2008
It's All About the Shoes
Anna said: "Okay, so I really want to be able to do the 'buy a shoe for every book' thing
"
I hear ya, babe!!! But you do realize you already have the most gorgeous shoes on the planet!!! I can't wait to see what you come up with when you sell your awesome stories!
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
Jodie said: "Your story
Jodie said: "Your story sounds SO like what I want! And LOL about your little girl! Mine always says "Now, mama, WHERE is your book going to go?" THAT'S hopeful!
What wonderful moments! Thanks for sharing with us! "
Awww, Jodie, talk about positive visualization!! Your little girl has that DOWN! Do you point out the spot on the shelf and talk about how cool its going to be? And thank you so much -- I can't wait until you get your moment, too!
I hope its as wonderful for you as mine has been for me.
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
fantastic!
I just read Risque Business last week. I have to tell you I couldn't put it down. I read the entire book in a day! I absolutely loved the characters. It was such a great storyline.
Iris
When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country.
Thank you, Iris!!
Wow, thanks so much Iris
I am so excited that you read and loved Risque Business! Delaney and Nick were really great characters to work with and make sure their story did justice to one of my favorite themes, which is makeovers. It sounds like it worked for you, so I'm thrilled!
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com
You're Welcome
I absolutely loved it. I couldn't put it down. My husband actually started cracking jokes that I was addicted to it. lol
I look forward to reading more of your work.
When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country.
Cute Husbands
LOL Iris, my husband joked that I was addicted to it too, but that was more in a "Omg aren't you done with that book YET" kind of way
I'm working on my May '09 book right now titled GOING DOWN HARD. Its tied in with the April book called COMING ON STRONG *g* So hopefully -more books coming your way soon. Of course, first I have to get over my craving for cake. Ever since posting that picture, I've been hungry for it again!
Tawny
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RISQUE BUSINESS - Blaze, Sept. '08
www.TawnyWeber.com