Diary of a First Sale! (Abridged)

September 23, 1983
Dear Diary,
So, like, the Police concert is a month away! Sting is so totally bitchin’. I have to be there, right up close to the stage so he sees me during “Every Breath You Take.” And I need a new pair of jellies and stone washed jeans to wear. But Dad won't raise my allowance, and baby-sitting isn't cutting it. I've been reading romance novels since seventh grade. I think I'll write one to raise some quick cash!

September 28, 1983
Dear Diary,
Okay, so that was like totally easy. I based my hero on Sting, only he’s an arrogent (sic) Greek millionaire tycoon and my heroine is his no-nonsense, career gal secretary he talks into a marriage of convenence (sic) that he intends to make real on their wedding night because he secretly fell for her the moment they met. Now I'll just mail it off and that concert ticket is as good as mine. I’ll probably get enough from the advance to take my five best friends with me! I better call and tell them the news! Gnarly!

October 5, 1983
Dear Diary,
No advance check in the mailbox yet. I hope I put enough postage on it. Maybe I should have made a copy before mailing it off. I just found out about something called a SASE, but what kind of dufus would invite a publisher to return their manuscript by providing one? Like, duh.

October 23, 1983
Dear Diary,
Only four days left until the concert. It’s almost sold out. Gag me with a spoon. I better phone the publisher directly and find out what the hold up is. Maybe they can wire me my advance…

Cut to…

March 28, 1995
Dear Diary,
Wow, I just learned that all my favorite romance authors, Jayne Castle, Stephanie James, Jayne Taylor, Jayne Bentley, Amanda Glass, and Amanda Quick are actually one and same person - Jayne Ann Krentz. Huh. Who knew? Oh, and I joined the RWA today! I think I’ll give writing one of my own another go.

Cut to…

June 13, 1996
Dear Diary,
One of my romance submissions won Honorable Mention in an RWA Chapter Contest today!

Cut to…

November 2007
Dear Diary,
Raelene Gorlinsky, publisher at Ellora’s Cave, placed my submission, THE WOODSMAN, in first place in the On The Far Side contest sponsored by the Futuristic, Fantasy & Paranormal chapter of the RWA! She’s requested a look at the whole manuscript… I better proof it again before emailing it off.

January 1, 2008
Dear Diary,
It happened. Ellora’s Cave accepted THE WOODSMAN today. I made a first sale in romance. And it only took twenty-five years, off and on.

January 5, 2008
Dear Diary,
Hmmm, apparently author book promotion is a very important part of this whole process. I better look into that before starting “the next one.”

(For that whole saga read “Promotion Motion, What’s Your Notion?” at The Kittens Blog http://romancekittens.blogspot.com)

May 2, 2008
THE WOODSMAN launched today at Ellora’s Cave! And The Police reunion concert at the Hollywood Bowl is only about a month away! Sting is so totally bitchin’... I need some new Manolos. I better start writing the next one.