So, a little story if I may…
Earlier this week I said to Megan via IM – “you know, I’m just so sick of being on the verge of breaking. When do I reach the point where I accept it isn’t going to happen and just be happy with what I have?” (and she said, “NEVERRRR, We’re Spartans!” which is why I adore her so).
I hit this spot where I wasn’t necessarily sad, but I just felt sort of bleh and uninspired. I usually feel so passionate about writing but I think I was just in a big old rut.
Then as the days of this week began to pass, I hit my sweet spot in Standoff and I felt like I really began to get my characters and understand them and I truly fell in love with the book and then I got my fab cover and I thought this morning, “well, you know, I have things pretty damned good”
And then…
I got a phone call about forty minutes after I posted. It was my agent and she told me I’d just sold to Berkley Heat. I nearly fell over. After much squeeing on both ends and a lot of “OMIGOD!” on my end and “holy shit!” too, I’m still sort of shaky. I’ve wanted to write for Berkley forever and I can honestly say they’re a dream for me. I called my husband and sort of blurted out the news and had to get off the phone because the other line was ringing and my daughter was talking loudly and I couldn’t hear anything and I got about three steps to go downstairs and I had to stop and sit as the tears really hit.
I’m so fortunate. I have this dream. I have a beautiful, wonderful family and a husband who will hear my second voicemail in which I bawl and he probably can’t understand a thing I said but he’ll listen anyway. I have the most wonderful agent in the whole world who has been so supportive and has believed in me when I wasn’t sure I believed in myself and I have fabulous friends who did the happy dance along with me.
So now I can announce it in public and I’m still bowled over and thank god it’s sven and I’ve been working my ass off becuase I’m 60% done with Standoff and when I finish that I’ve got to get working on Battlefront because it’s due at the end of January! But I can do it. I can. OMG, I can!
Essentially, I suppose the moral of the story is – keep writing. It will happen. I know I’ve told myself this a thousand times and there were days I thought they were empty words. But I kept writing and wow, I’m just a goofy tool, but a lucky, goofy tool.
Congrats Lauren! I am so happy and excited for you!
by Emma Petersen November 8th, 2007 at 3:26 pmThat’s fantastic news, Lauren! Mega-congratulations!
by Jorrie Spencer November 8th, 2007 at 3:47 pmCONGRATULATIONS!!! :)
by Jordan November 8th, 2007 at 4:02 pmThat’s wonderful news! Congratulations!
by Jo November 8th, 2007 at 4:12 pmYay, Lauren!!! Congratulations!
by Cynthia Eden November 8th, 2007 at 4:17 pmYAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Lauren you deserve all that and more! Now I’m going to go get drunk just for you, Lauren. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!
by Red Garnier November 8th, 2007 at 4:48 pmCongrats, Lauren! Berkley’s got themselves a heck of a writer! May your sales be HUGE and ever-growing!
by Susan Helene Gottfried November 8th, 2007 at 5:17 pmYES! Congrats, Lauren! I’m so happy for you.
by Charlene November 8th, 2007 at 5:32 pmThank you all so much!!
by Lauren Dane November 8th, 2007 at 5:45 pmHrm. I’m in the blah moody part…so this gives me hope ;)
Congratulations, Lauren.
by dayna November 8th, 2007 at 5:57 pmCongratulations! Way to go – what a feeling that must be.
by Michelle (MG) November 8th, 2007 at 6:10 pmYay! Congrats!
by Maya November 8th, 2007 at 6:27 pmThat is AWESOME news Lauren! Congrats!! I’m so thrilled for you!
by Mad November 8th, 2007 at 7:23 pmCongratulations, Lauren! You’ve worked so hard and it’s great to see you achieve the dream.
by Shannon Stacey November 8th, 2007 at 7:42 pmomg congrats and we can say we knew you when lol.
by Pamk November 8th, 2007 at 8:09 pmLauren – that is so fantastic! I’m thrilled for you – I know you will be incredibly successful with them. Congratulations!!
by Lori November 8th, 2007 at 8:54 pmCongrats Lauren.
by Taige Crenshaw November 8th, 2007 at 9:21 pmCongrats Lauren! That’s awesome!
by Ann November 8th, 2007 at 9:54 pmOMG Lauren!!!!! Huge congrats!
by Eden Bradley November 8th, 2007 at 10:25 pmBerkley is fantastic to work with, and they have so many great authors-you’re in some pretty amazing company. I’m so thrilled for you!!
It’s true-you have to stick with it, despite those moments when you’re totally discouraged. You did it, and it’s paying off!
And I love that there was a quote from 300 in your post-Feisty is watching it at this very moment. Not a bad way to celebrate, actually. Three hours of relentless man candy…
Go Lauren! *booty dance*
Said this earlier, but it bears repeating:
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Rock on with your bad self, Ms. Famous Berkley Heat author.
by Ann Aguirre November 8th, 2007 at 11:00 pmWOO-HOOOO! Way to go, Lauren!
by Kate Davies November 9th, 2007 at 12:40 amMAJOR Congratulations, Lauren!
I’m SO happy for you!!!
by Maura November 9th, 2007 at 1:20 amLauren,
I’m absolutely thrilled for you. I know how hard you’ve worked. Congratulations!!!!!
by Shelley Munro November 9th, 2007 at 1:31 amSQUEEE!!!!!!
I knew it was only a matter of time!!!!
Congratulations! I’m SOfreakin thrilled for you!!!!!
And welcome to Berkley Heat! We’re sisters now!!!! *wiggle*
by Jaci Burton November 9th, 2007 at 6:02 am[...] congratulate my pal Lauren Dane. She just sold to Berkley Heat and I couldn’t be happier for her. She’s an amazing, [...]
by Jaci Burton’s Muse » Blog Archive » Congratulations Are In Order November 9th, 2007 at 6:07 am[...]First, I want to congratulate my girl Lauren, who just made a two-book deal with [...]
by Try some; it's good November 9th, 2007 at 6:43 amCongratulations! :)
by Crystal B. November 9th, 2007 at 7:43 amOMG! Congratulations!!!! I’m so thrilled for you!!!!!!!!!!
by Larissa Ione November 9th, 2007 at 9:03 am[...] November 9th, 2007 in Uncategorized Lauren Dane sold two books to Berkley Heat, you all!!!! Go on over to her blog and offer her some congratulations! She’s been working [...]
by ZOMG!!! « Anya Bast November 9th, 2007 at 9:05 amCongratulations!!
by Katy November 9th, 2007 at 9:22 amCongratulations Lauren!!!
by Sasha November 9th, 2007 at 10:07 amLauren, I am SO happy for you!!!
by Lillilan Feisty November 9th, 2007 at 11:16 amI saw the news on Jaci’s blog. Congratulations!!!!
by Bonnie Ferguson November 9th, 2007 at 11:28 amyeah Lauren!!! I’m so happy for you.
Well deserved darling.
by Vivi Anna November 9th, 2007 at 11:36 amYAAAAAY! It’s heartening to see such a good thing happen to a good writer. Almost makes you believe the world is spinning on its axis properly! Many heartfelt congrats!
by Ciar Cullen November 9th, 2007 at 11:40 amY’all make me cry. I’m so thankful to have people who so willingly celebrate with me. Thank you!
by laurendane November 9th, 2007 at 11:58 amBerkley is sooo lucky to have such an awesome writer, so congrats to them!!
by Crystal November 9th, 2007 at 12:27 pmThat is so darn cool, Lauren. Definitely requires a chocolate moment.
by Cathy M November 9th, 2007 at 1:21 pmLauren I am soooo thrilled for you! How exciting!! I knew it would happen for you, I just…did.
by Karen Erickson November 9th, 2007 at 2:48 pmA big wahoo! and congrats from me too, Lauren!!
by Lorelei James November 9th, 2007 at 4:56 pmWoo hoo! Congratulations :)
by Anna November 9th, 2007 at 5:35 pmCongratulations Lauren! :)
by Nalini Singh November 9th, 2007 at 8:41 pmCongrats Lauren!! What fab news for you!
by Karen Scott November 10th, 2007 at 10:26 amoh please darlin – it was SOOOOO just a matter of time and one of those publishers waking up and smelling the talent. errr – not that i’m saying you smell, cuz you totally don’t… uhhh – removing foot from mouth.
Heh! Congrats Lauren – but really, i’m not surprised even a wee bit.
by rhian November 11th, 2007 at 8:18 pmLauren,
Well done! (all good things to those who strive)
by Merry November 12th, 2007 at 4:46 amjust catching up with the Blogosphere and saw this – CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
Wooohoooo! Wonderful congratulations, Lauren. I’m very excited for you.
by Patrice Michelle November 17th, 2007 at 12:47 pmWow, really, you all are so kind to stop in and send your congrats. It means a lot.
by laurendane November 17th, 2007 at 4:19 pmLAUREN!!! OMG!!! Okay, so I’m finding out about this two weeks later, but WHEE!!!!
by Sierra Dafoe November 20th, 2007 at 11:49 amCongratulations! I just read your news on Dear Author and came on over to say, “Yay!”
by bettie November 21st, 2007 at 10:35 am