Wow
Nov
8
2007

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.

47 comments to “Wow”

  1. Emma Petersen
    November 8th, 2007 at 3:26 pm · Link

    Congrats Lauren! I am so happy and excited for you!



  2. Jorrie Spencer
    November 8th, 2007 at 3:47 pm · Link

    That’s fantastic news, Lauren! Mega-congratulations!



  3. Jordan
    November 8th, 2007 at 4:02 pm · Link

    CONGRATULATIONS!!! 🙂



  4. Jo
    November 8th, 2007 at 4:12 pm · Link

    That’s wonderful news! Congratulations!



  5. Cynthia Eden
    November 8th, 2007 at 4:17 pm · Link

    Yay, Lauren!!! Congratulations!



  6. Red Garnier
    November 8th, 2007 at 4:48 pm · Link

    YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Lauren you deserve all that and more! Now I’m going to go get drunk just for you, Lauren. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! 😀



  7. Susan Helene Gottfried
    November 8th, 2007 at 5:17 pm · Link

    Congrats, Lauren! Berkley’s got themselves a heck of a writer! May your sales be HUGE and ever-growing!



  8. Charlene
    November 8th, 2007 at 5:32 pm · Link

    YES! Congrats, Lauren! I’m so happy for you. 😀



  9. Lauren Dane
    November 8th, 2007 at 5:45 pm · Link

    Thank you all so much!!



  10. dayna
    November 8th, 2007 at 5:57 pm · Link

    Hrm. I’m in the blah moody part…so this gives me hope 😉

    Congratulations, Lauren.



  11. Michelle (MG)
    November 8th, 2007 at 6:10 pm · Link

    Congratulations! Way to go – what a feeling that must be.



  12. Maya
    November 8th, 2007 at 6:27 pm · Link

    Yay! Congrats! 😀



  13. Mad
    November 8th, 2007 at 7:23 pm · Link

    That is AWESOME news Lauren! Congrats!! I’m so thrilled for you!



  14. Shannon Stacey
    November 8th, 2007 at 7:42 pm · Link

    Congratulations, Lauren! You’ve worked so hard and it’s great to see you achieve the dream. 😀



  15. Pamk
    November 8th, 2007 at 8:09 pm · Link

    omg congrats and we can say we knew you when lol.



  16. Lori
    November 8th, 2007 at 8:54 pm · Link

    Lauren – that is so fantastic! I’m thrilled for you – I know you will be incredibly successful with them. Congratulations!!



  17. Taige Crenshaw
    November 8th, 2007 at 9:21 pm · Link

    Congrats Lauren.



  18. Ann
    November 8th, 2007 at 9:54 pm · Link

    Congrats Lauren! That’s awesome! 😀



  19. Eden Bradley
    November 8th, 2007 at 10:25 pm · Link

    OMG Lauren!!!!! Huge congrats!
    Berkley 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…



  20. Ann Aguirre
    November 8th, 2007 at 11:00 pm · Link

    Go Lauren! *booty dance*

    Said this earlier, but it bears repeating:

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Rock on with your bad self, Ms. Famous Berkley Heat author.



  21. Kate Davies
    November 9th, 2007 at 12:40 am · Link

    WOO-HOOOO! Way to go, Lauren!



  22. Maura
    November 9th, 2007 at 1:20 am · Link

    MAJOR Congratulations, Lauren!

    I’m SO happy for you!!!



  23. Shelley Munro
    November 9th, 2007 at 1:31 am · Link

    Lauren,

    I’m absolutely thrilled for you. I know how hard you’ve worked. Congratulations!!!!!



  24. Jaci Burton
    November 9th, 2007 at 6:02 am · Link

    SQUEEE!!!!!!

    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*



  25. Try some; it's good
    November 9th, 2007 at 6:43 am · Link

    […]First, I want to congratulate my girl Lauren, who just made a two-book deal with […]



  26. Crystal B.
    November 9th, 2007 at 7:43 am · Link

    Congratulations! 🙂



  27. Larissa Ione
    November 9th, 2007 at 9:03 am · Link

    OMG! Congratulations!!!! I’m so thrilled for you!!!!!!!!!! 😀 😀 😀



  28. Katy
    November 9th, 2007 at 9:22 am · Link

    Congratulations!! 😀



  29. Sasha
    November 9th, 2007 at 10:07 am · Link

    Congratulations Lauren!!!



  30. Lillilan Feisty
    November 9th, 2007 at 11:16 am · Link

    Lauren, I am SO happy for you!!!



  31. Bonnie Ferguson
    November 9th, 2007 at 11:28 am · Link

    I saw the news on Jaci’s blog. Congratulations!!!! :mrgreen:



  32. Vivi Anna
    November 9th, 2007 at 11:36 am · Link

    yeah Lauren!!! I’m so happy for you.

    Well deserved darling.



  33. Ciar Cullen
    November 9th, 2007 at 11:40 am · Link

    😛

    YAAAAAY! 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!



  34. laurendane
    November 9th, 2007 at 11:58 am · Link

    Y’all make me cry. I’m so thankful to have people who so willingly celebrate with me. Thank you!



  35. Crystal
    November 9th, 2007 at 12:27 pm · Link

    Berkley is sooo lucky to have such an awesome writer, so congrats to them!!



  36. Cathy M
    November 9th, 2007 at 1:21 pm · Link

    That is so darn cool, Lauren. Definitely requires a chocolate moment.



  37. Karen Erickson
    November 9th, 2007 at 2:48 pm · Link

    Lauren I am soooo thrilled for you! How exciting!! I knew it would happen for you, I just…did. 😀



  38. Lorelei James
    November 9th, 2007 at 4:56 pm · Link

    A big wahoo! and congrats from me too, Lauren!!



  39. Anna
    November 9th, 2007 at 5:35 pm · Link

    Woo hoo! Congratulations 🙂



  40. Nalini Singh
    November 9th, 2007 at 8:41 pm · Link

    Congratulations Lauren! 🙂



  41. Karen Scott
    November 10th, 2007 at 10:26 am · Link

    Congrats Lauren!! What fab news for you!



  42. rhian
    November 11th, 2007 at 8:18 pm · Link

    oh 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.



  43. Merry
    November 12th, 2007 at 4:46 am · Link

    Lauren,
    just catching up with the Blogosphere and saw this – CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! :mrgreen: Well done! (all good things to those who strive)



  44. Patrice Michelle
    November 17th, 2007 at 12:47 pm · Link

    Wooohoooo! Wonderful congratulations, Lauren. I’m very excited for you. 🙂



  45. laurendane
    November 17th, 2007 at 4:19 pm · Link

    Wow, really, you all are so kind to stop in and send your congrats. It means a lot.



  46. Sierra Dafoe
    November 20th, 2007 at 11:49 am · Link

    LAUREN!!! OMG!!! Okay, so I’m finding out about this two weeks later, but WHEE!!!!



  47. bettie
    November 21st, 2007 at 10:35 am · Link

    Congratulations! I just read your news on Dear Author and came on over to say, “Yay!”



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