The Story
Sep
17
2014

I sent this out with my newsletter last month, but I wanted to post it here too. My little story about how The BEST KIND OF TROUBLE came about…

 

The story –

The story of how this book came to life and the sale of the series is sort of cool. Okay, I think it’s really cool and it had moments that sort of felt like how I’d imagined the life of a writer to be when I was a kid.

My agent had pitched the series right as I was heading off on a once in a lifetime trip with my family to Europe. Looking back at this point, I’m glad my schedule had been so hectic right before we left so I couldn’t obsess on the pitch.

We made the trip from Seattle to London and London to Prague without a hitch. Prague is one of my favorite cities. It’s beautiful, the people are welcoming. There’s a swirl of time and history everywhere you go. My kids loved it, picking up enough Czech to strike up conversations with people.

Castle walk

But in Venice the first exciting call happened. An offer from a house I was thrilled over to work with an editor I knew and trusted would push me to be the very best I could.

Anyway. Where Prague is majestic, Venice is magic. I didn’t know what to expect from Venice. I was a little intimidated by the layout, like my brain didn’t have the translation key to figure out how to get where I needed to go.

A friend told me to let myself get lost. That I would get lost but that was part of the charm of Venice.

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As it turns out, she was totally right. Here’s my tip. Take a water taxi directly to your hotel. Many have docks where you can be dropped off at the door. Check in. Stow your stuff and then get lost.

Then eat at that little osteria in the courtyard with the overflowing window baskets because after you’re done eating they’re going to bring out some cookies and house made lemoncello. (My favorite was Osteria Ae Sconte).

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This is how I lived for several days. And what made it even better was this exciting deal in the works.

We headed down to Rome. Rome is an exciting city. Every few steps there’s something else amazing to see. Waiting to cross the street? To your left is a thousand year old fountain. Next to that, the bank has a giant piece of an ancient edifice in its lobby. We ate amazing food and continued our quest to try as many types and flavors of gelato as we could to see what was best.

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Paris. What a wonderful surprise to me this city was. Though why I’m not sure. Paris is a city that loves food, wine, espresso, art, architecture, music and does so with relish. What’s not to like?

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Paris had some challenges to this story. Enough that my last night there needed four cuba libres for me to relax enough to unclench my jaw.

I also finally got to see Winged Victory, which I’ve loved since I was a little girl so to stand on the steps at the Louvre and see it in person, it still blows me away –

 

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But this story has an HEA – as well as a lot of tangential threads!

London was our last stop. By this point, each one of my kids had hit the travel wall and dissolved into a weepy mess—all at different times naturally—only to bounce back the next day. We all had a second wind and wandered the city, taking tours, going to museums and parks. They were expecting a royal birth at the time so the city near Buckingham Palace teemed with people. We took black cabs and now I get the “red light indicates doors are secure” line from the Arctic Monkeys.

 

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And then, my husband came back from Marks and Spencer with champagne. While drinking it and looking out over the tops of nearby buildings, the call came. The real, the deal is done and you are go call.

The call that I’d just made this awesome deal came to me via transatlantic call while I was drinking champagne in my hotel. DUDE.

My life is normally picking up and dropping off kids, messy ponytails and no makeup and there I was having one of those super cool movie star moments. (I have to tell you I put the glass down and was using my hands excitedly as I talked to my agent that I then sent that glass flying and it broke – which is how I roll, LOL)

And now, here it is. The Best Kind of Trouble, that book I sold last summer, is now out in the wild.

This has been more than I could have hoped. I’m proud of this book. Of the work I’ve done. I’m thrilled with how much support Harlequin has given me with a great cover, fantastic marketing and absolutely top notch editing.

I hope you all love Paddy and Natalie and their friends and family. Well, probably not Natalie’s family, but Paddy’s 😉  For me, these books and stories will always be connected to a trip that changed my life in so many important ways. And I think that’s pretty cool.

 

6 comments to “The Story”

  1. Beth Wilson
    September 17th, 2014 at 12:33 pm · Link

    I absolutely adored Paddy & Natalie story! I can’t wait for Ezra & Tuesday’s story!



  2. allie
    September 17th, 2014 at 2:37 pm · Link

    most of the louvre was like that for me: things i’d only seen in books (art history seemed like a good major at the time!) and had always loved. i have a similar picture of Winged Victory. i felt such a connection to the history of those spaces (i think i cried walking around the ruins in rome)–which is weird, given that i’m a 4th gen japanese american. but whatever. so happy you shared this story and that you continue to write amazing, wonderful books!



  3. Kat B
    September 17th, 2014 at 2:43 pm · Link

    I absolutely loved Natalie and Paddy. I can’t wait for the rest of the Hurley boys!



  4. Grace
    September 18th, 2014 at 9:44 am · Link

    I totally get it……when hubby and I were London, we hopped on the tube (MIND THE GAP!) and got off at the Westminster stop. As we emerged from the underground in front of Parliament on a sunny spring day, it *happened* to be noon and Big Ben started gonging right over our heads. I dissolved into tears on my husband’s chest at the absolute once-in-a-lifetime epicness of the moment. I still get verklempt every time I think about it. 🙂



  5. Nicole
    September 22nd, 2014 at 11:44 am · Link

    Thanks so much for the background story.. I loved the book, and reading the story behind the story made me smile.. I can’t wait for the other hurley boy books, because this one was just so awesome.



  6. Debbie
    November 4th, 2014 at 10:53 pm · Link

    Love the Hurley boys! my favorite is the Browns . Hope there will be more of them. Thanks for such awesome books!