Susan May, The Call!

Please welcome our very own Susan May as this week’s Guest Chef!  She’s here to tell us all about receiving The Call.

The Call

When I first started writing romance a friend encouraged me to submit to Mills and Boon’s medical line. She said they were looking for new authors. I knew I had at least one book in me that could take place in the medical setting. I have a kid with a heart transplant. So as they say, “Write what you know.”

Four years ago I submitted the first three chapters of my manuscript about a mother with a little boy that needed a heart transplant and the handsome heart surgeon that saved the boy’s life. Just after that I was contracted for my nonfiction book about my son’s heart transplant. The publisher requested that I ask for my chapters back from Mills and Boon because the story material was so similar. I did as requested.

Fast forward two years, a submission to another line in the same family, wait, a no on that story, and a resubmit to the medical line after my nonfiction was in the market. I met the Sr. editor of the medical line two years ago at conference and told her my chapters were on her desk waiting for her to get home. A month later I received a request for the full, waited again. This time the editor was interested but would I make some changes. Oh, yes I would make changes-about 70% worth. Another revision letter, more changes, book getting better, additional revision letter, by this time I’m thinking of making it a short story and killing the kid off in the second chapter. The book was getting better with every revision letter. I’m starting to feel pretty good about things but still no contract.

Then I got an email from the editor asking for a number where she could reach me. Maybe they were going to call after all. I’m in New Orleans at the National WWII Museum on June 6, D-day. My husband is pulling into the parking lot of the museum when my cell rings. I knew right away it was my editor. See Mills and Boon is located in London and my editor’s accent gave her away. She offered me a two book deal.

I wanted to scream and holler but I was in too public of a place. My husband was making faces at me trying to figure out what was going on. He said that he knew I had sold when I said, “I’m so proud to be a member of the Harlequin family.” My call came just three weeks before the NY conference. I didn’t ask how much I was going to make, when was the book coming out, when was the next one due, instead I asked, “Can I go to the Harlequin party?”

After the call I had to go into the museum and listen to a 90 old veteran speak about his war experiences. (He is a real hero.) It was difficult to sit still and pay attention. When he was done I hurried outside to the sidewalk and call everyone I knew and texted the others I didn’t know.

The first romance I ever wrote, six years later will be available in January 2012.  I can hardly believe it. Here is just a taste of what’s to come.

Heart Surgeon, Hero…Husband?

Discovering her tiny son desperately needs a new heart terrifies Hannah Quinn-especially when she realizes ex-flame Scott McIntyre is the skilled surgeon in charge of the transplant. Entrusting her baby to Scott’s miracle-working hands is one thing, but whether Hannah’s own heart will survive Scott’s devastating charm intact is quite another…