Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Um...I sold

I always pictured I'd jump up and down, scream a lot and freak out.

Instead I stared at my computer. And stared. And stared. And stared some more.

Then I ran to my husband and uttered the two words I wondered if I'd ever get to say. "Um...I sold."

Since he was in mid-step out of the bathroom, he turned his head, blinked twice and said..."What?"

ROFL, and thus, I suppose, begins my professional career, lol.

I don't have a lot of details and my hands are shaking, so here's the run-down, folks. :)

The book is "Betting Hearts", a comedy so damn close to the inside of me I couldn't even bear to rework it for Harlequin when they felt the heroine wasn't up to snuff. So I hid it and told myself not to try to work on it again. But I took a chance and sent it to Samhain Publishing and the editor there saw the possibilities, I suppose, because she offered me a contract.

God, 8 years of hoping to sell and I have not a clue where to start my thanking, but I know I must start with these three:

Rae--I know you said I can't make you cry anymore, but just one more time, I promise. I have to thank you first, because you've listened to me whine the longest. Thank you SO much, for being there at every turn, no matter how bad it got or how wrong I could ever be. I would have given up a long time ago without you, on so many different things. You are the truest of friends and I don't get to tell you that enough.

X--You've read nearly every book, every horrible line, every paragraph of every thing I write. And you still like me. LOL! Thank you for not being afraid to punch me in the teeth. For being the best damn CP anyone could ever want. God, you're the other part of my brain most days. You're who I look to when the words won't work and the rejections make me feel petty. I cannot begin to thank you, but please know, I try. :)

Marcy--For being an eternal wellspring of kindness and hope. You are the most caring person on the planet and for some reason I've not yet figured out, you share both of those beautiful attributes with me. :) My heart thanks you, my soul thanks you and everything in me just wants to tell you how I appreciate all that you do, for so many people, every day that you are here. Love you much, doll.

Okay, I know there's so many more, but I'm so stunned I don't want to mess it up. Thank you to EVERYONE who has ever been part of this journey. There's too many people and not enough time. But I truly appreciate the support of everyone who ever said I had a shot and didn't mind me holding a gun. :)

All my love,
Dee

39 comments:

Ann said...

I'm leaking tears like a damn baby here! Restores my faith to see you a published author! I'm so happy for you, Dee, and happy that the rest of the world will get to hear your wonderful voice.

Julie Cohen said...

HOORAY DEE!!

Oh I am so happy for you babe!

Julie

Jenne said...

LOL, so I couldn't decide this morning when I saw the IM handles what my IM handle should be... ha ha ha. You rock Dee. I'm certainly not the only one who knew all along that you were on the road to this , but I'm glad to be right. :) Congratulations many times over! OMG... you know, until right this moment I did't even think about this meaning I get to actually buy your work!!! Whee! :) So excited. Way to go. Okay... I'm going to stop now. :)

Kris Starr said...

Dee darlin', you are fantastic! Congratulations, chickie--I knew you'd do it!

You revel in the excitement as long as you want--you deserve it! :)

Boy, the Belfrites are dropping like flies... *g*

{{{hugs}}}
K.

Dee Tenorio said...

LOL, thanks everyone!

I had to run to the dentist this morning and I gotta tell you, it really helps with the numb feeling, lol. I'm so hungry but I can't put my lips together, lol.

I called my mom and then I called my Dad and they're both happy, happy, happy for me, lol. I'm still trying to get it into my head that it's real, LOL!

Smooches,
Dee

Anna Louise Lucia said...

Oh HONEY!

I may never forgive you for not e-mailing me... (kidding)

CONGRATULATIONS! I'm so overjoyed for you, darling Dee. This is so deserved, and so right.

Enjoy.

Angela James said...

Congratulations Dee, I think it was very well deserved.

vanessa jaye said...

Aww, Dee, ya made me get all leaky. But I've been grinning all day, since I heard, hon! So, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, happy for you! Betting Hearts is a rocken story & I look forward to reading it again! ::High Five!!::

Donica Covey said...

HOT DIGGETY DOG!!! WOHOOOOOO I'm SOO freaking proud of you!!!! Welcome to the world of published writers!!!

Love ya!
Donica

Nicole Flockton said...

Hey Dee

CONGRATULATIONS GIRL!!!

You so deserve this. You've worked long and hard for this.

Guess I'll be buying my first ever E Book LOL

Love
Nicki

Melani Blazer said...

Congrats! :) I was tickled to hear about it. You're so deserving of this!

Douglas Hoffman said...

Congratulations, Dee! Whether you want to or not, you MUST celebrate.

Dee Tenorio said...

WOW, y'all surprised me!!! I was just popping over cause I knew Jaye had posted! Thank you all so much!! :)

Douglas--I TOTALLY celebrated, lol! Even took Mom's advice and had some wine! Hmmm, does that make now a good time to look at the contract? LOL!

We had a great dinner and we had celebratory cream puffs!

Thanks for everything everyone!
Smooches,
Dee

Anonymous said...

Congrats Dee!

Michelle Styles said...

Congrats Dee. What a wonderful call story. I look forward to seeing it published.

Bronwyn Jameson said...

Dee, I am so happy for you and smiling all over my face at your wonderful news. Congratulations! And I just know this is the first of many, many sales. Your talent will see to that.

Smooches,
Bron

Anonymous said...

Sweetheart - I knew this day would come - and I'm so so happy that it has.

You've made my day with your news - I just hope it's the start of so much more

Wish I could hug you in person

love

Kate

Tracy Sharp - Author of the Leah Ryan Series said...

Congrats on the sale!!

MJFredrick said...

DEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

WHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Gina Black said...

Saw this over on cataromance and came over here to congratulate you! What great news and how nice to have a whole holiday weekend to celebrate. :)

Playground Monitor said...

Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats, Dee! And do keep us posted on release dates and such.

Marilyn
www.writingplayground.com

Katrina Glover said...

-:¦:-
·.·´¨ ¨))
¸.·´ ..·´¨¨))
..·´ Congratulations, Dee!
((¸¸.·´ ...·´
-:¦:- ((¸¸
·.·-:¦:- You SO deserve this!!!!
-:¦:-
·.·´¨ ¨))
¸.·´ ..·´¨¨))
..·´ WOO HOOOOO!
((¸¸.·´ ...·´
-:¦:- ((¸¸
·.· -:¦:-

April said...

Dee, congratulations. You so deserve this! Can't wait to get my grubby little hands on your first book! Then I can't wait to hear about the others. This is just the beginning of something wonderful! And know that those of us still unpublished owe you a lot for all of your wonderful advice and guidance. Knew it was only a matter of time before we read this post!

Lis said...

Congratulations Dee!!
So happy for you :o)

Nell Dixon said...

Smooches and hugs! I'm so happy for you!!!

Dee Tenorio said...

OMG, lol, y'all are just stunning me!!!

Thanks for making this such a wonderful holiday, I get to be so thankful for all of YOU!

Giant hugs!
Dee

Anonymous said...

Congrats! You did it! Hopefully this will be the first of many, many more!

Cynthia

Anonymous said...

DEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just read the news on Anna's blog. SOOOO pleased for you. Doing a big snoopy dance overe here in the UK for you.

Kate H (not anonymous but Blogger doesn't like me today!!)

Amie Stuart said...

Surfed in from Shannons! Congrats Dee!!

Anonymous said...

Congrats, Dee!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Dee. Samhain looks amazing.

Kay Richardson said...

Dee! Dee! Super Dee! Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee! Yeah! What's your favourite soft drink?

Bobbie (Sunny) Cole said...

Couldn't have happened to a sweeter lady - and one terrific writer. I am SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!

Gabriele Campbell said...

Wow, Dee, big congrats.

Fiona Lowe said...

Dee,
Excellent news and a GREAT way to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Well done, here's to the first of many more.
Cheers!

Fiona

Nalini Singh said...

Congratulations, Dee!!!! I'm so happy for you. :)

Anonymous said...

WOOO-HOOOOO, DEE!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

(Raine, aka 'Dreamweaver')

Shesawriter said...

OHMYGOSH! I go away for a month and people up and start selling. I can't leave you guys alone for a minute! LOL! Congratulations to you, sweetie. Couldn't have happened to a nicer gal.

Hugs,

Tanya

Alecia Monaco said...

Dee, you've taken such wonderful care of us over at eharl for so long...your wonderful news has made me happier than anything I've heard in a long time. You deserve this success, and I couldn't be happier for you!