Holding My Book in My Hand for the First Time!

I got a very special package today: the author copies of Primal Instinct! The box arrived via UPS. I could tell right away what it was (because I knew it would be coming around now -- six weeks before my release date); plus, the outer packaging wasn't subtle.

And there it was. The story that I wrote. In actual book form. Right there in my hands. It was magical -- everything I had ever dreamed it would be (although in my dreams my hair and make-up would be perfect for all the selfies I took).

Yeah, it was perfect right up to the point where I had to run to the bathroom because I thought I was going to throw up. That was a wee bit less magical.

I'm taking it all in -- believe me, I'm taking it all in -- because if there's one thing being a mother of four has taught me, it's that you have to enjoy the firsts, because nothing is ever a first again.

Having my book in my hands for the first time. That's something I want to cherish.

The throwing up part comes from the thought that soon everyone else is going to read it, and have an opinion about it (rightfully so, of course).  Some people are going to really like it.

But some people AREN'T going to like it.

And while I appreciate my friend Stephanie's offer to beat up anybody who doesn't like my book, I have to accept that my book won't be everyone's cup of tea. I'm not everyone's cup of tea.

When you put something out there publicly, people have the right to criticize it. Comes with the territory. But it's not something I'm looking forward to. And, there's nothing I can do now to stop it -- thus the nausea.

Beyond that... the inside cover. Sigh. Most Intrigues -- because the line is powered by action and suspense -- have some sort of suspense scene as the teaser. A fall, a chase scene, the couple working together as a bomb is about to go off. Action stuff.

Not mine. Harlequin picked a saucy scene to put as the teaser on the inside cover.

That's what my dad gets for calling it a sex book. Harlequin must have heard him.

To all my friends whom I know are going to ask: no, I can't send you one of my copies, I don't have enough -- those are for reader contest giveaways and writer contest entries -- so support authors and buy your own. Here. You can even buy an autographed copy.  xoxo (PS --  Or I do have these  nifty little bookplate stickers ==> that I'll sign and send to you for free if anyone but my mom wants an autographed copy of my book.)

Today was an exciting day, to be sure. Nausea and all.  Another important first that I'll never forget.

PRIMAL INSTINCT - Cover Reveal!

I was harassing my poor father the other day on facebook. Evidently, a friend of his asked him what type of books I write. My dad -- bless him -- couldn't remember the term "romance novels" so how did he respond?

"She writes sex books."

Oh, boy.

It's not totally my father's fault, I guess. He hasn't read Primal Instinct yet, doesn't really understand that it's a romantic suspense book, complete with a serial killer and everything. And, I have to admit, when I first told him I had sold the novel to Harlequin Intrigue, all I told him was that it was about an FBI agent.

Oh, and I told him that this would be the cover:

My dad's response: "But, I thought he was an FBI agent. Where does he keep his weapon and his badge?" Maybe this picture explains a little of the sex-book talk. :-)

But today I got THE REAL COVER of Primal Instinct! Hot off the virtual presses from Harlequin HQ, here is the official cover for Primal Instinct that will be available March 18, 2014:

The back cover copy got changed a bit too. I like it:

A killer stalks the city streets, and one FBI agent is determined to bring him down in Janie Crouch's Primal Instinct. 

On the crowded streets of San Francisco, a serial killer watches and waits. Known only as "Simon Says," he lures his next victim while the FBI grasps for answers. Desperate, they turn to Adrienne Jeffries. Adrienne has an uncanny talent for getting inside the city's most dangerous minds. But first she'll have to get past FBI agent Conner Perigo. Skeptical of Adrienne's abilities, Conner begrudgingly enlists her help…unprepared for the powerful attraction that could jeopardize their focus. With little time, and everything to lose, they must work to find Simon's next victim—before he does.

(Back cover copy I originally submitted was:

Ten years ago Adrienne Jeffries was a profiler for the FBI with a talent so remarkable she became known as the bloodhound -- someone who could sense and track evil. But the price she paid for her abilities was too high, costing her almost everything. So she left the Bureau with no intention of ever returning.

FBI Agent Conner Perigo is trying to catch a killer who has eluded his team at every turn. He will use any means available -- including an unwilling ex-profiler with some sort of hocus-pocus abilities -- if it means finally getting ahead of the killer. What he doesn't expect is his attraction to Adrienne or his desire to protect this vulnerable beauty.

And she needs his protection, especially now that it seems the killer has targeted Adrienne as his next victim.

I think the new copy is better, tighter.)
 
My first book, my first cover  -- I must admit I was quite nervous, but I love it. I can't help but hope that everyone will be as thrilled with it as I am.

I Ain't No One-Hit Wonder, Baby!

Big news for my writing career yesterday. I got "THE CALL" again!! Harlequin Intrigue has contracted me to write not one, but FOUR more books for them.

When I got the call the first time back in June, selling Primal Instinct, one of the things my new editor said was "So whatcha working on currently? Hurry up and get a proposal into us soon so we can get another book in the works."

Well, never being one to do things the easy way, I decided I would send Intrigue a multi-book proposal, rather than just a boring (but probably much wiser) single-book proposal. You know, since I had so much writing experience and...stuff. I worked frantically through June and July and sent it off to them, unsure of its strength or if it was what they really wanted at all. Newbie fears.

Honestly, I had a daily expectation of receiving some sort of email from Intrigue along the lines of: "Hey new kid, don't get too big for your britches. Just one book please. Who do you think you are?"

But they didn't. In September I got an email from my editor saying she thought I had "done a great job" on the proposal and that she was sending it up the chain for final approval. And I got the word yesterday: they want all four books. Crazy!

Thanks True Lies.

Each of the books I proposed was a stand-alone, but they all dealt with the Branson siblings -- three brothers and a sister -- who find their lives and hearts in peril. They are all connected to S.H.I.E.L.D Omega Sector, a covert inter-agency task force made up of the most elite agents our country has to offer.

Fun stuff. I rub my hands with glee every time I think about it. Lots of possibilities for great twists and mayhem. And, of course, falling in love.

All four books are scheduled for 2015 release: January and February then May and June. This gives me a couple month break from promoting during their release -- I'll need it.

The multi-book proposal involved me writing: 

1. A one-paragraph description of all four books and how they fit together (in this case, four siblings who are also involved with Omega Sector).
2. A brief synopsis (2-3 pages each) of books 2-4.
3. A full synopsis (7-10 pages) of book 1.
4. The first three chapters of book 1.
5. The potential back-cover blurbs for all four books (this wasn't actually required, but since I had them, I sent them anyway). 

I'm excited about all four of these stories (I'll post the blurbs soon) -- I believe they all have the potential to be great, if I can do them justice. But having to write four books (well really 3.25 books, I already have the first one 3/4 done) in ten months is daunting.  Plus, did I mention the whole Ironman Triathlon thing? Yikes. 2014 is going to be a busy year.

Time to hit the writing cave. Maybe I can set up my treadmill there.

Cinderella At the Ball - My First RWA Conference Experience

Last week I attended the Romance Writers of America annual convention. I hadn’t planned to go. But when three weeks before the conference  I suddenly found myself with a publisher who wanted to wine & dine me while there, I decided I was awesome  to attend.

A well-attended Harlequin workshop

Hey, especially since it was in Atlanta, my old high school stomping grounds.  Plus, my parental units are in Georgia = free babysitting.

There were about 2500 people (I’ll admit, mostly women) in attendance. The different types of romance writers present ran the absolute gamut: from sweet, inspirational romances to the type of stuff I cannot even think about without blushing.

We came together to celebrate and learn and meet and commiserate.  And I must say, it was wonderful.

Here was a group of women who understood almost every issue I have that involves writing. Joys such as: writing while children are screaming for dinner, the challenges of your “writing space” being the living room couch, and writing a sex scene when you know your mom is going to read it.

Everybody understood my problems and I understood theirs. I walked into a sisterhood I never knew I needed. But I know now.

My SOLD! Ribbon

It was my first RWA conference, although I didn’t wear the little
ribbon they gave me for my name tag that said so (btw, I don't wear a
t-shirt saying “I’m a tourist!!!” when I go to a new city either). But I did proudly sport my SOLD! ribbon indicating that I had sold my first book.

I was able to attend workshops about Surviving You First Book Deal, Boosting Energy & Beating Stress (more vegetables? Gross), Developing an Online Presence (wait, you want me to use social media MORE than I do now? Is that possible?), and Ergonomics for Writers (You mean sitting hunched over a computer for twelve hours in a row is not good for me?).

Plus there were workshops on self-publishing (which was, by far, the best attended workshops), pitches, plots, dialogue, research, serial killers, forensics, queries, steampunk and dozens of other topics. I didn’t make it to any of those, sadly.

Heather Long, Delores Fossen, Bab Han

Although the RWA convention itself was great, the really fabulous part for me was going there as Harlequin Author. I’ll never get tired of saying it… “Janie Crouch, author.”

Well, almost author. Soon. You know, in April 2014. But that little not-quite-published-yet detail didn’t matter to Harlequin. They brought me in like one of the family.

I got to go to parties and receptions and lunches and dinners, even a pajama party – all paid for by my publisher. Author-only stuff, like the famous (amongst writers) Harlequin soiree this year held at the Ritz Carlton.  I must admit, I felt important. Appreciated. Like Cinderella at the ball, except there were no pumpkins at midnight.

I was able to meet my delightful editor face-to-face and am looking forward to having a long and fruitful relationship with her. She’s tiny and fun. I'm sorry I don't have pictures us.

Nora Roberts& stalker on the dance floor

Plus, I got to see Nora Roberts (arguably the biggest name in contemporary romance) dancing to It’s Raining Men at the Harlequin Author party! I had to keep my distance due to an earlier... er,... stalking event, but we still did a "walk-by photo shoot". That woman can dance!

More importantly (yes, even more important than Nora Roberts dancing), I met the wonderful ladies of the Intrigue line. All of them highly successful authors, yet they still took me – someone they had never met and never read – and treated me like one of their own.  We laughed and sang and took crazy pictures and chatted for hours. They offered invaluable advice, and I’m thankful. I hope to be friends with these ladies for years to come.

Intrigue Authors - a true sisterhood

...or something. :-)

I left RWA counting my blessings: To have a book finished and new one in the works. To have a publishing contract. To have a husband and family who support me in all my neuroses.  And to have new friends who understand exactly where I am and where I'm trying to get. 

Cinderella at the ball, indeed. And no pumpkins in sight.