Saturday Chit-Chat: Janelle’s “call” story
Unlike my other plotmonkeys, I have THREE “first” calls, LOL. Because it wasn’t until that third call that I knew I’d finally found a writing home.
I have to state right up front that I didn’t grow up wanting to be a writer. In fact, I barely passed English in high school and I hated writing essays. If someone would have told me back then that I’d be a published author of over 40+ books, I would have laughed and thought they were crazy!
So, what changed my mind? Well, for me, becoming a writer was a matter of circumstance. At the age of twenty-one I married my husband, Don, and at that time he was working the swing shift, from four in the afternoon until one in the morning. Yeah, it was a sucky shift, considering we were just married, but he didn’t have a choice at the time. And without him being home at night, it left me alone with a whole lot of free time on my hands.
It was that situation, and my own job at the time, that led to my writing. I was working for a construction company, and it was a one girl office – and that was me. I took care of everything, and most days I was done with my work before five in the afternoon. But I had to stay at the office until five to answer the phones and schedule the guys for the next day’s job. So, during those times when I had nothing to do, I started reading romances novels. Back then, it was Catherine Coulter, Judith McNaught, Johanna Lindsay, and Lavyrle Spencer who ruled the world of romance. I also read the Bantam series line, Loveswepts (now defunct). Before long, between having time at my day job, and all my free time at night, I was reading a book a day. And for a just married couple with a new mortgage, that was quite an expense. One day my husband made the comment that since I was reading so many romances, I ought to try writing one.
I’m sure he was joking (or very nicely trying to tell me to stop buying so many books!), but he planted the seed and stories started forming in my mind. When I first began, I was writing those stories down in a large spiral notebook, and I eventually bought myself a really nice electric typewriter with correctable ribbon (I can’t even imagine writing a book that way now, LOL!). I wrote for five years, and during this time I joined Romance Writers of America and joined a romance writers critique group to learn all about conflict, plot, and point of view. I also entered contests to get feedback on my stories, too (and not all those comments were kind, either!). Needless to say, I have many books that are just awful and will never see the light of day. But, it was a learning process, and I never gave up.
Five years later, Harlequin was running a contest and wanted to published ten one hundred page novellas – each as an individual book. It was a test run for them, to see if smaller books like these would sell. I had a story, a “best friends to lovers” theme, and I sent it in . . . and got 
the call from Harlequin editor Paula Eykelhoff on July 27, 1992. I remember the day vividly - - I was overdue with my second daughter, and when Paula asked me to come up with a pseudonym (back then, Harlequin insisted on using a pen name), I truly had no idea what name to pick. My husband and I mulled over ideas, and we knew we wanted to use the name of our first daughter, Danielle . . . but what to use as a last name? We knew if we were having a girl, we were going to name her Kelly (I didn’t know what I was having), and I went with my gut instinct and used that name and became “Danielle Kelly”. A week later my second daughter, Kellie, was born, and THE FAMILY MAN was published as a novelette in December of 1993.
I really thought after selling the first book it would be so easy to sell another one. WRONG. I 
wrote for another two and a half years and submitted more stories to Harlequin, all of which were rejected. Including an “angel” story I’d written. I then sent that rejected story to Leisure Lovespell for a paranormal line specifically for angels that they were starting. They bought the book, and HEAVEN’S GIFT was published in October of 1995. Unfortunately, I only had that one paranormal story that I’d written, so I was right back to writing for Harlequin, which is where I wanted to be.
I found that I really enjoyed writing the hotter, sexier stories, and decided to target Temptation 
as the line I wanted to write for. Unfortunately, another two years passed of collecting rejections (sigh) before I got what I consider my last first call. This one came in December of 1996, and it was Brenda Chin from Harlequin Temptation. She wanted to buy the story I’d submitted to her, and a character’s follow up story! Needless to say, I was thrilled – despite the fact that she wanted me to rewrite the 2nd half of the story! Regardless, she trusted me to write those extensive revisions, and offered me a two book contract based on what she’d read. The first book, PRIVATE PLEASURES, was published in April 1998, followed by PRIVATE FANTASIES in May 1998. Both books were Temptation Blazes.
From there, I’ve sold pretty consistently, thanks to Brenda Chin. She’s a fabulous editor who truly believes in the authors she buys. All four of us Plotmonkeys have been so fortunate to have her as an editor!
So, even though my journey was a long one, it was well worth. If you want to become a writer, make persistence and patience your best friends, LOL. Keep at it. Keeping honing your craft. Keep writing and submitting new stories, even in the face of rejections. Because if you stop writing, you’ll never know if that next book you would have written would have been “the one” to sell and get you published. That was my mantra/motto, and what kept me sane in all those years I was struggling to sell a book.
I can honestly tell you I got goosebumps reading your story. Being pregnant and choosing to use the names of your daughters was too cool. It is just an awesome story, especially since you mentioned about not being to keen with the whole English subject in school. I am sure there are people out there with great story ideas but not enough courage to take a stab at writting because of how they were in English back in school.
Thanks for sharing. :love2:
Off topic: Well, I got a new computer yesterday from Dell, and I have to say the new Vista operating system is awesome. I am loving this! Have a nice weekend everyone.
Comment by Kelly F. — February 17, 2007 @ 9:15 am
Thanks for the story and the special note at the end to be persistent and patient.
I’ve finally decided to let a few friends read some of what I’ve written and it is sooooo scary. I told one of them the other day that I almost feel like I don’t have a choice anymore. I have to write. I keep hearing voices and if I don’t at least put it all down I can’t sleep, I think about it all the time, and I’m pretty sure I’m not schizo so I’m thinking the muse is just being persistent with me.
Thanks for all your stories. They show me that it isn’t easy but each of you are glad that you’ve stuck with it and wouldn’t change a thing so it must be worth it!
Have a great weekend everyone!!
Comment by Jodie — February 17, 2007 @ 9:34 am
I had absolutely no problem pumping out a hugh paper for college- and would snag an A everytime, but those times I had to write a fiction piece for a class, basically, well, sucked.:wallbash:
I admire what you guys do- I sure as hell couldn’t.
And I don’t have the patience to do it either- you guys keep writing so I can do what I do best- BUY ‘EM AND READ ‘EM!!
Comment by ev — February 17, 2007 @ 10:15 am
Janelle,
Let me say that I am so glad you kept at it. :thumbsup2:
I had read or heard your story of the ‘call’ from years ago and I am glad that weren’t a quitter. I don’t know what I would do if I ever got a rejection.
I think of your stories as a gift away from the realities of everyday.
Thank you.:doggie:
Comment by Gigi — February 17, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Kelly - I’m definitely proof that you don’t need to ace English to be a writer, LOL! I just wrote from the heart, and I think the more you write and learn, the better you become. It’s like anything else a person decides to do — practice makes perfect. Well, I know I’m far from a perfect writer, but practice does make it better, LOL!
Cool on Vista — We bought our oldest daughter a Dell laptop for Xmas and are waiting to put Vista on it because we’re afraid that the first batch is going to have glitches, LOL! Eventually we’ll switch over, though!
Comment by Janelle — February 17, 2007 @ 11:34 am
Jodie — Ahhh, the voices in the head thing. Yeah, I think all of us plotmonkeys have been there, too, LOL! Keep writing and keep submitting. Keep reading what you want to write and try to keep up on the changes in the industry. And if you can, find a critique partner to read your work with a fresh eye and who can offer constructive criticism.
But most of all, don’t let those rejections stop you from writing. Try and learn from those rejection letters, if you can. And another piece of wisdome: what might be one editor’s trash might be another editor’s treasure. Truly, every editor has their own particular taste, just like we all do. So, what might not work for one editor or publishing house, might work for another editor at a different publishing house!
Comment by Janelle — February 17, 2007 @ 11:39 am
Thanks, Ev & Gigi — It’s readers like you that keep us writing!
Comment by Janelle — February 17, 2007 @ 11:39 am
Janelle, What an inspiring story! Having a former career as a contract-drafter (before retirement) I’ve composed myriads of subjects, but, none of them fiction, so, I really admire the 4 of you who do it on a regular basis. Thanks for providing such touching moments, especially, when I’ve really needed them.
BTW, just recently located two novelettes in the “Stolen Moment” line: one (pretty valuable) by Jenny Crusie, & the other by Carrie Alexander. Before these, had never seen any from that line.
Patricia A.
Comment by Patricia — February 17, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
Patricia — yes, that Jennifer Crusie Stolen Moments is VERY valuable! Especially since those stories were never reprinted. Not many people know that I wrote THE FAMILY MAN for the Stolen Moments line because I used the pen name “Danielle Kelly”.
Comment by Janelle — February 17, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
Wow! I just love your story and that your persistence and patience paid off
for you and for me. I love everything you do. I wouldn’t mind being a one
book wonder. When I retire (2 years 3 months 11 days 11 hours and
26 minutes) maybe. Who’s counting? My husband (Don,too) says Most people have to keep working for health care but me I also need to keep working for my romance reading.
Comment by jeannie — February 17, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Janelle, what a great story. Good to know that “F” I got in English doesn’t mean I’m a fluke. lol!
And did you know you’re the first Blaze writer I ever read? Reason being, I started reading Brava and migrated to Harlequin later. One of my favorite books of all time is still “Perfect For The Beach”. I’ve read it more times than I can count.
Comment by Lori Borrill — February 17, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Comment by jeannie — February 17, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
Hey, Lori, then we must be English soul-sisters! LOL. I HATED English. I mean, who really writes thinking “I must use a conjunctive adverb here”, or “Oops, I just used a double negative”. (Maybe our Julie does, since she was an English teacher, LOL, but not I! Or is it me? LOL!).
I loved writing that short, PERFECT FOR THE BEACH story! I’m glad to hear it wasn’t a wall-banger for you, LOL!
Comment by Janelle — February 17, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
What!?! It’s Ev’s birthday! Ohmygosh, I’m sending over a HUNK right away so Ev can celebrate in style!
Comment by Janelle — February 17, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
Hey Ev! Happy birthday!
Janelle, I was horrible with English. And my problem is, though I don’t understand the rules AT ALL, I kept passing the tests. They were always “fix this sentence” and I could always correct them, but ask me to explain WHY it was wrong? No fricking clue. To this day, I have no idea what a participle is, or an active verb, or passive voice. Clueless.
Then there’s English Literature, which was the class I flunked! Please GOD don’t make me read Shakespeare! I makes my head hurt! Trust me, I’ll just take everyone’s word for it that he’s the ultimate in culture, the highest of high literary masterpieces. Cool. Thumbs up. You got it. He’s the greatest and I’m a cultural misfit for not “getting” it. I can live with that. Now give me my Stephen King pop-fiction and leave me alone. LOL!
Comment by Lori Borrill — February 17, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
Thanks for the B’day wishes guys. Hopefully we will be able to make up V’day and B’day this week sometime.:thumbsup2:
Lori- Daughter is taking a shakespear class this semester and loves it. Give me the movies anyday- like West Side Story or 10 things I hate about you. I can’t read the stuff. :wallbash:Personnally, I think she is weird.
Comment by ev — February 17, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
Happy Birthday Ev!!! As for english classes, glad to know if I ever get the nerve up to finally put my ideas to paper(or in the computer), it’s good to know that my lack of always following the rules won’t always hurt you. Thanks for all the great stories and the continued inspiration to all of your readers(and aspiring writers).
Comment by Liza — February 17, 2007 @ 8:22 pm
Janelle, thank you for sharing your story! I love to read your books and am very happy you conintued to write until you found the right editor to appreciate your work. Your determination to keep writing is an inspiration to all of us who hope to one do become published.
Happy Birthday, ev!
I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend.
Comment by Stephanie S. — February 17, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
Great story, Janelle. It will keep me inspired to keep “plotting” along.
I hated Shakespeare. All that Old English - YUK!
The only thing worse is Beowolf.
My only hope is that the ‘government-ese” type writing I do in my day job doesn’t encroach on my fiction style. That would be a sin and a shame.
Keep up the good work. I’m a big fan.
Comment by Lynn Matherly — February 17, 2007 @ 8:53 pm
You might not believe me…but trust me, Lori and all you other bard bashers…had I been your teacher, you would have loved the guy. No one told a dirty joke like old Willy. After a week, my students would be laughing and snickering in all the right places. Of course, I tended to teach all the comedies and none of the tragedies…except for Romeo and Juliet, which had plenty of risque humor.
Shakespeare rocks…if you have the right person to teach you the rhythms of the language. Once you got the hang of it, the guy was hilarious. I mean, there IS a reason why we’re still remaking his stories.
Have you seen SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE? Oh, my! FABULOUS flick.
Comment by Julie Leto — February 17, 2007 @ 10:42 pm
I loved SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE! But it was a *movie*, not a book I had to struggle to read, LOL!
Comment by Janelle — February 17, 2007 @ 10:45 pm
I have to agree with Julie. It wasn’t an English class but a Drama class in college where the teacher explained what Shakespeare was really talking about. His plays took on a completely different light to me then.
Comment by Stephanie S. — February 17, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
The only thing that really entertained me about Shakespeare was picturing men playing the parts of women - while performing theatre in the round.
Comment by Lynn Matherly — February 18, 2007 @ 12:27 am
Lori Borrill, I read your last book and you my dear are no “fluke”
Comment by jeannie — February 18, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
Wow, what a story
I wonder if I can find these books on Amazon
In search mode
Comment by Qua — February 20, 2007 @ 11:57 am