Carly … and the Kelly Ripa Story
The first time I told this story I used the Cinderella perspective because let’s face it, that was the best way to describe what I felt like when Kelly Ripa chose my book THE BACHELOR for her Reading with Ripa Bookclub. But when the subject came up last week on my Saturday Plotmonkey blog and there was interest in hearing it again, I realized I wanted to retell the story. That I was interested in looking at what happened to me that year – from a brand new perspective … So here it is:
Carly Phillips’ Kelly Ripa Story Five Years Later.
Let me start by saying that I’ve always been a planner, a plotter and a thinker – not book plotting – that’s what I have the Plotmonkeys for – but for my career. I tend to look at where I am, look at where I want to be, and try to figure out a way to get there. I don’t always take the right road or the most direct road but hindsight is 20/20. When I started writing, I wanted to write category novels, Harlequin Temptations for the rest of my life. That lasted until I sold my second and third Temptation or maybe my fourth or fifth. Then the idea of selling a novella came to me next. I think that was the point where I realized I had aspirations beyond category – but still writing romance. I wanted to do a short story for a new publisher and start to make a bigger name for myself. (I bet you’re wondering what this has to do with Kelly Ripa – but like I said, I’m writing in hindsight and I guess I have to tell this my way, so please bear with me and keep reading!).
Where was I? Oh yes. Novellas. I thought they were the key to building a name. I’d seen other authors use this device successfully. It didn’t work that way for me. Yes I did a few novellas but none were the huge vehicle I’d hoped for, but that’s okay because I loved writing those stories and I met new editors that way! Obviously I needed a new plan, however the plan wasn’t mine – the plan found me. My first lucky break leading to Kelly Ripa came when my then agent had lunch with Maggie Crawford, an editor who had just begun working at Warner Books. Maggie had an idea for a trilogy about three bachelor brothers and a meddling mother who wanted grandchildren. My agent pitched me for the idea and I put together a proposal and a few chapters and I sold three books to Warner. This was huge and practically unheard of, a category author who had never written single title, selling a trilogy on basically an outline. I still had books to write for Harlequin and so I wasn’t going to start writing this trilogy for over a year – and do you see how fate and timing works? If I’d written the books immediately, there wouldn’t have been a Kelly Ripa bookclub yet. And by the time I did write the books, Maggie Crawford had already left Warner for Pocket Books (which as much as I love Maggie turned out to be a good thing because she wanted me to write the stories on a ranch and I knew nothing about horses and cowboys!)
So I wrote THE BACHELOR and I began new scheming. How could I get this little book recognized on a bigger level? I hadn’t been paid enough money to be able to promote it on a huge level. I didn’t have a track record with single title books, so how could I get a big enough sell in to hit any lists …? I hired a publicist who didn’t work on retainer but who worked hourly which was a help at the time because I could control the payout a little more. (Not much, mind you. PR is EXPENSIVE). But it was worth it because in my mind I would put whatever I had behind this book. I only had one first shot to get it right. That was my mindset.
Now the Kelly Ripa story. And I really want to tell it differently this time. The basics I can’t change. The facts. I was watching LIVE! And saw Regis and Kelly joking about Kelly doing a bookclub. She said if she was in charge, the bookclub would have beach trash, smut, hot men on the cover. I admit I have never been someone who worried about the negative terms applied to romance IF those terms are used by people who actually read or respect the genre and in a bizarre way, yes you can both use those terms and like the genre. By believing this, I decided to jump on the Kelly Ripa bookclub joke in the HOPES that something could come of it.
In my heart and soul I believed I had this cosmic connection with Kelly Ripa. Why? I watched All My Children since I was a preteen. I always thought her character, Hayley Vaughn, was one of the best drawn on soaps. But most importantly I FELT it. So I called my publicist and ran the idea by her and she didn’t laugh at me, she said she’d get right on it. In the meantime, turns out I wasn’t the only one who’d seen LIVE! And the message boards online were buzzing with the information. I’m superstitious. And I don’t like to discuss things in case they don’t pan out I jinx it. So I shut my mouth, let people talk, did not get involved in the conversation, and I IMMEDIATELY sent out a copy of my book via my publicist. Months passed in which we heard nothing. But I never forgot and in case they were overloaded with books, in case there was a chance, I brainstormed with my publicist and we then decided to send another copy of the book along with a cookie basket custom made with cookies in the shape of the lips on the book cover of THE BACHELOR.
Let me say a few things: To this day I do not know which copy of the book Kelly Ripa or her people saw first. I don’t know if she received the basket or not. But I don’t believe that the gimmick of the basket sold LIVE! On the book. I have to believe the book sold itself. I was told it came down to two books in the end (no, I don’t know the name of the other one) and they chose THE BACHELOR. Let me also say I can look back and see that this was my first single title and I’ve grown a lot since writing that one, so it is doubly an honor that she chose this story. Anyway, there’s more.
After sending the basket, that was it. Although my publicist continued to follow up with phone calls, we never heard anything. Until one day in late May or June (I’m no better with this date than I am with remembering the exact date of my first sale, LOL), I was getting the kids ready for a quick McDonald’s run with a friend and her kids. This was 2002 and my girls were six and ten. My editor from Warner called with good news. My girls didn’t want to hear Mommy had to take a phone call. They were hungry and they wanted McDonald’s. Until my editor told me Kelly Ripa had chosen THE BACHELOR for her July bookclub. I screamed and told the girls. Then my editor said I couldn’t tell anyone until Kelly announced it Monday morning. Was she kidding? I’d just told two little girls with big mouths and I had to go to a party with friends asking how my writing career was going over the weekend, and I couldn’t say anything! I told the girls to keep it a secret and off I went to McDonald’s.
Preparation is key. I learned a lot over that long weekend. Despite the promise to keep quiet, we readied my website to reflect the announcement so the site would go live after the show. And then we waited. Of course I told my husband and the girls knew, my parents knew, and late Sunday night, early Monday morning I told people close to me who I wanted to see the show. Then I panicked that she’d pick someone else’s book and I’d be a disappointed fool.
I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, looking back, Kelly gave the book so much fanfare and buildup that day, it couldn’t have been more perfect. I think what I found the most amazing was that I never heard from the show directly, never spoke to anyone from the show except for the one online chat and the day I did the bookclub show. It was very informal and surreal.
My expectations were also completely unrealistic. I thought that I’d have a quick fifteen minutes of fame and it would be over. In retrospect, in a way that is what happened only on a huger, grander scale. For one thing, the books’ rise to # 1 on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com exceeded anything we’d hoped for. The day passed in a blur, with phone calls and craziness. Again, I didn’t have any contact with Kelly Ripa or the people from the show. But over the next few weeks, Kelly continued to mention the book, to tell viewers how it was doing on the New York Times Bestseller List, etc. THIS more than anything kept the book in people’s minds during the month leading up to the bookclub show in August. I think this helped account for how well the book did and why it had staying power. I’ve thought a lot about this over the last few years, because Kelly Ripa did have quite a few books in her bookclub, but I can’t recall the continuous mentions and I know that had to have helped.
If you want the details, the funny and specific details, read my Diary of the Cinderella Story.
But for the rest of this blog, I’m here to tell you what happened next. The story nobody knows or really ever asked about.
While the insanity was going on that summer, I had another book to write and thank goodness when this news broke, I was nearly finished with it, so I couldn’t angst about how ever would I compete against myself. How could I possibly put out another book when I knew it could never do as well as THE BACHELOR? And then there were the nasty whispers and the nasty overt talks – “Let’s see her do it without Kelly Ripa.” Yes, the world can be a mean, mean place. But I’m not asking you to feel sorry for me. For one thing, I don’t deserve or need it and for another I had the Plotmonkeys who never left my side, deserted me, or more and most importantly, who never resented me.
In the end, the next book, THE PLAYBOY did well. Not as well as THE BACHELOR but well enough to show people it wasn’t a fluke. I did have a semblance of staying power as an author. And I’ve worked very very hard to prove that with each book since.
I’ve made good steps and missteps along the way. I did four hardcover releases and discovered that for now, paperback should be my home. I’m happy since I know this makes my readers happy and happy readers are those who can afford to buy books. I went back to Harlequin as my publishing house and I do believe they understand what I write and who my readers are, just as do.
I knew from the beginning that I couldn’t hit number one and go anywhere but down. That doesn’t mean I gave up. But from post-Kelly Ripa onward, my career has been a process of rebuilding and not taking anything for granted. I’ve treated each book like it was my first and worked to get it into the hands of readers. Old readers and new readers. I also need to grow with each book I write and to that end, I took some detours that led me from CROSS MY HEART (7/07) and SEALED WITH A KISS (10/07) back to what I’m writing now, HOT PROPERTY (7/08) that is vintage Carly Phillips. Sexy fun.
And I am still scheming. Still doing everything I can to push and promote and reach out to you, my readers. And that is ultimately what the Kelly Ripa story is all about – proving that romance is for everyone. That people who don’t think they like romance can read THE BACHELOR or any romance novel and be proven wrong. The best thing that came from my book being chosen by Kelly for her bookclub was to bring romance novels into mainstream America’s homes and to have a celebrity stand up and say hey, “I read this book and I loved it. You will too.” So beyond you and me, the typical romance reader, there are so many others out there who we as romance writers and readers need and want to reach. And that is the goal of my most recent scheming – (no, I won’t tell what that’s about. I already said I am always scheming
Just know there is always another book around the corner and there is always opportunity – if you’re ready and know to be looking for it.
Hi Carly- it was so neat to hear the Kelly Ripa story. I used to be a big fan of All My Children too (especially when Josh Duhmel was on it!).
Here’s what happened from my perspective. I was still working at Waldenbooks. We had already had a secret shipment we weren’t allowed to unbox before the show aired, nor tell anyone the title. I cheated and took one home over the weekend and read it. Well, if they asked I could honestly say I had read it and liked/disliked it.
We sold out on day 1. Many of our regulars called and had it set aside.
When the Playboy came out, we sold out of that too. We didn’t get quite as many copies, but more than normal. Our old store had a great romance following, and we were allowed to order outside the regular shipments if we knew something would sell.:thumbsup2:
I wasn’t thrilled myself when they came out in hard cover. Not only are they expensive, I just don’t have the room anymore. But I would cheat and get them from the library and then go buy the pb to put it in the collection.
Is it 2008 yet???? I want Hot Property!!!! Go forth and write, damnit!!
Comment by ev — March 3, 2007 @ 8:33 am
Thanks Carly - I enjoyed the new perspective. I’m glad you discount those meanies - you’ve worked hard for your success!!!!
Happy Writing!
Comment by Liz — March 3, 2007 @ 9:14 am
Hi Carly. I love your books. It was great for you that Kelly Ripa chose your book for her book club. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Comment by Joan Woods — March 3, 2007 @ 9:42 am
Wow, great info., Eve. Do you still work at a bookstore?
Thanks, Liz. It’s a fact of life like I tell my kids … ignore those who can’t be nice, LOL. I’m a firm believer in Karma way before EArl. He just taught us to think about it more!
Joan, I appreciate it!
Comment by Carly — March 3, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Hi Carly,
I was watching Regis and Kelly when she made the announcement all those years ago in 2002. I also bought the book so I thought myself in the bookclub.
I love your books.
Someone asked me of 3 authors I’d love to meet one day and you Carly are top of my list. You seem like so much fun. Your friends love you. And you are a doer you don’t wait around for things to happened you find a way to make them happen.
I’m off the computer for a few days. Me and my youngest daughter have the flu. so I’m off to bed:doggie:
Comment by Gigi — March 3, 2007 @ 11:03 am
Feel better, Gigi!
Comment by Julie Leto — March 3, 2007 @ 11:26 am
Hi Carly,
I was also listening to Regis & Kelly that morning from work and when she made the announcement I grabbed the phone and called Walden & B&N to see who had the book so I could get it after work.
I have been hooked on your books from that day. I would do what Ev would do if they were hardcover reserve them at the Library way ahead so I would be #1 on the list to get it first
Comment by Cherylann — March 3, 2007 @ 11:45 am
I also was watching Live that, day and ran out to get The Bachelor, which I must say honestly, hands down is one of my all time favorite books!! Anyway, after about three bookstores being sold out I finally managed to find it. Stayed up all night reading it…laughing, crying, loving it!! The next day I emailed the show and told them what a great choice they made. A few days later, to my surprise they called me!! Invited me to be part of the round table! My first thought was YES! Then they told me I would have to be able to discuss the book (no problem) live, on tv, in front of 1,000’s of viewers–that’s where they lost me…which I regret every day:wallbash: Especially after watching the show that day and saw not only did the guests not have to speak, half of them didn’t even sit at the round table
Carly, I’ve been a huge fan ever since and can’t wait for the next Hot Zone!!
Comment by Tina Martinesi — March 3, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
Ev — I love hearing the story from your perspective as a bookseller. Very cool!
Aww, Tina — that truly is a bummer. But I have to admit that I’m a lot like you. I might have chickened out, too, knowing that I’d be talking in front of hundreds of thousands of people! I remember how nervous Carly was that day when she went on LIVE, and I was so nervous for her, too! She did great though!
And for all of you who are waiting for HOT PROPERTY, I can personally say that it’s super fun and sexy — totally vintage Carly and all the things you love about her books the best. Ahhh, I gotta love my job of being Carly’s critique partner!
Comment by Janelle — March 3, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
Oh, Gigi, FEEL BETTER. I hope we do get to meet one day! Maybe at a conference …
Tina, I feel your pain. For years and years I WAS you. I wouldn’t do anything in public. I don’t know how I pulled off that show, I really don’t!
For people like Cheryl Ann, I’m glad you were able to get them at the library. To this day I’m wondering if I lost readers and I hope I didn’t with the hardcover. It’s a business decision and it felt right at the time when they suggested it. At least I can’t look back and wonder what if I had tried, would it have worked?
It’s interesting to revisit this. It really is!
Comment by Carly — March 3, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
Thanks for sharing the real story Carly. I have to admit that I think The Bachelor was the first book of yours that I read and it was because of Kelly Ripa picking it. I was so tired of all the sad stories that Oprah was picking at the time that I went looking for a bookclub with fun books. I was hooked from the first page and have read all of your books since then too. Can’t wait for Sealed with a Kiss and Hot Property!!!
Comment by Liza — March 3, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
Since I was working full time in 2002 I did not see the show. I’m not a big fan of LIVE but would watch if I knew one of my favorite authors was going to be on. Is Kelly still doing the Bookclub? I loved The Bachelor & The Playboy & the 3rd in the series, name escapes me at the moment. The HOT books are in my very large TBR pile. I look forward to reading them. Guess I better get on it before the next one comes out!!
Thanks for telling us the real Kelly Ripa story. I’m glad it brought you into the national spotlight. Your talent would have landed you there but I’m glad you had that boost. Please keep entertaining us with your books.
Have a good weekend everyone. We have sunshine & warmth! It is suppose to be about 70 here today & tomorrow.
Comment by Donna M — March 3, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Carly: It was because of the Kelly Ripa bookclub I found you! I had just had my first (gosh, this is a long time ago) and I wasn’t reading much, but magazines. My aunt saw you on Regis and Kelly and was telling me about it, so I thought, ‘what the heck, it’d be fun…at the very least, it be nice, fluffy reading (you know “beach reading”
”. We called ourselves the Ripa Rip offs. Then, I read it and got into romance full throttle! I haven’t stopped since. It’s a good thing I am so far behind on Plotmonkeys’ books because then I always have a stack (I got a little behind the last couple of months 
). I always devour all four of your books (and, I have found other authors as well!). 
Comment by katie — March 3, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
Hi Carly,
I never knew that day, watching Regis & Kelly would change my live so much. I was out of work due to medical problems and since I love to read so much, I went to her book club and bought your book.
I met some of the most wonderful people on Kelly’s board. Once it closed down, I opened a board of my own and invited the people that I had grown closest to join.
We have been through so much together over the past five years and all because of you & Kelly. One of our members passed away a few years ago, another who we call our “Matka” Mother in Polish. She is 82, lives alone, can’t get around much anymore and we are her family.
I wrote you once telling you our story and you were nice enough to send us all very nice gifts.
These ladies have saved my life in so many ways. I’ve been going through some major medical problems and they get me through. My father just passed away and I don’t know what I would have done without them.
It’s hard to believe that people that I’ve never met face to face could mean so much to me. And all because of you & you taking a chance of calling Kelly.
Some of us have met one another during our travels. But my goal is to one day bring us all together for one big reuion.
Keep taking those chances Carly, you may never know how much you are touching someone’s live.
Love,
Tina Byrd
Comment by Tina Byrd — March 3, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
Carly, I love hearing this story. Working days for the past 15 years, I didn’t even know that Kelly Ripa ever even had a book club.
My personal opinion is that it would have happened for you eventually anyway, but I’m glad she was able give it an extra push.
I am a big catagory romance fan. Mostly because my time is in smaller spurts and I can’t stand to leave a story unfinished. So, I first discovered you there and have followed ever since. This is probably why I feel comfortable with catagory as my MS target.
But, I digress. I have followed many of my favorite authors from HQN and Silhouette as they moved to main stream publishing. Some have changed styles in order to please a major pubishing house and it is not always for the better. I cannot say the same about your books though. Experimenting and growing is one thing, radical directional turns are another.
I hope to continue to enjoy you and your fellow Plot Monkeys. You all serve as inspiration and motivation and a welcome retreat when I read for pleasure. Keep it up!
Lynn
Comment by Lynn Matherly — March 3, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
Your story, entwined with mine.
I was going thru cancer treatments and watched only shows that made me
smile. Didn’t need the News. I remember hearing the annoucement for
Kelly Ripa’s Book club and calling the book store to put the book on hold
then racied to the store. I used your books and Janelle’s books to get me
thru the long hours of treatments. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed
reading and had never read romance. I then loved both. I am a loyal fan.
I’m glad to also have found the Plot Monkeys. I guess Kelly added a spark
to both our lives. I loved the “Bachelor” Trilogy!:love2:
Comment by jeannie — March 3, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
Carly- I left the store to go back to school. But it’s funny you ask- I just ran into my old district manager, who is now running a new Border’s Store and she forced me to apply to do inventory. Yes, she twisted my arm. So I may be going back there, I haven’t decided. We shall see what they offer me- I was the asst mgr at ours, so I won’t settle for less now. But stocking and unpacking books is probably the best part of the job. You get to see all the good stuff first, and hide it away to buy later.
Cherylann- Our library system, which is online, lets you reserve books before they are even out. As soon as I see one coming, I hop on, reserve it and usually get it fairly soon after release, if not the day of. If you don’t use your library regularly, get online and do a google search just by library name. You might be surprised- our system has over 30 libraries to borrow from in it, so I can usually find what I want. I have gotten to know our local librarians so well, they are known to save me books before they are even on the shelf or reserve a new author one of them may have found without telling me about it. I get nice surprises when I get emails that books are there for me.
Comment by ev — March 3, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
Carly, I just received your news letter about your up coming books, so I was browsing your web site and came along this blog. I thought back to all your books I’ve read (17 and counting) and I love them all. The Chandler Brothers series are my favorite but I also love the Hot Zone Series and the Simply Series. It is fun if the books are in a series because I hate to see them end. You are growing more with each book but as I said, I love them all. I am now trying to find your older books. Keep the cold weather in Colorado at bay with your steamy books.
Comment by Brenda Lucci — March 3, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
Wow, I’d love to hit each post individually … but it’s late and I’m tired. I appreciate all of you posting. I can’t believe how many people found me through Kelly Ripa but I’m even more thrilled at how many of you kept and keep coming back for more!
I’m so very lucky for so many reasons and I KNOW IT. HUGS to all of you! 
Comment by Carly — March 4, 2007 @ 12:14 am
Oh, Hi, Tina. Say hello to all the Classy Ladies! You are all the best!
Comment by Carly — March 4, 2007 @ 12:15 am
Wow, I have to say after reading some of these posts, it is so amazing how an author or a book can pull so many people together. Tina and Jeannie you are both inspirational and I hope that you are both on the road to recovery! I’d bet the plot monkeys had no idea just how much they touch our lives…or how much their books mean to us…after working, and cleaning and homework and dinner there is nothing better than sitting down with a good book…thank you
Comment by Tina Martinesi — March 4, 2007 @ 1:16 am
What a wonderful telling, and I’m thrilled it happened for you. I know it’s probably been a little frustrating for you, but I think the steady and determined pace is much more successful than bein a one-hit wonder, which you are definitely not. Here’s to many more books from you, Carly.
Comment by Stacy ~ — March 4, 2007 @ 10:35 am
These comments have been so nice to read…often as inspiring as Carly’s original story!
Comment by Leslie — March 4, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Hi Carly, I actually discovered your books becasue of Kelly Ripa. I did not see the show but I heard so much about it that I picked your book up. Loved it. I discovered your fellow plotmonkeys through your website and have enjoyed everyone’s books. The four of you are wonderful writers and seem to wonderful friends. Happy scheming, writing and reading.
Comment by Patty L. — March 4, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Karen, I was a fan/buyer of your books before the Bookclub, but, it was nice to read how being on LIVE greatly helped your career. I’ve met Kelly at the SuperSoap events at Disney World, when I started watching AMC to follow Marcy Walker &, subsequently, Adam/Liza (David Canary/Marcy). I had initially met Marcy at a SANTA BARBARA event, & followed her return to AMC (she’s a sweetheart!). What I remember best about Kelly at SuperSoap was her telling a story about moving to the back of the studio to breastfeed her child, & having many of the techs keep her company there (to learn about breastfeeding, she said). Mark C. was irritated that she told the story (he thought the techs just wanted to oogle her breasts–LOL), & Kelly said (not an exact quote), “Mark, don’t worry about it–these women are all mothers themselves!”–LOL. When Kelly began guesting on LIVE, my best friend & I speculated that she’d win the job, as she’s funny, down-to-earth, opinionated, & thinks & says things in a really HIP, sexy manner. Mark has been quoted as saying that she’s the same on the show as she is in RL.
For me, glad you’ve returned to HQN, & PBs. Am looking forward to buying the new book.
Patricia A.
Comment by Patricia — March 4, 2007 @ 9:57 pm