My special guest today is debut Silhouette Desire author Sandra Hyatt. As Sandra mentions below, we both live in New Zealand and were aspiring authors together, attending meetings and conferences and chatting about writing. Sandra sold her first book at the RWA conference last year in San Francisco. It was so exciting, and we were all thrilled for her!
CONTEST: Sandra has always been super-supportive of me, and I’d like to return the favor. I’m giving away a copy of Sandra’s debut book to one lucky visitor. All you need to do to enter the draw is post a comment below. Answer Sandra’s question or say hello and you’re in the draw. I’ll choose the winner on Sunday night (NZ time) and post their name in the comments section.
First, I want to say thanks to Shelley for inviting me to blog on her site. ‘Thanks Shell.” I’ve been writing romance for eleven years and have known Shelley for much of that time. She was just way ahead of me in getting published, and is way more prolific. I’m in awe.
The tenth book I wrote is about to become my first published book. It’s coming out with Silhouette Desire this month in North America. Having the Billionaire’s Baby is about a hard working ‘good’ girl who breaks her own rules and must deal with the consequences of a one night stand with the handsome stranger at her ex-boyfriend’s wedding. Callie (the heroine) must suddenly deal with a situation she has no experience of.
And while I’m not pregnant to someone I scarcely know – I’m dealing with my own new situations as I feel my way into things this side of The Call. It’s been a roller coaster ride, some scary fast bits and plenty of exciting highs – the sale call, learning the title (Having the Billionaire’s Baby), seeing the cover, holding a copy of my book in my hands for the very first time, and now finally knowing that it’s going to be on the shelves (or the internet) and real live people, who aren’t my critique partners, will be able to read it.
One of the things that’s changed since it was just me, my computer and an idea (or in some cases half an idea) is the feeling of control – or rather the lack of it. When you’re unpublished and life gets in the way and you don’t write for a day, or two, or a week, or even two, it’s your own problem and no one else’s. You’re accountable only to yourself.
Now suddenly I have an editor who wants things, and there’s an art department who want to know things, 
and line and copy editors who want me to do things – all by given dates. By and large that’s a good thing.
Add to the mix, children, parents, the house, a temperamental car etc and things can build up. Sometimes when I feel like I have too much to do that’s exactly when I need to stop completely, even if just for a while. I might take the dog for a walk, or just sit down and have a cup of tea and take some deep breaths. It’s amazing what stopping will do to help me feel back in control.
I searched for a quote (that I read in a greeting card once) before posting this, but can’t find it. Basically, it said, we can’t wait for fine weather, we must learn to sail stormy seas. So, I’m trying to learn. Walking, cups of tea (or glasses of wine), and making lists are all things that help me ‘sail’ when the weather is stormy. But I’m always on the lookout for tips if you’ve got any good ones?
You can visit Sandra at her website. Her debut book, Having the Billionaire’s Baby is due out on 14 July at all good bookstores.
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July 9th, 2009 at 6:47 pm · Link
Hi Sandra,
Congrats on selling a book to the Desire line! I love their books and can’t wait to read yours.
Minx
July 9th, 2009 at 8:54 pm · Link
Hello Sandra,
I have a few books from the Desire line. Congrats on your book. Have a great day.
July 9th, 2009 at 10:04 pm · Link
Hi Minx (love that name) and Roberta (love that name too because it’s my fabulous agent’s name).
Thanks so much for your congratulations.
July 9th, 2009 at 11:02 pm · Link
Congrats on having a debut published book! That must be SUCH a great feeling — and a lot of hard work!
Since I didn’t see the greeting card you mentioned above, I thought I’d write you another:
Life is quite a luxury,
So enjoy it while you can.
Read lots of books like I do
And become an author’s fan.
Some days we have fine weather
When we read beneath the trees,
But then we have the others
Where we sail the stormy seas.
The trick is to take good and bad days
And treat them just the same.
It all comes down to your attitude –
You have no one but yourself to blame!
Have a great day, Sandra, and you too, Shelley!
July 10th, 2009 at 1:41 am · Link
Wow, Elaine that poem is terrific. Thank you. I love poetry but can’t write it at all.
July 10th, 2009 at 1:50 am · Link
I usually only write poems for my annual Christmas card (instead of a newsletter, I tell about our year in verse) and special birthdays/anniversaries. I decided here, however, that this might be another special occasion.
At first I thought what you had read could have been an actual quotation, so I Googled it. Probably spent 15 minutes looking for something to no avail. Re-read the blog and realized it was a greeting card, so it wouldn’t be on the Web!
At that point, I decided to write a substitute for you. It took less than 10 minutes to write (and WHY didn’t I do that in the FIRST place???) and has a lot of areas where I think it “needs work”, but sometimes in life you just have to “go with the flow” and “not sweat the small stuff”.
I didn’t see a web site for you (YET) so I can’t read an excerpt (YET). I look forward to both in the near future.
Thank you for your kind words and “happy writing!”
July 10th, 2009 at 2:12 am · Link
Elaine – this is definitely a special occasion for me and I now have your poem up on my notice board! I’m so glad you couldn’t find the quote either.
I do have a website (it’s kind of a work in progress still, but I’m learning as I go) and Shelley’s put a link to it up above (but the address is just www . sandrahyatt . com. Hope you can find it. (Still have to put an excerpt in – I just can’t decide which bit?).
July 10th, 2009 at 2:27 am · Link
Oh! How could I have MISSED that web site!!! (I think it’s called “being in a hurry”….) Many thanks for pointing it out to me.
I just checked your web site. Ever cool! I think I’ll email you instead now….
July 10th, 2009 at 2:29 am · Link
Elaine – what a great poem. I can’t believe you wrote it in ten minutes. Poetry isn’t my strength at all, so I’m in awe of those who are talented in this area.
Sandra I think you’re doing all the right things now. Take time out and exercise, get some fresh air. Ticking off lists always helps me, and now you have Elaine’s awesome poem.
July 10th, 2009 at 4:29 am · Link
Hi Sandra, huge congratulations on the release of your debut book! I’m looking forward to reading it.
As for tips for when things get stormy, I rely on my CPs to keep my head above water. lol. Like they have this last week!!!
July 10th, 2009 at 4:48 am · Link
Hi Christina – yes, CPs are real sanity savers aren’t they. I owe such a debt of gratitude to mine. Even if I had one day managed to get this far without them, the journey would have been nowhere near as much fun.
July 10th, 2009 at 6:46 am · Link
Hi Sandra! So much congrats on the release of your book. It’s wonderful to read about your journey and how you got to this point. It is inspiring to me and I’m sure many others who are plugging away trying for the big pub houses! Good luck with your book and all future ones– you are on your way and life will for sure forever change for you.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:23 am · Link
I don’t have any tips for you, Sandra, but I feel your pain. I got my first book cover a few days ago. I have more sympathy with authors who have complained about their covers now. I’m busy trying to revise while my family is busy trying to make me go on vacation. I end up doing things like squinting at the screen on my laptop at the pool-side bar and ignoring my family, all of whom are in the pool waving at me.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:24 am · Link
Hey, Shelly, a broomstick skirt is one of those crinkly kinds. I linked to a few in the comments section of my blog.
July 10th, 2009 at 8:54 am · Link
What do you call a writer who never gives up??? Published! Congrats, Sandra! I look forward to reading your release. Enjoy the ride of publication!
July 10th, 2009 at 1:12 pm · Link
Kaye – thanks for your congratulations. I was a long time getting to this stage, but am hoping I’m a better writer for it???
July 10th, 2009 at 1:15 pm · Link
Hi – Audrey I couldn’t find your cover on your site. But I’m sure it’s lovely. I think covers are a bit like photos of ourselves – we’re more critical by far than anyone else ever is of them because we have such high hopes and then we study them in such minute detail.
July 10th, 2009 at 1:17 pm · Link
Catherine – that’s so true. It’s a thought that helped me hang in there for so long.
July 10th, 2009 at 1:18 pm · Link
Alice – I’m so sorry I got your name wrong. Can I blame it on tiredness, was up late last night trying to write a love scene, and my brain is scrambled (even more so that usual).
July 10th, 2009 at 1:56 pm · Link
Huge congrats, Sandra! How exciting to be celebrating your Desire debut! I’m sure it’s wonderful and a little crazy to be doing it all for the first time! Are you doing any special to commemorate your first release? And can you share about what you’re working on next?
July 10th, 2009 at 3:03 pm · Link
Hi Fedora – thanks for your congratulations, and yes, it is really exciting but crazy too.
I should do something special to celebrate it’s release but I’m not sure what. Any suggestions gladly accepted.
My next book is about a woman who discovers the IVF child she’s carrying is not her dead husbands, but his brothers. It’s been a lot of fun to write.
And the one after that is going to be a royal story. I’m really enjoying inventing my own country.
July 10th, 2009 at 4:02 pm · Link
You Desire debute sounds wonderful! Can’t wait to read it!
July 10th, 2009 at 4:57 pm · Link
Hi, Sandra! Nice to meet another real-world friend of Shelley’s. Congratulations on your debut book!
July 10th, 2009 at 5:08 pm · Link
Congratulations! It’s a great feeling.
When I first started writing, I blue-tacked a small piece of cardboard to my computer screen with the single word “Why” to remind me to justify everyaction of my characters and every word in my manuscript.
Thirteen published books later, it reads “Survive!”
Enjoy the journey.
July 10th, 2009 at 6:46 pm · Link
Thanks Nancy. I hope you enjoy it.
July 10th, 2009 at 6:47 pm · Link
Hi Julia – it’s really nice to meet Shelley’s cyber friends too.
July 10th, 2009 at 6:51 pm · Link
Hi Amy.
13 books! Wow, congratulations.
You’re so right about needing to keep the Why question at the forefront of your mind. In fact, I’ve just had the comment from my editor on my next book, that I need to make sure the reader understands my hero’s motivation. Maybe I’d better tape “Why” to my computer screen, too.
July 10th, 2009 at 8:37 pm · Link
Thanks, Alice. I’ll come over to your website to check out these skirts.
July 10th, 2009 at 9:33 pm · Link
Sandra – fan mail from readers always makes my day. I’m sure you have some of that in your future!
July 11th, 2009 at 10:57 pm · Link
CONTEST WINNER:
I put all the names in a hat and Mr. Munro drew out…
Elaine.
Congratulations, Elaine. I’m emailing you about your prize.
July 12th, 2009 at 5:40 am · Link
Whee haw! Many many thanks. I’ll email you now too!
July 12th, 2009 at 9:07 am · Link
Congratulations Sandra on the release of your debut book
July 13th, 2009 at 1:04 am · Link
Eleni – thanks for the congratulations. I’m loving this whole process.