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 When you’re unpublished and life gets in the way and you don’t write for a day, or two, or a week, or even two, it’s your own problem and no one else’s. You’re accountable only to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.
