The Day I Received The Call

On July 6, 2005, I was deep into the summer routine with my sons and had spent the morning dehydrating at the tennis courts. We returned home, and though I almost always forget to check for phone messages, that day I picked up the phone and heard the special someone-likes-me dial tone that signifies messages.

The second message was from an editor at Harlequin Books and the instant she identified herself, my heart jumped into overdrive. My mouth went dry and my legs felt like jello. Shakily, I jotted down her number, having to listen to the message three times to get it all down.

Then I promptly dialed my husband at work.

Once he stopped hollering, I told him the editor might have just wanted to talk about more revisions and that it didn’t necessarily mean she wanted to buy my manuscript. I’d only heard of that happening once, but I’m honestly not sure I believed it was possible this was The Call.

Bless my husband’s heart, he said, “Well, she wouldn’t call from Toronto to tell you she hated it.”

Then he said, “Hang up and call her!”

So I hung up and called my friend and critique partner, Sharon. She screeched and then said, “I told you so!” (She’s big on being right.) “Call her back!”

After a few more nerve-gathering minutes, I hung up and dialed the editor’s direct number.

Voice mail.

I continued what I’d been doing since the moment I called my husband…pacing. I also left a message, telling her I’d be home for the rest of the day. (Forget the errands I’d planned!)

I paced some more. Called back both my husband and Sharon to report on nothing. Paced more yet. I think I threw together lunch for my kids at some point and might even have eaten a couple bites myself. Paced still more. Family room…kitchen…dining room…living room…dining room…kitchen…you get the picture.

Picked up the phone to call my parents but couldn’t do it. Didn’t want to jinx it. Tracked down another friend and critique partner's cellular number and called her at work, which I’ve never dared to do. Hung up with her and trekked my beaten path some more, holding the phone the entire time.

An hour after receiving the original message, the phone rang in my hand. OMG! I waited for caller ID to register a number.

Harlequin Enterprises.

Taking a deep breath, I answered, trying my best not to sound like I’d pounced on the phone. My main goal in the conversation was to avoid saying, “Are you serious????” if she did, indeed, want to buy my story. I know I was successful in that, but I know very little else about the five-minute conversation. Those editors know what they’re doing when they say they’ll call back to discuss details in a couple of hours!

After getting off the phone with my editor, I screamed, explained to my five-year-old why I was so happy, and he ran to me and gave me the biggest, most excitement-filled hug ever and cheered with me. We told my three-year-old son, who looked up from his Dora the Explorer toys with half-interest then went back to playing. My husband showed up with two dozen roses, and the whole family, my parents and in-laws included, went out for a celebratory dinner.

Nearly two months later, it’s only just beginning to sink in that my book will be on the shelves in April 2006. I can’t wait to hold it in my hands!