When Life Hands You Lemons−Write a Book!
By: Callie Hutton
When I left my last full time job, I decided to work as a substitute teacher until I decided what to do next. When the school year ended, and I found I had a lot of time on my hands, I came up with an idea to keep myself busy.
Over the years, I’d done a lot of writing. I had a job where I did interviews and wrote stories for the company newsletter. I also wrote stories and articles that were published in magazines. But never anything more extensive than that.
I put together a very short story, and paper in hand, entered the local newspaper office in my town and asked for the senior editor. He was pleasant man and listened as I gave him a brief outline of my writing history, and offered him the sample of my writing I’d brought with me. Then I asked if he would consider giving me an assignment or two−not necessarily for pay.
He indicated they had a current opening, and would read over my sample and get back with me. The next day he called, and offered me the job, and told me to come the next morning for my first assignment. For pay!
My appointment was at 10:30, and at 10:00 he called to say his boss wanted to interview other people, and he would get back with me. Hmm. I wasn’t exactly crushed, but seriously annoyed.
I chewed on it for a bit, and decided to do what I’d always promised myself. I would write that romance novel! So I sat down at the computer and wrote a Historical romance. Then I wrote another one, and another one after that. I was having a ball. Friends and relatives read them and unless they were very good liars, really enjoyed them.
I started submitting one or two of them to publishers. Lots of rejections, but a few took the time to comment on what was wrong. I wrote two more. Re-wrote a lot. Entered contests and got more good advice. Finally, I joined a critique group and met the greatest ladies in the world, who reviewed, criticized, and in some cases, tore apart, the book I felt had the most potential, A Run For Love. I re-wrote some more.
One year and three months after I wrote the first word of that first book, I was offered a contract. I continued to write and re-write and submit. Two months after the first contract, I got contracts on two different books in one weekend.
Now I have the pleasure of visiting my local newspaper office to present them with a press release about the release of A Run For Love, now available from Soul Mate Publishing, and its sequel, A Wife By Christmas, also available at Soul Mate Publishing. I may also mention the third book, Annie’s Attic, from The Wild Rose Press, coming out in 2012.
Yes, I’m smiling.
By the way, I’m still waiting for the editor to call. I sure hope he’s there when I bring in my news. <evil grin>
Callie Hutton
An excerpt from A Wife By Christmas:
Guthrie, OK
November, 1906
Max Colbert glared at the woman perched on the edge of the chair across from him. History teacher Ellie Henderson had been a thorn in his side the size of the Oklahoma sky ever since he’d been appointed principal of Logan County High School three months ago.
She sat there, humming. Humming! His gut twisted and he clenched his jaw. Drat the woman for being so unconcerned while he fumed. He needed to draw on his years of experience in dealing with teachers to get his emotions under control. He took a deep breath and leaned forward. “Miss Henderson, your unapproved activities have gone too far. I am going to have to fire you.”
Ellie’s right eyebrow rose, meeting him glare for glare. “No. You can’t.”
“Yes I can, and I am.” Blood rushed to his face.
She stood and placed both palms on his desk, and leaned in. “I will tell my Uncle Jesse.”
Max pushed his chair back and got to his feet. He moved close enough to see the light dusting of freckles across her nose. “It won’t make any difference.”
“It will if you plan to be Territorial Superintendent of Schools.” They were now almost nose-to-nose.
Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. “I will get that job on my own merit.”
“Not without Senator Jesse Cochran’s endorsement.” Her hazel eyes narrowed.
His jaw tightened, his mouth working as if to say something. Then like a rag doll, he collapsed into his seat and leaned back, eyes closed. “Miss Henderson, you are a pebble in my shoe.”
“And you, Mr. Colbert, are a horse’s behind.”
He opened one eye. She again sat primly on the edge of her seat, adjusting her skirts. The two red dots on her cheeks the only indication of her anger.
“You may leave now,” he said through gritted teeth.
Ellie bowed her head slightly. “As you wish.” She stood, smoothed back the hair always loose from her bun. With head held high, she sailed from the room, closing the door softly. Her skirt stuck in the door. She re-opened it, yanked the skirt, and banged the door shut.
Max winced at the sound. His left eye twitched.
