Feeling the Heat: Or One Unforgettable Year in the Life of a Modern Heat Author
20 Comments September 9th, 2008 in Modern Heat, author Posted by Amyby Heidi Rice, author of The Tycoon’s Very Personal Assistant
Hello Modern Heat Authors in the Making – and greetings from a very wet and windy London (where we seem to have had a summer bypass this year).
My name’s Heidi Rice, I’ve written four Modern Heat books so far (fingers crossed it’ll be five soon) and I had planned to give you lots of sage advice about how to write your first chapter and synopsis for this fabulous Feel the Heat competition.
But then I thought, at this stage in the game, when you’re either busy doing that final spit and polish or have already sent your chapter and synopsis winging off through cyberspace to meet the contest deadline — not to mention the fact that you’ve already had tons of fantastic advice from my fellow Mod Hotters (and I can’t write a decent synopsis to save my life) — that’s probably the last thing you guys need (or want). So instead I decided to give y’all a bit of incentive to get that entry finished and sent (if you haven’t already) and tell you all how exciting and glamorous life can become if you get that all important call. Yeah, alright, I’m really just going to be showing off, but hey this has been a pretty fabulous year at Harlequin/Mills and Boon and for Modern Heat in particular and for me personally, so why not share a few of the ups with me because if you win this wonderful competition, next year, or the year after you could be in my Prada stiletoes.
In the interests of honesty, I should probably point out at this juncture that the vast majority of a published author’s life isn’t glamorous at all — bickering kids, piles of laundry, revisions, writers cramp and butt, etc, etc — and that I don’t have any Prada stiletoes. But, what the heck, honesty can go take a flying leap. If you’ve been hard at work on your submissions for the last month you already know how tough a writer’s life can be. So we’re going to forget about all that and live the dream. And as Modern Heat authors in the making you’ve gotta be good at imagining living the dream, right?
So let’s indulge ourselves for a moment and pretend all that hard labour doesn’t exist. Put your rose tinted glasses on, pop a Belgian chocolate (that magically has no calories) into your mouth, pour yourself a glass of pink champagne, watch Pierce Brosnan step out of the en-suite bathroom, his bare chest glistening and with only a towel wrapped around his hips (oops, scratch that last one, I’m a happily married woman!) – and welcome to my world.
I stepped aboard the rollercoaster two years ago exactly, when I got the call from Bryony Green and sold my first book, Bedded by a Bad Boy aka Bedded by a Playboy, to Modern Heat in September 2006. Now call stories to authors are a bit like labour stories to women who’ve just had a baby. You’ve achieved something so wonderful, so incredible, so mind-blowing that you want to describe it in intimate detail to anyone who will listen. I can bore for England on the subject of my call story and frequently do, so I’m going to be ridiculously restrained here and just say it was fabulous and thrilling (and a lot less painful than childbirth).
But the fun didn’t really start until three crucial things had happened: That first book arrived on the shelves of my local Borders in April 2007 (cue lots of screaming and my two sons having apoplexy in case any of their friends spotted us); I’d gotten over the hump of writing my second book — The Mile High Club aka The Millionaire’s Blackmail Bargain scooped a RITA nom this year btw (sorry, have I mentioned that already?); and I got into the social whirl that is the life of a published Harlequin/Mills and Boon author.
Just for starters there’s the Mills and Boon drinks party every fall, usually at a luxury location in London’s West End where you can schmooze with the editors and your fellow authors (including those from Australia and America who can make the trip). But this year things really heated up when Mills and Boon threw a massive 100th birthday bash in February as well, again in London’s West End, and this time pink flamingos, and champagne, and celebrity guests, and chocolate-dipped strawberries and hunky waiters bearing red roses were involved. Now as many of you probably live in the US, I can add here that next year is Harlequin’s 60th Birthday, so I think you can expect a lot more glam and glitter to enjoy a little closer to home when that one kicks off.
A hunky waiter from the M&B party
Are we living the dream yet?
Good, because now I come to the wonders of the RWA conference this July in San Francisco. There’s me wearing my blue name badge with RITA Nominee ribbon attached (oh dear, I’ve had to mention it again), being invited to a special afternoon tea organised by the editors, going to Sandra Marton’s informal and fun pizza party, having a delicious lunch with amazing fellow Presents authors Abby Green, Sharon Kendrick and Sandra Marton (I wasn’t stalking her, I promise), dancing the night away (right next to Nora Roberts apparently, although I somehow managed to miss her) at the lavish Harlequin Party at the Four Seasons hotel and then getting decked out in my posh frock for the RITA Awards Gala (oh, good grief, have I just had to mention it again). Now, I didn’t win the RITA, I’ll grant you, but I honesty think if I had I might well have exploded from all the excitement, so that could well be for the best.
Heidi at a book signing
Heidi and Jessica Hart at the Harlequin PJ party
And then a week after I got home, just to top off my unforgettable year nicely, I got a call from Richmond asking if I’d mind doing a little interview with the nice reporter lady from the BBC about how to write a Mills and Boon. Media star? Moi!
So there you have it. Have I whetted your appetite? Made you even more determined to get that chapter finished, that synopsis sorted to the very best of your abilities? Good, then my work is done.
The very best of luck to you all. But remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it. And maybe then all this can be yours — as well as the dirty dishes, bickering kids, revisions, etc — but we’re not going to mention those now are we.
Heidi, great post and ‘labour’ story
! It was lovely to be in San Francisco with you, stalking Sandra Marton together. And I think we were the only two people in the room to be dancing beside Nora Roberts and not recognize her.
Here’s wishing you all the best for number five!
x Abby
Love it Heidi – love it
It really is fab isn’t it?!
And I’m so excited/terrified/excited to be going to experience some of the glam next week – can’t wait to meet you in person!!!
Thanks Heidi for sharing! I love that analogy to labour – brilliant.
Just wondering how many revisions you had to do for that first book!!?
RACH!
Heidi, what a terrific time you’ve been having. It’s such a whirl, isn’t it, when suddenly you’re producing books that people read? Strange too how the mundane side of life keeps intruding at the most inopportune times, like when you’ve really got your teeth into a great scene or when there’s a deadline looming on the horizon. But you’re right, let’s not mention those. Here’s to lots more wonderful celebrations and special times.
Annie
Yes Abby, and let’s not forget I’d been to Nora’s workshop two days before, but hey, when I’m in the bop zone I loose all my powers of recognition… Or maybe it’s just my age.
Nat, can’t wait to meet you too. We are going to have such a laugh.
And Rachel, my first book was 30,000words too long for the line, so there was a fair bit of cutting required (mostly of secondary characters), but nothing too major in terms of plot or characters. The second book went by with only a few ‘tweaks’, but then, just when I was starting to get cocky, I hit a major road bump with book three (actually it was more like the San Andreas Fault). So you see, even published authors can loose the plot (literally!). The point is if they want you to do revisions, and they take the time to tell you what they are, that’s a very good sign. It may not feel like it when you’re tearing your hair out trying to rewrite a book, but it’s worth it. And you can always go to the M&B drinks in a very nice wig.
Seeing that waiter brought back some happy memories from the Centenary party
I would like to say that the first prize for the competition is your very own hunky waiter, but sadly the lucky winner will have to just make do with one of us instead!
The closing date is drawing closer, it is THIS MONDAY!! So keep tham coming in!
Warm wishes
Joanne
Hey, Abby, have to say I think we did a jolly good job of stalking Sandra and Sharon! And I might add I had been to a workshop with Nora the day before the Harlequin Party so how I failed to recognise her I don’t know. But I’m blaming Biddy Coady so I don’t have to consider the fact that I might be going senile.
Nat, can’t wait to meet you in person too. We are going to have a blast lady.
Rachel, my first book was a whopping 30,000 words too long for Modern Heat (oops), so there was quite a lot of cutting involved, but nothing major as to plot and characters. Book Two went by with virtually no revisions, then just when I was starting to get cocky, Book Three hit a serious road bump (more like the San Andreas Fault actually). So, you see, even published authors can loose the plot (literally), but the point is if they want you to do revisions and they take the time to tell you what they are it means they want to publish your story and they’re willing to put the time and effort in to make that happen. Something to remember if you’re tearing your hair out over revisions, and do not forget, you can always go to the M&B drinks in a wig…
And Annie, yes siree, roll on those wonderful celebrations and special times, it makes it all worth while right?
Great post, Heidi!
Do you think one of those hunky waiters can be arranged when I make it to the UK one of these days?
Lovely pics, Heidi. Was that hunky waiter looking so definitely dishevelled before or after you photo’d him?
We’re missing out on so much in the southern hemisphere. Considering so many of us here are providing the grist for the Mills&Boon, I truly think there should be a party for US with hunks and flamingoes.
Now, is it true–I note you didn’t mention this, but I’m sure I heard someone at the recent RWAus conference–Jenny was it?–say something about butlers in the BUFF?????
Well, we want butlers in the buff too!
By the way, I’m glad you managed to slip in a mention of your Rita nomination. I actually think ‘The Mile High Club’ is one of the most delightful Mills&Boon books I’ve ever read.
So looking forward to that next one!
And the best of good aussie luck to all the souls lining up for that competition!
anna
You’ve had a great year, Heidi! (And it was lovely to meet you at RWA!)
I hope my first year is as exciting…(cue me getting just too excited. January seems so close, yet so far!)
Er, first off, sorry to post the same reply twice but it didn’t come up when I posted it the first time.
And have to admit the Hunky Waiter photo was pinched from Michelle Styles – so she’ll have to explain his rumpled look…!
Nic, can make no promises about hunky waiters, but would like to add that if they’re are any I’m having first dibs.
And Anna, so glad you liked The Mile High Club and what’s this rumour about Butlers in the Buff! count me in for RWAus next year is all I can say about that.
Kim, January’s closer than you think. Just wait till you get your first box of books, we’ll be expecting to hear the scream over here in Blighty
Hi Heidi — Your comments went to moderation for some reason, so I just approved them both — that’s why they disappeared at first, then both showed up…
I know this has happened to a few other people as well — I don’t know what causes it, it seems pretty random. I usually check the blog every day for comments in moderation, but if anyone else has comments disappearing when they try to post, feel free to email me at Amy_Wilkins [at] Harlequin.ca to give me a nudge
~Amy
This is Malle testing the system.
Maybe all the talk of rumpled waiters and butlers in the buff crashed the system?
I think ‘Butlers in the Buff’ is the name of the company we hired the waiters from, but we decided for decency sake to hire them with clothes!
Joanne
Ooh, that waiter is very inspiring!! Heidi, thanks for sharing your journey.
I hope to join the club someday!!!
For those of you entering the contest, good luck! Even if you don’t win, you’ve accomplished something wonderful just by entering. You are a real writer! And if you do win, be prepared. You may be a whole lot smarter than I am and not have to revise much at all — or you may find yourself working harder than you ever thought possible. Either way, you’ll learn so much. This is a fabulous opportunity!
Sounds amazing, I imagine it’s quite similar to an ‘out of body’ experince.
If I didn’t already have my own story created, Butlers in the Buff would certainly be inspiring me.
Well done on a fabulous year and here’s to many more in the future, P.G.
Your post kinda reads like the story of a Modern Heat heroine, does it not??
Aideen.
Heidi,
Thanks for the great post. And I love the picture of the waiter. Works well for my WIP.
I met Kelly Hunter and you at the Literacy Signing at RWA in San Fran. Thanks for signing the book (The Millionaire’s Blackmail Bargain), which I loved, BTW.
Wish you the best of luck with your 5th book.
Barbara
Heidi, what a wonderful post! And didn’t we have a great time in San Francisco? I’m already looking forward to seeing you and Abby and Sharon and EVERYBODY next year, in Washington, DC.
Love,
Sandra
Heidi – thanks for the fab post
what a fantastic year you’ve had 
BTW – loved the photo of the hunky waiter
Cheers, Joanne
Aideen,
Bless you, I could be a Modern Heat heroine alright (if I was twenty pounds lighter and several years younger!).
Barbara,
so glad you came to the literary signing – and you liked the book too. Added bonus that.
Sandra,
I’m going to be all gushing now and say having that lunch with you and Sharon was the high point of the whole conference for me. You’re my idol. And so gracious about being stalked..
Joanne
Yeah, the hunky waiter seems to have inspired everyone…