In 2007, Tina Duncan entered the Instant Seduction writing competition…but didn’t win. Little did she know, it was still the first step in becoming a published Mills & Boon author! Tina’s here to tell us about how it happened…
by Tina Duncan
When I read about the Instant Seduction competition on the I Heart Presents site back in late 2007 I got a tingle.
Yes, a tingle.
Now, before you start thinking I’m a very strange person let me explain my reaction.
At that stage I’d been writing for some time and had entered several local competitions with mixed results. I had also spent my share of time in the infamous slush pile. Straight away I recognised that the Instant Seduction competition was unlike any competition I’d ever entered.
Whatever I submitted was going to be read by people who: a) knew exactly what fitted the line, b) were experienced at spotting talent, and c) could make decisions that really mattered.
If my submission was good enough this competition could help shape my destiny. It could change my life.
Was this a melodramatic way of looking at it? Yes, I suppose it was.
But was I right…?
Read on to find out…
After reading the rules, I stopped writing the book and focussed my attention on my entry, asking all the usual questions. Was the internal conflict strong enough? Had I dumped too much back story in that first chapter? Was I showing not telling? Was my hero alpha enough? And was my heroine feisty? When I was satisfied with the content I polished, polished and polished some more. Only when I was completely happy did I send my submission off with a kiss and a prayer.
Then, like so many others, I waited.
On the day the results were due to be announced I could hardly wait. I jumped on the internet, went to the site and was…yes, I’ll admit it, crushed. I hadn’t won. I hadn’t even placed.
Now, I don’t want to take anything away from the winners. I read their submissions as they appeared on the site and they deserved their success. Lynn, as you know, went on to sell her manuscript and I for one can hardly wait to read the final book!
But I couldn’t help thinking: what about me?
Then it happened.
In April I received an email from the lovely Lucy Gilmour who requested the full manuscript. Unfortunately, the book wasn’t finished so I couldn’t send it straight away. Lucy suggested I aim to finish it by the end of June. I took this deadline seriously and dutifully sent it off before the cut off date.
In August Lucy advised that they’d like to take the manuscript further but they had some revision suggestions. These were sent back in September. In January Lucy suggested some further revisions and requested the changes back asap. The response this time was super quick-just 2 working days. Lucy had some more revisions, which she suggested were “the final touches”. On Friday 6th of March I sent the manuscript off and didn’t dare to hope.
On 10th March at 9.30pm (the date and time is something I’m not likely to forget for a long time) my phone rang.
It was Lucy.
It was The Call.
‘We want to buy your book,’ Lucy said. In fact they offered me a two book contract.
The moral of this story: You don’t have to win the competition to get published.
And, yes, it can happen to you because it happened to me.
So polish up your entry and get it in because it could just change your life!
Tina’s first book Da Silva’s Mistress will be on sale in the UK in December, and January 2010 in Australia.
Details about the Harlequin Presents Writing Competition 2009 can be found here and official rules here.
Well done Tina- fab call story!
I’m so looking forward to reading your first (of many!) book.
My fingers are firmly crossed for a full request from the current competition.
Tina,
Congratulations! I’m looking forward to reading your first book when it goes on sale here.
Annie
Well done Tina – that’s fantastic!!
Your call story is very inspiring for newbie writers like myself.
Am looking forward to reading your first book in Jan 2010
Cheers, Joanne
Hi Mulberry,
Thank you so much. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. You have to be in it to win it. It is a huge opportunity so go for it!
Tina
Hi Annie,
Thanks for the congratulations. I just read the call story you posted yesterday. It is such a wonderful feeling, isn’t it? I can’t help feeling that fate played a part in your publishing journey as it has in mine.
Tina
Great story, Tina! And congratulations on your book. The competitions are fabulous opportunities aren’t they?
Jackie
Congratulations Tina. It sounds like your success is well deserved and I am sure it will spur all of us aspiring writers on. I cant wait to read your first book…and your second. Now, to get polishing…
Hi Jackie,
Thanks for the congratulations. The competitions are a wonderful opportunity for all aspiring writers to get a foot in the door and I think it’s wonderful that they’d started putting them on.
Tina
Many congratulations on your sale Tina – and welcome to the ‘family’ of Presents authors. I’ll look forward to reading your book when it appears on the shelves – and I hope it’s the first of many more successes.
Kate
Hi Felicity,
Thanks for the congratulations. If it can happen to me it can happen to you. So polish until that manuscript sparkles and I wish you luck.
Tina
Hi Tina
thanks for that inspirational story! I am hoping to one day get “The Call” and perhaps this competition will get me on the way to realise my dream!
Good luck with your future works.
Kerrin
Hi Tina
Huge congrats on getting ‘the call’, it’s such a thrill isn’t it?
But also huge congrats on all your hard work and perseverance. As exciting as it is to get that first editorial contact – and know your work has real merit – it can also be pretty daunting.
So well done you!!
Hi Kate,
Thank you so much for your warm wishes and welcome. It still doesn’t seem real. I can’t wait to see my first book and hold it in my hands. Then maybe it will finally sink in.
Tina
Hi Kerrin,
Thanks for your kind comments. I’m glad to hear you’re entering the competition. It really is a wonderful opportunity, not just for the winners but for everyone who enters. Good luck!
Tina
Hi Heidi,
Thanks for your congrats. It certainly is a thrill. I floated about ten foot in the air for the first month. I am so glad I persevered.
Tina
Wonderful call story! Congratulations!
All the best,
Gail
Coming in late but just wanted to say congrats! So great to have another down under Presents author and thanks for sharing your inspiring story!
Rach!
Hi Gail,
Thanks for the congratulations. I think we all love a call story.
Tina
Hi Rach,
Thanks for the congrats. I am thrilled to be joining the team and I hope sharing my story encourages people to enter the new writing competition.
Tina
Congrats Tina!! Can’t wait to read your first! I love calls stories, particularly when they reinforce commitment and persistence. It *so* pays off =)
Congrats again!
Robbie, waving to Gail too =)
Congrats on your success, Tina. I love reading “Call” stories and I’m so pleased to learn it can happen even if you don’t win the competition. Looking forward to your debut novel when it comes out.
Maya.
Hi Robbie,
Thanks for the congrats. You are *so* right. Commitment and persistence really do play an important part in getting published.
Tina
Hi Maya,
Thanks for the congratulations. Believe it. If it can happen to me it can happen to you.
Tina
Congratulations, Tina! I just returned from out of town, so forgive my late comment, but you are proof that you don’t have to outright win this contest to have it change your life.
I look forward to reading your book! Congrats on that call and on your dream coming true.
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for dropping by and thanks for the congratulations. I think it’s an important message for anyone thinking of entering the competition to realise that opportunity extends beyond the winners of the competition. It’s changed both our lives, hasn’t it?
Tina
Congratulations Tina! Loved reading your call story. Can’t wait to read your debut
Good luck on your second!
Sabrina
Brilliant Tina, can’t wait to read it!
Sarah
What a great inspiration story.
Always great to hear about new authors call stories.
Jane O’Connor