Welcome Guest Bloggers Holly Jacobs and Susan Gable!
Tuesday...Holly Jacobs and Susan Gable meet at the Erie International Airport at 6:30 am. They're traveling to San Francisco for a Romance Conference.
H (Holly): Susan, did you see all those kids?
S (Susan): Yes, and worse, I smell them. Dirty diaper. Ick.
H: Hope they're not on our plane. I like kids...I have four.
S: On purpose?
H: Well...
Time Lapse...Holly and Susan on the plane.
S: (Rolling Eyes) Kids in front. Kids to the left. Kids behind.
H: And still the dirty diaper.
(Susan offers quite nicely to hold a woman's baby in order to let her juggle her luggage and toddler.)
(The woman looks at Susan as if she's a psycho baby snatcher.)
VSM (Very Scared Mom): “Uh, no thanks.” (Hands baby to toddler who juggles it as if it were a stuffed animal.)
S (In a whisper.): I'm trapped on an airplane...where would I go with the kid?
H: I have four kids, I wouldn't take another if you paid me. I should have offered.
S: I have a kid.
H: You only have one, and maybe you're just not bright enough to realize you don't want another. (Backpedaling.) Not that I don't think you're bright. She just might not have realized your intelligence and the fact we're romance writers, not baby snatchers.
Time Lapse. Boarding plane in Cleveland Ohio Airport.
FA (Flight Attendant) (stepping in between Holly and Susan while they're still standing in the aisle in First Class -- not that they're traveling First Class, mind you. It's just that they haven't made it back to coach yet.): Excuse me...I can see you two are trouble. I'm separating you.
S (laughing): Our reputation precedes us.
H: Speak for yourself. I'm an angel. I haven't mentioned your one-armed sunglasses this trip, have I?
S: (Why am I getting the short end of this blog?)
H: (Because I'm typing on this AlphaSmart and it's making me testy.)
S: Those glasses fit my face perfectly. I liked them. They worked fine.
H: I've heard that before, but they were ugly.
Time Lapse. Somewhere between Cleveland and San Francisco.
H: (Smarting because two severe blows have just landed on her dainty little head...)
Interjection by Susan: It wasn't me.
H: (I was going to tell them, if you hadn't interrupted, that it was the little old man behind us...and that I was wishing those stinky kids were back as the Little Old Man-now known as LOM-asked): Are you two sisters?
H: (Still concussed by his wickedly strong whacks) No sir, we're romance writers.
LOW (Little Old Woman): Oh, honey they're those women.
LOC (Little Old Couple) becomes strangely silent at the thought of the two romance writers riding in front of them.
H (Still concussed): I think they're impressed.
S: Should we give them bookmarks?
H (whipping out her prodigious hoard of promotional materials despite her concussion, tosses them over the seat and they rain on the LOC.)
FA (Seeing the action with the eyes in the back of his head): I knew you guys were trouble.
H: Hey, I'm concussed.
The FA looks dubious at Holly's concussion claim.
Time Lapse. San Francisco...waiting for cable car. Yakking, as usual.
NPW (Nice Pittsburgh Woman): Did I hear you ladies say you were from Erie?
S: Yes.
NPW: We're from Pittsburgh.
H: (No longer concussed, reaches into her bag for her prodigious hoard of promotional material.) Cool. I'm doing a signing in Pittsburgh on September 20. You should come!
(Susan: At this point we're taking a slight interlude as Holly schmoozes her new Pittsburgh friends...This is a very long time lapse... Holly gives good schmooze.)
(So long in fact we're done with the conference and once again in the San Francisco Airport waiting for the red-eye home, typing this blog for the very delightful, talented, Rita Finalist, Samantha Hunter.)
(S: You should mention, you're kneeling outside the bathroom, waiting for me and typing.)
(H: Yeah what she said.)
VNCW (Very Nice Columbus Woman): Hey, were you at the writer's conference? Only a writer would have an AlphaSmart.
H: (Reaches into her bag for her prodigious hoard of promotional material.) Hi, I'm Holly Jacobs and I'm not concussed any more. Here, have a bookmark.
(VNCW converses with Holly and Susan, all three realize that though the clocks say ten, it's really one a.m. and while the conversation is scintillating, it might just be that they're all punch drunk tired, so we leave our stalwart travelers sitting on a floor, trying not to think about how very dirty and gross it is. A fourth woman joins them.)
AS (Another Susan): Uh VNCW (really named Sheri), do you know these strange women kneeling outside the bathroom, typing on an AlphaSmart?
(The Susans are introduced, and it turns out Susans, maybe by nature of their name, are good at directions...they lead VNCW and H to the gate for the plane.)
All four women make the uncomfortable, long flight to Cleveland.
In Cleveland, the four women, including the two Susans, discuss a wide variety of topics. Holly goes on, and on, and on...until her Susan has to grab her by the lapel and drag her towards their gate for the last leg of the trip home before she can give away anymore bookmarks.
H: (yelling to AS and VNCW) My Susan says we have to go now!
PS. It should be mentioned that AS (Another Susan) won a Golden Heart for Mistaken by the Moonlight!!!!! Yay AS!
PPS: It should also be mentioned that while all the people in this blog are real, their initials were changed to protect the innocent exaggeration that has taken place in this blog! (We leave it to you to decide what's real, and what's exaggeration!)
PPS: Unfortunately, we didn't get to talk about aliens, a common topic of our road trips. Ask us about aliens in the comments, or just come and chat with us today, and we'll tell you those stories, and we'll choose someone from among registered users to win a toy surprise! (Not really, instead, you'll win a book...)
Holly and Susan
Welcome to Susan and Holly!
You guys kill me... this is a riot. Love the acronyms and "prodigious promo materials." ;)
Next time I fly, I want you two on board to entertain me. ;)
The kneeling outside the bathroom thing is a tad disturbing, however... *G*
Sam
But Sam
...kneeling INSIDE the bathroom would have been SOOOO much more disturbing! LOL
Thanks so much for the invite!!
Holly
I should have worn my glasses
Sam, Thanks so much for letting us guestblog about our little trip. I just looked up the email for VNCW (Very Nice Columbus Woman) from her business card (in cursive) and realized that her name is really SHERI not SHARI. I've asked Sam to fix it, so maybe if you're reading this your thinking, huh? It's spelled right. But I'm going to readily admit, it wasn't. I should know to put my glasses on before reading anything because...well, I'm not saying I'm getting old, but they help! And I will mention that my glasses, unlike Susan's one-armed sunglasses are two-armed. So Sheri-not-Shari (SNS, formerly VNCW) sorry!
Holly
Waving at Holly and Susan!
Welcome to Cigars, and thank you for the hysterical post; I really needed a good laugh this morning and you gals provided it. Holly, I met you at the conference when Tawny was late getting ready for the Harlequin party and you and Nancy were nice enough to let me walk over to the Four Seasons and hang with you...I'm a huge fan-girl and love your books, but I get completely tongue-tied around Authors I Admire From Afar (AIAFA). So no, I wasn't anti-social, just shy. The House on Briar Hill is one of my favorites, and on my keeper shelf. I love the cover of your new book, and am looking forward to picking it up.
I'll share an alien story...after you share yours.
Thanks for joining us today!
Karen
Karen,
Well, I feel your pain, because it's obvious that I have a problem with shyness as well. (Susan's going to be coming in here and deny my shyness, but I know you had to have noticed it! LOL) I do remember you and it was so nice to have you walk over to the party with me and Nancy. I was a tad bit excited about it, though you probably didn't notice because of my shyness.
(Okay, on a serious note, because I do occasionally have serious notes, thank you so much for the kind words about Briar Hill. After writing so many comedies or light humorous romances, moving to a more serious story, like that one and this months Same Time Next Summer, made me nervous. I wasn't sure how the books would be received. It's still a profound relief to hear someone enjoyed it/them!)
Alien stories...it's nice someone else has them, too!
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
Hi!
I'm here, I'm here!! Sam, she really DOES have prodigious promotional material. LOL! It was impressive when she whipped out her bookmark for the NPW. Authors should take promo lessons from Holly.
Traveling with Holl is always a good time. Trips pass quickly when traveling with her, and she always keeps you entertained. I probably shouldn't be saying this in public, because then EVERYONE will want to travel with Holly, and I'll have lost my traveling buddy. Sort of like how EVERYONE wants to sleep with Holly now.
Traveling w/ and Sleeping w/ Holly
Susan, even if everyone does want to travel with me (and sleep with me...and by sleep we're talking sharing a room. Sleeping with just sounds so much more interesting than Rooming with...LOL) anyway, Susan, you know I still love traveling with (and occasionally sleeping with) you! You can't shake me that easily.
Although (here comes the aliens!), you're always so ready to give me up to the aliens, maybe I should consider.
You see, I'm a huge science fiction geek. And on occasionally, when Susan and I are driving to or from here or there, we find ourselves on one of those deserted stretches of highway. The kind where you haven't seen another car in miles and miles, I might mention that, "This would be a great place for aliens to abduct someone."
And Susan always swears that if they do abduct us, she's going to offer me up and suggest they use the big probe. Sheesh. How wrong is that???
Karen, you had aliens???
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
Exaggeration?
"We leave it to you to decide what's real, and what's exaggeration!"
Oh, puleeze. Exaggeration? I happen to know from hanging with you two that you're toning it down. :)
Note to blog readers--Holly and Susan are not only a riot, together or separately, they are also Super Authors! (Not unlike myself .) So if you are ever in an area where Susan and Holly are speaking, teaching or signing, run for the hills. No, honestly you have to go see them. You will not regret it. And their books are just as entertaining.
Yay, Holly and Susan. Thanks for stopping by!
Jeannie
Jeannie,
I think you're biased, but hey, I don't mind! And I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be a Super author with you and Susan...and everyone else! I've loved the line and the authors for years, so it's cool to be a part of it!!
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
I believe it all ...
... except, possibly, for the part about Holly no longer being concussed. ;)
Congratulations on the Aspen Gold final. And hi to Susan!!
Sierra Donovan
MEG'S CONFESSION, Avalon Books
http://www.sierradonovan.com
http://www.myspace.com/sierradonovan
Sierra...I was too concussed!
Sierra,
Hey, that LOM had a wicked punch!
And thanks for the congrats! Briar Hill was such a special book to me...it makes the final that much sweeter!
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
Holly, read more carefully
She's implying that you're STILL concussed. (snicker)
Hmmmm...apparenly she knows you well. LOL.
Susan G.
----------
A Kid to the Rescue
There's a little superhero in all of us...
Feb. 2009 - Harlequin Superromance
www.SusanGable.com
Sheesh
Oh, I reread it and you're right. And here I was, thinking she was a sweet and lovely friend.
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
Aliens
Karen, both Holly and I are huge scifi fans, both grew up reading Heinlein, and whenever we're traveling together on a Friday night, we always wanted to watch either Stargate:SG1, Atalntis, or Battlestar Galactica, but it appears that most hotels (BOOOO!) do not get the SciFi channel, damn them.
Anyway, that's just a preface.
So, one trip, we are driving down this dark, totally deserted stretch of highway, and Holly says, "This is the perfect spot for the aliens to grab us."
And I gotta admit, it was SPOOKY. Nothing and on one around at all. No streetlights. Just empty darkness. And she won't stop with the darn aliens. Meanwhile the hair on my arms is standing up.
So finally I tell her, "Listen, if they DO come for us, I'm tossing you at them first, and telling them that they want YOU, not me. And, I'm telling them to use the BIG probe on you."
That finally made her stop. LOL.
But she was seriously creeping me out. I have a very active imagination (hello, writer??? Science fiction fan? Horror reader?) and I don't need much help to freak myself out, thank you very much. LOL.
So now every once in a while on a trip, when we get to a deserted place, she brings up the aliens. And I just say, "Big probe" and she stops. LOL.
(Oh, and Holly is soooo NOT shy. She's a hermit, but she's not shy.)
Susan and the aliens!
See how she is??? I'd never give her up to the aliens. Okay, so I probably would, but I wouldn't suggest the big probe!! LOL
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
Aliens creep me out at
Aliens creep me out at night, too, and let me tell you, in Nevada there are nice long stretches of lonely highway, perfect for abduction.
Big probe? ROTFL.
Jeannie
Jeannie and the Big Probe
Jeannie,
Ah, so basically you don't want to travel with Susan...she'd give you up to the big probe in a New York minute...make that a San Francisco minute! LOL
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
Ack, Jeannie!
Oh my goodness, yeah, dark stretches of Nevada roads WOULD creep me out. Hello, Area 51? That's Nevada, right? In any case, you have lots of empty space out there, and we all know how aliens love that.
Here's the plan, Jeannie. If we all travel together, we'll just let them take Holly, and you and I can continue on our merry way. See, Holly's waaaaaayyyyyyyy more interesting then we are. She'll make a much better study speciman.
We'll let THEM decide which probe to use. (g)
Susan G.
----------
A Kid to the Rescue
There's a little superhero in all of us...
Feb. 2009 - Harlequin Superromance
www.SusanGable.com
Susan, Jeannie and the Nevada Roadtrip...
Wow, the abuse I take. It's not right. Although, it is nice that you're letting them decide on the probe! LOL
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
Why Holly Was Kneeling Outside the Bathroom
Sam, Holly was kneeling outside the bathroom because she was waiting for me. It was my turn. See, we take turns, this way we don't have to schlep all of our stuff into a germy, icky bathroom.
You know, they ought to have chairs outside the bathrooms in airports for exactly that reason. (g)
Holly, being the workaholic that she is, made excellent use of her waiting time by starting work on the blog.
Susan G.
----------
A Kid to the Rescue
There's a little superhero in all of us...
Feb. 2009 - Harlequin Superromance
www.SusanGable.com
Ahhhhh....
I thought it might be some odd pagan ladies room ritual... you know, like praying for rain. ROFTL
But yes, better than kneeling IN the bathroom. ;)
I can see you two are going to set records here today... LOL
Sam
Sam and setting records!
No, not a pagan ritual! LOL And records...I love setting records! Is there some prize?? Please, tell me it's not a big probe??!! LOL
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
The prize for setting records is....
You get to come back! Though admittedly that's maybe more of a reward for us, I'm predicting we see you in Oct... and Feb! *G*
sam
Sam's crystal ball
Sam, I think your crystal ball is right on track. It's a date. (Well, those are months, but they'll be dates, too. Ummmmm...Do I have those dates yet? LOL. I do directions well, Holly's in charge of dates.)
Susan G.
----------
A Kid to the Rescue
There's a little superhero in all of us...
Feb. 2009 - Harlequin Superromance
www.SusanGable.com
Work-a-holic Holly?
Susan,
Yep...germy bathrooms are, well, gross. But really, work-a-holic? Uh, okay, maybe. LOL
Holly--working on her revisions now!
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
Bookmarks
Hi, I'm Isabel, here's a bookmark, come to my signing!
Hall and Susan, ROFL! Great skit. And you lived it!
Susan, we were in the elevator at RWA together and exchanged innocuous comments. I saw your name tag and thought Susan Gable, Susan Gable, WHY is that name so familiar? But it was toward the end of conference, maybe even the last day, and my brain was no longer functional so I didn't say anything. And I am sorry now that I didn't.
Hall, you know I love your books, and Susan, looking forward to trying yours!
Isabel
www.IsabelSharpe.com
Isabel
Isabel,
Now, that's how good promo works...handing out the bookmarks as if they were candy! LOL
I'll have to let you all know if my Pittsburgh Ladies show up at the signing next month! LOL
And thanks...you're biased, but I appreciate it! LOL
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
Hi Holly, Susan and Jeannie
Just had to pop in and say how much I am enjoying this blog. Now I really want to be on the LOVE TRAIN next year. Jeannie I just finished A Difficult Woman. What a great read. Thanks again for the wonderful birthday present. Kaelee from Harlequin.
Kaelee
Kaelee,
We'd love to have you join the love train!! Although it won't be next year. We're setting it up for the year RWA is in NYC. (For those who don't know, we're setting up an Amtrak excursion...picking up romance writers on the way to NYC! Susan and took the train from Erie to NYC in March and it was a really great time!!)
Thanks for stopping over. And yes, Jeannie is a very talented girl...uh woman. Uh...alien???? You never can tell!
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
Hi, Isabel!
You're a quick study on the promo thing! Well done. (susan takes a bookmark)
Yes, I think I vaguely recall the elevator, because I'm sure I saw YOUR nametag, and though, Oh, Isabel Sharpe, I know that name!
Some people remember my name from the old cataromance list. Some people know me from Ninc. Some people know me because I (ahem) get around in writerland. LOL.
By the end of conference, I think everyone's brains are fried.
One year, I really, truly, completely humilated myself in front of Holly's editor. Fortunately her editor has a good sense of humor, but oh, good grief. The problem was, I didn't recognize her because I had Conference Fried Brain. And I plopped myself down in the middle of their meeting. Holly kept trying to shoo me away, and I didn't understand why Holly, who admits she loves me, would shoo me away. Until the light dawned that this was Holly's EDITOR, not just some person from conference. Her editor told me later that my face turned, for real, scarlet red. I apologized profusely and slunk away to my room, wishing the floor would open up and swallow me.
So, I try to be very careful when I'm approaching the Conference Fried Brain stage. LOL
Susan and my editor
Susan,
She does have a great sense of humor, and you're right, I do love you NBB (nonBrokeback!).
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
I was hoping to read all the comments first...
But that NBB addition made me spit on my baby.
OMG, LOL!
NBB
Well, Dee, with all this talk of probes and my sleeping around, I feel it's best to be specific about the NBB portion of my love!!
Holly--who likes to avoid confusion! LOL
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
Spitting on the baby!
Turn about is fair play. The baby spits on you frequently, I'm guessing. (See note in blog that I DO have a kid. And he did his share of spitting on me in his day. LOL!)
Susan G.
----------
A Kid to the Rescue
There's a little superhero in all of us...
Feb. 2009 - Harlequin Superromance
www.SusanGable.com
Hi, Holly and Susan!
You two are a RIOT! So you two travel together often? And your travels are frequently like this? Plus aliens?? Hee!
My brain is clearly still asleep, but can't wait to read more from you both :)
Oh, yeah, Fedora!
Fedora,
Yes, we do travel together often...and we frequently toss bookmarks.
Now, see, when I give out MY bookmarks I'm a PR Slut. But I believe in Karma, so frequently I give out Susan's as well (and it should be noted, that Susan doesn't have a book cover up on the blog because she doesn't have a book cover yet for her February book, but she does have a February book, and I bet we can convince her to tell us about it!!)...So when I give out Susan's stuff, or mention her FEBRUARY BOOK, I'm a PR Pimp.
It's all about karma and balance!! LOL
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
Holly, you Pimp, you!
Holly is a terrific PR Pimp!
And she's just given you a way to tell you about my book, which sadly, doesn't have a cover yet. (November, I'm told. sigh. I hate waiting. LOL.)
My book is called A Kid to the Rescue , from Harlequin Superromance in February. (Available in JANUARY on eHarlequin for those of you who, like me, hate waiting. LOL!)
It's the story of a woman who takes custody of her young nephew after the traumatized boy witnesses his father murder his mother. The hero is a yummy, handsome comic book artist who's also an art therapist, and he works with the little boy. He also helps the heroine learn to fight for what she loves -- she thinks life is a catch-and-release program, and that nothing in life, not people, not things, is permanent. Not a good attitude to have when a little boy is counting on you -- and the hero is, too.
A Kid to the Rescue -- there's a little superhero in all of us! (g)
Sounds Great!!
Susan, I'm definitely picking this book up, come February! It sounds like my kind of book. We'll be Harlequin shelf-mates, since I have a Feb release for Blaze. And a comic book artist?? Way cool...
Comic Book artist hero
Thanks, Karen! I hope you'll enjoy it.
And teehee, when I came up with this hero, I was like, hmmmmm...what to do with him?? I kinda figured I wasn't going to get him into Harlequin if he was JUST a comic book artist. So the fact that he's also an art therapist, besides being obvsiouly critical to the plot (g), was my way of being able to "sneak" him in there. LOL.
What can I say, I like to color outside the lines. LOL!
And the marketing department proved my point about giving him another career as well when they didn't like my original title - Comic Book Hero -- because they said comic books evoke two images -- they're for KIDS, or they're for the creepy guy who lives in his mother's basement. Hey, my hero is NOT a creepy guy, nor does he live in his mother's basement, thank you very much! He wouldn't be much of a hero if he did, would he? LOLOL!!!
Besides, I met a real comic book artist at Ninc. He said they're like a lot of writers -- they have day jobs and do the comic book art because they love it.
But he was a LOT of fun to work with. The funny thing is, I have ZERO art skills. My drawings look like the 6-year-old kid from the book did them. (G) And one day, my hero was making a mural for the heroine -- and I had NO CLUE what this mural would look like. After all, I am NOT an artist. But... POOF! The picture suddenly appeared in my head. And it was gorgeous and totally perfect for the story.
I love it when stories do that. :-)
Susan G.
----------
A Kid to the Rescue
There's a little superhero in all of us...
Feb. 2009 - Harlequin Superromance
www.SusanGable.com
Susan -- I am looking
Susan -- I am looking forward to "A Kid to the Rescue". It sounds like a winner.
"So the fact that he's also an art therapist, besides being obvsiouly critical to the plot (g), was my way of being able to "sneak" him in there. LOL."
So do we call you sneaky Susan now?
Sneaky? Who me?
Why, no, you don't call me Sneaky Susan. You call me "Clever Susan." LOL. One must give the people what they want -- and if they don't know they want a comic book artist hero, which is what you want, then you have to find another way to do it.
LOL.
Susan G.
----------
A Kid to the Rescue
There's a little superhero in all of us...
Feb. 2009 - Harlequin Superromance
www.SusanGable.com
I love comic book writer/artist heroes.
I love comic book writer/artist heroes. Every week when we were children my dad would take us to the newsstand and buy us a comic book. (We being my two brothers and myself.) I always wanted to draw comics but that talent passed me by.
The only kind of pimping...
I could get behind! :) An equal-opportunity romance pimp! ;)
And Susan, that does sound really good--I love the unusual hero--comic book artist! Very cool!
Hi, Fedora!
Yes, we travel together often. In fact, the very first time we met was in 2000, on a roadtrip to Washington DC to RWA National. A 5 hour roadtrip, and we never stopping yakking at all. It was like finding a longlost friend.
Most times in the past, when we've gone to National together, we do our travel thing together, get to conference, head in different directions, and never see other except in passing until it's time to go home. But now that we're writing for the same line, we actually have times when we do things together at conference.
Yes, our travels actually are frequently like this. We keep each other entertained, that's for sure. If you hear people laughing in an airport, that might be us. (Unless we're just totally exhausted, then we might be sleeping in the airport.)
Susan G.
----------
A Kid to the Rescue
There's a little superhero in all of us...
Feb. 2009 - Harlequin Superromance
www.SusanGable.com
I'm pouting . . .
I didn't get any of Holly's prodigious promotional materials when I met her at a booksigning in Erie and got Dashing Through the Mall signed. Maybe because I didn't whap her over the head and give her a concussion?? Susan was there too. They're both wonderful ladies even when they're stuck listening to my teenager talk about her then-obsession with reading anything Egyptian-related. I don't remember them being this funny either. Maybe I didn't stick around long enough.
Really enjoyed the blog post, Holly and Susan!
Cheryl
Hi, Cheryl!!
Wow, I was unslutty (that's PR Slutty...not regular slutty) when we hung out? What on earth was that all about?? Sheesh. I'll try to do better next time!
And your daughter was a joy! I love hearing kids who are excited about...well, just about anything! It's a joy!!
But our real problem here is you didn't realize Susan and my funniness! Sheesh. I must have been on my best grown-up, professional writer behavior! I'll try to do better next time!
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
Hi, Cheryl!
Cheryl, yeah, next time you see her (we're hoping to do a joint signing in February, when I will FINALLY have another book out! WOOHOO!) just whack her over the head and tell her to give you a bookmark. If you're too shy to whack her, ask me, and I'll be happy to whack her for you. LOL.
We DO try to behave like professionals when we're out in public, so we do keep the hilarity down to a dull roar. (g) (I will STEALTH WHACK her so no one else will notice. (g) )
My teenage son has had an Egyptian obsession. It comes from watching so much Stargate. LOL.
Susan
Hey, Susan...tell us about your February book!!!
Holly--PR Pimping!
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc
A Kid to the Rescue
Holl, I did it up there (points upward) but this outline is a little weird, so I'll copy it here. And thank you, oh marvelous PR Pimp!
My book is called A Kid to the Rescue , from Harlequin Superromance in February. (Available in JANUARY on eHarlequin for those of you who, like me, hate waiting. LOL!)
It's the story of a woman who takes custody of her young nephew after the traumatized boy witnesses his father murder his mother. The hero is a yummy, handsome comic book artist who's also an art therapist, and he works with the little boy. He also helps the heroine learn to fight for what she loves -- she thinks life is a catch-and-release program, and that nothing in life, not people, not things, is permanent. Not a good attitude to have when a little boy is counting on you -- and the hero is, too.
A Kid to the Rescue -- there's a little superhero in all of us! (g)
Susan's February book!!
Ah, thanks for pointing. (Holly does her scarecrow giving directions points going every which way.) It was helpful!! LOL
And although I'm admittedly biased, I can't wait for the book! It's one of the first times we've had a book on the shelves the same month. Oh, yeah, the party is on!!
Holly
www.HollyJacobs.com
SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER, Harlequin Superromance, US and Australia release, 8/08
EVERYTHING BUT A BRIDE, Avalon Books, 8/08
ONCE UPON A THANKSGIVING, Harlequin American Romance, 10/08
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS, Harlequin American Romanc