Guest Blog & Giveaway with Linda Wisdom

Today Linda Wisdom is here guest blogging. This year she's is celebrating her 30th Anniversary as a published romance author. Congrats Linda and Thanks for stopping by!!!

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Many thanks to Anna’s Book Blog for having me here to talk about my years as an author.

Once upon a time there was a little girl who knew she wanted to write books. She wrote stories all through her school years and only took a short break when she was first married. After a few years she knew she wanted to write again and decided it was time to return to her writing.

It took some time, change of name and locations, using her ballet class for atmosphere for her first book, but the time came when that book was finished and she immediately began a second book. Once it was finished, both books were sent to a brand new category romance line called Silhouette Books and they were immediately contracted. A more than fitting date for ‘the call’ was that her books, Dancer in the Shadows and 14 Karat Beauty sold on her wedding anniversary.

And that was just the beginning for me. Did I scream when my agent told me Silhouette wanted my books? Yes. In fact, I’m sure the whole office building heard me. I was even asked if I wanted to write under my own name or use a pseudonym. I knew I wanted my name on my books.

And barely two months later I was fired for selling the books. I wasn’t upset about it. I saw it as my chance to see if writing would turn into the career I wanted it to. I always figured I had my ex-boss to thank for where I am today.

I felt such joy when I received flats of my book. It was that first step of becoming real. But the true step was the first time I went into a store and saw MY book on the shelves! I did the Snoopy dance and told everyone “that’s my book!” I was so pleased to see my fruit of my labor there and to know people would buy it. True, I hoped people would buy it, and luckily they did. I’d achieved a dream I’d had since the day I could hold a crayon and print words.

Of course, back then in the Dark Ages, I used an IBM Correcting Selectric, and used the phone and mail system for communication. I didn’t know another author and I’m sure I stumbled a lot. I didn’t meet other authors until I attended the first Romance Writers of America Nationals conference and I knew I was among people who’d understand me. Talk about a rush!

I think one of my funniest memories from back then was while I loved saying “I’m a writer”, my mom would murmur “honey, that sounds like bragging.” My husband just teased he was Mr. Linda Wisdom. Then one day my mom and I were having lunch out and she looked across the restaurant and saw a woman reading my book. Mom was up like a flash and over to the woman with “My daughter wrote that book. Would you like her to sign it for you?” Would you really tell a writer’s mom you might not want it signed? :} My dad was great at handing out bookmarks where he worked and my husband got a lot of teasing for his back problems.

All I knew was that I was doing what I truly loved. I could draw on past experiences and even used my single friends’ bad dates. Trust me, they gave me some fun ones too.

Who knew taking a ballet class would give me the idea for a book that would start it all for me? And that it would start me on a path to writing over 80 books.

It’s been a roller coaster ride, literally filled with ups and downs. I’ve made a lot of good friends along the way, met some incredible people, and wrote a variety of books that I’m very proud of.

Dancer in the Shadows still makes the rounds. In fact, an agent in Japan contacted my agent because a comic book publisher was interested in contracting for that book and others in my backlist to be comic books and mobile downloads.

So the nice thing is, that first book isn’t forgotten. What about you? How long have you been a romance reader and do you remember your first romance book?

Linda

Hex in High Heels, Book 4 in the Hex Series,
In Stores October 2009!

In this sexy, funny paranormal romance by bestselling author Linda Wisdom, it's all beautiful witch Blair Fitzpatrick can do to keep a lid on her talent for revenge spells, but things are about to get a lot more complicated...

Blair loves running her vintage shop and hanging out with witchy friends Stasi and Jazz. She's forever had a crush on hunky carpenter Jake Harrison, whose Were nature (he's a Border collie) makes him loyal, lovable, and fierce when need be. Just as sparks are beginning to fly, Blair is served with a big surprise when Jake's mother shows up along with his pack leader, who threatens to make Jake heel! When the alpha does the unthinkable, Blair is pushed over the edge. No one messes with her boyfriend-to-be, even if he does shed on the furniture!

About the Author
Linda Wisdom has published more than 70 novels with 13 million copies sold worldwide including traditional, paranormal, humor, action/adventure romance, and romantic suspense. Her bestselling books have been nominated for Romantic Times awards and the Romance Writers of America Rita Award. She lives with her husband in Murrieta, California. http://www.lindawisdom.com/

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Giveaway- Open to U.S. & Canada

Sourcebooks is offering one lucky winner a set of the Hex Books. Which include: 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover, Hex Appeal, Wicked by Any Other Name & Hex in High Heels. To enter leave a comment along with you email address. Winners will be announced on October 14th. Good Luck!!!