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Congratulations, Trish, You must have been thrilled when you got
The Call. Tell us about it.
It was surreal! After dreaming
about it for so long that I could just about taste it, when it
finally happened it was just – surreal<g>. And of course, I was
over the moon. That lasted for precisely the time it took for me
to work out that people were going to read my book. Then I got
scared. I mean, it was really nice HM&B liked my book – just
wonderful – but did I want other people reading it? Ack!
Luckily I’ve had some great
feedback from readers since then so I’m feeling much more
relaxed about it now. It’s incredibly satisfying to know people
enjoy your work. Really, there’s so much to look forward to in
this business. I used to think of getting published as my goal
(and I won’t say short-term goal, because eleven years of
submitting and getting rejected is so not short-term) but of
course, getting the call is just the beginning of your new
career. There’s so many more exciting things to happen after the
call and getting reader feedback is just one of them.
You’ve finalled in several contests over the years. How do you
think they helped you on the road to publication? In fact, you
finalled in the Golden Heart Contest last year around the same
time as interest was expressed in your manuscript. Do you
think that influenced your success in getting your first book
published?
First of all
contests gave me a sense that I must be doing something right. I
started writing in 1992 but didn’t enter a competition until The
Opening Chapter and Synopsis contest in about 1997. I came third
that year. I came first the very next year and started racking
up some good wins and places. But despite having manuscripts
requested, the prize of publication still eluded me.
Just for
something completely different, I entered the RWAmerica’s Golden
Heart for the first time in 2002 with a manuscript that had also
been requested by HM&B. Lucky for me, the partial finalled in
the GH and passed on to the Senior Editor with a “read this”
sticky note. At the same time it had been pulled from slush by
another editor who passed it up to the same senior with another
“read this” sticky note.
So yes, I
think that it helped that two editors had independently read the
ms and liked it. Whether it would have happened anyway, who can
say?
How do you go about writing your novels? Do you plot first or
‘wing it’? How much time do you spend writing?
I’m a half
planner, half winger. I can’t plan it all in advance, because
until the characters reveal themselves to me along the way, I
don’t know where they’re going to take me. Inevitably they have
a much better idea of how to handle a situation than I do, so
even when I have something planned, they invariably come up with
something better.
As for time
spent writing, now I’m home full time so my writing day is
basically 10am – 3pm, after the tinlids are all away, the dog
walked and the washing out and before they all come home again.
I try and get some done at night, even if it’s only emails and
admin. However I also work an hour a week in my 12yo’s class on
creative writing (which takes a bit of preparation) and there
are the all too often dental/medical/orthodontic/veterinarian
crises for 4 kids, 2 cats and one spoodle which intrude as
well. Lucky for me I’m not into housework or I’d have no time
at all to write!<g>
You went to last year’s RWAmerica conference in New York. What
was the highlight of the conference for you?
Being a
Golden Heart Finalist sold me on going to NY. So that was a buzz
in itself. But then, once I’d sold, it was just fantastic. I had
not only my purple GH ribbon but a pink First Sale ribbon to
wear on my name tag as well. And I was spoilt rotten! I got to
meet my then editor, Angelina Manzano and also Emma Dunford, who
had read my ms in the GH judging and who is my editor now, plus
Tessa Shapcott and the rest of the gang from Richmond. And all
the NY and Canada teams, plus all my favourite Presents authors
and I got to go to the Harlequin Black and White Ball – held in
the Starlight roof of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. I even made it
to all of one and a half workshops!
But probably
the highlight was arriving in NY on a flight from LA with Aussie
and Kiwi authors, Fiona McArthur, Bron Jameson, Frances Housden,
Fiona Brand and her sister Briar, only to have the usual
“welcome to JFK” announcement followed by “And we’d like to
congratulate Trish Morey who’s come all the way from Australia
for the RWAmerica’s conference and who’s just sold her first
book to Harlequin Mills and Boon.”
I was in New
York, the whole plane had erupted into applause and I knew I’d
arrived.<g> That moment would be hard to beatJ
Why did you choose to write for M&B Sexy? Have you written
anything aimed at other lines? Do you intend writing for other
lines in the future?
My first
love is M&B Sexy. That’s where my first submissions went, that’s
where, more than anything I wanted to sell. When it didn’t
happen as quickly as I thought it might though, I did try for
other lines. I love romantic comedy as well, and had a few goes
with Love and Laughter/Duets to no avail, as well as submitting
to the Silhouette lines. But I think my voice is very much a
Presents voice, and that’s where I was lucky enough to sell.
What’s your next project?
I’m
currently working on a two book mini-series. My editor was very
excited by my outline so now I’ve delivered my detailed proposal
and I hope she loves that as much because I’ve already started
work on the next book, The Sheikh’s Stolen Bride (wt). This mini
series actually spins off my December book, The Italian’s Virgin
Bride. Stay tuned!
Finally, what’s the best advice you can give to all our
unpublished writers out there?
Easy! It
would have to be – Never give up, never ever ever! Not if you
want to be published. – And submit. Get something out there, to
contests or to editors and preferably both. Make your writing
chances live and give yourself the best shot. And just keep on
writing!
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This
month we talk to yet another successful new author from
down under, Trish Morey. In June 2003 Trish sold her
first novel to the HM&B Presents/Modern/Sexy line and that
book, The Greek Boss’s Demand, is now on the
shelves Downunder. Since receiving the call Trish has gone
on to sell two more books to HM&B.