There’s no getting around change. Especially in the publishing world. Careers are blossoming and shifting left and right. Mine and many of my author friends. For instance, a dear longtime friend of mine, Susan Meier. I’ve known Susan for many years and she used to write for Silhouette Romance. The following is her take on the changes within Harlequin and her career.
Take it away Susan.
I wasn’t given a choice of whether or not I wanted to make a change. Change was thrust upon me. 
When the Silhouette Romance line closed, I was asked if I wanted to write for the Harlequin Romance line and after a little consideration (not too much because I had a mortgage to pay) I decided to take the opportunity.
I had to do some soul searching before I could say yes because of the emotion level of Harlequin Romances. I wrote short, fluffy books, very warm, slightly humorous, but the “emotion” didn’t come in until the end.
Harlequin Romances are emotional from page 1.
The first problem, obviously, was coming up with a story that fit. I had a lot of rejections because my inner “fluffy” still wanted to come out. J
But eventually I found a story that clicked and I wrote my first Romance.
And rewrote it. And rewrote it. And rewrote it.
I have to say I wasn’t thrilled with all the rewriting, but …
Man, I seriously wanted to learn how to write deeply emotional books. After so many books with Silhouette, stories that came naturally to me, I wanted to spread my wings. I wanted to test my abilities.
Could I, someone who was known for being goofy, be serious?
I wanted it so bad that I was willing to become a student. To read the line. To let go of what I held dear (humor and fluff) and learn not to rely on them but to dig deep for emotion. To open a vein, as they say!
Fifteen books later, an RT top pick and a nod for RT’s Reviewer’s Choice award, I guess we can say I did it.
If Silhouette Romance had hung around, I probably would have had much smoother sailing over the past few years…but looking back on things I’m glad I had the opportunity to stretch.
photo By Rantz
