Take that call next time.
Telemarketers always bug me during my writing time – afternoonish when my kids are sleeping. One or two a da. You’d think I was rich.
November 4th I sat down to write a particularly difficult scene and my phone rang. I glared at the offending buzz and shook my head.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. I groaned and answered. “Hello?”
“Is Bonnie Paulson available?” Super sweet voice which makes it even harder to say “no, not interested”.
“This is.” Mama taught me manners and I use ‘em.
“Hi, Bonnie. This is Angela James from Carina Press. I’m calling about the manuscript you submitted.” At this point, my eyebrows scrunched together. Had I done something wrong? I’d never heard of an editor calling an author. Maybe I’d offended someone. Still wasn’t 100% certain she wasn’t a telemarketer.
But Ms. James continued on and I realized she was offering me a contract. I’d said “Uh hunh” to her comments and she paused, asking if I had any questions so far.
My response? Yeah, she tweeted about it. I said, “I think I’m gonna throw up.”
And you know what? I didn’t, but that sense of surreality hasn’t left.
Mallory Braus proved to be as sweet and romantic-at-heart as Breathe Again needed.
Angela James has been more than accessible and supportive at every turn – even when I sent her interview questions for my own blog that were less than professional.
My cover artist took my breath away.
The copy editor made me smile and taught me a thing or three.
But Mallory worked my story over and in my developmental edits she made a suggestion that, as I worked it out, brought me to tears. I finished the scene sobbing, closed my laptop and looked around. The only think I wanted to do involved an empty wineglass (I don’t drink), a fireplace (green of course) and me looking for tissues around the apartment/house.
Mallory and the Carina Press team made me feel like Joan Wilder discovering my stories all over again.
Here’s a favorite part of mine from Breathe Again.
How could one man be sweet and genuine while the other lacked all sense of manners? Maybe the brute was raised on a farm where he never had the opportunity to see normal people and acted like a bull because he was raised among the cows. Maybe my sheep reference hadn’t been far off… Shampoo bubbles filled my hair and a chuckle escaped at the thought of Brodan in denim overalls slinging muck.
Ryan, on the other hand, seemed smooth and courteous, fun even. He’d made me laugh and that hadn’t happened in a long time.
But if I could put Ryan’s personality into Brodan’s body, it might have been just what I would be looking for, or not looking for, since the idea was strictly shower thinking. I’d gotten in trouble before, pursuing thoughts generated in the shower.
I lathered my body, trying to push the images of the men from my head. Aided by my hunger, I switched easily to considering menu items, with thoughts of pancakes smothered in syrup and crisp sizzling bacon ruling my mind.
By the time I finished washing, my stomach growled in earnest. I wouldn’t make it another two hours. Rather I left for the 24-hour one-stop shop ten minutes farther.
Beside my adorable VW van, blue with a white top from the early 70s, I drew in a deep breath. I loved when the rest of the world slept and it felt like I was the only one awake. Opening my door, I tossed my purse onto the seat beside the driver’s side. Before I climbed in, the blue paint glinted, reminding me of Brodan….
Dang. I’d have to retrain my attraction guide. The man’s similarities to Dean should have been the only repellent I needed. Add his rudeness and the fact we couldn’t be in the same room together, I should feel nauseated just thinking of him. Get him out of your head, Maggie.
I wrote Breathe Again while I was pregnant and you’ll notice I involve food a lot in my story. I’d write about the lasagna (recipe to follow) Maggie makes for Brodan and of course, finished the scene and had to make some. I ate most of it – much to my Hubs distress.
I drew my husband in with this recipe I developed – my own personal creation. You can find it at the bottom of this post. Maybe make it for you and your *wink* friend or eat it while you read Breathe Again.
Don’t you love this cover? Maggie leans against Brodan. The skyline reminds me of a Montana sunset. Carina Press artists captured the mood perfectly. I literally gasped when I saw it – and teared up.
I hope you enjoy Breath Again. Another book I would direct you do – well, two actually – Craving Perfect by Liz Fichera and Endless Night by Maureen A. Miller OH and Man Law by Adrienne Giordanno, so three.
They capture the essence of what Carina has to offer – exceptional authors with a phenomenal team backing them. Harlequin is so awesome I used superlatives that aren’t slang.
Knock-Your-Socks-Off Lasagna OR Dip-It Lasagna
- Sauce Ingredients: One large can of tomato sauce, 1 large can diced tomatoes, 1 TB of minced garlic (with oil), chopped onions, italian sausage, 2 TB dry/fresh parsley, 2 TB sugar, 1 – 2 TB salt with pepper:
- Everything but the sauce and diced tomatoes brown in a pan keeping the sausage oil. Add the tomato sauce and tomatoes. Simmer until the rest of the ingredients are ready.
- Cheese ingredients: One small ricotta cheese, one medium cottage cheese, 2 cups mozzarella grated, garlic salt (about 1 TB).
- Mix all and set aside to be layered.
- Layering ingredients: Fresh spinach, fresh sliced mushrooms, sliced olives, anything else you like in your lasagna – like noodles – but don’t prepare too many, this is a less-pasta-more-fun-stuff dish.
- Start your layers. Best to start with something like mushrooms then top with pasta, sauce then cheese. Next, olives, spinach, pasta, sauce then cheese. You should have a fairly thick dish with few layers. Cheese tops it and you’ll cook it in your pan (whatever kind you love) at 350 F for 30 to 40 minutes. This is SLOPPY and great to dip your garlic bread in. I love garlic.
- Also, play with this recipe. You can’t ruin it because it’s a subjective dish. Like it sweeter? Add more sugar. More noodles? Add more. The sauce and the bread is the only reason I make it.
Enjoy and please! Please! Please! email me and let me know how you liked it! bonnierpaulson@gmail.com
Come find me on Twitter – @bonnierpaulson
And my blog: www.bonnierpaulson.com
I’m offering a $10 gift card to a randomly selected commenter on today’s post. To another a copy of BREATHE AGAIN – Woot!
I’d like to know who has supported you throughout your life? It’s all about people and the roles they play to our hearts. Maggie and Brodan help the other heal… Who do you have? This is your “I’d like to thank the Academy” moment. What would you say?
Oh, sorry? Did you say you wanted to know how you can purchase Breathe Again?
Carina Press (of course!), Amazon, Nook,Lybrary.com.
Tags: author, Authors, Bonnie R. Paulson, Books, Breathe Again, Contemporary Romance, Cover Art, Excerpt, giveaway, lasagna, new release, recipe
Hi, Bonnie! Oh God, that story of “the call” is so funny to me, because I got my call the same day. As I thought it was a telemarketer also, I didn’t even pick up! But I totally saved Angela’s voice message for like, three months.
Even funnier, once I found the message on my answering machine, I went on Twitter to see Angela’s tweets. I distinctly remember her writing about making calls, and that one author said she was going to throw up! Guess that was you, lol. Oh, small world
Bonnie; What a great call story!
Hmm . . . who has supported me my entire life? My Dad. He was the first person to go to college in his family and he did whatever he had to make sure we went and he never let us say we couldn’t do anything. But, the most amazing thing is that he did this on his own, taking over the role of mother when my Mom left. And, to this day, he still tells me that I can do anything I want to do.
Well, when Angela called I didn’t say I was going to throw up, but I definitely felt like I might! What a great call story. Congratulations on the sale!
Great call story, Bonnie! My dad was always my hero. He supported me in everything I’ve ever wanted to do. Now it’s my husband. He pushes me to keep fighting for what I want and listens to me cry and whine and rant when needed.
Hi Bonnie!!
I really really laughed at your response to AJ’s call!!!! I’m sure that’s something neither Angela will forget, nor you
LOL!
Loved the story behind the story! And Breathe Again seems like a fab book!
Thanks for the recipe..I love lasagna..and I’m trying out all possible combinations I can with it
Do count me in for the fab giveaway. judimello AT gmail DOT com
I had a blue & white VW bus, but it was from the late 60s. I learned to drive stick shift in that old girl early 80s, and we went in many a family camping trip in it in the 70s.
Congrats on your new book!
Hi, Bonnie! Love lasagna and your call story. Would love to win Breathe Again. lornel AT xplornet DOT ca
LOL Bonnie. I love the story of how you got the call! And…I’ve been wanting the recipe to that lasagna FOREVER. I love that you use italian sausage rather than ground beef! I always have the most difficult time finding lasagna w/o ground beef! Now I know what I’m having for dinner tomorrow!!!
Kaylea – Congratulations! I saw that tweet about messages! lol. I’ll never forget that day. I’m so glad we shared it (without knowing it!)
Thanks for coming by!
Robin, I am so touched you shared your dad’s support with us. He sounds awesome and he rose above!
Thank you for coming! (your comment made me “aw”).
Kathy – thank you so much! And congrats right back at you!
Cynthia – sounds like you went from the house of a prince to the arms of a knight. Truly awesome sounding men in your life!
Thanks for commenting.
Ju – you made me laugh too!
With the lasagna lots of garlic bread is the key! And of course you’re included!
Thanks for coming by!
Ann, I’m so JEALOUS! I want a VW van so bad. Aww. I wish I could see a pic of yours.
Thanks for coming by!
Lorraine! Thanks for coming. If you try the recipe, let me know! Have a great day.
Oooooohh My Miss Mallory,
Thanks for coming and commenting. Lasagna. HMMMMM. Yes, it is yummy. And the italian sausage I like the best is Jimmy Dean – it’s good.
Thank you so much for your help on everything. You’re awesome!
Food in stories is a good thing! It can also be very therapeutic. Bonnie, it sounds like you have found another family in Carina Press. Good for you. It’s great to have support and encouragement and in writing that is so important.
My family is my support system and they have been there and helped me through all the ups and downs. Food comes in a close second. How can good food not bring about a smile
Na, You are so right! I love this carina family. They know how to support you!
What’s your favorite dish?
Thanks for stopping by.
Hi, Bonnie! Congrats on getting The Call. and congrats on actually being there to pick up the darned phone! I, uh, sorta missed mine.
And to make it worse, I KNEW about Harlequin’s legendary Call, and schlepped my phone around in the hope I’d get it. But, The Call never came that day. 
Because it had come the day BEFORE, and I forgot to check the little blinky light thingie on my answering machine. Duhhhhhh.
I’m really looking forward to Breathe Again. This sounds like a story that’s right up my alley. Good luck!
Yay, Joan Wilder! I’m so proud and happy for you, Bonnie. Breathe Again touches the heart. And you brought back the happy chills of “the call.”
Thanks Stacey. At least you check your messages! I usually have a full in box. lol.
Congrats yourself! And thanks for the kind words.
Hi Maureen, Thank you so much for saying that! You read it fast! I’m glad I got the call ’cause I got to meet you!
Thanks again for stopping by!
What an amazing story! I’m sure if you haven’t answered she’d have emailed (as she did me) but what a thrill to actually hear it. Breathe again sounds like a beautiful story to match that sensational cover
That story about your call was so funny. I don’t know what I would have said to Angela, because when I got my call, I thought she was offering to lower my interest rates and sent her right to voice mail. LOL Then I decided to listen to the message (rather than just deleting), realized what was happening, and almost lost control of my bladder. HAHAHAHA! Congratulations on Breathe Again! It sounds like a great book!
Rachael, I gasped when I saw the cover. The artists did such a great job. Thank you for the comment. Good luck with the drawing! and Congrats on your call as well!
Betsy! Thanks so much. I’m grinning at your story. You almost lost control of your bladder? That sounds like me when I’m pregnant. Great story!
Thank you for sharing. And congrats to you as well!
the cover of the book is gorgeous and the book sounds wonderful, i can’t wait to read it. also the recipe looks delicious i’ll have to try it this weekend.
trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com
Tammy, thank you so much for coming by. Good luck with the lasagna! I loves it. : ) and of course the book… double : )
Good luck.
Winners.
Okay, run through Random.org… I commented so much, I won like four times. Ugh. So, here are the actual winners – Email me at bonnierpaulson @ gmail.com with your email so I can get you the prize!
GC winner – Na
Breathe Again – Stacey Gail (when you email me, let me know if you want the epub version or pdf).
Thanks again everyone so much! (If I don’t hear from the winners within a week, I will pick new ones). Hugs!
My sister, Susan, supports me and that lasagna sounds yummy.
Thank you Bonnie!
An email is on the way
This is awesome! Your call story is great and your book sounds like a keeper. Will definitely check it out.
Tami