May 28
10 Years Ago Today…
10 years ago. It was a Tuesday, and I was sitting anxiously at my desk, hoping my phone would ring. I’d been told the previous Thursday that an editor was going to buy my book when she got back to her office. I wasn’t quite sure I believed it. I’d been writing for 7 years, always making up characers and stories in my head. I was a writing junkie. I just couldn’t stop. But I started it for me. I never imagined that anyone would pay me for making stuff up.
But at 4 the afternoon of 5/28/98, Amy Garvey of Kensington Books made me an offer for THE LADY AND THE DRAGON. It released 8 months later. And thus began my journey as a published author. This book has since been reissued by Samhain, and this is the revised cover. I’m not even sure I have a scan of the original cover.
In some ways, 10 years feels like a blip. In other ways, it seems like forever. Things have happened both quickly and slowly (it’s a weird business), so that fits.
After selling THE LADY AND THE DRAGON, which was the third story I’d penned, I sold the first book I ever wrote, SWEET ENEMY, to Amy about 2 months later. It released in May of 1999.
That followed quickly by ONE WICKED NIGHT, the book that had been a Golden Heart finalist in Romance Writer of America’s unpublished manuscript contest. This is still one of my favorite books. It’s out of print now, but I’m hoping to reissue it someday.
No sooner had Amy bought that book, then she approached me about writing a trilogy. I’d been toying with a medieval series in my head, so a week later, the Brothers In Arms series was born. HIS LADY BRIDE, HIS STOLEN BRIDE (actual cover not shown) and HIS REBEL BRIDE (in that order) tell the story of 3 unlikely friends trying to survive a tumultous period of European history and find love. I wrote these during a really tough time in my life, but they are still some of my favorites.
Shortly after that, Kensington asked me to be their Christmas release in 2001. My editor said to make the book sweet and heartwarming. I paused. “Are you reading the books I’m sending you?” I asked. She conceded the point and told me to send her a book with Christmas in it and minimal sex. I wrote A CHRISTMAS PROMISE…but vowed not to do anything like it again. I’m not the heartwarming, Hallmark card type.
In fact, while writing the Christmas book, what I really wanted to write eventually became STRICTLY SEDUCTION. That book had lived in my head for a long while. For it’s time, it was very racy. I enjoyed every minute of that. But while writing it, a character who was supposed to be a walk-on came to life. Gavin Daggett took over my psyche and demanded that I write STRICTLY FORBIDDEN. Thankfully, my editor agreed.
Then came the fork in the road.
My editor of 9 books left to have another baby and pursue her own interests. I was happy for her, but not for me. I wanted to keep writing, but I was burned out on historicals. I didn’t know what to do next. So I took some time off. Nearly 2 years. In that time, I read and read and read. Tons of different books. Spent a lot of time with my family. And pondered what genre would make me happy.
All this time, my then-agent kept asking me, “What are you working on?” I’d say, “Oh, nothing.” She knew better. Finally she made me send her the project I’d been dabbling in. She loved it immediately and sold it about 2 weeks later to Berkley. The title, BOUND AND DETERMINED, stuck. The cover, however, did it no justice. The follow up, STRIP SEARCH, with sizzling Mark, suffered the same cover fate, as you can see. These were juicy, sexy books with 1980′s Harlequin covers. I received hate mail from people expecting sweet books. I’m thrilled that Berkley will be reissuing these books in 2009 with the sexy covers they deserve!
During this time, I also lost friends. I’d spent 15 years with the same critique group and viewed them like sisters. But the energy had become so negative, and my schedule could no longer accommodate their demands. I was the only one with a small child and a traveling husband, and they just didn’t understand how difficult meeting face-to-face late in the evening was for me. In many ways, my decision to leave was for the best, but it was a difficult period in my life.
In the midst of all this, my brain was turning with really dark, sexual ideas. Things I wasn’t sure I had the courage to write. I’d been reading erotic romance for a while, and no one knew what sort of monster that would unleash! Again, my then-agent pried the pages out of me. She and Berkley jumped on them, but we all agreed that it was so much more erotic than anything I’d ever written, that I needed a pen name so I didn’t alienate my existing audience. So Shayla Black was born and was contracted to write WICKED TIES and DECADENT. Two books that are so close to my heart for the utter freedom creatively they represent and the characters, who mean so much to me.
At this point, I decided that I loved eBooks and I should publish some myself. Things started happening fast and furious. I sold a book to Samhain that eventually became NAUGHTY LITTLE SECRET. The lovely Jaci Burton and I agreed to write SNEAK PEEK together, so I penned WATCH ME, she penned SHOW ME, and they will be printed together this coming January! I also had a book in the back of my closet that was unfinished, and Samhain gave me the opportunity to complete it. A PERFECT MATCH came out earlier this month, and I’ve received some fab reader mail about it. Juliette and Mitch still make me smile, even years after I first conceived them. Ellora’s Cave also bought a book from me, which eventually became DANGEROUS BOYS AND THEIR TOY, which is out TODAY! What can I say? This book was way too much fun to write. I adore these guys! You can see a little video here.
Then the paranormal bug bit me. I should really confess that it bit me long ago. I had the first idea for the Doomsday Brethren series about a dozen years ago. But the timing was never right, and I knew at first that the series was much bigger than me, so I kept shelving it and shelving it. Finally, I figured out the tangled twist of the plots in my head and jumped all over it. When I finally got together a proposal that someone besides me could understand, I was thrilled to sell the first in the series to Pocket. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS.
This January I made more changes to my life, including changing the direction of my career. I changed agents, chose a different tactic, focused more on my goals. This paid off quickly when I sold two more titles in the Doomsday Brethren series shortly after turning in the first. SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW and POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT will be both out next fall, back to back. These are big, daunting books, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.
Whew! Tired yet? Not done…
Last Friday, Berkley and I came to terms on a new agreement for 2 new erotic romances. Delicious (Luc!) and one of Kimber’s brothers will appear in 2010. Luc and the Edgington brothers have been demanding my time for a long while, so I’m glad to finally give them their moment in the sun, so to speak.
With this, I also made another decision: after spending all this time as a published author and a full-time corporate employee, I decided to scale back. Starting in August, I’ll be writing more and working less, and I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of books a more rested brain will produce. I have more stories in me, more characters, more boundaries I want to push, things I want to try. I LOVE writing. And I’m thrilled to have readers who write me, visit my blog, buy books, chat with me, etc. I couldn’t do what I do without you!
To pay you back, every person who comments to today’s blog will get something from me: an e-excerpt, a coverflat, a book, something… But one winner will get the most signed complete backlist I’ve EVER given away. You’ll receive signed print copies of all the books released to date except THE LADY AND THE DRAGON and SWEET ENEMY. I don’t even have a copies of those for myself. Lost in a move somewhere… I’ll throw in all my ebooks and, for this one winner, the first scene of DELICIOUS (Luc’s book), which won’t see a bookshelf for at least another year. So if you want to win, start commenting. I’ll choose the winner on Saturday afternoon.
Good luck!
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Shelley wow, what a great story. You’ve come a long way in ten years. I can’t wait to see what the next ten bring. (((HUGS)))
Congratulations on your success, Shelley! Wishing you many more years of writing.
Lynn
wow –
You are busy little bee. LOL.
What a fast moving career – much like the pacing in your books.
I look forward to seeing what the next ten years brings!
Chris k
Congrats on ten years and hope there will be ten more to come!
It’s so interesting when you look at the timeline and how your career has truly evolved. Something to truly be proud of, for sure.
Many more years of success!
Ro
Thanx 4 sharing w/ us ur writing career. Congrats…well deserved. Wishing u another 10 fantastic yrs. Ada
Congrats Shelley! You’ve really done so much in ten years and you should be proud of yourself!
Congrats on a great career. Keep those books coming.
Robyn
Congratulations on 10 years of wonderful stories. I love how your career has progressed. I find myself anticipating every new novel from you.
Pat
Your writing history is very interesting, to go from historical to e-rated, what a jump..one I am happy you made..Congrats and can’t wait for future releases..
Wow I’m really happy for you, and just to let you know I’ve already bought Dangerouse Boys from Ellora’s Cave this morning and have it locked and loaded on my PalmOne.
I’m looking forward to the Doomsday books and much more.
*stunned silence*
wow, Shelley, you’ve accomplished so much… you overachiever :p lol
It’s amazing reading about how you started to where you are now… can’t wait to see what happens next… especially with your Doomsday Brethren series coming out soon *bg*
Congrats on your ten year anniversary!!
I am so happy for you to be doing something you love. And taking care of your children and husband. I am glad everything has worked out, in one way or another, for you these last 10 years.
Heather
Congrats on all your success! All the covers look awesome! Hoping for many more books in your future!
What a wonderful career so far, and so many more books for us to look forward to. Big congrats, Shelley!
What a generous lady you are! Here’s to at least 10 more years of fantastic writing!!!!
I had no idea you had penned those first historicals – I’ll have to be on the lookout at used bookstores. You’ve completely floored me with this information.
Congrats on todays release – I’m looking forward to the M/F/M, but not so sure about the M/M.
Congrats & HAPPY !)th ANNIVERSARY
Keep up the good work
Shayla………..Congrats on 10 yrs of doing what you enjoy.I hope you continue to write till you heart is content.Even being a mom of 7(4 still at home) I will always find time to read one of your books.
Congratulations on your ten year anniversary. You must have been a child when you were first published!
Shelley…congrats on 10 years, so Happy Anniversary!!! As I’ve told you many times, I love your work, both as Shelley and Shayla, and can’t wait for Luc’s story as well as the Doomsday books, too. Keep those wonderful stories coming. Again, congratulations. You give the rest of us hope.
Major congrats Shelly/Shayla. All these years and I didn’t realize it was one person instead of 2 friends in spite of the newsletter. LOL
I have several of ‘Shelly’s books and both of ‘Shayla’s WICKED TIES and DECADENT. I loved those. I’m still fairly new to the world of ebooks but am looking forward to getting yours. I love the sounds of your 3 latest ones.
Please keep them coming.
sandie
Congrats! Keep’em coming. (No pun intended)
Shayla/Shelley, first let me say thank you for doing what you do. I love your stories and I absolutely adored Decadent and Wicked Ties. Also, thanks for sharing your story. I am both an avid reader and aspiring writer and as such really enjoyed reading your blog about how you’ve arrived at the place you are now as a writer. Looking back, would you have chosen to do anything differently?
cathy m
Congratulations, Shelley, on your extraordinary success … it’s only just begun, because your talent will always have a market. As a writer, thanks for being such an inspiration.
W.
Congrats on 10 years!
After reading Wicked Ties (my 1st) I had to find and read your other books. I loved them, too. And from there have enjoyed reading many other authors that you’ve read or recommended in your blog. I downloaded Dangerous Boys and Their Toy this morning and can’t stop going back to read it! Looking forward to the Doomsday books and CAN’T WAIT for Luc’s story!
YAY Shelley! We must’ve met right after you first published. How cool. Congrats on 10 great years!!!!
Congratulations on all of your success as an author! I’ve loved reading your books and look forward to many more!
Happy Anniversary — love all your books.
Congrats on all your success. I love looking at older romance covers and seeing how those have evolved. Look at the price on “Sweet Enemy.” Only $2.56.
So glad you kept writing. I agree about Strip Search and Bound and Determined’s covers, they do not match their story. Glad you’re getting new sexy covers for those. And…your latest covers are just hot, hot, hot. Congrats on your success. Anticipating the Doomsday Brethren paranormals.
I bought “Bound and Determined” when it was first released as an ebook and loved it. I’ve since broken my own “ebooks only” rule to buy your subsequent print books. All I can say is congratulations on your anniversary and thank you for the all the reading pleasure you have given your readers.
Hey Shelley! I am so proud of you and all you have accomplished! Congratulations on ten great years in publishing and I wish you many more successes! Best wishes and much love always!
Natalie
Congrats Shelley!!!!
Can I be a selfish reader and say I’m psyched you’ll be writing more? I finished A Perfect Match a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it. Utterly romantic and still makes me smile when I talk about it to others.
I’ve been glomming up your backlist since I read Wicked Ties last year, so now I need to move on and look for your older historicals. Oh, the hardship ;)
Wishing you even more success in the years to come
Hugs,
Kat
Hey Shelly, gosh – reading this brought back memories. PG. First sale. Mine was April 14, 1998 (Odd how we remember the day) Awesome news on your sale to Pocket – even more awesome on scaling back on the day job. I wish I could do that.
Anwyay, just wanted to stop in and say congrats again!
Karen Whiddon
Major kudos to the almighty Shelley!
*falls to her knees and bows*
I totally love your writing! I’m a hardcore “must have the book” reader so I haven’t had the chance to read all your work, but I’ve read everything in print. While, not the historicals since I couldn’t find. Though I did read The Lady and the Dragon (won the ebook version from Angela James -she’s awesome).
I’m so psyched for Luc and Kimber’s brothers- BRING THEM ALL ON!
Congrats again and thank you for the awesome writing!
Wow, Lady! You are seriously impressive. I didn’t discover your books until Bound and Determined and Strip Search, both of which I really loved.
Congratulations on your steady career. You’re an inspiration!
Wow Shelley! I am so proud of you. Ten years, that is incredible. It looks like it’s been quite the journey, and I know you’re just ripping and roaring these days so I wish you the best on many many years to come. I knew about some of those books, but not all of them. It was very fun to see the history behind your career. I wish you the best of luck and can’t wait to read what’s next!
that is great shelley whoo. love your books. gl all.
I am so proud of you–and very proud to call you my friend. You are a great writer and I congratulate you on being able to scale back from a “have to job” to a “want to job”. I envy you.
1st-OH MY GOD—LUC, LUC, LUC!! Yeah, yipee, whoo hoo…can you tell I’m excited? It is so great to see that he’s coming soon-well 2010, but just knowing he’s there is enough to keep me going! he he he!!
2nd-Purchased & Read Dangerous Boys and Their Toy today. WHEW! FABULOSO…as usual!!
3rd- I must say that the peek at TMWD has me very anxious. Can’t wait for this series!
And last–Give away??? All your books??? Count me in. Now that would be a great gift.
Your the best! Thanks for your hard work!…that results in some steamy,hot,smoking, books!
Take Care–RENEE
Hi Shelly,
WoW! What a wonderful story and you came along way. I am so happy for you and very glad you became a writer. I love your books and I look forward to reading your new ones and many more by you. Congratulations & happy 10 years and many more to come. *Confetti’s* WooHoo! Thank you for celebrating with us very much appreciated.
Hugssss
LindaH
I am a new fan of yours. Wicked Ties was my first read, and I was instantly won over. I am thrilled to hear that Luc is getting his own story. I love writers who can pump out book after book, as I am the type of reader who can finish one in a day. I look forward to reading more of your work.
All I can say is keep it up! I have reeeaaaallyyyy enjoyed everything of yours that I have read so far.
I am practically drooling over The Doomsday series. Can’t wait!!
I admire your perseverance.
and
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!
Shelley, Congratulations on 10 years of being published!!!! I’m so glad that you followed your heart and continued writing.
The 1st book I read of yours was BOUND AND DETERIMED. I’ve been a devoted fan ever since and I’ve shared your books with friends.
I can’t wait to read Luc’s book. He’d captured my attention from the begining. (I used to dream of being a pastry chef and the thought of cooking something up in the kitchen with him makes me grin.)
I’m looking forward to getting my hands on all your upcoming books.
Thanks for loving to write and wanting to share your stories with us.
Congratulations, Shelley, and thank you for giving us ten years of great books!! The bonus is that we still have more great books to look forward to. I am especially waiting for those Doomsday Brethern books to be released.
Wow, I hadn’t realized The Lady and the Ddragon was ever in print before. I thought it was an e-book. That would truly be a remarkable find…especially if I could get you to autograph it for me afterward. I guess I’d have to go to a RT function then.
It’s as good as an excuse as any to blow money that I don’t have! I’m glad you took the time off and came to the desicion you did about your writing career because you rock baby!
CONGRATS!!!! Wow Ten years it’s amazing how time flies!! You’re an amazingly strong woman/author!! and all I can say is that here’s to another outstanding Ten years!!!
Your AWSOME!!
Congrats on ten years and many more to come!
wow. I must say you are really busy. I’m happy about all the new books coming out. Can’t wait to buy them.
Shayla/Shelley -
I bought and read Dangerous Boys and Their Toy yesterday. I absolutely loved it. Plenty of great sex AND a solid story line!
I have already ordered copies of Wicked Ties and Decadent. You have joined by autobuy list. (Please don’t tell my husband. -grin-)
Thanks for the great book.
Congratulations on the ten year anniversary of selling your first novel and looking forward to ten more years of your wonderful stories. Thank you for the enjoyment your books give us plus the fun of visiting your website and keeping in touch via your blog. Best Wishes
Congratulations on ten wonderful years! I just recently started reading your books (stumbling into Wicked Ties!) and can’t wait for more. Thanks for sharing your writing with us!
I wish you the best as you change directions and do what seems right for you at this point in your life. I enjoy your writing and can’t wait to see where you take us.
I am so glad Bound and Determined and Strip Search are being re-issued after I read Wicked Ties, Decadent and Naughty Little Secrets – I went looking for more of your books. Can’t wait until 2009.
I bought – Dangerous Boys & Their Toy, A Perfect Match, Watch Me along with Show Me by Jaci Burton this morning. They are only to TBR list this weekend.
I really need to get the move on buying your earlier stories. I know you said you’d never do another like Christmas Promise, but knowing how much I love your books makes me still want to pick this one up – and then there’s Dangerous Boys and Their Toy! Whew! I can’t wait to read this latest! Congrats on TEN YEARS!
10 years… that’s HUGE! Here’s to many, many more years! :>]
~Lindy
Congratulations Shelly! Here is to many more years of success. I really love your writing. Thanks so much for giving us such great books to read.
Congrats on that first decade of books. Happy writing and many sales to you!
Congrats on 10 years. I can hardly wait for Luc’s story. I haven’t purchased an e-book before, but I will be getting Dangerous Boys and their Toy, along with your other e-books. I wish you many many more years of wickedly delicious writing.
Cheers!!!!!
What an amazing account of your career! I am such a fan of your work (and as a mom of little ones a fan of working moms such as yourself who make it all happen). Kudos to you. I plan on reading all of your upcoming work.
Congratulations on your journey thus far!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
I am a big fan of your work and look forward to reading the Brethren books.
Deb.
Thanks for sharing your story, it makes reading your work even more interesting! This is my first newsletter from you, and my first post!
I recently stumbled upon Wicked Ties and completely hooked on your writing within a very few pages. I’ve bought up and read every other paperback I could find, and pre-ordered what else I could. I’ll have to learn about e-books asap! Love your work…keep them coming (HA!)! C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !!!
This would make a great newsletter article! hint hint
.. Fantastic news!!
Congratulations on 10 years! Wow. (Sorry to be late – I wasn’t on the net at all this weekend.) Wow, what a progression, and congratulations on all you’ve accomplished!
I also have to say… I love these covers!
Wow! Just finished reading Decadent and was most impressed. I haven’t read anything else you’ve written but I’ll definitely be reading more soon.
Ok, I know there’s a chance I could’ve won the big prize and gotten a copy of;Dangerous Boys and Their Toy, but after the excerpt I had to get my hands on it. Read it right after the purchase too. Excellent read, as usual. So if I win big you can add that one to someone elses’ winnings! Sweet of me isn’t it? HEE HEE!
It’s a little daunting writing to an author but I just had to write and tell you how much I loved Decadent. I ordered it from Amazon and got it a little over 2 weeks ago. I read it in about 48 hours. I couldn’t put it down! It was so amazing that I told my co-worker about it and she insisted I let her borrow it. I got a text message from her the night I gave her the book saying, “How could you keep this from me. It’s the best book ever!” I think she finished it in 3 days and when she returned it to me I promptly reread it.
Lets face it, the book is smoking hot! After living on a steady diet of fluffy sweet romance novels it’s so refreshing and stimulating to realize there are authors out there who know you don’t have to cover sex over with gauzy metaphors and soft language. I love your unflinching unapologetic adult language. The sex scenes are in your face and intense, conveying power, urgency, tenderness, and lust; all while pulling you deeper into the emotions of each character.
Thank you so much for Decadent. I’m eager to read your other published books and I look forward to seeing what wonderfully titillating creations you come up with in the future (especially for Luc and the Edgington brothers).
Well said, Lizzy! :>]
~Lindy