My journey to publication was sometimes bumpy.
That’s a bit like saying strippers occasionally dress
provocatively.
The short version of the story is that I wrote a couple
crappy novels before selling a book to Harlequin’s “Bombshell” line in 2005.
Then my editor called—on my 32nd birthday, the same day my cat died
and I was told I’d be fired from my job for disobeying the company’s pantyhose
requirement—to inform me the line was being cancelled a month before my
scheduled debut. I spent the next several years cycling through an agent that
didn’t quite work out and writing manuscripts that almost-but-didn’t-quite sell.
When my agent landed me a three-book deal for my romantic
comedies in 2010, the joy was somewhat dampened by the fact that my marriage of
13 years crashed and burned that year like a short-circuited vibrator hurled
angrily at the bedroom wall.
*cue the violins*
It’s okay, I don’t need sympathy. I’m doing great now, with multiple
published books at three different publishing houses, awesome feedback like
a nomination for Contemporary Romance of the Year from RT Book Reviews and cool publications like the Chicago Tribune not only spelling my name right, but writing things like,
“Fenske's wildly inventive plot &
wonderfully quirky characters provide the perfect literary antidote to any
romance reader's summer reading doldrums.”
I’m
also in a pretty amazing relationship with an awesome guy, so like I said—it’s
all good.
Well,
sorta.
See,
the thing about writing is that it’s rarely a straightforward trajectory from
typing “the end” and eating bon-bons while a shirtless male model gives you a
piggyback ride to the party celebrating your #1 slot on the New York Times bestseller list. There
are bumps and bruises along the way, and if you’re lucky, you’re able to see
them as learning experiences instead of reasons to hide under your bed rocking
back and forth and humming “I’m a Little Teapot.”
Take
my new novella, Eat, Play, Lust, for example. Wanna know how that
story came about?
The novel I'd written as the third in my three-book romantic
comedy contract with Sourcebooks was deemed excellent, but "not the right
next book for your career." My editor and I were struggling to see
eye-to-eye on what the right next book would be, and I was frustrated,
exhausted, and—I’ll admit it—as close as I’ve ever been to throwing in the
towel.
“You need to take a break and write something fun,” my agent
told me. “Something to remind you why you started writing in the first place.”
She suggested I try my hand at a short novella for
Entangled’s Flirt line. “Just 10,000 to 15,000 words,” she coaxed. “You can do
that.”
So I sat down and thought about the things that make me
happiest. Gourmet cooking. Yoga. Standup paddleboarding. Tater Tots. Sex. Men
with facial hair. Sunshine. Risqué humor.
I smushed it all together and took off running with a story
about a yoga instructor with secret cravings and a hot gourmet chef with a
habit of putting his foot in his mouth. The story flowed easily, and I finished
Eat, Play, Lust
in record time. More importantly, I found myself in love with the writing
process again.
So that’s the behind-the-scenes story of how a lighthearted
romantic comedy novella was born from the ashes of something not all that
lighthearted or comedic.
Questions about my writing journey or general sanity? Leave
‘em in the comments, and I’ll be happy to answer!
September 2 Spotlight
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Eat, Play, Lust
Tawna Fenske
Tawna Fenske
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, Flirt Imprint
Date of Publication: 8/26/13
ISBN: 978-1-62266-245-6
Number of pages: 57
Book Description:
Cami Pressman is a yoga instructor with a lifelong secret love of junk food. Not even an irresistible man can replace the mouthwatering wickedness of her favorite foods.
Until, that is, Paul Hammond signs up for her class. He’s a gourmet chef looking to score some fitness tips, and a date with Cami. Suddenly Cami’s lust for junk food isn’t the only thing making her tingle.
When this sinful chef and hot yoga teacher eat, play, and lust together, they just might bring their obsession to a new level.
* Tawna will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Eat, Play, Lust to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.
About the Author:
Tawna Fenske traveled a career path that took her from newspaper reporter to English teacher in Venezuela to marketing geek to PR manager for her city’s tourism bureau. An avid globetrotter and social media fiend, Tawna is the author of the popular blog, Don’t Pet Me, I’m Writing, and a member of Romance Writers of America.
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing Eat Play Lust and the giveaway. Sounds like a great book. evamillien at gmail dot com
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