THE CALL

Two years ago, the RT Convention was in Kansas City, where I live. How could I not go? RT is one of the largest reader conventions in the country. There would be authors, and editors and industry professionals.

At the time, my first book, a New Orleans-set historical romance with a dash of murder, was making the rounds with editors in New York. One had even asked for revisions. I was sure I was days away from THE CALL.

In the meantime, what better way to spend my time than with others who loved books?

The convention was…eye-opening. I met best-selling authors. I met new authors. I learned so much in three days that my head hurt.

The convention ended and THE CALL did not come. In fact, the editor who’d requested revisions called and said that the sales department couldn’t figure out what to do with my historical romance/mystery with a few ghosts floating around. She passed.

I tried to write a straight up romance. I did. But, the characters kept finding themselves in the library with a candlestick or the upstairs hallway with a rope. I put that book aside and wrote The Deep End.

THE CALL wasn’t really a call. My agent messaged me while I was at lunch with a writer friend…on my birthday.

I know it sounds incredibly rude, but if you’re a writer with a book on submission your phone is always on. My writer friend understood. Especially when—with shaking hands and tears in my eyes—I slid the phone across the table so she could read my agent’s message. Henery Press wanted The Deep End plus two more books. BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!!!

This year, I’ll return to RT as a published author. So exciting! If you’re there, please find me and say hello!

As for the historical romance with a dash of murder, it too sold. It will release July 28^th.

 

Julie Mulhern is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean--and she's got an active imagination. Truth is--she's an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.