Celebrate my birthday with me and my hot heroes
In honor of my birthday I am giving away 8 prizes
Leave a comment and I will choose 8 people to win their choice of one of my books
Today is my 80th birthday, a milestone for sure. It hardly seems possible that I have been writing romance novels for twelve years, publisher for ten, and have more than two hundred titles out there for my readers. It’s a career I started as a hobby, sort of, after all my other careers and finally retiring from the last one I had.
I always wanted to write. I loved making up stories even as a kid. But my life was so busy that I never really had the time to devote to it until I retired. Funny thing is, I always thought I would write mysteries. My mother and sister read them—Ellery Queen, Agatha Christie, Emma Lathan, Mignon Eberhart, Rex Stout. You get the drift. AS I readied myself for retirement my staff took great pleasure in helping me plot The Book that I would write as soon as I got settled.
In 2004, I finally sat down to write The Book, the greatest mystery of all time, except a funny thing happened on the way to completion. I got three chapters written and couldn’t seem to get beyond that point. I thought, well, crap! And then I read my first romance ever, a romantic suspense by Linda Howard called Cry No More. I thought, damn! This is for me. This is what I want to write.
I sat down and wrote like a fiend and Target was finished in three weeks. Yes, three weeks. Note: it actually took five years to get that book published, and others came before it. So now I had a book and no idea what to do with it. When I found San Antonio Romance Authors SARA) I was sure I hit the jackpot. I learned all the things I didn’t know about writing a successful book and discovered the ongoing battle to get a book published when you are one in every ten thousand that actually is contracted.
But I learned a lot from SARA. Delilah Devlin told me my story really started on page 32 (way too much backstory), Elle James showed me how to structure a plot. Linda Carroll-Bradd taught me about dialogue tags. And so many others in SARA who encouraged and guided me and celebrated with me when I got that very first contract.
I didn’t start out writing erotic but again, I can thank my SARA friends who told me when Ellora’s Cave had an open submission call for themed Quickies (15K). Imagine my shock when Cupid’s Shaft was contracted. I think I stared at the email for an hour just to make sure I read it write.
My journey since then has taken a lot of twists and turns and there are so many others to thank for helping me make it: The Wild Rose Press (and the wonderful Rhonda Penders) who published me when nobody else would; Kelli Collins and Diana Carlisle, two of the best editors I have ever had (and I have to add Paige Christian at Kensington to that list); all my friends at SARA who encouraged me. Margie Hager, my long time beta reader. Shirley Long, a reader who has been with me since my very first book. The wonderful Frauke Spanath at Croco Designs, web and graphics designer extraordinaire who puts up with my disorganization and makes everything so beautiful. My new PA, Nicole Kuhn, who does so much to make sure my promotions get out there and work. Sharon Slick Reads, whose reviews taught me what makes a book readable and special.
I know I’ve forgotten someone, which always happens when you start naming people. If I left you out I’m sorry but you live in my heart. Believe me.
Last year was a great year for me, with the launch of my first series with Kensington (my New York publisher), the launch of my paranormal series with Decadent, and the launch of my Kindle World, The Omega Team, with Amazon.
This year promises to be even better. Kensington has given the go ahead for a new small town romantic suspense series. My Kindle World (The Omega Team) has three more launches scheduled. (see the link to the video below) I am in the process of writing the first in a four-book military romance series for Totally Bound which will go mass market. And thank you to all the people who have invited me to be part of box sets, also.
This year I am also deep into the planning, with my four co-hostesses, for the fifth Wild Wicked Weekend, our fun convo for romance authors and readers. Check it out at www.wildwickedweekend.com
I want to thank everyone who reads my books and helps me promote. You all are what make it work for me. I hope to be doing this for a long time yet, at least to fulfill all the contracts I’ve signed (grin!).
Below are the links for my newsletter and my app. Both are free and easy ways to keep up with me.
Huge thanks to Delilah who has been with me from Day One for letting me babble on her bog today.
Oh, and that first book I wrote, Target? Not only did it finally get contracted and released as the first book in a four-book series, but I am I the process of revising all of them and they will be re-released this year and next. Watch for them.
Download my App. It’s free!!!!
Google http://bit.ly/1QA1JHG
Apple http://apple.co/1Tm8Wfp
Sign up for my newsletter here:Â http://bit.ly/1SJqwvg
Web: www.desireeholt.com
Blog: wwwdesiremeonly.com
The Omega Team video:
http://www.fiverr.com/download/MA7A091F7D67/original/OmegaT.mp4
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Happy 80th birthday! Really? You are 80? I am 60, and I thought my life was over. Thank you for making me realize that I may have a few good years left! I really want you to have a Happy Birthday!
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Wishing you a happy birthday. Thank you for all the hard work you have done to enrich the literary world.
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Happy birthday my friend. I hope you have a wonderful day. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for your readers over the next couple of years:) have a great day Desiree:))
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY my sweet friend!!!! No way are you getting older…….you’re just getting better and better. 😛
Has been quite a journey hasn’t it? Don’t know about you, but I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it and am so excited about what’s to come. You know how I feel about you and your work so I won’t go into it here. You are truly an inspiration.
Hope you have a fantastic day and that your kids have big plans for celebrating your 80th. Love you Des. 😆
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Happy Birthday! You are a truly talented person and a role model to so many. Thank you for all you’ve done – and continue to do.
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Happy Birthday dear friend. I love you and all your wonderful stories.
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Happy Happy 80th b-day! Wishing you the very best for this special day!
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Happy Birthday Desiree! What a wonderful history. You give me hope that maybe, someday, when I grow up, (I am only 60.) I can be just like you! Thank you for sharing your inspirational life!
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Happy Birthday Desiree! Wow….80 …what a milestone! I’m 60 and trying to get published! I love your books….they’re soooo hot! 😉
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Love you and have an absolutely fantastic birthday.
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Happy birthday!
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Holy moly, Desiree! You inspire me (and countless others!)! Thank for living your dream and sharing your stories! Happy 80 and wishing you countless more years of running hard after what you love!!
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Happy Birthday!! I hope it was the best one yet!!
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Happy Happy Birthday Desiree! Hope you had a GREAT day!
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Happy Birthday Delilah!
80…wow! What advise can you give me that has helped you? You are obviously doing a lot of things right.
Thank you for sharing with us, your readers.
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Happy Birthday Desiree i have been to the conferences and i still think i have issues keeping up with you 🙂
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Happy Birthday! I am turning 48 soon. I hope your birthday was a great day!