New Harlequin Heartwarming author LeAnne Bristow shares her story about getting The Call from Harlequin!
“What’s in this box?” my husband asked me while we were cleaning out an old storage shed. Little did I know the contents would forever change my life. It was all the stories I had written in high school and college. Some were typed up on the old ribbon-style typewriter I’d bought at a yard sale. Others were scribbled in notebooks. But they were all there. Every one. Funny how something you once wanted so badly can get shoved into a corner and forgotten about for years when life happens.
I had no more excuses. Two of my three children were grown and gone. I’d finished my master’s degree and was settled in a teaching job I loved. Eagerly, I opened the box and tackled the huge task of rewriting my stories and submitting them for publication.
After my third rejection from Harlequin Love Inspired, my agent suggested I try something different. I remembered I’d done a pitch session with an associate editor at Love Inspired. She liked my story, but said it had a lot of elements that didn’t work for LI. She suggested the book might be a better fit for Harlequin Heartwarming.
I went back and looked at the story that had been rejected three times. I started to play with it, and it began to flow. I learned everything about Harlequin Heartwarming that I could. Although their stories don’t include a faith element, they are clean, wholesome romances that I was comfortable writing.
At RWA, I attended the Heartwarming Open House. I discovered they weren’t looking to acquire any more stories where the hero or heroine returns home to care for an ailing parent. I was heartbroken. I called my agent. “What do I do? That’s my entire story!” He told me to pitch the story anyway but tell them I’d look for ways to change it.
So I did. Assistant Editor Dana Grimaldi was kind enough to listen to my pitch. She liked elements and despite the overused trope, asked for the full.
I got home and started brainstorming with my critique partners. My agent sent in a revised proposal, and called a few weeks later to say Harlequin loved the changes and wanted the full. But my story wasn’t quite finished! I put my nose to the grindstone, locked myself in my room and started working.
The next time my agent called, it was to tell me Dana liked the new version, but wanted some revisions. Was I willing to do it? Are you kidding? Of course! I locked myself back in my room and six weeks later submitted the revisions. And the following week found out that Dana was leaving the Heartwarming team and moving to Western Romance. I panicked. This was it. She would pass the story to a new editor and they would hate it.
On June 3rd, my agent called. I had sent him some ideas for new projects and figured he was calling to discuss them. I was juggling my granddaughter in my arms as I answered the phone. When he told me Heartwarming Senior Editor Victoria Curran wanted to offer me a contract, I almost dropped the baby. Once I could breathe again, I sat my granddaughter on the floor (she was a little dizzy by this time from all my jumping up and down), and started calling everyone I knew.
I immediately started receiving welcome emails and tweets from other Heartwarming editors and authors.
Getting the call was one of the most memorable and exciting moments of my life, and I didn’t just get a contract, I got a family.
Look for Leanne’s debut Harlequin Heartwarming romance, Her Texas Rebel, in 2017!
Learn more about Leanne on Facebook
And say hello on Twitter @LeAnneBristow
Want to read more inspiring call stories? Check out our archive.
12 replies on “Getting the Call: Meet LeAnne Bristow!”
SO happy for you, LeAnne! I can’t wait to read your book!
I know that was a great day for you!! We never forget that first call. So glad you are now writing Heartwarming stories.
LeAnne, I’m so happy for you and love your story. What it shows is that good writing remains good writing through time. I’m looking forward to reading your first of many Heartwarming books.
This couldn’t have happened to a better person or writer! I’m so proud of you!
I think many people can identify with the box of stories stored in a closet (mine is in the garage). I’m looking forward to reading Her Texas Rebel next year. Thanks for sharing your story, LeAnne!
Such a wonderful call story. Can’t wait to read the book.
So excited for you, LeAnne! What a great story 🙂
Congrats LeAnne!!
Wonderful story! You must be a writer So happy your writing dreams came true!
Leanne,
I’m sooooooo proud of you. You have always rocked but now you have a place to roll.
Pamela
A great story, and we’re so glad to have you!
LeAnne, massively massively proud of you my friend! You deserve this and every success! How well I remember the click of the key when you locked yourself away for those rewrites, and I thought ‘wow, this chick is giving it socks!!!’ Inspired by your work ethic, and thrilled by your success! Raising a glass to you LeAnne!
Nikki.
Comments ( 7 )
I spent the entire shutdown working. Had no time to wind down. I didn’t see my son much when school shutdown. My one co worker was told to stay home for 3 weeks so I picked up her hours. This year has been really crappy.
Ugh, Janell. Here’s hoping the rest of your summer is better.
Thanks for the info, Carol! Everyone is different in how they deal with the shutdown! I stay at home all the time since I don’t work so I haven’t been too effected but my shopping and errands sure have been effected!
Valri, I’ve been doing most of my shopping online. My local Target is still low on some items – mostly cleaning supplies. Grocery store is pretty much back to normal. Most of the dining in our town is outdoor. I can’t imagine have school-age kids!
Wow–getting your creative process on track must have been daunting–especially with “extra-large dog” glad to have you home. You don’t like coffee–I love coffee and have enjoyed my fortifying 2 cups in the morning even more than usual! How as COVID affected your story lines and characterizations? Best Wishes for all releases!
Interesting question, Virginia. You’ll have to tell me if the tone of my “COVID” books changed any! LOL
Life has changed so much! My dad passed Feb 2. The assisted living facility my folks were at went into hardcore lockdown the beginning of March. Mom couldn’t leave her apartment for 4 months! She was on the third floor, Will be 89 in two months & doesn’t use the phone. My husband and I remodeled the lower level completely and moved her in with us July 1. What a life change and difficult transition for the 3 of us! But we’re working thru it!